We must cleanse not only our physical spaces, but our minds, schedules, and hearts—removing distractions, negative thoughts, and emotional burdens.

Must I have a cell phone? Do I really need the extra expense? Do I have to relate information right now? Can I not wait until I tell the person directly?

We must screen out the allure of Babylon and make sure that God is always number one on our list of priorities.

We must weed out detrimental habits that choke our lives. If we want to produce quality fruit, we must weed our garden.

Popular culture can easily become an escape from the pressing issues of life and of this world, and in this sense, it becomes a trap as problems continue.

If our goal is wrong, our entire being will be off. Our first priority is to be loyal to God, casting aside all distractions and other interests.

In the first parable of the sower, the quality of the various soils upon which the seed of the gospel falls determines whether or not there is growth.

Distractions produce a movement toward randomness and confusion, seriously endangering one's calling. We must sharpen our focus on God and His purpose.

The things of God require digging; it is time to walk step-by-step to the finish of the cause He has called us to complete.

Biblical listening is not just hearing, but active understanding and responding, leading to changed behavior. Not hearing is tantamount to rebellion.

If church members are to grow in grace and knowledge and be zealous in producing fruit to God's glory, they need to have their priorities in the right place.

We must guard our time, not allowing busyness and involvement with activities of the world to prevent us from forming a deep intimacy with God.

We must strive to bear spiritual fruit efficiently and productively. Material well-being is not as good a measure of fruitfulness as is the use of God's gifts.

We cannot allow ourselves to become surfeited with the world's distractions, being lulled off to sleep as the foolish virgins, wasting our precious time.

We must keep God's Word fresh in our minds through diligent study and practice of His way of life to keep from drifting spiritually during perilous times.

God gives His elect two unknown deadlines: Christ's return and the Christian's lifespan. They focus His people on becoming spiritually rich toward God.

Americans are apathetic to religion, politics, morality, and civic responsibility, while devoted to hedonism, sports, entertainment, and narcissism.

Labor-saving technology seems to have had the effect of separating us from each other and making us indifferent to things that should be important to us.

The entangling cares of the world draw off nutrients from our spiritual garden. Without daily tending, the spiritual weeds get out of control.

Satan has deliberately designed this world to burn up our precious time, creating an artificial sense of urgency and a perpetual state of discontent.

God has given to us spiritual sonar to help us to navigate in uncharted venues. As we pray, study, and meditate, we develop our spiritual sonar.

We must not allow the cares of the world, its pressures or its pride, to crowd God out of our thoughts, bringing about abominable works or evil fruits.

God created angels as ministering spirits to take care of the heirs of salvation. The Bible is filled with examples of angels rescuing God's people from harm.

The antidote to spiritual resistance is certainty and confidence in Christ to conform us into His image—a directed movement toward Christ.

Ecclesiastes deals with quality of life issues for those who have been called, emphasizing responsibility and choice, continually fearing God.

God reveals a grand secret through David: namely, that spiritual growth will come to people who set the Lord before oneself continuously.

Like with the heroes of faith, our testing will be commensurate with the job God has prepared for us. We must make our relationship with God our top priority.

Will we trust God in the basic areas of life—food, clothing, and water—or compromise, accepting the mark of the beast to save our physical lives?

The Olivet Prophecy foretells a gathering of eagles or vultures in anticipation of God's judgment. Will they mistake us for the nearly-dead?

The recipients of Peter's epistle were having difficulty holding on to their faith, having succumbed to fear as a result of lack of discipline and laziness.

Like the Ephesians, the weary veterans in Hebrews were becoming apathetic through outside pressures, losing their former zeal and devotion to Christ.

The dwelling in booths and the sacrifices were the context for rejoicing at the Feast of Tabernacles. The booths depict our current lives as pilgrims.