October 2021 Guest Post Sampler

Every month, I guest post at several popular sites. For your reading convenience, I’m gathering them into an October 2021 guest post sampler.

Finding Common Ground in a Divided Culture

When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.

1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT

Finding common ground in a divided culture isn’t easy. But it’s an amazing way to reach out to others in love, and you can do this in everyday conversations. It’s probably not as hard as you think…let me explain.

I’m an introvert, and new settings with strangers aren’t super fun for me. However, I actively look for something in common with a new person, and then I can strike up a conversation with greater comfort.

You can look for clues to establish common ground. Are they wearing something with a name brand you know? Do they have jewelry that says something about their tastes? Do their tattoos tell a story? Most people have something on them that can be common ground with you.

Just about anything can become a conversation piece. I’ve struck up conversations based on a sports team jersey, a Vera Bradley purse, a book, shoes, a child’s toy and a Tervis cup. People LOVE talking about themselves. If you give a positive comment on something they own, they are most often happy to talk about it.This approach can be especially helpful for dealing with someone different from you. Finding common ground builds bridges in a divided culture. It demonstrates that you are interested in others and willing to listen. Everyone is hungry for someone to listen to them. You get the conversation started, and if you listen well, they will feel respected and even loved.

We must meet people where they are to find common ground and bridge divides. Once you start a conversation, meet them in their weakness. Be vulnerable and open, admitting your weaknesses too. You won’t be able to lead them all to Christ, but you’ll touch them with his love and kindness when you find common ground with them.

Remember, a divided culture will change one relationship at a time. The change likely won’t happen outside authentic relationships. Be the first to reach out with God’s love, and you’ll be known as a bridge builder. You won’t only bless those with whom you are talking – you’ll inspire others to be bridge builders too as they watch you finding common ground.

Here’s a prayer to encourage you too:

Father God,

Thank you for the practical nature of your Word.

I confess that I don’t always build common ground.

Sometimes I even contribute to the divisions in my culture.

But I want to be a bridge builder, starting today.

Teach me how to find common ground with everyone you put in my path.

Give me creative inspiration along with courage to reach out.

Help me share in others’ weaknesses by being vulnerable and authentic.

May my pursuit of common ground with others build bridges to you.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Prefer to listen? Here’s the podcast episode:

Finding Common Ground in a Divided Culture: Practical encouragement from 1 Cor. 9:22. #devotion #loveothers #relationshiphelp Share on X

This post originally appeared on Woman 2 Woman Magazine.

How Christian Meditation Can Build Your Faith

I’m honored to be featured in Outpour Magazine this month. Read my article for them HERE.

How Christian Meditation Can Build Your Faith: My feature article for the Oct./Nov. issue of Outpour Magazine. #christianmeditation #christianfaith #faith Share on X

The Need for Margin

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

Psalm 127:2 NLT

I’m learning to create more margin in my daily life. As a hard-driven Enneagram 1 perfectionist, this is a challenge for me. But I’m listening to the truth in today’s focus verse, and it speaks to me about the need for margin.

I grew up with a strong work ethic being modeled for me. And I’m thankful for this trait passed down to me. However, I can push this good trait to the extreme, working myself too hard. Packing too many things in to a tight schedule. It’s tempting to keep working hard at all the things in my life: writing, managing my household, volunteering and more.

Working hard can be tempting, because it produces real results. When I work hard and produce much, I feel validated. But I’m learning to find my identity in Christ rather than in what I produce. As I lean into margin, my anxiety decreases, and I can relax more easily in God’s rest.

Creating more margin is simply redeeming the edges of my schedule. The old me crammed “just one more thing” in, time after time, right up to the limits. But this made me feel rushed, stressed and frazzled. I find pockets of peace every time I let myself simply “be” in the margins rather than getting one more thing ticked off my to-do list.The margins I’m using are short and sweet. An extra ten minutes sitting in the school pickup line lets me enjoy moments with God, whether it’s through listening to Christian music or reading a Christian book. Sometimes I just sit with my eyes closed, receiving God’s love for me in prayer. Leaving ten minutes earlier helps curb my temptation to speed and get frustrated with slower drivers. The margins help me not only minister to my own needs, but be more kind and compassionate to others.

The margins help me preserve my peace of mind, and that’s important. God wants us to love others as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40), so we must set aside time for self-care. When we don’t, we become less loving toward both ourselves and others. Margins are a great place to grab moments of rest, even in a busy schedule.

Where are the margins in your life that can be redeemed for your good? I challenge you to redeem at least one 10-minute margin per day for the next week. Simply “be” before the Lord, letting him show his love for you. I pray that as you redeem the margins in your life, your peace will increase, and your spirit will settle into God’s rest.

Here’s a prayer to encourage you too:

Father God,

Thank you for the gift of work.

It feels good to check things off my to-do list.

However, I sometimes push work to the extreme.

When I push myself so hard, I become anxious and stressed.

Teach me to receive the rest you provide, because you love me.

Help me redeem the margins in my life..

May I experience pockets of peace in my day when I rest with you.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

The Need for Margin: Practical encouragement from Psalm 127:2. #devotion #margin #selfcare Share on X

Prefer to listen? Here’s the podcast episode:

This post originally appeared on Woman 2 Woman Ministries.

United in the Church

This summer, I experienced the joy of traveling to two in-person conferences. I met many online friends for the first time. We are all Christians, though from different parts of the country. We fall all along the spectrum of denominations and political leanings, too.

One common theme in our conversations was this: What can we do to heal the wounds of our nation? The divisions in the Church as a whole? We are all hurting from the cultural shifts of 2020 and wondering how to move forward as salt and light in America and beyond.

After much thought, Bible reading and prayer, I’m convinced that unless we can make things right in the Church first, we don’t have a chance at making things right in the world. We need to work together as followers of Jesus so the world will see what unity really looks like.

I am humbled and convicted when I read what Jesus was praying about right before his arrest. Let’s look at part of his prayer in John 17:20-23 MSG:

I’m praying not only for them [the disciples]
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me.

Jesus was praying for us – yes, you and me – right before he was arrested. He laid out his goals for us as brothers and sisters in the global Church. Let’s break them down.

Become of one heart and mind

God wants us to be united with him – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – as well as united together in the church. He also wants us to be of one heart and mind as believers. These are two of his primary goals for us – they are very important.

How do you pursue these goals? Before casting judgment or firing back on social media toward another Christian, remember you are interacting with someone Jesus prayed about before he died. He wants you to be united with them, not divided. Pray for them first, thanking God for them, and approach them with this mindset. In which area of your life will this mindset help you pursue unity most?

Be mature in this oneness

The Bible makes it clear that God accepts us as we are. But he does not want us to stagnate in our faith. He wants us to move from easy teachings to meatier ones (see Hebrews 5:12-13). We need to be maturing in our spiritual lives with measurable growth year to year. This means living for Jesus more than for ourselves – it’s a daily struggle, but it gets easier the more we mature in Christ. This maturity process involves regular engagement in spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible reading, worship, giving and more.

I can tell you from personal experience that my own spiritual maturity has grown much faster in community with other Christians. We need the feedback, encouragement, and even correction from other believers, though their beliefs may differ slightly from ours. You can connect with other Christians in small group gatherings at your church or community interdenominational Bible studies. Where else might you have faith-based conversations with other Christians?

Witness about God to a world looking for evidence

We need to remember the world is always looking for evidence of God, whether they admit it or not. They are seeking healing from the cultural shifts too. We can demonstrate this best by pursuing love for each other in the Church first, then sharing it with the world.

I’m convinced that most true Christ followers really want to become better people. They want to learn how to love others, and perhaps try witnessing, but don’t know how or are afraid to try. Why not start with baby steps among other Christians?

Perhaps it will be easier for you to listen to someone of a different denomination or political leaning within the Church first, where most people are good willed toward one another. As you practice listening skills and engage in role play with fellow Christians, you can gain the courage to demonstrate more kindness and compassion toward the world. And as you pursue steps 1 and 2, you’ll be better equipped to share your faith through witnessing about God.

I’m putting these three steps into practice. They aren’t easy, but they are important and good. They are helping my heart pursue unity over division, others over myself. I pray that as we become more united in the Church, our light will shine ever brighter in a world that needs our witness.

Unless we can make things right in the Church first, we don't have a chance at making things right in the world. #church #christianliving #unity Share on X

Prefer to listen? Here’s the podcast episode:

This post originally appeared on Kingdom Edge Magazine.

When You Invite the Holy Spirit to Lead Your Prayers

In recent years, I’ve learned how to pray Spirit-led prayers. It’s an exciting adventure I had not been on until I read the book When You Need to Move a Mountain by Linda Evans Shepherd.

In this powerful book on intercessory prayer, Linda lists many examples of how different people pray for loved ones. They are people from all kinds of denominations and backgrounds with a common purpose – a fervent desire to pray for others in a way that makes a difference.

I was in a season of being called to pray on someone else’s behalf when this book came into my hands. It seemed like a gift straight from heaven when I needed guidance but didn’t know how to find it.

The book outlines ways to pray for others, all based on the Bible. The way that intrigued me most is praying Spirit-led prayers. It’s letting the Holy Spirit guide you while you are praying, so you are praying God’s revealed will for another person.

We read about the Holy Spirit’s prayers for us in Romans 8:26-27 NLT:

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

How many times have you not known what to pray, but asked God to hear the cries of your heart? Surely in those moments, when you did not have the words to pray, the Holy Spirit was interceding for you. He was praying for you in harmony with the Father’s will, as He always does.

The most amazing privilege about praying Spirit-led prayers is joining the Holy Spirit in intercession for another person’s benefit. If you ask the Holy Spirit to lead your prayers for someone else, He is all too eager to help you. Here is what I do to prepare for Spirit-led prayers:

First, I praise God for who he is. It’s important to humble yourself before God as you begin each prayer. Remember that He is in control, and you are submitting to Him in reverence.
Next, I pray directly to the Holy Spirit, asking Him for guidance in my prayers. I pray that He will give me the words to say. I ask him to bring Scriptures to my mind so that I can pray them over the person. This is the fruit of daily Bible study and meditation because the Holy Spirit can then bring those verses back to the forefront of my mind as I am praying.
Then, I begin praying for the person. I start with what I know, which is usually a felt need the person has expressed or one I have observed. Then, I silently wait for prayer prompts from the Holy Spirit. Saying the words, “Spirit, come fall afresh on me” is a good practice at this point of my prayer. Every time, He has been faithful to give me prayer prompts that I would not have come up with on my own. In this way, Spirit-led prayer is an exciting adventure.
Finally, I end my prayers by praising God for revealing His truth and will to me. It’s always a joy to praise Him for guiding me in ways I would have never seen at the beginning, leading me to pray things in accordance with His will. It’s thrilling to reflect on the verses he brought to my mind and used as tools to pray more specifically for the person in need.

Does this process sound overwhelming to you? Exciting? A little frightening? This process can stir up many emotions when you are first embarking on Spirit-led prayer for others. However, it gets easier with practice, because you learn to trust God as you are taking one step forward at a time.

I encourage you to begin your own Spirit-led prayer journey. Which person is on your heart most often? Who needs your prayers of encouragement and support? The Holy Spirit wants to lead you on a unique and powerful journey of prayer for that person. He’s already praying for that person with groans that cannot be expressed. But it would be a great joy to him if you are willing to join him on that journey to intercede for someone who would benefit from your prayers.

Let’s pray with expectation: “Spirit, fall afresh on me.”

You can invite the Holy Spirit to lead your prayers, and it's a wonderful adventure of faith. #holyspirit #spiritled #prayer Share on X

This post originally appeared on my friend Lyli Dunbar’s website.