Daily Readings by Wild at Heart

Our beloved family dog is dying. But I’m not going to drag you through that tragedy; I want to share something gracious I’m learning through it. Only yesterday our vet told us that our sweet golden retriever is very ill, and tonight we’re supposed to go out to dinner with some friends. I’m torn, because we’ve been scheduling, canceling, and rescheduling this dinner for six months, and part of me r...

Think of consecration as “aligning” and “enforcing” — aligning yourself, or the subject in question, with Jesus and all the laws of his kingdom, then enforcing his rule and those laws over the matter in question. The first steps, which we have covered already, are mostly the “aligning” part. But often the “enforcing” requires a bit more “oomph,” especially if you are having difficulties there. Whi...

First, our lives are not a random series of events; they tell a Story that has meaning. We aren’t in a movie we’ve arrived at twenty minutes late; we are in a Sacred Romance. There really is something wonderful that draws our heart; we are being wooed. But there is also something fearful. We face an enemy with vile intentions. Is anyone in charge? Someone strong and kind who notices us? At some po...

Compare the shriveled life held up as a model of Christian maturity with the life revealed in the book of Psalms: You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (16:11) As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with G...

You have been ransomed by Christ. Your treachery is forgiven. You are entirely pardoned for every wrong thought and desire and deed. This is what the vast majority of Christians understand as the central work of Christ for us. And make no mistake about it — it is a deep and stunning truth, one that will set you free and bring you joy. For a while. But the joy for most of us has proved fleeting, be...

We can have joy, because we can know God’s strength in our weakness. Because God’s mercies are new every morning. Because as we walk through this valley of this shadow of death, we are never abandoned or alone. Our God goes before us, and He is behind us, around us, and within us.  We can have joy, no matter what sorrow or suffering we are currently enduring, because we have been chosen by the Fat...

You are going to have to come to terms with the partial nature of this life. Have you come to terms yet with the partial? Are you able to hold on to your faith when only some prayers are answered? It takes genuine maturity. Most people don’t even try to learn the ways of the kingdom; they just go about their days with a practical agnosticism, hoping things work out, tossing up prayers like they ho...

The battle of desire is not something that just takes place within us or even between us. It is also taking place against us, all the time. Our desire is under nearly constant attack. “We come into the world longing,” says Gil Bailie, “for we know not what. We are desire. And desire is good, for it’s what takes us to God. But our desire is not hard-wired to God.” So we look to others to teach us w...

Now — to find God, I have to look where God is. This might help folks who report that God “seems distant,” or as a friend recently commented (with a touch of cynicism), “He doesn’t seem to come around much.” If I want to find a hawk I look up in the sky, near the mountains where the thermals create an updraft. If I want to find our dog I simply have to find Stasi — he is usually curled up at her f...

The way to render a man happy, is to engage him with an object that will make him forget his private troubles. — Pascal Don't be fooled by the apparent innocence of the object you've chosen as an idol; what is the function of it? Most of our idols also have a perfectly legitimate place in our lives. That's their cover, that's how we get away with our infidelity. The prophet Isaiah gives an example...

I was reading the prophet Jeremiah a few weeks ago when I ran across a passage that referred to God as "the Lord Almighty." To be honest, it didn't resonate. There's something too religious about the phrase; it sounds churchy, sanctimonious. The Lawd Almiiiighty . It sounds like something your grandmother would say when you came into her kitchen covered in mud. I found myself curious about what th...

I think everyone prays at some point in their life, even if they’re not sure someone is listening. And I’ll bet that one of the most common prayers goes something like, Lord help me; give me strength. I really like that prayer. It has a genuine humility to it. We find ourselves facing something that overwhelms our personal resources, and we cry out for help, for strength. The man who casually answ...

Years ago some kind soul sent me a book on the devil. It was rather dated, from the 1960s I believe, complete with little caricature drawings of Satan as our adversary. I’m ashamed to admit my first thought was, I know plenty about spiritual warfare; this looks juvenile. I was put off by the outdated style and comic drawings of the devil as a horned figure, something from Halloween. I’m very grate...

Spiritual warfare often tries to work like a computer virus — it loves to transfer around to as many people as it can, infecting whole households or even churches. You can witness this with great clarity when you are standing outside of it. You will step into certain fellowships and immediately feel an arrogant attitude, or perhaps something that feels very “religious” and stifling; perhaps there...

You can tell a lot about a person by his effect on others. What is Jesus like to be around? What is the aftertaste he leaves in your mouth? Is this someone you’d want to take a long car ride with? We saw Zacchaeus’ reaction. Here are two more, from people quite different from each other and from Zacchaeus: One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down...

To be a human being is to be stained glass—beautiful in our brokenness, but a collection of many parts nonetheless. Someone once wrote, “You are every age you have ever been.” They were speaking poetically but also naming something literal. You are six, eight, twelve, seventeen, and also your current age. The human heart and soul were designed for Eden. We live far from it, far off in a war-torn w...

Written centuries ago by St. Patrick, this is a profound and simple prayer for protection. We find ourselves returning to again and again: I arise today  Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity.  Through belief in the threeness,  Through confession of the oneness,  Of the Creator of Creation. I arise today  Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,  Through the stre...

Jesus sustains all creation by the mighty power of his command. Obviously, or Satan would have torn all creation to pieces long ago. Jesus—through whom all things were made—is currently, at this moment, holding all things together; he sustains all creation. The love, forbearance, and patience of this is breathtaking—the tenderness and care, not to mention the mighty power of it! The Gospel is good...

We are seeking refuge as ordinary mystics growing into mature mystics who recognize that the refuge of God is dynamic and requires our participation—as when we consecrate our lives to God daily, when we stay in the truth, or when we crush the scorpions trying to harm us. The refuge is always available; the refuge is something to be seized . I’ve made intentional references to trauma throughout the...

In Deuteronomy and in Hebrews we are reminded that our God is a jealous God, a consuming fire: Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the LORD your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:23–24) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that ca...

Love is something we are going to have to firmly protect. Now here is the problem—as soon as I say the word “love,” many different things come to your heart and mind. Oh great, now I have to take care of everyone. I guess I have to let my toxic mom back in. I don’t get to have my own feelings about this; I just have to let everyone have theirs. We all have a story of love, how we learned love in t...

For you bless the godly, O LORD; you surround them with your shield of love.  –King David You are safe and secure in the refuge of God. That is the major theme. The minor theme is the war raging outside, which we do need to take seriously. The enemy is arrogant, and he loves to intimidate us by making the war seem like the major theme. It is not. So let’s return to love. All who declare that Jesus...

Remember now—we are maturing in our understanding of how we actively participate as ordinary mystics in God as our refuge and stronghold; these passages are critical to God’s provision for us. “Trampling and crushing” are active and definitive movements—there is nothing passive here at all. But of course. You’re standing in the kitchen of your home one evening, doing dishes. Your toddler is playin...

Let’s return to that gripping scene in the Judean wasteland. Imagine Jesus walking around his desert camp, fasting, praying, quoting Scripture, and no doubt declaring aloud Psalm 91, “El Shaddai is my refuge and fortress ...” It’s interesting to know that El Shaddai can be translated God of the wilderness: While the traditional English translation of Shaddai is based on the Greek ..., the Hebrew e...

The spiritual warfare of the hour we are living in is no different than what Patrick and his disciples faced. It might be worse because of the lateness of the hour, and it can be withering when you are under it. In those desolate moments, when my heart feels abandoned by God and I want to cry out, Where are you, God? Why aren’t you doing something? I catch myself and protect my heart like a breast...