Shame Tries to Rename You Scripture (ESV) “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 Shame does more than tell you something went wrong. It tells you that what went wrong is now the truest thing about you. That is why shame sticks. You stop saying, “I…
Approval Can Quietly Run the Decision Scripture (ESV) “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?” — Galatians 1:10 Most people want to be liked. I do too. There’s nothing wrong with caring about relationships or how your decisions affect people. The problem is when approval starts deciding what you’re willing…
Ambition Needs to Answer to God Scripture (ESV) “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” — Philippians 2:3 I don’t think ambition is automatically bad. Wanting to build something can be good. Wanting your work to matter can be good. The problem starts when the thing…
There’s a Part of Us That Doesn’t Want to Change Scripture (ESV)“You stiff-necked people… you always resist the Holy Spirit.” — Acts 7:51 We’ve spent a lot of time talking about formation as something we want. But if we’re going to be honest, there are parts of us that don’t want it at all. We…
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…
Unbelief Can Sound Very Christian Scripture (ESV)“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” — Hebrews 3:12 Unbelief is easy to picture as someone rejecting God outright. Hebrews makes the issue more uncomfortable because the warning is aimed at people…
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…
Restlessness Makes You Move Before You Need To Scripture (ESV)“It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” — Lamentations 3:26 I don’t like waiting when I think something should be moving. Most leaders don’t. When things slow down, we start wondering what needs fixed, who needs called, or what…
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…
