“Harassed by life, exhausted, we look about us for somewhere to be quiet, to be genuine, a place of refreshment. We yearn to restore our spirits in God, to simply let go in him and gain new strength to go on living. But we fail to look for him where he is waiting for us, where he is to be found: in his Son, who is his Word. Or else we seek for God because there are a thousand things…
There are times we are brought to our knees in pain, confusion, upset, strife, or sin itself. Fighting through it seems like an uphill battle, and we just don’t have the strength to take another step. Sometimes it feels like a spiritual reckoning. In Romans 7, Paul talks about even as a Christian, we have this sin deep within us. That sin sometimes needs dealt with through a reckoning. But after repentance and the acceptance of forgiveness by faith that…
A good friend was frustrated by walking with someone spiritually through a difficult time. There were no changes, and whatever my friend tried to do, it either did not bear fruit, or the help was rejected. Many of us find ourselves in this position and ultimately abandon helping a person. But being a spiritual helper requires a directive from God first to help this person. Then it requires an understanding and spiritual insight about what is currently needed in the…
C.S. Lewis is noted for saying: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” We are made for another world, so there is no experience on this earth that will come close to satisfying the longing in the spirit for its true ‘home.’ Author Jon Bloom notes in one of his books: “No relationship, no successful achievement, no possession, no amount…
Recently, I found myself lost in my journaling trying to capture every detail of every moment of every day. Journaling time became laborious and time-consuming. A good friend and life-long journaler recently provided some tips on writing in a journal, and these tips are certain to breathe new life into how I reflect on my days. First, she said, keep it simple. It is a gift to write what happened in your day and be able to read it at…
Known as the “Prince of Preachers,” 19th century minister Charles Spurgeon once said, “If God were a tyrant, it might be courageous to resist submitting, but since he is a Father it is ungrateful to rebel.” In a later sermon, Spurgeon gave excellent reasons why we should submit to God: We should submit to God because He created us. We should submit to God because His rule is good for us. We should submit to God because all resistance to…
Sometimes crying is just feeling lost and helpless, like God is waaaay over there somewhere, and you’re waaaay over here. Lots of feelings will surface but they are not the guide – the spirit is. Crossing over is difficult, dry, alone and confusing, but God is preparing to bring you across, even if you wail like a spiritual baby. While there is movement forward, no place is going to be okay for a long time. Home isn’t where you want…
In a vision the man saw the face of a clock, and he could hear it ticking. He would turn away and look back at the time, which had barely advanced. And the Lord said “it may seem like time is almost standing still because of the anxiety to want to get moving, but it is not yet time to make significant progress; it is a time of transition and waiting. Some of My people are bored. Some feel aimless…
Mary did you know That your baby boy will one day walk on water? Mary did you know That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters? Did you know That your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you’ve delivered Will soon deliver you Mary did you know That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? Mary did you know That your baby boy will calm a storm with His hand?…
In every nature, purpose is innate, driven by a spiritual passion and supported by gifts and talents. It can be surprisingly difficult to identify, but it will cause dissatisfaction and suffering when not recognized and pursued. Passion is an irrational but irresistible force when focused on one specific pursuit. The passion that rules will eventually conquer reasons and doubts. Pay attention. Wait and watch, and refuse to hunt or search. The purpose will be revealed and the passion for that…