You are not God. But it is impossible to know God without first knowing yourself. Many Christians believe that denying ourselves means we are to dismiss our own thoughts, feelings, and desires. But as Augustine said in 400 A.D., “How can you draw close to God when you are far from your own self?” Augustine then prayed, “Grant, Lord, that I may know myself that I may know thee.” This means, as Paul writes, we must learn how to put off our false self, and put on our new self in Christ. (Eph. 4:22) Today, on the podcast, we continue an 8-week series in which we explore the seminal work from Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. If you are a pastor, leader, or listener and you want to grow in emotional health, this series is a must-listen. If you missed the first episode on the problem of emotionally unhealthy spirituality, you can listen to it here. As we say – you can’t be. Read more.

It’s often difficult to pin down, but many Christians have found there is something about our spirituality that is just not working. We’re committed to our church, but others experience us as unloving. We read the Bible and pray regularly, but feel stuck in what we’ve always known. We’re doing all the “right” things, but constantly feel rushed, unable to do it all. Most arrive to these conclusions in a “normal” year. But the pandemic, political unrest, and economic fears have accelerated this crisis like never before. Simply put, the great pressures from every angle have exposed critical gaps in our spirituality. In many ways, this exposure is a gift from God. But we must get serious about facing them head on. Today, on the podcast, we launch an 8-week series in which we’ll explore the seminal work from Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. In this first episode, we shine a light on the Top 10 Symptoms of Emotionally. Read more.

The troubling part of leadership is that we must lead while the ground is moving under us. Every day, we wake up to new challenges that demand new responses – a new COVID variant, a volatile economy, and global tensions that require our attention. The constantly moving targets can leave us dizzy and exhausted. And yet, even amidst great pressure, we are in a sacred time and a sacred space. Today, on the podcast, I share two biblical invitations that will anchor you when the earth is shifting underneath your feet.

Happy New Year! As we step into January, we move forward with hope. But if we’re honest, there’s also some hesitancy. We continue to lead in the face of shifting sands. It often feels like the ground beneath is constantly moving. In uncertain times, it’s easy to play it safe. But in Luke 5, Jesus calls his disciples out beyond shallow waters to go fishing in the deep. The deep water is always frightening, but it’s the place God calls us to live and lead. I can’t think of a more appropriate invitation for 2022. Please, listen to this sermon on today’s podcast and be encouraged as you lead into a new year.

As we bring 2021 to a close, we have much to be thankful for. This has been another unprecedented year for the Emotionally Healthy Leadership Podcast. And this growth is because of faithful leaders and listeners like you. Thank you! In today’s episode, we play highlights from five of the most popular podcast episodes from 2021. Follow the Crucified, Not the Americanized Jesus (Listen to Full Episode) A New Leadership Scorecard for Success (Listen to Full Episode) How God’s Absence is a Form of His Presence (Listen to Full Episode) Skills to Revolutionize Your Prayer Life Pt. 1 (Listen to Full Episode) Finding God in the Fog of Massive Transition (Listen to Full Episode) To listen to curated clips from these episodes, just listen to today’s podcast!

This week, churches and leaders all over are preparing for Christmas Eve services. Many are even transitioning from in-person back to online because of the rise in COVID-19 cases. While it’s a beautiful time of year, it’s also VERY busy. That’s why today on the podcast, I would like to take you on an unusual turn. Rather than offering more content to digest, I invite you to join me for a Daily Office. The Daily Office is a historical Christian practice of stopping to be with Jesus through silence and solitude. In today’s episode, we’ll discover that it’s in silence that we learn to pay attention to what God is birthing in and through us. I pray this episode is a gift to you!