Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said…  

~Nehemiah 2:4-5a

Not sure about any of you all, but I’m a talk-thinker—I guess the official term is “verbal processor.” Often, when a question is asked of me (whether at work or with friends or family), I just open my mouth and the words start flowing. Sometimes, by the time I get to the end of said wordflow, the conclusion does not resemble the beginning all that much. In fact, with my clients, I frequently find myself saying, “Now, bear with me, I’m processing as I’m speaking…”

Most of the time, everything turns out just fine in this verbal-thinking mode of mine. But not always. Sometimes (way too often), when I open my mouth without first head-thinking, I hear words of judgment or complaining or defensive rebuttal roll off my treacherous tongue (Proverbs 21:23; James 3:1-18; . (And, sadly, this is usually with my husband.) Or, when I’m attempting to give godly, Bible-aligned wisdom to a sister in Christ, I lead with what I think or feel. This advice is usually based on seasons the Lord has led me through or from the years I’ve spent in His Word. But—and it’s a great big but—how often do I stop first to “pray to the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 2:4) for wisdom? Ouch.

So, what a great reminder it was in diving into the first few chapters of Nehemiah. Eight little words (in the NASB), innocently stuck within the amazing story of this brave cupbearer to the king. Like Ezra, Daniel, and Esther, Nehemiah had been elevated to a place of honor even in Jewish bondage. As cupbearer, Nehemiah had daily audience with the king. Now, he knew the promises of God—and the unfaithfulness of God’s people, which led to their mass exodus out of Jerusalem. The book of Nehemiah is an awesome testament to God’s Providence, so I recommend you delve in yourself. But the context here is that in Nehemiah’s sadness about his people and Promised Land, the king noticed and actually cared enough to ask Nehemiah what burdened him. After Nehemiah shared the reason for his sorrow, the king asked, “What would you request?” 

Wow. This is a big deal. But instead of Nehemiah rambling on about the woes of the Jews or rehashing past wrongs to eventually get to a request, we read those eight words: “So I prayed to the God of heaven.” Even the presumptive “so” is astounding! It’s like he’s saying, “Well, duh, the obvious first thing to do is pray to God before I think or say or do anything.” [Spoiler alert: What came out of Nehemiah’s mouth was a succinct request (cushioned with a compliment), as well as a definitive plan of action.]

What a great lesson for us all—simple, yet not easy. These eight little words must become our “so” habit. And habits take effort. And repetition. So, will you join me in pausing to pray before speaking? Before we share, advise, judge, ask, or even “observe aloud”, let’s ask the Sovereign One for guidance. In fact, we have the third Person of the Trinity living in us for such wisdom—the Holy Spirit is our Counselor just waiting to be tapped in before our tongue takes over.

Lord, may we search Your Word for the countless truths of how to use (and not use) our words. And may we daily (moment-by-moment) pray to You before speaking.

The Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

~2 Timothy 2:24-26

Friend, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, I want to ask you a simple question: Do you always remember from where you came? Whether you gave your life to Christ at VBS when you were age 7 or the Lord called your name to salvation at 70, the fact is that you used to be an enemy of God in need of reconciliation with Him. It’s so easy, especially the longer we walk with the Lord down the path of sanctification, to forget. 

If you’re like me and surrendered to Jesus later in life, your previous lostness may be more top of mind, so to speak—especially if you share your testimony as a witness of the transforming power of Christ. But even then, the longer we’re “church people”, the more likely we are to experience a bit of “sanctification pride”…in other words, a kind of forgetfulness of our own journey, with an attitude of, “Oh, I can’t believe he/she is ‘still’ doing this/that—I’m glad I’m not like that!” Really? First of all—yeah, we were once like that. Second of all, we still are. It may not be the exact same snare as our brother or sister, but we still fight against sin daily. (And if you don’t think so, well, a study on the sin of pride might be something to consider.) 

And when it comes to looking upon unbelievers, we must absolutely reach back and recall our life as—not just in–darkness (Ephesians 5:8). Regardless of whether you never left the Father’s porch or you ended up in the pigsty (like me), you and I were once lost. Blind. Enslaved. An enemy (Ephesians 2:1-3). This is what Paul is exhorting Timothy about in 2 Timothy 2:24-26. Christians must battle that internal dialogue of judgement against the lost…in fact, it actually sounds an awful lot like Christ’s condemnation of the Pharisee’s prayer, “God, thank you that I am not like that guy…” (Luke 18:9-14). 

So, how do we follow Paul’s advice? There are three words in those verses in 2 Timothy that seem to pop out: “all” and “if perhaps”. All means all, and that’s all all means—as a former pastor of mine used to say. Every person you encounter is either alive in Christ or dead. We may not know who’s who, but we can know that all need Jesus. So we need to act that way. And if they are dead (blind, lost, enslaved to sin), there is the promise of “IF PERHAPS”—the potential that the Lord will call them to Himself—and He may use YOU or ME to do it! Because of our gentle words of truth and actions of love, the Lord may open their eyes to the knowledge of Him. They may come to their senses (like that pigsty moment) and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will (v 26).

Beloved, as we walk through this world, remember that we have been rescued by the grace of God through faith in Christ Jesus! Now it is our calling, our responsibility, to show others the way of escape…that they don’t have to be held captive by the lust of the flesh, this fallen world, or the hissing lies of the accuser (Satan). Every day, we must first remind ourselves that through Christ’s victorious death and resurrection, we’re no longer captives to the enemy as we once were (Galatians 5:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17; John 8:36)…then, let’s go make a way of escape for others.

Lord, thank You for the freedom won on my behalf in Christ. As one rescued, may I open my eyes to the walking dead around me who desperately need a way of escape—and use me to show them the way.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

~ Psalm 46:1-3; 10

Last week, my husband and I drove from Florida to Virginia to visit our son and daughter-in-love. They’d just moved into their newly purchased home, and we were super excited to see them. Filled with joy and pride in that first-time-homeowner glow, they showed us around each room, the beautiful tree-filled yard, and the amazing deck and above-ground pool. We all celebrated the immense blessings from the Lord (especially given their path here, which is another story full of the Lord’s Providence and provision).

We spent Sunday afternoon in the pool, as it was once again a brutally hot day. Then, the sky abruptly darkened and thunder rolled, and the temperature dropped about 20 degrees. The sudden wind, though, was not normal—it seemed to gust from multiple directions simultaneously. Worried about the pool floaties flying away, I went out onto the deck to pull them inside. My husband and son ran out and told me to get inside, as they collected the table umbrella and other things. I was just inside the door, and looking up into the tumultuous sky, I pleaded with God: “Lord, please protect their home!”

As soon as the words of that desperate prayer left my lips, my son heard a loud crack and shouted, “Tree! Get in!” And as they ran through the door, a 150-foot oak tree from the neighbor’s yard landed on the house, its massive branches hitting were they stood just seconds before. The moments and hours afterward were terrifying. This “microburst” was basically a mini-tornadic event that I don’t understand (other than our fallen earth is churning with weather-related birth pangs—Matthew 24:1-8). BUT GOD.

Even while the rain continued to pour, we checked the sunroom and attic where the tree primarily hit. Nothing seemed to be leaking, nor were any windows broken—despite the fact that the broken edges of huge branches sat literally against every window it touched. The shed and pool pump were crushed, but somehow the tree had not penetrated the living areas. In fact, another huge tree—a pine from the same neighbor’s yard—had broken, and its massive branch along with a tangle of Jenga-like pieces were literally refraining the oak’s trunk from crashing down through two levels of roof. As the tree fell, it seemed the Lord’s very hand manipulated its decent and twisted each branch to land but not crush.

(While I was freaking out in a good way at God’s protection for how it all happened, my son—rightly so—was freaking out in fear and anger that it happened. And he did not appreciate my praises in those first moments after the storm subsided. So, the Lord, in His loving mercy even send an “angel among us” in the form of a county worker who came to assess the immediate damage. He shared with my son and husband his utter bewilderment of how that tree fell. How branches were missing that should have gone through the windows and roof. “I don’t get it,” he kept saying. “It makes no sense—it’s truly a miracle.” Indeed.) 

Over the next 24 hours, the miracles kept coming to light—revealing the many ways the Lord showed up. For example, despite trees downed all over the area, the second tree company my daughter-in-love called Monday morning “happened” to just be finishing up another job and could arrive in 30 minutes. For hours, they waited on a crane to be available…until the tree guy “happened” to find a random crane in the area whose driver could do our job before the one he was called out to do. Once the tree was removed (which was a truly fascinating process to watch), we could see the full damage: yes, the pool pump/plumbing was a loss, as were the shed and outbuildings; but otherwise, some gutters needed replacing, a handful of shingles were broken, a few feet of siding was scratched, and one window screen was ripped. (I’m shaking my head in awe even as I type this.) To top it off, my son’s employer “happened” to contact him the next day to inform him of a schedule audit from the previous month…he was to expect additional pay…which “happened” to cover his (rather large) home insurance deductible. (Now God was just showing off.)

It’s so, so hard to be in the midst of a figurative—or literal—storm, watching the destruction in real time and actively seeking the Providence of God amid the fear, anger, and anxiety of it all. But, sweet friend, we must. We must trust the Lord, standing steadfast in His goodness and kindness. Through our tears, we must see His mighty hand moving on our behalf. In the protection and blessings…and in the destruction. Even in the “even ifs” of our lives, God is moving for our good (Romans 8:28). And everything the Lord does or allows (even the evil of distorted creation) purposefully reveals His righteousness (Romans 3:5), love (Isaiah 9:2), and glory (Romans 9:22-23). 

So, beloved, whatever your storm, look around with new eyes. Where is God moving? What blessings do you find? How can this draw you closer to Him, deepening your faith and making you trust Him more? 

Oh, Good and merciful Father! Thank You for Your presence and providence in every storm. May I look for Your hand in the protection—and destruction.

I will exalt You, my God, the King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. One generation will praise Your works to another, And will declare Your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts, And I will tell of Your greatness.

~Psalm 145:1-6

In my church, we have this thing we do whenever we gather in small groups, whether huddling before Sunday serving, at the start of disciple group gathering, or even when two or three are gathered for almost any reason. A simple request is made of one another: Let’s hear some wins. For context, a “win” is wherever you have seen the Lord work in your life. This could entail an invitation to church given to a shoe salesperson—and accepted. It could be the experience of unreasonable peace through a very challenging workday. Or it may be a step of obedience taken in following after Jesus.

It appears obvious that in thinking back over the past days or week, we’d all have 400 ways in which the Lord showed Himself awesome to us…so sharing a win seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? Yet, I’ve noticed that when the question is asked in these gatherings of the saints, crickets fill the air instead of glorious praises. All too often, I even rack my own brain in search of something to share. Where, I ask myself, did I see God show up? 

Beloved, for every follower of Jesus, this should not be something to grasp for! Every breath is an awesome gift of God. The mounting glow of the morning sky at sunrise, the belly laughter of a child, the food satisfying our belly, the sincere eye-to-eye welcoming of another that says, “I see you and love you.” The joy of reading the very Words of God, praying with friends, sharing burdens with a brother or sister to shed light on a darkness of the soul. All these reflect the Lord’s hand in our life, glorifying His greatness. The key, sweet friend, is to be intentional—look for, acknowledge, be awed.

King David was particularly good at sharing wins—recognizing and declaring the awesomeness of God. So, his Psalms are a fantastic place to go when we’re struggling to see the Lord’s mighty hand in our life. (I realize this seems like an odd thing to say to believers…but, let’s be honest, some days we get up and go, go, go just to fall into bed at night with perhaps some faint prayer of thanks or a last-minute supplication for a family member or friend.) Psalm 145, for example, is a wonderful go-to for inspiring the exaltation of the Lord. As the great John MacArthur (who now glories in the very presence of Jesus) said of this poem of praise: “Here, the king of Israel extols and celebrates the King of Eternity for who His is, what He has done, and what He has promised.” There is a beautiful flow that starts and ends with a commitment to praise God. And in between, the Psalm moves from God’s awesome greatness to His great grace to His unfailing faithfulness to His unblemished righteousness.

So, let’s encourage one another, as long as it is called today, to intentionally look for God’s greatness, grace, faithfulness, and righteousness. In the big things and small details. Because it all is miraculous, and it’s meant to glorify the Lord—they’re all wins. Then, do tell.

Lord, may I never cease to be in awe of You—Your steadfast faithfulness, the gift of salvation through Jesus, my ability to know you through Your Word. May I daily look for—and tell of—every win.

Finally then, brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel even more. For this is the will of God, your sanctification.

~1 Thessalonians 4:1; 3a

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, there was a time—whether a lightning-bolt instance or a gradual unveiling—when you proclaimed Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Once surrendered, you were justified. God sees you as holy and perfect because your life is hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3). And, by definition of being a follower, you began following after Him with a desire to become more and more like Him. I mean, we were dead in our sins! But God, in His great love, kindness, and mercy, made us alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10)!

It’s in response to this rescue out of darkness into marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9), that we pursue obedience and holiness. Hear me on this: We don’t “do” to earn a right relationship with God. We think, say, and do righteously because we’re already in right relationship with Him. We do this until we’re face to face with our Lord…this is called “sanctification”, which literally means being set apart from sin to holiness. And it is the will of God (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

And friend, whether you were saved by grace through faith yesterday or five decades ago, this process of setting ourselves apart is hard. Shoot, even the Apostle Paul—GOAT Christian—struggled with this! He didn’t do the things he wanted to and did the very thing he hated (Romans 7:15). But I love Paul’s exhortation to the Thessalonians in this: Wherever we are on this journey, we’re to “excel even more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1; 3a). Beloved, by the Holy Spirit, we’re being transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). He started this work in us, and He will complete it (Philippians 1:6)! 

Thankfully, there’s no guessing needing! God’s Word is chock full of direction, encouragement, and warnings for us as we walk this walk. Here are just a few (on the positive side), but I urge you to search the Scriptures for yourself in this. (Hint: Because Jesus is in written into each book of the Bible, you’ll find instructions wherever you look.)

• Walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh (Galatians 5:16-25).
• Love your brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 4:19-20).
• Do everything without complaining (Philippians 2:14-16).
• Surround yourself with other believers (Psalm 1; Proverbs 13:20).
• In everything you do, glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17).

Finally, pray!! My sweet friend, Jerri, boiled this sanctification journey down to a simple daily plea: “Lord, change me.” So, let’s join together in this! Study the Word and let it transform you. Abide in Christ. And pray fervently that the Holy Spirit living in you will empower you to become more and more like Jesus. (Or, as John the Baptist so eloquently put it: “He must increase, I must decrease” (John 3:30). Wherever you are, take your next step to follow Jesus…and excel even more.

Lord, I want to be more and more like You. Change me. 

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

~Hebrews 13:6

I’ve written a couple times about lessons from my rescue dog (see here and here). Caroline still follows me around the house—for the most part. But if she isn’t under my feet at my work desk, or lying by the couch when I’m there, she’s in our room snuggled under our bed. (We call it “Caroline’s Clubhouse”.)

In addition to her thankfulness and joy in the rescue (lesson 1) and her desire to be close to her rescuer (lesson 2), there’s another spiritual-life reflection that struck me recently. See, when a storm is brewing and thunder rolls, my little dog starts shaking like a leaf. Nothing can calm her. Then as the rain dumps and the thunder and lightning are in full swing, she is an inconsolable mess. I may be humanizing her too much here, but my rationale is that her life on the street so traumatized her that when storms came, she had nowhere and no one to run. She had to rely on herself to find a place to hide and wait out the storm in fear. 

I try to console her, hold her, even crawl under the bed to calm her…but she just doesn’t understand that she is safe with us, protected from what is scaring her. Her life is not what it used to be. She has been rescued and is no longer fending for herself in a dangerous world. She has a safe haven with us. Not that she won’t ever get hurt, of course. Accidents happen, like getting injured by her larger dog-sister while playing. Or Caroline still makes self-harming choices, like diving out an open window through the screen to go bark at the neighbor’s dog. Old “ghetto” habits from her past life still pop up, but she’s getting better through the years. (For instance, on our walks she no longer jumps up on neighbor’s trashcans to knock them over in search of food.) 

But when it comes to her fear and trepidation when storms come, her fears are completely unwarranted. She has been rescued, no longer needing to seek out self-protection—just like she doesn’t have to worry about how and where to find her next meal. We are for her, we will protect her, and we want only her best—even when she doesn’t understand what’s going on. (Because, well, she’s a dog.)

Hopefully, spiritual lightbulbs are going off for you like they did for me. As believers in Christ Jesus, we have no need to fear! We have been rescued! The Lord is Sovereign and Good—our best is always and only His will. Storms will come in our life—Jesus promised it (John 16:33). But we never have to fear them. He also assured us that He’ll always be with us (Matthew 28:20), never leaving or forsaking us (Deuteronomy 31:6). The Lord is our Anchor (Hebrews 6:17-20) and our Strong Tower (Psalm 61:1-3), whether our storms are a result of this fallen world, other people, our soul’s enemy (Satan), our own sinfulness…or even previous ghetto—or pigsty—behavior.

Beloved, we do not have to live like we used to, believing we need to figure it all out on our own. Whether your go-to response to fear is taking tighter control, drowning or numbing it, or lashing out to hurt-before-being-hurt, you can give your fear to the Lord. He’s got you. And me. So, when we hear the proverbial thunder roll, let’s stand in faithful confidence that there is no fear in the perfect love of Christ in us (1 John 4:13-18). 

Lord, when I am afraid, I will trust in You, knowing You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. I can fear not, because You are always with me.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 

~Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)

Beloved, I have an urgent exhortation: Read your paper Bible—I mean the “book” version. For those of you under age 30, what I mean is that solid mass of collected papers with words printed in ink, having either a soft or hard cover. These iterations of the Bible have been continually printed for the public since about 1450 (not readily available in all countries, but for us—for now—Bibles are easily accessible at present). So, if you don’t have one (or more) in your possession, get one in a solid translation. 

And know your Bible. See, since this God-inspired Word was recorded, there have been those twisting its meaning, tricking and outright lying about what God says. (This effort, by the way, stems from the very first lie of the father of lies, Satan, to the very first people in the Garden of Eden.) I could delve into all the places in the Bible—especially in the New Testament—where we’re warned against false teachers and various anti-Christs whose sole purpose is keeping people in the darkness, pulling them back into their previous darkness, or making those who are in the light ineffective for the Lord and His kingdom. Please do that research! But here, my warning is about what we—in 2025—are facing to those same malevolent ends: AI lies.

Recently, a sweet sister of mine was pining for some Billy Graham inspiration, so she searched online and started listening to Billy’s sweet voice (likely as she gardened). This mat-carrier of mine is a very mature believer and knows her Word. So, as this teaching continued, she knew something was amiss—it looked like Billy, sounded like Billy, but this was NOT a Billy Graham message. The message was twisted. It was an Artificial Intelligence (AI) creation. I know we’ve all considered the negative repercussions of AI (socially, politically, culturally, career-wise, etc.)…but to consider this tool in the hands of the lying enemy of God against God’s image-bearers, well, that’s just terrifying. In fact, I’m not going to play out that vision here at all. Instead, as you personally ruminate on the implications, my plea to you once again is to know God’s Word from the literal pages of Scripture. I get it, we’ve all become comfortable with the convenience our phones and tablets, but even online Bibles can be edited, twisted, added to, and redacted.

When we go online, we have to be sure the sites we visit are trusted sources—not just YouTube feeds. There are plenty of false Christian teachers around (and even falsehood-filled denominations), so that battle is already constant. But now, even our favorite solid teachers (Piper and MacArthur are two of my go-to’s) can be replicated by AI—in audio and video formats—to purposefully mislead believers and keep Truth-seekers from hearing the true Truth.

Sweet friend, store up God’s Word in your heart (Psalm 119:11), it is the very breath of God for our training and righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), every word proven true (Proverbs 30:5). The Bible is a lamp to our feet and light to our path (Psalm 119:105)—it transforms us by renewing our mind (Romans 12:2). In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1)—and as teachers and technology come and go, the Word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8). Read it, learn it, love it. God’s Word will keep you anchored in Truth, so AI lies will not trick you and toss you about.

Lord, thank You for Your precious Word! May believers everywhere turn to the literal pages of the Bible to know You and become more like You through Holy Spirit revelation.

And astonishment seized them all and they began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.” 

~Luke 5:26

In Luke 5:19-26 (as well as in Matthew 9:1-8 and Mark 2:1-12), the Bible details a single event that could be studied for weeks—it’s profoundly rich in truth, conviction, and calls-to-action. It’s the account of Jesus teaching and healing in an overcrowded home. And when some guys brought their paralyzed friend to be healed, they couldn’t get to Jesus. Not being deterred, they climbed up onto the roof, tore it off, and lowered their buddy into the middle of the crowd. Jesus saw the faith of these guys and proclaimed that the paralyzed man’s sins were forgiven. Well, this made the Pharisees who were there pretty ticked, and in their thoughts they called Him blasphemous. Of course, Jesus knew what they were thinking and responded, “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, get up and pick up your stretcher, and go home.” (Luke 5: 24) And so that’s what the paralyzed-no-more guy did.

Again, there’s so much here to meditate on—but here are just a few aspects:

• Do you believe that Jesus can—and will—forgive your sin, forever freeing you from condemnation (Romans 8:1)?
• Are you doubtful of the Lord’s Sovereignty (total authority) and what He can do in your life?
• Would you tear off a proverbial roof to get a friend to Jesus?
• Do you have your own mat-carriers to take you to the feet of Jesus when you’re paralyzed by some sin or overwhelming situation?

But what I really want to focus on here is the last verse in Luke’s account, which records the response of the crowd that day—and something that the Lord has been hammering me about lately: “And astonishment seized them all and they began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.” There’s a linear progression that we can learn from and apply to our lives each and every day.

First, the crowd saw what Jesus did, and they were astonished—that is, they were amazed and in awe of His person and power. So, the question here is…are we? From the sun rising over the horizon and the very breath in our lungs, to the mind-blowing miracles that make the angels look with wonder (like salvation itself)…do we perceive it all with the deserved astonishment? Without the hand of Jesus, literally every atom would fall apart (Colossians 1:16-17). 

The second thing the crowd did is appropriately respond to this astonishment: They glorified God! Friend, with every breath we should be glorifying God—not just because of His unceasing miracles, but also because of who He is. And, complementary to glorifying God for what He does, everything we say and do should be to and for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 115:1; Colossians 3:17, 23; 1 Corinthians 6:20). 

What next? They were filled with fear—or reverence. Once God’s greatness is recognized and glorified, a healthy fear should settle in. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom-living. It’s acknowledging His power over life and death, and then acting accordingly (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 8:13; Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Matthew 10:28…and there is so much more). 

Finally (this so beautiful—and convicting), they testified to the remarkable things they saw. The astonishment, glory, and fear of the Lord was so immense that they couldn’t contain themselves. They had to share the news! They didn’t need to understand the theology behind it, and it wasn’t about making a defense to critics…they just told of what they experienced. 

So, the multipart question for me and you is this: Do we see—really see—the big and small daily miracles of God? In that seeing, do we thank Him and give Him all the glory? Do we then recognize His vastness and Sovereignty with appropriate fear? And once all that has settled into our mind, heart, and soul, is the Truth of it beyond containment, such that we have to tell others what we’ve seen? Let’s learn from this group of Jesus-followers and do the same.

Lord, You are Sovereign, Holy, Awesome. May I always be in awe and respond by glorifying You and sharing the Good News with others.

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

~Philippians 4:12-13

Contentment. It’s a tough nut to crack in the abundance culture of the United States. Although we can all agree that grocery prices are (still) high and the general cost of living seems relatively challenging, Americans are still among the wealthiest people on the planet. In fact, statistics show that if your household income is more than $35,000 per year, you’re in the top 1% of global income earners. But it’s not just money, is it? Depending on your particular age group or even geographical location, the “contentment standard” could be tied to acquiring a coveted brand of something (clothes, gear, vehicle), achieving a certain Insta-filter look (think large lips, no lines, or shiny face), or attaining a particular number of social media followers.

Maybe your “if only” has nothing at all to do with stuff. It’s a better job (not your current one, which you prayed incessantly for before you got it). It’s a healing for you or your child, friend, or spouse. It’s the need for relief from that relentless pain you’ve had for years. It’s that prodigal who you’re watching wallow in the pigsty. Yes, you would finally be content if and when…

Oh, but then there is the Apostle Paul telling it like it is. At one time he was a top dog in the world—Ivy League educated, a top attorney, on the political rise, in the in crowd. But after Jesus got ahold of him, Paul’s life changed markedly. Just from what we learn in 2 Corinthians 11:22-33, Paul experienced the following as he journeyed to share the gospel with the world: numerous imprisonments, so many beatings that he stopped counting, 39 lashes five times, beaten with rods five times, stoned (some say to death), shipwrecked three times—and that’s just the short list of his sufferings. 

Yet Paul is content. More than that, he consistently rejoices in and through it all. 

See, Paul knew a secret. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit saw to it that Paul shared it with us as he wrote his letter to the church at Philippi—which he wrote while in prison! (Actually, Paul hammers contentment and joy in the Lord in all his writings, but we’ll focus in on Philippians for now.) Jesus changed Paul’s life—and Paul’s sole purpose was to see everyone else’s life transformed from darkness to light like his. He loved the Lord and, as a result, loved others to and for God’s glory. And no matter what his circumstances, Paul used that situation to boldly proclaim Christ and Him crucified. With his eyes on the prize of the salvation of others and the ultimate heavenly destination, Paul counted it all joy (Philippians 1-3). 

Then there is the glorious chapter 4 of Philippians. In his great joy and excitement and confident faith, Paul shares his secret. First, he sets it up by urging us to rejoice in the Lord. No need to be anxious about your bank account, your reflection, or even your daily pain. Be prayerful, with gratitude, and your heart and mind will be guarded by an incomprehensible peace of God. He tells us how to focus our thoughts (v 8) and to practice all the stuff he taught us through this and his other letters (v 9). Then, drumroll please…Paul gives us the key to contentment. “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am,” he says. Whether broke, rich, hungry, suffering, with friends, alone in a prison cell. You and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. That’s it! In our own strength and effort, we will always be lacking, wanting, discontent—there’s always more to be had, something better. But in Christ and through Christ, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-39). Want to stand firm and be bold like Paul? Want to know that you know that you know the peace, joy—and, yes, contentment—found only in Jesus? Consider these other exhortations from our brother Paul: We were dead, and now we’re alive in Christ—seated with Him—and we are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:1-10); there’s no more condemnation for us (Romans 8:1); we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17); we are daughters and sons of God (Galatians 3:26). And this is just a taste of why/how soul-level contentment is ours for the taking.

Friend, do you want true and lasting contentment? (I sure do!) In Christ, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to firmly grasp it—no matter what our life and circumstances look like. And although secrets are typically meant to be kept quiet, this one has been given to us to be shared. So, like Paul, let’s go tell the world.

Lord, may I hold fast to the secret of contentment: Christ, His victory over sin and death, and who I am in Him.

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 

~1 John 3:18

Our church is big on living the conduit life as a Christian—to be a passthrough of God’s love, mercy, and grace to others. Another way our pastor exhorts this truth is by saying, “Once we are rescued by Jesus, we become part of the rescue team.” This Biblical “one another” attitude (and practice) is one of the many reasons I just love my church family.

We recently finished up a series that went through our Discipleship Journey map, a never-ending triangle of following Jesus to deepen our relationship with Him. During the wrap-up sermon, the pastor used an analogy of a healthy Christian life that was one of those mic-drop moments for me. And I’m totally stealing it to elaborate on here: He commented that we need to be like sponges. 

See, for many people, being a Christian is about finding “the right” church that will strike the smart-shopper balance of entertainment/engagement, kid-friendliness, aligned musical tastes, etc.…even though (due to children sports, family vacations, or sleeping in) they’ll show up about once a month. They want what they want. Others are truly faithful to not miss a church service (Hebrews 10:25), loving the worship experience in song and teaching. There is even a good percentage who, in addition to consistent corporate worship, read their Bible on the regular. They soak in all the never-ending goodness, richness, and conviction God’s Word has to offer, satisfying that Holy-Spirit-given appetite.

But as followers of Christ, we can’t just be sponges—soaking in and soaking in, even though it’s all good stuff we’re absorbing. Because we all know what happens when you don’t squeeze out your sponge on the regular: It gets sour and starts to stink. So, just like a sponge, we’ve got to squeeze ourselves out: doing good unto others and serving, giving away what the Lord is teaching us (Matthew 23:11; Galatians 5:13-14; 1 Peter 4:10). And there are so many ways to do this! Be part of a small group at your church to talk about God’s Word—or just meet together with one or two other believers once a week to share what God’s teaching you and how He’s moving in your life. And serve! I guarantee that there are at least 10 different ways you can serve at your church right now, whether during Sunday (and/or midweek) services, through local ministry/outreach partners, and short-term global mission trips. Or find a local Christian organization on your own that fuels your spirit. 

However you choose to squeeze yourself, there is a beautiful irony that takes place: You don’t experience an emptiness in the emptying! In fact, this spiritual squeeze produces an immense fullness of joy! Giving yourself away immeasurably blesses you (Acts 20:35)! Plus, the pouring out for others creates the space to refill with more of God’s Word and refuel yourself for more giving away. 

So, sweet friend, live the sponge life. Soak up God’s truth and goodness through His Word, corporate worship, and community…then squeeze yourself out for the sake of others. And then repeat. 

Lord, I am so grateful that You have rescued me—brought me from death to life, from darkness into Your glorious light. Make me a conduit of Your love and grace as I give of myself to others in Your name.