The truth is, spiritual growth takes time. Life is full of constraints, and many of the distractions and frustrations and even the people we may think are getting in the way of our disciplined routines are themselves the slow but necessary pathway to holiness. When I speak with older believers who radiate the joy of... Continue Reading

Because the Spirit is at work in our lives, we can become more like Christ. His work, however, demands a response. We must renew our minds with Scripture, submit to the wisdom of God’s Word, and prayerfully depend on God’s Spirit to empower us to grow in grace.   Spiritual growth is possible because of the... Continue Reading

If you transform our hearts we will long for what is good, we will think thoughts that are pure, we will speak words that are sweet, we will do acts that are selfless, we will even follow in ways that are difficult or that cut hard against our natural desire for ease. So please do that... Continue Reading

Putting away sin and walking before the face of God in victory and deliverance is akin to awaking from a dead sleep. It is as if God pours cold water over our heads. We awaken from our slumber and self-imposed darkness caused by the pursuit of self-gratification in  a way so jarring that it is... Continue Reading

Forgiveness is predicated on repentance which is itself a gift from God (1 Tim. 2:25). We have all known both sides of this equation—having repented many times from our sins and also having many times received the gift of forgiveness. It’s all grace from first to last. As we imitate Christ, our relationships are sustained by... Continue Reading

Take time this season to slow down and look at how God has blessed you. When the rainy cloud continues to hang over you while it seems everyone else is walking in sunshine, when you know in your head that you are blessed but can’t get your feelings on board with this truth, remind yourself... Continue Reading

As the holidays come upon us, we can pray in anticipation of an overwhelming amount of social time. When we discern what commitments to make, we can pray specifically about our hearts and opportunities beforehand. When it feels intimidating to show up at a gathering where we have little in common with attendees, we ask... Continue Reading

Though humans can discover vital wisdom through investigation of God’s world (general revelation), the wisdom of God revealed in Scripture is perfect and eternal. It never needs to be culturally updated or abandoned because new technology or scientific discovery makes it obsolete. Though humans have the capacity to forgive us many times, their ability to endure... Continue Reading

We must not shepherd from behind with a stick, but from the front with love. We must lead not with harsh words from the pulpit, the “coward’s castle,” “six foot above contradiction,” but by setting an example of love for Christ and love for his people. “Do as I say not as I do” never works... Continue Reading

Sometimes, the believers most likely to harp on how sinful we are miss the other side of sanctification, an element of the good news that’s every bit as powerful and life-changing. It’s this: You don’t realize the pervasiveness of Christ’s holiness in you. A Christian living by the Spirit does far more good than he or... Continue Reading