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God said to the high and low IQs alike, "You shall love me with all your mind." Nobody, or rather, no mind is exempt. In theory our first thoughts, like our first fruits, belong to God. In practice, however, holy thinking and holy learning are often wholly absent amongst our everyday priorities and practices.

This Holy Season, Christians reflect on Jesus' life and death and what His resurrection means for those who believe in Him.

Whether you are a Catholic or Protestant Christian, you might follow the tradition of fasting from something for Lent. Though there is no teaching in the Bible to fast before celebrating the resurrection of Christ, the Catholic tradition of fasting for 40 days prior to Easter is in part based on Jesus' fast in the wilderness just after His baptism. If you choose to partake, be mindful that there are two ways to fast - one that is sinful, and one that blesses both the Lord and our hearts.

God made reality with prayer in mind. It's an essential part of the infrastructure of everyday life. In fact, prayer is as much (and more) a language of reality as mathematics, chemistry or physics. The supernatural and the natural are not separate in Christ - for all reality is His reality. As such, God invites us to pray about everything, not as if it were so, but because it is so.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas time, the fact that God incarnate humbled Himself to become a substitute for us on the cross, that we might have life in Him.

In a recent Revive Our Hearts message entitled "Fully Human, Fully God," Nancy Leigh DeMoss taught on the name of Jesus and what it means to call Him "Savior." The preciousness of His name can often be lost, and there is no better time to reflect on its true meaning than the Christmas season.

A life lived like Jesus can be truly unremarkable. The vast majority of it might be incredibly normal, seemingly uneventful, and at times quite boring.

"We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country."

Now and then, it needs to be said that not all thanksgiving is thanksfeeling. We can make ourselves (or our children) say, "Thank you," whether we feel it or not. But it's not a good habit, especially in relation to God.

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Sadie Robertson and Kolby Koloff expounded on the benefits of finding self-worth in Christ during week seven of their video devotionals, "The New Different." The girls encourage teenagers to look to their Maker - rather than to a significant other - for love and acceptance.

It is considered a mark of maturity to endure the company of the unwanted, to abide the annoying, and bear the unbearable. And so it is, but this is not yet Christian maturity. A Christian is not merely to suffer another, but for another. This is love.

To finish well is to plan well; to plan well is to understand the cost of commitment. The commitment to follow Christ is not an added luxury but standard equipment for the Christian. To plan to finish well is to plan to follow Christ daily in humility and sacrifice. To finish well tomorrow means you finish well today.

Crisis and calamity call us back to God, or at least, cause us to call out to Him. Anxious billions have asked, "where are you God?" - and He often seems far away. He is the Almighty Absentee.

Hundreds of Syrians are apparently killed by chemical weapons, and the attempt to protect others from that fate threatens to kill many more.

Prayer is not a passive undertaking, but an aggressive engagement with God. It is a labor of love. It is a toil of trust. It is a work of the Holy Spirit through holy intercessors. Indeed, prayer without spiritual perspiration lacks the intensity the Spirit requires.

No matter how much politicians try to spin the narrative on our $17 trillion national debt crisis, they can’t hide the real financial struggles under which our nation is crumbling, reports The Christian Post.

Those who invite the message of Christ to dwell in their lives, learn to live life to its fullest. Like a guest who brings a generous house warming gift, so God is generous in handing out His wise instruction to humble hearts.

God blesses a country that honors Him, but He brings down a country that dishonors Him. It honors Him for His people to pray in earnest for righteousness to reign in religion, the work place, seats of government and the home. It dishonors the Lord when we behave like His commands are suggestions and we marginalize His mandates. Countries founded on Christ are blessed if they continue with Christ.

To all of the fathers who serve their families with selfless love, our most sincere and appreciative thanks. God has given fathers a beautiful and immensely significant role in their children’s lives – one of which is meant to image His own love for those in Christ.

He is alive and I am forgiven and my soul has been set free. He is alive and I am forgiven and my joy I cannot contain. He is alive and I am forgiven and my faith is here to stay. He is alive and I am forgiven and my love flows deep and wide. He is alive and I am forgiven because He did what He promised—He arose after three days. He is alive! He is alive! He is alive!

In running the race of life we are to look to the exaltation of Jesus at the end of his race. But Hebrews 12:2 tells us to look not only to his exaltation, but to his motivation.

God’s work is not rushed or rattled. He quietly gets things done. While man sleeps, the Lord neither sleeps nor slumbers. The effective work of the Holy Spirit is not bound by human efforts. Indeed, the Spirt softens the heart, so when the word of God is sown, it grows.

Multi-media, multi-sensory, multi-tasking. We are bombarded on a daily basis with sounds, sights and smells. As exciting and stimulating as life in the 21st century can be, it can also drain our soul’s resources.

Love does not give up on those it loves. When it is hurt, it forgives. When it is rejected, it accepts. When it is misunderstood, it is kind. When it is ignored, it serves. When it is unloved, it loves.