Choosing Stillness in a Noisy World
We are so full of chatter.
Noise presses in from every side—opinions, opportunities, distractions, demands. Life can start to feel like a barrage, and before we know it, we’re reacting more than choosing. Pulled here and there, we may feel slightly out of control. God isn’t really guiding our lives—not because He’s absent, but because we’re not slowing down enough to notice or respond.
And the beat goes on.
So how do we step off this treadmill of shallowness?
One simple, difficult, and deeply transformative practice: intentional silence.
Silence creates space—for connection with your real self (which can feel unsettling at first), for encountering the real God, and for learning to speak and live with greater depth, clarity, and authority.
When we intentionally slow down, step away from the noise, and allow ourselves to be still, things begin to surface. What has been hidden or dormant in us often rises to the top. This isn’t always comfortable. In fact, much of our busyness may b...
Who Are You – Really?
At different points in our lives we are confronted with different forms of the same question –
“Who are you?”
Often the question comes as a challenge to our competence. We are tempted to define ourselves by what we are able to do and/or how well we can do it.
Sometimes we are enticed to delineate our lives in terms how well regarded, received or "important" we are. The eyes and approval of others become our measuring stick.
Alternatively, we may be incited to understand ourselves and portray ourselves in terms of power – how much (or who) we can gain and control for our own purposes.
These three false measurements of identity are common to all of us. Different ones will be weighted in different ways, nuanced with different language and tailored to fit/attack our specific personalities and susceptibilities. However, these kinds of temptations are bait for the traps of pride or self-condemnation for all of us.Â
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Which temptation bites more deeply into your soul, competence, appr...
Don't Be Fearful ... Be Free!
“It is for freedom that Christ has set you free!” (Galatians 5:1)
The apostle Paul was convinced that Jesus came to set people free from the bondage of religion. Religion – in this sense – refers to the constant concern about doing things rightly, and the guilt that accompanies falling short on a regular basis.
In Romans Paul wrote, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) “Falling short” is the human condition. And, the consequence/wages of that sinful condition is death – death of our souls, and eternal death.
Unaddressed sin dulls our souls and makes our spirits lifeless. However, we must be reminded again and again and again that “the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Religion tempts us to try to justify ourselves by our actions or intentions. Freedom in Christ releases us from self-justification, so we can be honest. We don’t need to dig ourselves out of our self-referenced lifestyles. We don’t have to pretend ...
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