When Jesus was spending His last evening with His disciples before His crucifixion, He told them, “Those who know my commands and obey them are the ones who love me, and my Father will love those who love me. I…
General vs. Specific Prayers
General prayers aren’t the worst thing in the world. In fact, they can save lives, bring comfort, and change outcomes for people we don’t even know. Many years ago, I heard a sermon about how we should pray for specific…
Sent vs. Called by God
I’ve been thinking recently about what it is to be sent vs. what it is to be called. A person might have an apostolic anointing on their life – they’ve been sent by God to a specific place, people, or…
Separated from God
An excerpt from my journal. “Surrender is painful,” people say. Perhaps that is true. But nothing is as painful as being separated from God. Nothing. Nothing is wrong with it to be separated from Him. Nothing. Nothing can separate us…
Jesus Comes All the Way
Last night, someone told me that I needed to move in order for God to move. “You have to meet Him halfway,” he said. “You can’t just sit there and do nothing.” Now, it’s true that he doesn’t know me…
We Create Our Environment Around How We See God
Most of us have the privilege in life of creating an environment around ourselves. The environment where we have influence may be very small – extending about as far as our own attitude – while others are responsible for creating…
Emotions and God
Did you know that it’s safe and even right to engage your emotions when you’re praying, worshiping, or just living out what Christ died for – so that you could have a relationship with God? I’ve heard so many people…
Good Qualities without Submission is Miserable
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how the Bible tells us to specifically clothe ourselves with certain virtues, qualities, and spiritual armor. It’s a great thing to put these on each day, both as protection and also as part…
Obsessing over Holy Things vs. Jesus
I was thinking yesterday about how various people and organizations tend to set up one or more Christian practices, commands, or gifts as extremely important. Some choose Biblical knowledge, fasting, healing the sick, evangelism, feeding or helping the poor, missionary…
All About Samaria
The other day, I realized that the maps in the back of the Bibles I typically use don’t bother to show the divided kingdom of Israel vs. Judah. That seemed like an oversight to me; after all, where were major…