Category: Christian Living

The Joy of Self-Despair

by Jordan, posted in Christian Living

What’s one thing that dramatically changed your walk with Jesus?

For me, it was learning to distinguish between true despair and self-despair. As many of you know, I grew up ensnared in addiction. Trying to live a Christian life looked a lot like this:

  • Sin.
  • Try to stop.
  • Fail.
  • Despair.

I spent over a decade stuck in that cycle, despairing of ever living a life for Jesus or breaking my addiction. I was sure that anything good the Lord had planned for my life had been ruined.

Continue reading “The Joy of Self-Despair” →

Fixing My Thoughts on Him

by Jordan, posted in Christian Living

I was out for a walk recently, listening to a sermon, when the following passage caught my attention:

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” —Psalms 139:16-18

I was struck by the phrase, “How precious are your thoughts about me.” For some reason, I had never given much weight to the fact that God actually thinks about me. And not only that He thinks about me, but that His good thoughts for me outnumber the grains of sand.

Continue reading “Fixing My Thoughts on Him” →

Don’t Leave the Kingdom on the Table

by Jordan, posted in Christian Living

Two things I’m passionate about are knowing God and receiving everything He has for me. I don’t want to leave anything on the table.

My mother-in-law often says, “Never live beneath what Jesus died to give you.” As I try my best to live that way, one thing I’ve learned is that I can only know God in certain capacities when I leave my comfort zones, and I can only receive to the extent that I recognize my need. For example, I can’t know God as provider if I never lack anything. I can’t know God as protector if I always avoid trials. I can’t know God as defender if I never walk boldly.

Continue reading “Don’t Leave the Kingdom on the Table” →