Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Read the Bible

by

At the beginning of every new year, scores of Christians resolve to read through the Bible in the upcoming year. And about right now is when a large percentage of them realize they’ve gotten so far behind in their plan they are unlikely to catch up. As Robert Burns noted, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

read the Bible,discipline,Bible reading,Bible,love,God's will,will of God,discipleship,the church

I’ve successfully read through the Bible in a year several times, but I’ve failed in my attempts far more often. I think every follower of Christ should read through the Bible, but there is nothing magical about doing it in a year. In fact, it may be disadvantageous to do so. If all you are doing is checking off boxes to achieve a goal, then to read the Bible in a year is doing nothing to change your heart.

[Read more…] about Read the Bible

Prayer Life

by

If we are going to stand strong for Jesus, we must build and cultivate a life where prayer becomes as natural and constant as breathing. You cannot live victoriously while having a weak and erratic prayer life. A. W. Tozer put it this way: “We pray only as well as we live.” When we surrender our lives to Jesus, we will pray more, and our prayers will have more power as our requests align with the will of God.

prayer life,pray,discipleship,commitment,priorities,passion,love,God's will,discipline,Mark 1:35,Jesus got alone to pray

A life surrendered to Jesus will be filled with prayer. You can’t be all in with Jesus and not have prayer as the central theme of your life. Yet, for many of us, a prayer life that is vibrant and full of power remains elusive.

[Read more…] about Prayer Life

The End of Nominal Christianity

by

As we watch the moral decline of Western society and the growing indifference or outright hostility toward followers of Jesus, one bright spot in all of this is the end of nominal Christianity. For years, many in the West have been Christ-followers in name only. These are people who like the idea of Jesus, but not the surrender of their lives to Him.

end of nominal Christianity,devotion,commitment,discipleship,faith,love,fear,2 Corinthians 4:17,light afflictions,John 15:20-21,if they persecuted me,1 Corinthians 1:21-23,cross is foolishness,2 Timothy 1:7,spirit of power and love not fear,1 Peter 5:8-10,suffer for a little while

They go to church every weekend and proudly profess their faith in Jesus, particularly when it is socially expedient. There is a certain panache to being able to claim the moral high ground by proclamation of one’s faith. But surrender their lifestyle to live according to the commands of Jesus and the Bible? Well, that always seems to fall into some sort of “gray area” for these so-called and nominal Christians.

[Read more…] about The End of Nominal Christianity

Courage and Surrender

by

Beatrice Stockli was a Swiss missionary to Mali. She first visited the country in1998 as part of a mission’s team and ended up staying and ministering to the people there for many years.  In April 2012, she was kidnapped by Islamist insurgents. After ten days of captivity, she was released and returned home to Switzerland for a brief time. And then, against counsel and the wishes of her family, Beatrice returned to Mali to continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus to people who did not know Him.

courage and surrender,courage,surrender,mission,devotion,commitment,faith,fear,Matthew 28:18-20,great commission,Galatians 2:19-20crucified with Christ,John 16:33,you will have trouble

In June 2016, she was again kidnapped by a radical Muslim group called Jama’at Nasr al-Islam. At some point in her captivity, Beatrice was killed by her captors. She died living out the mission of Christ. Hers was a life of courage and surrender. As we complain about the state of our lives, I wonder who among us possesses the courage and devotion to live a life as committed to Christ as Beatrice and so many other Christian martyrs have?

[Read more…] about Courage and Surrender

Growing Deeper

by

As we embark on a new year, we have the opportunity to devote it to Christ. With our culture eroding at an ever-increasing pace, it feels like it is more important than ever to surrender everything to Jesus and to grow deeper in our faith. The Western Church has long been isolated from the persecution so many of our brothers and sisters around the world encounter every day.

growing deeper,discipleship,commitment,focus,priorities,quiet time,Bible study,prayer,memorization,Matthew 24:9-13,many will fall away

Until now, at least from outward appearances, we’ve been allowed to survive and even thrive despite the prevailing winds of the culture. Without wanting to sound like an alarmist, I am convinced those days will end, and much sooner than any of us ever thought possible.

[Read more…] about Growing Deeper