Faith over Fear is not the fulcrum of our decision making. Love is. Faith expressed through love, makes us free to love others without fear, because love drives out fear, allowing us the freedom to love openly, unapologetically, and without limit.

A lot is made about things like “faith over fear” or “faith greater than fear,” but a Christlike ethic is not defined by such a dichotomy.

The way, truth, and life as expressed, and lived out, by Christ and the apostles centered around faith expressing itself through love as the only thing that counts (Gal 5:6). Faith expressing itself through love:

• lowers itself and puts the needs of others first (Gal 5:6, Phil 2:3, and many more);
• gives respect and honor to those in authority…

Read the Discipleship Prayer here.

“Jesus — the Christ, Messiah, Immanuel — ”

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

~Acts 5:42

In Southeast Asia is it not uncommon for children to be named simply with a number representing their order of birth. In some areas, many first born sons have the same name which, in their local language means “first” or “one.” This name becomes and important identifier of ones place in the family, along with the rights, responsibilities, and tasks which will be required of them.

In…

As we come into God’s presence in prayer it is important to begin with praising God for who God is — most high, most holy, most loving, and much more — and remembering that it pleases God to love and be loved.

Read the Discipleship Prayer here.

“Heavenly Father…”

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

~James 1:17–18 (NIV)

Everything good…

Your way is the way of fullness and life. In Jesus name…Amen

Read the “Discipleship Prayer” below slowly, intentionally, pausing to think and reflect along the way as the Spirit leads. Notice which parts cause you to pause, which parts bring about questions, and which parts do not come out as easily as it seems they should.

Over the next several week we will be breaking down this prayer, investigating, considering, and reflecting on each line. Today, spend as much time as you can familiarizing yourself with the prayer.

DAILY DISCIPLESHIP PRAYER

Heavenly Father-God Most High, Most Holy, Most Loving

Jesus-the Christ, Messiah…

In the same way that God has given us the gift (yes, it is a gift when we realize fully its purpose and power to transform our lives in meaningfully ways) of a Sabbath day, we might also consider arranging our daily schedule with one or more “Sabbath moments” — short periods of time to intentionally and purposefully separate ourselves from the many busyness and distractions of the day for the purpose of praising God, praying, practicing hospitality, and putting our priorities in proper perspective.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my…

“It would seem as though God’s people have almost always had to narrate their life through the lens of exile”

T. Scott Daniels, Exile, Kindle location 180

Having lived for nearly 15 years in an Asian country where the Christian community is a significant minority, the idea of exile is a familiar one, though prior to reading T. Scott Daniel’s Exile I’m not sure I ever thought of it through the lens of exile. In the context of the minority Christian community where I live, the reality of exile is the way things have always been and probably will be…

Living to the fullest means emptying ourselves fully.

A comment on my recent post entitled Perfect Plans and Purposes ended with “…living our lives to the fullest for God to our very last breath, whenever that may be.” (Thanks, Beth!) . This got me to thinking.

My response to this comment ended with a short phrase that reflected one of those rare moments when words just fall out onto the floor perfectly arranged with no need for re-wording, re-ordering, or re-thinking:

Living to the fullest means emptying ourselves fully.

Not that I came up with this on my own. Scripture…

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

— Leviticus 19:1–2

Old Testament “holy” — קָדוֹשׂ (qādôš) — sacred, divine, separate

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

— 1 Peter 1:13–22

New Testament “holy” — ἅγιος (hagios) — sacred, belonging to God

“Your name is holy” points us back to who God is — God is sacred, divine, and separate from everything…