Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening more and more today. So what do you say? More importantly, what does the inspired Word of God say?

Scripture gives a stark warning—and it is directed not to unbelievers, but to believers, down through the ages. How does this happen? Take a moment to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN.

1. STOP! (Colossians 2:8) – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

First, consider the word “beware.” It comes from the Greek βλέπω, meaning to behold, beware, look, perceive, take heed. In other words—STOP when someone is trying to feed you a bunch of garbage! How can you tell? You can smell a rat.

The word “spoil” is συλαγωγέω, meaning to be taken captive. Watch out that no one takes you captive through bad counsel, empty ideas, or false teaching.

But that’s not all…

2. LOOK! (Colossians 2:8) – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

So first STOP—then LOOK closely. Examine the source. Is it the Word of God, or is it man-made ideas? “He said, she said” instead of “Thus saith the Lord.”

The word “philosophy” comes from φιλοσοφία (fee-lo-so-FEE-ah), meaning “a love of wisdom.” It is made up of two parts: phílos (friend, lover) and sophía (wisdom). Interestingly, this word appears only here in Scripture.

In this context, it refers to secular philosophy—human wisdom elevated above the wisdom of God.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we must be able to answer philosophies that undermine Christ, and at the same time, take every thought captive in obedience to Him. Are you ready? Are you prepared?

3. LISTEN! (Colossians 2:8) – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Today there is a rampant and radical secular worldview, especially concerning Israel. There is much deception, misunderstanding, and distortion. The philosophies of men are actively undermining the Word of God.

What do you believe? And more importantly—how would you defend your faith?

And along with defending our faith, we must also be faithful to share it—the truth of the God of the Bible.

Thank you for reading. May the Lord bless you.

The writer traditionally attributed to the book of Ecclesiastes is Solomon. Keep in mind, he was one of the wealthiest kings Israel ever knew. Whatever he wanted, he could have. He truly had it all. Solomon tried everything this world had to offer—wine, women, and wealth—yet he came to a sobering conclusion: there is more to life than what this world provides.

1. There’s more to life than searching for wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:14–18) – “And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”

2. There’s more to life than riches (Ecclesiastes 5:10–12) – “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.”

It takes money to live, but we were never meant to live for money. Contentment is God’s design for His people.

Paul reminds us: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Timothy 6:6–8)

Are you content?

Solomon gives us wise insight into what truly matters. When life is lived apart from God, even the greatest achievements leave us empty. But when life is lived with Him, the journey has meaning, peace, and purpose.

Enjoy the journey.

Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese

Keys to Succeed in 2026:

1. Key of Security (1 John 2:1–2) – “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Since seasons are changing, styles are changing, and cultures are changing, we need solid and dependable security in things that do not change. The Word of God does not change, nor does Jesus Christ change (Hebrews 13:8). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Since that is true, our security should be in Him. Is yours? If not, first recognize it—then exchange it.

2. Key of Identity (1 John 3:1–3) – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Unfortunately, most of us place our identity in the things we do or the people we love. Yet in order for us to thrive in life with freedom and victory, our identity must be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. How is yours?

3. Key of Destiny (1 John 5:11–13) – “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Here is where we find assurance of eternal life—simply put, it is in Jesus Christ. Once we turn from our sin and place our faith in Christ’s substitutionary death, the shedding of His blood, and trust that He was raised from the dead, we are forgiven and justified. What a glorious truth!

4. Key of Maturity (1 John 2:15–17) – “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

FAKE NEWS! Happiness does not come from living a life independent from God. True joy is experienced by fulfilling God’s will with a surrendered heart. Are you chasing the world, or are you aiming to please the Lord?

5. Key of Authority (1 John 5:4–5) – “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Faith is the victory that overcomes the world! The Holy Spirit imparts resurrection power that enables believers who trust in Jesus to be overcomers. Are you overcoming?

6. Key of Unity (1 John 5:14–15) – “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Prayer works if you work it. Praying in faith, with right motives and for the glory of the Lord, ends with answers. Try it—you will like it.

7. Key of Urgency (1 John 5:18–21) – “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

Since the whole world is under a curse from the wicked one—Satan—we are in a spiritual war for the souls of men. Therefore, urgency is at hand. Time is running out. What we do to throw out the lifeline, we need to do right now. Do you feel an urgency because of the lost condition of mankind?

Introduction: Who was Joshua? How did God inspire him? What can we learn from this passage? What is it that our Lord wants to do in your life?

Here are three inescapable battles that, as soldiers of the cross, we must fight and win if we are going to be spiritual leaders.

Remember, faith is taking God at His Word. Hopefully, you did not miss that the Lord said, “I do give to them.” All they had to do was trust Him. It was already theirs according to the Word of God.

This battle must be fought and won. Truth that transforms comes from “Thus saith the Lord.” Our responsibility is to meditate on the Word of God—in other words, to “chew the cud.”

Have you ever seen a cow lying down, regurgitating its hay, then slowly chewing it into fine pieces before swallowing it? By the way, cows can do that because they have four compartments in their stomachs. Likewise, we must regurgitate the Word of God after it has been preached, asking the Holy Spirit how it applies to us personally.

From faith + truth comes courage.

Welcome to 2026.

Introduction: Your attitude will either “Make you” or “Break you”! It is true. Our ATTITUDE controls our ALTITUDE! How is your ATTITUDE these days? 

This writer needs an ATTITUDE adjustment daily! 

This devotion is not built upon pop psychology, or just mere positive thinking; instead, it is TRUTH that TRANSFORMS.

Paul’s Holy Spirit inspired prescription for a GOOD ATTITUDE! (Phil. 4:8) – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Keep in mind, Paul was a man who constantly faced adversity. Remember his testimony.

“Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:23-28).

Can anybody relate? Doubtful. Jesus Christ could. But do you recall what our Lord had told Ananias about Paul. 

“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16).

Conclusion: Developing a good attitude of gratitude is made in the crucibles of life; i.e. suffering hardships. 

But it is in the oven of affliction that God refines His servants. The dross is removed. Grace is put in place. And character is formed. Consequently, our ATTITUDE changes our perspective about life.

Are you going through something right now? Could it be that the Spirit of God is up to changing some things, like our ATTITUDE?

Then, bring it on.

It was a troubled time in Habakkuk’s day. Why? Because the Lord had allowed a heathen nation, the Babylonians, to surround and ultimately overtake the southern kingdom of Judah—God’s people. The chastening rod was bearing down heavily upon the Israelites.

Habakkuk did not understand why a good God would allow bad people to chasten His people. Isn’t that what people are thinking and saying today? “If your God is so good and powerful, then why doesn’t He do something?”

But He really does. He is in control, even though we might not understand what He is up to until later. That is where we must trust Him (Romans 8:32).

Once a word is given, do not miss it. Howbeit, we may not want to hear it. Nevertheless, obedience is the key. Without it, we cannot get any new light.

Do you need more light? Obey the light that you already have.

Hurry up and wait! It is hard to wait patiently—but we must. God works on His timeline. Meanwhile, we must learn to exercise longsuffering (Galatians 5:22–23).

Conclusion: Did you notice the chronological order in these verses? One might think that DECISION would come first, then VISION, and finally PROVISION. However, it is reversed.

First comes WATCHING for a WORD — the PROVISION.
Then comes WRITING it down — the VISION.
And finally, after watching expectantly and writing obediently, comes WAITING patiently — the DECISION.

Makes sense?

Introduction: Is the chain strong, or will it break down? How can we be more influential with our families, our friends, and in our workplaces? Are we forfeiting our influence because of a lack of understanding—or worse, an unwillingness to make an honest evaluation of ourselves?

How can we leave a more lasting legacy? Are we supposed to simply eat, drink, and be merry, without caring about our influence on others? Have we fallen into a rut of pleasing ourselves?

How does character connect to leadership? Should there be standards for leadership? Where do we draw the line? Do we admire others who lead well? And are we willing to pay the price to be effective leaders for our families and our peers?

What character traits need to change—whether good or bad? Truthfully and honestly, are you willing to take a moment to examine not just what you say, but what you do—or don’t do? More importantly, are you willing to take the necessary steps to make change as you pray, submit to God, and cooperate with His Holy Spirit?

Recently, I had a conversation with a Christian father who had not spoken with his stepson for months due to a serious conflict. After prayer and biblical counsel, it was decided that he would take the initiative as a leader and seek reconciliation. He did—and it worked.

Why? Because these are biblical principles laid out in the Word of God. Obedience to the Word of God, combined with being empowered by the Holy Spirit of God, is the only way to develop godly Christian character—and to change ungodly character. And remember, all of this should bring glory to the Lord, not to us.

Now for the practical side of “strengthening the links in the chain and making it stronger.”

For men, it has often been said that it is easier to lead an army of ten thousand men than to lead a family with Christian love and grace—without being overbearing and without under-disciplining. Our leadership sets an example, and our children are deeply affected by it.

For women, it has been said that only Spirit-filled women who overcome bitterness and performance-based acceptance can permanently influence their children or grandchildren toward stronger character traits—though not perfection.

Conclusion: Whether you realize it or not, you are in a leadership position. Every man and woman reading this devotion carries influence over others. What kind of influence are you portraying?

Is there a need for any changes? Honestly, are you being a stepping stone—or a stumbling block? How strong is your chain?

Introduction: Is the chain strong, or will it break down? How can we become more influential with our families, our friends, and in our workplaces? Are we forfeiting our influence because of a lack of understanding—or worse, an unwillingness to make an honest evaluation of ourselves?

How can we leave a more lasting legacy? Are we supposed to simply eat, drink, and be merry, without caring about the influence we have on others? Have we fallen into a rut of pleasing ourselves rather than leading others?

How does character connect to leadership? Should there be standards for leadership? Where do we draw the line? Do we admire others who lead well? And are we willing to pay the price to be effective leaders for our families and our peers?

What character traits need to change—whether good or bad? Truthfully and honestly, are you willing to pause and examine not just what you say, but what you do—or don’t do? More importantly, are you willing to take the steps necessary to make change as you pray, submit to God, and cooperate with the Holy Spirit?

This is a lengthy process—not an overnight transformation. But we must start somewhere. Why not start today?

First, we must recognize the need for godly character. Next, we must be willing to ask the Lord to change us from the inside out.

God’s process works from the head (Romans 12:1–2) to the heart (Ezekiel 36:26–27)—or sometimes the heart to the head—as He overhauls our lives. The life of Christ on the inside is greater than the world’s influence on the outside.

Christian character is formed through the renewing of the mind and the submitting of the will. It requires renouncing self from the throne and surrendering the throne to Jesus Christ. This is the key.

By the way, this is not merely repeating the right words. It is a broken spirit—one willing to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit. Only God can bring a person through this kind of change. But oh, what a change He makes.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2)

As your pastor and friend, I am praying for you to have a blessed and prosperous year.

2. Praying for Your Health (3 John 1:2)

The word for health is ὑγιαίνω (hoog-ee-ah’-ee-no), which means to be well, sound, pure, uncorrupted, and right-minded.

God cares about our physical and mental well-being.

Our emotions and will are part of the soul. A healthy soul leads to a healthy life.

Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese