Weekly Advantage 

We all have a dream in our hearts. Our dreams are often big and require us to work for them – but the good news is we can live our dreams! Proverbs 16:9, encourages us to pursue our dreams, saying, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Once our dream is established in our hearts, we can move toward it in confidence, allowing the Lord to establish our steps and make us able to live our dream.

Courage is a powerful word, evoking images of bravery. Deep inside, we long to be more courageous than we are, knowing increased courage could be the key to unlocking our dreams! We often talk ourselves out of pursuing our dreams because of fear – fear of failure, fear of inadequacy, fear of what others will think, or countless other fears.

Many of you have heard the famous quote by Irving Berlin, “The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success.” And most of us can attest to the truth in his statement. Some people seem to understand how to become successful, but not how to stay on top. In some instances, their downfall is caused by others but most times the fault is theirs. Think about it – the steps to success are quite different than the steps required to stay successful.

Many of you have heard the famous quote by Irving Berlin, “The toughest thing about success is that you’ve got to keep on being a success.” And most of us can attest to the truth in his statement. Some people seem to understand how to become successful, but not how to stay on top. In some instances, their downfall is caused by others but most times the fault is theirs. Think about it – the steps to success are quite different than the steps required to stay successful.

Discover the power of identity through Christ and unpack the story of Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel and explore how our true identity is not defined by past events but by who we are in Christ. Learn how to overcome struggles, forgive, and move forward into a restored life filled with freedom and strength.

Our value and self-worth stand firm in our relationship with God. This week, let’s strive to remember we are established by our identity in Christ not by what we do.

In "A Year to a Better You: More than Meets the Eye – You are the Key to Your Success," discover how to break free from self-sabotage and position yourself for true success. This weekly advantage challenges us to reflect on the internal factors that often hinder our progress, drawing lessons from the story of Hophni and Phinehas. Learn how external appearances of success fall short without a genuine connection to God, and how aligning your heart with His purpose is key to unlocking the abundant life He desires for you.

The world places great value on the outside, but God defines our value based on what is on the inside just as we read in 1 Samuel 16:7. Self-esteem, self-respect, and integrity are among the internal dynamics which shape our character and influence our lives.

Philippians 3:13-14 “But I focus on this one thing Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Philippians 3:13-14 “But I focus on this one thing Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Desolation, the dark nights of the soul, marks the point in our lives when God feels we are ready to face truths about ourselves.

It should come as no surprise that our relationship with God overflows in worship – a lifestyle expressed through service, affirmation, gift-giving, singing, dancing, and even shouting. Living God’s way produces the confidence, purity, and strength we need to become warriors in God’s kingdom.