Good morning, friends,

I hope you are doing well. Last week in the High Sierras with a few of the guys was an outstanding outdoors experience. God blessed us with beautiful weather, and we thoroughly enjoyed His glorious creation, good companionship, and the opportunity to regain some perspective.

For our brief devotional thought, our family is in the midst of the “back to school” transition. Summer vacation has been great, but now it’s time to re-engage in regular schedules and school work. This got me to thinking about how easy it is for us to slide into a “vacation” from God. Maintaining a close walk with God takes work, and if we are not disciplined, we’ll naturally slide away from Him. Maybe that is something you’ve experienced over the last few weeks, or months.

If so, let me encourage you to “get back to school.” Use this time of natural transitions to re-engage in the regular, disciplined, spiritual life you know is best for you and that God desires. Psalm 119:97 says, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” And Ps. 122:1 says, “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.'” Where is it that you need to re-engage? Maybe it is in the area of getting back into God’s Word on a daily basis, or joyfully gathering together with others in the “house of the Lord.” Maybe it is for you to begin praying daily with your spouse, or having family devotionals. Whatever it may be for you, now is the time to head “back to school.”

Please pray for each one of us to be fully engaged in walking with God, practicing spiritual disciplines, and encouraging others to do the same.

The Lord’s blessings to you as we head “back to school.”

Pressing on,
Eric