More Than Willpower: Transformation Is Beyond Ourselves

Last updated on: February 23, 2025 at 9:33 pm By Jeff McLain

Many of us are seeking transformation in ourselves or various aspects of our lives. The self-help and therapeutic book industry has grown into a multi-million, even billion-dollar market. Thousands of articles, coaches, and guides promise to help us become the version of ourselves we’ve envisioned. While we can learn to adapt, true transformation always comes from something beyond ourselves. This blog explores the call to pursue leading a quiet life, as outlined in 1 Thessalonians 4:11. In our pursuit of... Read more

Living Clement’s Wisdom: 8 Virtues for Christian Community

Last updated on: February 19, 2025 at 9:31 pm By Jeff McLain

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In Philippians 4, Paul celebrates the Philippians – commendable comrades, co-conspirators, and collaborators who he longs to be gathered with once again. These are people that Paul celebrates for standing in the Lord in a steadfast and established way with perseverance and unwavering commitment despite the uneasy times they are in. Writing from his imprisoned state at a distance, Paul realizes written words and interceding prayer are the only hopes that he has to give a kindled spark and prophetically... Read more

From Hurry to Holiness: Living Unhurried in a Rushed World

Last updated on: February 6, 2025 at 7:27 pm By Jeff McLain

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On my drive home from a visit to the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., I hit the kind of terrible traffic that the area surrounding the District is notorious for. The trip down had been smooth and fast, so when the gridlock set in on the way home, frustration crept in, too. I should know better. I lived in the area some years ago, but seemingly I never got used to it. In that frustrating moment, I found... Read more

Dwelling and Watchwords: Choosing a Verse to Guide Your Path

Last updated on: January 20, 2025 at 11:41 am By Jeff McLain

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Before we look at the disciplines of Dwelling in the Word and Watchwords, let me tell you a peculiar story. In 1989, a man from Philadelphia was browsing a local flea market when he came across a vintage painting of a dark and gloomy country scene in a unique frame. Intrigued, he decided to purchase it for $4. However, after bringing it home and inspecting it more closely, he found himself less impressed. As he prepared to discard both the... Read more

Finding Sacred Pause: 5 Apps that Build Spiritual Discipline

Last updated on: January 16, 2025 at 10:52 am By Jeff McLain

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Despite the promises of technology and gadgets to simplify our lives, the demands on our time and responsibilities haven’t lessened. Most of us recognize the importance of following Jesus’ example, who “frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16, NET). Yet, despite knowing the importance of pause, we often fail to create the margin in our schedules to do the same. Even in rare moments of downtime, our minds are flooded with thoughts, to-do lists, and anxieties that overwhelm... Read more

A Complete Unknown: An Onscreen Search for Dylan

Last updated on: January 2, 2025 at 12:28 pm By Jeff McLain

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“Two hundred people in that room, and each one wants me to be somebody else. They should just let me be,” says Timothée Chalamet in his best Dylan enigmatic way, playing in his latest role as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, which hit theaters on December 25, 2024. In this scene, Dylan longs to escape being used for his talents or exploited for causes that fail to recognize his individuality. Many of us can relate to such a statement,... Read more

Wrestling the Season: Reflections on the Advent Conspiracy

Last updated on: December 31, 2024 at 1:39 pm By Jeff McLain

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As we step into a new year, I am finding that it is the perfect time to reflect on how we celebrated the past season and consider new patterns for the year ahead. In this post, I explore some of my own post-Christmas reflections and how the Advent Conspiracy movement challenges us to rethink our approach to Christmas – moving away from consumerism and towards a way of celebration that is rooted in the hope of the incarnation. I also... Read more

A Year of Highlights: Reflecting on the Past to Move Forward

Last updated on: December 30, 2024 at 12:48 am By Jeff McLain

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In this blog post, I explore the highlights of the past year on the Lead a Quiet Life blog, reflecting on key moments, spiritual growth, and insights for slowing down and moving forward with intention. The Discipline of an Annual Examen This week, like perhaps many of you, I have been practicing an annual examen. This is about taking time to reflect on the past year, evaluating my progress against my own goals, and identifying areas where I’ve fallen short... Read more

Mary’s Magnificat: A Prophetic Love for the People of God

Last updated on: December 24, 2024 at 10:26 am By Jeff McLain

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Over the next few days, many of us will gather with friends and family. At some point, gifts will be exchanged. Many of us give gifts because, in this season, we remember the greatest gift we have received—Jesus. Christmas is defined as a season of giving. As I have been exploring Mary’s Magnificat, I am convinced it has something to say about our practices of gift giving. Yet, there’s also the reality that gift-giving has gotten out of hand. The... Read more

Mary’s Magnificat: A Prophetic Joy for the Hungry

Last updated on: December 23, 2024 at 1:51 pm By Jeff McLain

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We just walked through the third week of Advent. In many mainline and Roman Catholic churches, the third Sunday of Advent not only focuses on “joy” but is called Gaudete Sunday, or “Rejoicing Sunday.” The theme of this Sunday focuses on “rejoicing” because of the joy we experience in Jesus. This theme is reflected in the readings for the third Sunday of Advent, which often include Philippians 4:4-6. Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4-6 challenge followers of Jesus to be a... Read more