Mark Batterson's Blog, page 17

Crazy Mirrors

Mirrors come in all sizes and shapes. Sometimes its a prophet who helps us see the blind spots in our lives. Sometimes its an epiphany that pulls back the veil and reveals the glory of God in new ways. But the greatest mirror, the mirror that gives us the truest reflection of ourselves, is Scripture.

The best form of self-examination is simply reading Scripture. Or maybe I should say, meditating on Scripture. After all, the Bible wasnt meant to be read. It was meant to be meditated upon. And...

The Valley of Heartbreak

The post The Valley of Heartbreak appeared first on Mark Batterson.

God’s Needlepoint

Its not our experiences that make us or break us. Its our interpretation of and explanation for those experiences that ultimately determines who we become. Your explanations are more important than your experiences.

There are lots of different explanations for the same experience. The tough part is choosing the right one. And thats where we need the holy hindsight to see the purposes of God in our pasts.

One of my heroes is Corrie ten Boom. During the Nazi occupation of Holland in World War...

The Valley of Dry Bones

The post The Valley of Dry Bones appeared first on Mark Batterson.

Dual Destiny

As you may recall from a high school biology class, you have forty-six chromosomes. Twenty-three are from your father, and twenty-three are from your mother. And its that unique combination of chromosomes that determines everything from the color of your eyes to the number of hairs on your head. Your identity is part heredity. And so it is with the image of God. The image of God is both your heredity and your destiny.

The mathematical probability that you would get the exact twenty-three...

Valley of Giants

The post Valley of Giants appeared first on Mark Batterson.

Blessed to Bless

The blessing of God isnt easy to quantify or qualify. It is tangible and intangible, timely and timeless. It is universally offered to everyone, but the blessing of God is as unique as your fingerprint. Some blessings are as simple and straightforward as the sunrise. Others are more difficult to discern, like the blessing of brokenness. But of this Im certain: the blessing of God is the solution to your biggest problem, the answer to your boldest prayer, and the fulfillment of your bravest...

The Valley of Crisis

The post The Valley of Crisis appeared first on Mark Batterson.

The X Factor

No good thing does [God] withhold from those who walk uprightly.
-Psalm 84:11, ESV

During his celebrated career as a composer, George Frideric Handel wrote forty-two operas, twenty-nine oratorios, and 120 cantatas. Of Handel, Ludwig van Beethoven said, To him I bow the knee. Handel certainly ranks as one of historys greatest composers, but he hit a point of diminishing return later in life. At age fifty-six, Handel was past his composing prime. He was depressed. He was in debt. And a stroke...

The Waymaker

The post The Waymaker appeared first on Mark Batterson.