He valued affliction because when weak, humbled and laid low, it turned him toward God.

In other words, the believer has passed through the hands of the creator a second time by being spiritually born again whereby he/she receives a new heart/mind that now has a new living hope.

Though mankind has a revelation of God in creation, because of their rebellious sinful nature, they will do anything and believe anything, rather than acknowledge their sin and submit to this God in repentance and faith.

This is a challenging question because too often the answer will be uncomfortably in the negative.

Do we allow and depend on our emotions and life experiences to guide and direct our living before God?

For many, we read our bibles often beginning with a wrong approach. We tend to read it with primarily ourselves in mind.

Through faith in God’s grace and mercy in the provision of His beloved Son Jesus, our sin bearer, we are changed, we are spiritually ‘born again.’

... a true Christian will have a heart for missions that will be seen in active obedience by participating, in the Great Commission. 

All our actions in life need be conducted out from a motive of love and obedience toward God and a longing to please Him.

Whether we are reserved or unreserved, witty or gloomy, when we come to the Word of God with a heart that trembles, that is, when we rid ourselves of all pride and self, acknowledging our spiritual bankruptcy in and of ourselves and seek God’s enabling alone - that’s brokenness!