“So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—your old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy. (Eph. 4:22–24 NIV)

God Grows Us One Step at a Time

Even though God could work a miracle and change us instantly, He usually chooses to work with us gradually—one step at a time. That’s how Jesus developed the lives of His disciples, and that’s how God led the Israelites to take possession of the Promised Land “little by little,” so they would not be overwhelmed (Deut. 7:22).

Both Negative and Positive Habits Develop Slowly

You don’t get out of shape overnight—physically or spiritually—and you don’t get back into shape overnight either. I learned this personally when my doctor told me I was pre-diabetic and needed to lose weight. It had taken years to gain it, so losing it would also take time. I made a plan and stayed with it. Over a year and a half, I lost sixty pounds—slowly but steadily. The changes came in small increments, but they added up.

Good Character Habits Take Time to Develop

Developing Christlike character works the same way. It takes steady, deliberate practice over time. Your character is the sum total of your habits. You can’t truly claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind. Your habits define your character—there are no instant habits.

Paul encouraged Timothy with these words:

“Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress.” (1 Tim. 4:15)

Therefore

Don’t get discouraged if change seems slow. God’s work in you is not incomplete—it’s in progress. Every small, faithful step you take is shaping you into the likeness of Christ. Stay consistent, stay patient, and trust that God is growing you—one step at a time.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6 NIV)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Prov. 4:23 NIV)

The heart is regarded as the center of a person’s thoughts and emotions.

In both the Old and New Testaments, the word heart refers to the whole inner person, not merely emotions. The heart includes the mind, will, and emotions—the very core of who we are.

Believers are instructed to:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” (Prov. 4:23–26 NIV)

Guarding your heart

When Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote this passage, he was emphasizing the need to protect your inner core—your thoughts, feelings, desires, will, and choices. These determine who you truly are.

The Bible tells us, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7)

Your mind reflects your true self, not merely your words or outward behavior. That’s why God looks at the heart, not appearances. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)

Therefore

Keep your heart healthy by filling it daily with God’s Word and allowing His Spirit to guide your thoughts, emotions, and decisions. When your heart is right, everything else in your life will flow right, to

“For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.” (Psalm 37:28a)

Many Christians pray something like, “Lord, go with us today,” even though God already promises in His Word that He is always present with us, and that He will never leave or forsake us. Instead, our prayer should be, “Thank You, Lord, for being always with me!”

Here are ten verses from God’s Word that affirm His faithfulness to always be with you:

1. “‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
   (Deut. 31:6)

2. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
   (Deut. 31:8)

3. “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
   (Joshua 1:5)

4. “May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may He never leave us nor forsake us.”
   (1 Kings 8:57)

5. “David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.’”
   (1 Chronicles 28:20)

6. “For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.”
   (Psalm 37:28)

7. “For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.”
   (Psalm 94:14)

8. “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.”
   (Isaiah 41:17)

9. “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”
   (Isaiah 42:16)

10. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
    (Hebrews 13:5)

Finally, understand this:

When you pray to receive Jesus, He comes to live inside of you. Everywhere you go, He is ever present with you. That is a wonderful promise that brings assurance and comfort.

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16)

Therefore

Never doubt God’s presence in your life. You are never alone—He is with you always. When others fail, when circumstances overwhelm, when fear creeps in, stand firm in this unshakable promise: God will never leave you nor forsake you.

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 86:15 NIV)

A Compassionate Surprise

At a recent fundraiser, there was a raffle with the proceeds going to a scholarship fund. The grand prize was a staggering $10,000 cash award. When the winning ticket was drawn, the winner turned out to be a business owner who had purchased many tickets—but instead of putting his own name on them, he wrote the name of one of his employees on every single ticket.

That employee, who was facing serious financial hardship, didn’t even know what his boss had done. He wasn’t present when the winning ticket was drawn, so the organizers called him on the phone and placed the call on a microphone for everyone to hear. As the news was shared, he broke down in tears of joy. The entire room erupted with cheers, celebrating the kindness and compassion of this employer toward his struggling employee.

That story reminds us of the heart of God. Many imagine Him as angry or distant, but Scripture shows us His true character:

1. He is compassionate

2. He is gracious

3. He is slow to anger

4. He is abounding in love

5. He is abounding in faithfulness

Now that is the God I know and serve!

Therefore

When you think of God, don’t picture Him as harsh or indifferent. Remember His compassion is greater than anything you’ve ever seen. He sees your struggles, cares deeply, and responds with grace, love, and faithfulness.

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” (Psalm 145:8–9 NIV)

“God is an ever-present help in the time of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 NIV)

Susan and I love to travel around the USA in our RV. A couple of times, unfortunately, we broke down alongside the road—once when a wheel bearing caught fire, and another time when a fuel pump failed. But we had subscribed to a 24/7 road service, and when we called, they came to help us. Having that service gave us great confidence as we traveled.

God’s help is even better than that

God is not just “on call”—He is ever-present. No matter where you are, or what you’re going through, He is already there, fully aware of your need. You don’t have to wait for Him to show up. He promises to strengthen and help you.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

And it’s all because of God’s wonderful love for you!

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? … No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love … nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31–39 NLT)

Therefore

Just as roadside service gave us peace of mind that help was always available, you can have absolute confidence in God’s presence. He is with you at every moment, His strength is unfailing, and His love is unshakable. Truly, He is your ever-present help in time of trouble.

“The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” (Psalm 46:7 NIV)

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” (Deut. 7:9 NIV)

God is Faithful! Always!

People will and do fail you sometimes. It’s just the way it is. And if you aren’t careful, you could start to believe that God might fail you too. But God cannot fail—ever! It’s impossible because He is God. He is always 100% faithful, and He must always be 100% faithful to His Word.

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13 ESV)

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Num. 23:19 ESV)

All God’s work is done in faithfulness

“For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.” (Psalm 33:4)

His faithfulness establishes and guards you!

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thes. 3:3)

His faithfulness protects you against extreme temptation

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13)

God’s faithfulness brings you steadfast love and mercies, which are new every morning, and never end

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22–23)

Therefore

When people let you down, don’t lose heart—remember God will never fail you. His Word is sure, His promises unshakable, and His mercies brand-new each morning. You can build your entire life on His faithfulness.

“God is good all the time; all the time God is good!”

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.” (Psalm 86:5 NIV)

Like a Reliable Car

Everyone knows the value of a dependable vehicle—the kind that starts every morning, runs smoothly, and gets the job done without fail. You don’t have to wonder if it will leave you stranded; you can count on it day after day. In the same way, we can count on God’s goodness. He never fails, never breaks down, and is faithful all the time.

God is the embodiment of perfect goodness

He is kind, benevolent, and full of good will toward all creation. His goodness is not just what He does—it is who He is.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)

“O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (1 Chr. 16:34)

“Answer me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good; According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me.” (Psalm 69:16)

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17)

“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.” (Nahum 1:7)

“Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.” (Psalm 25:8)

Therefore

Just as we depend on a reliable car to get us where we need to go, we can depend even more on the goodness of God. His goodness never changes, His love never fails, and His faithfulness never ends. He truly is good all the time.

“For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us.” (Eph. 2:4 NIV)

Mercy means compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. It is leniency, clemency, grace, pity, charity, forgiveness, forbearance, tenderheartedness, kindness, and generosity.

God is rich in mercy!

We have a powerful and merciful God. He knows we have all fallen short of His glory, but His mercy is incredible.

“For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy to all them that call on you.” (Psalm 86:5)

Come boldly to obtain mercy

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)

Therefore

No matter your past, God’s mercy is greater. Don’t shrink back—come boldly before Him. His mercy is abundant, His forgiveness is certain, and His grace gives new life and living hope through Christ.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”(Lam. 3:22–23 ESV)

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13 NIV)

Imagine moving from a tiny, run-down rental apartment into a brand-new home. The old place may have had leaks, peeling paint, and noisy neighbors. But once you step into the new house, with fresh walls, solid construction, and peace all around, you hardly think back on the old one. The future is far better than what was left behind.

If we focus on the scary and alarming things happening in the world instead of the Word of God, it’s easy to lose heart. But God doesn’t want us living in fear—He wants us to live in expectation. His Word assures us that He has a glorious future planned.

This life is temporary, but God has promised something eternal. One day, He will create a new heaven and a new earth where His people will live forever in righteousness, peace, and joy.

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jer. 29:11 NIV)

Therefore

Don’t let today’s troubles overwhelm you. Lift your eyes to God’s promises and rest in the truth that your future is secure in Him.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Cor. 4:17 NIV)