Category: Discernment

Reflecting on Proverbs 4:23: Guarding the Heart, Shaping Our Lives

Understanding How Our Inner Life Directs Our Destiny “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” This ancient wisdom from Proverbs 4:23 reminds us just how crucial it is to pay attention to our inner world—our heart, our spirit, the core of who we are. In everyday terms, it means that the way…

What We Love Shapes How We Live: Augustine’s Warning for Christians in Public Life

Reflecting on Politics, Love, and the Call to Be “Resident Aliens” Introduction: Why Augustine’s Warning Still Matters Have you ever wondered why people argue so passionately about politics? Or why it’s so easy for debates about laws and leaders to get heated—even among Christians? Long ago, Augustine, a wise Christian thinker from North Africa, offered a warning: politics always follows…

Be Careful What You Hear: Navigating Narratives with Discernment and Faith

Listening for Truth in a World Full of Competing Voices In our fast-paced world, it often feels like we’re surrounded by countless voices, each telling their own version of what’s true. Whether it’s the latest headline, a heated political debate, or a passionate sermon, everyone seems to have a story to share. Especially in times of chaos and confusion, it…

Jesus and Proverbs: Lessons on Discernment

Understanding Jesus’ and Proverbs’ Wisdom about Listening Listening Isn’t Passive: What the Bible Teaches When we think about listening, we often imagine it as something that just happens. Someone talks, and we hear. But according to the Bible, listening is much more than just letting words pass through our ears. It’s an active and important part of our spiritual lives.…

Living Our Faith Beyond Words

Why Our Actions Speak Louder Than Our Words, Especially in Tough Times Introduction: Actions Matter More Than Words When Times Are Hard When life gets tough, it’s easy to say the right things. We might talk about hope, kindness, or faith, but the real test comes in how we act. Words are powerful, but without actions to back them up,…

Understanding True Justice in Christian Faith

A Simple Reflection on Freedom, Justice, and 1 Peter 3:15  Looking Back and Moving Forward on Civil Rights  Today, as we mark an annual day dedicated to civil rights, it’s a good time to think about the State of the Union—where our country stands and how far we’ve come in the fight for freedom and equality. These are freedoms that Christ gave His life for,…

Personal Reflection on “God Will Guide You with His Eye”

Understanding the Gentle and Personal Guidance of God from Psalm 32:8 There’s something deeply comforting about the idea that God promises to guide us with His eye upon us, as described in Psalm 32:8. In simple terms, it means God doesn’t need to force us or control us like a horse or mule needing a bit and bridle. Instead, He…

Views from the Mountain: Insight for Spiritual Growth

Understanding Spiritual Growth Through the Mountain Metaphor Looking at Life from a Higher Perspective Imagine a mountain—tall, strong, and timeless. It doesn’t just stand there; it witnesses everything that happens over the years. When we talk about “Views from the Mountain,” we’re really talking about seeing life in a new, wiser way. The mountain is a symbol for rising above…