Episode 116 - Fortress

My husband and I met at a small Christian college, and when we first started dating, we did what many new couples at a Christian college probably do - we started studying the Bible together. I’m not exactly sure how productive our study times were. I know I was so distracted by him that I probably wasn’t really thinking too much about what we were actually reading or discussing together! However, I do remember that one of the first books we studied was Philippians, and when we came across today’s verses in chapter 4, we dubbed them the “recipe for peace.” Peace seems to be a pretty elusive thing these days, so Paul's words in Philippians are timely. Listen in!Questions from today's episode: What is troubling your heart today? Pour it out before the Lord. And, mingled in, before, or after, take some time as well to give thanks for the ways you can remember that he has been good to you in the past. Remind yourself of what he has done for you already.

Once in a while, I happen upon a Bible verse that leaps off the page at me, filling me with hope or with inspiration! The verse in this episode is one of those. It's not that I'd never read or heard it before, but when I came upon it recently, I knew it was exactly what I needed to hear for this season of my life. It was inspiring! But, I also quickly realized I cannot sustain the inspiration to carry this out on my own. I will need help! I'm so grateful that God does not call us to anything that He will not also provide the grace for us to carry out. I hope today's episode fills you not only with inspiration to do something difficult, but with the hope to know that He will be with you, giving grace all along the way. Listen in!Questions from today's episode: Is there one relationship, or perhaps two, in which I sense God inviting me to practice complete humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with the other in love? What might that look like on a daily basis? Am I aware of my utter dependence on Him to carry that out? And perhaps even the ways I’ve made a mess of it on my own? Remembering His posture of love and humility toward me, what is my prayer in response?

Those of us who grew up in church culture in the 70s and 80s might remember best the focus on "the rapture." It seemed like all the popular Christian films of the day, and many songs too, were calling us to "be ready." Understandably, as a young girl, I was far too curious about how my life would play out to be excited for Jesus to return! In this episode, more than reminiscing about my childhood, I hope to help us all contemplate that God is our portion and delight both here and in our future home. Read our verses from Psalm 73 hereQuestions from today's episode: Am I holding onto dreams or pursuits for this life that I think will make me feel complete? Does the thought of making Lord God my true home fill me with delight and refreshment? Is the Lord whispering an invitation to my heart today? How might I respond? 

In this episode, we will wrap up our series in Psalm 62. Much like making coffee with my French press, which involves careful pressing and patient pouring, time spent with Jesus calls for a "pressing" in and a "pouring" out of all that is in our hearts, and then entrusting it into his care. When we are patient and careful to make this our regular practice, we find that God is our refuge!Read Psalm 62:1-8 Questions from today's episode: Do I have a time in my routine where I regularly sit in the presence of the Lord? If so, do I “show up” for this time with authenticity and vulnerability, pouring out my heart to the Lord? Is there something I want to say to God right now, in the quiet of these moments?

Sometimes I find myself working to defend my own honor. Can you relate at all? Do you ever find yourself in situations where you find yourself compulsively needing to correct someone’s impression of your behavior? Or defensively reacting to any perceived “slight” toward your honor? In today's episode, we'll take a few minutes to consider another way, and whether our loving Savior Jesus has an invitation for us. Listen in!Read Psalm 62:1-8Questions from today's episode:  In what ways am I inclined to “defend my own honor”? Do I actually believe that both my salvation and my honor can be entrusted to God? Is there an invitation for me here today? How will I respond?

In today's episode, we finally get to the part of Psalm 62 where David, who wrote this psalm, seems to give us a clue as to what is troubling him, and we're also encouraged, once again, to give counsel to our own soul, based on truth and regardless of our circumstances. It's the kind of encouragement I need regularly, how about you?Read Psalm 62:1-8Questions from today's episode: Can I identify the work of the enemy in my life right now? Whether it is thoughts he is trying to feed me that would be destructive to relationships with others, or even if he is succeeding in using others to distract or do me harm? Or perhaps temptations that I am struggling to overcome? Am I able to feel the weighty cloud lift as I counsel myself along with the psalmist David, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him”? Is there an invitation from God for me here today? How will I respond?Possibly the most endearing version of "Think I'll Go Eat Worms"Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

Where do we run when life's circumstances shake us to the core? What, or Who, is our Fortress? In today's episode we'll spend a little time considering these questions and more, from the foundations of Psalm 62:1-8. Listen in!Read it hereQuestions from today's episode: How instinctively do I run to God in the midst of the daily trials that arise? And what about those larger trials? Do I truly believe that God will shelter me, or do I tend to try to erect my own shelters? Is there a gentle invitation for me today? How will I respond?

Over the next several episodes, the plan is to linger in several verses from Psalm 62, allowing the comfort of this Psalm to find its way deep into our souls. Today we'll focus in on verse 1. At any given point in time, any number of things in our lives can leave us in need of the kind of rest that only God can provide. As we spend just a few minutes together in this episode, we'll take time to consider what might be going on in our own lives right now that points to that need, and then we'll use our time of purposeful quiet to seek out that rest! Let's get started!Read Psalm 62:1-8 Questions from today's episode: Is there anything that your soul needs to find rest from today? As you sit with your Savior Jesus, perhaps quietly repeating this prayer, “as you will, and as you know, Lord, have mercy,” what is His Spirit saying to your spirit? Is there an invitation he is extending to you today? How will you respond?Podcast music written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

I'm always challenged by the words of verse 2, “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord…” The question that arises for me is, “Can I honestly say that my soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord?” Have you ever stopped to evaluate your longings? When we have a longing, doesn’t it indicate that something is missing from our lives? Sometimes our longings indicate a desire to escape our current circumstances. In this episode, we'll explore what our longings might be trying to tell us, and we'll take some time to consider our response. Listen in!Read it hereQuestions for this episode: Does this resonate with my soul today? Do I find myself trying to fill my cravings with temporary things that never completely satisfy? Am I able to see that what my soul really wants is to encounter the living God? Is there something He is inviting me to do, or to set aside doing, so that I can enter into our relationship more intentionally? was one of the first I read on this topic!The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun is a really great resource on many different disciplines and the desire behind eachThe Lectio 365 App is a great daily resource for slowing down to encounter scripture prayerfully!Podcast music is written and recorded by Caleb Lieurance

Welcome to a new season of Quiet on Purpose, friends - I can't believe we are beginning our 6th year together! What a delight for me. As 2025 was winding down and I began to anticipate the start of a new year, I began, as has become my practice, paying attention to what God seems to be up to in this season of my life, and where I felt His Spirit at work in my heart, especially seeking a “word of the year” to guide my spiritual focus for 2026. The word I settled on for this year is “Watch!” (Yes, with an exclamation point!) Even before the new year began, I could see how He was inviting me to focus on this word, this practice really, and the hope that is connected to it! I’m excited to “Watch!” and see what God does in this year, and you're invited to join me!You can read Micah 7.7 hereQuestions from today's episode: Where am I longing for God to work in my own life or the lives of my loved ones today? Do I sense an invitation from him to watch in hope as I pour out my heart to him, knowing that he hears me and he is already at work? Am I ready to open my hands and release outcomes and timing to the One True God, whose timing is never wrong?