From the Home Place

August 5, 2026

Good morning Friends! Did you feel that? I have no idea about at your house, but here in Lusk, Wyoming the thermometer reas 49 degrees at 4 a.m.! Our first sub-50 degree reading for several months now. Though today is predicted to reach 86, Fall is sure enough on its way, hopefully with lots of moisture?

I have to wonder, if this part of the world has always experienced such temperature swings? I remember many years ago, we had a 86-degree temperature swing in one 24-hour period, smack in the middle of winter. We went to bed with everyone and everything frozen, and by the next morning we had shed our coats and broke a sweat while pitching hay onto the hay wagon. By the next day were all gained several pounds from the heavy coats we were wearing in an attempt to stay warm once again..

You see my friends, it would appear that many of us experience such “temperature swings” in our spiritual lives as well. Most likely, you too have had a season of running ice-cold spiritually, and then all of a sudden, you experience a spiritual heat flash! Or, more often than not, the swing is from hot to cold???

Such spiritual temperature swings are quite possibly normal, unless one is constantly in fellowship with our Heavenly Father. I just finished reading the biblical account of the man named Job. Emotionally and physically, Job experienced a freezing temperature swing that I pray none of us ever have to experience. Yet, with the loss of his children, his livestock and his health, Job still remained at a consistent “hot” temperature in his faith. Even when his wife and friends encouraged him to cut ties with God, Job clung to a strong faith in God’s ability.

Could it be that our spiritual temperature swings have to do with our lack of focus? It seems to me that when we focus upon how our circumstances are impacting us, our spiritual temperature plumets. Yet, when regardless of the circumstances, we keep our eyes fixed upon the Author and Perfector of our faith, we maintain a healthy spiritual temperature.

As the old saying goes, “Never measure God by your circumstances, but always measure your circumstances by God.” It really is a matter of proper focus and fully believing that “God has got this!” As we all know worry does not ever change our circumstances, yet hopefully we also know that fully trusting God in all ways at all times changes how we deal with those circumstances. Most often, God does not change the circumstances until our faith draws us ever closer to Him; and then quite often He changes the circumstances, or at least, God changes our view of the situation!

Perhaps that is why David prayed, “Change my heart ‘O God.” You see, most often God allows certain circumstances to take place within our lives in an effort to reveal the depth of our faith in Him. If my faith is cold, worry wins. If my faith is hot, worry is replaced with a peace that surpaces anything this world has to offer.

The next time any of us experiences a drastic spiritual temperature swing, may we draw ever closer to God, agreeing with Him about who the Bible says God really is. And by the way, another layer of prayer and confession is a great way to warm up on a spiritually cold day!

Keeping a warm focus upon Jesus with you, Neal