You sit in church listening to another guilt-producing sermon about how you should have your own private “devotions.” You’ve tried this before and failed. Yet, no one has explained a good way to do it. So, you “wing it” day to day – read the Bible one day, pray another, include a devotional guide, find a better one, decide to … Read More
Tammy sat in front of the desk in her pastor’s office with hot tears coursing down her face. The frustration of the past 10 years gushed out. “I do everything I know to do! I come to church. I read my Bible and pray almost every day. I teach Sunday School and attend our small group. I give and sometimes … Read More
For many years, I struggled in my attempts to remember God throughout everyday life. I was too busy, too distracted, too ignorant, and too inexperienced to know what it was like to commune with God during the day. I would start out well enough in morning devotions and prayer. But, a sense of God’s presence did not remain with me … Read More
Here is a simple way to discover more peace in your life. Ask for it. Pray for it to the One who is Peace. Although you are surrounded by endless noise, political chaos, personal troubles, and societal concerns, peace is available. Yet, finding peace in this mess is not easy. But, there is hope. [featured-image single_newwindow=”false”] I pray a prayer … Read More
Less is more when it comes to living an authentic Christian life. I didn’t always believe this. As a person eager to know God better, I grabbed onto anything I thought would help me – journaling, prayer, meditation, contemplation, study, solitude, Lectio Divina, retreats, and more. I read Foster, Willard, Whitney, Nouwen, Rohr, Peterson and lots of others (all very … Read More
In my zealousness to know God, I grabbed almost anything I could to help me. I tried multiple “spiritual disciplines.” I read dozens of books. I attended many conferences and seminars. I was a spiritual discipline junkie! How could that be bad? Right? Well, I got really frustrated with all the experimentation and “pick-and-choose-whatever-I-want-approach.” That is, until I realized that … Read More
I have discovered much about prayer the last 15 years. It’s not what I thought it was. I’ve moved from seeing prayer as primarily communicating with God to experiencing prayer as communion with God. Prayer is not so much about me talking and listening to God but about me being in God in silence. That’s why prayer has been a … Read More
I am a proud person. Pride shows itself in my life most often when I don’t get my way. When someone contradicts me, won’t do what I ask, or says “no” to me, my ugly ego rises and rebels. It doesn’t like to be dismissed. Can you relate? [featured-image single_newwindow=”false”] Do you recognize how self-preoccupied you are? Have you developed … Read More
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there prayed. Mark 1.35 [featured-image single_newwindow=”false”] Jesus “got away” from work in order to spend time with His Father (notice both movements)… 1. He awoke in the quiet of the early morning hours (the original Greek says “in the night”). Perhaps you’ve heard of … Read More
Rhonda and I recently enjoyed an evening together watching the movie War Room. The message of the movie was good. But, it left me wishing for a more complete portrayal of prayer. The movie has become all the rave among evangelicals, some of whom are my family and friends. In this post, I’m not critiquing the movie itself. However, I am … Read More
