God

September 6th – John 14:15

John 14:15

We often talk about loving Jesus, and we absolutely should, but Jesus reminds us that genuine love for Him will show itself in the way we live. Sometimes we want to grow closer to God while still holding tightly to the things He is asking us to release. We want His peace, but we don’t want to let go of control. We want His freedom, but we don’t want to let go of the habits that keep us bound. And we want to become more like Christ, but we don’t always want to surrender our own way.

But we can’t fully grow while constantly choosing our own path. Letting go is part of growing. When we let go of our need to control every outcome. When we let go of the sins we’ve become comfortable with. And when we let go of bitterness, pride, fear, and selfishness, we make room for God to grow something new in us.

But obedience isn’t always easy. Sometimes God’s way will ask us to forgive when we’d rather hold onto the hurt. To remain silent when we’d rather have the last word. To trust when we want answers. And to say no to ourselves so we can say yes to Him. And every time  we give up our way and choose God’s, something happens inside of us. We grow.

Surrender isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s an act of love. And sometimes the very thing we’re afraid to release is the very thing keeping us from becoming who God is calling us to be. So if we truly love Jesus, let that love be more than words. Let it change our choices, shape our hearts, and lead us into obedience.

September 6th – John 14:15 Read More »

September 5th – Philippians 4:9

Philippians 4:9

The internet is overflowing with social media influencers. Every day, we’re encouraged to follow someone, buy something, change something, or become something. Many make their living convincing us that if we just have the right product, look the right way, or live the right lifestyle, we’ll be happier.

But as Christians, we have a better influencer to follow. And that’s the Apostle Paul. Paul isn’t trying to sell us anything. He isn’t promising a better life through possessions, popularity, or worldly success. Instead, he points us to Jesus and teaches us how to live a life that reflects Him.

In Philippians 4:9, Paul tells us to practice what we have learned, received, heard, and seen in him. Notice the word practice. It’s not enough to read God’s Word, hear a sermon, or know what Paul taught. We have to put it into practice.

Why? Because that’s where we discover the peace of God that the world can’t sell. When we learn to trust God, pray instead of worry, forgive instead of hold onto bitterness, and live according to His truth, His peace begins to shape our lives.

So don’t simply follow the herd. The world has plenty of influencers, but we have something far greater. The Word of God and the example of Paul, who followed Christ. Learn the truth. Practice the truth. And watch how God’s peace begins to transform your life.

September 5th – Philippians 4:9 Read More »

September 3rd – Isaiah 41:13

Isaiah 41:13

Life is hard. We live in a broken world where we face battles, disappointments, heartache, temptation, and uncertainty. And Scripture reminds us that we also have an Enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. He wants us discouraged. He wants us afraid. And he wants us to believe that we’re fighting our battles all by ourselves.

But here is the beautiful truth for those who belong to Jesus. We don’t have to do life alone. God tells us in Isaiah 41:13, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

How awesome is that! The God who created the heavens and the earth reaches down and takes hold of your hand. When your knees are shaking, He holds you. When you don’t know which way to turn, He leads you. And when you’re exhausted from the battle, He gives you strength to keep moving forward.

The Enemy may try to frighten, discourage, and convince us that we’re alone, but he can’t take us out of God’s hands. Because no one can remove us from the loving hands of our Father. So whatever you’re facing today, don’t try to carry it all by yourself. Reach out your hand and take hold of His. You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you can rest in knowing who holds you. And that’s our God, our Helper and our Strength.

September 3rd – Isaiah 41:13 Read More »

September 2nd – Proverbs 3:7

Proverbs 3:7

Before the invention of the internet if we wanted advice, we asked someone we trusted. Today we can reach thousands of opinions day or night with just a few taps on a screen. And everyone seems to know how we should live, what we should believe, and what choices we should make. But Proverbs 3:7 reminds us not to become wise in our own eyes. Because the world may have an answer, but it doesn’t mean it has the right answer.

And because something is popular doesn’t make it wise. For as Baptist missionary Adoniram Judson once said, “No mind, no wisdom, temporary mind, temporary wisdom, eternal mind, eternal wisdom.” What a powerful reminder that our understanding is limited, but God’s wisdom is eternal.

The world’s opinions will change. Trends will change. What people call “wisdom” today may be completely different tomorrow. But God’s Word doesn’t change. That’s why we need to be careful about whose voice we allow to shape our lives. We can listen to the world all day long, but there is only one voice that leads us into truth, and that is the voice of God.

When we don’t know what to do, we don’t have to search the internet for every answer. We can open God’s Word. We can pray. And we can both seek His wisdom and trust His direction. There is no greater wisdom than the wisdom that comes from the eternal God. So don’t be wise in your own eyes. Listen to Him, follow His Word, and let His wisdom guide your life.

September 2nd – Proverbs 3:7 Read More »

September 1st – Hebrews 12:1

Hebrews 12:1

You’d never see someone who’s trying to win a foot race purposely strap on heavy ankle weights. Because they know those weights will slow them down and make the race harder than it needs to be. Yet sometimes as Christians, that’s exactly what we do.

When running our race we strap on the weight of fear, worry, bitterness, unforgiveness, guilt, past hurts, and even relationships or habits. Things that slow us down and keep us from becoming who God has called us to be.

Our faith journey isn’t a 50-yard dash. It’s a life long marathon. And God wants us to go the distance, finishing strong. But we can’t run freely if we’re determined to carry everything along with us. Some things have to be laid down. Other things have to be surrendered. And still others have to be released into God’s hands.

We don’t have to run someone else’s race, and we don’t have to finish it perfectly. We simply need to keep our eyes on Jesus, keep moving forward, and refuse to give up. So today ask yourself, “What am I carrying that God is asking me to lay down?” Maybe it’s time to take off the weights and run freely toward Him.

September 1st – Hebrews 12:1 Read More »

August 31st – Jude 25

Jude 25

Every day God keeps us, loves us, forgives us, and gives us grace, even though we fall short of Him in so many ways. We don’t earn His love by being perfect, and we certainly don’t deserve the mercy He continually pours over our lives. Yet He loves us anyway.

There are days when we say the wrong thing, think the wrong thought, make the wrong choice, or simply fail to be the person we know God has called us to be. And still, He doesn’t abandon us. He patiently picks us up, forgives us, and continues the work He began in us. That alone should humble our hearts.

We can give God thanks not because we have everything figured out, but because He is faithful even when we are not. His grace meets us in our weakness, His mercy covers our failures, and His love refuses to let go of us.

So today, let’s take our eyes off ourselves and put them back on Him. For the Lord is the One who keeps us, strengthens us, restores us, and carries us when we cannot carry ourselves.

All glory belongs to Him. For every answered prayer, every unseen protection, every second chance, every moment of mercy, and every day He gives us, thank You, Lord. May our lives continually point back to the One who loves us far more than we could ever deserve.

August 31st – Jude 25 Read More »

August 30th – Hebrews 10:23

Hebrews 10:23

Hope is a beautiful thing. It gives us something to hold onto when life feels uncertain, and something to look forward to when the road ahead is hard. But for those of us who have placed our hope in Jesus, our hope is so much more than simply wishing things will get better. Our hope is anchored in the faithfulness of God.

We can hold onto that hope because the One who made the promises won’t fail to keep them. His promises aren’t dependent on our circumstances, our feelings, or what we can see happening around us. They rest on who God is.

There will be days when our faith feels strong and days when we’re tired and struggling to believe. There will be prayers we see answered and seasons when we wonder what God is doing. But through it all, we can cling to Jesus. He’s our anchor when the storms come and our hope when we can’t see the way forward.

So hold on. Don’t let disappointment steal your hope. Don’t let difficult circumstances convince you that God has forgotten His promises. He who promised is faithful. One day, our faith will become sight, our hope will become reality, and we’ll stand in the presence of the One we’ve trusted all along. Until that glorious day, keep your eyes on Jesus and hold tightly to the hope we have in Him.

August 30th – Hebrews 10:23 Read More »

August 29th – Lamentations 3:31

Lamentations 3:31

There are seasons in our lives when suffering can feel like it won’t never end. And when the pain continues day after day, it can be difficult to imagine life ever feeling happy again. But Lamentations 3:31 reminds us, “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.” What a comforting promise for a weary heart.

Our circumstances may change, and difficult times may last longer than we would ever choose, but they aren’t forever. God’s love and mercy endure even in the darkest places. And when we can’t understand why He has allowed us to walk through something painful, we can still trust that He hasn’t abandoned us.

Sometimes God allows us to remain in a difficult season for reasons we can’t yet see. But He knows exactly how long it will last, and He will never lose sight of us while we are in it. Our suffering isn’t evidence that God has stopped loving us. His presence doesn’t disappear simply because we don’t feel it.

So if you’re hurting today, take heart. This season is not your forever. The God who sees every tear is still holding you, still working, and still pouring out His mercy. You may not know when the suffering will end, but you can trust that God does.

Hold on to Him through the waiting. And trust there’ll come a day when you look back and realize that even in the valley, you were never walking alone. His love sustained you, His mercy carried you, and His faithfulness brought you through.

August 29th – Lamentations 3:31 Read More »

August 28th – Philippians 1:6

Philippians 1:6

Faith is a journey, not a destination. When we receive Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us and begins the beautiful, sometimes difficult, work of transforming us into the likeness of Christ. But it doesn’t happen overnight. It can be a lifelong process of growing, learning, surrendering, and being changed from the inside out.

There will be days when we get it right, and there will be days when we stumble and fall. Times when we wonder why we haven’t grown more, why we still struggle with the same things, or why we aren’t  who we want to be yet. But God knows we are works in progress. And He isn’t finished with us.

Little by little, He continues to mold, refine, teach, and draw us closer to Jesus. Even when we don’t see the progress, He’s still working. Even when we fall short, His grace is still there. And even when we become discouraged with ourselves, He never gives up on us.

I’m so thankful that God refuses to leave me where He found me. He saw me in all my brokenness, weaknesses, mistakes, and imperfections, and He loved me anyway. The Lord didn’t just save me and walk away, He stayed. And He continues to work in me every single day, patiently shaping me into who He created me to be.

So if you’re frustrated with where you are in your faith journey, take heart. You may not be where you want to be, but you aren’t where you once were. Keep walking. Keep surrendering. And keep trusting. The God who started the work in you will never abandon it.

August 28th – Philippians 1:6 Read More »

August 26th – James 4:8

James 4:8

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” What an incredible invitation, and an incredible privilege. Think about it. The One who spoke the heavens into existence, invites us to come near to Him. We don’t have to try earn His attention or somehow become worthy enough to approach Him. Through Jesus, we can have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father and come into His presence with open hearts.

But what does it mean to draw near to God? It means intentionally making room for Him in our lives. We draw near when we open His Word and allow His truth to shape our hearts. We draw near through talking with Him, listening, and sharing the deepest places of our hearts. And we draw near when we worship Him, surrender our worries, confess our sins, and choose obedience even when it’s difficult. Because drawing near to God isn’t about checking off a religious list. It’s about wanting to know Him more deeply.

And here’s the beautiful part. When we take even one step toward God, He meets us there. The Ruler and Creator of all things draws near to us. So slow down today. Put away the distractions. Open your Bible. Whisper a prayer. Sit quietly in His presence. Seek Him with your whole heart. Because there is nowhere else we can go where we will find a love so faithful, and a Father so eager to draw near to His children.

August 26th – James 4:8 Read More »