I've made a decision ...
let me tell you about it
Hello, friend,
This email is a bit outside the regular Rapt cadence because I want to suggest something significant. Jenn and I are just coming out of a season of hectic travel — some trips for work, some family-oriented, all of it exhausting. I’m typing these words in a jet-lagged haze, my sleep-deprived mind and body back in California, trying to recover from a Thanksgiving break spent on the East Coast with our three college-aged children.
For me, the direct and inevitable result of a lack of margin is always less time with God. Whenever busyness and weariness rise, I tend to go into survival mode — and in that mode, I nearly always sacrifice the habits and practices that help me come into God’s presence. And I’ve learned … that’s not good for me or anyone else. Just ask my family.
So, I’m deciding something today. I’m deciding here and now on a new approach: to make survival mode about moving toward the true source of peace and joy, not away. I also pray for the resolve to pursue this approach earnestly and consistently.
Few things in life are as essential as you and me becoming the kind of people who will settle for nothing less than the astonishing gift of God’s presence — even in the face of frenzy and fatigue, despite strife and struggle, regardless of what culture tells us is most important, undeterred even by that looming rent or mortgage payment. We must become people for whom encounters with God are our nonnegotiable No. 1 top priorities.
Why are encounters so crucial? Scripture is clear that our highest purpose is to be in a loving relationship with God (Matt. 22:36-38). It’s also clear that when we’re in those kinds of relationships, his peace and joy flood our lives and our hearts are transformed (Gal. 5:22-23). When we encounter God regularly, we get what we need for survival — we get what we’ve always needed for survival and thriving.
But here’s the thing: to love him, we’ve got to know him first. We cannot love someone we do not know — not really, not intimately. And when Jesus talked about that kind of knowing, he meant something specific. In Scripture, Jesus prayed that we would come to know his Father (John 17:3). And the Greek word used in his prayer is ginōskō — a verb that connotes “familiarity acquired through experience.”
To move from knowing of God to knowing him, we must meet him personally. No longer can we take things second or thirdhand. No longer can we settle for merely the idea of a relationship. We must move into actual, firsthand relationships with him. And our bonds with him must grow close and strong.
How do we do that? As with any person, we do it simply by doing things together.
By doing things.
Doing things with God. That’s what Rapt is all about. That’s the reason we do what we do — and why our team loves doing what we do. That’s why we bring you all this free content: so that you can frequently encounter the fearsome God of the Universe, your Abba Father. So that you can, more and more often, come into direct contact with his goodness and love.
And now I need to ask you for something in return.
Rapt is an exercise in radical generosity. We don’t charge for subscriptions. We don’t sell ads. And we take no affiliate fees. (We believe the latter two would compromise your trust in our suggestions and recommendations.) But we do welcome donations from our readers. In fact, we are 100% reader-supported.
So, here is my question: If Rapt, WiRE, Loop, Rush, FLAG, or any of our books have impacted you this year, would you help ensure we can keep going and bring you even more good stuff in 2025? Would you consider being a cheerful donor to our organization and mission?
(If you are new to Rapt, please disregard this plea. It is not for you. :)
Every dollar counts. Donations are 100% tax deductible.
We’re in this together, my friend. Have a great rest of your week.
Editor-in-Chief, Rapt Interviews & WiRE for Men
Co-executive Director, Gather Ministries
Timothy Keller wrote “Creation, Fall, Redemption — And Your Money”
Sally Clarkson (Rapt alum) wrote “Giving and Becoming Rich”
Sample ➼ “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” by Eugene Peterson
Sample ➼ “Counterfeit Gods” by Timothy Keller
We updated Rapt’s ‘Best of’ lists this week. Lots of new stuff!
REDUX: As Christmas approaches, here’s a new and highly rated movie for you and your family: “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Based on Barbara Robinson’s international bestseller, the film follows six siblings who sneak into church searching for snacks and walk away with the lead roles in the town pageant. The film has garnered 91% Tomatometer and 97% Popcornmeter scores at Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” grade from CinemaScore.
Jonny Ardavanis is the lead pastor of Stonebridge Bible Church and the founder of Dial In Ministries, which provides resources for the next generation.
Alastair Sterne is a creative director turned pastor. He is the associate pastor at Coastline Church in Victoria, British Columbia.
Samantha Cabrera is an author and book publisher, stewarding Calla Press and publishing pure, lovely and noble books for the glory of Christ.
David Koyzis is an author who has written “Political Visions & Illusions,” “We Answer to Another,” and “Citizenship Without Illusions.”
Melody Trowell is a poet, author and professor of English at Dallas Christian College. Her most recent book is “The Girl Whose Frown Shook the Ground.”
P.S. Who should we interview next? Click here to let us know. And what new question would you like us to ask them? Click here to submit your suggestion.
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” —2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV
If you are new to Rapt, please don’t feel any need to make a gift. But if we’ve impacted you over the past year, please take a moment to search your heart and consider this question: What amount would make you happy to donate? Then, just click the red button below.
We’re in this together, my friend — and I am very grateful for that.
Editor-in-Chief, Rapt Interviews & WiRE for Men
Co-executive Director, Gather Ministries