If your understanding of Christianity has come mainly through the lens of Christian nationalism, discovering how Jesus and his earliest followers lived might come as a bit of a shock. The first followers of the Way weren’t in it for power or control—they weren’t about flexing their influence over others. At its core, this movement was rooted in love, humility, and justice. They faced the power structures of their day not with a desire to dominate but with a commitment to a different kind of strength—one that served and uplifted. For these early followers, love wasn’t a feeling but an action. And it wasn’t reserved for people who looked or thought like them. This love reached out to anyone on the margins, anyone who’d been pushed aside. It was radical, boundless, and inclusive. Their values also centered around community and dignity. Faith was never a solo journey. It was about lifting each other up, valuing each person’s inherent worth, and recognizing that authentic leadership came from serving others. Power and status weren’t the goals; they prioritized empathy and deep connection. Humility was another cornerstone of the Way. Strength wasn’t found in certainty or control but in vulnerability, listening, and shared humanity. They didn’t draw harsh lines between “us” and “them.” Instead, they embraced compassion and sought common ground. And justice—well, that was essential. They knew words without action were empty. Justice wasn’t just an ideal; it was a call to ensure everyone was valued and every voice was heard. So, while Christian nationalism may align itself with political agendas and power, the original Way was a completely different story. It was about love, humility, service, and justice. It was about action, about building bridges instead of walls, and creating space for each other with compassion at the center.

What if a “Higher Power” isn’t some cosmic CEO pulling the strings but instead just... a higher version of your consciousness? Yeah, I know, that sounds suspiciously like something you’d hear in a meditation app, but stay with me. Think about it. We’re all running around most of the time, stuck in survival mode. Our brains are like over-caffeinated toddlers, bouncing between fear, ego, and a constant need for validation. It’s exhausting. But what if there’s a version of you—already inside you—that’s calmer, wiser, and not caught up in all the petty drama? What if that is what we’re talking about when we say “higher consciousness.” It’s not outside of you. It is you—just with less noise and more clarity. A higher consciousness is that part of you that can step back and say, “You know what? This thing I’m freaking out about—it’s not the end of the world.” It’s the part that isn’t obsessed with looking good or winning arguments online. It’s the part that knows life is complicated, unpredictable, unknowable, and often unfair—and somehow, that’s okay. And what if when people talk about a Higher Power, they’re talking about this ability to tap into something more profound and bigger than their everyday BS? Maybe it’s a gut feeling. Perhaps it’s intuition. Maybe it’s just that quiet voice in your head that tells you to stop texting your ex because it’s not worth it. Whatever it is, it’s a shift from trying to control everything around you to realizing you don’t have to. Here’s the crazy part: life gets easier when you stop seeing yourself as the center of the universe. You realize you’re part of something bigger, whether that’s humanity, nature, or just the shared experience of being alive. And that realization—it humbles you. It pulls you out of your head and into a state where you can actually breathe and focus on what matters. I am not saying that that there is no God. What I am saying is that maybe a Higher Power isn’t what you heard about in Sunday school. Maybe it’s just you—but the version of you that’s not drowning in ego or fear. And the cool thing? You can access that anytime you want. You don’t need to pray or chant or do a juice cleanse.

“Do not conform to the world’s ways; instead, be transformed by renewing your mind.” This isn’t just a call to action—it’s an invitation to a profound shift in how we navigate life, how we see ourselves, and how we find our place in the world. Let’s start by understanding the ways of the world. The world, with its relentless drumbeat, thrives on a foundation of fear. It’s a fear that shows up as a constant fight-or-flight response, compelling us to prove our worth, chase validation, and shield ourselves from vulnerability. We’re taught to believe that more is always better, that we are what we achieve, and that falling short is synonymous with failure. But here’s the thing: this way of living keeps us armored up, disconnected, and exhausted. The renewing of your mind is the choice to look beyond the noise, to become aware of how fear is interwoven into the fabric of our daily lives and, yes, into our inner dialogue. And I get it—when I first started this work, I was convinced I wasn’t driven by fear. I thought, “I’m not afraid of anything.” But fear isn’t always about obvious threats or fears of spiders or heights. It’s often subtler than that. It shows up as the fear of losing someone we love, the fear of not being enough, the fear of never attaining the life we’ve always longed for. And it gets even trickier when it manifests as the constant pressure to earn our place in the world, to hustle for approval from those we admire. That, my friends, is the human condition: the quiet, pervasive fear that we’re not enough as we are. So, how do we break free? How do we stop conforming and start transforming? It starts by turning inward, by connecting with your inner wisdom, and by nurturing a relationship with your soul. Because here’s the truth your soul knows: You are enough. Not just when you achieve the next goal or when you prove yourself to others. Right here, in this moment, with all your flaws, struggles, and doubts—you are enough. Renewing your mind isn’t about perfection or achieving some enlightened state of being where fear ceases to exist.

What if we already have everything we need inside of us? What if, deep within, there’s a voice—an inner guidance system we call wisdom? It’s the quiet, steady part of us that knows what’s best, even when life feels uncertain or overwhelming. This wisdom is the essence of who we are, our being, our soul, always guiding us toward what feels true and right. But so often, we disconnect from this wisdom. We deny it when fear takes over, we doubt it when shame clouds our judgment, and we distort it by chasing approval or external validation. We dilute it by compromising our values, and sometimes, we even pollute it with negative self-talk and societal expectations. And when that happens, we lose our way. We start overthinking, people-pleasing, or trying to meet impossible standards of perfection. We feel lost, disconnected, and uncertain. But here’s the thing—reconnecting with this inner guidance, this wisdom, is the key to what Dr. Stephen Covey called finding your voice. It’s that deep alignment between your gifts, your passion, and your sense of purpose. It’s about rediscovering who you are at your core and living in a way that honors that truth. When we allow ourselves to trust this wisdom, we don’t just find fleeting moments of calm. We discover something much deeper—peace profound. It’s that sense of profound peace that comes from living in alignment with our authentic selves. It’s the kind of peace that stays with you, even when life is complicated or uncertain, because you’re rooted in who you really are. Finding your voice, as Covey described, is about listening to that inner wisdom, stepping into your power, and having the courage to live in alignment with your essence. And when we do that—when we honor the voice within—we create space for healing, authenticity, and a deep, lasting peace. Peace profound.

What if we each have an inner guidance system we can call wisdom? Imagine this wisdom as the voice of our essence, being, and soul, offering insights and inspirations that gently guide us through life. Now, consider the impact of denying, doubting, distorting, diluting, and polluting that guidance. What if this disconnection from our inner wisdom is at the heart of so many of our struggles? What if we ignore that intuitive voice and often feel lost, anxious, and unfulfilled, constantly searching for answers outside ourselves instead of tuning into the profound wisdom that lies within? What if reconnecting with our soul is the key to living a more authentic and meaningful life?