Hearts Aflame

William Gurnall’s “The Christian in Complete Armour” reminds us that every believer is a soldier in a spiritual war — but one armed with heaven’s own armor. In this episode, we explore the strength and sufficiency of God’s provision for His people: truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word. Victory belongs not to our power but to our Captain, Christ Jesus. Stand firm, take up your armor, and fight the good fight with courage and grace.

In this episode, we meditate on Samuel Rutherford’s “Letters” and his tender reflections on submission to God’s providence. True peace is found not in having our way, but in trusting His. Every disappointment carries a message of love; every cross conceals a crown. To bow beneath the will of God is not defeat but liberty — the liberty of a soul at rest in a Father’s care.

Thomas Brooks’ “The Unsearchable Riches of Christ” teaches that humility is the crown of grace and the fragrance of holiness. In this episode, we consider the beauty of the lowly heart — a heart that gives God all the glory and takes none for itself. The humble believer walks in peace, expects nothing yet rejoices in mercy, and delights to see Christ exalted above all. To lie low before God is not humiliation but honor, for it is the posture of those most near to His heart.

From John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” this episode captures the essence of the Christian journey — a pilgrimage from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. The road is narrow and often steep, yet it leads to glory. Along the way we meet trials, companions, and divine mercies that strengthen our faith. The pilgrim’s hope is not in the ease of the path but in the certainty of the destination, where every weary traveler will be welcomed home by the King.

In this episode, we reflect on John Owen’s “Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost” — a timeless meditation on the believer’s fellowship with the Triune God. Communion with God is not a momentary experience but a continual exchange of divine love and human devotion. When we walk closely with Him, every duty becomes delight and every moment sacred. This is the heart of the Christian life: to live daily in the joy of God’s presence.

Obadiah Sedgwick’s "The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant" reminds us that God’s faithfulness is the believer’s anchor. His covenant love does not waver with our weakness, for it rests on His own unchanging character. In this episode, we rejoice in a God who keeps His promises, perfects His work, and preserves His people. The covenant that began in mercy will end in glory.

In this episode, William Bridge’s "The Christian’s Means of Assurance" offers encouragement to the weary believer walking through life’s deserts. The journey to heaven may be hard, but the pilgrim is never alone. Christ walks beside His own, sustaining weak faith and renewing weary hearts. We learn that true assurance rests not in the strength of our grip on Christ, but in the strength of His grip on us.

William Ames reminds us in "Conscience with the Power and Cases Thereof" that the whole of life is sacred when lived unto God. Every task, when done in faith and love, becomes worship. This episode calls us to bring our faith into the ordinary — to study, work, serve, and rest for God’s glory. The beauty of a Godward life is found in its wholeness: a conscience ruled by Scripture, a heart centered on Christ, and a life poured out as a living sacrifice of love.

Thomas Goodwin’s "The Heart of Christ in Heaven Toward Sinners on Earth" reveals the unchanging tenderness of Jesus toward His people. Exalted in glory, Christ’s heart still beats with compassion for those He redeemed. He intercedes continually, bears our names before the Father, and meets our weakness with mercy. In this episode, we rest in the truth that the same heart that bled for us on earth now pleads for us in heaven — full of love, full of power, and full of grace.

In this episode, we draw from Thomas Case’s "A Treatise of Afflictions" to discover the mercy hidden within God’s discipline. Every trial is a classroom where the Father teaches grace, patience, and holiness. The hand that afflicts is the same hand that upholds, measuring every sorrow with perfect love. This reflection invites believers to see chastening not as punishment, but as a refining fire by which God shapes His children for glory.