Author: Kevin Burrell

One afternoon, Satan was having a yard sale. On several tables, he spread out all of his favorite tools and placed prices on each one of them. The first buyer purchased a sparkling, well-kept tool labeled “anger” for $200. The second buyer bought a slightly worn “jealousy” tool for $350. The third buyer purchased the well-used “lust” tool for $1,000. All day long, people came and went.

Near the end of the day, a man saw an old tool lying on a table in the back row all by itself. It was rusted and worn, the hinges squeaked, and the handle was partly broken, but the price tag was exorbitant. The asking price was $1 million.

The prospective buyer asked Satan, “Why is this tool so costly?”

“Ahh,” replied Satan, “that is my most effective, powerful, and often-used weapon—and I hesitate to let it go. I’ve learned that Christians can eventually get over almost all of my other tools. They can recover from lust, greed, anger, jealousy, and envy. However, this tool works quietly, without them being aware I am using it. I can slip it in and keep them defeated for a lifetime.”

“What is the name of the tool?” the buyer asked.

“The tool is ‘Discouragement,'” Satan hissed. “I remind them of their sins, their past, and their failures. I remind them how weak they truly are, and they never even know what I am doing.”

Listen closely: do not allow Satan to continue using this tool against you. Rather, we must have the same attitude as Paul: “I press on!” Your sins and failures have been forgiven. You’ve been bought with a price. The power of sin no longer reigns over you. Christ is your strength where you are weak! If you have received Jesus by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, then you are a child of the living God. No weapon formed against you will prosper. Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Your old life has been nailed to the cross, and all of your past, present, and future sins have been “Paid in Full.” It is finished!

When Satan reminds you of your past, you remind him of his future. “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things here below.” Lock eyes with Jesus and walk towards Him.

Live in victory today!

It was a bright, sunny afternoon at the local park. Zach, my son, was about four years old at the time and a bundle of high energy. On this particular day, Zach was more daring than usual. He climbed up the ladder, higher and higher, his little hands and feet moving with determination. He paused at the top, turning to look at me with a mischievous grin that told me he was about to do something unexpected.

“Dad, catch me!” he called out suddenly, his voice a mix of excitement and challenge. Before I could even fully process his words, Zach had launched himself off the ladder, a tiny blur of motion hurtling through the air.

Time seemed to slow down for a moment. I could feel my heart race, my mind flashing with the countless things that could go wrong. But just as quickly as he had jumped, I moved forward and caught him, scooping him up safely in my arms. His laughter filled the air, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. I held him close, with a mix of relief and amazement.

“Zach, why did you jump like that?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm despite the rush of adrenaline still coursing through me.

With full trust and confidence, he gave me a simple yet profound answer that I would never forget.

“Because you’re my dad,” he said, as if that explained everything. And in that moment, it did.
To him, being his dad meant that I was his safety net, his protector, the person who would always be there no matter what. Zach didn’t need a reason beyond that—just the unwavering belief that I would never let him fall.

In a similar way, life can often feel overwhelming, with circumstances that challenge our faith and test our patience. In moments of uncertainty, it’s easy to let our emotions take the driver’s seat and allow our circumstances to dictate our decision-making.

However, Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to a higher standard: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”

When faced with challenges, our natural response might be to rely on our own logic, emotions, past experiences, or even the advice of others. While there is value in wisdom and counsel, this passage reminds us that true guidance comes from surrendering our understanding and trusting fully in God’s sovereignty. Our circumstances are ever-changing; however, God remains constant, faithful, and unchanging.

Trusting in the Lord requires us to acknowledge Him in all our ways—not just when it’s convenient, not just in the big decisions, but in the small, everyday moments as well. It’s in these moments that we practice faith, choosing to trust God’s plan over our feelings. When we acknowledge Him, we are invited to step back from the chaos of our emotions and circumstances and let God take control. He promises to make our paths straight, guiding us through the uncertainties of life.

Are there areas in your life where you’ve been letting your circumstances dictate your decisions or emotions? Take a moment to identify those situations and bring them before God in prayer. Ask Him to help you trust in His wisdom over your own understanding. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by a decision or situation, pause in that moment and ask the Lord for His guidance.

Take a moment to acknowledge Him, surrender your understanding, and trust that He is leading you.

Remember, your circumstances do not define you—God does!

He will show you which path to take.

Last week, after finishing my lunch and paying my bill, I asked my server if there was anything I could pray about for her. She immediately teared up and said, “Yes, sir, there is so much hate and division in our families, our nation, and our world today. Honestly, I’m fearful and afraid.”

The sovereignty of God placed me there on that specific day, at that specific time, and in that specific moment to connect with that young lady. She had a need, and God used me to fill that need. If we’re truthful, we don’t fully understand why God allows so much division, hatred, and hopelessness in our world today. If we’re honest, we can’t see God’s sovereign hand at work behind it all. And the truth is, neither could Job. In Job 38, God delivers a verbal rebuke to Job about His sovereignty, leaving Job speechless. I strongly encourage you to read Job 38 and 39 for yourself—it will leave you speechless as well.

The Book of Job helps us understand the following: As a child of God, Satan cannot bring financial and physical destruction upon us unless it is by God’s permission. It must be sifted through the hands of God the Father and God the Son before it ever touches our lives. God has power over what Satan can and cannot do. It is beyond our human ability to fully grasp, comprehend, and understand the “whys” behind all the suffering, evil, and division in the world. The wicked will receive their just due. However, we cannot always blame suffering and sin on our lifestyles. Suffering may sometimes be allowed in our lives to purify, test, teach, or strengthen us. However, God remains enough, and He deserves and demands our love, loyalty, submission, and praise in all circumstances of life.

The Book of Job reminds us that there is a “cosmic conflict” going on behind the scenes that we know nothing about. We can’t see it, but it exists. One of those conflicts is a relentless battle for the eternal souls of mankind. We often wonder why God allows things to happen. We question or doubt God’s goodness without seeing the full picture. However, the Book of Job teaches us to trust God under all circumstances. We must trust God not only when we do not understand, but because we do not understand.

The psalmist tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalms 18:30). If God’s ways are “perfect” (and they are), then we can trust that whatever He does and whatever He allows is also perfect. This may not seem possible to us, but our minds are not God’s mind. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Nevertheless, our responsibility to God is to obey Him, trust Him, and submit our will to His will, whether we understand it or not.

Trust in the sovereignty of God! He is in complete control of our world. He knows every detail of your life, and He is writing your story—don’t steal His pen.

I remember it well! It was March 13, 1993, when one of the most powerful storms hit the Atlanta, Georgia, metro area. In its path, the storm left 15 dead in Georgia—and hundreds more throughout the East Coast. It brought four inches of snow to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and dropped even more snow and ice the farther north you went—including as much as three feet of snow in parts of north Georgia. The storm caused $5.5 billion in damage and resulted in the most weather-related flight cancellations ever. The violent storm closed nearly all interstate highways from Atlanta to the Northeast. It shut down every major airport on the East Coast at one time or another. All you could do was hunker down and ride out the storm.

In a similar way, we encounter storms in life as well. It’s not a matter of “IF” but “WHEN” the storm hits our lives. And how prepared we are will make a huge difference. We go through financial storms, physical storms, coaching storms, relational storms, marriage storms, occupational storms, family storms, political storms, and spiritual storms.

In Mark 6:49-50, Jesus noticed the disciples were in distress. They were in the middle of a large lake, where the wind and waves were pounding their boat and keeping them from making any progress. They were terrified! At that very moment, Jesus walked out to them on the water. Don’t miss that! He met them right in the middle of their storm. Jesus gave them this challenge: He said, “Do not be afraid.” He reassured them, saying, “It is I.” You see, the name of God is “I AM,” not “I Was,” “I Will Be,” or “I Hope to Be.”

When Jesus says, “I AM,” He is saying, “I AM whatever it is you’re going through right at this moment, and you do not need to be afraid.” You do not need to fret, worry, doubt, fear, or sweat it. He is God, and we are not. He spoke the world into existence, and He created you. Therefore, He is big enough to handle your storm. Simply obey Him and trust Him.

If you’re going through a storm, you don’t need a job, you need Jesus. You don’t need a plan, you need a person. You don’t need a system, you need a Savior. You don’t need a new goal, you need the Great “I AM.” You need Jesus! When you’re in the middle of a storm, remember that God is not distant, apathetic, or uninvolved. He is right there in the middle of your storm. He is the Great “I AM,” and He will walk with you through your storm. Fix your eyes on Jesus and walk toward Him today.

Have you ever thought about the influence and weight of your words?  Imagine with me for a moment.  If you knew exactly one week from today that you’re going to die and go out into eternity, what would you say for the next seven days?  How would you talk?  What would be your “famous last words?”  Would your words leave a lasting mark on the lives of people that you rub shoulders with at work or do life with every day?  Would your words build up or tear down?  Would your words encourage or discourage?  Would your words leave a ripple effect long after you’re gone?  Below are some famous words:

“It is well, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go.” – George Washington, U.S. President

“Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall!”

US President, Ronald Reagan

“Happy anniversary. I love you.”

Vince Lombardi

“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Yogi Berra

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” U.S. President, JFK.

In the verse above, the Apostle Paul is getting ready to die.  He knew his time was imminent.  So, he wrote a letter to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith.  It was his “famous last words.”  I encourage you to read the entire chapter when time allows.  The truth is that the greatest destroyer of relationships is an uncontrolled mouth.  Harsh words.  Cutting words.  Condescending words.  Discouraging words.  I read recently that the average person has 30 conversations each day.  If true, that means we spend approximately one-fifth of our lives talking.  At some point, our mouths will likely get us into trouble.  The odds are stacked against us!

Listen closely:  You have no idea the day or the hour you will die.  However, death is certain.  Therefore choose your words wisely.  Instead of heading in a destructive direction, choose to use your words to build others up.  Catch people doing something right and tell them about it.  Affirm their character when they make wise choices and decisions.  Lift them up with words of encouragement when you see them living a life of obedience.  Offer words of hope.  Building others up with your words isn’t difficult, but it is intentional.  Above all else, use your words to share Jesus with others.  When you do, you’re reflecting God’s glory to a dark, evil, and hopeless world all around you. 

What “Famous Last Words” will you be known for?

The 2024 Summer Olympics just wrapped up this past weekend. After a damp start during the opening ceremonies, the Paris Olympic games recovered nicely and were an incredible hit among worldwide viewers. For most spectators, the Olympics is a display of the highest level of athletic skill and competition. For many Christian athletes, they also provide an opportunity to express their faith to each other and to the world. One such athlete is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who has made her Christian testimony widely known through numerous interviews and in her book, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith.

“I credit all that I do to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He’s given me a gift, a drive, and a platform to glorify Him, so whenever I step on the track, I pray that God will allow me to be the vessel through which He is glorified, no matter the result. It’s about how I conduct myself and how I carry myself, not just how I perform. There is freedom in knowing that regardless of what happens, the Lord is going to get the praise through me. That’s why I do what I do.”

Sydney gets it! She clearly understands her “Why.” We get one shot in our life on earth to live in a way that brings honor and glory to Jesus Christ. As Rick Warren famously said, “It’s not about you!”

If you’re a coach, then you’re a minister in disguise as a coach. If you’re a scout, then you’re a minister in disguise as a scout. If you’re an athlete, then you’re a minister in disguise as an athlete. Whatever you do, whatever profession you work in, never forget: you’re a minister in disguise as a (fill in your blank) _________!

Paul admonished Timothy, and he is admonishing you and me as well: “Preach the word! Be ready to do it whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Correct, confront, and encourage with patience and instruction.”

Live the life! Let your life shine for Christ. But even more importantly, step up, speak up, and tell your story about how Jesus intersected your life for eternity. Know your “Why.”

Remember:

“You’re a minister in disguise as a ________!”

People plan for everything in life. They plan for weddings, funerals, vacations, trips, retirement, game opponents, exams, etc. However, one area that most people do not plan for is how they want to live their life. They do not live their life with the end in mind. Throughout the years, I’ve observed that talking about death makes people very uncomfortable.

Case in point: many years ago, I was officiating a funeral. I watched many in attendance squirm during the funeral service while I was sharing about the brevity of life. We “pay our respects” and “offer our condolences,” but rarely do we take personal inventory of our spiritual life and where we’ll spend eternity when we die. For the Christian, the “End” is not death but only the beginning. The “End” is the culmination of a lifetime pursuit of intimacy with God. Death simply becomes the conduit into the presence of Almighty God. Living with that “End” in mind, the Christian should daily exercise faith in an unseen, almighty, all-powerful, awesome God.

In my case, I asked myself decades ago, “What do I want my life to look like when I take my final breath on this earth?” “What ripple effect do I want my life to leave on this earth?” Not just as a husband, father, friend, or MLB baseball scout, but what do I want to be true of me as a disciple-making follower of Jesus Christ? To accomplish this, I must have a focused, detailed plan. As a disciple of Christ, I want to know at the end of my life that I demonstrated more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. I want to know that I have belonged, magnified, served, grown, managed, shared, and multiplied my life. I want to know that my life will make an eternal impact that will far outlive me.

Listen closely: If you want to “live your life with the end in mind,” you must develop a plan to help you become the person God wants you to be. It helps you identify what you want to be true of your life—and then work the action steps in your plan to ensure you grow and develop each area of your life. Truthfully, very few people make it a priority to live their life this way. Instead of developing a life plan to hit their target, most people “wing it” or get distracted by the cares of the world that come their way.

Don’t miss the following truth: “If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” I suggest that you plan your life—and then live out your plan. Never forget, if you fail to plan, then plan to fail. If you need help to formulate a plan, I can help you; simply ask. After all, if you are a Christian, your life belongs to Christ, and He should be the One you’re living for every day.

As you go about your everyday life, be thankful that God has revealed in Scripture that the day is coming when Jesus Christ will return as King of kings and Lord of lords.

There is an appointed time when you will die. Therefore, live your life with the end in mind.