1 Samuel
As the psalmist says, “A broken and contrite heart, oh God, you will not despise.” Perfect is an idealistic dream. It’s not wrong to shoot for perfection, but it is wrong to expect it and not have a plan for when we miss. Everyone falls short of perfection. One
1 Samuel
How many bad decisions are made because we act out of fear rather than purpose? How many bad decisions are fearful responses to the what ifs instead of taking time to discern? God does not want us acting out of fear. We cannot know everything, and sometimes we must make
1 Samuel
The best apology is the apology coming after evidence of repentance is visible. It is good to apologize for a mistake, but the most heartfelt apology is one where the wronged individual can see evidence of correction to alleviate the possibility of similar future mistakes. Nobody is perfect, a fact
1 Samuel
The path to truth resides in having no other gods before Him. It is one of the primary laws given to Moses as the foundation of the legal code. It is also the core of our sin. All sin is fundamentally formed by a break in our desire to pursue
1 Samuel
Life is best lived when God sets the course. He knows the plan for our lives. He’s always had the plan. My dreams are fleeting; His dreams are eternal. After some of the men of Beth-shemesh die in the presence of the ark, the people send word to
1 Samuel
In asking questions, we get to truth. I had a great conversation recently with a friend where I was reminded that spiritual experiences often start conversations rather than end them. The journey of spirituality is about seeking truth. We’ll reach the end eventually, but I am not there yet.
1 Samuel
There is no higher goal than the accomplishment of God’s will. Before agreeing to readily to this platitude, consider the goals humans typically pursue: wealth, possessions, family, love, belonging. How many of these are we unwilling to sacrifice in pursuit of God’s will? The cows returned to Beth-
1 Samuel
Genuinely spiritual people put themselves in position to care for others, not strip them of their resources. God made us to care for others and consider their needs. Our purpose is accomplished when we lead sacrificially. On the surface, it feels like the Philistine priests finally wake up and do
1 Samuel
Change is difficult; we frequently dig in our heels and stubbornly resist. This is truer the closer the deeper the change. A change in routine is hard but doable; a change in personal ethics or belief is daunting. When we change a part of who we are, the effects of
1 Samuel
God wants us to live as though we believe there are no other God before Him. Anyone can say the words and understand their meaning. It is another thing to live it. When we say the words but don’t live it out in our life, we invite God to
1 Samuel
Rather than being a power to wield, He wants us to see Him as a partner in life. He wants to be a part of our joys and our sorrows. He wants relationship with each of us. The ark of the Lord is captured by the Philistines. The priests who
1 Samuel
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This is a direct quote from James 4:6. James isn’t saying success is bad. What he is saying is whether we succeed or fail, the status of our heart is the driving factor. Our heart matters. The conflict