A Personal Journal of Grace and Discipleship
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20
From the blog
The Exchanged Life: Finding Freedom and Wholeness Through Spirituotherapy
In a world filled with competing counseling models, it’s not uncommon to find contrasting views on what “biblical” or “Christian” counseling truly means. Searching for answers can feel overwhelming, and the terms alone—“biblical counseling” versus “Christian counseling”—can spark endless debates on how, or whether, secular counseling methodologies fit within a Christian framework.
Yielded in the Light: Trusting the Mystery of Obedience
Oswald Chambers invites us to marvel at the supernatural transformation that occurred in Saul of Tarsus. This wasn’t a behavioral shift born of strong will or religious discipline—it was a divine intervention. What happened on the road to Damascus defied logic, explanation, or predictability. Saul didn’t adjust his moral compass; he was remade by the miracle of redemption. And what followed was not forced compliance, but a life of willing, loving obedience to the One who now indwelt him.
Walking at the Pace of Grace
We often want progress on our terms—measurable, immediate, and visible. But our Father works with eternal precision, never rushed, never late. Today’s devotional from Miles Stanford reminds us that when we come into agreement with God’s purposes for our lives, our urgency fades and our peace deepens. We no longer feel the need to press the gas pedal for Him; instead, we learn to yield to His steady and intentional pace.
Lifted in My Place
Today’s devotional by Witness Lee explores a rarely taught yet biblically faithful truth—Jesus took on not only the form of humanity but the likeness of a serpent, according to God’s view of fallen flesh. Just as Moses lifted up the brass serpent in the wilderness to bring healing to the Israelites, Jesus was lifted up on the cross, bearing the likeness of sinful flesh, yet without sin. He was not sinful Himself, but He wore the form of one who was—so that we might be delivered from the curse that rightfully belonged to us.
One in Christ, No Labels Left
E. Stanley Jones reflects on Galatians 3:28 and Colossians 3:11 to present a radical truth of the gospel: all earthly distinctions are abolished in Christ. He points out that in the new society born of the Holy Spirit, divisions based on race, class, gender, culture, or religious observance no longer have any bearing on identity. There is no room for superiority or inferiority in the Body of Christ because the old hierarchies and labels do not carry into the new creation. In Him, we are one—not figuratively, but factually.
The Scent of Restful Service
Not all service offered to God rises up as a sweet aroma. Some comes from strain, pressure, and inner unrest—well-intentioned, perhaps, but flesh-born. Alexander's reflection reminds us that the service which pleases God is not the kind that originates in our efforts or our desire to perform, but rather the kind that descends from heaven itself and flows through us by the Holy Spirit. This is the difference between Martha’s initial frenzy and her later quiet attentiveness—between a flurry of performance and a fragrance of peace.
What I Know No Trial Can Shake
T. Austin-Sparks reminds us that the kind of strength we need to endure suffering and spiritual warfare does not come through human wisdom or even the study of truth alone. It comes by revelation—a Spirit-given knowing that is birthed in our inner man, not in our intellect. Paul declared this in Galatians 1:12: that he received his message not from men but from Christ Himself. This kind of experiential knowledge—“I know”—stands unshaken in the face of adversity.
The Highest Priority of Heaven
The heart of today’s devotional by Ray Stedman is a reminder that the church—the body of Christ—is God’s most treasured possession on earth. Pastors and elders are entrusted with a sacred calling: to shepherd His people by feeding them the whole counsel of God’s Word. This role isn’t about pleasing denominations, checking boxes, or seeking approval from congregations. It is about faithful obedience to the Spirit who has called and equipped them.
The Truth That Breaks Every Chain
Today's devotional from Bob Hoekstra draws our hearts to the freeing power of God's truth in Christ. Jesus declared that abiding in His word is the gateway to knowing the truth—and that truth brings freedom. Not just freedom from guilt or shame, but liberation from the grip and deception of the enemy. The message reminds us that Satan holds the whole world in his sway, even when many do not acknowledge his influence. Yet through the truth of the gospel, hearts and minds can be turned from darkness to light and from Satan’s dominion to God's loving kingdom.
Forever One, Forever Free
Many believers live with a vague longing for greater holiness, greater rest, and greater spiritual victory—but miss the staggering truth that these have already been given in Christ Himself. Today’s verse, “by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10:14), reminds us that sanctification is not something we work to attain, but Someone we receive and rest in.
The Glory Isn’t Mine to Steal
Oswald Chambers draws our attention to the quiet miracle at the heart of belief itself: it is not born of persuasive arguments or eloquent words, but by the raw, transforming power of God alone. The apostle Paul, brilliant and articulate, refused to depend on his rhetorical skills when proclaiming the gospel. He knew that if his message was carried by his charisma, people might be drawn to him—but not necessarily to Christ.
When Zeal Runs Ahead of Grace
There is a certain charm to youthful passion—an energy that bursts forth with conviction, ready to do something “great for God.” But Scripture warns us that not all zeal is sanctified. Paul testified of Israel’s fervor: “They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). Zeal without understanding may look impressive, but it can be deeply misguided.
The Seed Who Crushed the Serpent
The birth of Christ is not merely a tender nativity story—it’s the thunderous fulfillment of God’s ancient promise. From the moment sin entered the world, God spoke of a coming Deliverer. Genesis 3:15, often called the protoevangelium, marks the first whisper of the gospel: that the seed of the woman would one day crush the serpent’s head. It was a declaration not just of justice, but of mercy—a promise that though man had fallen, God would redeem.
The Joy of Giving Him What He Asks
Today’s reflection compiled by Nick Harrison reminds me that walking closely with Christ—yielding to Him as our Life—is not without cost. Amy Carmichael warns us not to be surprised when we encounter suffering, especially when our service to the Lord is genuine and Spirit-dependent. The more purely our work rests on Him, the more it will be opposed. But this is not cause for alarm—it is cause for rejoicing.
The Kind of Suffering No One Sees — Why Western Believers Still Share in the Fellowship of Christ's Sufferings
When we read devotionals from saints like Amy Carmichael or T. Austin-Sparks, we’re often struck by their call to rejoice in suffering. But in the Western world—where religious freedom is largely protected and martyrdom seems far away—it’s fair to ask: What kind of suffering are they talking about? Is this still relevant? The answer is yes—deeply so. The suffering of the cross is not always external. Much of it is hidden in the soul. And for the abiding believer, that kind of suffering is very real.
Clothed by the Spirit, Not Just Water
E. Stanley Jones invites us to reconsider what it truly means to be baptized “into Christ.” He begins by challenging the common assumption that Paul was referring to water baptism in Galatians 3:27 when he wrote, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” While water baptism is a meaningful outward symbol, Jones points out that this cannot be the baptism that actually places us into Christ. After all, many have been baptized with water and yet show no evidence of union with Christ—Simon Magus being a notable example from Acts 8.
The Miracle That Carries Us Quietly
T. Austin-Sparks draws our attention to the everyday miracle of divine life—Christ’s resurrection life—sustaining us silently, yet powerfully, in a world that is hostile to spiritual vitality. We are not called to survive by extraordinary signs or sensational breakthroughs, but by the quiet transcendence of Christ’s indwelling life over spiritual death.
💡 When the Light Feels Dim
This curious account in Acts 20 shows us that even under the inspired teaching of the Apostle Paul, someone could drift off and fall asleep—literally. The believers had gathered on a Sunday, the day of Christ’s resurrection, for a communion service and extended time of teaching. In that upper room, full of lamps and low on oxygen, young Eutychus—likely tired from a long day’s work—couldn't keep himself awake. He fell from the window ledge, plunging to his death from the third story.
🔓 Set Free to Abide
The words Jesus spoke in John 8 are a gateway into the abundant life He offers: “If you abide in My word… you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Truth, then, is not merely information but a Person—Christ Himself—expressing His life through us as we remain in His word. Bob Hoekstra reminds us that the truth we are promised doesn’t leave us as we are; it frees us from every chain that once bound us in Adam—whether sin, fear, or even the shadow of death.
💧When Longing Leads to Life
True consecration often begins with a deep, almost painful awareness that something more is needed—not externally, but within. This longing isn’t always tied to sin as rebellion, but to the recognition of spiritual lack: a thirst for purity, power, and real communion with God. Today’s devotional by A.B. Simpson describes how this holy dissatisfaction often arises during seasons of spiritual exposure—through sound teaching, godly examples, or trials that strip us of self-confidence.
🧭 Anchored in the Father’s Yes
Oswald Chambers encourages us to live from the steady awareness that our heavenly Father is always in control. For those indwelt by Christ’s Spirit, the disciple’s “default mindset” is trust—unshakable trust that God sees, knows, and is already working. Jesus doesn’t tell us to beg from a distant deity but invites us to relate to a loving Father who delights in giving good gifts.