Mark Batterson

Do you look at things the way they are, and ask WHY? Or do you dream of things that never were, and ask WHY NOT? What got you HERE may not get you where God wants you to go NEXT. But you have to have the courage to ask, WHY NOT.

The faithfulness of God is always pursuing us from the past. The sovereignty of God is always bearing down on us from the future. We live in the gap between SO FAR SO GOD and THE BEST IS YET TO COME. No matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. But we have to add the “Amen!”

There never has been and never will be anyone like you, but that isn’t a testament to you. It’s a testament to the God who created you absolutely unique. God knows you better than you know you, which is why a relationship with God is so critical. You cannot reach your full potential without the God who gave it to you. Yes, we are better together. But we are best in relationship with God.

Grace means I’ll love you no matter what. Truth means I’ll be honest with you no matter what. Tough love happens where grace and truth meet, and it’s embodied by the person of Jesus. Discover the habits of highly effective grace givers and truth tellers: 1) know your tendency 2) don’t use your personality as a crutch 3) consider the source 4) know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em 5) pray it before you say it 6) level the playing field 7) catch people doing things right.

Destiny is not a mystery. Destiny is a decision. You are one decision away from a totally different life.

Don’t seek opportunity. Seek God. If you seek God, opportunity will seek you.

If you find yourself in a dark place, Pastor Mark shares four helpful hacks: 1) It’s always darkest before dawn 2) Widen your aperture 3) Live in day-tight compartments 4) Let your light shine

The heart of God is always oriented toward things that are broken. That’s how the grace of God seeps into the crevices of our heart. That’s also where mission begins. You need to inventory the broken places in your life, because those are the very places where God wants you to help others heal.

God loves you just the way you are, but he loves you too much to leave you that way! He is the God of comfort, but our comfort isn’t His ultimate goal. His ultimate goal is that we would be conformed to the image of Christ. What makes us think we can be conformed to His image without going through some of the same things Jesus went through? The good news is God is working all things together for good. Our job? One, learn the lessons God is trying to teach us. Two, cultivate the character God is trying to grow in us.

The power of prayer is not the words we chose. The power of prayer is the God we pray to--the Alpha and Omega. He is God Most High, but He is also God Most Nigh. He is God with us, no matter what. Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus!