During my Sabbath, I usually move through a familiar rhythm: I journal my way from Resistance to Delight to Nearness. But this week, something different happened. I sensed God’s nearness immediately, right from the start, and I found myself journaling straight into that space.

Did I experience no resistance at all? Of course not. The usual urge to “check in to the world” through email or news was still there. But it struck me—this resistance doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s rooted in my routine on all the other days of the week.

And that got me thinking:

What if I started every day like a Sabbath day?

What if, instead of letting my day begin with digital noise or busyness, I began each day with intentional Solitude, the same way I start my Sabbath?

I already practice moments of Solitude throughout the week, but it’s not consistent, and it’s not how I begin my day. Could God be gently leading me to this?

It feels radical, but maybe it’s exactly what I need. And I feel compelled to try.

One of the guiding principles I try to live by is this: when faced with a decision—whether it’s something big or small, like my recent conviction to begin each day in Solitude—I ask myself one simple question:
“Will this honor God?”

In other words, does this align my life more fully with the Shema—to love God with all my heart, soul, and strength?

If the answer is yes, then even if I’m not completely sure whether the initial inspiration came directly from God, I move forward. Why? Because I believe God sees the posture of my heart—the desire to honor Him.

When your heart is first oriented toward God, when you genuinely seek His will, surrender fully, and deny yourself—as Jesus modeled for us in the Lord’s Prayer—you are in a healthy posture to make good, God-honoring decisions and take action with confidence.

Questions Posed in Community Are the Heart of Spiritual Formation.

What’s been both interesting and unexpected to me are the comments I’ve received about the SignPost. People don’t usually talk about the teaching content from John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way—even though I believe those ancient practices of Jesus are truly transformative. Instead, what people often mention is my weekly personal reflections.

It’s made me realize something important: Jesus discipled people personally. Yes, there were large group moments like the Sermon on the Mount. But much of what was recorded in the gospels—and what has stuck with people for generations—are the personal conversations, one-on-one interactions, and spiritual growth that happened in everyday life.

That’s why I believe the Community Practice is the perfect time to make our Step1 Groups more intentional. We’re already gathered together on Sundays, so why not use that time to build authentic community and engage with one another in ways that help us live this out in our everyday lives?

If all we do on Sundays is listen to a message or participate in worship music, we’ve missed a significant opportunity for spiritual formation. Step1 Groups create space for honest questions, life reflection, and seeking God together. That’s exactly what Jesus modeled, and it’s exactly what fills Paul’s letters in the New Testament—real conversations, real questions, real wrestling with faith.

And let’s be clear: this isn’t a one-way “ask the expert” model. Even Paul admits he didn’t have all the answers. In 2 Corinthians 4:8, Paul describes himself as “perplexed” (Greek: aporoumenoi, meaning at a loss, uncertain, or confused about what to do next). But Paul adds, “but not in despair.” Why? Because his confidence wasn’t based on having all the answers—it was rooted in Christ Jesus.

This is why I believe community is essential to your spiritual formation. Starting this Sunday, I encourage everyone to bring a question to your Step1 Group. Wrestling with life’s questions together is where spiritual growth often begins.

And when your Step1 Group finds there isn’t enough time to explore every question fully, that’s your sign to consider starting a Step2 Group—a smaller gathering during the week to dive deeper into the conversations that matter.

This, I believe, is what the early church looked like: disciples asking questions, being perplexed, encouraging one another, and creating space for the Holy Spirit to do the inner work of formation.

The Community Practice is the perfect time to lean into this. Let’s grow together.