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Written by John Stonestreet, a contemporary author and president of the Colson Center.

How did God draw this Oxford intellectual [C.S.Lewis]? Convinced of his atheistic beliefs and treasuring the autonomy they afforded him, what compelled Lewis on the path to Christianity? According to Os Guinness, it was joy. “At its heart, [Lewis’] life was about longing—‘an inconsolable longing’—for something beyond human experience. Such longing was ‘an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction.’”  Rather than a singular experience or moment of awakening that led him to faith, Lewis’ signals were the innate longings for joy that returned to him throughout the course of his life, longings that were acknowledged, but never quite fulfilled, by the joys of earthly things. Lewis experienced hints of joy through nature, music, imagination, and relationship, but “the Joy was not in them; it only came through them.” These signals pointed Lewis to something beyond themselves, to a Source of joy that could satisfy his deep hunger for it. Of course, by God’s persistent grace, Lewis would find what his heart longed for, and it would compel him to surrender his autonomy and turn to the God he had denied for so long. From staunch atheist to one of the most influential evangelists in Christian history, Lewis’ story testifies to the power of God to redeem even the hardest of hearts.

Prayer:

Today’s prayer is from the Daily Prayers of the Church of England.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

For you have redeemed me, Lord God of truth.

Keep me as the apple of your eye.

Hide me under the shadow of your wings.

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

In peace we will lie down and sleep;

for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.

Abide with us, Lord Jesus,

for the night is at hand and the day is now past.

As the night watch looks for the morning,

so do we look for you, O Christ.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

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Written by Morgan Harper Nichols, a contemporary musician, songwriter, mixed-media artist, and writer.  This is an excerpt from her book “All Along You Were Blooming.”

Never underestimate the power of an exhale.

There will be some nights
where you will look up and lose track of all the stars you see,
and there will be some nights
you can’t lift your head,
but in both
of those nights
and every other
night in between,
you are strongest
when you take
the time to breathe.

It takes courage
to live through heartbreak. Breathing is no small feat.

When you find yourself falling into the pit of anxiety, remember the ladder of hope that reminds you there is no reason to be afraid. There is still a way out of this, and you are still capable — not perfect, but capable — and you have permission to try to climb again. Even if your hands shake, and your knees are weaker from the fall, you can still trade your fears of tomorrow with hope for today: the courageous decision to climb on anyway out of the pit of anxious thoughts.

There is no reason to live afraid.

To breathe is brave.

There will be times when the last thing you want to do is hear

that you have
to keep going.
The last thing
you will want to do is feel

you have to keep pushing.

Let the breaths leaving your body second by second remind you

how seconds soon turn into minutes, and these minutes soon turn into hours and hours

then turn into days
and even though you once thought
you were stagnant,
you have made it
a miraculously long way through the darkness.

Prayer:

Written by Augustine of Hippo (354-430), an early Christian theologian and philosopher. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius (modern day Annaba, Algeria) and is viewed as one of the most important church fathers in Western Christianity.

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.

Guard me, O Holy Spirit, that I myself may always be holy. Amen.

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Written by John Eldredge, a contemporary author and lecturer. This is an excerpt from his book “Resilient.”

The Shallows of our being are characterized and ruled by the distractions of life. In the Shallows we flit from thought to thought, distraction to distraction almost unpredictably. You know how this goes – you’re driving down the road listening to a podcast on the intelligence of dogs when the host makes a passing reference to his birthday. Your brain seizes on this little inconsequential remark, and you suddenly remember you forgot your mother’s birthday, which leads to some panicked thoughts about how to make up for it and where you can buy a birthday card today. You think of the store that might have a card, and you recall that it’s next to a great taco joint, which causes you to realize how much you love carnitas, and in a matter of a few nanoseconds you are miles from the actual topic of the podcast.

Prayer:

Written by Debbie McDaniel, a contemporary writer.

Dear God, We remember today, the pain and suffering of the cross, and all that Jesus was willing to endure, so we could be set free. He paid the price, such a great sacrifice, to offer us the gift of eternal life. Help us never to take for granted this huge gift of love on our behalf. Help us to be reminded of the cost of it all. Forgive us for being too busy, or distracted by other things, for not fully recognizing what you freely given, what you have done for us. Thank you, Lord, that by your wounds we are healed. Thank you that because of your huge sacrifice we can live free. Thank you that sin and death have been conquered and that your Power is everlasting. Thank you that we can say with great hope, “It is finished…” For we know what’s still to come. And death has lost its sting. We praise you for you are making all things new. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Written by Lewis and Sarah Allen. Lewis is a contemporary pastor and Sarah a teacher and women’s ministry leader. This is an excerpt from their work: “Resilient Faith: Learning to Rely on Jesus in the Struggles of Life.”

The hardest thing for struggling Christians to recognize is that church is exactly the community they need. So often, they feel it isn’t. Church, they tell themselves, is for the strong, the confident, the “at peace with God and man” believers. When Christians who are finding the journey hard really need to be part of the church, they convince themselves they should be anywhere but church. Is it the tempter at work, or is it just the natural instincts of discouraged people to isolate themselves? It’s both, of course. But this can’t be the final answer for exhausted saints. All Christians always need one another. The church is God’s masterpiece, the community in which his glory in Jesus is displayed (John 17:22; 2 Cor. 3:18). If we’re struggling in our faith, we simply need to get ourselves to that glory display… We see glory in the gathering of the church. As Christians come to worship, God comes to meet with his people. We both really do mean that. Years of church involvement can lead us all to be skeptics. We all are skilled at detecting insincerity, mixed motives, fixed smiles hiding pain or sin (most likely both). We all inwardly groan at clumsy leading, bad music, and bad preaching. Maybe some are dealing with wounds of unkindness from leaders and people alike. Sundays can be stressful. This much is true. What is truer still, amid the failure, is that Jesus comes to shepherd his people. Sunday by Sunday, as we sing, pray, hear preaching, celebrate baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and open our lives to one another, we encounter the glorious love of the Good Shepherd by his Spirit. The Lord who has died to win his church to himself delights to walk in her midst. There is a substitute for our isolated struggles, and it is the corporate gathering of the church. The weary need to hear this and believe it.

Prayer:

Written by Candace Crabtree, a contemporary writer.

God, help our church body to walk in a manner worthy of the calling You have given us. Help us in all our interactions with one another to have humble and gentle hearts. Grant us patience for one another, bearing with one another in love. Grant the Body of Christ unity. May we walk humbly with You, God, allowing You to show us our wrongs.

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Written by Sarah Young, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from her book “Jesus Calling for Moms.”

Lean on Me as you face the circumstances of this day. Whether or not they realize it, all people lean on — depend on — something: physical strength, intelligence, beauty, wealth, achievements, family, friends, and so on. All of these are gifts from Me, to be enjoyed gratefully. However, relying on any of these things is risky, because every one of them can let you down. When your circumstances are challenging and you are feeling weak, you tend to obsess about how you are going to make it through the day. This wastes a lot of time and energy; it also distracts you from Me. Whenever this happens, ask Me to open your eyes so you can find Me in the moment. “See” Me standing nearby, with My strong arm extended toward you — offering you My help. Don’t try to pretend that you have it all together or that you’re stronger than you really are. Instead, lean hard on Me, letting Me bear most of your weight and help you with your problems.

Prayer:

Written by Hannah Heather, a contemporary pastor.

God, you know that deep down I like to be, or at least appear to be, self-sufficient. I find it easy to pretend that I don’t need others, or even You sometimes.  But I know this isn’t true. Lord, show me my utter need of You. Show me the poverty of my own heart. Show me how to make the cuase of the poor my own. I yield my heart, my all, to You now.

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Written by G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), an English writer, philosopher, Christian apologist, and literary and art critic.

Yet He [Jesus] restrained something. I say it with reverence; there was in that shattering personality a thread that must be called shyness. There was something that He hid from all men when He went up a mountain to pray. There was something that He covered constantly by abrupt silence or impetuous isolation. There was some one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth; and I have sometimes fancied that it was His mirth.

Prayer:

Today’s prayer is from the liturgy for the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

Good and gracious God, You are light for our eyes. Good and gracious God, You are the air we breathe. You give us the voice to speak and a joyful song to sing. You are, O Good and Gracious God, Our path to peace. Amen

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Written by Joseph M. Stowell, a contemporary writer, university administrator and church leader. This is an excerpt from his book “Why It’s Hard to Love Jesus.”

Loving Christ is a response – a response to His enduring, unwarranted love for us. His amazing grace motivates us like nothing else to live out our lives in unique and courageous ways that express our deep affection and honor for Him before a watching and often critical world. Why have martyrs gladly died and others lived in terrible situations with bold, uncompromising spirits? Such rare selflessness does not arise out of a sense of obligation. Commitment to duty does not provide sufficient resolve. When the chips are down or the stakes are high, mere commitment rarely works.

Prayer:

Today’s prayer is from “The People’s Prayer Book.”

Gracious God, in Jesus words

we are invited to be partners in his work

of witnessing to your kingdom on earth.

Keep our hearts, eyes, and ears open,

so that daily we will respond to your call.

With courage and humility,

relying on your grace,

may we be agents of healing,

bearers of truth,

and messengers of hope.

We offer this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

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Written by Kyle Norman, a contemporary pastor, writer, speaker, and retreat leader.

“Little pig, little pig, let me in!” “Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!” We know the story. We’ve all heard the tale about how the big-bad wolf pursues the three innocent pigs, attempting to blow their houses down. Two of the pigs find their residences blown to shambles, while the final pig, the smart pig, the faithful pig, withstands the huffs and puffs of the wolf.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our lives were like that? Wouldn’t it be great if the gusts of problems and struggles never affected us? Sadly, we know the truth. There are times where we feel that life is against us. It could be a result of a job loss, a tornado, a war, a death, or a diagnosis, but in those moments, we feel our footing is unsure, and our spiritual houses shake more than we would like. Scripture often uses the term “fearful hearted” to describe such a state. Being fearful-hearted is not the same thing as being merely disappointed or dismayed. We are fearful in heart when we face a threat or an obstacle which appears too big for us to manage. Like Israel feeling trapped in the exile, we feel alone and abandoned. We may even question whether God has forsaken us.  But God hasn’t forsaken us. God has not forgotten us. In fact, Scripture holds before us the glorious truth that when we feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or fearful, God comes to us. In the places of our fear and discouragement, God acts in healing and restoration.  The Lord speaks a word of hope, not condemnation, to those who are fearful in heart. Isaiah cries out “Say to those with fearful hearts, “be strong, do not fear, your God will come.” We are called to recognize that the struggles we face are never the full story. The divine promise is that God comes to us. God calls us to keep our eyes turned heavenward, to boldly stand in faith, and to audaciously hold onto hope. Is your heart fearful today? If so, listen to Isaiah, and dare to believe that there will be an end to what you face. This reality is assured because it is a reality rooted in God’s presence, not your own ability. We can be strong despite our struggles, and faith-filled amid our fears because we do not stand alone. Isaiah speaks confidently, God will come! God will come with vengeance and retribution. God will come to save. Despite the huffing and puffing blowing against you, the Lord promises to come in power. God never enters our life as a passive observer. God never sits on the sidelines. This is the promise of God. These are not just empty words. These are not saccharin niceties the faithful say to make themselves feel better. If we ever need proof of this in our lives, all we need to do is look to Jesus. These affirmations are written in history and proven in blood. Jesus is the proof that God’s love and power flow into our life. The very thing that Israel looked forward to, the very future to which they hoped, is the truth we grasp; Jesus stands with us in the messiness of life and brings redemption out of the darkest of places. For anyone who is fearful hearted, hear the good news: Jesus has stepped into your world. To those feeling fearful-hearted, embrace the presence of the Lord. Allow his spirit to flow within you, and to carry you. The one who made the lame to leap, the deaf to hear, the mute to sing, and the dead to walk, has promised to breathe life, peace, and restoration upon you. And because God has come, as God has promised, the declarations of God’s power can be trusted and held. And while it might be hard to recognize them at times, that doesn’t discount their reality. So be encouraged. Be strong and stubbornly faithful. Dare to believe. Your savior has come.

Prayer:

Written by Kyle Norman, author of today’s meditation.

Almighty God, thank you for your presence in my life. In those times where I am fearful and afraid, open my eyes to the movement of your Spirit as you empower me, sustain me, and guide me. I pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

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Written by John Stonestreet, a contemporary author and president of the Colson Center.

How did God capture the attention of a man of great wit and quick intellect like [G.K.] Chesterton? What signal did He use to point Chesterton beyond his anemic worldview to the greater reality of God’s world? Believe it or not, it was a weed.  Guinness writes,  “Looking at a humble dandelion, [Chesterton] woke up to wonder and became grateful for life. …[T]he humble dandelion told Chesterton that there was beauty in the world, and not just brokenness. Both needed to be explained, together. … He had to look for a philosophy of life that would allow him to explain both the beauty and the brokenness, … to be deeply realistic and yet, as he said, to “enjoy enjoyment” and be grateful.”  The seeming absurdity of such simple and often overlooked beauty prompted Chesterton to rethink his worldview. Beauty, even in simple or mundane form, pointed Chesterton to something, or rather Someone, fundamentally good and beautiful behind it all.

Prayer:

Augustine of Hippo (354-430), an early Christian theologian and philosopher. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius (modern day Annaba, Algeria) and is viewed as one of the most important church fathers in Western Christianity.

May the Lord

grant that we may observe all these things with love,

as lovers of spiritual beauty,

radiating by our lives

the sweet fragrance of Christ,

not like slaves under the law

but as free persons

established in grace. Through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord.  Amen.

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Written by Trevor Hudson, a contemporary South African pastor, author and speaker.

We must not “try harder” to be compassionate! After all, how would you respond to someone who says to you through gritted teeth, “I am really trying hard to be compassionate towards you?” Compassion that is the consequence of effort alone can be heartless.  As we open our hearts to God’s compassion, the divine compassion dwells within us. Now, we need to allow it now to flow through us to those around us. Some questions may help us to explore what this may mean. What would it mean to allow God’s compassion to flow through us at home? Maybe it will mean simply looking at one’s loved ones through the eyes of compassion. Or it will be more practical like helping with the household chores, picking up the dog poo, giving a backrub.  What would it mean to allow God’s compassion to flow through us at work? This can be complex. Getting the job done seems much more important than being compassionate. Could it be, however, that work done well with compassion will always be more creative than when done without it? What would it mean to allow God’s compassion to flow through us in the community? Maybe it will mean being attentive to that “human cry” that stirs our heart most deeply. And then trusting that stirring, opening ourselves to it, and allowing it to lead us towards compassionate action. How can you allow the divine compassion to flow more strongly through you?

Prayer:

Written by Cheryce Rampersad, contemporary Christian author. 

Jehovah Shalom, shower Your grace and tender mercies upon our loving hearts and upon our difficult lives today. Vanquish our iniquities. Clear our thoughts so we can hear the sound of Your great voice as we stand firm and still, awaiting Your instruction.  Give us compassion and humility in our hearts. Let us be kind, gentle, generous, loving, giving, and forgiving wherever we may go. Allow pride to never get the best of us as You fulfill our dreams. Help us not to have a boastful tongue against our brothers. Let humility invade our souls. Allow us to be as compassionate as the air we breathe. Give us the strength to help our brother, especially if he falls by the wayside. Allow us to be a blessing to others as we travel through life’s journey. Aid us in leaving an impact on the people that surrounds us. Change our hearts today, Oh Father, let hatred vanish in Your Holy presence.  We declare and decree that we will follow the example Jesus has set before us, in His Mighty name we pray! Amen and Amen!

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