R. Somerset Ward (1881–1962), a beloved spiritual director in the Church of England, spent time and energy guiding people into life in Christ. He warned that life in Christ doesn’t always look like a hyperorganized life: It is very easy, when everything we see round us is organized and limited, to fall into the habit of thinking that the same is

Frank Laubach (1884–1970) had an hourly goal to live in the presence of God and had an adventurous life accordingly. He wrote, “The notion that religion is dull, stupid and sleepy is abhorrent to God, for He has created infinite variety and He loves to surprise us. If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as

The wonderful thing about life in Christ is that it’s more like driving an Uber than working a mail route—you never know who you’ll meet or where you’ll go next.*

Sometimes we think that to prosper in Christ we must control everything around us—our schedule, temptations, relationships, desires. Some teachers define maturity as maintaining and increasing control over our lives. But what if God calls us to relinquish our control? We need to learn the blessed truth of the way of the wind. When we become

As a final word, remember that we don’t follow Jesus to get peace; we follow Jesus because he is truly divine, our creator and our rightful king. He is beautiful, and his beauty compels us to love him. As we love him, we experience the peace that naturally results from putting our trust in a kind, capable, and powerful God. If our only motive in

Reject the things that assault peace. Dismantle what you’ve been pursuing; welcome what brings peace. When you do, you will find spiritual comfort, personal rest, relaxation, and security.

Do you want to receive rest for your soul? First, remove the causes of restlessness, the anxiety-producing pursuits valued by the world. Second, fall into the arms of Jesus. Make him the center of your affections and thoughts. Define yourself by who he is, what he is to you, and who he has made you to be. Third, learn the process of rest. Keep

My life was upended in a marvelous way when I learned that peace is relational, not situational. Peace is a person. When I could finally say, “Everything is well; all is okay; I have everything I will ever need at this very moment,” I was able to stop striving, worrying, clawing, and fretting right now.

After telling us not to conform to the pattern of this world but instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds, Paul wrote, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (emphasis added). Until I’m thus transformed, I won’t even know what God’s will is.