Dr. Sean Tobin is a clinical psychologist who brings into his practice insights from both psychotherapy and Christian spirituality.He says that right out of the gate many Christians have a barrier in their relationship with God. At a base level they think of God as one of three things: angry, distant or weak.To move forward … Continue reading When your negative thoughts need a smack
psalm 103
Ashes, mortality and the beginning of Lent
Today is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent—a forty day period (excluding Sundays) leading up to the ground zero of the Christian faith: the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Some churches and traditions have a custom of putting ashes on people’s foreheads on this day. Why? One of the reasons is that ashes are … Continue reading Ashes, mortality and the beginning of Lent
Inner health made audible
I like to be healthy. I’m sure you like to be healthy as well. When we hear the word ‘health,’ the first thing many of us think about is physical health. A cold or a broken bone disrupts our physical health. There is also mental health. Fortunately, more people are talking about mental well-being, and … Continue reading Inner health made audible
Blessing God and bending the knee
God blesses us in many ways. But in Psalm 103:1 (ESV) we are encouraged to bless him back: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” But what does that mean? The Hebrew word for bless is “barach.” It is sometimes translated as “praise.” So blessing God … Continue reading Blessing God and bending the knee
Follow your… head
“Follow your heart!” We hear that a lot. I’m sure it’s well-intentioned: our instincts and feelings are important. But our hearts can often lead us astray since (a) we are sinful by nature, and (b) our hearts are heavily influenced by the non-stop negativity around us. Wouldn’t it be better to “follow your head” insofar … Continue reading Follow your… head
Over-functioning and under-believing
Summer is upon us. It’s a time to change gears. A lot of us are still working, but most of us will probably have a bit of vacation time here or there. Kids are out of school and teens are meandering to the beach. But many people still find it hard to rest. And when … Continue reading Over-functioning and under-believing
Your soul has an appetite
Hello! I’m back after a week away, and so is The Up Daily Devotional to your email inbox, social media feeds or podcast subscriptions five mornings a week! Let’s get to today’s devotional. A lady who was hard up for cash tried to sell her soul on eBay for $2000. Apparently eBay now has a … Continue reading Your soul has an appetite
The strengthening effect of praising God
Do you want to be fortified, braced, strengthened? Me too. That’s why it’s vital to praise God. Here’s how those things are connected. In Psalm 103 David talks about praising God. A lot. Check it out: Verse 1: “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” Verse 2: “Praise the LORD, … Continue reading The strengthening effect of praising God
Negativity is a tractor beam
In the Star Wars movie A New Hope, a starship called the Millennium Falcon tries to fly away from a massive space station called the Death Star. It’s so big that the young pilot Luke Skywalker first thinks it’s a moon. But as they get closer, they realize they can’t fly away from it. Captain … Continue reading Negativity is a tractor beam
When life feels out of control
We humans like being in control. We’re so used to how much we like it, and to how much control we think we have, that we don’t even realize it. A simple, modern example is how we can control the temperate of our homes from a smart phone app—even when we’re not there! Previous generations … Continue reading When life feels out of control
