Exhortations for The Soul

We live in a time when it seems like everything needs to be expertly selected, compiled, or organized, filtered, and posted for approval.   It’s this digital age that we find ourselves in. But the truth is, God isn't impressed with the version of ourselves that we polish for people.   Ever see photos online of some people and when you see them in real life, the acne, the hair, the smile, it’s not there?   What does that tell you? That these people fix themselves up for the camera right? They literally put on a mask! Can we just understand that God wants the real you and the real me to come before Him, with a raw and surrendered heart, not a perfect presentation, but honest repentance and authentic faith. In 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT), God says to Samuel: “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This is a powerful reminder that while we may spend hours trying to perfect how we appear to the world, God...

In today’s world, phrases like “God, hustle, and grind” are often heard together, especially among young people and also in spaces where faith meets ambition.   But the older ones of us might ask a very good question: Is this alignment just generational, cultural, or is there a deeper spiritual truth that connects these concepts?   I would say again, very often, if not at all times, we must look at things from a spiritual perspective. We cannot just adopt or abandon these wordly sayings as secular and not for us as Christians. You will find that a lot of these quotes have some basis in the scriptures, and somewhere along the line, a mistruth is tossed in and the unassuming person gets misled or fooled. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) “But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” Colossians 2:8 (NIV) “See to it that no one...

We live in a world today that often celebrates personal pleasure over God’s principles. You have more secular than gospel awards shows for example. What goes viral on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram is not something good very often but something provocative, sensational, or emotionally charged—often appealing to shock, controversy, or entertainment rather than truth, wisdom, or lasting value.   Many believers—especially those of us who are older, seasoned by life, and deeply rooted in faith—find ourselves, navigating complex questions about dating, remarriage, intimacy, and purity.   Some are divorced and wondering what’s next. Others are widowed or never married and face a culture, a society or environment where self-control and godly living are no longer respected but are instead ridiculed, dismissed, or treated as outdated or foolish. But even in a compromised culture, God’s Word offers timeless guidance. In Romans 12:2 (NLT), Paul writes: “Don’t copy the behavior a...