Alan Fadling's Blog, page 3

UL #361: The False Vine of Workaholism

 

In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, we explore the difference between work that flows from grace and love, and work that drains us because it’s fueled by fear, insecurity, or people-pleasing. Together we’ll talk about holy rhythms of work and rest, and what it looks like to return to the “easy yoke” of Jesus.

If you’ve been feeling weary, overextended, or caught in workaholism, this conversation offers hope: you can lead from rest rather than rush.

 

What You’ll Take Away from This Episode:

How to discern between grace-energized work and soul-draining drivenness.

Why busyness, according to Eugene Peterson, is not productivity but a form of laziness.

The danger of “false vines” that drain life rather than nourish it.

Small, sustainable practices for weaving sabbath and reflection into daily rhythms.

How contemplative practices root us in God’s presence so our work becomes overflow, not overextension.

 

Resources & References Mentioned in This Episode:

Subversive Spirituality by Eugene Peterson

New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (various translations available)

The Spiritual Life by Evelyn Underhill

Jesus’ teaching on the easy yoke (Matthew 11:28–30) and the vine and branches (John 15)

 

 

 

Shifting from Information to Intimacy in Faith

Blog by Alan Fadling

In my previous post, we explored the difference between a depth that is merely intellectual—knowing about God—and a depth that is relational, soulful, and transformative. True depth often grows in hidden, unseen places, much like the deep roots of a healthy tree. It’s not about accumulating more knowledge but cultivating a life of deeper communion with God. Here I want to explore what this greater relational depth looks like in the day-to-day rhythms of our lives. How do we move from a broad, extensive understanding of God to a deeper, more intimate experience with him?

 

I find that depth is hard to measure, much like the deep roots of a healthy, fruitful tree. We tend to not grow truly deep in public settings where we’re standing behind microphones, leading big meetings, or sharing our vast biblical knowledge. True depth in our lives takes time and happens invisibly for the most part, just like the underground growth of those tree roots.

 

The depth to which God invites us is a profound and transforming shift in our communion with him, in our relationships with others in his body, and in the character of our lives. It is an organic and living depth. It is a deep rootedness in the life and love of God. It is a depth that becomes visible through more and better fruit in our lives, our interactions, and our work.

 

I was recently reminded about this dynamic in the trajectory of our spiritual development while reading the classic book Prayer by Han Urs von Balthasar. In it he talks about cultivating a contemplative life of being prayerfully present with God. He sees a contemplative life as being rooted in seeking God and interacting with God. At one point he writes:

 

“Contemplation learns…to draw nourishment from less and less material as time goes on, as its ability grows to see and grasp depth and totality in the individual fragment. Sooner or later, by grace, it will be brought to the ’prayer of quiet,’ a prayer in which extension is replaced by the intensive dimension; the unstable, wide-ranging, discursive element of thought is replaced by a kind of intuition which takes in far more, at a single glance, than the beginner’s roving eye.”*

 

What is he talking about? Essentially, he’s saying there is a movement from wide to deep as we grow in faith. For example, there is something good in the spiritual practice of reading through the Bible in a year. I’ve done it many times. We gain that beautiful vision of the scope of what God has said and done over time. This is the “extensive” way that Von Balthasar speaks of.

 

Over time, though, we often find ourselves hungry and thirsty to go deeper with a few simple truths. Recently, I finished reading through The Message version of the Bible, which was gifted to me a few years ago by one of my sons. But it took me three years to make that journey. I slowed down. And I often stopped whenever a passage, even a line or a word, came alive for me in the moment.

 

I would pray that little passage back to God. I would sit in quiet and reflect on what it meant as it spoke to my life in the present season. I would imagine what that passage would look like in my lived-out experience that day. The extensive approach of my early years of faith is beginning to be replaced by a more intensive way of engaging with God.

 

Might God be inviting you today not just to go wider in your knowledge of him but to go deeper in your way of being with him? Maybe the depth we seek is less about accumulating still more information and more about allowing what we already know to shape us more profoundly. I often remark how it seems that God is just helping me remember what I already know!

 

What would it look like for you to embrace a more rooted, relational, and receptive depth in your own life? Maybe it starts with a simple shift—slowing down as you engage with Scripture, paying closer attention to the movements of God in your heart, or being more fully present to the people in your life.

 

My encouragement to you is this: Don’t settle for just knowing more. Let what you know lead you into deeper communion, deeper love, and deeper trust. Because in the end, true depth isn’t measured by how much we learn but by how much we’re being transformed.

 

For Reflection:

Where in your current walk with God do you sense an invitation to slow down—moving from “covering more ground” to going deeper in a single insight?
What is one simple truth or Scripture you already know that you could sit with more prayerfully this week, allowing it to shape your way of being?
How might you become more attentive to the quiet, unseen ways God is forming deep roots in you—even when there’s little outward evidence?

 

*Hans Urs von Balthasar, Prayer, trans. by Graham Harrison (Ignatius Press, 1955, 1986), p. 131.

 

UL #360: The Art of Mindful Travel: Lessons from an Italian Tour Guide

 

What’s the difference between rushing through a city and truly receiving it? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Gem Fadling talks with Lauren Mouat—a writer, instructor, and licensed tour guide based in Tuscany, about how to travel with intention, depth, and presence.

Lauren, originally from California, moved to Rome more than a decade ago and now leads tours through her company, Unlock Italy. With humor, eloquence, and a gift for storytelling, she doesn’t just share history facts she invites people into the stories, beauty, and humanity of the places they visit.

In this conversation, Gem and Lauren explore:

Why stories make travel experiences more meaningful

The difference between “checking boxes” and traveling at a soulful pace

Practices like journaling, walking, and stillness that deepen connection

How to resist hurry and savor beauty, curiosity, and wonder

Ways to stay present and be moved by the places we encounter

Whether you’re planning your next trip or simply longing to live more mindfully where you are, this episode will inspire you to slow down, notice, and receive life as a gift.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations about slowing down, living fully, and leading with grace.

#MindfulTravel #UnhurriedLivingPodcast #Italy #SlowTravel #SpiritualFormation #IntentionalLiving

 

 

Lead with Your Whole Heart: The Power of Healthy Vulnerability

Blog by Gem Fadling

At a recent PACE spiritual formation and leadership retreat, I experienced an unexpected moment of public vulnerability.

 

On this particular day, I was scheduled to teach in the morning. After breakfast, I went back to my room to freshen up before facilitating the session.

 

On the way from my room to the meeting space, I pulled out my phone to see if I had any messages. Our family text thread popped up, where one of my sons shared that he had been unexpectedly laid off. His company was extensively downsizing, and over half of his department had been let go.

 

The message was short, but his words pierced my heart: “I am devastated.” Of course he was. He had been at the company from its earliest days, and he had worked his way up to a wonderful position. Unfortunately, many such tech companies are in market correction mode these days.

 

As a mother, hearing my son’s sadness felt like a gut punch. All of this happened in the two minutes it took to walk from my bedroom to the meeting space. I could feel the sadness and the tears welling up inside. I love my son so much, and I never want to see any of my children suffer in any way. I know that everyone has to go through life’s bumps and left turns, but it’s difficult to watch as a parent.

 

I arrived in the meeting room a couple minutes early and mentioned what had happened to the handful of people who were already there. We began the meeting, and since I was facilitating it, I had no choice but to speak through my tears.

 

So I shared a brief version of the story and we transitioned into a time of worship. I thought I could pull myself together, but the worship was so heartfelt that it just inflamed my sadness. As I transitioned us into prayer and began to move toward my teaching time, my tears continued to flow.

 

I suppose if I had really tried, I could have stuffed down my feelings, set them aside, and forced myself into a different mode. But I'm in a season of life where dividing myself like that just doesn’t work as well as it used to.

 

And so I decided to be a human being and offer myself to the group just as I was. I knew I was in a room full of mature, heart-forward, experienced leaders and friends. They received me with such grace.

 

Rest assured, I did not overwhelm them with my issues in an unhealthy way. I simply shared with them about my sadness and asked for their patience as I spoke with a lump in my throat. They graciously offered to pause and pray for our son, and then we continued on with the meeting.

 

A few weeks later, as I was processing this moment with my spiritual director, I found myself saying, “I did not have another self to pull out to lead the meeting.” I actually like that.

 

I will agree up front that it is never a good idea to overshare or to overwhelm people unnecessarily. I do, however, believe in being appropriately vulnerable. I think people appreciate when leaders act like human beings.

 

It can be easy to think that leadership looks like being perfect, not having any issues, or being strong and invulnerable. This is a very American attitude and is common in the culture I live in.

 

But I believe healthy vulnerability is an asset, and a leader receiving the gracious prayers of the community is a good thing. It is good to journey alongside others by sharing in appropriately vulnerable ways.

 

Healthy vulnerability builds trust and connection. Here’s how:

 

It fosters trust and authenticity. When I practice appropriate vulnerability, I create an atmosphere of trust. People are more likely to open up and engage when they see that I am not hiding behind a false sense of perfection. Authenticity cultivates connection, making space for honest conversations and deeper relationships within a community. 

 

It models growth and resilience. Vulnerability allows me to demonstrate that struggles and challenges are a natural part of life. When I share how I navigate difficulties with faith, wisdom, and resilience, I give others permission to embrace their own growth process. This kind of leadership is not about weakness but about showing strength with humility and grace. 

 

It invites others into a shared journey. People don’t just want an idealized leader to follow; they want a fellow traveler. When leaders are seen as real human beings, with hopes, fears, and struggles, others feel less alone. It shifts the dynamic from top-down leadership to a shared, grace-filled journey where everyone is learning and growing together.

 

In all the groups I’ve facilitated at trainings and retreats, I have found all of this to be true. People appreciate authenticity, humility, a healthy sense of vulnerability, and lived grace.

 

I have greater trust for a leader who shares from their heart and their life experience. I enjoy connecting with someone as a companion along the way far more than a pulled-together persona.

 

I know it might be difficult for some of us to lean into healthy vulnerability. However, I believe it’s possible to move toward it no matter where you find yourself. Some of us will find this easier than others, but we can each take steps toward opening ourselves in healthy and appropriate ways as we journey alongside those we serve.

 

For Reflection: 

How do you connect with the idea of healthy vulnerability? Is it easy or difficult for you?
What is one small step you might take toward being more open with others so they feel a fitting sense of connection to your real life that moves past any sense of persona?
How might the people around you respond as you learn to become more appropriately open?

UL #359: Hearing God's Word Freshly (Terry Wildman)

 

What if you could hear the Psalms and Proverbs as if for the very first time? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling talks with Terry Wildman, Ojibwe and Yaqui follower of Jesus, storyteller, musician, and lead translator of the First Nations Version (FNV).

Terry has spent decades sharing Creator’s story in ways that resonate with Indigenous hearts. After the widely embraced release of the FNV New Testament in 2021, he and a translation council of over 20 tribes have now brought the beauty, rhythm, and imagery of Native American storytelling to Psalms and Proverbs.

In this conversation, Alan and Terry explore:

How oral tradition opens fresh ways of hearing Scripture

The relational names for God, like Great Spirit and Grandfather

Why Psalms and Proverbs were chosen as the next FNV project

How this translation speaks to Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers alike

Practical ways to let Scripture slow you down and deepen your walk with God

If you long to encounter the Psalms and Proverbs in a way that stirs your soul and draws you into deeper communion with God, this episode will inspire you.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on unhurried leadership, spiritual formation, and life with God at His pace.

#FirstNationsVersion #PsalmsAndProverbs #TerryWildman #UnhurriedLivingPodcast #BibleTranslation #SpiritualFormation #IndigenousVoices #SlowDownWithScripture

 

 

 

From Shallow to Deep: What It Really Means to Grow in Christ

Blog by Alan Fadling

I love being near the ocean. I love standing on its shoreline and feeling how vast, how deep, how unfathomable it is. There’s something about depth that calls to us. The Psalms speak of the depth of God calling out to our own depths (Psalm 42:7). We don’t just feel longing for knowledge about God. We yearn for something richer, something truer, something that transforms us.

 

But many of us have felt the ache of a shallow faith, where we know a lot about God but don’t always feel deeply rooted in God. What does it really mean to go deeper? And how do we cultivate a faith that is more than just wide?

 

There is a great hunger for a deeper experience of God among those I train and coach. It is accompanied by a great dissatisfaction with what many have experienced in their communities of faith. I’m not trying to blame churches or pastors. I am a pastor and have been for over forty years. I believe God is working among us to lead us into a life of deeper rootedness in him.

 

Decades ago, J. I. Packer, a respected theologian, author, and pastor, quotes a native American Christian leader in his book A Quest for Godliness who observed “North American Protestantism…to be 3,000 miles wide and half an inch deep.”*

 

That’s a painful assessment, isn’t it? I’m confident that no one reading these words dreams of living their life half an inch deep. Who wants that? But it’s so easy in our hurry to find ourselves skimming the surface of our life and work with God.

 

Maybe you’ve said  or heard someone else say something like this: “I want to go deeper in my walk with God.” It’s a good sentiment. It’s a beautiful intention. It resonates with my own desires. But what do we mean when we say this? What do we think it will look like to “go deeper”?

 

I wrote about this in An Unhurried Life and was reminded of it when I had the opportunity at the beginning of this year to narrate the revised audiobook. (It released in March and is now available anywhere you prefer to purchase audiobooks. I hope you’ll get yourself a copy. I’d love to be a voice of encouragement in that way.)

 

In narrating chapter 9, titled “Maturity,” the following passage I had written came alive for me in a fresh way:

I hear a lot of talk about “deep” when it comes to growing in Christ. My sense of what the average evangelical Christian means by deep is theologically, biblically, doctrinally rich and profound, and this is probably measured mostly in terms of cognitive content. But there are other ways to measure depth. There is soul depth, referring to the dynamics in my life with God and with other people. There is spiritual depth, meaning the level of my personal receptivity to and engagement with God in the moment-to-moment living of life. There is heart depth: I am more emotionally responsive to God and others as well as more willing to show my love for God by obeying him. Are we open to God’s bringing such depth to every facet of our lives? Will we enter into deep soul work, deep interaction with God, deep sharing of our lives together and deep engagement with the non-followers in our lives? Will we seek life deep and not settle for just intellect deep?†

 

I wonder how that passage strikes you? How have you heard the issue of “depth” described by the voices of influence in your own experience?

 

When we equate spiritual maturity with breadth of knowledge, we confuse being informed with being transformed. I’ve heard people say something like this about a particular Christian leader: “He’s not really very loving or kind, but he sure does know the Bible.” Such comments suggest that biblical knowledge is more important than love. But is it really? Is that the way of Jesus? Wasn’t that an essential element of the conflict Jesus had with some of the Jewish leaders of his day?

 

As we reflect on the call to go deep in our relationship with God, it’s important to remember that the richness of spiritual life is not measured by how much we know but by how much we are transformed—by how much we love. Depth is not a matter of mere theological knowledge. It’s about the posture of our hearts, the openness of our souls, and the responsiveness of our lives to God’s presence with us. It’s an invitation to move beyond surface-level engagement, to cultivate a life with God that is wide and deep, where knowledge leads to transformation and where every facet of our being is touched by his love.

 

For Reflection:

How have you experienced a hunger for deeper connection with God, and in what ways have you noticed it influencing your life?
In what areas of your life are you tempted to prioritize knowledge over transformation? How might you invite God to deepen your soul, spirit, and heart in those areas?

 

* J. I. Packer. The Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1990, p. 22.

† Alan Fadling. An Unhurried Life, rev. ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, p. 160.

UL #358: Leading from the Inside Out

 

What if your leadership wasn’t driven by hurry, but rooted in soul-deep transformation? In this episode, Alan and Gem Fadling explore how spiritual formation and leadership are meant to stay connected—and why separating them leads to exhaustion and burnout.

We’ll talk about:

Why leadership development often gets siloed from spiritual formation

How unprocessed inner life shows up in hurried, anxious leadership

Practices that help leaders shift from pressure and performance to peace and purpose

Why leading from depth, rest, and soul-rooted presence makes your influence more life-giving

If you’ve ever felt stretched thin by the relentless demands of leadership, or wondered if there’s a slower, more grounded way to lead, this conversation will give you hope and practical steps forward.

This episode also introduces PACE, a 21-month training experience for leaders who want to bring more soul into their work and more grace into their influence.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on unhurried leadership, spiritual formation, and living at the pace of Jesus.

#Leadership #Hurry #SpiritualFormation #UnhurriedLeadership #PACE #ChristianLeadership

 

 

The Secret to Soulful Creativity: Paying Attention to God’s Work in You

Blog by Gem Fadling

Some seasons of life can leave us wondering if we have anything left to give. We pour ourselves out at work, at home, in ministry—and sometimes we forget to pause, rest, and refill. If you’re longing for a life that feels more soulful and sustainable, I am with you. Let’s explore how to live from the deep well God has placed within us.

 

People will often comment to me how impressed they are that Alan and I produce so much content. From emails to blog posts to podcasts to YouTube videos to books—something is always rolling out.

 

Recently, in the same context, someone asked me if I love writing. I briefly thought about my response and found myself saying, “No, I don't love writing in and of itself. What I love is sharing, teaching, and encouraging.”

 

Writing is simply a meaningful way to express what I desire to share with others. Here at Unhurried Living we are happy to create content so that people might grow in wisdom, presence, love, and servant leadership.

 

I've shared before how I’m often concerned that I will one day run out of things to say. Left to myself, I think that would be true. But because I’m doing my very best to stay engaged with what God is up to in me and through me, there is always fresh bread coming out of the oven of my life.

 

The good news is that the same is happening for you. So, how are you paying attention? How are you continuing to draw from the deep well of wisdom that God places before you? And how do you find yourself sharing that goodness with others?

 

It’s easy to fall asleep at the wheel, careening through a busy life without pausing to reflect or pivoting to receptive mode.

 

Here is an intentional way to live an integrated life:

God pours in.
I receive.
I share.

 

This might look different for each of us because we are all uniquely and wonderfully gifted. How you express God’s goodness will look different from how I express it. That's the beauty of the body of Christ.

 

There are many and various expressions of love and wisdom.

 

You might express your gifts by listening deeply to others. You can offer your full presence in a world where too often people rush and only half listen. Your patient attention can bring healing to the weary.

 

You might find yourself creating beauty that reflects God’s heart, whether through painting, music, photography, writing, or even something as simple as cooking a meal or tending a garden. Beauty more easily stirs the soul and gently points people to the goodness of God.

 

You might express your journey by mentoring or guiding others, generously sharing the wisdom and lessons you have learned along the way. Your lived experience can be a profound encouragement to those in your community.

 

If you serve in leadership, you may also express your gifts by cultivating a culture of grace and hospitality, creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and safe to learn and grow.

 

You might prioritize soul care within your team, encouraging rhythms of rest, reflection, and prayer so that work flows from a place of wholeness rather than exhaustion. This is something we love to do with teams, so connect with us if you want to learn more.

 

And especially in challenging seasons, you can lead with a non-anxious presence as you remain rooted in God’s peace and help to calm those around you.

 

However you share your gifts, the most important thing is to remain connected to God’s deep well of grace. Drawing from that well, your own soul stays replenished. Remember:

God pours in.
I receive.
I share.

 

For Reflection: 

What is one way God has recently poured into you that you feel invited to share with others?
Which of your gifts or passions feels the most natural and joyful as a way of expressing God’s goodness?
How might you intentionally create space in your life to listen, receive, and share more freely?

 

P.S. The focus of this article has been our various ways of sharing goodness. But let’s pause for a moment and remind ourselves: It’s best to pour from a full cup. Here are some links to a few of my recent YouTube videos. Make your way to one or more of them and be inspired.

 

Feeling Trapped by Time?

Are You Overwhelmed or Exhausted?

How to Fill Your Time Intentionally

How to Begin a Rule of Life

 

 

UL #357: Growing Faith through Humble Questions (A. J. Swoboda)

 

In a world where certainty, hot takes, and strong opinions dominate, what if curiosity and humility were actually the more faithful way of following Jesus?

In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan talks with pastor, theologian, and professor A. J. Swoboda about his new book, A Teachable Spirit. Together, they explore what it means to cultivate intellectual humility as a spiritual discipline and to rediscover the joy of learning—even from unexpected places and people.

You’ll learn:

Why being teachable is central to spiritual formation.

How to learn from unlikely voices—children, strangers, enemies, and even the dead.

Practices for slowing down and resisting the culture of distraction and quick answers.

How curiosity creates deeper wisdom, peace, and more gracious leadership.

Guest Bio:
A. J. Swoboda, PhD, is a pastor, theologian, and professor at Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon, where he teaches Bible, theology, and Christian history. He is the author of several books, including Subversive Sabbath and After Doubt. He also co-hosts the “Slow Theology” podcast and is a sought-after voice on spiritual formation, rest, and resilience in today’s culture.

 

Today Is Where the Kingdom Is

Blog by Alan Fadling

We all know what it feels like to be pulled out of the present—stretched thin by worries about tomorrow or tangled in regrets from yesterday. In such moments, the familiar words of Jesus in Matthew 6 can sound out of touch. But what if his call to “seek first the kingdom” isn’t some lofty religious ideal but a grounded, daily practice that offers us peace right where we are?

 

Let’s revisit those words of Jesus in context:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

 

As I recently reflected on this counsel from Jesus, I was struck by what he says about today and what he says about tomorrow.

 

Today, there is something I can give my primary attention to: God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness. This can feel like religious language detached from everyday realities, but it is far from that.

 

In The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard writes, “God’s own ‘kingdom,’ or ‘rule,’ is the range of his effective will, where what he wants done is done. The person of God himself and the action of his will are the organizing principles of his kingdom, but everything that obeys those principles, whether by nature or by choice, is within his kingdom.”*

 

We seek his kingdom first when we recognize that what God wants done is what matters most, and that what God wishes to do in and through me is what matters most for me. Anxiety tempts me to try time travel—to the past in regret or guilt, or to the future in nervous anticipation. But right now, in the present moment, I can offer myself to God’s leading, guiding, and empowering me to do the good things that lie immediately before me.

 

This brings us to the idea of seeking first God’s righteousness. Again, this can be misunderstood as trying to be extra religious somehow, but it is simply a way of saying that we seek to be aligned with what God says is good, beautiful, and true. There are many voices proclaiming what is or isn’t good. But only God is truly good, and seeking his guidance in these matters is what leads to peace over anxiety.

 

I remember a season of years in which I was addressing the anger and the anxiety in my life. After we’d been working together for a while, my counselor said, “It looks like your anger has begun to be unwound from the inside. It doesn’t seem as quick to flare as it used to be.” He was right. I had found healing from some of the deep wounds that would erupt in anger when I felt belittled or threatened.

 

He also said, “There will come a day when anxiety will no longer be a major issue for you either.” At that time I hadn’t made as much progress in my struggle with anxiety as I’d made with my anger. But his words were prophetic. He was right. I have been learning from Jesus how to live more rooted in peace rather than stuck in anxiety.

 

I believe that same freedom is available to you. You don’t have to be trapped in a cycle of worry about tomorrow. The grace of Christ is enough for today, and it will be enough for tomorrow when tomorrow comes.

 

So today, as an act of trust, what is one small way you can practice seeking first God’s kingdom of grace and peace?

 

Perhaps it’s pausing in a moment of stress to breathe and remember that God is with you.

 

Maybe it’s choosing to be present in a conversation rather than being lost in anxious thoughts about the future.

 

Or it could be surrendering a specific worry to God in prayer and asking for the grace to rest in his care. In prayer, we can practice the presence of God instead of practicing the presence of our anxiety through worry.

 

Each of these is a step toward a non-anxious life—one shaped not by fear but by the peace of Christ himself.

 

In A Non-Anxious Life I included a benediction I wrote that is an expanded paraphrase of the words Paul uses to start most of his letters: “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Let me close this article with that benediction:

 

May God’s empowering presence, his measureless generosity, and his great goodness be with you, seeking you before ever you seek him. And may grace bear the fruit of deep well-being, freedom from anxious care, and a soul at rest in the Presence of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

 

For Reflection:

What does “seeking first the kingdom” look like in the ordinary rhythms of your day?
Where do you most often feel pulled into tomorrow’s worries—and how might you return to today?
What might change if you trusted that God is already present in your tomorrow, just as he is today?

 

*Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy (HarperSanFrancisco, 1998), p. 32.