Pride Wants a Better Seat Scripture (ESV)“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” — Luke 14:11 We first looked at pride as the refusal to need God. This version is different. This is pride that wants position. You can feel it when doing good work stops…
Anxiety Shows You Where Trust Gets Thin Scripture (ESV)“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” — Psalm 56:3 We already looked at anxiety as the weight of trying to live tomorrow before it gets here. There’s another layer worth dealing with now. Anxiety often shows us exactly where trust becomes difficult. David…
You Don’t Need the Whole Map Scripture (ESV)“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14:33 There have been plenty of moments when I wanted God to make the whole thing clear before I moved. I wanted to know how the decision would work out and what would happen…
When Their Blessing Bothers You Scripture (ESV) “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” — Proverbs 14:30 Comparison looks sideways. Envy gets angry about what it sees. That difference matters. You can notice that somebody has something you would like and not resent them for it. Envy goes…
Deception Usually Changes the Name First Scripture (ESV) “Take care lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” — Hebrews 3:12 Most of us would reject a lie if it showed up honestly. Deception works differently. It changes the language just enough that…
Control Wants a Guarantee Scripture (ESV) “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” — Proverbs 19:21 I make plans for a living. Most leaders do. You look ahead, think through consequences, and try to make good decisions with the information you…
Pride Wants to Be the Source Scripture (ESV) “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” — James 4:6 Pride is easy to caricature. We picture somebody arrogant, loud, full of themselves. Sure, that’s pride. But I’m not convinced that’s the version most of us actually need to worry about. I think pride…
Repentance Has to Become Practice Scripture (ESV) “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” — Acts 3:19 Repentance returns here as practice, not just the first turn toward God. You can’t talk about formation without talking about turning. But repentance can’t stay only at the front door of the Christian…
Accountability Is Not Surveillance Scripture (ESV) “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” — James 5:16 Accountability gets weird when it becomes surveillance. Someone checking up on you like they’re waiting to catch you. Someone measuring your worth by whether you had a good week…
Still Here. Still Obeying. Scripture (ESV) “You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” — Hebrews 10:36 Endurance returns here as ordinary obedience, not crisis survival. It’s not mainly about making it through some massive collapse. It’s about staying faithful in the…
