Category: Spiritual Growth

Formation (Part 2)

One of the best ways to become more like Jesus is to replace an unhealthy habit with the practice of reading Scripture daily. In fact, the Center for Bible Engagement surveyed more than 100,000 people from all over the world about their spiritual lives and found that engaging the Bible four or more days a week is the “single most powerful predictor of spiritual growth.”1  This week, you’re being encouraged to make Bible reading a daily practice as we continue our journey through John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way.

Let’s start with some encouragement straight from the Bible that shows why this practice is worth your time:

  • “Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.” (Psalm 119:98-100, NIV)
  • “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105, NIV)
  • “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31-32, NIV)
  • “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV)
  • “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV)

Even when we believe its benefits, knowing how to approach this multifaceted sacred book makes a big difference. Flipping to random pages with no context is unlikely to lead to meaningful understanding, let alone life transformation. Let’s explore a few helpful approaches to keep in mind when reading the Bible.

Interpreting Scripture: The Bible must always be interpreted in light of its context. The environment or setting in which it was written helps us determine what a passage does and doesn’t mean. Repeated phrases and ideas in the text help us to figure out what’s important. As we read, we should ask ourselves:

  • What was the importance of this text for the original audience? (For them then?)
  • What does it say that applies to all people or believers? (For us always?)
  • How is this true in my current circumstances? (For me now?)2

Reading Literarily, not Literally: The writings in Scripture include many different genres including law, history, poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, gospels (biographies of Jesus), epistles (letters), and apocalyptic writing. Everything in the Bible isn’t meant to be read literally, but literarily. Bible teacher and author Jen Wilkin explains: “Language obeys different rules in  different contexts, and the language of the Bible is no exception. A literate reading takes these rules into consideration…When an author chooses to communicate through a particular form, they do so for a good reason. They believe that particular form will best communicate the meaning they intend. The way that biblical poetry uses language is different than the way that historical narrative does. Prophecy uses language differently than a law code. And so on.”3 Knowing what genre you’re reading impacts your understanding and application of the text.

Recognizing the Difference Between Descriptive and Prescriptive: It is important to determine whether a passage is descriptive or prescriptive. A descriptive passage shows us what happened while a prescriptive passage tells us what to do. “If a verse or passage is simply describing something, with nothing said in the positive or negative about that something, then it is descriptive and should not be considered something we are commanded to do. It is only when Scripture specifically instructs (prescribes) that New Testament believers do something that we are to take it as a command to obey.”4

We often approach the Bible looking for a shot of inspiration or a truth about ourselves forgetting that first and foremost, it is a book about God. Whether you’re starting to read the Bible regularly for the first time or have been doing it for years, the most important thing is to pray first. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you read and to show you what He wants you to learn about the Lord.

Now, let’s explore a bit of Bible background to enhance your knowledge, provide context, and build your enthusiasm about reading it daily:

Major Themes: God’s redemption story contains a four-part pattern that has been repeated throughout history:  1) Rejection of God’s way 2) Decline of God’s people 3) Consequences allowed by God’s hand 4) Restored relationship to God’s presence.5

Word Meanings and Organizational Structure: The word “Bible” comes from the Greek word biblos meaning “book” or “scroll”; the plural form “biblia” refers to a collection of scriptures that are treated as one book. The 39 books of the Old Testament were written mostly in Hebrew (a few short passages in Aramaic).  About 100 years (or more) before the Christian era the entire Old Testament was translated into the Greek language.  Our English Bible is a translation from these original languages. The word “testament” means “covenant,” or “agreement.”  The Old Testament is the covenant of law God made with humans. The 27 books of the New Testament explain the covenant of grace God made to provide salvation for sinful humans through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.6

Chronology and Content: The books of the Bible are not all written in perfect chronological order. Some books have overlapping stories and themes with others. All of them can be read as stand-alone books. The Old Testament focuses on the story of the Jews (also called the Israelites, Hebrews, or Children of Israel) from their earliest beginnings. It chronicles their history as God’s chosen people. The Old Testament covers a span of 1000 years. The New Testament focuses on Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy who came to save and redeem not only the Jewish people but all of mankind as well.  The New Testament was written over the span of 100 years with the earliest being written between A.D. 48 & 60 and the latest between A.D. 60 and 100.7

Authors: The Bible was written by about 40 authors over 1600 years.  The authors were kings and princes, poets and philosophers, prophets and statesmen. Some were learned in all the arts of the times and others were unschooled fishermen. Some of its authors knew Jesus personally. Two of them were his brothers (James and Jude).8

Consistent Source of Guidance: The Church believes that Jewish and Christian writers were guided by the Holy Spirit in the selection of the Scriptures that became the Old and New Testaments. The Apostle Peter explains, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21, NIV).

Reading the Bible is an essential spiritual practice for believers. Doing it consistently enables you to be with Jesus so you can become like Him and do as He did. Ask the Lord to help you make it a consistent part of your daily rhythm.

*This post is part of a series based on Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer and weekly practices described in the eight-session study guide. Order your copy of Practicing the Way using this link or buy it anywhere books are sold.

If you’re participating in a group in person at CPC Danville, copies of the Reading Reflection Guide are available at Focused Living AM and PM and in the church office. If you’d like a digital PDF to download, please reply in the comments.

Was this forwarded to you? Click here to submit your e-mail and subscribe. You’ll receive future posts automatically in your inbox.

  1. Bible Engagement and “The Power of Four”: A Key to Spiritual Growth. Click here for full article.
  2. Adapted from Jen Wilkin and the Village Church Bible study materials.
  3. Jen Wilkin, “Why We Should Read the Bible Literarily” Click here for full article.
  4. “What does it mean that a biblical passage is descriptive rather than prescriptive?” Click here for full article.
  5. This is a commonly held truth among Bible scholars.  This particular statement is paraphrased from Priscilla ShirerGideon: Your Weakness. God’s Strength. Lifeway Press, 2013.
  6. Paraphrased from Henrietta Mears’ book What the Bible is All About, Tyndale 1953.
  7. Paul E. Little, Know What You Believe, Victor Books, 1987.
  8. Henrietta Mears, What the Bible is All About,Tyndale 1953.

 

 

Formation (Part 1)

Digging my toes into the wet sand, I stared out at the silty brown water of the Sacramento River Delta. Every few minutes, a passing boat’s wake sent ripples lapping on the shore where I sat for my final “solo time” of the summer. Serving in ministry at Houseboats had been spiritually transformational for me. As I sat on the beach that final week, I pulled out a tattered spiral notebook and began writing, reflecting on all that had taken place.

I started by thanking  God for the experiences I had at camp, the specific people He’d placed in my life, and for the ways they had impacted me. Away from home for the summer, I’d broken out of my normal routines and had formed new life-giving habits. While serving at Houseboats I began pursuing a more personal and consistent relationship with Jesus.

Feeling wistful about my time at camp coming to an end, I thought about how much I’d changed in such a short period of time. I wrote about who and what had shaped my worldview prior to that summer. Seeing myself through a different lens, I recognized attitudes and actions that hadn’t aligned with God’s best for my life.

I knew I had changes to make going forward and that willpower wouldn’t be enough to help me follow through. It was time to eliminate unhealthy patterns that had formed me and to commit to following Jesus more intentionally. Being honest with the Lord, I confessed sins I’d clung to for far too long and humbly asked the Holy Spirit to help me practice the way of Jesus back in the “real world.”

By the time I closed my tattered notebook and shook out my sandy towel, God had revealed many perspectives, habits, and influences that had shaped me. Laying them all out before Him had prompted a much-needed process of cleansing and healing that freed me to  re-direct my focus toward Jesus.

The correlation between my experience that summer and the theme verse for the Practicing the Way Reading Reflection Guide is hard to miss:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

The process of being transformed by the renewing of our minds requires us to recognize where we are conforming to the “pattern of this world.” While you may not have the luxury of sitting on a beach to do it, this week’s practice is to consider how you spend your time and where you direct your attention.

John Mark Comer writes, “We live time-torn lives: We want to be with Jesus, but we just don’t have time to pray. We genuinely desire to grow into people of love, but our to-do lists are too long to make any serious attempt…We feel hurried, anxious, far from God, spiritually shallow, and stuck in our self-defeating habits of behavior.”1 His answer to this dilemma? Start with a Formation Audit. If you’re doing the Reading Reflection Guide, you’ll find it in Session 02, Day 5. (If you’re not doing it, read all the way to the bottom for another way to access the Formation Audit.)

 Through a series of questions on a range of topics, you’ll have the opportunity to consider where you’re being formed by the patterns of this world and where you’re being formed by the Kingdom of God. It’s a chance to think about your habits, relationships, environments, and experiences as well as the stories you believe about yourself, God, the meaning of life, and the source of happiness. This practice requires effort, time, and focus. You might be tempted to do it half-heartedly or to skip it altogether, but if you’re serious about continuing to move forward in practicing the way of Jesus, you’ll want to fight that urge.

As I completed the Formation Audit recently, it shined a light on what’s occupying my mind and filling my calendar right now. I thanked God for the positive changes I’ve seen in myself and recognized some old, unhealthy thought patterns that have crept back into my life. The Formation Audit helped me to see where I need to focus my prayers and where to make healthy changes in my routines.

Before you start this practice, pray and invite the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you through it. Ask for His help in keeping your focus and eliminating distractions. Rest assured the Formation Audit  isn’t aimed at producing a guilt trip or laying unrealistic burdens on you, but on helping you to see what has formed you. Answer the questions honestly and without judging yourself. Remember this is part of a larger process designed to help you be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did.

*This post is part of a series based on Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer and weekly practices described in the eight-session study guide. Order your copy of Practicing the Way using this link or buy it anywhere books are sold.

If you’re participating in a group in person at CPC Danville, copies of the Reading Reflection Guide are available at Focused Living AM and PM and in the church office. If you’d like a digital PDF to download, please reply in the comments.

If you would like a PDF of the Formation Audit only, please reply in the comments.

1. John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way, Waterbrook Press, 2026

Following Jesus

Have you ever had a friend who wouldn’t take “no” for an answer? Someone who persisted with an invitation until you said “yes” just so she’d stop asking? For me, it was a friend many years ago who kept hounding me to attend a half-day silent retreat with her. Nothing about it appealed to me. Why would I spend precious hours without my kids to go somewhere and not talk to anyone? No worship music? No teaching? No small group discussions? No thank you. I mean, what was the point? Despite my resistance and many valid excuses, she finally wore me down.

On the morning of the retreat, I dropped off my toddler and baby with my mom and drove to a  retreat center nestled in the hills nearby. Parking my car adjacent to a lush garden and getting a glimpse of the panoramic views, I could feel my resistance beginning to fade. Ministry leaders welcomed us with fresh coffee and warm smiles (another good sign). They shared a short devotional and prayed for our morning of being alone with the Lord. Before sending us outside they gave each of us a printed reflection guide that included ideas for how to structure the time.

For a newbie like me, the written guide gave me a starting point, enabling me to relax and even enjoy the silence. I didn’t realize how much I needed to slow down and let my soul catch up with me. Being solo without interruption enabled me to examine what was on my mind and to share my heart with the Lord. Once I’d poured out my angst and worries, I had mental space to hear from God. Walking on dirt paths among the trees, I was present enough to marvel at  the beauty of creation and to  be reassured of God’s sovereignty over all things. I drove down the hill feeling refreshed, grounded, and inspired to sign up for the next silent retreat.

I smiled thinking about those retreats as I opened my Practicing the Way Reading Reflection Guide not long ago. Each week of the study includes a different practice to try on our own.  Session 01 “Following Jesus” encourages developing a daily prayer rhythm– the practice being with God intentionally through silence, solitude, and prayer. In a world of constant inputs, screens, and scrolling, the act of pulling away to be quiet before the Lord may feel intimidating or unappealing. We’re so used to the constant stream of distractions that we no longer feel comfortable being alone with our thoughts.

While I thrive being busy and feel energized by having a full plate, I also understand the value of solitude and silence– even if it’s just ten minutes first thing in the morning. This spiritual practice is more about abstinence (not doing) than action; more about training ourselves in the way of Jesus than trying harder. Setting aside a time for intentional quiet will enable us to engage God’s presence; to make space to consider our thoughts, and to share them with the Lord. It’s a chance to invite a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit so that He can equip us and guide us in the day ahead. Practicing solitude and prayer open the door for intimacy with God, producing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as we engage others.

In a world that prizes multi-tasking and productivity, silence and prayer feel counter-cultural. Maybe you’ll be tempted to skip this practice, but you’ll be missing a key part of the discipleship journey we’re on together. How can we “practice the way” without practice? Silence, solitude, and prayer may feel awkward and uncomfortable, but we’ll never grow if we don’t try. Think of this week’s practice like filling your car with gas or charging your electric vehicle’s battery. We can’t refuel or recharge while the car is in motion. The same is true for our souls.

Need more convincing? The gospels show Jesus prioritizing solitude and prayer throughout His ministry:

  • Mark 1:15: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
  • Luke 5:16: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
  • Luke 6:12 “ One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”
  • Matthew 14:23: “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,”

So, if we’re sincere in our pursuit of being with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did, then solitude and prayer are the place to start. This week be intentional about spending between five and sixty minutes alone with Jesus daily. Be patient with yourself and tell God about any feelings of frustration, impatience, awkwardness, or discomfort you experience. Create space in your schedule to put the words of Psalm 46:10 into practice: “Be still, and know that I am God.” If possible, aim to do it first thing to set the tone for your day.

This week you’re also being invited to complete the “Spiritual Health Reflection” at practicingtheway.org/reflection. Again, you might be tempted to skip this, but you’ll be missing out if you do. This exercise leads you through a series of questions to consider where you are in your spiritual journey and helps you choose one area where you’d like to grow. Don’t think of this as a ranking system to rate your level of spiritual maturity, but a thermometer to gauge where your heart and mind are in this season. The time to reflect will help you to chart the course ahead as we continue learning about spiritual disciplines that can expand our capacity to receive God’s love.

*This post is part of a series based on Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer (Waterbrook Press, 2024) and weekly practices described in the eight session study guide. Order your copy of Practicing the Way using this link or buy it anywhere books are sold.

If you’re participating in a group in person at CPC Danville, copies of the Reading Reflection Guide  are available at Focused Living AM and PM and in the church office. If you’d like a digital PDF to download, please reply in the comments.

Practicing the Way of Jesus

The familiar “ding” of an incoming text message heralded an intriguing invitation: “John Mark Comer is speaking at a church in the south bay tonight. I have two free tickets if you want them. Please let me know asap.” Without hesitating, I shot back, “YES!”

I’d been reading Comer’s books and listening to his sermons and podcasts for a few years and had found his perspective to be fresh, inspiring, and biblical. So, driving an hour away on a Tuesday evening to see him in person was an easy “yes” for me. He was speaking on his latest book, Practicing the Way, which builds on his two previous books, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Live No Lies.

Although he was well known by the audience, Comer behaved nothing like “famous” Christian speakers I’d seen in the past. There was no pacing in the back, avoiding eye contact, or making an entrance flanked by security after the lights dimmed. As guests arrived and hunted for seats, he milled around near the front row looking a bit shy and awkward. Several people seemed to know him personally and he greeted them with warmth and enthusiasm, which made sense when he mentioned later that he’d lived in the area as a child.

His message gave us a taste for the contents of his book, encouraging believers to live as apprentices of Jesus who centered their lives around being with Him, becoming like Him, and doing as He did. He invited listeners into a deeper, more authentic relationship with the Lord.

Clutching my signed copy of Practicing the Way as we headed to the parking lot, I was eager to read more about themes he’d shared with us that evening. I dove into it later that week and found it challenging, thought-provoking, and inspiring. One of Comer’s biggest assertions is that, “Much preaching of the gospel today does not call people to a life of discipleship. Following Jesus is seen as optional—a post-conversion ‘second track’ for those who want to go further.”1 He describes a dynamic I lived in younger days and  have seen in Christian circles my whole life; for many people there is a disconnect between believing in Jesus and actively engaging in a relationship with Him.

Comer points out that the word “Christian” is used only three times in the New Testament while the word “disciple” appears 269 times. He explains that a disciple is “a student of a teacher or philosopher—not just a learner but a practitioner of an embodied way of life, one who is diligently working to be with and become like their master.”2 Throughout the book, he invites us to view ourselves as apprentices of Jesus, “to walk alongside him in a posture of listening, learning, observation, obedience, and imitation.”3

Finishing Comer’s book a month later, I felt a mix of inspiration and resistance. His words felt jarring at times, but truthful. He encourages us to practice our faith using disciplines that many of us see as relics of history (including fasting and taking a Sabbath weekly). Yet he shows how the practices move us from the passivity of good intentions to intimacy with Jesus that produces spiritual fruit and deep joy. Drawing from Scripture and faithful people in earlier generations, Comer encourages readers to expand their capacity to receive God’s love and to respond with action. The book guides us to practice what Paul describes in Romans:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

I’ve been making incremental changes in my life and spiritual practices ever since I read the book several years ago. It’s been encouraging to recognize transformation in myself that has affected  how I engage God and others. Still, one thing that’s  nagged at me is Comer’s regular emphasis on community and the importance of doing many of the practices with others. Living in such an over-scheduled, fast-paced community, I feared that no one would want to read the book or be open to evaluating and changing the rhythms of their lives. I’ve prayed about it on and off, trusting God would bring an opportunity when the time was right.

So, imagine my delight when our church pastoral team posed the idea of inviting multiple ministries in our congregation to read Practicing the Way, learn about spiritual disciplines, and try putting them into practice together this fall. There will be opportunities to read, study related Scripture, hear teaching, and expand our comfort zones alongside others. It will be awkward and uncomfortable at times, but if we can push through and trust the Lord, there will be abundant opportunities for life-giving experiences and spiritual growth.

Practicing the Way isn’t simply a book, curriculum, or program, but an invitation to a way of life with Jesus at the center. Like me, you may have moments of resistance along with way. You may read something challenging and just need to sit with it for a while and pray. Rest assured, this isn’t an all or nothing pursuit. Nor is it an attempt to push those who read it to do every practice or to have identical faith journeys. It’s an opportunity to make an intentional shift in focus that invites the Lord to move in your life in new ways.

If you’re up for joining me in this endeavor, pray for a mindset of curiosity, wisdom, and discernment as you approach the material. Also, pray for the hearts of others you’ll be learning alongside. Let’s be open and expectant together, inviting the Lord to use what we learn in the next few months to help us be with Jesus, become like Him, and do as He did.

Order your copy of Practicing the Way using this link or buy it anywhere books are sold.

If you’re participating in a group in person at CPC Danville, copies of the Reading Reflection Guide will be given out at Focused Living AM and PM and are also available in the church office. If you’d like a digital PDF to download, please reply in the comments.

  1. John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way, Waterbrook Press 2024, 16.
  2. John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way, Waterbrook Press 2024, 11.
  3. ibid

Doing Good to All

Brushing aside the tears I gave my son a final hug before turning to leave his dorm room. We’d helped him unpack and hang pictures on the walls, loaded him up on supplies from Target, and had even laid hands on him in prayer. The moment to say goodbye had come. Rummaging inside my bag, I handed him a card to read after we left. It contained a few words of affirmation and encouragement along with gentle reminders to keep in mind as he launched into this new season in college.

Paul’s final chapter in Galatians reads a bit like one of those letters—it includes an assortment of final words of instruction, encouragement, and advice before his closing salutation to the believers in Galatia. Let’s unpack a few key topics he covers as he wraps up his letter explaining how to use freedom in Christ  to love others well.

Restoring those Caught in Sin

Paul begins the chapter by saying: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1, NIV) This reinforces Jesus’ teaching about offering correction to others: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5, NIV) James offers similar wisdom: “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20, NIV)

In our hyper-individualistic society that has coined the phrase “you do you,” these words may sound jarring. Isn’t it judgmental to correct someone entangled in sin? No, because it hinders us from fully engaging the Lord, helping someone to understand the gravity of their sin is actually loving.  Of course, broaching a sensitive topic like this should be preceded by prayer, prompted by the Holy Spirit, and done with gentleness and wisdom. Restoring a person to a right relationship with the Lord is a courageous way to show love.

Carrying Loads and Sharing Burdens

Paul gives two words of wisdom that sound contradictory at first glance. In verse 2 he says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” And in verse 5 he says, “for each one should carry their own load.” Understanding these verses means distinguishing between a burden and a load. One commentary explains, “‘load’ signifies the personal obligations and tasks that are uniquely assigned to each person by God. It implies a sense of personal accountability and stewardship over one’s life and actions. The ‘load’ is something that is manageable and appropriate for the individual, suggesting that God equips each person with the necessary strength and resources to fulfill their personal duties.”1

We’re called to have a sense of personal responsibility for the loads we carry. Yet in our culture today this notion can be distorted in several ways. Here are a few examples:

  • Entitlement tells us “I am privileged and superior. I can’t be bothered with small inconveniences. Someone else should carry my load for me.”
  • Over-functioning tells us “I need to do for others what they could and should be doing for themselves; I take ownership and responsibility for others without realizing I’m stunting their ability to grow and mature.”
  • Victim mentality tells us “I’m powerless and I blame others for my misfortune. Someone else should fix my problems, take care of my responsibilities, and carry my load.”

Contrasting the word “load” in verse 5, “A ‘burden’ can be seen as an excessive weight that surpasses an individual’s capacity to bear alone, necessitating the love and support of the Christian community.”1 Believers are called to share burdens with others but sometimes we hold back from asking for help or from giving it. Here are few mindsets that hinder this:

  • Pride says, “I don’t want to admit I need help or support. I’d rather struggle under the weight of bearing a burden alone.”
  • Individualism says, “I don’t want to bother anyone or to be bothered by anyone. I want to be seen as self sufficient and would never  expose my need to others.”
  • Selfishness says, “I don’t want to be weighed down or to get my hands dirty with someone else’s load. My goal is to avoid messy situations at all costs.”

Regardless of the reason, when we avoid sharing burdens, we miss out on meaningful connection. Walking beside others through hardship builds community and deepens friendship in ways that good times can’t.

 Do Good to All, Especially Fellow Believers

Paul also encourages the believers to put their faith into action: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10, NIV)

The call to do good to all people is a mindset and a lifestyle, not a periodic service project. It seems there are many today who opt out of doing good and serving the family of believers. The swift current of busyness draws us into a rushing river of distraction that overwhelms us. We’re so busy trying to keep our heads above water we can’t think about anything else. So, in an attempt to simplify life or maintain control, we say no to anything that requires more from us. The very things that would feed our souls and bring life, community, and connection feel like too much.

Little by little we slip into spiritual indifference known as the sin of sloth. Pastor Bethany Allen describes this as “the subtle refusal to love when love feels costly, and ultimately it is an aversion to the good and the mysterious beauty and potential of the kingdom. Sloth shows up as spiritual or emotional disengagement from things like prayer, obedience, worship, from loving our neighbors, from the work that we’re called to, the relationships we have, and the growth that God is inviting us into…It isn’t some kind of loud rebellion. It’s totally masked in a quieter response and things like ‘not now,” ‘not yet,’ ‘oh not me.’…With sloth…personal comfort becomes the default setting. And over time, sloth doesn’t just waste our days, it shrinks our souls.”

Quoting Paul’s words in Galatians 5 about not growing weary of doing good, Allen adds, “See, perseverance or the attentiveness to the heart, that’s what keeps us free from sloth. But that work of not growing weary or apathetic or indifferent, it actually requires a deliberate decision of the heart and the will in order for it to be true for us.”2

 No doubt, Paul’s closing words may cause the sting of conviction. Instead of brushing that feeling aside, will you prayerfully consider the topics he addresses?

  • Where might you be turning a blind eye to sin instead of praying about restoring a fellow believer to a right relationship with the Lord?
  • Where might you be out of alignment with the call to carry your own load and to bear others’ burdens? Are you shouldering a load meant for someone else? Are you avoiding coming alongside someone to bear a burden? Do you have a burden you need help carrying?
  • Where might you be opting out of doing good and building the body of believers? Have you slipped into apathy or made “no” your default answer when it comes to serving?

Answering these questions honestly will put you on the road to true freedom in Christ, which is the goal of Paul’s writing throughout Galatians.Why not pray and invite the Lord to work in whatever areas have risen to the surface for you? Receive His grace and allow Him to bring transformation from the conviction you’ve felt. It seems fitting to end this series with Paul’s closing words to the believers in Galatia: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.” (Galatians 6:18, NIV)

Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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  1. “Understanding ‘Load’ vs. ‘Burden’”, Bible Hub 
  2. “Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth”, Bethany Allen, Bridgetown Community Church, Feb. 1, 2026

Life as It Was Designed to Be

Arriving home after a trip triggers a predictable chain of events: sifting through a stack of mail, watering parched plants, unpacking suitcases, and re-stocking groceries. Before heading out to buy new food, I take inventory of the refrigerator. Most of the time, I discover a few funky smells wafting out–a forgotten container of leftovers growing mold, a bag of lettuce that’s turned brown and mushy, or strawberries covered with green fuzz. These inedible landmines often trigger a full cleaning of every shelf and drawer because there’s nothing worse than putting fresh food in a stinky fridge.

With those smells and images in mind, consider Paul’s words to the Galatians as he urges them to embrace God’s grace and walk in step with the Spirit: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses… Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” (Galatians 5:16-18, 24-25 NLT)

Paul encourages believers to understand that their freedom in Christ enables them to live in the way God intended them, no longer bound by the shackles of sin or the burden of the law. Elizabeth Woodson explains, “For Paul, freedom is not about living a life without any boundaries but living a life that is ordered by the boundaries of godliness.”1 He’s admonishing believers to clean out their spiritual refrigerators to make space for the fresh nourishment of the Holy Spirit.

In order to do this, however, we need to identify sin that’s keeping us from growing to maturity. Paul provides an extensive and specific list to consider—the old and decaying things in our lives that we need to surrender to the Lord so that we can live the abundant lives He intended: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,  idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21, NLT)

We may skim through this list without applying it personally, but the sins Paul calls out to the Galatians are just as relevant in our world today. Instead of glossing over them and focusing on less convicting passages, let’s take a minute to ponder them prayerfully.

Sexual Sins: Paul dives right in by calling out sexual immorality, impurity, and lustful pleasures. The biblical definition for sexual immorality is any sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. Lustful pleasures include anything that prioritizes gratifying a sexual craving over seeking God’s will and caring for the well-being of others. (This is what fuels the booming industries of pornography and sex-trafficking.) Our culture normalizes and even glorifies sexual behaviors and thought patterns that not only dishonor God but damage our relationships and souls. If you’re not paying attention to what’s forming your perspective on sex, it’s likely you’ve adopted the world’s way of thinking without realizing it. Take a moment and prayerfully consider where our current culture influences your views on sexuality more than the Bible. For a deeper dive on this topic, click on the sermon link at the bottom entitled “Two Beds.”

Spiritual Sins: Next Paul touches on spiritual straying by calling out idolatry and sorcery. The late Tim Keller describes an idol as anything that “has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought.” Family, children, career, making money, achievement, social standing, romantic relationships, peer approval, security, comfort, beauty, brains, even moral or social causes can all become “ultimate things.”2 Paul also speaks against sorcery, which is the use of spells, divination, or speaking to spirits. Any attempt to seek spiritual wisdom and power from a source other than God should not be part of a believer’s life—this includes practices that have recently regained popularity ‘just for fun” such as consulting mediums or psychics and reading tarot cards or auras.

Relational Sins: Paul gives a variety of examples including hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, and envy. It’s not hard to see how social media has given us more opportunities to be led into these kinds of sins. Most of them are rooted in unrestrained anger and selfishness. Anytime we’re tempted to have an “us vs. them” mentality or to resent a person for having what we think we “deserve” we’re heading into relational sin. If anger or sins related to it are a struggle for you, make time to listen to the excellent sermon by Christine Caine linked at the bottom of this post. If envy or jealousy regularly pop up for you, there’s a sermon at the bottom for you too.

Social Sins: Again, Paul doesn’t mince words and calls out drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these as practices to avoid. When alcohol, drugs, pills or other mind-altering substances become a necessary ingredient for having a good time or become the focal point of a social event, we’re veering into sin. They also lower our inhibitions and open the door for other sins. “When we choose to ingest mind-altering substances, we are effectively choosing to give ourselves over to the control of something other than the Holy Spirit. Anything that takes control of our mind, will, and emotions is a false god.”3 If you rationalize or minimize times when you’re tipsy or joke about being “over served,” maybe it’s time to bring it to the Lord in prayer. If you’re feeling convicted, be honest with yourself, the Lord, and a grace-filled friend who can walk alongside you. To learn more, see the article linked in reference #3 at the bottom.

Galatians 5 is most famous for this verse: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT) Many of us like to skip right to these verses without considering what comes before them. But growing this kind of spiritual fruit means confronting our sin and letting the Lord remove it as a hindrance so that we can abide closely with Him. Rather than seeing Paul’s list of sins as restrictive, consider Elizabeth Woodson’s explanation: “The more we deny our flesh and say yes to the things of God (all by the power of the Holy Spirit), the more we are able to experience life as it was designed to be lived. God created us to be image bearers, living for His glory and for the good of others. When we live like this, we are free from the burden of sin, and are free to experience an abundant life—full of love and joy.”4

 Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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“Two Beds” sermon on sexual sin by Tyler Scott  (start at 24:24)

“Anger” sermon by Christine Caine 

“Envy” sermon by Tyler Staten 

  1. Elizabeth Woodson, Live Free: A Study of Galatians, Lifeway Press, 2025, 131
  2. Tim Keller Counterfeit Gods, Introduction (quoted from Jake Griesel’s website.)
  3. “Is Getting Drunk a Sin?”, gotquestions.org
  4. Elizabeth Woodson, Live Free: A Study of Galatians, Lifeway Press, 2025, 131

Going Back Again

Sitting at the year-end assembly, I watched with envy as the principal called older students on stage to receive  awards. Some names became familiar as certain “star” students were called up multiple times. I longed to hear my name announced, but knew as a puny first grader, I wouldn’t be receiving a certificate that day. As I progressed through the years, the awards assembly was often in the back of my mind. So I was quick to participate in anything that would earn me accolades on the last day of school. By sixth grade, I was at the top of the heap and relished being one of the names called up to the stage over and over again.

That pattern of craving recognition through achievement continued to drive me through middle school and high school. I loved to learn and to serve, but also valued the side benefits of seeing my name on the honor roll and my face on multiple pages in the yearbook. Performing well gave me a sense of value and identity that calmed my insecurity and silenced my inner critic for a while (at least until the glory faded or someone else outshined me).

Although I grew up in a Christian home, I hadn’t grasped my identity in Christ or my eternal standing as the beloved daughter of the King of Kings. Instead, I felt a continual compulsion to do more and be more to prove I was worthy of love, admiration, and respect. As long as I could produce something others valued, I knew I’d be accepted.

This perspective began to change during a season away from my usual influences. A stint serving at a Christian camp surrounded by people who loved Jesus opened my eyes to a new reality. My fellow camp counselors cared nothing about my past accomplishments but made me feel seen, loved, and accepted as never before. The Lord used this experience to hit the re-set button on my worldview. At the end of the summer I headed off to the university I’d worked so hard to get into with a new mindset focused on bringing glory to Jesus instead of myself. My drive to accomplish and succeed for my own recognition transformed into a passion to use my gifts, skills, and resources to grow my faith in Jesus and to spur on others.

Graduating four years later, my list of worldly accomplishments was much shorter than in high school, but my love for the Lord had grown beyond measure.

With each season of life since then, I’ve had to remind myself not to focus on recognition, accomplishments and titles, but on following Jesus and serving Him wholeheartedly wherever the Spirit leads. Of course, there have been times I’ve been tempted to slide back into my old ways of thinking– to seek the title or do the shiny thing that will get me noticed, but the Holy Spirit always reminds me to re-set my gaze on Jesus.

The tension I feel between these two mindsets rose to the surface as I read Paul’s admonishment to the Galatians: “Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?” (Galatians 4:8-9, NLT)

False teachers had urged the Galatian believers to prove themselves worthy by adopting Jewish religious practices that were no longer relevant. (Specifically, getting circumcised and following all the laws of the old covenant.) The Gentile believers had rejected paganism and accepted Christ, but now the Judaizers were leading them off course. While most of us can’t identify with practicing orthodox Judaism to prove ourselves worthy, it’s likely we all have some aspect of our past that threatens our freedom in Christ. It could come from an old thought pattern like mine, or it could come from another person who is hindering your growth. Perhaps a few moments of prayerful self-reflection would help you consider where you’re tempted to “go back again and become a slave once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world.” Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Guilt: Many of us have come out of faith traditions that include a heavy load of guilt. Do you have a nagging sense that you’re always failing or disappointing God? Do the phrases “I should” or “I feel bad” flow from your mouth on a regular basis? Do you criticize yourself because you’re not doing enough? While the Spirit does convict us of sin and calls us to repentance, He does not burden us with guilt or a nagging sense of failure. As one of my favorite pastors says, “Guilt is not a fruit of the Spirit.” Is guilt keeping you from experiencing true freedom in Christ?

Worldly Mindsets: Our culture shapes how we view circumstances and engage people. Pastor John Mark Comer says we are all being formed by something, it’s just a matter of what. When we put our faith and trust in Jesus, this begins a process of letting Him form us into His image. The tension arises when the way we’re used to functioning clashes with the way of Jesus. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we’re not meant to hold anything back—He wants it all. Everything filters through His perspective: sex, money, career, possessions, etc. Are there worldly ways of thinking and functioning that you struggle to let go?

Self-Sufficiency: We live in an individualistic, self-centered society. Most of us pride ourselves on figuring out how to make things happen and to solve our own problems. And if we can’t find a solution on our own, we always have Google or AI to give us answers. But when we put our faith in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us. In fact, it’s when we admit our weakness that we are most able to experience God’s strength. Are you prone to slipping back into a mindset of self-sufficiency instead of trusting the Lord? Seek His strength and wisdom first instead of as a last resort.

Showing Well: Whether it’s our physical appearances, our homes, our children, or our social media feeds, most of us prioritize looking good. While there’s nothing wrong with caring for yourself or wanting beautiful surroundings, a continued focus on the exterior often means neglecting deeper things. The struggle to please and impress others can carry over into how we approach church, Bible study, and ministry too. Are you intentional about tending to your heart and character as much as you are exterior appearances?

We all have old patterns of thinking and behaving that enslave us under “weak and useless principles of this world.” Take a few moments to consider what this looks like in your life. Invite the Lord to search your heart, then confess anything He brings to mind and delight in remembering your freedom in Christ.

If you’re struggling with old and unhealthy thought patterns that are hindering you from experiencing freedom in Christ, I highly recommend Every Thought Captive: Calm the Mental Chaos that Keeps you Stuck, Drains Your Hope and Holds You Back  by Kyle Idleman. 

Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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Freedom by Faith Through Christ

Several years ago, my family took an international trip I had been anticipating for a long time. Assuming the role of travel agent, I spent the months leading up to it researching and booking accommodations and activities as well as scheduling planes, trains, and automobiles. Keeping track of all of our plans required an elaborate spreadsheet that I monitored throughout the trip. With every one of the six stopovers in three different countries, I fretted about schedules, logistics, and whether my family was enjoying the experience. My carefully orchestrated plans could have collapsed like a house of cards with one missed flight or late arrival at a pre-booked activity. Although I’m thankful we took the trip, it was exhausting.

So, a few years later, when we had another opportunity for travel, I tried a different approach. With my family’s blessing, we booked a trip with an active travel company that handled most of what I’d done previously; planning a detailed schedule of activities, transfers, meals, and hotels. I was responsible for booking flights and choosing sleeping accommodations before and after the trip, which took a fraction of the time. More importantly, I was freed to relax and enjoy experiencing new places with my family instead of fretting over logistics.

Now, imagine if I’d booked our trip with the tour company, but then proceeded with researching activities, booking hotels, and coordinating transportation anyway. Why would I be so foolish as to duplicate efforts by doing all that work when someone else was already doing it for me? And how would my family have reacted to me engrossing myself in planning for no good reason? Essentially, this is what Paul asks at the start of Galatians 3. Exasperated, he questions why believers who heard the gospel of grace have turned back to seeking salvation through following the law: “Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross…How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? Have you experienced so much for nothing? Surely it was not in vain, was it?” (Galatians 3:1 & 3, 4 NLT)

Can you feel his frustration with those he loves? Reading Galatians as a whole, it’s easy to see why. Paul compares living under the law with living by faith in Christ. Under the law we are: not justified (2:16), using human effort (3:3), under a curse (3:10), held prisoners (3:23), observing laborious rituals (4:10), alienated from Christ and fallen away from grace (5:4).

In Christ we are: rescued from the present evil age (1:4), justified by faith (2:16), recipients of the Holy Spirit (3:2), children of Abraham (3:7), redeemed from the curse and blessed (3:14), no longer under supervision of the law (3:25), children of God (3:26), Abraham’s seeds and heirs according to God’s promise (3:29), filled with the Spirit (4:6), set free (5:1), called to be free (5:13), living by the Spirit (5:25).

With all this beautiful truth, it makes no sense to Paul that the Galatians are moving backwards in their faith journey. His letter skips from example to example in an effort to show them their foolishness. Elizabeth Woodson explains that “Paul methodically unfolds his argument against justification by the law”1 using three different examples in Galatians 3.

First, he points to the work of the Holy Spirit, “I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.” (Galatians 3:5, NLT) What Paul emphasizes for them also holds true for us: we can’t “earn” the presence of the Holy Spirit through doing good deeds, we can only receive Him by putting our faith in Christ. The Spirit moves and works through us not when we try harder, but when we surrender and trust in Him. Is there a circumstance in your life that you need to relinquish to the Lord instead of relying on your own effort? If you’re prone to self sufficiency, this may need to be a daily prayer for you.

Next, Paul gets detailed and specific about areas where believers are veering off course. He explains that family heritage is not the source of salvation: “God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.” (Galatians 3:8b-9, NLT) Like the Jewish people, we cannot rely on a legacy of faith from family members for salvation. Similarly, we need to be wary of putting ourselves in spiritually rich environments but failing to pursue God individually. Each person must make a personal decision to accept and follow Christ. Do you siphon spiritual wisdom from others instead of seeking a personal connection with the Lord? Will you bring this to God in prayer and tell Him you want to forge a more personal relationship with Him?

Paul’s last argument focuses on the curse of the law: “But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.’ So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’” (Galatians 3:10-11, NLT) It’s clear we are powerless to follow the law completely, no matter how hard we try. If you’ve ever read the Old Testament, then you know it was impossible for the Jews to follow all the laws too. This is the curse of sin that came upon us in the Garden of Eden described in Genesis 3.

Paul explains that God created the law to provide guardrails for us until the coming of Christ. He made provisions for our sin before we even knew we’d need them. While requirements to adhere to the civil and ceremonial laws laid out in the Old Testament are now obsolete, the moral laws continue to hold relevance for us: “While we are not required to follow them for our salvation, they provide a blueprint for how we can live like Christ. When we follow the moral laws, we are fulfilling our divine purpose to reflect God’s character to the world, loving Him with our heart, souls, and mind, and loving our neighbors as ourselves.”2 Do you have a clear sense of how God’s character and how He’s calling you to live? Is it time to refresh your memory of the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20? Prayerfully consider if there are elements of His moral law you’ve disregarded or assumed were no longer applicable in modern times. Thank the Lord for making provision for your sin and ask Him if there’s anywhere you’re not in alignment with His moral laws.

Ending on a positive note, the chapter closes with this hopeful reminder: “Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” (Galatians 3:24-27, NLT)

Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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  1. Elizabeth Woodson,Live Free: A Study of Galatians, Lifeway, 2025, 67.
  2. ibid, 95

Astonished

Imagine a person you love deeply to whom you’ve imparted significant wisdom. You’ve had a close relationship and have supported one another through hard times. The bonds between you have been strengthened through shared faith, values, and experiences. This relationship has brought you deep joy and fulfillment and you feel sad when life circumstances cause your close proximity to change. Perhaps you’re picturing a family member who no longer lives under your roof. Or maybe it’s a close friend who’s moved to another city or state.

Despite the distance, you hold them dear and remain in contact. Now, imagine that as time passes, this relationship seems to shift. Issues that you used to view through a similar lens now spark conflict between you. Or maybe the beliefs or values you both embraced seem to be veering in different directions, leaving you disoriented and confused.

Over time, you notice more and more changes in the person you love that cause deep concern. After much prayer, you muster the courage to address what you’re seeing and to remind your loved one of timeless truth you once celebrated together. Gathering your thoughts, you write a letter to share your love for the person and your concern for the choices they’re making that no longer align with the beliefs they once held. It’s not the desire for uniformity that drives you, but a deep love and concern for a person drifting from spiritual freedom back into bondage.

This is the situation Paul faces as he writes to the churches in Galatia to express his deep concern over changes in their beliefs and practices. Paul wastes no time reminding them of his credibility as “an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” (Galatians 1:1, NIV) He opens his letter by offering grace and peace to smooth the way for the correction to follow.

Unable to contain himself after his initial greeting, Paul expresses dismay for the Galatians’ quickness to turn from God’s grace. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” (Galatians 1:6 & 7a, NIV) Forgetting the foundation laid by Paul’s teaching, the Galatians have been thrown into confusion by people “trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:7c, NIV) He reminds them that the gospel he preached wasn’t made up or created by a man but received “by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12b, NIV)

Earlier Paul says, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10, NIV) His questions are rhetorical, but they’re worth considering. If you had genuine concerns for a loved one like I described above, would you address them? Would you be blunt and direct in the spirit of “just being honest”? Or perhaps you’d take the passive-aggressive route by making subtle comments in hopes they’d get the hint. Or maybe  you’d just avoid your concerns altogether to keep the illusion of peace.

Recognizing that a fellow believer we love has veered from biblical truth shouldn’t cause us to become aggressive and accusatory or to throw up our hands in defeat. It should cause us to fall on our knees in prayer. Paul’s example shows that a loving response to people who have been thrown into spiritual confusion is to come alongside them, not to abandon them to distorted thinking. Unfortunately, in our culture of instant gratification we’ve forgotten the value of patience or the wisdom of letting a process unfold. We see something concerning and either attack it head on to bring immediate correction or avoid it, withdrawing in quiet disappointment and judgement.

If you’re picturing a specific person right now, perhaps it’s time to commit to prayer. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Do not address your concerns with your loved one on social media, in an e-mail, or text message. Pray for an opportunity to start a conversation.
  • Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal any sin that may be affecting your perspective. Be sure the concern you have is rooted in wanting biblical truth to come to light, not proving you’re “right.”
  • Ask the Lord to increase your compassion for the person’s confusion instead of sparking criticism or judgement over wrong thinking.
  • Pray for wisdom about how to come alongside the person, how to ask good questions, and how to listen well.
  • Pray for the person’s heart to soften and their spiritual eyes to be opened.
  • Pray for patience as you wait to see glimmers of change.
  • Pray for the Lord to place other people in your loved one’s life who will water seeds of faith that have gone dormant or to help them recognize where they’ve gotten off track.

If anything other than love is motivating you to speak, wait and ask the Lord to soften your heart. When you don’t see anything happening, don’t give up praying. Trust that the Lord hears your prayers and is working in His perfect timing.  And if the Spirit prompts you, approach the conversation with curiosity rather than condemnation. Find out where the confusion started and what the root issues are. Don’t try to say all the things at once. Be patient and let the dialogue unfold over time. Listen more than you speak. And when you open your mouth, share gently with authenticity from your heart and authority from the Word of God.

Inspired by Live Free: A Study of Galatians by Elizabeth Woodson, Lifeway, 2025. Follow along by ordering your copy here.

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Reflecting on 2025 Before Launching 2026

Walking in my neighborhood, I spied several families already taking down lights and removing lawn decorations. At home, pine needles shedding from my Christmas tree announce the final days of the “most wonderful time of the year.” The holiday season is coming to a close, but regular life hasn’t kicked back into gear yet for some of us. It’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past twelve months in preparation for the year ahead. Will you consider joining me in pondering the three questions below before you get swept into the current of 2026?

  1. What shaped your character, faith, and worldview?

I try to be intentional about what I allow into my mind since the things we read, watch, listen to, and experience all affect our mental, emotional, spiritual, and relational health. Here are few inputs that have shaped me positively in 2025:

Bible in a Year:  I always made excuses for not committing to reading the Bible in a year, but in 2025 I gave it a try using a chronological reading plan on the YouVersion app. Instead of going through a devotional book, I started reading Scripture daily on my phone while eating breakfast.  I’d be lying if I didn’t confess a few sections were a bit of a slog, but overall, the experience enhanced my understanding of the Bible’s cohesiveness. Reading it chronologically also brought depth and context to the specific books I studied with groups during the year (Revelation and Matthew).  I benefitted from  my daily reading so much, I’m doing it again in 2026. Want to join me? Studies show that reading the Bible four times or more each week is a key indicator of life transformation.1 Let me know if you’re giving it a try.

Studying Revelation: I’ve always shied away from the last book of the Bible but when my women’s Bible study at church chose Jen Wilkin’s Revelation workbook, I dove in headfirst. Writing blogs about this apocalyptic book for ten weeks felt like being back in college. Despite the challenge, I realized that I’ve been missing out on understanding the whole story of Scripture by avoiding Revelation. With a reliable teacher guiding me and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, even the most intimidating book of the Bible became not only accessible, but inspiring.

Books: A few years ago, a friend gave me Name Above All Names by Alastair Begg and Sinclair Ferguson. Finally making time to read it this year, I see it as a new classic. Examining seven key qualities of Jesus’ identity and ministry helped me to have a clearer picture of who He is and all He has done for us. I also re-read an old classic: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. So many familiar examples we use to explain our faith find their roots in Lewis’ writing. Classic books and older authors sometimes don’t grab our attention the way popular or current ones do, but many newer books just re-package great writers’  ideas. Will you consider reading or listening to at least one classic book this year that will expand your knowledge about the Lord or some aspect of your faith journey?

Practical Podcasts: Among the many I listened to, one that consistently expanded my knowledge and spurred on my faith was Susie Larson Live. Susie’s knowledge of Scripture and desire to bring health and wholeness to her listeners’ minds, bodies, and spirits provide meaningful content and clear action steps.

Now, that you’ve read my answers, consider what shaped your character and worldview this year for better or for worse. What will you add or eliminate for 2026 so that the world shapes you less and the Holy Spirit shapes you more?

2) Where did you see God at work? How did you grow personally and/or spiritually?

In-Person Discipleship: Studying the Bible with small groups of high school girls regularly and mentoring a few college girls one on one showed me the power of consistent connection. Asking the Spirit to use the gifts, wisdom, and knowledge He’s given me has led to relationships that have blessed me beyond measure. I’ve seen that growth happens little by little studying God’s Word together. As relationships deepen, trust grows, and life transformation occurs for everyone involved.

If you’re a mature believer, will you pray and invite the Lord to use you to walk alongside someone younger in faith this year? And if you’re new to faith or just checking things out, will you ask the Lord to lead you to a spiritually mature person who can help you learn and grow?

Stillness and Silence: I am a person of action, but the Lord has reminded me that I need to slow myself to His pace instead of demanding that He move at mine (which is usually faster and involves less patience.) Through slowing down over the holiday season and practicing silence and stillness daily, I experienced some profound moments with the Lord. In one instance, He convicted me of sin, in another He reminded me to seek Him for comfort about a situation I was grieving. During another time of stillness He reminded me that even good things like family and friends can become idols that take His rightful place on the throne of my life. Had I been rushing through the holiday season and using busyness to avoid confronting pain, I would have missed hearing from the Lord.

Fasting: Studying the Gospel of Matthew recently, I was struck by a statement Jesus makes in the Sermon on the Mount: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do…put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting.” (5:16a, 17, 18a) Jesus assumes that His followers fast regularly, and although I’ve practiced it from time to time, this has never been a regular discipline for me. So, in the past few months, I’ve given it a try. Fasting has been a physical way to direct my energy (and angst) when I’m praying for something that feels beyond me. I’m still learning, but it’s been a surprisingly positive experience thus far.

Now, how did you grow personally and/or spiritually in the past year?

3) Where will you focus your energy in 2026?

I want to be used by God to bless others, make disciples, expand His kingdom, and bring Him glory. I want to trust God with the unknowns that lie ahead. I pray the Lord will expand my capacity to receive His Spirit and that He will use my time, resources, and gifts to pour into others and point them toward Him. This year I hope to grow in my understanding of God’s grace and to recognize I am never above needing it. I also hope to re-route some of my unhealthy thought patterns by asking the Lord to help me take my thoughts captive (2 Cor 10:5) and renew my mind (Romans 12:1-2).

Before launching into 2026, take some time to ponder where you’ve been. Reflecting on the past helps us to be more intentional about the future. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:5-8, NIV) Happy New Year!

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  1. “Bible Engagement and ‘The Power of 4’: A Key to Spiritual Growth”, Center for Bible Engagement