Dr. Jim Richards

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com What if the reason your success in one area keeps costing you peace, relationships, or health is because you were taught to pursue it the wrong way? In this message, I challenge the idea of vertical priorities and introduce a biblical approach that actually works in real life. Most believers have been taught to stack life into priorities: God first, family second, work next, yet everything we do affects everything else we value. When we live by this model, we end up jumping from one responsibility to another, feeling guilty, stressed, and often damaging the very relationships we are trying to protect. The real issue isn’t commitment. It’s perspective. Once you understand how God intended priorities to work, everything changes. I explain what it means to put God at the center instead of the top, so that your walk with Him increases the quality of your marriage, family, work, health, and peace. This is what I call holist

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com What if the reason your resolutions don’t last has nothing to do with discipline, willpower, or trying harder, but everything to do with what you believe about authority? In this message, I challenge one of the most common assumptions in Christianity and show you why understanding the authority God gave to mankind is essential for real, lasting change. Many believers have been taught that when Adam fell, man lost authority and the devil gained it. The problem is simple: the Bible never says that. Authority was never transferred to Satan. The enemy has no power over your life except what comes through deception. He steals, kills, and destroys by lies, not by authority. I also explain why authority is the right to choose and why you still have it. God gave man dominion on the earth, not over other people, but over creation and over himself. This is why Jesus came as the Son of Man and lived by the power of the Holy Spirit

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Most people think resolutions fail because they lack discipline or motivation. The real reason is usually much deeper than that. A resolution is actually a form of repentance. It’s simply changing your mind because you don’t want your life going in the same direction anymore. One of the biggest reasons people quit is loss of confidence. Every time you start something and don’t finish it, you train yourself to expect failure. Eventually, it doesn’t matter how much you trust God. You won’t trust yourself enough to follow through. I also address one of the most misunderstood ideas in Christianity: God’s sovereignty. God is not controlling everything. He created you in His likeness and image, which means He gave you real authority and real responsibility. Your life is not determined by fate, DNA, or circumstances. You were created to make choices and create outcomes with God. This message is about becoming a co-creator with

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com This is week three of our January series, Resolutions That Work. If you made resolutions this year and you’ve already broken them, or you’re close, you’re not alone. Most people don’t fail because they lack discipline. They fail because they don’t understand how faith actually works. In this week’s CyberChurch message, The Faith of God, I take you into Mark 11 and the story of the fig tree to show you why real change often starts invisibly. When Jesus spoke, nothing seemed to change at first, but the change had already begun at the root. Words spoken from the heart carry power, and many people cancel their own faith by speaking doubt, fear, or old beliefs about themselves before anything has time to manifest. If you want your decisions to last, they have to be rooted in who you are, not just what you want. That’s why I encourage you to spend time with my book, Wired for Success, Programmed for Failure. It will help you

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Most people make resolutions with good intentions, but very few understand the real power that makes change possible: decision-making. In this episode of Resolutions That Work, we talk about why people are afraid to make real decisions, and how that fear keeps them stuck in cycles of hoping, trying, and wavering. The Bible shows us that decision-making is not just willpower; it flows out of who we are as people created in the image and likeness of God. From the beginning, God gave mankind authority, real authority, to make choices that shape life on earth. When we don’t understand this, we either wait on God to do what He has already empowered us to do, or we assume our circumstances, our past, or even our biology override our choices. We also clear up the difference between unbelief and doubt. Unbelief is a lack of trust in God, but doubt is wavering between two options. When we waver, we struggle to receive, not becau

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Most people don’t quit because they don’t care. They quit because they were never taught how to make decisions they could actually live with. In this CyberChurch message, I explain why most resolutions fail and how unfinished decisions quietly undermine your confidence, not only in yourself but in your faith. This isn’t about trying harder or making promises you can’t keep. It’s about learning how to make decisions you will see through to the end without pressure, fear, or self-condemnation. When you lose confidence in yourself, everything around you starts to feel heavier, including what’s happening in the world. That’s why so many believers live anxious, not because God isn’t faithful, but because they don’t trust themselves to stay the course. In this message, I explain how knowing who you are in Christ changes the way you face challenges, why difficult times stop feeling like threats, and why repentance is really ab

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com What does “life at its best” really look like? Is it something reserved for heaven someday, or is it something God intended for you to experience right now? In this CyberChurch message, I want to walk with you through what Jesus actually promised when He said He came so we could have life, and have it more abundantly. In this episode, I use the picture of a treasure map to show how God has already made a way for us to experience that kind of life. But just like any journey, knowing the map exists isn’t enough. We have to choose to follow it, trust the One who gave it to us, and stay the course. This journey isn’t about suffering to earn God’s approval or trying harder to be “good enough.” It’s about truly knowing God, not just knowing about Him, and letting that relationship transform the way we live. We also talk honestly about righteousness, what it is and what it isn’t, and why being in Christ gives you full access t

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com From childhood, most of us have heard that “Jesus is the reason for the season,” but we rarely connect Christmas to one of the most powerful truths in the New Covenant: the curse is broken. The birth of Jesus was not just the beginning of a sentimental story; it was the beginning of the end of fear, wrath, and separation from God. When Jesus came, lived, died, and was raised from the dead, He broke the curse of the law and removed the enmity that existed in our minds about God. Christmas is the announcement that God is no longer against us, that peace and goodwill toward man have been eternally established in the blood of Jesus. Sin did more than cause bad behavior; it distorted how we saw ourselves and how we saw God. When man believed he was less than who God said he was, fear became the automatic response to God’s presence. That fear turned every commandment, every law, and every warning into something interpreted th

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com From childhood, most of us have heard “the Christmas story” so many times that it becomes easy to reduce it to a sentimental scene—a manger, a few shepherds, and a star overhead. But in Scripture, the birth of Jesus is anything but a children’s tale. It is a precise, prophetic, and powerful unveiling of God’s plan for the world. Long before that night in Bethlehem, God foretold where the Messiah would be born, when He would come, and how He would be protected from destruction. Nothing happened by accident; everything unfolded exactly as He declared. Behind the simplicity of the nativity is a remarkable backstory. Prophecies in Daniel revealed the timing of the Messiah’s arrival. Herod’s violent reaction mirrored ancient attempts to stop God’s deliverance. Shepherds near Bethlehem guarded the very lambs used for Passover—pointing to Jesus as the true Lamb of God. And John the Baptist, uniquely qualified by lineage, stood

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com For many people, the holidays are not a season of joy but a time when old memories, unresolved pain, and family patterns surface with surprising intensity. What we feel in the present is often shaped by experiences from years ago. Long before we understand why, the weight of the past begins defining how we face the holidays today. Holiday depression isn’t simply a psychological term; it is often an emotional association rooted in the heart. Our minds remember events, but our hearts remember experiences. When those experiences are painful, the holidays can trigger reactions that feel impossible to escape. Yet God never designed us to be ruled by old memories or cultural traditions that rob us of peace. He calls us into freedom—a life where we decide what the holidays will mean rather than repeating what they have always been. There is a pathway to transformation. It begins by recognizing the beliefs that keep us bound, u

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com From the beginning, God has shown us that every interaction with Him is rooted in one essential reality: faith. Yet for many believers, faith has been shaped more by religious tradition than by a living relationship with God Himself. We often approach faith as a tool we use to persuade God to give us something. But biblical faith is far more profound. Faith is trusting God to be exactly who He says He is, independent of circumstances, outcomes, or personal desires. In Scripture, faith is relational. It is born from experiencing God, walking with Him, and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring truth alive in our hearts. This is the faith Jesus described; the kind that emerges from knowing the Father, not merely knowing about Him. There is a divine continuum by which real faith grows. It begins with God's Word, moves into understanding by the Spirit, and matures into wisdom. Wisdom is not mystical insight or emotional intensit

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Fellowship With the Spirit The very first letter of the Hebrew alphabet carries a profound message: it reveals God’s first and highest intention for mankind. From the beginning, God’s deepest desire has been to harmonize Himself with mankind and establish heaven on earth. And within that first letter, we discover not only God’s highest priority but also the path by which His intention is fulfilled. In the block letters of the Hebrew alef-bet, this letter conveys that the life of God flows into us when we become one with the Father through the Lord Jesus. In the New Testament, we find 15 references to our fellowship with God the Father, Jesus the Son, the Holy Spirit, and with one another. Through the centuries, this powerful concept has been reduced to little more than social gatherings. Nearly every denominational church in America has a “fellowship hall,” typically furnished with tables and chairs, designed to share m

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Aligning With The Power We already have all the power of God within us—because the Holy Spirit is in us! Think about that for a moment: the very power that created the heavens, the earth, every living creature, and the entire human race resides in every believer. We never have to beg God for special anointings or plead for His power to come upon us. We have the power! All we need to do is align with the Holy Spirit, i.e., the Spirit of power and might! According to Scripture, when we are born again, the Holy Spirit—with all His power—comes in us. Then, according to Jesus’ promise (Acts 1:5-8), when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, He manifests that power through us to touch the world. The result of the Spirit working in us and through us is that we become witnesses. Most of us first think of witnessing as telling others about Jesus—and that is certainly part of it—but it’s not the whole picture. Biblically, a witness is s

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Experiencing the Spirit of Grace Over the last fifty years, there has been a remarkable resurgence in preaching and teaching about God’s grace. Sadly, like so many biblical doctrines, grace has often become something people talk about—but seldom experience. I’ve witnessed some of the most irrational arguments over subtle doctrinal points about grace. Ironically, the behavior of those arguing usually reveals that, while they may have the right information about grace, they are not living in the power of grace! Rarely do we hear people talk about how grace is actively transforming their lives—making them more stable in their walk with God, bolder in sharing their faith, more loving, kind, and patient. What’s even more troubling is that, for many, the message of grace has not softened their hearts—it has hardened them. Instead of becoming more compassionate and understanding, they’ve become more critical and less patient w

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com If someone who was already incredibly successful in the very thing you dream of doing offered to mentor you for free, would you accept? Most of us would immediately say, “Of course I would!” But what if they asked you to commit just two hours a day to learning, growing, and applying what they taught? Suddenly, many would hesitate. Excuses would appear: “I’m too tired after work,” “I don’t have time,” “Maybe later…” I once knew a man who came to the United States with nothing. He got a job at a convenience store and, instead of renting an apartment, slept in the restroom to save every penny. His coworkers didn’t understand. Some even laughed. But he wasn’t living for the moment — he was living for a vision. In time, the owner promoted him to manager. Still, he didn’t change his habits. He continued to save. Eventually, he saved enough to buy that store. Then another. Then another. Before long, he owned a chain of stores

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com The Critical Factor of Faith We all know that miracles are a gift—freely given by the Holy Spirit. Yet, if we’re honest, we’ve all faced moments when the miracle we needed didn’t manifest. In those moments, we often turn inward and start judging ourselves or even questioning God. We assume we know why the miracle didn’t happen—and then, based on those assumptions, we try to fix the problem in our own strength. But here’s the truth: when we’re in need, God doesn’t tell us to seek a miracle first—He tells us to seek wisdom. The critical factor in faith is knowing and trusting what God is saying! Wisdom may have many definitions, but one thing is certain: true wisdom always leads to practical application. It shows us how to walk out God’s promises in real life. That’s why Scripture says wisdom is the principal thing—the most essential factor of all. Get wisdom before you attempt to devise your plan! God knows what’s in you

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Are You Ready to Discover the Way of Wisdom? The Bible reminds us that we don’t always know how to pray when facing life’s challenges. If we don’t know how to pray, it’s no surprise that we often struggle to make the right decisions—decisions that lead to the perfect outcome God desires for us. Two of the many powerful works of the Holy Spirit are these: He leads us in supernatural prayer that surpasses human comprehension, and He gives us wisdom—the kind of wisdom that turns revelation into practical, victorious living. Even when we can’t see the road ahead or understand all the obstacles before us, the Holy Spirit guides us—showing us when to act and when to wait, who to trust and who to avoid, and how to walk in peace and confidence. Join me this week as we explore this incredible dimension called The Way of Wisdom. Discover how the Holy Spirit not only leads us on the right path but also gives us the strength to pre

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com If you were facing a difficult situation today—sickness, financial pressure, a tough business decision, a troubled relationship, or any other challenge—how would you pray? Would you ask God to fix the situation, to work a miracle? Or would you pray for wisdom? Most people would pray for a miracle. They want God to deliver them from the problem. And you can be certain of this: God does want you delivered. We all know we should pray about everything and look for God’s help in our time of need. But what we often forget is that there are many kinds of prayer, and not every type is effective in every situation. Yet God gives us clear instructions for how to pray when we are being tested or tempted. The Greek word translated “tested” means to be tempted to do evil, tested, examined, or made to strain. Unfortunately, many believers have been taught that God orchestrates these hardships to accomplish some mystical agenda. But t

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Is Doctrine Important? Absolutely! Sound doctrine is vital; it condenses the Bible's many teachings into clear, practical concepts that help us understand truth. However, humanity has a poor track record, often twisting God’s truth into man-made doctrines and rules exalted above His Word. Jesus called these "the traditions of men," warning they make the Word of God "of no effect" (Mark 7:13). When doctrine is elevated, it destroys faith in God’s truth. Sadly, the modern church often repeats this, with believers knowing more about denominational doctrine than the doctrines of God. Instead of seeking God's Spirit-led voice, many substitute doctrine—even using it to justify the life they want. This week, let’s explore the dogmatic ways believers approach the doctrine of Jesus’ second coming. People often develop extreme ideas in fearful times, looking for safety. But Jesus never taught that correct doctrine gives us peace.

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Understanding the seasons is like receiving a prophetic glimpse into both the world around us and the direction of our own lives. When we properly discern the season, confusion fades and clarity comes. We no longer feel lost or overwhelmed—we recognize the signs, and we understand how to respond. Nothing takes us by surprise! Even more powerful is this truth: when we know the season we are about to enter, we can prepare in advance. Instead of stumbling through pain, disappointment, or frustration, we walk with wisdom, confidence, and peace. Pastors can lead their churches with clarity and vision. Parents can guide their families through transitions with confidence. Couples can better understand and meet one another’s needs when they discern the times. It’s like having a personal roadmap for life’s greatest decisions. Above all, we must know the spiritual season. Jesus urged us to watch and pray, stay awake and alert, so