February 12, 2026 · 5:30 AM

Living By God’s Code

When I was in my teens, I was introduced to what it meant to live by a code. I was taught that it was important to have a set of guiding principles by which to live your life. I didn’t know then how much they would shape my life and help me through making decisions. All these years later I still have the code memorized and think of the characteristics often. They are still the words I live by because they are so fundamental. These words apply to my mental, physical and spiritual life. They are: alert, clean, honest, courageous, loyal, courteous, obedient and spiritual. Each has its own saying that defines it and how I should live.

When the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, they didn’t have a code to live by. After living in Egypt and slavery for so long, their guiding principles were what the Egyptians told them to do. So the first place God led them to was Mount Sinai to meet with them and to give them some principles to live by. Today, we call them the Ten Commandments. You can find them in Exodus 20. These commandments were a set of rules to live by to ensure that people did the right thing by God, themselves and others if only they would follow them. He further defined the Law through Leviticus, but these were the core ones to guide their lives.

Today, we have the entire Bible to show us how to live. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (NLT). The word “hidden” means to store up and treasure as your most valuable possession to the point that it governs your life. God’s Word is not just a mere set of morally good ideas and principles that we should just read. It’s inspired by God and is to be used for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). It is what we need to treasure above all other things in our heart because of the eternal impacts it has on us. When we value it and place it in a position in our life to govern our decisions, we will live the way God called us to. It is our Code for living.

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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February 11, 2026 · 5:52 AM

Exercising Vulnerability

When I do premarital counseling, in one session I tell them we’re going to have an exercise in vulnerability. I want them to understand how critical vulnerability is in marriage and to help them share some things that they’ve kept hidden out of fear. I remind them that they aren’t responsible to heal what has happened in the past, but they get to participate in the healing of it. As each one shares a defining moment in their life, we discuss how it made them feel, the echo of words that it started in their mind, their reaction to it and how they coped with it. Like it or not, they’re bringing that into the marriage and it will show up in pressure situations. It helps them also be able to say they need help at times and how their spouse can help heal them. It takes courage and vulnerability to allow others to participate in healing something that’s broken in us.

In 2 Kings 5, we find the story of Naaman. He was a commander of the Syrian army, highly respected and known by the king, but he had a dreaded skin disease. A servant girl, whom he had kidnapped in a raid, told him about a prophet in Israel that could heal him. When his entourage showed up a Elisha’s house, Elisha sent out a servant to tell him to dip in the dirty Jordan river seven times and he would be healed. He was indignant because he felt it was beneath him to do that, he wasn’t given the respect for the prophet to come out and what he expected to happen didn’t. This was an exercise in vulnerability for him because he had to admit he couldn’t heal himself, he needed someone else and he risked humiliation by asking. However, when the servant said, “His servants went up to him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can’t you just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured?” (GNT) Healing doesn’t always look like we think, but it begins with admitting we need help.

James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored” (AMP). If we want healing, we must confess that we need it. Sometimes our pain comes from our sins or someone else’s who offended us. We have to admit it’s affecting us to someone we trust. Telling someone lets them participate in the process of healing. You won’t heal in isolation. You need others who will pray with you and for you. Restoration is possible, but we must be willing to be vulnerable first. It won’t look like you think it will either, but keep trusting God’s process. Like Naaman, it may not appear the healing has begun the first time you follow His plan. Naaman’s leprosy didn’t disappear until after he had dipped the seventh time. When you carry the weight of a past offense or sin for years, you rarely find healing in the first step, but that first step is critical to your healing. Have the courage to exercise some vulnerability with someone who can participate in your healing.

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February 10, 2026 · 5:58 AM

Barefoot Faith

One of the most famous stories in the Bible takes place in Exodus 3. Moses had fled from Egypt and was tending sheep for his father in law when he saw a burning bush. As he looked closer, he realized the bush wasn’t being consumed by the fire and started walking towards it. As he drew near, the Lord called out his name and then said, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground” (NLT). By having Moses remove his shoes, God was teaching us how to approach Him. Not only was removing the shoes an act of humility, it was also symbolic of removing the dirt and things that get between us and God.

We know that pride separates us from God because He rejects the proud, but gives grace to the humble. In Luke 18 Jesus told the story of a Pharisee who thanked God he wasn’t like that tax collector. The tax collector was so humble he couldn’t lift his face toward heaven as he asked for mercy. The tax collector had removed the shoes of pride and was justified. He had dirt in his life that should have kept him from God’s presence. Tax collectors were notorious sinners, but this one removed the dirt of sin by seeking forgiveness. He didn’t want anything to come between him and God. We don’t see him physically take off his shoes, but know he symbolically did as he approached God’s presence.

Hebrews 12:1 reminds us, “As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us” (GNT). Every one of us have some type of sandal we need to remove from our life that is getting in the way of drawing closer and running our race. Whether it’s sin, pride, self reliance, clinging to our old life, performance based faith, etc., we must remove it so we can stand with barefoot faith on holy ground. God is calling out your name, the way He called out Moses’. Like him, are you willing to take off your shoes and stand on holy ground?

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February 9, 2026 · 5:36 AM

Undeserved Privilege

When shame becomes louder than grace you ask for forgiveness, but avoid closeness with God. It makes you think that there’s a probationary period where you can’t mess up or God will withdrawal His forgiveness. I’ve heard this voice and experienced it many times in my life. Shame defines you by your sin and even after you’ve sought forgiveness, it reminds you over and over that you’re guilty. It wants you to believe because of what you’ve done in the past, the relationship in the future will always be fragile. In that instance, forgiveness becomes transactional instead of transformational. No matter how long you go without sinning, it wants you to believe your relationship with God is only as strong as your behavior because He’s waiting for you to mess up.

In Genesis 45, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and immediately they were terrified because of what they had done. Joseph said, “But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives” (NLT). He understood the bigger picture and forgave them, but they let shame dictate the relationship. Seventeen years later, Jacob, their father died, and the brothers were in fear. They assumed the kindness and forgiveness of Joseph was temporary. Joseph had moved past the moment and the past, but their shame held them back. They’re a picture how shame operates in our lives.

When shame is louder than grace, I remember the story of the Prodigal Son. The father ran to him, put a ring on his finger and restored sonship. The father didn’t listen to shame’s words. I also think of Romans 5:2. It says, “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” We get undeserved privilege because of grace. We get a relationship with God because of grace. We get put in a place of right standing in our relationship with Him. We can look to the future instead of the past. Shames lies are meant to hold you in a prison of fear, but grace sets you free. You are a new creation, transformed by grace. You are forgiven and restored to your rightful place as an heir. This undeserved privilege isn’t something to be earned. It’s freely given by the One who offers relationship and reconciliation.

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February 6, 2026 · 6:00 AM

Treasuring The Eternal

You’ve probably read and quoted Matthew 6:21, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (NLT). I have numerous times, but missed something important. Your heart follows your treasure. One translation says that your heart will pursue what you treasure. I’ve often tried to change my heart hoping what I treasure will change, but it’s the other way around. If I change what I treasure, my heart will follow. What should we treasure? What should we chase after? I believe it’s the eternal things that matter. If we pursue temporary things, our heart will be set on temporary things. What you treasure shapes what your heart pursues. What your heart pursues shapes what your heart becomes. What your heart becomes shapes the life you live.

Here are some Bible verses on eternal treasures:

1. Guard [with greatest care] and keep unchanged, the treasure [that precious truth] which has been entrusted to you [that is, the good news about salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus], through [the help of] the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

2 Timothy 1:14 AMP

2. Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.

Luke 12:33 NLT

3. My child, will you treasure my wisdom? Then, and only then, will you acquire it. And only if you accept my advice and hide it within will you succeed.

Proverbs 2:1 TPT

4. Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

Proverbs 10:14 NLT

5. Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

Psalms 119:11 AMP

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February 5, 2026 · 5:30 AM

Feed Your Soul

Brian Tracy, who is a leader in the field of sales, says, “Your outer world will always reflect your inner world.” He’s saying that no matter how much we try to mask what is going on inside of us, it will always find its way to the surface. It’s hard to produce positive results if you’re a mess inside. He believes you should work on your mental health first before you try to correct any outward behavior. Many people go through life trying to repair the fruit of the problem without trying to correct the root of the problem first. That’s a losing battle because the fruit will keep showing up until you deal with the root.

I believe the same thing is true of us spiritually. Many of us spend a ton of money and time addressing the physical aspect of our lives while neglecting the spiritual aspect. One of these will live forever, and one will turn back into dust. We must learn to feed our spirit by reading the Word of God, praying, going to church, having fellowship with other believers and exercising our faith. Imagine trying to run a marathon without hydrating or feeding your body. It would collapse, yet we try to do this to our soul all the time.

In Proverbs 4:23, Solomon wrote, “Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life” (TPT). How can you continue to care for the needs of others, being life for them when they need it, if you don’t take care of the well inside of you? You and I have a deep well of life giving water inside of us that God wants us to draw from so we can bless others, but we must learn to care for it and ourselves first. If you’re dry and empty inside, it’s difficult to pour out anything of substance to others. Feed your soul, then feed others.

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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February 4, 2026 · 5:49 AM

Healing And Recovery

In my men’s group, we were sharing about difficult times in our lives and how God sent someone to walk along side us through it. In one of the lowest times of my life, when I felt the most alone, God sent a couple of guys to check on me. One simply said, “I’ve never been through what you’re going through, so I don’t really know how to help. However, I know you don’t need to be alone.” The other would constantly call to check in on me. Looking back, their actions were some of the greatest gifts God could have given. They were constant reminders that God saw me, that I wasn’t fighting alone and that someone cared. Their actions made healing and recovery possible.

In Luke 10, Jesus tells the story of a man who was on his way to Jericho, when he encountered some robbers. They beat him up, stole his belongings and left him half dead. A pries was walking down the road, saw the hurting man, and chose to walk on the other side. Then a person who worked in the Temple was walking by, saw him, and also walked on the other side. It was then that a Samaritan passed by, saw him, and had compassion on him. He rendered first aid, bandaged the wounds, put him on his donkey, and took him somewhere to be cared for. He told the in. Keeper to care for him, paid him money, and said he would be back to check on him. Then Jesus told us to go and do the same.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]” (AMP). I’m often reminded that everyone is carrying some kind of burden. You can’t always tell at first glance who are carrying the heaviest ones, but if you take the time to really look, you will see. The easy thing is to pass by on the other side of the road and simply say, “I’ll pray for you.” What they need is what they will never ask for: someone to carry the burden they’re too weak to carry. What they need is help bandaging their wounds, to be carried and cared for. They need to know you will be back and not abandon them. Being the Samaritan, who carries another’s burdens, will cost you time, effort, emotional stress, and more. When we fulfill this law of love, we bring hope, life and renewal. We restore what has been broken and give new strength and life to someone who desperately needs it, but may not know how to ask for it.

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February 3, 2026 · 5:50 AM

Paying The Cost

Years ago I was at a conference for pastors. The speakers were all famous people and well known pastors. One of the pastors spoke on the cost of the platform. He started off by recognizing how most pastors in their felt they would like to be up there or reach the tens of thousands that he and the others were reaching. He began to share hidden battles, the attacks on his family and other things he and the pastors up there all went through. It was a high price that most people aren’t willing to pay. To me it was a reminder that the bigger the dream God gives you, the bigger the problems you’re going to face. Can you hold onto your integrity through the unseen battles?

Joseph was given a dream in Genesis 37. Immediately he was attacked verbally by his family and later physically by his brothers. He was sold as a slave and was taken to Egypt. In Potophar’s house he was given authority, but didn’t have an audience. He resisted the easy temptation and was sent to prison for doing the right thing. In prison he continued to honor God despite his circumstances. Even though he had lost his position, his freedom and his reputation, he held onto his integrity. God used those hardships to prepare him for the fulfillment of the dream. It was a high cost he had to pay that others would have been unwilling to.

Proverbs 10:9 says, “The one who walks in integrity will experience a fearless confidence in life” (TPT). We’ve all heard that integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching. To me, it’s also obeying when you’re not getting any visible return and can’t see the purpose behind what’s being asked of you. It’s continuing to worship while everything else seems to be falling apart. Integrity is earned in the crucible of trials. That’s where God removes things from our life that don’t belong. The greater the dream, the hotter the fire. The cost of dreams is often high, however the price always has a purpose. God used the prison to position Joseph. He’s using whatever you’re facing to get you where He needs you. Don’t give up in the hard times. I’ll leave you with Galatians 6:9 as encouragement to keep going. It says, “Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in” (AMP).

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February 2, 2026 · 5:30 AM

Possessing The Land

When it comes to putting action to our faith, many of us are good at making excuses. We dress it up in spiritual language at time or justify it by explaining all the problems in the way. I know because I’ve done it myself. We hear the promises of God, and we get excited over them, but we fail to act on them as we “wait on God.” Instead of becoming participants, we grow content being a spectator admiring what God promised from afar. That what happened to an entire generation who left Egypt. They were excited about the Promised Land, but let fear keep them in the wilderness. It takes courage to act in faith and possess the land. It takes action and faith to move when others are content to stand still. Caleb is a great example of this and it’s why God allowed him to enter the land.

Caleb was 80 years old when they entered they crossed the Jordan. He had waited 40 years to see it again. He could have used the excuse that he was too old to possess it. He could have said his time had passed, but he didn’t. He took up his sword and fought for what God had promised. At 85 years old he said in Joshua 14:12, “So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said” (NLT). He wasn’t going to let walls, giants or anything stand between him and what God promised. He trusted the Lord to fulfill his promise once he began to act, and that’s exactly what happened.

In Joshua 18 there remained seven tribes who were holding back and still making excuses. Joshua asked, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?” That question goes out to you and me. What promises have you been circling but not entering into? It’s time to lay down our fear, our excuses and our rationalizing. Like Caleb, by faith we must say, “Give me the land!” Quit looking at the walls, the giants and anything else standing in your way. Trust God to do what He promised, drive them out and take possession. The land won’t come to you. You must go get it!

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January 30, 2026 · 5:58 AM

Reflecting God’s Glory

In Exodus 34 when Moses asks God to show him His glory, the Lord passed by Moses calling out His attributes and character. God wasn’t just showing His radiance, He was making His character visible. The essence of who God is was on full display. Are we reflecting Hos glory in this world through our lives? When Moses had spent time with God, his face shone with the radiant glory. I always thought that would be incredible. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized it’s more important to reflect the glory of His character in my life. Paul gave us a good list in Galatians 5 to reflect: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Here are some Bible verses on the glory of God:

1. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT

2. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:14 NLT

3. For the very glory you have given to me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy.

John 17:22 TPT

4. Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us. Proclaim his glory to the nations, his mighty deeds to all peoples.

Psalm 96:2-3 GNT

5. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT

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