Michael Lerchenfeldt

Let us surrender our lives to God. Let us yield to God’s will. Our eyes will be opened to see more clearly how God is present in our circumstances and how He wants to work through us during our short stay in this, our temporary earthly home. Lord, give us all a teachable spirit, and help us surrender our hearts to Jesus today!

I teach. Why do I teach? I teach because it is more than a profession; it is a calling. Teachers hold one of the most meaningful, purpose-driven roles in society. We share knowledge, foster a love of learning, and impact the future of every student we serve. I wake up each morning to serve students. Being a role model and equipping students with skills for life beyond the classroom is deeply inspiring. No two days are the same, and my motivation has always come from the students themselves—facilitating their collaboration, encouraging their curiosity, and watching them grow. But while I have spent my life teaching others, the most important moment of my life was when I became a student.

For years, my identity was wrapped up in my ability to lead, organize, and educate. But deep down, I felt a void that success couldn’t fill. I struggled with self-comparison and envy. I realized knowledge wasn’t enough to save me. That is when I began a relationship with Jesus through reading Scripture. I realized that while I could teach a student to read or write, only Jesus could prepare a heart to heal. Surrendering my life to Him didn’t just make me a Christian; it made me a better educator, because I learned what it meant to be loved unconditionally.

During my time in the classroom and my walk with God, I have come to realize that the best educational principles are spiritual truths. God has taught me:

1. Perseverance is faithful: just as I never give up on a struggling student, God taught me that He never gives up on me. We must be persistent in prayer and hope.
2. Open-mindedness is a form of humility: in the classroom, I listen to opinions to make better decisions. Spiritually, God taught me to listen to His Spirit and value others above myself.
3. Positivity is hope: the world, and even schools, can be a negative place. But God taught me that Christian hope is an anchor. We don’t just “think positive”; we trust in a Sovereign God who holds the future.
4. Lifelong learning is a form of discipleship: whether it’s new technology or a new teaching strategy, I am always learning, constantly being shaped by His Word.

We think we have to be “good enough” to get into Heaven. However, the Bible teaches that we have all fallen short of the test. We have all fallen short of God’s standard. God did something incredible. He didn’t expel us; He redeemed us. I teach because I love it. My classroom is where I work, but Heaven is where I belong—and I want you to be there with me.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23–24).

Discipleship: A Life of Growth

We are all a work in progress! Let’s take time to consider areas of our lives where we are not living as our best selves. Let’s allow ourselves to be vulnerable and open to letting God ‘tweak’ us where we are a little rough around the edges. Let’s take advantage of Mercy Nights with Adoration and Confession. Let’s dig into our Bibles and reflection booklets. Let’s pray, let’s listen, let’s grow.

For years, I lived with a ‘fixed’ mindset about my life and my worth. I believed my intelligence, morality, and spiritual potential were inherent. I carried the internal dialogue of the fixed mindset: “I’m just not good enough for God,” or “I’ll never be as holy as they are. I avoided the ultimate challenge—a deep, surrendered relationship with Jesus—because I was terrified that my inevitable mistakes would prove I was fundamentally flawed and unable to change. But God, in His infinite mercy, introduced me to the ultimate ‘growth’ mindset through the Gospel. It was a moment of reading Scripture with Our Daily Bread that made me realize Christ could transform me.

The Gospel taught me that my life is not defined by where I started but by the power of the Holy Spirit, who is constantly working in me—like a muscle being exercised. I am not stuck in my sin; I am on a continuous, grace-filled learning journey called sanctification. Meeting Jesus moved me from the paralyzing fear of a fixed life to the exciting, limitless potential of a life of growth. The wisdom of the ‘growth’ mindset echoes profound spiritual truths. These are the three core lessons God has used to stretch my soul:

1. Failure is feedback, not final judgment. When I stumble or fall short of God’s standards, it is not proof that I am condemned; it is simply feedback showing me where I need to rely more on repentance and grace. Every struggle is a clue that points me toward prayer, confession, and the power of God’s Word.
2. I am confident of this: “The one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). The boundless power of “YET.” The most powerful word in the spiritual dictionary is “yet.” When I feel overwhelmed, I stop saying, “I don’t have the faith to forgive this person,” or “I don’t understand God’s plan for my life.” Instead, I say, “I don’t have the strength yet, but God is faithful, and He will provide it.”
3. Focus on effort, not just the result. I learned to focus on the effort of discipleship—the daily practice of abiding in Christ through prayer, reading Scripture, and serving others—rather than obsessing over the outcome (perfection). God honors the diligent effort of the heart. Spiritual growth comes from the daily stretching of our will toward His, not just spiritual breakthrough.

The Good News is the ultimate message of potential and transformation. We were trapped in a fixed state by our sin, unable to achieve salvation through efforts or talent. But Jesus Christ demonstrated the ultimate effort on our behalf. He paid the price for our failures and provided a bridge—a connection—back to God. God doesn’t just make us better; God makes us new. He gives us a ‘growth’ mindset for eternity, promising that the transformation will continue forever. You are not stuck.

I stand on the promise that although my sanctification is incomplete, God is actively working in me.