Pray for the Shepherd, Pray for the Sheep

Near the end of his “brief exhortation,” the writer of Hebrews addresses the sheep/shepherd relationship, telling the flock how they ought to relate to their shepherd and why. Though other passages could add to this list, Hebrews 13:17 gives an excellent prayer guide on how to intercede not only for pastors, but for the rest … Continue reading Pray for the Shepherd, Pray for the Sheep

What to Do When You’ve Hit the Mats

“Yo, Adrian! I did it!” No doubt these words bring to mind a bloody, sweaty, and exhausted Rocky Balboa somewhat incoherently communicating a single message to his beloved Adrian watching the fight at home. Rocky can barely piece together this famous sentence because of the brutal fight he has just undergone. Back and forth with … Continue reading What to Do When You’ve Hit the Mats

The Bread of Idleness vs. the Haven of Rest

In recent years a trend has emerged, emphasizing the need for rest in a believer’s life and the biblical concept of Sabbath-taking. Undoubtedly this movement has been in response to the all-too-common pitfalls of burnout and self-sufficiency. For these reasons (among others), God prescribed rest for the nation of Israel, and it’s good that we … Continue reading The Bread of Idleness vs. the Haven of Rest

A Prayer for Victims of the Post-Pandemic Pandemic

It’s a post-pandemic pandemic, and chances are pretty good it has already hit your home. It’s not a virus or a variant. It’s not a bacterium or a parasite. I’m talking of course about anxiety. You’re probably aware of some of the staggering statistics about the precipitous rise in anxiety cases in the last three … Continue reading A Prayer for Victims of the Post-Pandemic Pandemic

Wisdom in the Secret Heart

James 1:5 contains one of Scripture’s most precious promises: God will generously and compassionately grant wisdom to anyone who asks Him for it. We probably cling to this promise most tenaciously when making momentous decisions: whom to marry, where or whether to move, which treatment to choose, or which career to pursue. We often take … Continue reading Wisdom in the Secret Heart