I’ve been thinking about this a lot — the only real “content” we need is our relationship with God and His words.

When I say content, I’m referring to information… books, articles, podcasts, conferences, etc. These are all great things, things I happen to be a big fan of. But they aren’t necessary for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). They are supplemental.

Christ-exalting content can be helpful, clarifying, inspirational and beneficial… but what others put out about God is second best to what we can experience with God and learn firsthand from Him. If we are too fatigued to listen to God’s voice because we’ve spent more mental energy on nice but lesser sources, a good book or podcast can actually become a hindrance to us.

When compared to the Bible and the illumination of His Spirit that is real and available to us, spending the first fruits of our capacity with other voices is like eating a bag Doritos and expecting it to be a healthy, nourishing, satisfying meal.

Dallas Willard said, “Spiritual people are not those who engage in certain spiritual practices; they are those who draw their life from a conversational relationship with God.”

I really love the ministry, creativity and purpose God gives His people to help others know Him better and live faithful to Him. I hope my podcast does that. But the content we most need is our ongoing communion with Him.

May we not settle for another’s experience of God only when we could have our own. May we not neglect the effort of cultivating our own life with God for the ease of borrowing someone else’s.

He is your shepherd. Your good shepherd. May He know you and you know Him.