• Devotional

    Simplicity Unfolded (Plus a personal note)

    Note to readers: Greetings, friends! I’ve received some feedback that posts sometimes get buried and revisiting topics can be helpful. This, paired with taking some time away to write new content, I’ve decided to re-post the series on simplicity. I hope you enjoy! I am looking forward to this new season. All the best from my home to yours, Sarah Simplicity “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and Godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” 2 Corinthians 1:12…

  • Devotional

    Knowledge and Discernment

    “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV). In the last post we talked about the beginning of this prayer- how abundant love is the direct result of abiding in Christ. The apostle didn’t stop his intersession for the church with his request that their love would abound more and…

  • Current Series - Devotional

    In Love

    “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV). Over the next couple posts, we’ll be exploring this entire prayer! Today, we’ll start by looking at the beginning. Anytime the apostle Paul references specific aspects of his walk or prayer life, my feet come to a halt. “And it is my…

  • Devotional

    Sincerity Unfolded (Part II)

    In our last post, we explored the Godly simplicity with which the apostle Paul behaved in the world (that article can be found here!: Simplicity Unfolded). We also talked about how that simplicity takes on the connotation of being “unfolded.” Paul and the brothers with him didn’t walk in the world carrying a myriad of hidden motives- they were simple (unfolded) in their dealing with people. Today, we’ll explore the other word that is used to describe their behavior and how it helps to complete the example they left for believers today. Defining sincerity “For our boast is this, the…

  • Devotional

    Simplicity Unfolded

    “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and Godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” 2 Corinthians 1:12 (ESV). This verse hangs above my desk. It’s not on anything fancy, just a piece of paper from a notebook. I haven’t adjusted to it’s presence there (and I hope I never will!). This verse stops me every time I read it. The apostle Paul encouraged the early church to follow after his example, as he followed after Christ (if you’d…

  • Current Series - Devotional

    Walking it Out

    “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV). The first lie that humankind listened to in the garden: “Did God really say…” A spiritual sleep can come over us when we begin to doubt the authority of God’s word or the intent behind clearly defined boundaries in scripture. “Did God really say…” “Yes, he did.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 is a good scripture to tuck away for that moment of decision. God’s word is our sword and it demolishes…

  • Current Series - Devotional

    Why a Narrow Path?

    “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV). Why? After reading this passage, the natural question is: why is the way narrow? Why aren’t there lots of paths and options that all ultimately lead to the same place? The answer to this question is found in the pages of scripture: the way is narrow because we are…

  • Devotional

    Committed to Grace

    “And after I’d prayed, I picked up my burden again.” I found myself saying this, mentally picturing the time I spent in prayer, offering everything in my heart to the Lord. Then, I said “amen,” and meticulously picked up every single heavy stone I’d intended to leave there.   It makes sense, in the human sense, that we would want to keep an eye on those things that are precious to us. I think this is especially true when praying for our loved ones in the Lord. We wouldn’t be bringing these requests to his feet if they weren’t important…

  • Devotional

    A Daily Walk

    “I don’t know how to walk through this, Lord.” How many times has my heart whispered these words in prayer? Too many to count. Has your own heart ever whispered these words? If you answered yes, I don’t think we are alone in this experience. Sooner or later, situations arise where we find ourselves out of our depth. It doesn’t matter how much experience we have or which seasons we’ve weathered. The question can come out of many circumstances- times of uncertainty, a season of stillness, or even a season of joy. Walking through the day-in/day-out routines of our lives,…

  • Devotional

    Prayers for a Loving Church (Part II)

    “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered…