Jesus lost all his glory so that we could be clothed in it. He was shut out so we could get access. He was bound, nailed, so that we could be free. He was cast out so we could approach. And Jesus took away the only kind of suffering that can really destroy you: that is being cast away from God. He took so that now all suffering that comes into your life will only make you great. A lump of coal under pressure becomes a diamond. And the suffering of a person in Christ only turns you into somebody gorgeous.

I am accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ - therefore I obey

Power, approval, comfort, and control are meta-idols that hold sway over our daily lives.

Jesus is the author of faith, the provider of faith, and the object of faith.

Prayer is the way to experience a powerful confidence that God is handling our lives well, that our bad things will turn out for good, our good things cannot be taken from us, and the best things are yet to come.

You are more sinful than you could dare imagine and you are more loved and accepted than you could ever dare hope.

If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshipping an idealized version of yourself.