More on the illustration of the spiral staircase.

Each problem that comes to us has the potential to be a burden or to be the next step up, moving us upward and onward in our walk with Jesus. The key is our response to it. As Psalm 50:23 says, “He who offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving [giving thanks by faith when we don’t feel like it] honors me, and opens the way that I may show him the salvation of the Lord.” Praise and thanksgiving given out of faith as acts of the will, not the emotions, are powerful transformers of problems and sins into the next step up.

As we spiral up the staircase, we will have to deal with the same weaknesses of our character over and over. Satan will say, “Look, you aren’t making any progress; you might as well just give in and surrender to this temptation. Enjoy this sin!” The truth is, however, that we aremaking progress, for each time we encounter the same sins we are on a higher level; and the answer is the same as before: praise God for the revelation, apply truth in obedience and repentance, and step up.

As you read through these devotionals, which are presented in the approximate order in which they were originally written in my journal or prayer letters, you will see the upward spiral. Themes will be repeated, each time from a little different perspective. You will sense growth, movement, maturing. Hopefully this will help you, too, to move upward in your journey with Jesus, making each problem, each difficulty, each suffering and each hardship the next step up.

Prayer: “Lord, help me to cooperate with you as you desire to lead me on to higher levels. Help me to think as you think, to become a person of praise, turning problems into progress. Amen.”