The degree to which we are willing to let our emotions control us will determine our capacity to trust God. Simply put, trusting our emotions over God and his Word will lead us into a state of unbelief.
The “Transparency Quiz” is a simple set of questions whose purpose is to sensitize and make us aware of our level of transparency. Find out where you are at and figure out how to get to where you want to be.
What is a Quiet Time? The answer might depend on whom you ask. Let me give you a simple definition of a Quiet Time.
Pray about your lack of trust in God. What areas of your life are you unwilling to trust God with, and how has this affected your desire to pray? How has it affected your desire to read your Bible?
When Christians are not experiencing the personal joy and inspiration of Bible reading, then something will be missing in them as well as the community of believers with whom they fellowship. There will be a lack of energy, interest, faith, hope, and love.
A fun and easy pathway to developing the spiritual stamina necessary for “Deep Spirituality.”
Once our faith in God is strong, it becomes easy to overcome the temptation to be cynical in human relationships.
We need to learn what we need to do to become a calming rather than contentious influence, so that the John 17:20-23 prayer of Jesus’ can become a reality in our lives.
One of the most distinctive qualities of Jesus’s teaching is his ability to bring clarity out of complexity.
The next time you feel like you are foolish and don’t understand something, remember Jesus, like God, is patient and will work you through things until they are clear. He will comfort you along the way, easing your anxiety and bringing clarity to the complexity.
Jesus was sent by God to be the chief persuader. He was on a mission to convince, and in John 11:32-44 he is faced with grief, one of the most traumatic afflictions of faith any human being can experience. The sisters of Lazarus had watched their brother die when Jesus failed to arrive, and were plunged into deep grief accompanied by doubt. This grieving doubt had an emotional effect on Jesus as Scripture says he was “deeply moved” (John 11:33,38).
Jesus and anyone who chooses to live like him will be controversial, and that isn’t a negative thing. Unless we decide to live in a society where everyone believes and thinks the same thing controversies will abound.
Russ Ewell
Editor in chief
As the editor in chief for Deep Spirituality, Russ Ewell writes, teaches, and innovates with his eyes on the future. His teaching is rooted in providing hope for those turned off by tradition and infused with vision for building a transformative church. His passion to inspire even the most skeptical to view God through fresh eyes can be found in his book, He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself.
