Faithful Writers

© Jane Isley So I got to be a part of something a while back during a Bible study. I was told that Deborah from the book of Judges was a punishment against Israel. Yep, you read that right. A punishment. And I’m finally going to address it. Apparently, the only  reason God “allowed” her to judge was because there were no men available.  So He punished Israel, and it was meant to be an embarrassment. I personally never heard of that before, and I asked my husband and dad if they had heard of that or if that is how they read her story, since they are male Christians. They were both quite surprised by this, so my reaction to this nonsense wasn’t just me; there really was something to this.  If there are three things I cannot stand coming from a pastor, it's false teachings, arrogance, and prejudice, and we get three for the price of one with his claims about Deborah. So, I decided to dive in, and I promise not to bore you. I’m a bit of a spicy writer when I see a wrong that needs to be adjusted. I started my research by highlighting verses and phrases in Judges before and after  Deborah’s story to compare each Judge’s beginning. Each Judge varied in its introduction, which makes sense; each has a unique role, personality, story, and battle. Some have even less said about them in the book of Judges than Deborah. When looking, the first thing I saw was that God punished the Israelites by handing them over to their enemies AFTER they did evil in His eyes. Then they cried out to Him for help. That’s when He would raise up a new Judge for them.  1st — They did evil. 2nd — They were punished. 3rd — They cried for help. 4th — They were given a new Judge. This is the order of events that repeats itself consistently. There’s no getting away from that. It also occurs with the male Judges, so it’s nothing new, shocking, or scandalous by any means. In the book of Judges, God clarifies that His punishment was handed out AFTER they’d screwed up.   I fail to see so far where this person got this heart-warming and welcoming opinion. I fear it is rooted in the good ole’ “women are the weaker sex” mindset. Chapter 4 is Deborah’s story, her time to shine in Israel’s history, who was, mind you, already a Prophetess of God. What is so wrong with that?  Let’s check out her job descriptions. Now I can’t exactly pull these up on Indeed anymore, so I went and found what we needed to know, which gives us a better understanding of this lady’s very busy schedule. Judge —  “Judges were the legal voices for the people and would guide the laws and ways of practical living.”  The Downtown Synagogue  “the successors to Joshua — the judges — arose. The Hebrew term shofet , which is translated into English as “judge,” is closer in meaning to “ruler,” a kind of military leader or deliverer from potential or actual defeat.”  Britannica Prophet/Prophetess —  “a prophet is a person who speaks God’s truth to others.” “[…] prophets often had both a teaching and revelatory role, declaring God’s truth on contemporary issues while also revealing details about the future”.  Got Questions.org “A prophetess is a female prophet. The role and responsibility of prophets and prophetesses is to speak forth the Word of God.”  Compelling Truth : This is an excellent article, and I would recommend checking it out. It goes into detail about many other Prophetesses in the Bible. Imagine being so blessed by God that He gave you both those job descriptions? By the time we meet Deborah, she was already an established Prophetess and had started Judging in Israel. Imagine being a woman in a man’s world, where God couldn't care less what your gender is, and man cares more than necessary. Like I said, personal feelings are in fact not facts. I’m not done yet; there’s so much more to unpack here. It would simply be too long an article to read, and I don’t want to bore you. Many points deserve their own moment.  Keep an eye out, part 2 & part 3 are following closely.  © Jane Isley Thank you for taking the time to read, and please consider  supporting my work . Your gift helps keep this work going, blesses others, and means the world to me. You can visit me at Faithful Writers  on Medium, where other Christian writers have joined me in sharing the word of God. You can also find me on   Tumblr  and   Facebook.

I accepted Jesus into my life last winter during my freshman year of college, literally right before I was about to go out partying. You can read the full story here ! Now, as a sophomore, I look back on that and marvel at God’s timing; I laugh a little, too. I have never been a big fan of parties– I don’t drink. I never drank at parties before becoming a Christian, and I don’t plan on doing so now. One thing about college, though, is that sometimes it’s tough to abide in Jesus while living and moving around in a space that runs by worldly wisdom. This isn’t so much about the education system, but rather about the college student culture and societal norms. I often find myself losing sight of Jesus daily, and I have to reel myself back in and rest in His Word before I go back out to the world once again. There are so many distractions that have veered me off my path, and I have to remind myself of why I am here in the first place. JESUS. First and foremost, I want to address the parties. I personally do not have issues with parties themselves; I still go out once in a blue moon and enjoy getting ready with my friends while dancing and listening to music. However, what goes on at college parties usually perpetuates sin. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, sin is not a control tactic; rather, it is genuinely bad for us, and God is trying to warn us from hurting ourselves even more. For example, excessive drinking causes extreme damage not only physically but also mentally. When I see people get drunk, they look and act like completely different people. I genuinely feel like they aren’t even themselves at that point, and it terrifies me. It’s a sad reality that many people think they need to drink to have fun. It’s important to realize that the ‘high’ effect you get from both drinking and doing drugs eventually wears off. So while it makes you feel good for a little bit, it never lasts. Drinking until the point of getting drunk and doing drugs has become so normalized that they are seen as ‘cool’ and ‘fun’ things to do. I’ve often felt a strange sense of FOMO when I am around people who are drinking and doing drugs because I feel like I’ll be seen as the weirdo or the odd one out. I have to snap myself out of these moments because I know that I am better off without those things. However, I refuse to sit on a high horse and judge these people because I know that they are just as broken as I am. I’ve struggled with other addictions in my life, so who am I to judge how they deal with their humanity? It saddens me to see people engaging in these behaviors because I know that Jesus brings true happiness and satisfaction. I want these people to see His light and realize that they do not have to engage in all these harmful things to have fun. And again, nothing is wrong with having alcohol; moderation is key. I pray that their eyes will be opened and that they will come to know Jesus, who is the true source of joy. Additionally, I am surrounded by many people with different beliefs– many of whom do not agree with Jesus and His teachings. This is a complicated topic to cover because God has blessed us all with free will, so therefore, we aren’t forced to follow Him. But after living most of my life without Jesus and now being with Him for the past few months, I never want to go back. Every day, I talk to people who bring up beliefs/ideas that oppose those of Jesus. It’s hard to stand up for Him and speak His truth, mainly because most of the time, it is uncomfortable. People tend to get offended easily when Jesus is brought up…especially because His word is the exact opposite of the worldly wisdom preached today. I get it… I used to get very angry when I would hear Christians stand up for their beliefs. I never understood why they were so passionate about Jesus and why they just couldn’t accept things the way they were. Being on the other side, I now know, but God has blessed me with experience on both sides. I think it’s essential, no matter what, to stand up for Him because while not all people will agree with His Word, seeds will be planted. For the first time on Monday, I spoke up about my experience with Jesus in front of one of my classes. God blessed me with extra courage that morning, and I shared with the class about my ‘life-changing moment.’ I spoke about how EVERYTHING in my life changed from that point on, and the breakthrough that occurred during the winter. I honestly wish I were a bit more specific about the situation, but that was one step ahead! I felt grateful to share it with the class– my professor was highly supportive and asked questions about my experience. I pray that I will continue to speak about Jesus from now on with the same, if not more, confidence that I had that day. While being a Christian college student has its challenges, it is worth spreading the love of Jesus. I must continue my college journey because, first and foremost, I want a degree. But secondly, I can’t only share the gospel with believers and people like me; it needs to be shared with those who don’t know or misunderstand Jesus. The gospel isn’t for perfect people (because who is perfect anyway?)… it is for hurting and broken people who are in need of a Savior. I would be hypocritical to judge non-believers because I was one myself around this time last year. I also still have struggles myself– I have to be really careful about which music I listen to at parties. I struggle a lot with maladaptive daydreaming, and music makes it 10x worse. I’ve just set a goal for myself to know my limits and know when it’s time to step out and take a break, especially when I hear songs that do not honor God. Additionally, I make it a once-in-a-while occurrence to go out. Moving back to the point, it is vital that Jesus saved me while I was in college, because I can relate to non-believers who have had the same doubts about Him as I did. This means that I will not sit at parties and yell at people for drinking, doing drugs, or hooking up with random people. However, if someone asked me my thoughts on the matter, I would be honest with them and share the gospel. I would let them know that I used to support those decisions (‘you do you, babe’) and now I do not because Jesus pulled my heart out of the grave and gave me life. Bad decisions brought me nowhere, but following Him brought me everywhere. © Sienna Krieg

As I was touched by the vision of this unique point of view (photographed above) around the time of dawn, these questions hit me: “Is this the life beyond my wildest dreams?” “Are God’s Promises True?” "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV There was a time when I would’ve imagined watching the sunrise (or sunset) from my infinity pool surrounded by tropical landscaping at my hilltop estate located in a top-rated neighborhood with our dream cars/motorcycles parked in a 4-car garage as being what I would describe as “a life beyond my wildest dreams.” But GOD has revealed more. And it looks like simplicity, minimalism, gratitude for the infinity cat drinking box placed mindfully in view of our Zanzibar Gem and Fruit Of The Spirit banner… all located in a much lower-rated, but modestly affordable and beautifully colorful, diverse neighborhood, filled with its own emergency vehicle sirens song charms. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… when we’re grateful for what we have, what we have is enough. The gift of no longer striving to obtain or accomplish more and more and more is the equivalent of a deep cleansing breath that calms any fears or insecurities, replacing them all with the peace, confidence, joy, and love that can only be from the BEST gift-giver of all time!!! Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV Our mini black panther, Dez , pictured here wandering through our secret garden, reminds me that it truly is the little things in life that bring us the most pleasure and everlasting joy. "The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23 NIV As it turns out, it’s not so much about the changes in my circumstances or financial status as much as it is about the changes in my attitude and POV. May your own Point Of View be shaped by an attitude of gratitude , focusing on what is good and working well today. Are you breathing? Are you able to take a walk? These are causes for celebration! There is beauty in the simplicity of a dandelion design (also photographed in our secret garden this morning). First, look up child at our majestic Creator. Then look at the wonderful works of His creation all around us and say… Thank YOU! They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty — and I will meditate on your wonderful works. Psalm 145:5 NIV Until next time, let us meditate and marvel at God’s wonderful works. (This is where I usually insert a coffee-related link with the hope of some generous soul sending me one… but this time I shall be satisfied and content with the [Deuteronomy 8] manna God has already provided for today.) It is enough. (2 Corinthians 12:9) His grace is sufficient. © Nora Gwen

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash “Why would God give us four Gospels that don’t even agree?” It’s the kind of question that unsettles new Christians and delights skeptical TikTokers. The Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — tell the same broad story but often differ on the details. One has shepherds, one has wise men. One says two angels at the tomb, another says one. Jesus flips a table at the start in John, but near the end in the others. For some, these variations are proof of error. For others, they’re an embarrassment to be explained away. But what if they’re the very feature we should be paying attention to? The beauty of difference We’ve been trained to want a single, authoritative camera angle. We want one feed. One voice. One perfect version of events. But God gives us four. Four voices. Four angles. Four portraits of Jesus, all telling the truth, but none pretending to tell the whole truth. They overlap, diverge, harmonize, and occasionally jar — not because they’re flawed, but because they’re faithful. Like a set of eyewitness testimonies in court, it’s their very difference that makes them trustworthy. If four people described a public event in exactly the same words, we’d suspect collusion. But if they highlight different moments, different emotions, different meanings — we lean in. That’s how memory works. That’s how life works. And that’s how God chose to reveal his Son. Not a documentary — a declaration The Gospels aren’t security-camera footage. They’re not 21st-century journalism. They’re more like banners, declarations, personal portraits of Jesus for different hearts and histories. Matthew speaks to the Jewish longing for a Messiah, the one who fulfills the law and prophets. Mark writes with breathless urgency, dragging us into a Jesus who disrupts and demands. Luke tells it with compassion and order — a historian’s heart for the poor and outcast. John writes like a poet, pulling back the curtain to show us glory in the flesh. Do they sometimes place the furniture differently? Yes. Do they sometimes rearrange the order of events to make a point? Absolutely. That’s not trickery — it’s theology. Each Gospel is telling the truth on purpose — not flattening it into sameness, but deepening it into multidimensional glory. What if you’re the one who needs all four? Let’s be honest: we don’t read the Gospels that way. We skim. We search for our favorite verse. We memorize the Christmas story from Luke and quote John when we’re evangelizing. But maybe the very differences that bother us are the ones we need most. Because we’re not one-dimensional either. There are days you need the Jesus who weeps. Other days, the Jesus who warns. Some days you’ll identify with the confused disciples. Other days, the bold woman who just touches the edge of his cloak. Each Gospel has a different path into his presence. And taken together, they help us not just know about Jesus — but know him . And what if God wanted it this way? We assume a perfect Bible would be uniform. Seamless. Linear. But maybe God values something else. Maybe truth — the kind that grips the heart and changes a life — needs room to breathe. Maybe God wanted the Gospel to feel less like a script and more like a song: the kind you can’t stop playing because every time you listen, you hear something new. Jesus is not a brand. He’s not a soundbite. He’s not a curated persona. He is the truth made flesh. And the Gospels don’t just describe him — they reveal him. In different voices, different rhythms, different textures — but the same Jesus. This is where devotion begins Devotion isn’t about finding a perfect answer. It’s about lingering in the presence of a perfect Saviour. It’s about returning again and again to the same Gospel stories, not to master them, but to be mastered by the One they reveal. That’s why the Gospels are different. Not to confuse us — but to draw us deeper. Not to test our precision — but to soften our hearts. If you’ve only ever read one Gospel, maybe it’s time to open another. Read them all. Slowly. Side by side. Let them clash a little. Let them correct and complement. You might just see Jesus more clearly than ever. Want help seeing Jesus more clearly, one day at a time? Download a free 3-day sample of Identity in Christ , a devotional designed to help you sit with Scripture and let it speak into your heart. © Nathan Cole

As I’ve grown older, I’ve begun to realize something about myself — something I never noticed in my younger years as a sports coach and adventure leader. I am very sensory sensitive . I don’t enjoy loud, harsh sounds or bright, glaring lights. I find that certain smells — the chemical or artificial kind — seem to linger longer than they should. And background noise, like a television left on in another room or music with no rhythm to my spirit, wears me down faster than I’d like to admit. My sense of hearing and smell, in particular, seem heightened. And in an increasingly noisy world, that can feel like a strange burden to carry. Yet, what fascinates me is this: despite my sensitivity to noise, I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by the laughter and shouting of children in the outdoors. Camps, sports fields, adventure trails, canoe trips — these are not quiet places! I once mentioned this irony to a mentor — an older, wiser friend who’s walked with the Lord much longer than me. He smiled and said, “That’s because those sounds are different . The laughter of a child is part of God’s music. The revving of a car engine is definitely not.” He was absolutely right. The sounds of the outdoors are not the same as the noise of the world evolving in technology and industry. An excited child laughing, the rustle of wind through the trees, the rhythm of a paddle dipping into water — these sounds form a symphony that speaks of life and joy , not man-made chaos. Birds singing, rivers running, trees shaking, insects chirping, kids laughing, the kicking and knocking of sports equipment — these are the sounds that bring peace to my spirit and energy to my body. Over the years, I’ve realized that I am most alive when I’m surrounded by God’s art — the masterpiece He painted in trees and rivers, in open skies and mountain air, in laughter and learning. The man-made world, with its constant motion and manufactured sounds, drains me. But God’s world restores me. It reminds me that I was never meant to live surrounded by static and neon — I was meant to live surrounded by creation, in fellowship, learning and teaching under open skies. I’ve learned that peace doesn’t always come from silence. Sometimes, peace comes from the right kind of sound : the kind that reminds you of who made the world, and what you were made for. I love helping families and young people discover how faith comes alive when we step outside and move. Whether it’s through a muddy game, a shared hike, or a quiet moment under the trees, I’ve seen how God uses the outdoors to shape hearts and strengthen relationships. At OutdoorKids.Faith I share stories and resources designed to spark that same joy — simple, practical ways to grow closer to God and each other through adventure and activities. @ Rory Wilson

Photo by Mel — on Unsplash In the days when your strength feels like that jar of oil in the widow’s hand, barely enough for one more day. You pray, but it feels like whispers hitting a closed sky. You give, but no one seems to notice. You serve, but your own soul feels hungry. You smile in public, but inside you are wondering, “How long can I keep this up?” And yet, the miracle never begins with abundance. It begins with what is left. When Elijah met the widow in Zarephath, he did not arrive with provisions. He showed up with a request: “Bring me a little water and a piece of bread.” It almost sounded inconsiderate. How could he ask for more when she barely had enough for herself and her son? But hidden in that strange instruction was an invitation to trust God with the last drop. That is how God still works. He rarely begins His miracles with overflow. He starts with surrender. That small, trembling “yes,” the willingness to give Him what is left, is what opens the flow of heaven. You may feel like your jar is almost empty. Maybe your oil looks like emotional strength, creative energy, faith for your dreams, or hope for your future. But the same God who sustained the widow is the same God watching over your life today. He never needed much to multiply. He only needed something surrendered. So before you count what is missing, pause and thank Him for what is still in your jar. That small reserve, your leftover hope, your quiet prayers, your decision to keep believing, is still enough for a miracle. Reflect On This Do not despise small faith or shame yourself for feeling weak. Even mustard seed faith can move mountains because it is not about the size of your belief but the strength of your God . He sees the oil, He honors the effort, and He never wastes obedience. A Simple Prayer Lord, I give You what is left in my jar, my small faith, my tired heart, and my limited strength. Breathe on it, and let Your supply never run dry in me. Teach me to trust You not because I have plenty, but because You are enough. Amen . HAVE A GREAT SUNDAY. © Favour

If I had only two children, I might have been a perfect parent.   But God blessed me with child #3. Our biological son was raised in the same home, by the same parents as the first two kiddos, but when God knit him together in my womb, He gave my son a free spirit. So I gave him rules. When he was two, we spent the weekend with friends at their lake home. Mr. Free Spirit made a rude, not-worth-repeating comment to our host. Our friend could easily withstand an insult from an untamed toddler, but I demanded an apology from my son.  He crossed his arms and shook his head. What he had said was the truth. Why should he apologize for speaking the truth?   You must apologize to Mr. Host, or you won’t be allowed to go on the boat. I’m not apologizing.   No boat. Mr. Free Spirit and I spent the afternoon alone in the cabin while everyone else enjoyed tubing and water skiing. I tried to show him the err in his ways. We need to treat others the way we want to be treated.  How would you feel if someone said something rude to you?  After an afternoon on a boatless timeout, we rejoined the party. It became quite obvious to me at this point which of my children would easily follow and spend eternity with Jesus, for everyone knows obedient children end up in Heaven, right? Just like obedient adults. Obedient adults follow the rules.  They wake up to their alarms and get to work on time. The bills are paid on time, and they live within their means. While speeding may be against the law, it is possibly the only outward violation they commit on a regular basis. Occasional flirting, but not a full-blown affair, may be brushed off as within the bounds of marriage. The inner thoughts nobody knows about allow the obedient people to come across as, well, good. They are good people. Each of us has our own standards for how we separate the ‘good’ people from the ‘bad’ people. Good people are nice and friendly. They may smile as you pass them on the sidewalk. Bad people may yell swear words and spit as you pass them on the sidewalk. I could make a list of how my mind categorizes people into good and bad, but I’ll refrain.  You have your own list.  Ponder it. God created each of us with a natural disposition, which has then been molded and shaped by our upbringing. People gifted with a naturally compliant disposition have an easier time being good. People with a naturally contrary disposition have a more challenging time being good. So did God create some people to have an easier time making it into Heaven? If we were judged on our good works, then maybe that would be true, but God looks deeper. “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7b) The naturally compliant person here may actually be at a disadvantage. The more good they do, the more they are praised, which perpetuates a never-ending cycle of good works- praise - good works - praise. The ‘good’ person begins to accept the ‘fact’ that they are naturally good. If someone is already good, what do they need God for? They assume, of course, they are already good enough to enter the Pearly Gates.  The deadly pitfall for the naturally compliant person is Pride. The naturally contrary person here may actually have the advantage. The more they try to be ‘good’, the more aware they become of their ‘badness’. As they become aware of their tendency towards sin, they also come to realize they will never be good enough. They need something, someONE, who will help them. They can’t live a ‘good’ life on their own. The life-giving gift of the naturally contrary person is Humility. My hands-on parenting days are over.  Hubby and I are in the early stages of empty-nesterhood.  I reflect a lot on what I should have done differently as a mom, knowing all the while that I did the best I could. My most recent thought is that I should have praised the compliant children less and given more grace to the contrary.  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left….Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-33, 46) First published in Pursuing Perfection on Substack by © Tessa Lind,  tessalind.substack.com

Photo by Simon HUMLER on Unsplash When God Has, but You Haven’t There comes a point in your walk with God where you realize He has forgiven you, but you still have not. You quote verses about grace, you believe in second chances, and yet when you think of your own mistakes, there is a small voice inside that says, “You should have known better.” I know that voice soooo well. It used to visit often, sometimes after I had prayed, sometimes in the quiet time just before sleep. It was not loud, but it lingered, replaying moments I wished I could rewrite. But one day, while praying about something completely different, God interrupted my thoughts with a simple phrase. He said, “You cannot walk in freedom while holding yourself hostage.” I meditated on those words so much so that they came alive in my Spirit with so much force. Carrying Guilt Is Not the Same as Caring It stopped me because that is exactly what I had been doing, carrying guilt like proof that I cared, as if forgiveness meant I did not take my sin seriously enough. But God does not ask for proof of sorrow; He asks for surrender. Take a look at this scripture: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” — Psalm 103:12 When you truly believe that, you stop trying to be your own judge. You stop replaying what grace has already erased. Forgiving yourself is not about minimizing what happened, but it’s more about magnifying what Jesus did. Unforgiveness Can Look Like Pride I have learned that unforgiveness toward yourself is still a kind of pride. It says, “My standard matters more than God’s mercy.” But the cross changed that. The blood that covered your sin also covered your shame. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 So now, when that devil tries to remind me of who I was, I remind him of who I am, redeemed, restored, still in process but no longer condemned. When he tries to remind me of my past, I remind him of his future of eternal doom that is sealed. I have learned to speak gently to my past, to thank God for what it taught me, and to let it rest. Grace Did More Forgiving yourself does not erase the memory, but it removes the sting. It is peace that says , “I did wrong, but grace did more.” “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” — Romans 5:20 And maybe that is what God wants you to know, too. You do not have to keep punishing yourself to prove you have changed. You have already been forgiven. Now it is time to agree with heaven and forgive yourself, too, and remember one of Jesus’ commandments is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” You can’t love your neighbor if you haven’t first loved yourself. Again, like I’ll always say: THE DEPTH OF YOUR COMPASSION LIES IN YOUR ABILITY TO FORGIVE YOURSELF. Reflection Prayer Father, thank You for forgiving me completely. Teach me to see myself through Your eyes of mercy. Help me let go of guilt and the need to earn what You have already given freely. Heal the parts of me that still hold on to shame, and fill my heart with peace. I choose today to walk in the freedom that comes from grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen. © Favour

Photo by Reinhart Julian on Unsplash Every December, my phone reminds me Christmas is twenty days away. My inbox fills with sales. My soul feels nothing. It’s not that I don’t love Christmas. It’s that by the time it arrives, I’m already exhausted by it – the playlists, the pace, the pressure to be “in the spirit.” A few years ago, I stumbled across something called the church calendar – not a dusty relic of religion past, but a rhythm that re-taught my heart how to breathe. Our Disordered Time We live in a world that measures everything by speed and success. The modern clock ticks in chronos, the Greek word for sequential time – hours, minutes, deadlines. It rules our schedules, and sometimes, our souls. We treat time as a resource to manage, not a story to inhabit. Even our faith gets caught in the cycle – racing from one event to the next: Christmas, Easter, and then back to ordinary life as though nothing happened. But underneath it all, our hearts long for something steadier. Something sacred. We weren’t made merely to use time. We were made to live within it – and to remember the One who holds it. The Beauty of Sacred Time The church calendar is one of the oldest, simplest tools for slowing down and remembering that story. It doesn’t belong only to cathedrals or liturgical traditions. It’s a gift to anyone who’s weary of hurry. Across the centuries, Christians have marked their year not by fiscal quarters or exam blocks, but by the life of Christ. Advent whispers of waiting. Christmas celebrates arrival.Lent invites repentance.Easter bursts with resurrection joy.Pentecost breathes renewal. It’s not about nostalgia – it’s about learning to let our time tell the truth. To live as if the gospel is not just an event in history, but a rhythm woven through every season. Instead of asking, “What’s on my calendar?” the church year quietly asks, “Where am I in God’s story?” Rhythms That Shape the Heart Our habits shape us far more than our intentions. What we repeat – we become. Every habit, spiritual or otherwise, is a kind of liturgy: it forms the loves of our heart. And when we pattern our year around the story of Jesus, something happens. We learn to wait instead of rush. To rejoice without distraction. To mourn with hope. To live aware that every moment belongs to Him. Repetition might seem boring. But repetition is how love becomes steady. It’s how we learn, as the poet T.S. Eliot said, "The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." The church calendar isn’t about doing more. It’s about being shaped by what we already know is true. Rediscovering the Story You don’t need a cathedral or choir to begin. You simply need to pay attention – to slow down enough to notice that your faith has seasons. Advent becomes a time to wait in hope. Lent becomes a time to face what’s broken. Easter becomes a time to rejoice in what’s been made new. These are not rules to keep, but rhythms to live by – like tides that pull our wandering hearts back toward shore. When I began to follow this rhythm, I noticed my year stopped feeling like a blur. Relearning Time In a world obsessed with what’s next, the church calendar invites us to remember what’s already been done. It dares to repeat the same story, year after year – not because we’ve forgotten, but because we need to be formed by it. Maybe holiness isn’t found in cramming more in, but in circling back – again and again – to Christ. If you’d like a gentle way to begin that rhythm this Advent, I’ve created a free three-day guide called Waiting for Light – a printable devotional sampler to help you slow down, rest, and remember the hope of Christ’s coming. Download your free copy here. © Nathan Cole

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash There was a time I prayed with all my heart but couldn’t seem to hear God. I waited, fasted, listened and yet all I felt was silence. I began to wonder if something was wrong with me, or if God had gone quiet. But the truth is, God doesn’t stop speaking. Sometimes, our hearts just become too crowded to notice His voice. He still speaks through His Word, His peace, and His Spirit but life gets noisy. Our minds fill up, our emotions overflow, and our spirit becomes too restless to receive what He’s been saying all along. Here are a few quiet blockers that often stand between us and His voice, and how to open the line again. 1. Sin and Misalignment Sin doesn’t make God love us less, but it makes us less sensitive to His presence. It clouds our discernment and dulls our awareness of Him. Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you.” When I realized that disobedience makes hearing harder, I stopped asking “Why can’t I hear God?” and started asking “Where did I stop obeying?” Repentance isn’t about shame; it’s more about returning home. When your heart turns back, His voice becomes clear again. 2. Busyness and Noise In a time that glorifies constant motion, I mean scrolling, planning, and rushing from one task to another, it’s pretty easy to confuse activity with connection. But God’s voice rarely shouts; it whispers most of the time, more like a gentle nudge. Elijah didn’t find Him in the fire, earthquake, or ways that seemed loud, but in a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12). If your days have no silence, your soul will have no space. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is stop, sit in the quiet, and let your spirit breathe again. 3. Emotional Overload When fear, anxiety, or bitterness take over, they drown out the peace that helps you recognize God’s presence. I’ve learned that I hear Him most clearly when I’m still inside, when I zero in and I’m not striving for answers, just resting in trust. Philippians 4:7 says, “ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” His peace often comes before His words. When you feel that peace return, know that His presence has already arrived. 4. Neglecting His Word Sometimes we want a new word, but we haven’t sat with the written one. The more we read Scripture, the more familiar His tone becomes in our spirit. His Word is the tuning fork for every other way He speaks. Make Room If you’ve been struggling to hear God, don’t assume He’s far. He’s closer than your thoughts and even nearer than your next breath. Make room for stillness, put the noise away, and open His Word again. You’ll find that He never stopped speaking, He’s just been waiting for your heart to pay attention or quiet down enough to listen. © Favour