Life with Christ is a life of strength and endurance. It requires training. Slow reading of scripture, time spent contemplating what has been read, and prayer. Does your spiritual life feel like a race? It’s time to slow down and go into training, building strength and endurance for our lives.

What you and I need is a mindful revolution! There's a reason why we forget where we put our car keys… where we misplaced our car in that Nordstrom's parking lot… why we find ourselves wondering if we left the coffee pot on… Mindlessness. And it robs us of the gift before us!

If we navigate life ruminating on our hurts instead of seeking genuine healing, we will live a life of bitterness instead of beauty. We can choose beauty over bitterness, forgiveness over anger, and trusting Jesus over holding the pain alone.

No matter what you are up against, lean on Jesus. He is the Way Maker, Promise Keeper, and Light in your Darkness. He is working in your life to bring you peace in the midst of the storm, joy when you are overcome by sorrow, and hope when all seems lost.

It's way better to go through life as "WE” than as just "ME!” The Apostle Paul states that Christian community is the best environment for continuing our work of personal transformation -- so that, individually and together, we can grow in maturity and knowledge in understanding the will of God for our lives.

May we rise up with the courage that comes from Christ alone to live with confidence that the darkness will not prevail and, despite how things may seem in the moment, the battle has already been won. By the power of Jesus, we will overcome and live victoriously.