Of all the virtues, gratitude is queen! Giving thanks to God is the most lovely virtue and it’s the mother of all that is good. That’s because “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17) and appreciating this is the way we participate in God’s blessings for us and others. Gratitude Research shows…
Like many people in ministry, I grew up without the language of emotions. I discovered this in my college class on Christian Counseling. When my professor asked if anyone wanted to be her Teacher’s Aid I practically leaped out of my seat! I wanted to be mentored by her! The first time I went to…
“Good Christians do their daily devotions.” That teaching puts pressure and guilt on people! It also generates a bifurcated life in which I meet with God for a while and then I go off and live my life without God. We need to get free of “Quiet Time guilt” Dallas Willard says. Doing away with…
“If there were a blood test for workaholism I’m sure Dallas would come up positive.” That’s a comment Jane Willard made to Gary Moon for his new biography Becoming Dallas Willard. (p. 138) You may relate to Jane or to Dallas. Kristi and I do, as do many of the men and women in ministry…
Putrid smelling dung — that’s what spiritual disciplines become without love. My comment surprised the pastor I was coaching. But I heard Dallas Willard say on a few occasions something like, “The disciplines for life in Christ are not what is important. We make too big a deal about them.” He was concerned about legalism,…
Have you heard of “Immanuel Journaling”? It’s spreading like wildfire across America and beyond! Kristi and I have found it to be a wonderful and powerful way to foster a greater awareness of God’s care. It’s a helpful tool for praying through your stress, hurt, intercessions, or whatever you’re experiencing, and appreciating God’s empathy and…
Try this simple, inspiring discipline to live with the cross of Christ and empty tomb in your mind. It helps us turn from sin to Jesus. It’s great for Lent.
This is an updated version of a Bible study I did in 2006 on the role of the mind (thoughts) in spiritual formation in Christ. It is inspired by Dallas Willard’s book, Renovation of the Heart. This article on the mind (thoughts) is part of a series from my class for counselors on “How People Change.”…
Planning to Be More Like Jesus Jesus lived in the Easy Yoke he offers us. He didn’t push, press, or strain. He didn’t try to make things happen, but lived in submission to the Father. He was never in a hurry. He didn’t worry. He was relaxed and so he had time for people and was hospitable toward…
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). I consider submission to God a discipline of abstinence because its about denying ourselves the power or privilege we want. We’re choosing not to make things happen for ourselves, not to control people or situations even…