Have you ever imagined that Jesus is right next to you? I don’t simply mean believing that He is with us always (because He is) but rather really, really tried imagining him sitting, eating and walking with you? Up until about two years ago I had never thought about it either, but that all changed one snowy, winter day in Breckenridge, Colorado. I was right in the middle of something I was calling “God Week.” Jordan was traveling for the next seven days, and I was by myself in our RV. I wanted to take advantage of all the extra quiet time by spending it with God. On day 5, a friend from the small group I was leading asked if we...
In my Bible in a Year plan, I recently came across one of the first verses I ever memorized in Isaiah - one that is probably pretty familiar to you: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) The CSB version says it this way: “You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” Actually, most translations use the word “mind” - KJV, ESV, NIV - to name a few. As much of an encouragement this perfect peace is, I found myself wondering what exactly is meant here by “mind.” In his commentary, David Guzik does a great job explaining...
Have you ever felt so weary and weak that you find yourself unable to do anything? Have you ever been so oppressed and attacked spiritually that you can barely utter a prayer? You’re not alone. As I write this blog, I can honestly say that I’m working through this right now. This past Saturday, I was so filled with the Spirit that I wanted to talk to everyone and anyone because I was overwhelmed with the grace and goodness of our Lord! Fast forward to earlier this morning (I'm writing this on Monday, just two days later), and I found myself unable to do anything but go to my room and cry out to our Father. Any focus and motivation and...
Do you ever feel like you “missed” what you just read in the Bible - even after spending time in the Word at length? It’s easy to do, especially if you’re like me and are following a Bible in a Year plan that requires multiple chapters to be read per day. While it is important to read the Bible in its entirety, we also must remember to slow down and focus on the text. It’s for this reason that over the past month the Lord has called me to slow down and pause to let the truth of God’s Word soak in. How? By meditating on His Word. Yup, I went there. Can Christians Meditate? The word “meditate” sometimes has...
I don't know about you, but it's far too easy for me to get caught up in worry and anxiety. As a Christian, this is something I'm constantly in prayer about - learning how to trust God in all situations, at all times. Maybe you're like me... or maybe right now is just a difficult season for you too. One of my go-to verses to meditate on and pray over is Philippians 4:6-7: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. I don't...
