When we pray, “Give me clarity, Lord,” we are actually saying, “Let me see clearly where I’m going before I get there.” If God answered that prayer, simple faith would become unnecessary. Last year, I read a true story about a young man who asked Mother Teresa to pray that he would have clarity—but sheContinue reading “Why I Stopped Praying for Clarity”
Monthly Archives: January 2014
Eyes for Only Jesus
Most of us lean toward one side of the fence or the other: we’re quick to be offended at others’ criticism while accepting their praise—or, mindful of the sin of pride, we reject their praise while putting too much stake in their condemning words. But when we have eyes for only Jesus, we’re immune toContinue reading “Eyes for Only Jesus”
Neither Poverty Nor Riches
The American concept of “enough” is so warped that we equate being horribly in debt with success. We do not own our houses; they own us. Even the most affluent among us is often just a paycheck or two away from disaster. But the writer of Proverbs 30 prayed, “Give me neither poverty nor riches,Continue reading “Neither Poverty Nor Riches”
Glutton for God
“Be a glutton for Me,” God said during my journey out of food addiction. I discovered that the greater my appetite for God, the duller my appetite for those things that were destroying me. I began to understand that it’s simply not possible to be too fixated on the Lord. I doubt that Jesus willContinue reading “Glutton for God”
The Unwelcome Friend
In the journey from fear to faith, you might discover that fear has become so familiar that you barely know how to function without it. You might discover that it has received far more attention than God has and, as a result, it’s felt more like a friend than He has. For many years, fear wasContinue reading “The Unwelcome Friend”
When in Doubt . . .
While overcoming an addiction (mine was compulsive eating), it’s very easy to disregard the voice of God just long enough to do what you want to do. Addicts are experts at rationalizing and selective deafness. Therefore, with a compulsive sin, you’ve got to err on the side of restraint. The only way to secure victoryContinue reading “When in Doubt . . .”
Grace and Holiness
Sometimes, those of us who herald the message of grace are accused of using it as a get-out-of-jail-free card to excuse all sorts of rotten behavior. Nothing could be further from the truth. At the risk of sounding harsh, I’ve got to say that those who equate grace with the license to sin do notContinue reading “Grace and Holiness”
Right Here, Right Now
Salvation and God’s will are both played out day by day, but too often we live as though salvation were a five-minute event that happened at some point in our past, and as though God’s will is “out there” in our future somewhere. Both are disconnected from our present; we remember one and wait forContinue reading “Right Here, Right Now”
