In one of the less famous Old Testament narratives, three kings learn some important lessons about God in the desert.

We need to learn the same truths.

The account is found in 2 Kings 3.

The Desert Experience

The king of Moab decided to stop paying his taxes to the king of Israel. Jehoram, king of Israel, enlisted the help of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and the king of Edom, another close ally. The three kings embarked on a “collections” mission against King Mesha of Moab.

The Bible says they took a “circuitous march” for seven days—a polite way of saying they got lost in the desert.

Eventually, they found themselves in a place where there was no water for them or their animals.

Jehoram immediately saw this as God’s plan to give them over to King Mesha. He was quite worried.

Jehoshaphat, who was faithful to Yahweh, had a different response. He sought out a prophet of Yahweh, who happened to be Elisha.

Elisha assured them that Yahweh had a plan. God would act in a miraculous way to fill the dry valley with water. They would not see it coming. It would happen suddenly.

Elisha added that this would be “a light thing” for Yahweh.

Easy. A piece of cake. No problem.

The kings and their entourage went to sleep in a dry valley.

They woke up in a dry valley.

No clouds. No rain. No overflowing river.

But at the time of the morning sacrifice, water began to flow. The whole valley filled with water. Yahweh acted suddenly and decisively to supply what they needed.

And, as He had promised, He gave the kings victory over Mesha as well.

When You Find Yourself in a Desert

So what does this have to do with me? And you?

We all find ourselves in some kind of desert from time to time.

It may be a spiritual desert where we miss close communion with God. Perhaps it is an emotional desert where we lack motivation and feel helpless. Sometimes it is a life-situation desert. Our finances, health, or relationships may wear us down to the point of exhaustion.

I am sure you can think of a few deserts you have visited in your lifetime.

And it seems that no matter how hard you try, you cannot find water in your desert. You try to “do your best,” but the harder you try, the drier your desert gets.

But I have some hopeful news for you.

God sees. He knows. He is in control. You can trust Him.

God is not obligated to fulfill YOUR plan, but He absolutely will bring His plan to pass.

And His plan is good.

Take courage from God’s Word:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
—Romans 8:28

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
—Romans 8:31–32

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
—Philippians 1:6

“…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
—Philippians 2:13

What to Do While You Wait

So what do we do in the desert while we wait for God to act?

Here are three things.

1. Stay in God’s Word.

Jehoshaphat had the good sense to inquire of a prophet of Yahweh. We exercise spiritual wisdom when we turn to God’s Word daily.

The desert is not the time to drift away from Scripture. It is the time to listen carefully to what God has already said.

Our circumstances may confuse us. God’s Word anchors us.

2. Be faithful in your current situation.

Waiting seasons are full of distractions. Daydreaming, diversion, and disconnecting may seem like pleasurable coping mechanisms. But God has us where He wants us in this particular season.

Be faithful in the daily tasks. Like the faithful servants in Matthew 25, be faithful with what is in front of you.

You may not be able to change your situation today, but you can honor God in it today.

3. Commit your desert to the Lord.

Pray about your desert. Ask God to intervene and to act in ways that bring HIM glory.

Psalm 37:4 tells us:

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

As we delight in Him, He shapes our desires around His. We learn to want what He wants and to trust Him with the outcome.

The Valley May Still Look Dry

That may be the hardest part of the story in 2 Kings 3.

The kings went to bed in a dry valley, and when they woke up, it was still dry.

Nothing they could see had changed.

Then God acted.

Maybe your valley still looks dry today. You do not see the clouds. You do not hear the rain. You cannot see where the water will come from.

Stay in His Word. Be faithful where you are. Commit your desert to Him.

The God who sees what you cannot see is still at work.

Leave a comment

God is at work in all of our life events to accomplish His purpose of making us more like Jesus. You can trust Him with your circumstances.

Romans 8:28-29

Leave a comment

“Am I my brother’s keeper?”

So responded Cain when God asked him about the whereabouts of his brother Abel.

Of course, the omniscient God knew what had happened and where Abel was. In fact, God responded to Cain by saying, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10).

Cain did not answer God’s question, although he knew the answer. He avoided owning reality by answering God’s question with an empty question of his own.

Through the years, people have used Cain’s response to God as their own excuse for not caring for others. When asked about someone, some will say, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

You may have heard that…or even said it. I hate to admit it, but I have.

What Is My Responsibility?

So, am I my brother’s—or sister’s—keeper?

My observation has been that most people fall into one of three categories in that regard.

Some get a little overly involved in others’ lives. They are what the Bible refers to as “busybodies.” We’ll address that in next week’s article.

Others are not involved at all. They live in their own little bubble and would rather not be involved with other people’s problems or needs.

Hopefully, this is a very small minority.

Still others have a circle of friends with whom they share life, some more closely than others. We may go weeks or months without being in touch, but eventually we catch up.

We genuinely care about each other, but sometimes life prevents us from being as proactive as we would like.

I think the answer to the brother’s keeper question can be found in the New Testament phrase “one another.”

One Alone Is Never One Another

The Greek word translated “one another,” or in some translations “each other,” occurs exactly 100 times in 94 verses.

Nearly half of those verses contain instructions about how Christians are to live in relationship with one another.

I hear people say sometimes, “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.”

But you can’t “one another” by yourself.

You can’t “bear one another’s burdens” alone. You can’t “encourage one another” solo.

(For more on this, click here to read “Do I Have to Go to Church to Be a Christian?”)

But even apart from a church fellowship, we are surrounded every day by people who need our “one another” attention.

You never know what someone is facing, thinking, or feeling at any given moment.

All it takes is a little situational awareness of the people around us.

We can ask ourselves, “Who around me is struggling while I am busy criticizing or complaining about them?”

Or, “Whose burden am I making heavier instead of lighter?”

How Can I Be My Brother’s Keeper?

Let me end with four action steps you can take to become better at “one anothering.”

1. Pay attention.
Notice people. Watch for changes in behavior, such as withdrawal. Listen for unusual comments or words of discouragement. (Philippians 2:4)

2. Reach out.
Don’t wait for someone to come to you. Be proactive. Call. Text. Invite them to lunch or coffee. Take the initiative.

3. Build up.
Before criticizing, gossiping, or being negative about someone, find a way to speak encouraging words instead.

When my daughter was in elementary school, they were taught to pour into rather than dip out of someone’s “bucket of joy.”

I like that visual. (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Galatians 5:15)

4. Get involved.
Encouragement can only do so much. Sometimes we need to bear someone’s burden. Take a meal.

Make a visit.

Help solve a problem.

At other times, getting involved may mean helping that person find the appropriate help. (Galatians 6:2)

Am I my brother’s keeper?

According to the New Testament, the answer is yes.

I’m called to notice him, encourage him, build him up, and help carry his burden.

And so are you.

Today, ask God to show you at least one person who needs you to be a “one another” to them.

Share

Comment

The Holy Spirit is present with us when we suffer to use that suffering for God’s purpose in our lives.

Here are 3 ways the Holy Spirit works through our suffering.

Leave a comment

3 directions the Lord’s Supper should cause us to look.

1 Corinthians 11:19-30

Leave a comment

Some look at quiet quitting as a healthy decision to set boundaries that bring balance to life. Others fear quiet quitting may lead to a larger withdrawal of an individual from life’s responsibilities. I can see the merits of both perspectives, but have no interest in debating it as a workplace practice.

Quiet Quitting and Church

My concern is that I have seen evidence of a quiet quitting among church people over the last several years.

One of the most telling signs is how our definition of “regular attendance” has changed. There was a time when being a regular church attender meant being there most Sundays. Today, many who consider themselves regular attenders are present only once or twice a month.

The people haven’t necessarily disappeared. They just show up less often.

And attendance is no the only activity church members are quietly quitting. Giving is down significantly. Fewer people participate in small groups and ministry and mission activities.

As you think about your church, you can probably identify other areas of decline.

Why Are People Quitting?

A number of factors could contribute to this quiet quitting trend among church people.

Spiritual apathy is one contributing factor. People have grown cold in their devotion to Jesus. It’s not that they don’t love Jesus, at least somewhat. It’s that they love other things more.

Certainly the COVID pandemic is a contributing factor. Many churches temporarily suspended operations during the early days of the pandemic in the Spring of 2020.

Online streaming replaced in person worship. Zoom meetings replaced Bible study classes. And social distancing concerns got us out of the habit of ministering to people.

The Greatest Cause

But I think the greatest underlying contributing factor to quiet quitting in the church is an unbiblical understanding of the nature and purpose of the Church.

I’ve seen a growing wave of what I would call Christian Narcissism pervading churches. We have become church consumers rather than servants of Christ.

Let’s start with worship music. On one hand, we want it to be OUR music. We demand music that suits our taste.

On the other hand, many of the songs we sing focus on us and our needs. We love to sing about what God can do for us and how He makes us feel.

Oh, and if you think I am an old fogey griping about contemporary music, then you are mistaken. Old hymns and new music BOTH are replete with examples of “me-focused” singing. Take a gander through your hymnal. Check out your Spotify playlist. You’ll see it.

But the consumer mentality also shows itself in the complaints we hear about church.

“I am not being fed.”

“We are going somewhere that has ministry for us and our family.”

“I don’t like the way the church (fill in the blank).

I could go on, but you get the point. I am convinced that many church people do not see themselves as the Bride of Christ. They prefer Jesus to be a “friend with benefits.”

Jesus said in Matthew 20:28 that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to lay down His life as a ransom for many.”

If Jesus came to serve rather than be served, who gives us a right to demand that we be served in the church. He calls us to serve in His power and for His Kingdom.

Where Do We Go from Here?

Only the grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit will bring an end to this alarming trend of quiet quitting in church. I am praying that He will do what only HE can do: change hearts.

Maybe as you read this the Holy Spirit has touched your heart about some ways you have quietly quit church. That touch by the Holy Spirit is God’s grace extended to you. He is asking you to repent - own up to it. He promises to forgive you. And He’s calling you back to a deep love relationship with Jesus.

See yourself as not working for the church but serving Jesus. You may have quietly quit, but Jesus didn’t accept your resignation. He saved your place.

Leave a comment

Sunday Sermon - August 22, 2026

Leave a comment

In Christian circles, we often use the word stewardship in reference to money. Most churchgoers expect that a sermon with the word stewardship in the title will eventually be about giving more money.

But what if we thought about stewardship more broadly?

What if we considered the stewardship of our words?

The Gift—and Power—of Words

The English alphabet has only twenty-six letters, yet those letters can be arranged into thousands upon thousands of words.

God created us with the remarkable ability to form ideas in our minds and communicate them to others. He even designed an intricate system in our bodies that turns thoughts into spoken words.

Words are an incredible gift.

And like every gift from God, they are meant to be used wisely.

What the Bible Says About Our Words

James 3:1–12 reminds us that our words can both help and harm. It depends on how we use them.

In Matthew 12:33–37, Jesus teaches that our words reveal the condition of our hearts. We speak from what fills us.

Jesus essentially taught this principle long before Miranda warnings: What you say can—and will—be used as evidence about you.

In Ephesians 4:25–32, Paul urges us to use words that build up rather than tear down. We are to put away words that are false, corrupt, bitter, and angry, and replace them with words that are truthful, gracious, forgiving, and kind.

Our words matter to God.

Becoming Stewards of Our Words

My challenge is simple: See yourself as a steward of your words.

That begins by surrendering what we often assume is our “right” to say whatever we want.

We live in a culture that celebrates the right to “speak your mind” or “speak from the heart.” That would be fine if our minds and hearts were not affected by sin.

Instead of asking, Do I have the right to say this? we should ask, Does God want me to say this?

How different would our conversations be?

My grandmother used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

If everyone followed that advice, the world would be much quieter.

THINK Before You Speak

Years ago, I learned a simple acrostic that helps evaluate our speech. It encourages us to THINK before we speak.

Each letter represents a question to ask before our words leave our mouths.

T — Is It TRUE?

This question alone would stop much gossip.

Do I know this is true? Can I verify it from firsthand knowledge, or am I repeating something I heard?

Hearing something is not the same as needing to repeat it.

H — Is It HELPFUL?

Why am I saying this?

Will my words build someone up or tear them down? Will they improve the situation or make it worse?

And most importantly: Is my motive pure?

I — Is It INSPIRING?

What will my words produce?

Will they encourage someone or spur others “to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24)?

Not every sentence must be inspirational, but our words should generally strengthen others rather than weaken them.

N — Is It NECESSARY?

Does this need to be said?

What happens if I stay silent instead of speaking? Am I the right person to say it, or should someone else?

And even if it should be said, is this the right time?

Wisdom is not only knowing what to say, but when to say it.

K — Is It KIND?

How can I say this with grace and “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6)?

Kindness does not mean avoiding hard truths. Love sometimes requires difficult conversations.

But even hard truth can be spoken with grace.

Changing Our Words Begins Deeper

There is one challenge: our words do not begin in our mouths.

They begin in our minds and hearts.

To change our speech, we must first change our thinking. Philippians 4:8 gives a clear pattern:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

When our minds dwell on what is good, our words will begin to reflect it.

Because words flow from the heart, we must also guard what shapes it.

Galatians 5:16–23 describes the ongoing battle between the flesh and the Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Imagine how different our words would be if they consistently came from that kind of heart.

When God’s Word shapes our minds and God’s Spirit governs our hearts, we will begin to use our words wisely as faithful stewards.

And Yes, This Includes Social Media

There is one more place where we must practice stewardship of words: social media.

Everything Scripture says about speech applies to what we post, text, email, comment, and share.

Social media has given nearly everyone a public voice. Unfortunately, it has also encouraged the idea that we can say whatever we want simply because we have a platform.

But typed words are still words.

Before hitting Post, Send, or Reply, we should ask:

Is it true?
Is it helpful?
Is it inspiring?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?

Social media is simply another form of speech—and Christians are called to steward it well.

A Prayer for Our Words

One of the best prayers we can pray each day is found in Scripture:

“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” —Psalm 141:3

Because in the end, our words are not truly ours.

They belong to the One who entrusted them to us.

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” —1 Corinthians 4:2

May we be faithful stewards—even of our words.

Leave a comment

Leave a comment

A few days ago, I found myself unexpectedly revisiting some hurts from a past ministry.

I’ve had several ministries since then, with hurts and happiness in each one, just like the one I was remembering.

In almost 40 years of pastoral ministry, I’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs. Some have been like a bungee jump, others more like a roller-coaster ride.

But the good times have FAR outweighed the painful ones.

There are plenty of things I would do differently if I had it to do all over again, but I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life. I thank God that He has allowed me to serve Him this way for all these years.

He alone gets whatever glory has come from it!

When Old Hurts Resurface

What I found interesting was that my mind went back to the hurts from this particular ministry.

Over the years, I’ve tried to choose to remember the good from every place I’ve served and let go of the painful. Most of the time, I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that.

But every now and then, something brings an old hurt back to the surface.

Forgiveness is something all of us struggle with at times. Unforgiveness is part of our fallen nature. Holding on to a hurt comes much more naturally than letting it go.

As I thought back through some of those old hurts, the Lord reminded me of some wonderful truths about grace.

Maybe they’ll help you if you struggle with forgiveness too.

A Few Things I’ve Learned About Forgiveness

1. We can forgive because we have been forgiven.

No one has offended us as much as we have offended God, yet He chose to forgive us.

When we struggle to forgive someone, it does us good to remember our own fallenness. After all, we’ve had our share of being the offending party too.

It’s a lot harder to hold tightly to someone else’s sin when I’m reminded of how gracious God has been with mine.

2. Forgiveness is a choice we make, not an emotion we feel.

Sometimes we confuse those two things.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean ignoring the hurt or pretending it didn’t happen. It means I choose to move on from the hurt rather than continuing to dwell on it.

That doesn’t mean all the feelings immediately go away. Sometimes they don’t.

But I can choose to forgive even while asking God to help me with the emotions that remain.

3. There really is no such thing as “forgive and forget.”

We say it a lot, but that’s not really how our minds work.

God says, “I will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12). He no longer holds our sins against us.

We may still remember what someone did to us. In fact, there are some things we probably couldn’t forget if we tried.

But when those past hurts come to mind, we can use them as an opportunity to remember the great work of God’s grace in our own lives.

No hurt another person has inflicted on me can compare with the love and grace I have received from God.

4. The ability to forgive is a work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Forgiveness is not our default.

But as the fruit of the Spirit begins to ripen in our lives (Galatians 5:22–23), He enables us to do what doesn’t come naturally.

He enables us to forgive.

So What Do We Do With the Hurt?

Here’s my encouragement to those of us who struggle to forgive a past hurt.

First, don’t try to ignore it. Own it.

Name it. Call it what it is. Admit that it hurt, and bring it before the Father.

There’s no need to pretend with Him anyway. He already knows.

Second, thank Him that your hurt does not define you.

You are who HE says you are.

What happened to you may be part of your story, but it isn’t your identity. His grace is sufficient.

Third, ask the Holy Spirit to help you see your offender differently.

Ask Him to help you recognize that the person who hurt you is every bit as fallen as you are.

Then ask Him to bear His fruit in you in the middle of that hurt.

That doesn’t excuse what happened. It simply keeps what happened from having the final word.

Maybe Forgiveness Looks Like This

I think that may be part of what the Lord was reminding me of when those old memories came back.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean I never remember the hurt.

Maybe it means that when I do remember it, I also remember grace.

I remember how much I have been forgiven. I remember who I am in Christ. And I remember that the same Holy Spirit who has been at work in me all these years is still at work in me today.

Even with some old hurts.

More to Come?

There’s a lot more I could write about this, and maybe I’ll come back with a Part 2.

Let me know if that’s something y’all would be interested in.

Leave a comment

The good news is that the cross of Jesus has freed us from the condemnation brought about because of our

Leave a comment

“Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get from the work you didn’t do.”

— Tommy Newberry

Live Intentionally as God’s Partner

As we head into the homestretch of this year, I want to challenge you to finish well by living intentionally—especially in your walk as a follower of Jesus.

Sanctification is the theological word we use for spiritual growth. In one sense, we are partners with God in that process. Not equal partners, mind you—we have only a minority stake—but we do have a stake.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV)

Let’s be clear. Our spiritual growth is entirely a work of grace. It happens only through the power of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts. We cannot simply try harder or do more to become spiritually mature.

Yet God does not force His work upon us. He works as we submit ourselves to Him and desire His transforming work. In this partnership, we provide the willingness; God provides the power.

When Paul tells us to “work out” our salvation, he does not mean we work to earn or achieve it. He means we exercise it. Throughout this passage, he assumes his readers are already born-again followers of Christ.

People go to the gym to work out. They don’t create muscles they never had. They already possess them. Exercise simply develops those muscles by reducing what hinders them and making them stronger.

The same is true spiritually. Through the spiritual disciplines, our lives become healthy, Spirit-directed expressions of walking with Christ. We do not work for salvation, but our willingness to submit to God’s work is our part of the partnership.

Live Intentionally through Spiritual Discipline

An athlete embraces several disciplines to grow stronger. Likewise, God has given us basic spiritual disciplines that provide the platform for His work in our lives.

Nutrition.

Anyone who wants to get into shape begins with healthy eating. They avoid foods that hinder their goals and choose foods that nourish them.

The disciple’s diet is God’s Word. Read the Bible in two ways. Read larger portions to grasp the big picture of Scripture. Then study shorter passages more carefully to gain truths you can live out each day.

Exercise.

Physical fitness requires consistent effort. You’ve heard the saying, “No pain, no gain.”

We exercise our faith by serving—our families, our church, and our community. As we serve, we put into practice the spiritual nourishment we have received from God’s Word. That nourishment gives us both the knowledge and the motivation to serve.

Rest.

The body needs rest to recover and refuel. Without it, nutrition and exercise lose much of their benefit.

Prayer is the spiritual equivalent of rest. We need daily time alone with the Lord. This kind of prayer is more than presenting our list of needs. It includes quiet, reflective moments when we allow God to speak to our hearts. In those moments, He refreshes, reassures, and strengthens us.

I’ll say more about this kind of prayer in a future post. For now, spend time with the Lord in silence. Certainly tell Him what’s on your heart and pray for those you love. But also take time simply to express your dependence upon Him.

Live Intentionally…and Creatively

I could go on. We need community just as athletes need teammates. We also need accountability, coaching, and encouragement. But you have to start somewhere.

How will you nourish your spiritual life? What sins or unbelief are poisoning your walk with Christ? Will you confess them and receive His forgiveness? How are you exercising your faith? Are you intentionally allowing God to work through you as you serve others?

Don’t be disappointed by a lack of spiritual growth if you haven’t pursued it. Put in your work, and I can assure you that God will faithfully do His.

Leave a comment

Leave a comment

School-zone speed cameras and Flock cameras have stirred up plenty of debate in my hometown. Some see them as an invasion of privacy; others applaud any effort to keep children safe. Wherever you land on the issue, one thing is undeniable: cameras are everywhere. They watch us in stores, at intersections, on front porches, from dashboards, and even from satellites. Remember Matthew McConaughey’s movie EDtv? Some days it feels as though we’re all living life on camera.

Under Divine Surveillance

Long before silicon chips, security systems, and livestreams, God was watching.

“The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth.” (Psalm 33:13–14)

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)

“For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.” (Job 34:21)

How does that truth strike you? Does it bring comfort—or make you feel exposed?

Living in a Fishbowl

Being watched all the time can feel like living in a glass aquarium. We instinctively squirm because we know there are things in our lives that do not please God. Yet nothing escapes His notice. Hebrews reminds us that “all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

Here’s the miracle: the eyes that see us are also eyes of grace.

“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Grace never excuses sin, but it welcomes sinners into the light, where forgiveness and transformation are found. Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And seeking always begins with seeing.

The God Who Sees Me

David prayed, “Keep me as the apple of Your eye” (Psalm 17:8). The picture is one of being so near to God that your reflection is visible in His eye. Hagar discovered that same truth in the wilderness. She called Him El Roi—”the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).

Whatever you’re facing today—illness, loneliness, financial pressure, a strained marriage, or a toxic relationship—you are not invisible. God sees. God hears. God knows. And in His perfect time, God acts.

Not Watching from a Distance

Bette Midler’s 1990 hit proclaimed, “God is watching us... from a distance.” Scripture tells a different story. God is not watching from afar. He is near, attentive, and compassionate. If you’ve wandered off course, He will lead you home. If you’re weary, He will lift you up.

Lord, thank You that Your eyes are upon me today. Search me, forgive me, steady me, and guide me. Amen.

Leave a comment

I love words, especially odd ones. Here’s one for you: slog. One dictionary defines slog as “to walk or plod heavily.” Have you ever had to slog your way through life? I must admit, I have been in quite a slogging season lately.

Athletes call it a slump. Out of nowhere, and for no apparent reason, a person seemingly loses the ability to do the most basic things that once came naturally. A basketball player suddenly can’t make a free throw. A golfer goes through a spell where even a tap-in putt becomes a disaster. A baseball hitter temporarily loses the ability to put the bat on the ball, and when he finally does, he hits it sharply—but directly at a defender.

One of the worst sports slumps I have ever witnessed involved Steve Sax, the All-Star second baseman who played primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees before finishing his career with the White Sox and Athletics. Steve was as dependable a second baseman as you could find until one day he made a bad throw from second base to first. Suddenly, his confidence was shaken, and every throw afterward became an adventure. We call this phenomenon “the yips.”

No one really knows what causes slumps, and even worse, no one knows how to cure them. They appear unannounced and disappear just as mysteriously. The usual prescription for a slumping athlete is simple: stick to the fundamentals, keep doing the little things, and—if you will—slog. Then, one day, almost without warning, the switch flips, and the athlete returns to form.

I think that is sound advice for a spiritual slump as well. When God seems silent and we lack the spiritual vitality and power we have known at other times, the most beneficial thing we can do is remain faithful to the basics: Bible reading and prayer. When you find it difficult to read your Bible, spend some time in the Psalms. When your prayers feel dry and mechanical, use the hymnal as a prayer book, praying through the rich truths found in the great hymns of the faith.

The best cure for the spiritual “yips” is simply to slog. Keep showing up. Keep opening your Bible. Keep praying, even when it feels difficult. In His time, God will make His presence known again, and you will once more enjoy the rich fellowship of the Holy Spirit. But until then, remain faithful to the spiritual disciplines, patiently waiting for God to bring you through this dry season.

Hang in there—but hang in there actively. God hears His children, and in His perfect time, He will bring your slump to an end.

I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
—Psalm 40:1–3

Leave a comment

Leave a comment

The Good News is that through the death and resurrection of Jesus we can be ser free to live the life we were intended to live. Here are three things that change because of our identity with Jesus.

Leave a comment

July marks the halfway point of the year and provides us with a great opportunity to evaluate where we stand spiritually. The halfway point gives us a reference from which to gauge our progress while there is still enough time to make the necessary adjustments to get back on course.

Today, I want to suggest a few simple diagnostic questions you can ask yourself at this halfway point, along with some encouragement to help keep you moving along the path that draws you closer to Jesus. Take the time to consider these questions honestly, and ask God what adjustments He wants to make in your life.

Questions for a Halfway Evaluation

1. Am I closer to God than I was six months ago?

By “closer,” I mean: Am I more sensitive to His voice, more obedient to His Word, and more Christlike in my actions? Do I sense His presence and respond to life’s circumstances in a way that reflects the Holy Spirit guiding my emotions, thoughts, and actions?

If I am not closer to God, I must remember that He hasn’t moved—I must have drifted.

2. Is there a sin (or sins) I am allowing to continue unchecked in my life?

Often, the devil knows our vulnerabilities and launches an all-out assault on those areas of our lives. Sin spoils our appetite for the things of God, especially time in His Word and prayer. If I do not confess my sin to God and agree with Him that I have sinned, I create such spiritual static in my heart that I cannot clearly hear Him speak.

I need to keep short accounts with God regarding my sin. When I do sin, I need to stop, pray, confess it to God, and claim the forgiveness Christ has already secured for me through the cross. As I pray, I should also ask God to help me recognize temptation before it overtakes me and to give me the strength to avoid it.

3. Am I consistently making time to be in God’s Word?

Jesus taught us in John 15 that we can do nothing of spiritual value unless we abide in Him, allowing His Word to abide in us. Most Christians who admit they are struggling in their walk with the Lord also acknowledge they have become inconsistent in their Bible intake.

As I feed on God’s Word, it has the supernatural effect of transforming my heart, mind, and will. There is no substitute for regular time in Scripture. There is no path to spiritual growth apart from consistently feeding on God’s Word.

If I am not reading and meditating on God’s Word every day, I need to make it a priority by adjusting my schedule and habits so that I have meaningful time in the Bible each day.

4. Are my prayers routine and mechanical, or do I regularly enjoy a fresh, vibrant conversation with God?

One danger of scheduling a daily prayer time is that I can begin to see it as just another chore to check off my to-do list. It becomes all too easy to repeat familiar prayers and then walk away feeling satisfied simply because I prayed. Yet prayer can be far more intimate than that.

When I come before God, I need to engage not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. I want my prayer time to be more than a routine—I want it to be a genuine encounter with my heavenly Father. May I come to Him each day with a fresh heart and an expectant spirit.

5. How have I stretched and challenged my faith so far this year?

In James 2, James teaches us that simply claiming to have faith proves nothing. Genuine faith reveals itself through action. I can repeatedly say that I believe God and trust God, but those words remain empty until I find myself in situations where I cannot rely on myself and must depend completely on Him.

If all I ever do is what I have always done, I will never experience God in new ways. I need to step outside my comfort zone and areas of familiarity so that my faith is stretched, challenged, and strengthened.

For those who feel the second half of the year looks hopeless, let me leave you with one encouraging truth. Sometimes the distance between where you are and where you need to be can seem overwhelming. Don’t let the size of the journey keep you from taking the first step.

A Chinese philosopher famously wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Today, ask yourself this simple question: What one thing can I do today to move closer to Jesus?

Then do it.

Those small, faithful steps, taken day after day, often become the path God uses to help us finish well.

Leave a comment