Walking With God

The richest blessings in this life exist right before our very eyes on our bookshelves and nightstands. The Word of God. Be encouraged today by reading a few favorites of the faithful. Meditate on His words and soak in the truth told from God Himself. From the Holy Scriptures Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31) So do not fear, for I am…

Dismayed with the Berlin Wall, the physical split of the ongoing Cold War and the repressive East German regime, Christian Führer, Protestant pastor of St Nicholas church in Leipzig, started organising prayers for peace every Monday evening, beginning in 1982. It was a bold initiative, because the Communist government strongly discouraged its citizens from being involved in religious activities. Initially, fewer than a dozen people attended the prayer meetings. Still,…

In my book Visioneering, I use the biblical figure of Nehemiah to illustrate the effective pursuit of a vision for one’s life. Nehemiah got the war-damaged city of Jerusalem back together and functioning as it was supposed to. He organized the people to rebuild the city’s wall. He instituted social and spiritual reform. He got the temple operating again. And he convinced the people to observe the Sabbath as God intended. As I’ve said, everybody ends…

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” - Exodus 14:14 Just after they escaped from Egypt, Moses encouraged the Israelites with those words. Perhaps he understood that our natural reaction in moments of uncertainty is to restlessly bounce between anxiety and despair. Feelings of uncertainty can result in the prefrontal cortex in your brain “shutting down”: impairing your ability to solve problems, pay attention, and stay flexible.…

I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. (John 16:12-13) There's more that Jesus wants to say to you, much more, and now that his Spirit resides in your heart, the conversation can continue. Many good people never hear God speak to them personally for the simple fact that they've never been told that he does. But he does—generously, intimately. "He who belongs…

I recently found myself in the midst of a discouraging emotional funk.  It started as an "off day" and the next thing I knew two weeks passed, full of negativity and discouragement, lacking hope and faith for the future, and I will be honest - even moments of wondering whether God could salvage anything good from my life and circumstances.  Normally, I am rather even-keeled and not prone to bouts of negativity that last more than a day.  I tried…

The Israelites out-fought the Amalekites as long as Moses held up his arms … After a while, his arms were so tired that Aaron and Hur got a rock for him to sit on. Then they stood beside him and supported his arms … That’s how Joshua defeated the Amalekites. - Exodus 17:11-13 Standing on a hill with a staff over your head is not a strategic way to win a battle. And yet, that was essentially Moses’ plan when he instructed Joshua to go fight a…

“On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king, To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on. But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment (emphasis added) by his chamberlains:…

We need to look into what has damaged our union with God. I realize this is a very poignant thing I’m raising, and I want to proceed tenderly. Do you know what’s damaged your soul’s union with God? Suffering in all its forms will slowly erode union, if we’re not careful. As will chronic disappointment. Satan will use your suffering, or the suffering of those you love, to introduce mistrust between you and the God you love. You see, he whispers,…