Much of the U.S. culture thrives on excess. We speak more about the economy of our nation rather than the economy of our spirits. Spending too much on our outer life leads to a weakened inner life. We don’t often notice this because materialistic values sell so much better than minimalism. To find inner peace, we focus more on what we have within us rather what we want around us.

Lectio Divina is a contemplative practice that has been used for centuries. It uses sacred Scripture to guide and anchor you as you enter into silent moments with God. What’s important is that Scripture is proclaimed, not dramatized. If someone is reading Scripture aloud, the reader should refrain from performing it because the hearer will focus on the characterization rather than the words. The reader avoids inserting himself into the passage so that the hearer can be fully absorbed in the words themselves. If you want to learn more about Lectio Divina, head to my website at brad4d-wellness.com. You can also get Lectio Divina audio meditations on the Insight Timer app. Just search for me—Beth Bradford. .

All of us are afraid of something—spiders, heights, being alone, boredom. We can create so much drama when we busy and distract ourselves from our fears. Instead, we can be bold and face our fears, knowing that it can birth a new path.

For many years, I thought I was experiencing depression. I lost my taste for things I loved in the past. Yet I had this burning desire to spend time alone with God. It has no aim, no clarity, which can be frustrating. But it is a calling, and it’s up to us to respond.

The world loves to tempt us with distractions. Especially on social media, people and businesses are vying for our attention. They pull out various party tricks to try to win our eyeballs then eventually our wallets. How does anyone find peace in that? The Bhagavad Gita says we must break free from the pull of these sensory distractions that seek to gratify the ego.

When we experience trials in our lives, we often demand for things to return to the way they were. Some pleasure or security had been taken from us, and we want it back. But these trials and crises often serve to break us open. They’re a call for us to change something. Many times, they call for us to look within for what we seek outside ourselves.

Our lives can feel dry and stale when we rely on outer things to temporarily satisfy us. Rather than look to the world, we sink deeper into our roots and be nourished by our faith. This passage from Ezekiel reminds us to stay close to the river.

We can get overwhelmed by our circumstances so much that we’re blind to the blessings we take for granted. It can harden us so much that we refuse to see them, and this is when evil triumphs over us. If we can accept these challenges as part of life, we might notice that each moment something changes. Our faith grounds us and gives us hope that we will overcome our challenges and become stronger.

Finding out who you are can be a daunting task. It takes a lot of self-inquiry and humility. But then what? Do you just stay that way? We are always changing. Every moment, we change, the world moves, and there is a response. Rather than find out who you are, be curious about how you respond to each moment, particularly when you’re in hot water.

The Old Testament book of Wisdom has some beautiful teachings about how God sees the world and us. It reminds us of how God is patient with us in spite of our judgment and behavior towards others. Can you look at someone you hate and see God’s impenetrable spirit within him?