As the pastor of a fast-growing church, I am constantly encountering new ministry and counseling opportunities. About the time that I think I've heard every story that can be told, that there is nothing else in the world left to hear, I will hear something completely new.

I've learned that when someone is sitting across the desk from me, it doesn't matter how respectable they are or how well-known in the community they may be, I must be prepared for anything. However, no matter how common or uncommon the counseling session may be, I have discovered one common denominator. People are looking for a normal life, a day with no problems, a day without pain. They just want to survive.

God's plan for the church is not just survival. The Bible is not a book on "How to Survive." As Christians we are not called to merely "get by" and be without pain, but we are called to rule and reign. We were made to thrive! Some people have the mistaken idea that God's role in their life is just for the purpose of removing bad circumstances.

John 3:16 tells us we will not perish if we believe in Jesus. However, the main focus is not on what we won't have, but instead on what we will have. The theme of John 3:16 is believe in Jesus and you will have everlasting life.

Too often we focus on what we need to get rid of. But in truth, if we would focus on what God has for us and walk in it, then the negative elements in our life would be automatically removed. Once again, John 3:16 tells us of God's great love and His desire for us to believe in Jesus so that we will receive everlasting life.

Our prayer to God is "Father, I accept Jesus and I thank You for giving me eternal life." When we do that, the eternal death is automatically gone. The prayer of salvation is not, "God, don't let me die. God, take away the perishing. God, take away the death. Amen." No! The main focus of a Christian should be on the truth and not on the lie. It should be on the promise and not the problem.

Yes, of course, we must deal with demonic activity. Yes, we must cast out evil spirits as necessary, but we cannot focus all of our energy on evil. We must focus on the truth.

Faith and fear are opposites. Love and hate are opposites. Peace and anxiety are opposites. If we walk in faith, love, and peace, then there will be no fear, hate or anxiety.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" (John 4:18).