“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” - Colossians 3:2There is an old picture often used to describe prayer. Imagine a small boat tied to a rope, with the other end secured to a post on the shore. When you pull the rope, the shore does not move. The post does not shift. The land does not come closer. Instead, the boat is the one that moves. It is drawn toward the shore with ever...  Read More

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” - James 4:8For many people, prayer becomes a list. Needs to present. Problems to fix. Fears to unload. There is nothing wrong with bringing your requests to God. He invites you to do that. But if prayer becomes only that, you end up missing the very heart of what God designed it to be. Prayer was never meant to be a formula you follow. It was meant...  Read More

“Lord, teach us to pray.” - Luke 11:1There is something honest and refreshing about the moment when the disciples approached Jesus and made the simple request we see in Luke 11. They did not ask Him to teach them how to preach better, perform miracles, or lead large crowds. They asked Him to teach them how to pray. These were grown men who had heard prayers their whole lives, yet something about t...  Read More

“Before they call I will answer. While they are still speaking I will hear.” - Isaiah 65:24There are days when prayer feels effortless, like the connection between you and God is clear and strong. But there are also days when it feels like bad reception. You pray, and it seems like your words fade into the air. You talk to God, yet your heart feels unchanged. You try to listen, but everything insi...  Read More

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” - Proverbs 3:5A new year often brings a strange mix of excitement and pressure. People make lists, set goals, chase improvement, and try to become a stronger version of themselves. There is nothing wrong with growth, but many step into a new year believing everything depends on their effort. They feel like the entire w...  Read More

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished. And he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” - John 19:30When Jesus spoke the words “It is finished,” He was not announcing defeat. He was declaring victory. The work needed to save you, forgive you, and reconcile you to God was fully completed in that moment. Nothing needed to be added. Nothing needed to be improved. Nothi...  Read More