Live Free with Josh Howerton

Envy is resenting God’s goodness in other people’s lives while ignoring His goodness in yours. Envy is found in multiple lists of sins throughout the New Testament, including right next to murder and drunkenness. It rots our bones and robs our joy. Comparison never leads anywhere good, but gratitude for God’s goodness leads to life.For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

What do you do when you feel anger rising inside you? Proverbs 15:1 and Proverbs 21:23 warn us to watch our words when we are angry. Instead of spouting off whatever hurtful words come to mind, the Holy Spirit can help us respond with a gentle answer when we come to Him and admit our weakness.For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

James 1:19-20 warns us to be slow to anger. Our anger is often a reaction to a different emotion going on inside us. When you start to feel anger, pray and ask God to show you what is happening in your heart. Reflect and remember the results that may come from your choices. Ask the Holy Spirit for the self-control to wisely respond to whatever is going on around and inside you.For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

This week, we have been looking at the Fatal Four, four deadly opponents that want to take us out. God has righteous anger that comes from sin, injustice and evil. You might experience that, too. However, mismanaged anger causes damage wherever it flares up. Be aware that the enemy wants to keep fanning that flame, so we burn our relationships down.For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Pride wants to run rampant in our lives, but God offers us a strategy to defeat it. Philippians 2 shows us the one who lived a perfectly humble life: Jesus. Jesus left everything He deserved and lowered Himself to death on a cross, a death He did not deserve. God calls us to watch His way of life and mindset so that we can model our lives after Him.For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

What do you think is the number one thing that stands in the way of our relationship with God and others? Pride. Self-importance is at the root of every other sin, and it cheats us out of the good things God offers us. We may think it builds us up, but it turns us into toddlers who only know the word “mine.”For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

On this Good Friday, listen in and be reminded of what Jesus’ love looks like. The light of the world, the Son of God, was crucified for you and me. He died and was buried, but that was not the end of the story. Death could not hold Him, and He defeated the grave. Take time to praise Him for this life-giving love and consider who you need to share it with today.For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Today, as Easter approaches, we look at events leading up to the most important moment in history. While in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed and was then betrayed. He knew what was coming and allowed Himself to be arrested, undergo a series of illegal trials and endure tremendous suffering. What love Jesus has for you!For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

For the last few days, we’ve been hanging out with Jesus and listening in as He gives His final words to His disciples. In John 17, Jesus prays to His Father, giving thanks for the disciples and those who would come after them. On the night He was arrested, Jesus prayed for you! He prayed for us to be unified so we could be a beacon of hope to the world, pointing to Him.For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Sometimes, our lives can change course with just a few words. To illustrate this, Jesus explained to His disciples that He was the true vine. For them to live the full life He wanted for them, they needed to remain in Him. The job of the branch is just to stay connected and bear fruit, but it cannot do that apart from the vine. Imagine how God could work in and through you when you remain in Him.For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive