Grow In Faith

In this second installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff picks up where we left off—Moses is gone, Joshua is in charge, and the Israelites stand on the banks of the Jordan River. The weight of leadership is heavy. Joshua has spent years in Moses' shadow, learning and waiting. But his assignment was never to be Moses. It was to be obedient and follow God&apo...

In this first message of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff explores the theme of new beginnings and second chances. Just as the Israelites stood on the banks of the Jordan River after 40 years of wandering—facing a long-delayed transition—we too are invited to turn the page, take stock, and ask, "What's next?" Pastor Mike reflects on the emotionally char...

It's not too late to engage with Lent on a deeper level. And fasting might be the practice that opens the door. Hi, I'm Brad Coleman, the Campus Pastor at Christ Church Highland Park. This is our final devotion in this week's "Holy Habits" series on fasting. We've covered the biblical foundation, fasting as worship, and fasting as training in righteousness. But if you...

We don't drift toward Christlikeness. We have to aim for it. Hi, I'm Brad Coleman, the Campus Pastor at Christ Church Highland Park. Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series on fasting. We've explored the biblical foundation and fasting as worship. Today, we're looking at fasting as something else entirely: training in righteousness. In this devotion, we ex...

What if fasting isn't about what you give up , but about who you lift up ? Hi, I'm Brad Coleman, the Campus Pastor at Christ Church Highland Park. Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series on fasting. Yesterday, we laid the biblical foundation for this ancient practice. Today, we're exploring fasting as an act of worship—and it might change how you think about it...

What if fasting wasn't just for biblical heroes, but for ordinary followers of Jesus? What if it was assumed—not optional? Hey, Christ Church. I'm Brad Coleman, the pastor of Christ Church Highland Park. Welcome to this week's "Holy Habits" devotional series. We're in the season of Lent—40 days leading up to the most significant moment in human history: the death and...

We've talked about why silence and solitude matter. But how do you actually do it? What do you do when you get alone and quiet? Hi everyone! I'm Jamie Morrison, and this is our final devotion in this week's "Holy Habits" series on Silence and Solitude. We've covered the currents that cause us to drift, the example of Jesus, and the whisper that met Elijah in the cave....

If you're waiting for God to show up in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire—you might miss Him. He's often in the whisper. Hi everyone! I'm Jamie Morrison, and welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series on Silence and Solitude. Today, we're looking at one of the most dramatic stories in the Old Testament—and discovering that God's most powerful moment...

If Jesus—the Son of God—needed to get away to a solitary place to pray, what does that say about us? Hi everyone! I'm Jamie Morrison, and welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series on Silence and Solitude. Yesterday we talked about the unseen currents that cause us to drift. Today, we're looking at the one person who had the most demanding ministry in history—and how H...

What do a day at the beach and your spiritual life have in common? More than you might think. Hi everyone! I'm Jamie Morrison, the Campus Pastor at Vernon Hills, and I'm kicking off this week's "Holy Habits" devotional series on two practices that go together better than peanut butter and jelly: Silence and Solitude. In this first devotion, I share a personal story about o...

Do you ever find yourself treating God like a vending machine—showing up when you want something, then moving on with your day? Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series! Today, we're continuing our exploration of Christian meditation—but this time, we're focusing on a crucial shift: moving from doing for God to simply being with God. In this devotion, we explore: A d...

In a world that is overstimulated and undernourished, everyone is talking about meditation. But not all meditation is the same. Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series! Today, we're tackling a practice that has often made evangelical Protestants uncomfortable: Meditation. Because of its association with Eastern religion and the New Age movement, many Christians have simp...

What if the soundtrack of your mind was composed of God's promises rather than your own worries? Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series! Today, we're continuing our exploration of Scripture memorization—but we're going deeper. It's not about tricking our brains with memory tricks. It's about letting the word of Christ dwell in us richly. In this devo...

In a world where we can Google anything in seconds, is memorizing Scripture still relevant? Hi everyone! Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series. Today, we're exploring a spiritual practice that has been central to God's people for thousands of years but has largely fallen out of favor in our modern world: Scripture memorization. In this devotion, we discover: How a...

We've talked about why confession matters. But what does it actually look like to confess? What words do you use? Hey, Christ Church! I'm Dustin Hacker, and this is our final devotion in this week's "Holy Habits" series on Prayer and Confession. Yesterday, we laid the foundation for confession—what it is and why we need it. Today, we're getting practical. I'm goi...

Why is our first instinct, when we do something wrong, to hide? It started in the Garden of Eden, and it's still true for us today. Hey, Christ Church! I'm Dustin Hacker, and welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series. Today, we're beginning a two-part look at one of the most misunderstood and avoided spiritual practices: Confession. In this video, we go back to t...

Do you ever feel like you're praying the same things over and over again? Like your prayers have become a little stale or routine? Hey, Christ Church! I'm Dustin Hacker, and welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series. Yesterday we talked about the simple, foundational definition of prayer: talking with God. Today, we're building on that foundation by exploring a s...

What is prayer, really? Is it complicated? Is it supposed to be eloquent? Do you need the right words? Hey, Christ Church! I'm Dustin Hacker, the Associate Campus Pastor at our Lake Forest campus, and I'm kicking off this week's "Holy Habits" devotionals on two essential practices: Prayer and Confession. In this first video, we're going back to the basics. And to help...

We've talked about the why of Sabbath and service all week. But now comes the hard part: the how . Hi everyone! I'm Paul Fowler, the Lake Forest Campus Pastor, and this is our final devotion in this week's "Holy Habits" series on Sabbath and Service. We've covered the theology, the biblical history, and the heart behind these practices. But if we don't know how t...

You've been set free. But free for what? Hi everyone! I'm Paul Fowler, the Lake Forest Campus Pastor, and welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series. Yesterday we talked about the gift of Sabbath—a day to rest and be with God. Today, we're looking at the other side of the coin: Service. If you've ever wondered where you should be serving—or if serving is even...

The Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. We don't murder, we don't steal—but what about the Sabbath? Is it required for Christians today, or is it optional? And if we don't keep it on Saturday like our Jewish brothers and sisters, are we doing it wrong? Hi everyone! I'm Paul Fowler, the Lake Forest Campus Pastor, and welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional ser...

When Jesus shows up at your door, what do you do? Do you kick into high gear, making sure everything is perfect? Or do you drop everything just to be with Him? Hi everyone! I'm Paul Fowler, the Lake Forest Campus Pastor, and I'm excited to kick off this week's "Holy Habits" devotionals. We're diving into two essential—and seemingly opposite—practices: Sabbath and Serv...

What is the actual goal of spiritual disciplines? Is it to check boxes, read our Bibles more, and pray longer prayers? Or is it something—and Someone—entirely different? Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series. In this video, Pastor Mike offers a crucial reminder: spiritual practices are not an end in themselves. The goal is not to become a "really disciplined Christian....

How does spiritual transformation actually happen? Is it one dramatic moment, or is it something else entirely? Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series. In this video, Pastor Mike continues our exploration of the spiritual practices that position us for God to do His transforming work. And to illustrate this, he turns to one of literature's most unlikely heroes: Samwise...

In a world of chronic noise and endless distractions, how do we actually create space to hear from God? Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series! This week, we're diving into the twin practices of silence and solitude. In this video, Pastor Mike shares powerful insights from his own recent retreat and from Scripture about why being still is essential for spiritual growth....