But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how surreal everything around me seems. You can listen to a news anchor screaming something about the “other side” (I remember when news anchors had no “sides” at all—but there’s no such thing as fact-reporting anymore, sigh). But, in reality, what they’re shouting is exactly what their side is blatantly doing! And, like any good propaganda machine, if some lie or fabrication is repeated enough, it will become “true” and be believed by the masses. Then there’s the cultural redefinition of words to mean something completely different than they used to (which is part of a bigger-picture plan too). And there’s plenty of data on how social media algorithms are intentionally set to push a certain narrative. Oh, and now bourgeoning Artificial Intelligence (AI) is ramping up the potential for fake news, fake quotes, fake audio, and fake imagery that seems totally authentic. How do we know what’s really real?

Then there are the actual people walking around us. The need to resemble Instagram filters is truly astounding. Botox pushed to girls in their 20s, lip injections to the point of creating human Simpsons caricatures, stretched faces replicating eerie Joker-like grins. Name a body part, and there’s an implant for that. …fake cheeks, fake lips, fake breasts, fake calves. Of course, there’s the social media life—people presenting their life’s highlight reels, editing out 99.5% of actuality. People are terrified to be real.

So, where do I land on all this pondering? It would be so easy to do a deep dive into despair when looking around and listening to the cacophony of the culture. But God. See, as a believer, when I remember that this world is not my home (Philippians 3:20; John 17:14-15), the “reality” of the world comes clearly into view: It is not reality at all, but a mere shadow of what is true. All the things the world is chasing after (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—1 John 2:15-17) are like vapor. We know this because achieving that “must have” is never, ever enough. It just creates a need for more. Whether it’s a political agenda or another facial injection. It’s all fake and it’s all meaningless in the Big Reality of Truth. And that’s just the way the enemy of our soul wants it.

Satan, the ruler of this world, hates you and me. He only wants to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10a). He’s on the prowl, seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8). He is the father of lies—the inventor of fake news—and there is literally no truth in him (John 8:44). So, the falseness, dishonesty, and deception constitute his reality! And without Holy Spirit clarity, it’s easy to believe what we see…and it’s easy to perceive the stench around us as a fragrant aroma.

Friend, we need to get real. We need to focus our eyes on the reality of God’s Kingdom and His sovereignty. There’s a battle raging in this shadowland, but the war has been won. And if you’ve been born of God (surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior), you have overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5). You have the Holy Spirit living in you to give the power to see through the fog. But this supervision is only available if you keep your eyes off the stuff of this world, focusing on God’s Word and surrendering to His will. When you do, an amazing thing happens: You’ll recognize the lies and deceptions more clearly and, more importantly, you’ll rest assured that this world is merely shadows. It’s such a relief not to have to figure everything out or live up to the world’s unrealistic expectations. Only things of God matter…and your desires and focus will shift to eternity—and making an eternal impact. 

So, get real. And tell others how they can get real too.

Lord, keep my eyes on You and the victorious work of Jesus, so I can live in the real world.

Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

2 Colossians 2:6-7

Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior is a one-and-done decision. Once saved, always saved—no one can pluck you from His hand (John 10:28-30). That being said, in response to the Great Exchange (your sin for His righteousness), you are called to live life differently. To walk worthy of this new relationship with God (Eph 4:1; Col 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:12)—and to do so with a “fruity” attitude of love empowered by the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23).

But how can we walk in Jesus? That’s a very tall order (Jesus being perfect and all). But there are a few important things the Apostle Paul mentions in his letter to the Colossians that instruct us about moving forward in the right direction. 

1. We are “firmly rooted” in Christ. The Greek grammar is very encouraging here. The word for “having been firmly rooted” is errizonmenoi, which is a perfect tense participle. (Huh?) It means that this rooting takes place at the moment of salvation! It’s as if you’re a small bush that has been dug up—roots and all—out of your sinful life to be placed in a luscious greenhouse (new life), where, the moment you’re replanted, your roots are instantly being nourished for growth. And your fruit is on its way. Don’t get me wrong…we are given a new nature with the Holy Spirit living in us, but we’re still stuck in our fallen flesh and living in a dark world run by one who’s sole purpose is to destroy us. So we must abide in Jesus, yielded to the Holy Spirit at all times to feed those roots (John 15:1-27)!
2. As we walk, we are being built up in Him. Here, the Greek for “being built up” is epoikodomoumenoi, which is—stay with me here—a present tense participle. This indicates continuous action! From a solid foundation of our salvation, we grow to be more like Jesus by (a) studying the Word of God and (b) living out the grace, truth, and love we’ve been shown, and (c) being in community with other brothers and sisters in faith. Grounded and growing, we are established in our faith.
3. Because of our new roots, deepening daily through our Source, and our ongoing transformation to live in the reality of our righteousness in Christ, we are to overflow with gratitude. Thankfulness is truly a choice. Our salvation alone is reason enough to daily burst out in song! Beyond that, we can start with the breath in our lungs and work our way through the multitude of blessings we’ve been given, along with the daily miracles we experience. 

Friend, our walk with the Lord won’t be easy—that’s a promise right from His mouth. But moving in the direction of obedience is the call on our lives. We do that through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, along with knowing and living by the Truth of God’s Word. So, stay rooted, take in nourishment to thrive, and be sure to feed your growth with plenty of gratitude.

Thank You, Lord for trading my unrighteousness for Your perfect righteousness, establishing me in faith. May I live as a worthy ambassador of Your Kingdom…and give thanks all along the way.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Accounting. You either love it or hate it. Some of us get giddy at the thought of a balanced tally on a piece of paper or computer screen—P&L statement, budget spreadsheet, etc. (in the last century, I would have used “balanced checkbook”—but lots of you would be like, “Huh?”). Others of us avoid those things like the plague. (I thank the Lord for my sweet accountant of more than 20 years, who does all that book-balancing and number-crunching on my behalf. May he never retire.)

Biblical accounting, however, is super simple. Don’t get me wrong, though. It is simple, but it’s not easy. In fact, it’s impossible in our own human effort. 

Throughout God’s Word, we—as believers—are called to love others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ (Romans 12:10). And it is by our love for the world (not the world system but the world’s people) that they will know we are Christians (John 13:34-35). The book-and-chapter go-to that defines love for us was written in a letter from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church. The purpose of his communication was to slap them on their proverbial wrists for all the ways they were blowing their Christian walk…but if you’ve attended a few weddings (or had one), you’re likely very familiar with 1 Corinthians 13, as this “love chapter” is used to set the bar on self-sacrificing, other-elevating, God-glorifying love. In the midst of this chapter, within verse 5, that accounting principles come into play.

The Lord, through Paul, tells us that love “keeps no record of wrongs” (NIV) or, as the Legacy Standard Bible translates it, love “does not take into account a wrong suffered”. So, what does this mean, exactly? Whether you’re a CPA or spreadsheet-phobic, we are not to keep a tally of those hurts, wrongs, and irritants done toward us by another. Some of us may be thinking, “Well, then what ammunition will I have during our next big blowout—when I need to toss the final battle-ending grenade?” (Um, well…there’s an entirely different Biblical lesson there, friend.) We are called to keep a clean slate with others, to seek the honor of others, to not be easily angered. And all this is only possible when we are quick to forgive—and, yes, to forget. 

Paul makes this sound so simple, doesn’t he? As I mentioned before, this level of love is not humanly possible—not in our own strength and determination. Our flesh simply won’t stand for it. But, as Christians, we have a superpower (well, supernatural power)! We have the Holy Spirit living in us—the indwelling power of God to enable us to walk out the kind of love we’re commanded to have. If you look at these love verses in 1 Corinthians, the definition lines up pretty well with the fruit of the Spirit definition in Galatians (5:22-23). In other words, when we yield to the Holy Spirit, surrendering our will for His, we are able. (Again, still not easy, per say, because we’ll always have that new-creation-versus-flesh battle raging until we’re glorified in heaven.)

And not only do we have the Helper to help us love sans accounting, but we also have an inspiring Model to follow. Because of God’s love for us, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). When we repent, accept this grace gift, and surrender our lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior, our sins—yesterday’s, today’s, and tomorrow’s—are forgiven (Acts 3:19; 1 John 1:9). And they are forgotten (Isaiah 43:25; Psalm 103:12). Because we’re wrapped in the righteousness of Christ, this is what God sees when He looks at us. In fact, when we bring up some “big sin” from our past to ask the Lord’s forgiveness once again, He looks at us and says, “What sin?” Friend, we are recipients of love-without-accounting.

What’s the bottom line? (See what I did there?) We are to love in a way that keeps no record of wrongs because that’s how we are loved by our heavenly Father. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We forgive as we’ve been forgiven (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32). So, today, let the Holy Spirit have His way, and throw away that balance sheet.

Lord, may I walk in love toward others that reflects the love and forgiveness You give to me.

He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 

John 2:2

When Jesus gave up His life on the cross, he said, “It is finished.” What was finished, exactly? The war. For individuals and the whole universe. This was the final sacrifice, patterned (but always insufficient) since the Garden of Eden to atone for the first sins of mankind. See, at the beginning of human history, war was declared. The perfection of the created world began its decay. And the perfect relationship between God and mankind was broken—sin had come on the scene, and our enemy, Satan, became our formidable foe (Genesis 3).

But when God sent His beloved Son to live the perfect life we could not live, die the death we deserved, and be resurrected in victory over sin and death, the final, once-and-for-all justification was made. The Great Exchange—His righteousness for our sin, His wounds for our healing, His death for our eternal life. Our debt was settled. And our enemy, Satan, was completely defeated.

And when we accept this gift of grace—Jesus’ work on the cross—through faith, we are made free (Galatians 5:1). We are no longer trapped by the shackles of sin, but are made alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). Our broken relationship with God has been reconciled through Christ, and we have peace with God. We live under grace, and our new desire is to live in the righteousness credited to us. In gratefulness—and by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us—we walk in holiness and love, reflecting Jesus and glorifying God in all things.

Until we don’t. Even though we walk in spiritual freedom, and we’re wrapped in the righteousness of Christ, we are walking through this world in an unredeemed body of flesh. And although the ultimate war is won, until we are out of this body, we will be fighting a battle between sin and holiness. We’ll keep doing things we don’t want to do and not doing things we want to do (Romans 7:14-25).

What about the world? It sure seems like Satan is winning—just watch the news for a minute. If the war has been won, why does the whole world seem embattled in darkness, with the enemy taking more and more ground on a daily basis? Because, for now, Satan is the god of this world and the world’s systems. God is Sovereign, and He has Satan is on a short leash…but he (Satan) is currently loose, prowling around like a devouring lion, seeking only to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8).

It can all seem like a real bummer. But there’s good news, Christian! Yes, as we walk toward Home in this fleshly body, we’ll be battling the desires of the flesh. But, praise God, we become more and more like Jesus along the way, when we walk according to the Holy Spirit. In the battles of our soul, we will experience greater and greater victories as we move toward the fulfillment of the Final Triumph. 

Ah, what about the world, which is clearly entrenched in evil? Sadly, unlike our personal front, the global battlefield will only become bloodier and darker at the hands of our adversary as time marches onward. We’ll see glimpses of light (in fact, we believers are to be that light!), but the trajectory is decay and decline.

But Jesus is coming back. Soon. And when He does, it will be in power and great glory (Luke 21:25-28), as King of kings, Lord of lords. With eyes of fire, leading the armies of heaven, He will return for the final battle that ends the war forever. Satan will be finished (eternally suffering in fire), there will be a new heaven and new earth (perfect once again), and our sin, pain, mourning—all gone. Our personal battles are temporary, and so is the darkness and evil of this world. So, take heart, believer, the war is almost over. 

Lord, remind me daily—through my personal battles with sin and while watching the enemy’s global battlefield—that You have already been victorious. It is done and You have won.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Have you ever had a best friend—do you have one now? Someone who you’d adamantly claim is your co-pea in a pod, the cheese to your macaroni, a shelter in your storms. You’re inseparable. There’s an authenticity and transparency that simply allows you to be you—to share your deepest dreams and darkest flaws, to hold mirrors up to one another for soul-level betterment. Besties are the best, aren’t they? Until they’re not. 

Sometimes there’s a drift—imperceptible at first, until suddenly you realize that person’s presence isn’t as ubiquitous in your day-to-day world. Other times it may be a geographical move. Sure, texts, calls, even FaceTime are great…but it’s not the same, and the time/space divide grows, slowly, but surely. And sometimes, a wedge is thrown between you. It could initiate from one or the other of you (because of a thoughtless action, a cutting word, even a colossal misunderstanding). But, often, it’s discord brought on by the fallenness of the flesh, the darkness of the world, and the nefarious intent of the enemy. That deep, abiding relationship you once thought to be immovable and unbreakable is suddenly (or slowly) gone.

Whether you once had a BFF and now you don’t, or if you’re in a season of multiple besties (spouse-bestie, work-bestie, church-bestie, from-high-school-bestie), or if you’re not sure you’ve ever had that depth of relationship in your life, there is amazing news! Regardless of your circle(s) of friends or even marital status, you never have to be alone, isolated as easy prey for the world and its ruler (Satan). 

When we surrender to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior by faith, we are given a perpetual BFF—the Holy Spirit living in us (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:16)! By making peace with God through salvation, we have the peace of God, the surety that we can walk through every storm with the Helper, Counselor, Truth-revealer. The Apostle Paul sums it up in his letter to the Romans (8:31): “If God is for us, who can be against us?” And in verse 35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” And Paul had been through some serious stuff (which he summarizes in the following verses): tribulation distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword. But he—and we—are more than conquerors through God who loves us! 

As a Christian, there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. And just to drive the point home to his readers, Paul writes a pretty comprehensive list of all the things that cannot throw a wedge between us and God’s love: death (we’re secure in our salvation); life (life happens in this fallen world, but none of it is “too much”); angels or demons (we have an enemy who absolutely hates us, but he’s been defeated); rulers (we’re citizens of heaven, not of this world); the present or the future (we can be anxious for nothing and have peace that passes understanding); height nor depth (from asteroids to ants). And just in case you find any excuse loophole in all that, Paul wraps it up with, “anything else in all creation.” 

The only true BFF, One who will never leave you or forsake you or decide to move on for any reason, is God. And He is an amazing package deal in terms of relationship! We get God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (I know, the Trinity is mind-numbing concept, but let’s just rest in the glory of our three-Person-bestie!) While a friend—or parent or spouse—may forsake us, we have Someone who will stick with us through it all. As children of God, co-heirs with Christ, Holy Spirit-indwelled, friends of Jesus, we are inseparable from the love of God.

Lord, if someone is reading this who is experiencing intense loneliness and isolation, reveal to them the truth: In Christ Jesus, they are inseparable from God’s love for them—never battling through this world alone. May they accept this love through Jesus right now.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16

As the Body of Christ, Christians are meant to complement each other in doing Kingdom-growing work. To the unbelieving world, we’re to demonstrate the grace and mercy that has been extended to us by the Lord, so that they’ll see how different we are and glorify God (Matthew 5:16). So, may we live this way—even as the cultural current gets stronger, and swimming upstream gets harder and harder.

But what about within the family of believers? Well, throughout the New Testament, Jesus and His Apostles call us repeatedly (over 50 times) to the “one anothers” of doing life together as Christians. These commandments establish how we’re to behave under the lordship of Christ because they reflect the pattern of Christ. We are, first and foremost, to love one another (John 13:35; Romans 13:8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11). Another biggie is for us to get along—to live in unity (Romans 15:5-7; Ephesians 4). After all, if we’re always fighting and quarreling and backbiting each other, why on earth would an unbeliever look at us and think, “Yeah, I definitely want to follow Jesus since that’s what it looks like!”

Although there is plenty to read (in the Word and about the Word) regarding how the Church should treat one another, I recently heard a simple, yet profound, statement that beautifully summed up a why for all those one anothers: We’re all just walking each other home. (I know, right?!)

Now, I get that “walking someone home” isn’t as much of a thing as it used to be (for a million reasons I won’t go into here). But everyone can understand the rationale for doing so: It’s dark outside; there are entities lurking about that want to cause harm; and walking alone could be dangerous. So, having another alongside you as you journey home brings safety, comfort, encouragement, support. 

This is a goosebump concept for Christ-followers, is it not? From the moment we surrender to Jesus, we’re on our way Home—stepping in the direction of obedience to Him, becoming more like Him, until we are ultimately glorified with Him. And, friend, the world through which we are walking is dark (getting darker by the day). We have a very real enemy whose sole purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10a). It’s a dangerous place—especially if we try to go it alone! (Like that weak gazelle that lags behind the pack, we become easy pickings for our predator when we choose isolation from the family of believers.) But God created us for community, to walk in love and unity through this world toward eternity…to support, encourage, comfort, and provide safety for one another. Plus, although the road is narrow, there’s always room for one more—so invite as many people as you can to join you on the walk!

It’s dark out. And we don’t belong here—in fact, this world hates us (John 15:19). But praise the Lord, we’re on our way home…so lock arms with your brothers and sisters in Christ. And let’s walk home.

Good and gracious heavenly Father, may I recognize the Truth that this world is not my home—but I’m on my way. And as I walk in obedience and love, may I embrace my family of believers, so I’ll never journey alone.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25

As believers, you and I know well the unending battle between the flesh (our sinful desires) and the Holy Spirit living in us. (I say “unending”, but praise the Lord, this war will cease completely upon our face-to-face meeting with Jesus in Glory.) Even the Apostle Paul—who led the way for the whole world to know Christ—struggled with this sanctification dilemma. He talks in Romans 7:14-20 that he doesn’t do the good he wants to do (by the Spirit), and he does the evil he doesn’t want to do. He even likens this conflict to walking around with a corpse strapped to him. So, friends, we are not alone in this frustration!

As a gentle reminder, when we surrender our lives to Jesus Christ, putting our trust in what He accomplished by His death and resurrection on our behalf, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Jesus promised this (John 16:7). We receive the Holy Spirit—the third Person of the Trinity—at salvation. He is an internal counselor, guide, teacher, intercessor—our Helper to walk our walk of faith. And when we yield to Him, we can be confident that we’re moving in the right direction.

Ah, but even so, that pesky corpse hanging around us (along with the world and the enemy) also pulls on us too, leading us to thoughts, words, and actions that lead the wrong way. So, what can we do for daily victories—gaining ground as we move onward toward our heavenly home? Well, we can take some cues from our mentor, Paul. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). 

I’m not sure if this is still a thing in elementary schools and summer camps, but we used to do an event called three-legged race, where two people would tie one of their legs to the other person’s (making three legs), and race others to the finish line. Lots of falls and hilarity would ensue. (Come to think of it, this “dangerous” field day game probably has gone the way of 15-foot monkey bars and those spinny merry-go-broken-arm things on the playground.) Anyway, it dawned on me that walking in the Spirit can be likened to being in a perpetual three-legged race with Him. See, when your leg is tied to another person’s leg you cannot go one direction while they go another. And the key to success is to get into—and stay in—step, creating a rhythm of sorts. If you try to move faster or slower than the other, a fall will shortly follow. 

I like to think that Paul would approve of this loose analogy, as he goes on to say in Galatians 5:25 that we’re to “keep in step with the Spirit”. We have the Holy Spirit in us—not just tied to us by a flimsy bandana! We’re designed to stay aligned with Him (His movements, His direction, His pace) moment by moment by moment. So, we must yield to Him, listening for Him as we keep our eyes and minds focused on the Lord. And the cool thing is, the more we listen, yield, and align with the Holy Spirit, the more natural this pacing-life-with-God becomes. 

If we want to run this three-legged race of life with greater confidence (and fewer falls to the fleshy sinful desires), know that we have the perfect partner in the Holy Spirit. Just yield.

Lord, thank You for giving me the Holy Spirit to live in me, guiding me from salvation to glory. May I yield moment by moment, listening and acting on His direction.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

We often talk about different ways we and others “show signs” that signify…well, something. For example, we use this expression to identify negative (and sometimes scary) things, like showing signs of flu (fever, aches, etc.) or even of serious disease. When babies are developing, parents may identify signs of autism or physical delays. And as loved ones age, they may show signs of dementia. Of course, there are also outward signs that indicate positive and joyful things. We show signs of healing when medicine—or miracles—are working. Pregnant women are said to “show” when baby creates the beginning of that precious bump. And through a growing consistency of wise decision making, a teenager shows signs of maturing.

Then there is the set of more subtle signs people show—or throw, as the case might be—that identify them with a certain cultural group. These hand gestures can connect a person with a particular gang or reveal a desire for peace. There are also hand gestures that connote “rock on”, “OK”, and “I’m not very happy with you right now” (often seen associated with driving).

Outward signs give other people a glimpse into our lives—how we are and even who we are. 

The question to believers is this: Are we showing signs of our identity in Christ? See, at the point of surrender to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, everything changes. We change. We’re made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). We become children of God (John 1:12). We are citizens of heaven, and this world is not our home (Philippians 3:20-21). And as a sign to us of this grace-given transformation, God gives us the Holy Spirit to live in us, empowering us to walk according to our new identity.

So, again, I ask: Are you showing signs of who you are as a blood-bought believer? Am I? Do our lives reflect the righteousness that now defines us? Are we daily walking in obedience to the Word in the direction of holiness? Do others know we are Christ-followers by the way we love them (John 13:35)? And, as someone once asked, “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Or are we living the same as the world lives, feet up, flowing with the current of the culture?

Friend, if your words and actions show no signs of new life in Christ—if it’s impossible for others to see how you’re different from this dark world—you must seriously assess your professed faith. See, even the demons believe, but they are not surrendered to Jesus as Lord and Savior (James 4:19). A changed life in Jesus will show signs of change.

The days are dark, culture is divided, and people are hurting—they need to see signs of hope. And that hope is only found in the Good News of Jesus. But how will they see the signs if we don’t show (and tell) them? 

Lord, may my life in Christ be a sign of hope to others, a shining light in the deepening darkness—and may I be prepared to give the reason for my hope (1 Peter 3:15)!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Are you a worrier? Or maybe you have an anxious child? Although worry has always been part of the human experience (well, since the Fall in the Garden), our current digital lives have certainly escalated its breadth and intensity. Social media, in particular, has generated whole new levels of angst, including FOMO (fear of missing out) and FOBO (fear of better options), which can paralyze decision-making at every level—from a simple social outing to job pursuits to marriage. 

There have been numerous neurological studies about worry and anxiety that show worrying is like a well-worn path. The more we travel down that road, the wider, more familiar, and more natural that path becomes. It’s like when you have to run to the grocery store: you get in your car and drive your usual route without thinking—you just arrive, barely aware of the lefts and rights you took to get there. The more we worry, the more we’ll go down the path of worry. 

So, what can we do to break the anxious-thinking pattern? Well, according to the scientific research, our brains cannot simultaneously be anxious and thankful. In other words, worry and gratitude are mutually exclusive—they are incompatible. In fact, consistent gratitude not only reduces anxiety and depression, it also improves sleep quality, reduces pain, and releases negative emotions. Thankfulness brings peace.

But as is the case with many “recent scientific discoveries” related to biology, ecology, archeology, etc., God already told us that thousands of years ago. From Proverbs and Psalms through the gospels and epistles, the Bible directs us not to worry—and why. It’s Paul in his letter to the Philippians, though, that specifies how to combat anxiety: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Pray and be thankful, and peace will replace worry—they can’t exist at the same time.

So, let’s embrace thankfulness and forge some new mental pathways, shall we? Feeling worried? Going down the path of FOMO or FOBO? Stop and be grateful! Focus on the blessings, gifts, and positive aspects of the situation—and your life in general. Paving the road to peace may initially be challenging, especially if your habitual route is oft-traveled anxiety. But start casting your cares on Jesus (1 Peter 5:7) and be thankful in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18)…and let gratitude become your new groove. 

Lord, may I cast my anxieties on You, choosing to be grateful in all things, to experience the peace of God that guards my heart and mind.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

James 4:8a

My incredibly adorable dog Caroline has truly been a gift to me. She has brought immense joy to our home—and she’s taught me a lot, especially about being thankful. Caroline also rarely leaves my side. The first thing she does when she wakes up (after sneezing and rolling around like a goofball) is look for me. While I sit at my desk in my home office hour after hour, she is lying right next to me. If I’m on the couch in the evening, she’s at my feet. (She used to be on the couch with me, but I’ve recently banned that practice with our new furniture—much to my husband’s chagrin.) And when I walk to the bathroom, she follows, nudging the door open, when possible, to be sure she can see me. In the kitchen making lunch? She’s underfoot. She loves me (in the ways a dog can), stays close to me, keeps her eyes on me (when she’s not snoozing), and gets a little panicked if she can’t find me. My husband has taken to mimicking a could-be Caroline voice saying, “Mommy, mommy! I only need mommy!”

Recently, as I’ve been focusing on abiding more closely in the Lord, another lesson from Caroline bubbled up in my mind and spirit, connecting her clinginess to me with my own relationship with Jesus. So, I started asking myself some essential questions—let’s consider this together, shall we?

1. As soon as I open my eyes in the morning, do I seek the Lord?
2. While working and in meetings throughout the day, am I staying in God’s presence so to influence every thought, word, and action?
3. Do I consider Jesus sitting next to me on the couch as I hit play on that Netflix series?
4. Is God my refuge—my safe place—so that I know “the nearness of God is good for me” (Psalm 73:28)?
5. Would I panic if I find myself out of God’s presence—and do I immediately focus on setting my eyes on Him? And are we calmed in His presence?

Wow. If I clung to the Lord in the same way Caroline clings to me—oh, the sweet contentment and joy! So, let’s be like my rescue dog! Grateful every moment for being saved from darkness and death into glorious light and life (Ephesians 2:1-10; Colossians 3:15; James 1:17). Keeping our eyes on the One who is sovereign over our lives (Psalm 103:9; Romans 8:28). Being calmed and quieted by His love (Zephaniah 3:17). Drawing near to God to experience His nearness to us (James 4:8a). 

As Christians in the New Covenant, God is near—in fact, He dwells in us (John 14:23; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)! Can’t much closer than that! But we must choose to abide, to surrender to the Lord’s presence and power in our lives. We must keep our eyes on Him at all times. Just like Caroline.

Lord, may I always abide in Your presence, knowing that my peace, hope, confidence, and every good gift comes only from You.