The Woodlands: A Place for Exploring the Spiritual Life

Jake Owensby
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

The Woodlands helps you see grace at work in the everyday, navigate life’s challenges with courage, deepen your relationship with God, and live with love, hope, and purpose in this complex world. jakeowensby.substack.com

  1. 4d ago

    What's the Hurry?

    Why do we live at such a relentless pace? Drawing on Christian Smith, Ecclesiastes, Jesus' first followers, and Dallas Willard, I explore the spiritual root of hurry and the restless desire that drives us from one thing to the next. The problem may not be our schedules. It may be what we're seeking. Spiritual Practice: What Am I Really Seeking? Each day this week, pause once or twice when you find yourself reaching for something: your phone, a snack, a purchase, a distraction, a task, a piece of news, or even a conversation. Before acting, ask yourself: * What am I hoping this will give me? * What deeper desire lies beneath this desire? * What am I really seeking right now? Don’t judge your answer. Simply notice it. You may discover that beneath the desire for productivity is a desire for significance. Beneath the desire for entertainment is a desire for joy. Beneath the desire for reassurance is a desire for peace. Beneath the desire for attention is a desire to be loved. End the day with a brief prayer: “Lord, help me recognize the deeper desires of my heart. Teach me to seek in you what I so often seek elsewhere. Lead me into the life for which I was made. Amen.” The goal is not to eliminate desire. Desire is part of how God created us. The goal is to notice where our desires are leading us—and whether they are carrying us toward the Infinite or merely from one finite thing to the next. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jakeowensby.substack.com/subscribe

    10 min

  2. May 29

    What the Commandments Are Really For

    Jesus did not give commandments as a test to pass, but as practices that shape us into people who can live the way of the Kingdom here and now. In this first installment of Practicing the Kingdom, I explore Sabbath, distraction, desire, and what it means to become fully human together. A Practice for the Week Set aside ten quiet minutes at the end of one day this week. No phone. No television. No music. Just silence. Then ask yourself: * What shaped my heart today? * What most captured my attention? * What hurried me? * What gave me peace? * What helped me love God and other people more deeply? What pulled me away from the main thing? Do not judge yourself harshly. Simply notice. Then end with this prayer: Lord Jesus, teach me the way of your Kingdom. Reorder my desires. Quiet what distracts me from you. Shape my life by your love so that I may become more fully human in you. Amen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jakeowensby.substack.com/subscribe

    8 min

  3. May 22

    Learning the Habit of Attention

    What if the spiritual life begins with attention? This Pentecost reflection explores distraction, presence, prayer, and learning to be present to God in a restless age. A Practice for Pentecost: Learning the Habit of Attention Attention rarely happens by accident. Our days always take shape around habits and rhythms. In that sense, all of us already have a rule of life. The question is whether our current patterns are helping us stay connected to God. This week, pay attention to the rhythms that shape your days. How do you begin the morning? What claims your attention first? How do you end the day? What patterns shape your week? What helps you remember God’s presence? What consistently pulls your attention away? Don’t try to overhaul your life all at once. Instead, choose one simple practice that helps you reconnect your attention to God. You might begin the day with a short prayer before looking at your phone. Pause for silence at midday. Read a Psalm before bed. Set aside regular time for worship, rest, or reflection. The Book of Common Prayer offers a simple way to begin. It includes brief Daily Devotions for Morning, Noon, Early Evening, and Close of Day. These short prayers can help punctuate the day with moments of attention to God’s presence. You can find them on pages 137-139. The goal is not spiritual perfection. It is learning to make room for God at the center of your life. Scheduling Me for Your Event If you would like for me to lead a retreat, offer a workshop, or speak at your event, contact my colleague Holly Davis. I love connecting with you in-person or online. Holly is already scheduling 2027, but there are a few spaces left for 2026. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jakeowensby.substack.com/subscribe

    11 min

  4. May 19

    Speaking Up

    A reflection on Jeremiah’s call, ordained ministry, and the way of Jesus. Real leadership is not about power or performance, but courage, humility, and the willingness to speak up. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jakeowensby.substack.com/subscribe

    10 min

  5. May 15

    Living is More than Existing

    Living is more than existing. In this reflection for Ascension Sunday, Jake explores the restless patterns that leave our souls behind—and the way of life Jesus offers instead. The way of the cross is not escape from the world, but a deeper way of being present to God, to others, and to creation itself. Spiritual Practice: How We Carry What We Carry Set aside ten minutes. Begin by becoming still. Sit comfortably. Take a few slow breaths. Let your body settle. Then bring to mind something you are carrying right now—a burden, a pressure, a responsibility. Don’t choose something abstract. Choose something real. Now ask yourself: How am I carrying this? Without judging, notice the pattern. Are you tightening? Managing? Controlling? Are you bracing yourself, trying to hold it all together on your own? Sit with that honestly for a moment. Then hear these words of Jesus: “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30) Read the words slowly. Let a word or phrase stand out. Now ask: What would it be like to carry this with Jesus instead of by myself? Don’t overthink it. Let an image, a feeling, or a simple shift come to you. It may be releasing control. It may be asking for help. It may be taking one faithful step instead of trying to solve everything. Sit quietly for a minute or two, holding that new pattern in your imagination. Close with a simple prayer: Jesus, I am carrying more than I can hold. Teach me your way. Teach me to carry this with you, not alone. Amen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jakeowensby.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min

  6. May 8

    When It's Not Clear What Love Requires

    Some choices aren’t between right and wrong, but about how best to love. When what love requires isn’t clear, how do we know what to do? In this episode, we explore how the risen life of Jesus forms our hearts to discern and act with faithful love. Spiritual Practice: Learning What Love Requires Read the passage slowly. First out loud. Then quietly. “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16–17a) Sit with that for a moment. Bring to mind a situation in your life where it’s not clear what love requires. Don’t try to solve it. Just notice it. What makes this situation complicated? Where do you feel pulled in different directions? What feels most important to you here? Now, gently ask: What might love look like in this moment? Stay there. Don’t rush to an answer. Trust that you are not alone in this. When you’re ready, take one small step in the direction of love. Close with this prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Teach me what love requires. Give me the wisdom to take the next step. And the courage to follow where you lead. Amen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jakeowensby.substack.com/subscribe

    10 min

  7. May 1

    When Things Fall Apart

    Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” But what does that mean when life actually falls apart? This episode explores a different way of living—not a life we achieve, but one we receive and learn to give away in love. Spiritual Practice: Letting Go Read the passage slowly. First out loud. Then quietly. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1) Sit with that for a moment. Where do you feel the pressure to hold your life together right now? What are you trying to control or secure? Notice what happens in you as you hear Jesus say, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Where might you be invited to remain open and present, rather than withdrawing or grasping for control? Stay there for a few moments. When you’re ready, close with this prayer: Jesus, you know how easily my heart becomes troubled. I find myself trying to hold things together on my own. Teach me to trust you. Help me to let go of what I cannot control and to receive the life you are giving. Amen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jakeowensby.substack.com/subscribe

    11 min

  8. Apr 24

    The Voice We Learn to Trust

    We are always being addressed by many voices. In this episode, we explore discernment as the practice of learning to recognize and trust the voice of Jesus amid the noise. Spiritual Practice: Listening for the Shepherd’s Voice Set aside some time to sit in a quiet place. Begin by listening to what is already moving through your mind. What voices are speaking? Pressure, worry, self-criticism, striving? Don’t argue with them. Just notice. Now turn your attention to Jesus. Read this phrase slowly. First out loud, then quietly: “He calls his own sheep by name.” (John 10:3) Sit with that for a few moments. Let a word or phrase stand out to you. If your mind wanders, gently return to the words. After a few minutes, ask yourself: Which of the voices I’ve heard today sounds like this one? End with this prayer: Jesus, you know us and call us by name. Teach us to listen for your voice in our hearts and to trust where you lead. Amen. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jakeowensby.substack.com/subscribe

    9 min
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The Woodlands helps you see grace at work in the everyday, navigate life’s challenges with courage, deepen your relationship with God, and live with love, hope, and purpose in this complex world. jakeowensby.substack.com

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