“And when you fast …” Matthew 6:16 NLT Christians might fast for many reasons: guidance, mourning, repentance, worship, deliverance or protection, strength, purification, for intensifying prayer or just for the love of God. But the above verse – the words of Christ – seems to indicate that fasting is not optional. Fasting reminds us that…
Category: A Faith in Process
Notes from the Journey
What is Fasting?
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. Matthew 4:1-2 NLT Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted…
Choosing Submission
Submission to God is a choice based on our knowledge of Him. * Do I believe that God loves me?See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1a NLT* Do I believe that God has plans for me?For I know the…
More Thoughts …
On Authority Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. Romans 13:1 NLT Authority is not the problem. Our stubborn hearts are the problem. Jamie Munson On Humility The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let…
The “S” Word
“With Christ in the Wilderness” is based on a Spiritual Disciplines class I taught many years ago. Because Christ modeled these things, Christians consider them important practices. Although I really, really did not want to write about Humility, Christ modeled it and the Bible teaches it, so it must be foundational to developing as Jesus-followers….
Choosing Humble
As your spiritual teacher I give this piece of advice to each one of you. Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith that God has given to you all. Romans 12:3 J.B. Phillips New Testament Humility and…
Proud v. Humble
Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. Psalm 138:6 NLT “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 NLT Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 NLT You rescue the humble, but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them. 2 Samuel…
Humility
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and…
Presence
Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days and nights. We are not quite half-way through the 40 days of Lent, and it already feels like it’s been forever. Of course, Jesus didn’t live in the urgent, anxious world we do. He didn’t have a to-do list, or commitments to juggle. He didn’t have constant…
Naming My Faults, Clearing the Air
Confession is the act of inviting God to walk the acreage of our heart. “There is a rock of greed over here, Father. I can’t budge it. And that tree of guilt near the fence? Its roots are long and deep. And may I show you some dry soil, too crusty for seed?” God’s seed…