Have you ever been so thirsty that you felt the effects of not drinking water? This is the exact spiritual place where the writer of Psalm 42-43 finds themselves. They are desperate for God and long to be in his presence. We often find ourselves in similar circumstances as we enter spiritual deserts. Can there be any hope found in those places? Yes. It is through Christ that we can tend to our longing hearts by hoping in God.

The more we feel the weight of our calling, the greater our feeling of responsibility to live up to that calling grows. In Philippians 1:27, Paul calls the church, "As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ." That call was not just for the church then, but it's for us today. How can we live worthy of the gospel and what are the dangers if we fail in this calling?

In the buzz and excitement of the new year, we must remember that we don't know what will happen in 2024. What happens when our goals or resolutions go unachieved? Deeper still, what happens to our hearts when we encounter affliction instead? How should we respond? From the example of Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, we see that God gives us the gift of need through trials of affliction as a testimony to his power.

We can all think back to the best gifts received at Christmas. The beauty of gifts is that, in their essence, they are not earned or deserved. Rather, gifts are an overflow of the giver. From John 1:14-18, we remember the greatest gift we have received this Christmas season is Jesus Christ.

C.S. Lewis once wrote that there are only three responses to Jesus: we either think of him as a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. The Apostle John confronts us with this reality in the opening verses of his gospel in John 1:1-13. In these verses, we see that the same person who creates and sustains the world is the same person who comes to transform your life from darkness to light. Your response to the light of the world depends on whether you see him as a liar, a lunatic, or Lord.

We are living in an anxiety-prone world. With the rise of smartphone technology, unfettered access to media consumption, and endless distractions, we have become known as the anxious generation. So in Matthew 6:25-34 when Jesus commands us not to worry, it almost seems trite and easily skippable. But the command not to worry should be followed not because he is an overzealous command sergeant, but because he is a gracious and liberating king who is reminding us why we don't have to worry in the first place.

Just like a check engine light is a diagnostic for our car's health, God's word acts as a diagnostic for our hearts. But diagnostics are only as good as the actions we are willing to take to fix the issue. Matthew 6:19-24 functions as a diagnostic for our hearts. In examining the role of money and possessions in our lives, Jesus reveals that our allegiance to the king and his kingdom is known by the condition of our hearts.

Having outlined the kingdom rhythms of giving and prayer, Jesus now leads his disciples through the rhythm of fasting. Fasting conjures up all sorts of images not just in our time, but in Jesus' time, which need to be corrected and challenged. Here in Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus reveals that in the kingdom rhythm of fasting, believers find their needs satisfied in the presence of the king.

At Jesus ends the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:13, we must remember that there are real supernatural dangers in this world. But while there are dangers both outside (Satan) and inside (our sin), Jesus has conquered them so we can pray confidently for perseverance and protection.

When we see moments of forgiveness, we are deeply moved. But how would we respond if we were the one wronged? Should we forgive only when someone repents to us? In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus calls us to receive and extend forgiveness no matter the circumstances.