As a seasoned Christian I have had many seasons of mountain top experiences and have had my fair share of dark valleys.

It’s a spiritual journey. A spiritual journey is the natural progression of a person as they grow in the understanding of God, the world and him/her self.

Everyone starts a spiritual journey as a child, naive and still influenced by the flesh. We are in need of basic education of God and our position with God. We learn how to act and how to relate to the world.

Above anything, we must understand as a Christian that it is a journey. It’s a life-long process involving our attention and God’s work in us.

We have to take the bad, and the good on this journey.

We shouldn’t be surprised when we find ourselves in discouraging trials. God designed these trials to see how grounded in our faith we are. Will we depend on our own resources to climb out of despair, or will we look to God and follow His lead to higher waters?

These pastures of hope that are ahead encourage us to press on, fight the good fight. Believe above all else that God is near.

We can expect discouragement, but we can have joy in the hope that is to come!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

An architect is a person who designs building and in many cases also supervises their construction.

When an architect designs a building he/she has to create a plan. They have to decide on the materials to be used so that the building can withstand certain elements. For example, when building in an environment where you have tornados occasionally, you have to have materials that can withstand wind speeds of over 100 miles an hour.

The same is true with people. God’s the architect of life. He designed each of us in our mother’s womb. He knew what oppositions we would come against; He knew what type of personality we would have, so that when trials come, we could withstand the storms of life.

God put love, determination, empathy, endurance and a strong-willed character into us so that we will be able to serve Him and love others.

I thank God for designing me the way He did. I may have flaws and I may not do everything perfect, but I know that my perfection lies in knowing God; serving Him and others every day.

Accept your own unique design. After all, the creator of the universe is the architect of life.

Matthew 6:34 - “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Do you sometimes find yourself looking at tomorrow’s agenda and worrying about how you’re going to get it all done?

This inevitably will cause you some unneeded stress in your life.

It’s hard. I’ll admit it. For example, I had a hard time falling asleep last night, thinking about all I had to complete before the weekend. I know in my mind not to do this, but occasionally I’ll get myself worked up over something that I shouldn’t worry about.

I have found that this one thing works for me and have to remind myself to go back to it: It is to focus on God. Sounds too simple, but it has always worked for me.

I focus on what He’s done for me, even little things. Focus on how much I’m blessed with food, a roof over my head, family, etc.

Keep your eyes on God and everything else on your calendar fades away from your thoughts.

And the best part is it will help you on those sleepless nights and keep you connected to God.

Don’t get ahead of God; He’s already got the day planned. Just go with God, He’ll never fail you.

A trigger, used as a verb, is anything that can cause (an event or situation) to happen or exist.

What triggers you, in a negative or positive way? People can say or do something that may trigger a thought. It may bring to mind a negative thought that immediately irritates you. Or, it may cause you to feel angry or resentment toward that person.

Triggers can also be positive. If a child gives you a hug, it may bring a memory of yourself as a little kid being hugged by a parent or grandparent.

Have you even thought of a trigger being an opportunity to show love or compassion, or even an opportunity to teach?

The next time someone triggers a negative thought in you, stop, take a deep breath and instead of reacting in a condescending or angry tone, respond with a calm, loving voice.

Try it sometime. Triggers are opportunities for Christians to respond in a Christ-like manner.

Colossians 3:15 - “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Know ahead of time what triggers a negative thought and commit to using it as an opportunity to show grace.

It may not come natural at first, but the more you give grace, the more it will become habitual.

We are all familiar with what a prison is. There are over 5000 prison systems housing over 2.3 million people in the United States.

Matthew 25:36 - “I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”

I don’t know if you’ve ever visited someone in prison or just visited one of the facilities, but a prison is a very lonely, sad place.

I was recently a part of a prison ministry called, “Bill Glass Prison Ministry.” The group that I was a part of did ministry in the Juvenile Detention center. We had some entertainment for the kids, which was great, and then we shared the gospel with them. Most of these kids are from broken homes, some don’t even have a home to go to, once they’re freed.

In talking to a couple of the kids, we asked if they knew what sin is. They couldn’t tell me.

My prayer is if they remember one thing from our visit is that Jesus loves them.

Prisons. Over half the population of America are in emotional prisons.

When you’re in an emotional prison, you’re trapped in your thoughts. You can’t look past your hurts and current trial, and the only way to get free of this is to trust and lean on Jesus. He’s already broke the bondage of sin; He can loose the chains of captivity.

The prisons are full of broken, hurting people. Take one afternoon or join a group and visit one of these institutions.

God promises to set us free spiritually and emotionally. Make the right choices.

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

Galatians 6:9 - “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Resilience is a necessary tool in life, especially as a Christian. It’s how you respond to tragedy, crisis or other life altering changes that allows us to move on, despite the loss.

I’ve found that the more resilient I am when a crisis comes, the more I grow as a Christian. Christians keep bouncing back. What’s the key to this Christian resiliency? Faith in God.

Don’t try and assume how things will end when you’re hit with a tragedy. We think we know the final result, so, instead of exercising resilience, we give up or take things into the wrong hands.

I’m choosing to trust in God rather than relying on what I understand. This is my way of staying resilient.

God is looking for resilient people for His Kingdom.

Are you in? Are you resilient?

He does it all the time. In my life anyway.

Satan has a way of making me think I don’t need to read my Bible, that I don’t need to get up early and have my quiet time with God. He would rather I set my alarm to the last possible minute, fly out of bed and get ready for work, not giving God another thought.

Why does Satan do this? Because he knows how powerful God’s word is to our lives.

Psalm 119:105 - “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

I read the word to know the difference between right and wrong. I stay in the scriptures so I’m ready for battle, ready for whatever comes my way.

Knowledge is power. Test your decisions with scripture. Search the meaning of the dilemma you may be facing.

Keep God’s word close, daily. This is your guidebook, your Atlas, your GPS for your journey.

Are you being deceived by Satan or led by Jesus today?

It’s your decision. Make the right choice.

Some people wonder why they're not prospering at their job.  Ask them if God is a part of it?

You can invite God to be a part of your work every day.  Ask God to make you a success so you can serve Him with your career.  Don't tell Him how to do this.

Ask God how this should look like.  God wants to make you a missionary disguised as (whatever your current role in life).

Regardless of what your career is, you will need to make the commitment that you're a missionary first.  Then and only then will God bless the work of your hands.

We tend to think of careers such as pastors or missionaries to be the only spiritual careers.

God can turn any position around to show His glory in whatever work model you find yourself in.

What is the biggest hinderance to committing your career to God's service?

This doesn't mean that you'll be preaching around the water cooler, but it may mean that when others are working with you or for you, they see a Jesus-like character.

Ask God to bless you in your work today.

Colossians 3:17 - “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”