Changing Your World Podcast with Creflo Dollar

Christians are confronting a subtle but dangerous spiritual threat disguised as ease. Convenience can bless us when it serves God's purpose, yet it quietly harms us when it replaces devotion, obedience, and community. If we find ourselves at this point, we can remember how passion once burned in us and examine what caused that fire to fade. Apathy often hides behind the language of efficiency, speed, and personal comfort. God is challenging us choose Christ's mission over convenience so that we can step into deeper maturity and lasting impact.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Living outside of biblical context opens the door to fear, which becomes the loudest and most deceptive false prophet in our lives. When we read Scripture without anchoring everything to Jesus and His finished works, we begin interpreting God through pressure, fear, and self-effort rather than through grace. As we rightly divide the Word, we see that many commonly feared passages were never written to believers but to those who had not yet believed in Christ. We grow in confidence when we realize that Jesus knows His sheep, remains with them, and never abandons them. Staying rooted in Christ instead of striving through religion lets us we walk free of fear and mature in an authentic, life-giving relationship with God.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

True Christian living is all about resting in the finished works of Jesus Christ. When Jesus declared "It is finished," He meant that redemption, righteousness, and blessings are complete and can't be earned; it's critical that we understand this. The call is to labor—not to achieve, but to stay in alignment through prayer, Scripture, and fellowship. Righteousness, healing, and prosperity are gifts, not goals, and striving to earn them short-circuits grace and numbs intimacy with God. We can stop trying to perform for acceptance and instead trust that we're already fully loved, forgiven, and complete in Him.

o support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

As believers, our authority comes from our identity in Jesus Christ. We're righteous, forgiven, healed, and one with God. It's imperative that we know who we are; if not, we must renew our minds to our true identity. Operating in our identity as God's children gives us the same power and ability as Christ holds. Faith in this saves us from useless self-effort to do what's already done. Allowing God to change our thinking results in life-changing transformation in us.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

We've been given tremendous power. The authority that God gave Jesus and Jesus shared with His disciples is the same ability that He, in turn, gave to us. This empowers us to do the same things that He did during His ministry, including healing the sick, casting out unclean spirits, and even raising the dead and walking on water. This is something the devil doesn't want us to know, which is why it's so important to visualize ourselves as we already are in Christ. Changing our thinking from how the world thinks to how God thinks positions us to receive from Him.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

The quality of our lives depends on living daily from our true identity in Christ. The concept of sin has changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament; sin is not just bad behavior but being out of sync with who we truly are. When we align with our Jesus identity, we stop striving and start flowing in purpose, peace, and power. Living from identity brings freedom from comparison, judgment, and performance-based religion. It is a call to remember who we are and respond accordingly.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Knowing our identity in Christ elevates our lives to a whole new level. Jesus' death and resurrection defeated sin, brought reconciliation to all of humanity, and defined who we are in Him. Under grace, sin isn't about what we do, but about being out of sync with our true identity as God's sons and daughters. We no longer have to rely on useless self-effort, because victory in life is one of the finished works of Jesus. Being aware of what has already been done for us protects us from the enemy's lies and attacks.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Offense is a subtle but powerful force that can stop our spiritual progress if we allow it to take root. It often begins with unmet expectations or careless words that strike a sensitive place in our hearts. When we accept offense, it turns into hurt and disappointment, and if left unprocessed, it becomes bitterness. This progression opens a door for the enemy, giving him an advantage and eventually causing believers to abandon the Word and the will of God. Grace is the key to breaking this cycle; it empowers us to forgive quickly and remain aligned with our identity in Christ.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Offense is a spiritual trap that can derail us from the path God has prepared for our lives. When we get offended, we allow external actions or words to penetrate our hearts, giving them power over our peace. Bitterness is the result of unresolved offense and can corrupt our relationships, our joy, and our ability to love others well. Our focus must remain on Christ, not on people, because only He is unfailing and trustworthy. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome offense and bitterness, leading us into healing, restoration, and freedom.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Under the law, the people constantly toiled to become righteous through their own efforts. Any blessings they received were conditional and based on their performance; they had to work for God's approval. Under grace, everything has flipped: because of the finished works of Jesus and our faith in them, we're no longer working for righteousness but from righteousness. When the world pressures us to fall in with its principles, we must make the effort to agree with the salvation God has given us. Believers have been taken from grinding through hard work and drudgery to get closer to God to simply responding to the nearness we already have with Him.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

When we first get saved, one of the biggest changes we undergo is a shift in mindset. Until we learn to begin renewing our minds, we tend to think we must continue striving through our own efforts to follow a list of rules. This was okay under the old covenant, but we're now living under the new covenant. The effort of trying to get God to do what is complete has been replaced by the effort to maintain an intimate, personal relationship with Him. Now, the only effort required is the effort to participate in what's already finished through Jesus.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

To benefit from God's grace, we must first understand it. As the human manifestation of grace, Jesus made it possible for us to live free from sin and condemnation. Depending on Him allows Him to be our provision, both on the physical and on the spiritual level. He is our provider, our righteousness, and everything else we need in this life. Because of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made, God can now deal with us with mercy and kindness under grace instead of through judgment and punishment under the law.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Without a proper understanding of God's Word and how to apply it, we make the mistake of thinking that He contradicts Himself. One example is the difference between a believer's stance in Christ and his state. Our stance before God as righteous and holy was settled when we accepted Jesus Christ; however, our state refers to the lifelong process of God continually working in us during our journey. We aren't what we do; God has already declared us His children, regardless of our behavior. God chose us as His beloved even before the foundation of the earth, and our state can never change our stance; this is something to thank and praise Him for.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Grace is the teacher who imparts to the believer the things of God. To understand what God is trying to show us, we must have spiritual vision. This vision is impossible without the Holy Spirit, who administers God's moral law in love and reveals to us that life has radically changed since Jesus ended the Mosaic Law. Under the old covenant, doing was important; under the new covenant, believing is now important. Faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross takes all the pressure off us to perform and enables us to do things we could never do through our own efforts.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Too many believers unknowingly settle for less than what God has intended for them, often due to fear, complacency, or a lack of understanding of their identity in Christ. Settling is described as forfeiting God's best by clinging to what is familiar, average, or easier. We're called to renew our minds, confront fear with faith, and refuse to compromise our values in order to walk in God's promises. Dreaming bigger in God allows us to expand our vision and align with His supernatural plans. Ultimately, we're reminded that we're God's beloved and fully worthy of His best right now.

Believers must be vigilant to avoid settling for less than God's best in various aspects of life. Some of the dangers in doing this include distorting our identity in Christ, accepting bondage, and compromising our values. Our success in daily living hinges on recognizing our worth in Christ and refusing to justify unhappiness or stagnation. By not settling for toxic lifestyles, we become strong witnesses for Christ. We succeed by rising up to our true identity in Christ and living lives of faith and abundance.

We must never forget the importance of giving from a place awareness of God's love for us, instead of from a sense of duty that causes us to give grudgingly. Being a giver awakens us to the blessings we already have in Christ. God's economy is one of abundance; giving therefore reflects an awareness of this, rather than of our own worthiness. There's a contrast between the consequences of being in and out of God's will; challenges come in both situations but serve different purposes. Trusting in His guidance allows us to experience the fullness of His blessings.

Just as staying in God's will lets us experience supernatural prosperity, success, and joy, there are also consequences for stepping outside of it. Under the old covenant of the law, disobedience resulted in curses, separation from God, captivity, fear, guilt, and even death. Under the new covenant of grace, although we no longer experience curses, we do encounter loss of peace, joy, confidence, and fellowship when we fall out of alignment with His will. The enemy uses offense, bitterness, and distractions to draw us away from the place where God has already

Being conscious of our sins is not the way God wants us to live. By contrast, being aware of how God sees us in Christ—innocent and free—lets us focus on our righteousness. We are forgiven because Jesus has dealt with our sin. We are not what we do; bad behavior does not separate a person from God, but rather the sinful nature of a person before they get born again. Living under the law always creates guilt and self-condemnation for failing in our self-efforts to perform good enough to please God; by comparison, living under grace redefines our identity. It restores us to the fact that He originally created us as righteous, blameless, and holy. Believing that God decided to make us just like Him even before the beginning of time keeps us anchored in our true identity when the world bombards us with messages to the contrary.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

The devil is always actively working to destroy us. One of the ways he makes inroads in our lives is by getting us to be more aware of our sins and shortcomings instead of our righteousness. God sees born-again believers as innocent and acquitted of all accusations the enemy has made against us. We must therefore be more conscious of what Jesus has done for us under grace than sin, and the shame and guilt that accompanies it. Focusing on grace instead of on the law shows us that we are no longer sinners, but saints. Accepting our stance in Christ positions us to enjoy eternal life in heaven with God. Choosing to live under grace frees from the law's curses and reveals to us our righteous stance in Him as citizens of heaven.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

An awareness of sin is Satan's number one weapon to keep believers stagnant and paralyzed in one place. His strategy is to constantly remind us of our mistakes so that he can control us through guilt and shame. This spiritual paralysis is not a good place to be because being conscious of sin keeps us from receiving the liberty that Jesus gave us. The battle started in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned and went from being innocent to feeling guilty, ashamed, and afraid. This led to the temporary establishment of the Mosaic Law until Jesus came. Now that grace has come, God invites us to live under it so that sin will no longer have dominion over us. Thankfully, because of what Jesus did, we have been pardoned, forgiven, and declared innocent.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Soul prosperity has a strong connection to overall wellbeing, particularly physical health. True prosperity begins with inner wholeness, which is composed of a healthy soul (mind, will, and emotions) that is aligned with God's grace and the finished work of Jesus Christ. We must understand that external prosperity flows from internal prosperity, and that many physical and emotional issues stem from an unprosperous soul.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

True prosperity is wholeness, meaning nothing missing and nothing broken, and it's not limited to financial wealth. Wholeness includes peace, health, relationships, purpose, joy, security, and a clear identity in Christ. This prosperity is a finished work through Jesus and is received, not earned by performance or religious duty. Believers are called to rest in the reality that they're already blessed and to live from that truth. The overall goal is to shift from striving and fear of lack to resting and trusting in God's unending provision.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Grace-based success isn't defined by material wealth or external achievements but by wholeness, identity in Christ, and alignment with God's purpose. True prosperity means nothing missing and nothing broken in every area of life—spirit, soul, and body. Success flows from knowing who you are in Christ and allowing that identity to guide your purpose, rather than chasing validation or worldly definitions. Purpose isn't what you do but what flows from who you are in Christ. Living from rest, not striving, and allowing Christ to be formed in you is the essence of grace-based success.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Believers have been made right with God. He sees us as righteous not because of anything good we have done, but because of what Jesus did and our faith in that. Our right-standing with God is the result of being born again; at that point, He immediately saw us as holy, perfect, and redeemed. This stance in Christ is permanent and independent of our behavior, which reflects our continually transforming state on our Christian journey. Understanding what He is trying to teach us equips us to bring the Word of grace to a guilt-ridden, sin-conscious world.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Believers have been made right with God, regardless of their actions. As Christians, we're righteous because God says so and we believe it; this is our stance, which is permanent. By contrast, our state is continually changing as we progress through our earthly lives, making mistakes but gradually becoming more and more like Christ. The world offers us plenty of choices of foundations to build our lives on; any foundation other than Jesus Christ will crumble and fall when trouble hits. Basing our identity on Him makes us ready for heaven.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

God has great plans for our lives, but those plans are blocked when we deceive ourselves. Deceiving ourselves makes us spiritually blind to the truth of a situation; this is something God wants to deliver us from. Self-deception springs from the fall of man in the garden of Eden, and our sinful nature that resulted from it. The lies we believe about ourselves neutralize us. Recognizing who we are in Christ and believing what God says about us opens our eyes to the truth about ourselves.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

True prosperity is defined not by money or possessions but by wholeness, which includes having peace, joy, health, purpose, and an intimate relationship with God. Under grace, prosperity flows from our identity in Christ, not from performance or religious obligation. Joseph was called prosperous not because of his status or wealth, but because of God's presence with him; today, we have God in us. Giving is no longer transactional but an expression of love and alignment with Jesus' finished works. Grace-based prosperity is rooted in relationship, not religion, and transforms every area of our lives.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

God wants to empower us. Specifically, He wants us to be able to break free from addictions, cravings, and lasciviousness. Submitting to a change in identity—from who the world tells us we are to who Christ says we are—delivers us from addictive behavior. Seeing ourselves the way God sees us through Jesus changes our thinking, which subsequently changes what we do. Looking to Christ is the only way to find freedom from our sins.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Christians live in a culture diametrically opposed to the way God designed them. We're spirit beings living in a carnal external environment filled with ungodly influences constantly pulling at us. These influences suggest that giving in to cravings and addictions—not the presence of God—will make us happy. The devil, who is behind those influences, attacks our thinking and tries his best to make us sin-conscious. We maintain our peace and joy when we're aware of our identity in Christ and refuse to let go of it.

o support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

In these last days, we'll see unprecedented global changes, but not all of them will be good. Persecution will increase as part of Satan's targeted attack against believers and against God's church. The enemy will use shame, guilt, and condemnation as weapons; we're to respond by standing in our righteousness and in our identity in Christ. Our trust in God and in His grace gives us power over the enemy. Despite the vastness of the universe and all the places where God could have abided, He loves us so much that He chose to live in us; we must therefore never let religion talk us out of who we are in Him.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

As God's people, believers have been set aside as being different from everyone else. Our faith in Christ makes us stand out from the common people; it also draws hostility from a world that gives no regard for God. We're spirits possessing souls, which are where our thoughts and emotions live; in light of this, it's imperative that we carefully monitor who is influencing our thought lives: Satan rules the world, and his strategy is to invade our minds by ensnaring us in worldly things. By remaining strangers to the things the world considers home, we allow the Holy Spirit to keep us safe from danger.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

We've been given tremendous power. The authority that God gave Jesus and Jesus shared with His disciples is the same ability that He, in turn, gave to us. This empowers us to do the same things that He did during His ministry, including healing the sick, casting out unclean spirits, and even raising the dead and walking on water. However, nothing will happen until we "flip the switch" and activate this power by believing it. Changing our thinking from how the world thinks to how God thinks positions us to receive from Him.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Christmas is a major global event, but most people are unaware of the real reasons why Jesus was born. Millions of people who observe Christmas don't even believe in Him; however, the significance of His birth goes much deeper than the secular holiday traditions the world has created. In addition to paying the price to save us from our sins, Jesus was born to make us children of God and bring the truth of His favor toward us. He also came to take away condemnation, bring His Holy Spirit to guide us on a daily basis, and offer eternal life in heaven. A single event—the birth of Jesus—changed the entire course of human history; this is something for which we can wholeheartedly celebrate.

o support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Under the covenant of grace, we no longer need to depend on our own efforts to earn God's approval like the people had to do under the law. Because of our belief in Jesus and in His finished works, God has already approved of us and declared us righteous. All that remains for us to do now is to respond to what has already been done. The new covenant calls for the effort to stay rooted in grace when everything around us tries to pull us back into performance. Living under grace doesn't mean the absence of labor, but laboring to remain at rest when the devil tries to distract us with the world's doubts, fears, and anxieties.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Believers have been made right with God. He sees us as righteous not because of anything good we have done, but because of what Jesus did and our faith in that. This is a significant departure from Old-Testament law, which demanded strict obedience and constant self-effort to earn righteousness. Our right-standing with God is the result of being born again; at that point, He immediately saw us as holy, perfect, and redeemed. This stance in Christ is permanent and independent of our behavior, which reflects our continually transforming state on our Christian journey; God will continue to work in us until our state eventually evolves to meet our stance.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Believers are God's children. Knowing who we are impacts our daily living in everything concerning us as well as how we should see ourselves. We're no longer our old selves, but are now righteous, redeemed, holy, and perfect in Christ. Believing this changes the way we think, which in turn changes our behavior for the better. Because of what God did, we can now dispense with struggling through self-effort to become what we already are right now and simply embrace it.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Knowing who we are and why we were created requires that we understand and live from our identity in Christ rather than trying to become something through performance. Believers are already complete, holy, and righteous in Christ and need to align themselves with these truths rather than trying to achieve them. This true identity impacts various areas of life including marriage, work, and prayer. A key point is that guilt and shame act as "identity amnesia," causing believers to forget who they are in Christ.; coming out of hiding is therefore essential to defeating shame. For a successful life, we must learn to apply these identity truths.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Accepting and believing who we are in Christ allows us to do miracles. As reflections of Jesus, we have the same capability to walk on water the way He and the apostle Peter did. We have the supernatural authority to heal just like Jesus heals—if we believe it. We're God's children, with no need for us to earn that status. Because of who we are, we have the same authority and dominion as Christ; we must never let anyone convince us otherwise.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

A proper interpretation of the Bible is essential if we as believers are to be effective in sharing the Gospel of Grace. When Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, He meant it in a broader sense of simply traveling to a physical location to spread the Word we have been given; He meant incorporating it into everything we do as part of our everyday lives. Reading the New Testament requires that we read it through the lens of the finished works of Jesus Christ; our faith should be based on the same thing. Jesus is what God believes about us; therefore, agreeing with Him elevates us from operating from faith in God to the faith of God, Himself.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

When we get born again, God immediately declares us righteous because of our belief in Jesus. This is our stance in Christ, independent of our actions. Our behavior certainly does matter, but our actions must come out of our faith in God's grace; otherwise, they're empty works. We could never earn our righteousness or our salvation; we received them as gifts because we believed. Just like Abraham, God sees us as righteous when trust in Him—not in ourselves—for the motivation behind the things we do.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

It's impossible to separate the Holy Spirit from the Gospel of Grace. Unlike the long lists of rules and regulations that administered the law, the Spirit now administers this new covenant and governs the believer in love. The focus has shifted from Old-Testament rules to New-Testament faith; God's commandments are no longer carved in stone but now written in our hearts. Letting Him guide and direct us is a sign of spiritual maturity. Yielding to the Holy Ghost, our unseen partner, allows us to prosper and live abundantly.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

For the new covenant of grace to manifest itself in our lives, we need the Holy Spirit's presence. It's good to have knowledge of scriptural principles, but He takes that knowledge one step further by making it real and bringing it to life. The law didn't stop at just the Ten Commandments; it included hundreds of additional rules designed to externally regulate man's moral behavior. By comparison, the new covenant of grace isn't administered by laws written in stone or on tablets, but by the Holy Ghost who lives in us. Letting the new covenant's most important commandment—the law of love—transform us from the inside out is something the Law of Moses could never accomplish.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Our mindset makes a huge difference in how we live our lives. Being conscious of our sins causes us shame and condemnation; by contrast, being aware of our innocence in Jesus Christ frees us from negative emotions and changes our behavior. Most churches constantly focus on sin; however, Jesus delivered us from this, and God has now forgiven all believers. Faith in this this makes us righteous, so that we therefore no longer have to define ourselves by our performance. Jesus is enough; believing Him reveals to us who we really are.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

eing conscious of our sins isn't the way God wants us to live. By contrast, being aware of how God sees us in Christ—innocent and free—lets us focus on our righteousness. We are forgiven because Jesus has dealt with our sin. We aren't what we do; bad behavior doesn't separate a person from God, but rather the sinful nature of a person before they get born again. Believing that God decided to make us just like Him even before the beginning of time keeps us anchored in our true identity when the world bombards us with messages to the contrary.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

An awareness of sin is Satan's number one weapon to keep believers stagnant and paralyzed in one place. His strategy is to constantly remind us of our mistakes so that he can control us through guilt and shame. This spiritual paralysis isn't a good place to be because being conscious of sin keeps us from receiving the liberty that Jesus gave us. Now that grace has come, God invites us to live under it so that sin will no longer have dominion over us. Thankfully, because of what Jesus did, we have been pardoned, forgiven, and declared innocent.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

ur relationships with others can sometimes be eye-opening. No two people are the same, and everyone we come into contact with brings different life experiences and emotional baggage into the relationship. When we least expect it, emotions can boil over and a simple misunderstanding can erupt into a dramatic reaction. We can be blindsided by it if we aren't prepared; asking God to help us when we need it is the key to prospering and succeeding in our emotional lives. Reaching a point of emotional maturity that helps us recognize when drama is heading our way gives us the ability to handle it successfully and maintain peace and tranquility.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

Living under grace as believers means we're God's children. As our heavenly Father, He loves us enough to chasten and correct us as needed. It's painful while we're going through it, but it's not punishment; chastening is a sign that we're God's son or daughter. It's God's way of dealing with our sins but doing so in love. We're unlike the unsaved world that doesn't know Jesus and therefore doesn't undergo the chastening process; we therefore can rejoice when we undergo it.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483

or visit www.worldchangers.org

The world we live in is filled with negativity, despair, and hopelessness. However, studying the Bible reveals to us how we can experience victory despite what's going on around us. In the Old Testament, David the young shepherd provided a strong example of how to overcome challenges. Despite the fear around him when Goliath showed up, David never gave up hope; he faced a giant much bigger than himself and slew him. Our strength lies in spending time with God; hearing directly from Him in the midst of the situation causes us to prevail.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org

Deceiving ourselves trips us up on our spiritual walk. When we deceive ourselves, we're blind to the assumptions we make and think we're right when we're actually wrong. Much of this is delivered through the pulpit; wrong doctrine deceives us so that we don't see the truth of God's love and grace. Letting the Holy Spirit guide us in how to live keeps us humble and protects us from pride, which is closely intertwined with self-deception. Sharing God's perspective though Jesus Christ gives us the spiritual vision we need.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483or visit www.worldchangers.org

The most dangerous thing about self-deception is that when we're operating in it, we don't even know that we're being deceived. Failing to be true to what we believe is right causes us to rationalize and make excuses. Deceiving ourselves causes a disturbance in us that we can't reconcile, because deep down inside, we know exactly what we should do. Fooling ourselves in this manner results in spiritual blindness us to the truth. The best way to avoid this trap is to follow through and live the Word of grace after hearing it; this powerfully internalizes the truth as it is now.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483or visit www.worldchangers.org

Feeling like we're inadequate causes us to focus solely on ourselves instead of on God, and brings us into self-effort to try to improve ourselves. We're delivered from this emotion through our belief in Jesus Christ and our dependence on Him. The world has plenty of "solutions" for the negative emotions associated with condemnation, but trusting in and relying on Jesus is the only permanent one.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483or visit www.worldchangers.org

Change is necessary for growth, and if we've been born again, our own lives should demonstrate transformation. Others should be able to look at us and notice some type of difference or alternate route taken as a result of our Christian walk. Yielding to the Holy Spirit's prompting and beginning to think in line with Him begins changing our lives radically. Letting God direct and guide us as we change is similar to the metamorphosis a caterpillar undergoes in becoming a butterfly. When we cooperate with Christ in this process, our lives will be totally different and unrecognizable from what they were previously.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org

When we get born again, we receive a new nature and become as perfect and flawless in God's eyes as Jesus, Himself. God sees everyone who has accepted Christ as completely righteous. However, we'll still continue falling short and committing sinful acts while on our Christian journey. The difference between the old and the new is that God no longer holds our sins against us because our old, sinful selves have died. We're not what we do, and we don't become sinners again when we sin; our new identity is based in Jesus, not in Adam.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org

The coming year will be a pivotal point for Christians. The changes it will bring will include a split within the church in which people fall away from the faith and their love will grow cold. There will be plenty of slander, conflict, and offense, and people will compromise their values; however, we'll recover from that. On a global level, governments will team up and become allies in preparation for the anti-Christ, whose mission it will be to destroy God's church; on a personal level, there will be a vicious attack on our souls, in which the devil will try to get us to question our righteousness in Christ. However, our identity is based not on what we do, but on what Jesus did; standing firm on this in the midst of Satan's attacks keeps us spiritually safe.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org

God wants to empower us. Specifically, He wants us to be able to break free from addictions, cravings, and lasciviousness. Submitting to a change in identity—from who the world tells us we are to who Christ says we are—delivers us from addictive behavior. Seeing ourselves the way God sees us through Jesus changes our thinking, which subsequently changes what we do. Looking to Christ is the only way to find freedom from our sins.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org

Being conscious of our sins is not the way God wants us to live. By contrast, being aware of how God sees us in Christ—innocent and free—lets us focus on our righteousness. We are forgiven because Jesus has dealt with our sin. We are not what we do; bad behavior does not separate a person from God, but rather the sinful nature of a person before they get born again. Living under the law always creates guilt and self-condemnation for failing in our self-efforts to perform good enough to please God; by comparison, living under grace redefines our identity. It restores us to the fact that He originally created us as righteous, blameless, and holy. Believing that God decided to make us just like Him even before the beginning of time keeps us anchored in our true identity when the world bombards us with messages to the contrary.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

What we focus on dramatically impacts the quality of our lives. An awareness of sin, and the shame and guilt it brings, comes from the knowledge of the law. It causes believers to see themselves as unworthy and condemned because of their failures, and makes them think they must work to get into heaven. By comparison, being aware that we are innocent comes from knowing that Jesus has redeemed us and made us righteous. We will never experience the freedom grace brings if we remain conscious of our sins. Jesus, who is perfect and flawless, went to the cross and exchanged His perfection and righteousness for our imperfections and sinfulness. Choosing to be in Christ therefore empowers us to walk in the Spirit and frees us from all condemnation.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

The devil is always actively working to destroy us. One of the ways he makes inroads in our lives is by getting us to be more aware of our sins and shortcomings instead of our righteousness. God sees born-again believers as innocent and acquitted of all accusations the enemy has made against us. We must therefore be more conscious of what Jesus has done for us under grace than sin, and the shame and guilt that accompanies it. Focusing on grace instead of on the law shows us that we are no longer sinners, but saints. Accepting our stance in Christ positions us to enjoy eternal life in heaven with God. Choosing to live under grace frees from the law's curses and reveals to us our righteous stance in Him as citizens of heaven.

To the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

An awareness of sin is Satan's number one weapon to keep believers stagnant and paralyzed in one place. His strategy is to constantly remind us of our mistakes so that he can control us through guilt and shame. This spiritual paralysis is not a good place to be because being conscious of sin keeps us from receiving the liberty that Jesus gave us. The battle started in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned and went from being innocent to feeling guilty, ashamed, and afraid. This led to the temporary establishment of the Mosaic Law until Jesus came. Now that grace has come, God invites us to live under it so that sin will no longer have dominion over us. Thankfully, because of what Jesus did, we have been pardoned, forgiven, and declared innocent.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Deceiving ourselves comes with serious consequences. Telling ourselves a lie so often that we eventually believe it blinds us to the truth by producing a false view of our circumstances. Personally, it damages relationships and stunts our personal growth; in leadership, it leads to poor decision-making because leaders may overlook problems or crucial feedback. Failing to deal with self-deception keeps us from growing and developing spiritually. By comparison, seeing the truth of God's love and how it applies to us gives us our lives back. A willingness to face our real selves just as we are, despite the pain involved, is how we avoid being deceived. Accepting our authentic selves without buying into a cheap copy of ourselves lets us be who God made us to be.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Deceiving ourselves trips us up on our spiritual walk. When we deceive ourselves, we are blind to the assumptions we make and think we are right when we are actually wrong. Much of this is delivered through the pulpit; wrong doctrine deceives us so that we do not see the truth of God's love and grace. Our success in life hinges on knowing our true identity as His righteous children. God wants to show us that we are His reflection; understanding this prevents us from being deceived. Letting the Holy Spirit guide us in how to live keeps us humble and protects us from pride, which is closely intertwined with self-deception. Sharing God's perspective though Jesus Christ gives us the spiritual vision we need.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

God has great plans for our lives, but those plans are blocked when we deceive ourselves. Deceiving ourselves makes us spiritually blind to the truth of a situation; this is something God wants to deliver us from. Self-deception springs from the fall of man in the garden of Eden, and our sinful nature that resulted from it. The devil works through this and tries to convince us that our identity is based on our bad behavior instead of on God's Word concerning our righteousness. What was true under the law may no longer be true under grace; we fool ourselves when we think we must live by an outdated covenant. The lies we believe about ourselves neutralize us. Recognizing who we are in Christ and believing what God says about us opens our eyes to the truth about ourselves.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

The most dangerous thing about self-deception is that when we are operating in it, we do not even know that we are being deceived. Failing to be true to what we believe is right causes us to rationalize and make excuses. Being true to our sense of what the right thing is relieves us from having to explain our actions; if we are false to our belief, then our excuses make the wrong thing that we are doing appear right. Deceiving ourselves causes a disturbance in us that we cannot reconcile because deep down inside, we know exactly what we should do. Fooling ourselves in this manner results in spiritual blindness us to the truth. This type of thinking is something we must beware of because it is built into the world's norms and values. The best way to avoid this trap is to follow through and live the Word of grace after hearing it; this powerfully internalizes the truth as it is now.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

To experience God's best, it is important not to live in deception. This especially applies to us because believing the wrong thing causes us to deceive ourselves. Operating too long in deception can harden our hearts and lead us to believe a lie. We are all susceptible to this; God therefore wants to work with us to help us stop fooling ourselves. Letting Him guide us in this area keeps our spiritual eyes open so that we can see the dangers of associating with the wrong kinds of people and avoid being corrupted. When we see others in self-deception, we must tell them the truth, but do so in love. Studying God's Word concerning this keeps us from falling into this trap.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

One thing we can count on as Christians is that we will encounter trouble and tribulation. There is no escaping this; however, in the midst of the suffering, we must learn to depend on God as the one who brings us through it all. This helps us to navigate through all the stress that life throws at us. The very nature of His grace demands dependence on Him; grace from God, and our faith in Him, must become inseparable. Trusting God to this degree means that instead of asking Him to take away the pain, we begin thanking Him for going through it with us. Choosing to depend on Him as our source impacts every area that concerns us, including our financial lives. A decision to rely on God as our source for everything we need to succeed impacts our hearts and makes us generous. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

When we pray, we demonstrate our trust and reliance on God. Praying with the right motives does not involve loud wailing and constant repetition to impress others; it is our way of having a private conversation with Him. Prayer reminds us to always acknowledge God's involvement in everything concerning our lives, and that we cannot live apart from Him. It requires our acknowledgement that we are helpless without God, but confident in His ability and willingness to supply our needs. Prayer reflects an attitude of putting Him first, above anything else. This is a significant departure from the religious attitude that emphasizes self-effort. The prayer that reflects our faith in God to take care of us in good times as well as bad helps us maintain the proper mindset. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

As God's children, our heavenly Father has made a commitment to take care of us. This extends not just to our finances, but to every other area of our lives as well. When we have a need, we do not have to strive or toil to take care of it ourselves; we can simply respond to God's promise to handle it. This gives us peace and assurance that we can depend and rely on Him for everything. Trusting in God more than in money gives us the proper perspective on financial giving; it allows us to bless others and make a positive difference in their lives. Money is simply a tool; letting God direct us in what we give financially allows Him to bless us abundantly, so that those blessings overflow and splash into others' lives. It is okay to be wealthy as long as we know how to handle our wealth; using it to help others enables Christians to stand out like a bright light, the way God intends for us to. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

We live in a world of people accustomed to depending on themselves and their own abilities. As born-again believers, however, we are called to live godly; this requires total dependence on God. A godly lifestyle is free from doubting His wisdom, love, goodness, and provision. Unlike what religion teaches, this means to have faith in Him, and not in what we know intellectually. We apply this in a practical way when we deliberately seek God's will and let it govern our lives and everything we do. A godly lifestyle also involves regular prayer as well as an attitude of thanksgiving. Letting God set us aside for His purpose constantly reminds us of how much we rely on Him daily.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast", a space, and your amount to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

"Message and Data rates may apply. You will receive a maximum of two text messages per user response. You can text the word "Help" for assistance or "Stop" to opt out. Visit https://app.securegive.com to view Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. "

We are in a spiritual battle with Satan. In this fight, our enemy always concentrates his attacks on our thoughts. Whatever happens in our minds translates into our lives; therefore, how we think determines whether we win or lose in life. Wearing God's Word like armor to protect us is the key to winning in spiritual warfare; it does not involve fighting to win, but standing firm in the victory Jesus has already won. Our thoughts are powerful weapons; however, carelessness in our thought lives gives the enemy an opportunity to turn those weapons against us. We fight back by resisting worldly philosophies and allowing the Word to shape our thinking. Molding our thoughts to God's thoughts gives us triumph.

To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast", a space, and your amount to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

"Message and Data rates may apply. You will receive a maximum of two text messages per user response. You can text the word "Help" for assistance or "Stop" to opt out. Visit https://app.securegive.com to view Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. "

Believers are in a spiritual battle with Satan, who is constantly attacking our minds. Our thoughts determine the course of our lives; we therefore must be aware of what we think. The devil wants to disrupt our lives with suggestions that contradict God's Word; God warns us to be vigilant of his attacks. Our mentality makes the difference between success or failure; this is where the fight takes place. If we do not have an organized system of thought, we will always be at the mercy of those who do. We succeed only when we allow the Word, and the Holy Spirit, to govern our thought lives. The decision to focus our thinking on the Word, and not on our physical senses, allows us to experience success. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

The devil is constantly lying to us. Although he is a defeated foe, he continues to come up with strategies to make us think otherwise. The weapons he uses to kill and destroy us and to get us to accept defeat are deception, distraction, discouragement, and suggestion. Religion is the area he prefers to focus on; specifically, he wants to keep us following the Law of Moses. We fight back and win by changing our way of thinking from religious tradition to the truth of God's Word. What was true under the law is no longer true under grace; now, we do not need to rely on our self-efforts to please God because if we trust in Jesus and in what He did for us, then God is already pleased with us. Believing this helps us maintain our victory. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Believers are under constant attack from the devil. Although Jesus has already defeated the enemy through His finished works, Satan continues to focus his attacks on our minds in an attempt to convince us that those works have not been finished. He uses fear and intimidation, with the intent of introducing doubt as to whether God's promises will come to pass for us. Our thoughts carry great power; this is why we must think about what we're thinking about. Satan is sneaky and devious; he tries to move us away from listening to God's Word, and toward paying more attention to his philosophies. He knows that if he can capture our attention, he can distract us from paying attention to Christ and push us out of operating in the realm of the supernatural. To maintain the victory Jesus won for us, we must therefore be mindful of who we are looking at. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

To get a clearer picture of God, we need to understand His unearned, undeserved favor toward us. His grace goes far beyond simply forgiving our sins; it is His way of dealing with those who receive Christ. Grace provides assurance, stability, and direction in the lives of believers. It is not something reserved for when we eventually get to heaven; it immediately begins working in our daily lives the instant we believe and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The beauty of grace is that it is based not on what we do, but on what Jesus already did and our faith in that. We are forgiven, holy, and righteous not because of our efforts, but because God said so. Knowing and accepting our right-standing with God changes our entire lives. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Believers have received the gift of righteousness and salvation from God. Just like any gift we receive, this was something we did not have to earn; it was given to us when we believed in Jesus Christ. It is permanent, and came because of our faith in what He did, not because of anything we do. In light of this, we must be careful not to be confused by any doctrine that says otherwise. We were instantly saved and made righteous when we believed; this is our standing in Christ. However, our earthly lives have some catching up to do when compared to our stance; this ongoing process of letting God bring our imperfect earthly walk up to match our perfect standing is our state. Understanding this delivers us from trying to accomplish what has already been accomplished. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

As believers, it is important that we know the truth about our salvation: we were saved because of our faith in Jesus Christ. we did nothing to earn it; it was given as a gift from God. This directly contradicts religious thinking, which tells us that we must work hard for our redemption. Because of what Jesus has done and our belief in it, we have already been made the righteousness of God. This is our stance in Christ, and nothing we do can change that. However, the ongoing transformation of our earthly lives into perfection will continue until we get to heaven; this is our state, which no one but God can change. Trusting in His promise to make the necessary changes in us enables Him to bring our state into balance with our stance. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Believers are under constant attack from the enemy. There is a battle going on in our minds as to what we do—or do not—believe; the danger of not believing God's Word is that it opens the door for the devil to condemn us. To feel condemned is to feel inferior, as if we are not good enough and do not measure up. Condemnation leads to fear; however, fear tolerated is faith contaminated. Feeling like we are inadequate causes us to focus solely on ourselves instead of on God, and brings us into self-effort to try to improve ourselves. We are delivered from this emotion through our belief in Jesus Christ and our dependence on Him. The world has plenty of "solutions" for the negative emotions associated with condemnation, but trusting in and relying on Jesus is the only permanent one. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

As Christians, we must understand the nature of the spiritual warfare we are in. The devil has already lost and we are fighting a defeated foe; our fight is now all about how to receive what Jesus died on the cross for us to have. However, most people are not even aware that a battle is even going on; some do not believe that Satan even exists. If we do not know he is real, he takes advantage of our ignorance to attack our minds with contradictions to God's Word. The war actually takes place in our thought lives; we win by knowing precisely what God has said, believing it, and declaring it when we feel the enemy attacking. This involves paying close attention to what we think, and immediately casting down negative thoughts the devil fires at us. We are victorious when we resist false teachings and actively focus our thoughts on the truth of Christ and the gospel. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Believers are engaged in spiritual warfare. We have a real enemy straight from hell who is determined to kill us; however, although we need to know how to do battle, we do not need to fear. The devil's ultimate objective is to get us to walk away from God, but he cannot do so when we stay vigilant and watchful for his strategies and sneak attacks. It is critical to understand that although we are saved, we still must fight. Standing solid in the Word of God gives us a tremendous advantage; we are fighting a defeated enemy who is well aware that he has been beaten. Satan wants deceit and falsehood in our lives; we combat that by cloaking ourselves with the various truths found in God's Word. Darkness cannot stand against light; the light of the gospel will always be able to break up and disperse the devil's dark deception. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Life is not the sum total of just the physical things we can see. Christians are in a spiritual battle with Satan, who is determined to make our lives miserable and kill us. With this in mind, we must not blame God for the bad things that happen. The enemy is constantly lurking in the background, waiting for an opportunity to work evil in our lives; he is willing to lie to us with his suggestions if it means he can lead us away from God. We combat his tactics with a thorough knowledge of God's Word, so that when we hear someone speaking to us, we will know whose voice it is. As believers, the choice of who to listen to and what to believe is ours. The ability to use God's Word as armor to defeat Satan gives us the advantage in the fight for our minds. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

In these last days, Satan is battling for our hearts and our faith. He has been working hard to undermine God and build a foundation of deception to make us spiritually blind; the last thing he wants is for us to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The enemy works through the spirit of mammon attached to money; he lies to us and tells us he can give us things that only God can give us. His plan is to get us to rely on money more than on God. Mammon hates generosity and giving, especially with our finances; we defeat this evil spirit by giving to show that we trust in God enough to give without fear of lack. Despite what mammon tells us, we can depend on God, who will take care of us and never leave us. Genuine success and prosperity on every level come only from making God our source. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

A proper understanding of salvation requires that we differentiate between our standing and our state as believers. When we got born again, our redemption was fully accomplished because of the finished works of Jesus Christ. This is our stance, which allows us to stand before God holy and righteous as if we had never sinned. However, although we have already been saved by grace, the outward manifestation of our righteousness is a constant and ongoing process of completion. This is our state, also called our earthly lives. Until we get to heaven, our state will not have caught up with our stance. Believing what God says about our righteousness and holiness, and letting Him work in us, will bring us to the point where our state eventually catches up to our stance. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

On our Christian walk, we are gradually becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. Despite our progress, however, there is still a gap between who God says we are and what we see in our everyday lives; although He says we are the righteousness of God, sometimes we still do unrighteous things. Our faith in Christ is a critical component in this; we must believe what God says we are, even when our lives are not reflecting that yet. Our belief in our redemption contradicts what religion tells us, which is that our salvation hinges on what we do; the truth is that we are saved because of what Jesus did, and our trust in that. God never contradicts Himself; although our stance in perfection was forever determined when we believed in Jesus, our state of perfection, which refers to our earthly lives, is still unfinished. This is an important point that confuses many in the church. Understanding this gives us peace and lets God work in us to make us as righteous as He is. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

The devil has always been a thief. As believers, we must be on the alert for his attacks; one of the first things he tries to steal that God gave us is who we are in Christ. He did this with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and unsuccessfully tried again with Jesus in the wilderness; he tries it with us through guilt, shame, and condemnation. Because of what Adam did, we are born into this world already spiritually dead; being born again gives us new life and makes us new creations just like Christ in our spirits. Regardless of what the enemy says to us, we have been united with Jesus Christ and are now one with Him. We have been redeemed and made righteous and holy, not because of anything we do, but because of what Jesus already did. Confidence in our true identity keeps it from being stolen from us. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

One of the major differences between the old and new covenants is the shift away from doing and toward believing. In the Old Testament, the focus was on performing; in the New Testament, the focus is on faith. However, we need precision in this area; what is necessary is not faith in our own performance, but in Jesus' perfect performance and what He has already done. This is what positions us to receive the blessings promised in the Bible. The Gospel of Grace emphasizes the link between belief and obedience; as Christians, we must not stumble and fall back into thinking that our works are more important than our faith in Christ. With this in mind, we must abandon our self-efforts that religion demands from us and simply trust in Jesus. When we believe we are righteous because of Him, our behavior will eventually reflect that. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

We are at war with Satan, and the stakes are high. He and his army of demons are after our souls, our minds, and our emotions. His plan involves trapping us in the world's way of thinking; however, we render him powerless by renewing our minds to conform to God's way of thinking instead. In this fight we can use precision as a weapon; specifically, we are to renew our minds according to the teachings of grace, not according to the Law of Moses. What was true under the law is not necessarily true anymore under grace; we need a solid understanding of this if we are to escape the devil's lies. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the proper covenant if we want successful lives. We win by giving our attention to the finished works of Jesus instead of our own performance. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

The state of our hearts matters greatly to God. It is certainly important to do the morally right things that please Him; however, He wants even more for us to have thankful hearts. Outward obedience just for appearance does not matter if we are not grateful. Genuinely giving thanks with the proper attitude has a way of working itself outward for others to see. Giving thanks in our circumstances is the best thing for us because it keeps us in the right frame of mind and is a powerful weapon to protect us emotionally and spiritually from situations. Thankfulness is how we keep the world's adversity and bad things around us from getting inside us. Turning our attention to good things aligns our perspective with God's instead of the enemy's and forces out negative emotions trying to enter our souls. Maintaining our gratitude brings an anointing from God that removes burdens, destroys yokes, and changes our way of thinking for the better. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Knowing how to handle our feelings is part of being emotionally mature. It is necessary not just during the holiday season, but on a daily basis as well. We all experience struggles, disappointments, and anxieties, but we do not have to let them dominate us. The ability to give thanks is a powerful tool in exerting our authority over our emotions. Doing this gives us strength, peace, and joy even in the midst of life's challenges. We can learn much from the grateful attitudes that Job, David, Paul, and Silas displayed despite adversity. Learning how to be thankful no matter what the circumstances are gives us great power. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Regardless of whatever situation we are going through or any challenges facing us, pausing in the midst of it to give thanks helps us to keep our perspective. God gives us good things we do not deserve; there is no need for us to look very far to find something to be thankful for. Having a grateful heart is important and reminds us of everything we have been blessed with. Our attitude is a powerful choice we make; an attitude of gratitude benefits us physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and brings us into blessings. Giving thanks enriches our lives and is God's will for us. It empowers us to accomplish what we need to do. Thankfulness has the power to change our entire outlook on life. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

There is much to be said for a grateful heart. When bad things happen, thanking God may be the last thing on our minds; however, learning how to thank and praise Him unleashes tremendous power in the spiritual realm. What many people may fail to understand is that we do not thank God for the situation, but in the midst of it; there is a difference. Giving Him our thanks and praise for the good things He has already done in our lives should not be a one-time event or an occasional afterthought, but a deliberate, continual lifestyle choice. God is waiting for us to be thankful so that He can perfect His plan and His purpose for our lives. Our thankfulness gets heaven's attention. Praising and glorifying Him during our darkest times causes supernatural things to happen that we cannot take the credit for. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

We are in the midst of a spiritual battle against the devil, and we gain the upper hand when we learn to control our emotions. Satan tries to use negative emotions against us, but he is rendered powerless when we take authority in the emotional realm. Life is by no means perfect and bad things happen, but God has given us His Word on what to do when we are attacked by negative feelings. Rejoicing and giving God thanks and praise in the midst of a situation may seem strange at first to our intellectual understanding, but He has a good reason for this type of response. Using the Word as a weapon against depression when it tries to sweep us away gives us victory. Using the power of thanksgiving and gratitude is a major way we deal with all negative emotions. Thanking and praising God gives us victory over whatever ungodly feelings we may be experiencing at the moment. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Being addicted to others' opinions of us is extremely destructive. An excessive need for people to approve and validate us can cause guilt, shame, and insecurity in us. This kind of addiction leads us to seek others' approval before we can value ourselves, and causes us to greatly fear rejection and disapproval from people who do not even care about us. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and mental health issues. Craving others' acceptance and forgetting that God has already accepted us is tragic; realizing that He approves of us helps us break this addiction. Our mental outlook and self-respect immediately begin to improve when we decide that we like ourselves, regardless of what others think. We will not need the world's validation when we know that we are already God's beloved, and the apple of His eye. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Addictions to anything are very dangerous and destructive. This includes being addicted to others' approval. It is a huge mistake to determine our value and sense of self-worth by what other people think of us. The craving for others' validation and the fear of rejection can destroy our mental health, cause us to focus on the wrong things, and actually derail God's call on our lives. This kind of fear puts us in bondage to people. Living to please others, instead of God, steals our peace and our relationship with Him. By contrast, living for an audience of one—God—pleases Him, gives us eternal peace, and allows us to carry out His plan for us. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Understanding how deeply God's grace impacts our lives frees us from toiling in self-effort to please Him. In a world where most people work hard to earn God's blessings, all we need to do is to accept and believe in His finished works. We have already been blessed and accepted as members of God's royal family; this happens automatically when we get born again. He has given us undeserved gifts because we are—and always will be—His beloved children, regardless of what we do. The knowledge that we have been cleansed of all sin and made righteous in God's eyes changes our motives from fear of punishment to a desire to do what pleases Him. This enables us to walk as God's sons and daughters, which is now our true identity. Faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross enables us to continually bring our earthly walk closer in tune with God's will for us. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

God has given each of us an assignment and placed a calling on our lives; to succeed in completing that assignment and fulfilling that calling, we must know who we are in Christ. Through his grace, God has done much for us to determine our identity. His grace has given us the opportunity to get born again; it has made us righteous, holy, wise, and perfect. Even when our earthly lives do not reflect this, this is the way God sees us. When we realize everything that He has done for us, we cannot help but want to serve and obey Him out of gratitude; an understanding of who we already are is the foundation of the worthy walk God has called us to. When we received His Son, God equipped us with everything we need for our Christian journey. Believing in His love for us allows Him to fulfill His plans for us. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

A life of grace focuses on what God has already done for us. We have been saved and delivered, and made righteous and holy; this is our stance in heaven and is independent of our behavior during our Christian walk. When we have accepted Christ, God sees us as faultless, regardless of our earthly state. He then appeals to us to live in harmony with our identity established in Him in light of what He did. The process of harmonizing our natural lives with what God has already declared requires the work of the Holy Spirit, who gradually changes us on the inside. The motivation behind our successful transformation is not fear of going to hell, but faith in God's love for us. Reading the Bible through the lens of grace instead of through the lens of religion gives us a whole new understanding of God's Word. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Walking worthy of Christ is not something Christians need to strive to do through self-effort. This is impossible through our own merit; we can only do this through faith in Jesus and in His finished works. God chose us to be holy and blameless even before we were conceived; seeing ourselves the way He sees us gives us clarity as to who we really are. Our identity as members of God's royal family was sealed when we got born again. Our journey through life, therefore, is not based on us trying to achieve righteousness, but on the truth that as God's children, we are already righteous. Part of our walk involves extending the same grace and mercy we have received to others; we can do this because we know that we are no longer condemned and no longer need to condemn others in their walk. Genuine belief in what God has done for us out of love humbles us and enables us to walk in a manner worthy of our high calling. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Believers are called to live life on a higher plane. God has declared us righteous because we've been born again. This position of righteousness and holiness is not something we could ever earn; it is a grace gift from Him that is permanent and independent from anything we do. God appeals to us to display good conduct to match our status as members of His royal family by birth, which we received when we accepted His Son. It gives Him great joy to make each one who believes His child for all eternity. Despite what the enemy tells us, we are not what we do, but who God says we are: holy, righteous, and redeemed. God made us who we are in Him because of His grace and mercy; all we need to do is accept our identity by faith. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.

Maintaining control over our emotions in the midst of a situation is another component of emotional maturity. Being emotionally mature does not mean shutting down our feelings, but instead refusing to allow our emotions to dictate our response. Emotionally immature people fly off the handle when they get upset; by comparison, the ability to remain calm even when we are angry allows us to be rational and decide how best to respond to an issue. Anger, just like any other negative emotion, is fear-based; remaining calm helps us fight off the emotions that threaten to take us to a place we do not need to be. Believers who study God's Word in this area develop the spiritual fruit of calmness, distinguishing us from the rest of the world. A spirit of ease from God keeps our spirits quiet; God wants us to stay in that place. When the enemy tries to scare us with the distractions of what is going on around us, staying calm helps us hear God more clearly on our journey through life. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org.