When Lila came to Christ, she was told that she was a new creation…that all the old things should pass away. She was to be strong in the Lord and have faith and to stop thinking about herself so much and serve others. She believed on Jesus and believed His Word to be true, so why was it that she was still miserable inside? Why did certain habits and struggles not disappear when she quoted Scripture? Why was she failing just as miserably as a believer as she was before she’d met Jesus? ...

Our problem with deception and hiding is a tale as old as time. Adam and Eve were created and placed in the Garden to tend it and care for it (Gen. 2:7-8). They were completely free…completely whole. They lived with zero guilt and shame. As a matter of fact, they had so little shame and insecurity that they didn’t even wear clothes (Gen. 2:25). We all know what happened. Deception. The snake didn’t come in and say “Why are you listening to God?” or “You should sin. It’s really fun.” Nope,...

Recently I was blindsided by some revelations about a man of God that I highly respect. He was caught in some behavior that was not only sinful, but also abusive to others. My heart ached with disappointment when I found out. Suddenly everything that I’d ever learned from him was at risk, and it wasn’t just because of his secret sin. This man had lied when confronted with this sin. Instead of humbling himself, revealing his error, and seeking restorative help, he had emphatically denied it....