Pathways Press.com

Written by Dallas Willard(1935-2013), an American philosopher, speaker  and writer on spiritual formation. This is an excerpt from his book “Getting Love Right.”

Agape love is not desire, and not delight. Desire and feelings generally have a different nature than love, and if we don’t understand this clearly we will remain helpless to enter into love and to receive it into ourselves. Desire and feelings fall into the domain of impulse, not that of choice. They aim at their satisfaction, not at what is better and possibly best. Choice considers alternatives and weighs what is best. If its vision is broad enough, it will find what is good and right. If it is surrendered to God, united with his will, it will be able to do what is best. That of course is the nature of love. It seeks what is best. That is why it enables a person to refrain from hating their enemy, which they might very well want to do, and to seek what is good for them along with all others involved. This certainly does not mean you just give in and do what the enemy (or friend) wants or let them have their way. That might be the worst thing you could do to them. Love, then, is a condition of the will embedded in all fundamental dimensions of the human personality. It is not something you choose to do, but what you choose to be.

Put aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. [1 Peter 2:1]

Written by Frederick Buechner (1926-2022), an American writer and theologian.

For Christians, hope is ultimately hope in Christ. The hope that he really is what for centuries we have been claiming he is. The hope that despite the fact that sin and death still rule the world, he somehow conquered them. The hope that in him and through him all of us stand a chance of somehow conquering them too. The hope that at some unforeseeable time and in some unimaginable way he will return with healing in his wings.

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, [Romans 15:8]

Written by Ken Boa, a contemporary author and founder of Reflections Ministry.

A life of peace is a life shaped by the fruit of the Spirit. It is marked by gentleness, patience, humility, and love. But it is also marked by courage, conviction, and truth. As God’s children, we are to be peacemakers in every sense—healing what is broken, restoring what is lost, and bearing witness to the reconciliation we ourselves have received.  This kind of peace is not cheap. It is not always easy. But it is worth everything.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. [Matthew 5:9]

Written by Lysa Terkeurst, a contemporary author.

Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the Word and not my feelings. Help me to keep my heart pure and undivided.  Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY wants, MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be. Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity… rather than a personal inconvenience. And finally, help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 86:13, ‘Great is your love toward me.’ You already see the ways I will fall short and mess up. But right now, I consciously tuck Your whisper of absolute love for me into the deepest part of my heart. I recognize Your love for me is not based on my performance. You love me, warts and all. That’s amazing. But what’s most amazing is that the Savior of the world would desire a few minutes with me this morning. Lord, help me to remember forever what a gift it is to sit with You like this. Amen.

For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. [Psalm 86:13]

Written by Jessica Galvan, a contemporary writer and editor.  This is an excerpt from the book “A Beautiful Year in the Bible.”

When we deviate from God’s ways, we find ourselves in a world of competition and scarcity. Anxiety and uncertainty abound, and selfishness prevails. We can quickly fall for lies suggesting that we are not good enough, smart enough, or strong enough to meet all the demands of the world. This bleak reality contrasts sharply with the vision of flourishing and restoration that God promises—a picture of the abundance and peace that awaits those who live faithfully…The Holy Spirit serves as our advocate, actively making a way for us when we are vulnerable, weak, or unable to see clearly. The promise of the Spirit is one of transformation, enlightenment, and a bold imagination for a new way forward…To receive the Holy Spirit is to receive understanding; it is an invitation to experience God’s vision for the world and live our lives in pursuit of that vision…The Holy Spirit acts as a guide, keeping our eyes fixed on the path God has laid out for us, and intervening when the trail feels unsteady. In the face of uncertainty, we can look to the Spirit to ensure that our choices align with love, mercy, and humility. When we stumble and go astray, the Holy Spirit is there to point us back to the center.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. [John 14:26].

Written by Phillips Brooks, an American Episcopal clergyman and author.

Do not pray for easy lives! Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle.

Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. [1 Corinthians 16:13]

Written by Thiago M. Silva, a contemporary pastor and author.

Goodness is an essential but often misunderstood element of Christian discipleship. In an age where morality is increasingly subjective and shifting, many people struggle to understand what it truly means to live a good life. The dominant cultural narrative suggests that goodness is a personal or social construct, something each individual or society defines according to its preferences. Without an objective moral standard, concepts such as justice, virtue, and righteousness lose their grounding, and goodness is reduced to mere sentimentality or pragmatism. Christian discipleship, however, insists that goodness is not merely about outward behavior but about the transformation of character according to the unchanging nature of God. Scripture consistently presents goodness as an essential characteristic of God and a defining mark of His people… One of the greatest challenges to discipleship today is the belief that morality is self-defined. Many people, even within the church, assume that as long as they are sincere and follow their hearts, they are living rightly. However, Scripture warns that “the heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). Feelings and desires, while not inherently bad, must be shaped and purified by God’s truth…discipleship must be more than behavior modification; it must involve the transformation of desires. To be a disciple is to undergo a moral and spiritual reorientation. The goal is not simply to do good things but to become the kind of person who naturally loves and practices goodness. This process, however, is not instantaneous. It involves training, discipline, and the renewal of the mind… True discipleship must go beyond intellectual knowledge and engage the affections because people are not primarily shaped by what they think but by what they love and desire.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. [Psalm 34:8]

Written by Candace Cameron Bure, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from her book “100 Days of Joy and Strength.”

It seems to be true that our eyes mirror our souls. When we’re happy, people can see it. Instantly. When we’re sad, that’s apparent too. And when we’re burdened by guilt or shame or fear, the weight shows in the windows of our souls first. We may try and mask it, but those who know us well can tell. Once the light of the world, Jesus, takes up residence in our hearts, the difference is just as obvious. You could say we start to sparkle within. His presence lights us up from the inside out, showing through in our attitudes and actions and words. And I don’t mean just on the easygoing days, but in the rough-and-tumble times that really test our faith. What’s more, our spiritual eyes open up, newly enlightened to the wisdom of God’s counsel. Soon, His commands and instructions, which may have once felt like spiritual obligations we had to fulfill to stay in His graces, become open doors to a deeper trust in Him. Duty gives way to friendship because we love Him and can see that His ways are good.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. [Psalm 19:8]

This meditation is from the Pray.com app.

Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong, like your mistakes or circumstances made you invisible to the world? As Jesus began His ministry, He didn’t start by choosing scholars or dignitaries. Instead, He walked the dusty shores of Galilee, calling fishermen like Peter, Andrew, James, and John. He healed a leper who dared to approach Him. He welcomed a paralytic lowered through a roof. He even invited Matthew, a despised tax collector, to be His disciple. These weren’t just random encounters—they were intentional invitations to the rejected and forgotten. What does it mean that Jesus chose outcasts to build His kingdom? Each healing and calling shows us that Jesus isn’t deterred by our weakness. He’s drawn to it. He doesn’t wait for us to be clean or confident—He steps into our pain, heals, restores, and sends us forward with purpose. In a world where status often dictates influence, Jesus flipped the model. The broken became His messengers. Jesus’ actions remind us that ministry doesn’t begin with perfection—it begins with surrender. When we bring our imperfections to Him, He meets us with healing and direction. If Jesus could use fishermen, tax collectors, lepers, and paralytics, He can use you too. He still walks into the lives of outcasts today—only now, He does it through us. Who in your life feels invisible—and how can you be the hands of Jesus to them?

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. [Matthew 4:23]

Written by the team of “Transforming Mission”, a group providing resources and coaching for Christ-centered leaders.

Every decision you make, whether in faith, leadership, or daily life, flows from your starting point. If you start with personal preferences or politics, you’ll spend more time defending your views than following Jesus. That’s why beginning with Jesus is essential. Starting with Jesus means more than reciting a creed or agreeing with doctrines. It means trusting and obeying Jesus in the way you live, love, and lead. It shifts belief from an intellectual checklist to a dynamic, lived faith. When Jesus is your starting point, your values, perspective, and relationships are transformed. You begin to see others through His eyes. You lead with compassion. You make decisions rooted not in self-interest but in God’s love. The question is simple but profound: where are you starting? With assumptions, preferences, or politics, or with Jesus, the One who makes all things new? Remember: It matters where you start. Always start with Jesus.

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 3:11]