Spiritual Life
Articles in this category focus on issues related to leading from union with the Father and building our spiritual life to increase our effectiveness as Christian leaders.
Time to Journal?
There is no right way to journal. Everyone needs to find their own rhythm. You don't have to journal every day or every week but a growing number find it very beneficial to journal regularly. Let me share some of the benefits that I have found in journaling in recent years.
Stephen Mayers
Regret Will Kill You Unless You Kill It with Promises
I’ll never be able to forget my past sins. From time to time they will come to mind. But when they do, I can choose to trust God at His Word, embrace the forgiveness I’ve been given through Christ, and find freedom from regret.
Matt Rogers
The Wonderful, Amazing Blessings of the Fear of the Lord
What is this wonderful gift from God, this incredible blessing? It is the fear of the Lord.
Mark Altrogge
Acknowledging God in Your Biblical Leadership
God doesn’t impose on any leader the need to acknowledge Him as the source of their leadership abilities or gratitude for placing them in that position.
James Bruyn
Are Your Goals Harmful to Your Health?
When we focus on our goals instead of our health, if we reach the goal, we have sacrificed an area of health (spiritual, emotional, physical, or relational). If we seek health before goals, we reach our goals healthily.
Matthew Fretwell
Does God Really Care About Our Suffering?
Our heavenly Father is filled with compassion for His blood-bought children. He has more sympathy than any human parent. Our God is not stoic and unaffected, but is touched by our afflictions. And we can come to our Father and unburden our hearts to Him. He longs for us to do this and He is eager to help.
Mark Altrogge
What Leaders Need from Their Intercessors
The mistake many leaders make is to solicit people to serve as their people of prayer. Here are three reasons we feel that’s unwise.
Dr. Alice Smith
The Essential Nature of Prayer
We all would agree that prayer is important, but for many of us it doesn’t hold an essential place in our minds. Let’s take a moment and go back to how Jesus built leaders.
Malcolm Webber
Faith Walk
Reflection can be tough. Even though I had a great year, there are challenges I face daily. I have to make daily decisions to overcome my fears of abandonment and broken trust.
Alex Anderson
The Three Works of the Holy Spirit: Discipline
In the final part of this series, we sift through the various aspects of a Spirit-filled, disciplined walk with God.
Malcolm Webber
The Three Works of the Holy Spirit: Dealings
In part two of this series, we explore what it means to accept the dealings of the Spirit in our lives, whether they are positive or negative.
Malcolm Webber
Have You Heard His Voice?
We may think we were searching for Jesus, but He was the one who sought us.
Mark Altrogge
The Three Works of the Holy Spirit: Dependency
In part one of this series, we dive into what it means to walk in the Spirit in utter dependence.
Malcolm Webber
5 Characteristics of Childlike Faith
Childish and childlike are similar words with vastly different meanings. The former encapsulates all the worst things about children – petulance, immaturity, obnoxiousness, selfishness, and so on. It is antithetical to faith. The latter, though, describes all the beautiful things about children – trust, joy, innocence, curiosity, wonder, forgiveness, and so much more. This word, childlike, is the flavor our faith in God ought to have. What follows are five characteristics of childlikeness that make faith robust, rich, and full of life. Like a child.
Barnabas Piper
Give a Cup of Water
Recently I have been talking with them about the challenges they face when sharing the love of Christ and the Gospel. How can we share the Good News if we have memories of failures? What if we are shy and hesitant to speak up, or to speak boldly?
Jim Brenneman
The Most Under-Rated Word in the Life of Christian Leaders
I don’t know what condition you are in right now. I have read the studies about pastors, but more importantly I drink a lot of coffee with church leaders. Some of you are exhausted, discouraged and want to throw in the towel. Some of you are full of vision and bursting with excitement for what God is doing at this very moment. This may all change tomorrow or an hour from now.
Alan Briggs
When You Walk Through Fire
I don’t believe that Christians will never suffer or be sick if they have enough faith, for the Bible promises we will go through trials of many kinds. Yet we should not fear, for God will be with us.
Mark Altrogge
Enjoying Silence?
In order to come to a place of silence and experience God’s presence, I have found it necessary to deal with the noise in my outer and inner life. I need to know how to allow that noise to either become a part of the background or to allow it to become transformational through the surfacing and dealing of those inner thoughts and feelings.
Stephen Mayers
Act Like a King!
As believers, we are made kings and priests because of our relationship to God. Let’s look at some of the kingly qualities that characterize Christian leaders, as well as every believer.
Patty Katzer
The Secret of how to Grow Your Leadership Capacity
Today I’m going to look at “leadership capacity” as a function of strength – strength to carry the responsibilities that we feel called to shoulder.
Mike Breen