The battle many people are fighting right now is the battle of the mind. Franticness. Failure. Fear. Loneliness. Loss. Lethargy. Distress. Disappointment. Doubt. So how do you win the battle of the mind? In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul writes: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and … Continue reading The battle of the mind
Author: Matthew Ruttan
True beauty
Our world is often messed up when it comes to what it thinks is beautiful. That’s why I think the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is such a success. People know—deep within—that we’re paying attention to the wrong things when it comes to beauty. Well, do you want to know who is TRULY beautiful? God. … Continue reading True beauty
Meaning in the minutia
The great artist Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling in the Vatican. It took several years and included 400 figures and 9 scenes! A friend noticed all the details Michelangelo was putting into the corners of the chapel ceiling—corners that were incredibly far away and therefore difficult for the naked eye to see. “No one … Continue reading Meaning in the minutia
Moments to tone the muscle of your character
Jonathan Haidt is a psychologist who did a hypothetical experiment. People were given a summary of the life story of a girl named Jillian. Here are some of the details: At a young age, Jillian developed a learning disability which would delay her ability to read, and which impacted her grades and work throughout life. … Continue reading Moments to tone the muscle of your character
Lukewarm or loyal?
In the Bible, the word “love” is close to what we mean today when we talk about “loyalty.” To love God is to be loyal to the God who made us, saves us, provides for us, and guides us no matter what we’re going through. Consider Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. In Daniel 3 they were … Continue reading Lukewarm or loyal?
The right attitude
I once heard about a man who had a heart attack. His life flashed before his eyes which scared him. As a result, he started to take better care of himself, pay more attention to the people he cared about, and live by better priorities. A friend noticed the change and came to visit. “How’d … Continue reading The right attitude
Remember this feeling
Last week I came across a picture that someone from my congregation posted on Instagram in winter. It was snowy and she was cross-country skiing to church! It’s a picture that both is beautiful and powerful in its simplicity. (It’s the photo that goes with today’s devotional below.) It got me thinking about the things … Continue reading Remember this feeling
No matter what
Today I want to share a word of grace in a difficult time. Something I’ve noticed is that many people are being really hard on themselves. I get it. You want to do well. You want to put your best foot forward in every area of your life. You want to hit the proverbial ball … Continue reading No matter what
This chapter isn’t your final chapter
Let me go out on a limb for a moment. Your life isn’t totally ideal right now. Am I right? I get it. A global pandemic isn’t really a fun factory. That’s why I’m here to tell you some good news: The current chapter of your story isn’t the final chapter of your story. Hardship. … Continue reading This chapter isn’t your final chapter
Brains like a broken Etch-A-Sketch?
What will next month hold? Or next year? Or the next 5 years? At this point in human history, we’re not so sure. Covid-19 has changed a lot of things. But guess what? God provides. Speaking to the Hebrews in Deuteronomy 8:4, Moses reminded them about this very fact, even as they had wandered through … Continue reading Brains like a broken Etch-A-Sketch?
