Daily Hope Devotional

Do you ever wonder if prayer really works? Maybe you’re praying about something and Satan whispers to you, “This is a waste of time. Forget it! Who do you think you are? God is not … Continue reading Why Didn’t I Get What I Asked God For?

Before you start dating someone, it’s crucial that you make an honest assessment of your own emotional health and that of your potential partner. I remember marrying a couple many years ago at Saddleback. About … Continue reading Unpack Your Emotional Baggage Before Marriage

If you wait for the perfect wife or the perfect husband, you’ll never find them. Let me tell you why: No one is perfect. We’re all broken. And that’s okay. God loves you, despite your … Continue reading Let God Guide Your Choices

If you’re supposed to choose your friends carefully, you should be even more careful about choosing your life partner. And notice that you do get to choose. God leads, guides, and gives you guidelines. But … Continue reading Choose Your Partner Carefully

When you have conflict, focus on reconciliation, not resolution. There’s a big difference between those two words. Reconciliation means re-establishing the relationship. Resolution means resolving every issue. In most cases, resolution isn’t going to happen—there … Continue reading Peace with People Follows Peace with God

You only have a certain amount of emotional energy. When you’re trying to resolve conflict, you can use that energy either to fix the blame or to fix the problem. You don’t have enough energy … Continue reading Fix the Problem, Not the Blame

God wants you to live at peace with everyone. Why? Because unresolved conflict has three devastating effects in life. First, it blocks your fellowship with God. When you’re out of harmony with others, you can’t … Continue reading Courageous People Resolve Conflict

Hurt people hurt people. When someone hurts you, it’s because they’ve been hurt. Unkind people don’t feel kindness themselves. Unloving people feel unloved. When someone is rude, bitter, unkind, sarcastic, mean-spirited, or arrogant, they are … Continue reading Anger Yields Anger, Wisdom Yields Patience

When someone is angry with you, it’s easy to show anger in return. But before you allow yourself to get mad back, calculate what you’re going to lose. Calculate the cost of anger. The Bible … Continue reading The Cost of Anger

The Bible says wisdom “is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds” (James 3:17 NLT). In other words—even when people mess up, sin, fumble, and fail—it’s wise to show grace. God is both … Continue reading Wise People Choose Mercy