Obedience and faith are something that believers are called to pursue. The reward is great for both. But there can be a fine line between obedience which leads to peace, and obedience rooted in legalism. I've witnessed people I love leave the church (or other Christian communities) because legalism superseded grace. There is no hurt quite like "church hurt." Most of...

The other night, I looked up at the heavens and thought, "The summer sky is starting to make her entrance. Her evening gown is black as pitch, but it's peppered with sequin stars." It occurred to me that the sparkles were bright, not despite the contrasting black but because of it. With that thought, we begin this week's devotion with something...

Thirst has a purpose. God designed us to thirst so that we would not perish. Thirst reminds our bodies of what they need to live–– primarily water. Other things may try to disguise themselves as adequate hydration. But the sugar in some beverages and the caffeine in others is not what our bodies need. They need WATER. And so it is with...

When I employ self-discipline in one area of my life, the benefits tend to leak into other areas of my life. • I tend to be more intentional about my exercise when I'm disciplined about what I eat. • I have more clarity in my productive time when I'm mindful of what I do in my spare time. • I'm more likely to give others the...