As I’m preaching through the “essential” practices of a life with God, it has caused me to do a lot of reflection on why it is that so many professing Christians remain deeply unfulfilled in their own experience of spiritual disciplines. I very rarely meet a follower of Jesus who seems content that they are praying enough, reading enough, fasting enough, etc. There is always this crushing sense that I should be doing more...

There is a difference between Christian virtues that are hard fought and well-lived and purely natural dispositions. In my case, I am generally perceived as a charitable person—largely due to a naturally warm, gregarious demeanor. But I am by no means convinced that I am yet formed in the virtue of charity. The truth is, I have been frequently shocked at the raging violence that is still within me...