When we’re struggling through difficult times, when we’re living out the consequences, frankly, of our own sin, it’s easy to imagine God sitting up there in the comfort of ...

Life has a funny habit of taking a sharp turn from good times into bad; from a time of abundance to a time of famine; from a time of joy to a time of sadness. And the further we ...

Every relationship in our lives at some point is at risk of growing stale. What was once a vital, passionate, rewarding relationship – whether with your spouse, or a friend … ...

Sometimes, we think we’re going along just fine – and then we react to something, and all of a sudden, we realise, we’re carrying around a bunch of hang-ups.  ...

There are times in our lives when our circumstances are far from ideal; when everything appears to be going against us. And it’s in those times that God means for us to live in ...

The Christian view of the respective roles of men and women these days is often sneered at. It’s often criticised because it seems out of touch with today’s 21st century ...

Monogamy is one of Christianity’s greatest contributions to the society in which we live today. Requiring men to show love, to serve and to exercise self-control in their ...

Okay, today … today we’re going for a super dose of the politically incorrect. And it comes straight out of God’s Word. In fact, it’s something of a flashpoint between a ...

Any psychologist will tell you that, despite the whole gender-fluidity thing that’s being pushed in some quarters, there are some very fundamental and powerful differences ...

Have you ever picked up an old book, read it, and thought to yourself, man, that is so old-fashioned? Those attitudes, the way the world was back then … it’s all so irrelevant ...

There are, it would seem, two types of people in this world; those with a teachable heart, and those without; those who are open to admitting their faults, learning a better way, ...

Sometimes we can find ourselves wandering in a spiritual wilderness.  We’ve all been there at some stage in our life.  And when we are there – it’s as though the ...

The truth, as things turn out, can be a dangerous thing when used in the wrong way – much as a sharp knife can be deadly if wielded in anger. Sure, the Good News of Jesus is the ...

When was the last time that you felt ashamed of what you’d done? It’s not a nice feeling, is it? And like Adam and Eve back there in the Garden of Eden, our natural instinct ...

My mother used to read the horoscope in the newspaper every morning. It’s something we often chatted about over a cup of tea when I was a child. Surely there can’t be any harm ...

So let me ask you, what causes your anger to flare up from time to time? We all have triggers that set us off, and when the adrenalin’s pumping through our veins, man … we can ...

Have you ever had that sense that “I simply don’t have enough faith to get through this tough spot?” Right when you need it most, out there in that wilderness, your faith ...

If you’re anything like me, you like a bit of order in your life. I think we all hope that life will make sense, that it’ll be predictable, that people will see things our way ...

Success is a word that we all like to embrace. After all, who doesn’t want to be successful at whatever it is they turn their hand to? But as alluring as it may be, success is a ...

The big mistake we make in this life is that we think that happiness and joy are the same thing. They simply aren’t. Happiness relies on our circumstances, and they can change, ...

So … a question for you today. Given a choice, would you prefer to live the rest of your life with your hands and feet shackled in chains, or would you rather be free? You’d ...

For most of us, our default position in life is that we really, really want to trust you. But … can we trust you? Are you trustworthy? Well, that depends. Is what we see and ...

Making fun of our political leaders has become something of a national pastime for many people in society today, not to mention whinging, complaining, attacking, undermining and ...

You know how it is … out of all the important things in your life – your relationships, health, finances – nine out of ten of them are bubbling along just fine, but ...

There are so many different ways of loving the people around us. And us loving them is something that’s very much on God’s agenda for your life and mine. So, what do you do ...

Have you ever had someone in your life – perhaps a member of your extended family or someone with whom you’ve been friends for a long time – and you get to the point where ...

In this day and age, the deal is that when you invest in something you expect a return. After all, that’s what, by and large, makes the world economy go round. I lend you some ...

The big mistake we make in this life is that we think that happiness and joy are the same thing. They simply aren’t. Happiness relies on our circumstances, and they can change, ...

The big mistake we make in this life is that we think that happiness and joy are the same thing. They simply aren’t. Happiness relies on our circumstances, and they can change, ...

Regret is an emotion that, obviously, we wish we’d never experienced. And yet, here we are. We all know what that word “regret” means – not because we’ve read the ...

It’s funny how the human psyche works. Sometimes the obvious can be staring you in the face, but somehow your mind can’t grasp it. It’s only when you come back to it a ...

So, a question for you today: how often do you think about how you’re living your life? How often do you reflect on how you respond to different situations, different stimuli, ...

If you’re someone who joins me daily in this Fresh devotional message – whether by email, or on television, radio, through the many digital channels … wherever – have you ...

Imagine that you discover a precious, solid-gold cup in a rubbish heap. You pick it up – it’s filthy, it’s tarnished, it’s chipped. So you set about cleaning it up again ...

There’s a lot of pressure on any Christ-follower these days to bend their belief, their understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, away from that old-fashioned interpretation ...

When something’s truly important it’s worth saying twice, would you agree? And what’s truly important today, for you, me and anyone else who believes in Jesus, is not to ...

It’s always interesting to tap into the experiences of other people, particularly when those experiences are close encounters with God.  And that’s exactly what this ...

Few people realise the very significant burden that leaders carry. That mantle of leadership is one which can weigh heavy some days. Big decisions need to be made – sometimes, ...

Christians say some stupid things sometimes; seriously … like, “God never calls you to do anything that you’re not capable of.” Really? What planet are they living on, ...

Jesus promised His disciples many things. One of those promises that we can stand on with shouts of praise and hallelujah is that if they persecuted Him (which they did) they’re ...

So how do you turn a truth – even a biblical truth – into a lie? Easy! You cut it in half or quote it out of context – or preferably both. Just look at the devil. The father ...

There’s a risk (rather a large one actually) that the more we grow in maturity in our relationship with Jesus, the more His commands rule in our heart, the more we can get to ...

So, might I ask you today, what is it that’s chipping away at your faith in Jesus right at this moment? What issue, what doubt, what concern, what fear, what relationship is ...

Eternity seems like such a long way away, doesn’t it? Why is that? Well, probably because we’re so immersed in the day-to-day that the whole “eternity” thing is difficult ...

So much of what happens in our lives – is dictated by what’s going on in our hearts. And so many people want to be close to God – yet they pay no attention to what’s going ...

One of the most unpalatable things about being a Christian is repenting; turning away from what we know is wrong –  which is why a lot of people hold out on Jesus. The thing ...

You’ve probably noticed that it’s getting harder and harder to profess publicly that you believe in Jesus: this Jesus who calls us to obey Him; this Jesus who says that right ...

Have you ever felt like trash; as though the world’s chewed you up, spat you out and that’s it?! Everyone else is happy, well-adjusted, getting on with life, and you … ...

Can I be brutally honest with you today? I don’t think that those of us who call ourselves by Christ’s name – Christians – spend anywhere near enough time simply glorying ...

Who or what we allow to influence our thoughts and actions is something we rarely think about. In this media-driven age, mostly we just consume “stuff” without even thinking. ...

One of the things that parents fears most is that their child would be led astray by hanging out with the wrong crowd; by allowing the wrong people to become their role models. ...

I don’t think there’s any one of us who doesn’t want a better life. I don’t just mean worldly things like comfort and success. Sure, they’re nice. But mostly “a better ...

It’s amazing how we build up barriers in our relationships.  Relationships with other people, and in our relationship with God.  And those barriers are barriers to closeness, ...

Question … what does spiritual maturity look like? What’s the identifying marque, the brand, the logo, the thing by which you can immediately see the development of spiritual ...

Anyone who’s ever decided to follow Jesus will know that some days your faith can be sky-high. Other days … well, you get the wobbles don’t you? All those mistakes … am I ...

One of the greatest deceptions that the devil has perpetrated amongst God’s people is that we can be saved, that we can have the free gift of eternal life, without changing the ...

So, what matters most to you? What do you place the highest value on in your day-to-day life? Not in theory. I’m talking about reality –  the way you actually live your ...

A great part of what it means to grow up, to mature over the years, is to become less dependent on others and more self-dependent. And in part, that’s how it’s meant to me. ...

One of the things that frankly makes me wince every time I come across it in the Bible is the subject of circumcision. It was a requirement of the Old Testament law back before ...

There have been times in my life (and no doubt, in yours too) where the joy of the Lord seems to have evaporated. Jesus said and did all that He said and did to make our joy ...

There have been times in my life (and no doubt, in yours too) where the joy of the Lord seems to have evaporated. Jesus said and did all that He said and did to make our joy ...

Sometimes, amidst the trials and tribulations of life – it can feel like God’s a million miles away.  Our circumstances are so – real – we can wonder “Where is God? ...

No matter who we are, We live in a world that moves by so quickly – somehow there doesn’t seem to be time for relationships. With family. With friends… let alone with God. ...

You and I need reminding on a regular basis of just how big and powerful God is – because, let me tell you, the things we face in this world have a funny way of diminishing our ...

You and I need reminding on a regular basis of just how big and powerful God is – because, let me tell you, the things we face in this world have a funny way of diminishing our ...

Some people I know think that I’m crazy. Perhaps they’re right. Because I have this crazy notion that God is able to do anything – even the absolutely impossible and ...

Some people I know think that I’m crazy. Perhaps they’re right. Because I have this crazy notion that God is able to do anything – even the absolutely impossible and ...

In your life here and now, with all that you have going on, what are the things that you believe that you’re entitled to – the inviolable human rights that you should be ...

In your life here and now, with all that you have going on, what are the things that you believe that you’re entitled to – the inviolable human rights that you should be ...

Over the years, nationalism – which at its heart is really tribalism – has caused more trouble, more pain, more wars, and more death than any of us can wrap our minds around. ...

The thing that I’d most hate to be seen as is a hypocrite – not because I’m overly sensitive or precious about my reputation, but because as a hypocrite, I’d be bringing ...

Loving people you like, that’s pretty easy – even if there are a few bumps and wrinkles along the way. Loving people you don’t like, on the other hand … oh, man, really? ...

I wonder … what does “church” mean to you? Is it a building (for many it is)? Is it the traditional service that you attend on a Sunday? Is it an institution, a family, or ...

God has placed a special gift or ability inside each one of us. The sad thing is that it’s so easy for the day to day grind to bury that gift – and the dreams we may have had ...

One day this whole darned shootin’ match is going to come to an end. The heavens and the earth will pass away. Is that something you’re looking forward to … or not? Your ...

So, at what point does God lose patience with you? At what point does He say, “That’s it! Enough! No more! I’m done with you!”?  That’s a scary thought that I’m ...

There is – both out there in the world, and even amongst God’s own people, sadly – a palpable level of ignorance of Jesus … who (according to God’s Word) He is; what He ...

What is it in this world that you yearn for? What pleasures, what possessions, what particular thing do you dream of having in your grasp this side of eternity? And what are you ...

Have you ever been tempted to put God to the test? You know, you’re going through a rough patch so you throw the gauntlet down at His feet. “Well Lord, if you really love me, ...

Your enemy, the devil, has a number of very nasty habits. Up there at the top of his list is his habit of kicking you when you’re down, waiting until you’re at your weakest ...

Temptation has this tendency to sneak up on you without you even being aware that it’s coming. And then, all of a sudden, boom! You fall into sin, all the time wondering, ...

God has placed a special gift or ability inside each one of us. The sad thing is that it’s so easy for the day to day grind to bury that gift – and the dreams we may have had ...

Well, today is your final instalment in the “behind the scenes tour” of this, your daily devotional. And I have something truly special to share with you from God’s Word, ...

It’s an odd feeling, you know, sitting on this side of the Fresh devotional each day; my side – the side of praying, preparing, writing, recording, shooting a short message ...

Yesterday I shared a bit of what’s involved in producing this daily devotional and getting it out to the literally millions of people around the world who watch, listen to, or ...

So here’s a useless piece of information: today, this is the two-thousand-one-hundred-and-forty-sixth Fresh devotional that we here at the ministry of Christianityworks have ...

So, the other night we had a good friend over for dinner. His son and daughter-in-law were expecting a child. But in the middle of the meal, he received a devastating phone call ...

Life has a habit of … I don’t know … chipping away at your faith. Those bumps and bruises, the stresses and strains, the muck that life throws at you have a way of drawing ...

There seems to be three different phases in life. Things can be going brilliantly well, or just – you know – chugging along fine. Or for one reason or another, life can be a ...

As we step into this new year, there are so many people for whom the hurts, the losses, the failures, the regrets of last year are holding them back, robbing them of that sense of ...

Because we’re all human, our hearts are regularly torn between doing what’s right and succumbing to what’s wrong. It’s not just you or me. Everyone who sets their hearts ...

It’s funny how sin – I know, it’s not a popular word these days – has this habit of creeping back into our lives without us even realising it. Today it’s time for a ...

One of the things that we all should be thinking about at this time of year is our household budget, especially as the cost of living goes up putting pressure on our finances. How ...

If you’re anything like me, by now you have a bit of a plan for your year ahead – the things you want to achieve, the holidays you may want to take, the relationships that ...

If you’ve ever read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ public ministry … man, they’re pretty exciting. Healings, casting out demons, crowds, amazing preaching – great stuff. ...

What sort of a year are you looking forward to? Is it going to be the same old, same old … again? Same day job, same routine. Or are you looking forward to an adventure? What ...

So what is it that you do day after day? Perhaps you have a job so you go to work. Or you’re a homemaker. Or retired. What is it that’s going to take up a good chunk of your ...

As we step into this new year, there are so many people for whom the hurts, the losses, the failures, the regrets of last year are holding them back, robbing them of that sense of ...

As we step into this new year, there are so many people for whom the hurts, the losses, the failures, the regrets of last year are holding them back, robbing them of that sense of ...

If you were able to join me yesterday, you’ll recall that I promised you some good news about your future. And that’s exactly what I mean to deliver to you today … fantastic ...