Job had not achieved spiritual maturity, but had assumed the arrogant stance of attempting to debate the Creator on his own level.

There is a critical difference between self-examination and self-preoccupation. We must accurately assess our spiritual state without becoming self-absorbed.

Paradoxically, when we yield to God's sovereignty, He wants to cede control over to us, teaching us to develop self-control as an ingrained habit.

Paul urged that we get our focus more balanced, emphasizing love over prophetic correctness, not remaining indifferent to what Christ deemed important.

When things go wrong, an improperly rooted person becomes hard and cynical. This disillusionment happens if our hope or trust are in the wrong place.

Any time we feel prompted to exalt ourselves, we demonstrate Satan's spirit of pride, thereby jeopardizing our entry into God's family.

God taught Elijah that He is not in excessive displays of power or showy miracles when a voice will suffice.

The Scriptures provide many examples of how difficult relationships were dealt with by humility, deference, longsuffering, and prayer.

Psalm 92 teaches that we can compare the unique characteristics of the palm and cedar trees to righteous members of God's church.

Over the past six decades (from the Boomer Generation to the Millennial generation), individuals have grown more narcissistic, entitled and miserable.

Living by 'No pride, no problem' eliminates the grief associated with placing our desires over God's will for us when facing demotions or loss of status.

If God's people do not believe they are lovable, they may deprive others of a blessing by refusing to accept charitable help from a spiritual sibling.

All that we have has come from others, especially God. The Day of Atonement points out how needy and dependent on God we are; fasting shows our frailty.

We must not construe the term, "whatever our heart desires," as a pass to sin, but we should use every occasion to grow in thinking and acting like God.

God's children should never emulate the self-willed attitude Frank Sinatra's song "My Way" glorifies. Human nature and godly character are polar opposites.

Jeremiah and his scribe, Baruch, lived during a time of great upheaval. Baruch complained that God's plans against Judah were crimping his own ambitions.

Elijah fell into a dilemma of either fearing God or fearing man, and ended up fearing Jezebel rather than God, thinking he was alone in his zeal for God.

The apostle Paul endured tremendous hardship, and his example teaches that we have the ability and responsibility to choose how we let circumstances affect us.

James' exhortation about the use of the tongue seems to stop with James 3:12. However, the rest of the chapter provides more wisdom on controlling our speech.

Though God worked through Elijah in ways that are almost without comparison, God also left a record of a low point in the prophet's life as a lesson for us.

Submitting is repugnant to the carnal mind. The church is no place for uncompromising people who demand their own way.

What should we have on our minds as we prepare to go to the Feast of Tabernacles this year? What overall message does keeping this festival teach us?

This generation promotes self-gratification, self-realization, and self-indulgence, with a plethora of self-help books elevating self interest above others.

Even loyal servants of God have had to contend with depression and discouragement. Antidotes include rest, refocus, right expectations, and obedient actions.

Pride elevates one above God, denigrating any dependence upon God, replacing it with self-idolatry. We ought to boast or glory in the Lord instead of ourselves.

Great luminaries of faith all wrestled with devastating despair. We must face depression with honesty, compassion, and unwavering trust in God.

We will become united as we draw closer to God. If we regard a brother in Christ as a competitor rather than as a trusted ally, unity will be impossible.

Because seed-bearing designates fruit that is good for food, it is possible that the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was not seed-bearing.

Without thanksgiving and praise, our prayers degenerate into the 'gimmes' with the emphasis on the self. We must give God thoughtful thanks in every circumstance.

Even Jesus had to cope with feelings of anxiety and loneliness in Gethsemane before His crucifixion, a time when He experienced separation from His Father.

Both Ruth and Naomi demonstrated covenant loyalty in this marriages long after the death of their spouses. Ruth faithfully continued to serve her mother-in-law.