Who or what are you praying for this week?

Through years of trial and error, I discovered a few things about myself. I know that if I tell someone on Sunday, “I will pray for you,” I rarely have the follow-through I desire. And if I did start praying, I would feel guilty if I stopped at any time during the week.

The solution to this issue was fairly simple, even though it took me a while to see it. On Sunday, I will now tell people one of three things. First, I will say, “I will pray for you today.” Then I try to slip away and pray right then. Second, I respond with, “I will pray for you sometime this week.” Then I make a note on my phone or on a piece of paper, and I make sure to talk to God about their issue at least once. Third, I will tell them, “I will pray for you for this week.” Then I put their request down and pray about it every morning for seven days.

Adopting this method has helped me in several ways. Immediate needs are addressed quickly. Areas of concern are lifted up when needed. Like I pray on Tuesday about a surgery performed that day. Finally, ongoing issues are presented before God with a start and an end date. That way, I do not feel guilty when I stop praying.

Most weeks, I end Sunday with 3-5 things to pray for that week. The final step is to write them on a post-it note near my desk, where I will be praying, or to keep a list on my phone for easy access.

Prayer is a conversation between you and God, but it helps when you know what you would like to talk about.

How you sing praise and worship songs on Sunday morning reveals something about your heart.

When someone falls in love for the first time, every love song they’ve ever heard suddenly makes sense. The same thing happens when a person fully surrenders to Jesus. Those lyrics they once sang out of habit, or barely sang at all, come alive. Gratitude becomes too overwhelming to stay silent. Worship stops being something you observe and becomes something you can’t contain.

That’s why some people stand with their arms crossed, watching the stage. It’s not about their voice, because God has never once asked for a beautiful one. What’s on display is the condition of their soul. Disconnection from the words being sung is often a symptom of disconnection from the One the words are about.

This Sunday, while you’re standing in that room, ask yourself an honest question: Do the words coming out of my mouth actually reflect what’s happening in my heart?

You probably already know the answer. Everyone else will know by how loud you’re willing to sing and what your face looks like when you do.

I was listening to a podcast about ministry. The speaker said, “We have to find a way to do ministry that is sustainable.” Immediately, I knew what he meant. People feel this after running at full speed for too long. They have been saying yes to everything, carrying every burden, trying to fix every problem, and eventually, they hit the wall.

The truth is, even good things can become unhealthy when we try to live beyond the limits God designed for us. Ministry is good. Serving people is good. Being available is good. But if our walk with Jesus is built only on pressure and activity, burnout is not far behind.

We need sustainable practices in our walk with Jesus. We need regular prayer, not occasional desperation prayers when everything falls apart. We need steady time in Scripture, not random moments when we feel guilty enough to open the Bible. We need rest, worship, fellowship, and rhythms that keep our hearts near Christ.

A fire burns brightest when it has a steady supply of fuel. Without it, eventually the flames die down. The same is true spiritually.

Some people burn out because they try to live on yesterday’s strength while carrying today’s burdens. God never asked us to do that. He gives daily bread, daily grace, and daily strength.

Doing everything is not sustainable. Walking with Jesus is.

She is a Church member whom I have known for 12 full years. The other day, she finally let the walls come down and told the truth about her feelings. It was this incredibly liberating moment as she let her true emotions come out in her words, not caring what I might say or do.

People are naturally inclined to hide their true thoughts so as not to offend anyone, especially those they do not know well. We create a façade so that others do not see the ugliness behind our eyes. There are walls we keep up, and we rarely let them come down for fear of judgment.

Whenever you get close enough to someone that they finally let their walls down, it is a breakthrough moment in a relationship. We can stop pretending to be something we are not and let our true selves out into the world.

What is interesting is that, for the first time in 12 years, it felt like we were having a real conversation. It was not an exchange of curated niceness meant to keep me happy. But sadly, it took that long for this person to trust me enough to let their guard down.

As Christians, one temptation is to keep up the walls and never let anyone in. Real relationships are born when we let them down and let others in to truly know us and our feelings.

Sure, it is risky, and you could get hurt. But it is better than living in a bunker built by our own fear.

The message of Jesus is good news. That is a simple truth worth remembering today.

Christianity is not merely good advice about how to live your life better.

It is not just a collection of good sayings about loving people.

It is not a set of good opinions or ideas about God.

The Gospel is the announcement of what Jesus Christ has done.

Jesus came into the world, lived without sin, died for our sins, rose again in victory, and ascended as Lord. The foundation of our faith is not built on human wisdom or religious effort. It is built on Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished for us.

That is the good news.

Who are they? What do they believe? What values are they reinforcing?

What books, novels, magazines, articles, and blogs are you reading?

What sermons, lessons, radio, and podcasts are you listening to?

What movies, TV shows, video lessons, and reels are you watching?

How much time do you spend on these compared to the things of God?

All these influence your thinking. Many times, they are shaping your thoughts more than the amount of Bible you read and the sermons you listen to each week.

If I took all the information and entertainment that was poured into your mind, heart, and soul this week, what conclusions could I develop about you? Would I see that you are walking in the way of Jesus?

Your thoughts come from somewhere, and someone, so you have to ask, “Is that someone I want to become?” because their voice is shaping your life.

I know how to disappear.

I can walk into a crowd of people and stay virtually out of sight. If I arrive extra early, I can strategically find a spot where no one will notice me. I might choose to show up late if there is a back door I can use to come in quietly and leave before everything is finished.

There are simple tricks like hovering near the back and moving around if possible, so that no one can locate me with a glance. Remain quiet, keep your hands and voice down. Don’t ask questions or do anything that draws attention to me. Participating just enough not to be the center of attention, but not so little as to raise concern.

If you were to try to engage me, I could deflect your inquiries with a question that would generate discussion. Usually, if I respond to a question with another question that requires sharing a personal story, the person will start talking and never come back to me. For example, “How are you feeling? ” is often met with, “I’m okay, and how are you feeling now that you have an empty nest?” And off they go, while I never engage.  

I have been in rooms with a few people to hundreds, and no one has noticed me. They definitely don’t remember me or know anything about me unless I want them to. If necessary, I can stand up, speak, and share my life, but only if I control the information so I can stay hidden.

This might all sound unbelievable to some of you, but to others, you know exactly what I am talking about because it is your life too.

One challenge of the Church is to look around and make sure no one is left out. We are called to engage the people who hang out at the edges. Christians make people feel loved, and more than that, they make them feel seen. They reject shallow answers and won’t allow people to deflect their feelings.

This week, as you walk into a gathering of the followers of Jesus, would you be willing to make sure no one feels alone, right in the middle of the crowd?

This may be the hardest thing in the world for most of us to do. I know it is for me.

I was raised in a home where hard work was valued. Nothing was impossible; if someone said it was, it only meant it took longer and more work. I place a high value on thinking, working, and then fixing things until they are complete.

It is hard for me to admit there are some things I need help with. The thought that I may not be able to complete a task on my own is frightening. It makes me feel like a failure.

I know that some of you know exactly what I mean. You, like me, would rather die alone than count on someone else to help.

YET, as I read the scriptures, I understand that God puts us into his community, the Church, for a reason. We are the body of Christ, and everyone has a purpose. I may serve as a mouthpiece, but I need someone to be the ear and the eye. I need people to play the role of the foot and the hand. And I even need someone to be the pancreas. All the parts are significant, and as part of the body of Christ myself, I need other people.

So whenever I feel like I need to carry a burden alone, my caring Savior reminds me that it is okay to ask for help.

Maybe you need to hear that today, too.

It is a fairly embarrassing story for men who would become the leaders of the Church. James and John come to Jesus, according to Matthew, their mommy is with them (Matthew 20:20-22). They want Jesus to give them the seats to his right and left when he comes into his glory (Mark 10:35-37).

They are looking for recognition, power, and glory by standing on the platform with Jesus. A similar conversation takes place at the last supper, right after communion is introduced, as the disciples argue over who is the greatest among them (Luke 22:24).

The first followers of Jesus had this desire for worldly leadership and recognition. Jesus understands their motivation and states that the leaders of the Gentiles lord it over others, and their high officials exercise authority over others. Then Jesus responds with a one-line statement that I am sure shocked them to their core: “Not so with you.”

In Jesus kingdom, whoever wants to become great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first must be a slave to others. Even Jesus himself, as God in the flesh, did not come to be served but to serve.

Jesus acknowledges there is one driving force for all of humanity. We all desire to be seen as the best, to be first, and to get the Lord’s approval. But there are two ways people attempt to gain it. One is through power, dominance, and assertiveness. The other is the way of Jesus, and it involves selfless service.

If you are a follower of Jesus and you ever feel like you need to push others down, defeat them, or be treated as special. Jesus offers one single line of response: “Not so with you.”

In a world that often seeks sharp lines, the Christian faith is often nuanced. That means there are small variations in thoughts, expression, and application. Not everything in Scripture is meant to be flattened into simple categories or reduced to slogans. Some truths are clear and unchanging, while others require patience, humility, and careful thought. That tension isn’t a weakness; it’s part of what makes faith deep.

Jesus Himself demonstrated this. He could speak with bold clarity, calling people to repentance and faith, yet also respond with wisdom tailored to each individual. To one person, He said, “Follow Me.” To another, “Go and sin no more.” To yet another, He told a story and let the meaning settle over time. Truth was never compromised, but it was often applied with nuance.

Nuance reminds us that faith is not shallow. It holds tension: grace and truth, justice and mercy, conviction and compassion. It allows us to say, “This is true,” while also admitting, “I am still learning how it applies in every situation.”

Without nuance, we can become rigid. Quick to judge, slow to listen. But with it, we grow in wisdom. We learn to handle Scripture carefully, to love people sincerely, and to walk humbly with God.

This doesn’t mean everything is uncertain. The core of the gospel is clear: Jesus saves. But as we live that truth out in a complex world, nuance helps us reflect His heart more faithfully.

Mature faith isn’t just about knowing the right answers. It’s about knowing when to speak, when to listen, and how to apply truth with grace.