In this past week, I am bombarded with thousands of news stories and posts on social media about the different events that have shaken our nation as a whole. My heart is with every person that has been affected in one way or another by the catastrophes across the United States. One thing I do is pray for the beautiful United States of America (its citizens, its leaders in every level of government, and its law enforcement) which I call home, the land I was born and raised in, the land of the free because of the brave. We will never reach our nation only by talking about it, tweeting about it or even arguing about it. We need to stand together for our country. None of us is as good as all of us; we are united not by the color of our skin but by the content of our character and our heart.

It is our responsibility as Christians to let the world know what we stand for and what we are all about with boldness, passion, conviction, integrity, strength, and love. Remember, the world’s impression of God and faith are based on you {who they follow}. They are making a conclusion dependent on who you are leading them to.

This may sound familiar to you because you have heard this a thousand times before because you attend church every week or are a part of a connect group that meets regularly. Being able to build community is essential to your walk with God but now more than ever, He is calling His people to know Him by going deep in the scriptures. Expanding your knowledge in the Word and deepening your relationship with Christ is vital to knowing the heart of God because ultimately, to know Him is to love Him.

TRUST: If you want to align your emotions and perceptions with the truth, you need to go to the Word and find out what God says and thinks about you.

KNOW: It is critical for you to know the truth found in the Word.

This journey that you are with God will put you in uncomfortable situations {SPOILER ALERT} and, the only way you will be able to withstand the internal and external pressure is by having a firm foundation established on knowing and living out the scriptures.

LEAD: Your calling to follow Christ is also a calling to lead.

Leaders understand that the environments and the people they are called to influence need them to be healthy spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. Taking up your responsibility as a leader means accepting that your life affects others and that you will reproduce others who are like you.

Who you follow _______________.

Will reveal what you want

Will affect what you see

Will define you.

What you follow, you lead others to.

When you follow Christ, you walk into what God has arranged for you.