Hello! After a short break, The Up Devotional is back to your email inboxes, social media feeds, and podcast platforms five mornings a week. Here we are in 2024. Wow, that sounds futuristic. But it’s the new now. The start of another twelve-month cycle gets you thinking about priorities. If you have them (and you … Continue reading Habits are priorities with a watch
habits
When your prayer life hits a dry spell
When it comes to prayer, I sometimes hit a dry spell. I’m a pastor. So perhaps that surprises you. In case it isn’t obvious, we’re human too! Very human. Most of the pastors I know love Jesus, want to serve him, care for his people, and struggle with many of the same things that you … Continue reading When your prayer life hits a dry spell
Things you keep doing to keep growing
When someone says the word "habits," what do you think about? Perhaps it's a bad habit like chewing your nails. Or perhaps it's a good habit like eating fruit with your breakfast. I'm a word nerd so I looked up some background on the word "habit." It has a variety of uses. But I find … Continue reading Things you keep doing to keep growing
Do your habits grow you or corrode you?
“whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable… think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). Some habits are good. Others are bad. We want good ones. We don’t want bad ones. But what are habits, anyway? Habits are thoughts or behaviours of repetition and momentum. As … Continue reading Do your habits grow you or corrode you?
Make a plan
At first you establish your habits, and then your habits establish you. Let me explain what I mean by that and why it matters. If you do something consistently over a long period of time it becomes a habit. Some habits are good and others are bad. Smoking is a bad habit. Eating well is … Continue reading Make a plan
An erosion, not an explosion
It’s no surprise that I highly value—and consistently teach about—the importance of daily, spiritual practices. As I’m fond of saying, at first you make your habits, and then your habits make you. Spiritual practices are things you do on a daily basis (habits) which help you know and walk with God. But they serve another … Continue reading An erosion, not an explosion
The moments you already have
Things are different. Including your routines. As a result, your spiritual habits have probably taken a hit. Do you find it harder to carve out time to read the Bible, or pray, or worship, or connect with your small group, or do family devotions, or serve others, or _______? If so, you’re not alone. Last … Continue reading The moments you already have
Consistency in the storm
In 1911 two explorers and their teams set out on a 1400 mile journey to be the first in modern times to reach the South Pole. Roald Amundsen led one team. And Robert Falcon Scott led the other. They were pretty much equally matched. But they had different strategies. Scott traveled based on the weather … Continue reading Consistency in the storm
Get consistent
This week I’m sharing some thoughts about prayer. Like oxygen, prayer is a life-giving necessity for a vibrant spiritual life. Yesterday, I talked about how motives matter. Today, let’s talk about CONSISTENCY. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul says to “pray without ceasing.” But if you’re like a lot of people, there’s more ceasing than there … Continue reading Get consistent
Out from under “The Dark”
Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” (NIV) Today's Thought One of the stories I read my kids is “The Dark” by Robert Munsch. Basically, a shadow comes to life and starts eating other shadows. As a result, he keeps getting bigger and eventually lives on top … Continue reading Out from under “The Dark”
