Monthly Archives: September 2025

September 30, 2025 · 5:52 AM

Receiving God’s Delight

I had a friend who could make a sailor blush with the colorful language that came out of her mouth. She seemed angry all the time and cursed out people who made mistakes. Over time I had witnessed to her and one time I invited her to church. She said, “If I ever walked into a church, the walls would fall in on me because of all the things I’ve said and done.” I didn’t give up because I know about grace. Eventually, as she was in the hospital about to pass away, she finally gave her heart to the Lord. I believe God took delight in her that moment because she recognized who she was and who He is.

In Luke 7, Jesus was eating with a Pharisee, who lived a life of strict devotion to the Law of Moses and let everyone know it by their public actions. While they were eating, an immoral woman came into the room. She sat at Jesus’s feet weeping. As her tears fell on His feet, she wiped them off with her hair. The Pharisee was indignant that Jesus let her touch Him. Both were in the presence of Jesus, but only one had a proper understanding of who He was and it brought her to repentance. The Pharisee relied on his right living to get him to heaven, while she recognized her need for a savior. When she saw Jesus for who He was, she saw who she really was. Jesus delighted in her and forgave her.

Psalm 147:10-11 says, “He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love” (NLT). Where do you see yourself in that story? Have you tried to do everything right in your own strength? Or have you put God in His proper place and trusted in Him rather than yourself? We often think of how we can please God with how we live, but He’s looking at our posture over our performance. Fearing Him isn’t about being afraid of Him. It’s about understanding who He is and showing proper respect for that. When that happens in our life, we can’t help but be like the woman and humble ourselves. When we do that, not only will we receive His grace, we’ll also receive His favor and delight.

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September 29, 2025 · 5:32 AM

Next Level Growth

I’ve the last couple of weeks I’ve heard different people say that God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers. Another phrase I’ve heard quite a bit is that God will never give you more than you can bear. At first they sound great, but the more I think about them, neither are biblical. God does give battles to people to prove their strength. He allows us to go through tough times to create endurance and to build strength. Also, if He only gave us what we could handle, there would be no need for dependence on Him. He knows what is ahead and what preparations we need now for it. Tough times increase our strength, endurance, character, faith and more. That’s why James says we should count it all joy.

In Genesis we read the story of Joseph. He was a teenager when God gave him a dream of the future. He was not one of God’s toughest soldiers when his brothers threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery. He wasn’t the strongest when he was wrongfully accused and thrown into prison. Being forgotten there for years might have been more than he could bear. What we do know is that God used that period of time as a training ground to produce the person he needed to be in order to handle the mantle of leadership. He went from spoiled brat to understanding God’s plan in that period. He learned his lesson and grew so much that he didn’t seek revenge on his brothers. Instead He saw God’s providence.

Deuteronomy 8:3 says, “He made you go hungry, and then he gave you manna to eat, food that you and your ancestors had never eaten before. He did this to teach you that you must not depend on bread alone to sustain you, but on everything that the Lord says” (GNT). God’s desire for us is that we would learn to trust Him instead of ourselves in every situation. He is our source and our sustainer. It is His strength that is perfect in our weakness. It is His grace that is sufficient for what we are going through. If you’re going through a hard time, it’s not because you’re His toughest soldier. It’s because there is more that He’s leading you to, more that He’s going to accomplish through you and another level for you to get to. Trust in His strength and not yours for that next level growth.

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September 26, 2025 · 5:54 AM

The Power Of Testimony

One of the things that has been a theme over the last couple of weeks to me is the power of your testimony. If you follow Jesus, you have one. If you grew up in church, you may not feel like you have a “good” one. The truth is your testimony is a testimony of the generational faithfulness of God. You may have one from the other end of the spectrum where God set you free from your past. Either way, the Holy Spirit will empower you to share your testimony, to tell of the goodness of God and to be a witness for Him wherever you go. Look for opportunities to share your faith this week. Theres power in your testimony.

Here are some Bible verses on sharing your faith:

1. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 1:8 NKJV

2. But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15 AMP

3. Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.

Psalms 66:16 NLT

4. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

Revelation 12:11 NLT

5. So never be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor be embarrassed over my imprisonment, but overcome every evil by the revelation of the power of God!

2 Timothy 1:8 TPT

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September 25, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Redeemed From The Pit

Today is the 22nd anniversary of the lowest point in my life. I had been through six months of having the bottom fall out from under me. I went through the death of a friend, a divorce, a repossession, loss of friendships and a lot more. One thing after another seemed to crumble. Everything I held dear was being taken from my life as a result of decisions I had made. Then, on September 25, 2003, my business failed and I was out of a job. It felt like my life was over as I laid down on my living room floor that night. I cried out to God in surrender as the life I built was destroyed by this storm. However, I still had my foundation in Him. I told God I was ready to end my life because I couldn’t do it anymore.

I felt the voice of God remind me that I had built my life on a foundation of my desires instead of His. I vowed that if He helped me out of that hole, I would build my life His way. I marked my calendar with the words, “The Bottom”. Getting back to where I felt I was at ground level took over a decade. Now it’s over a decade past that and I can look back and see how far God brought me. It wasn’t easy and the progress has felt slow and minimal. Yet, when I look back, I can see where I’ve been, and now look forward to where He is taking me. It’s not an easy thing to look back, but it’s necessary for all of us. When it feels like we’re on a treadmill going nowhere fast, God is actually working in our life and helping us along the way.

Psalm 103:2-5 says, “Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, And do not forget any of His benefits; Who forgives all your sins, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you [lavishly] with lovingkindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the [soaring] eagle” (AMP). God is in the process of redeeming your life from the pit. No matter how deep a hole you feel like you’re in, He can get you out. Remember all the things He has done, knowing He will continue to work out all things for your good. He will satisfy your life with good things once again. Trust in Him no matter how dark it seems. Your pit may be deep, but His grace is deeper still.

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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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September 24, 2025 · 5:42 AM

Rekindling Your Fire

When I go camping, I love having a fire at night. I use it for light and for cooking. One of my favorite routines is to start the fire back up again in the morning without a match. How I do that is I blow on the ground where the fire was. The dust and ash get moved out of the way, and I look for pieces of coal or embers under all the ash. Once I find them, I take some kindling, which is pine needles and small sticks, and set them on top of the coals. I then blow again. With the fresh wind, the coals start to glow orange. They seek out the kindling and ignite it. In a few seconds I have a fresh fire that’s ready to keep burning all day.

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah’s fire was quickly extinguished by Jezebel. He had just called down fire from Heaven, but her threat to kill him caused his to extinguish. Instead of letting it stay out, he went to Mount Sinai to seek out God. When he arrived, God asked him why he was there. The process of rekindling his fire began with being honest with God. It was the still, small voice that uncovered the embers and coals. To rekindle the fire, he was given a new assignment and he went back into ministry. His fresh fire came from intimacy with God and a renewed purpose. He wasn’t content to live in the ashes of a fire that once burned bright.

In 2 Timothy 1, Paul began his last letter encouraging Timothy and us to remember the flame that once burned bright in us. In verse 6 he says, “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you” (NLT). Like Elijah, if we’re going to rekindle our fire, we must be intentional about it. We need to seek out alone time with God. We need to be honest about why the flames in our heart have died down. We must listen to His still, small voice that will breathe on the coals underneath the ash. Then we must be ready for our assignment and ready to use the gifts and callings He’s given us. What once burned bright is able to be rekindled. There are still coals underneath the ashes of what has been. Ask God to fan into flame the gifts and rekindle your fire.

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September 23, 2025 · 5:45 AM

Living Counterculturally

Several years ago, a person I worked with told me, “I’d stab my own mom in the back in order to get ahead here.” It hit me that we live in a culture that will do whatever it takes to climb the ladder of success. It’s the opposite of the example Jesus gave. As the Messiah, He put on the apron of humility to wash the disciple’s feet. They had been fighting about who was the greatest, and He showed them that Heaven’s way is countercultural to the world. As a minister friend of mine says, “While men reach for their thrones, Jesus reached for a towel to wash men’s feet.”

In 1Timothy 6, Paul is teaching Timothy about being not just a church leader, but a follower of Christ. He told him to watch out for people who have a form of godliness, but use their ministry or godliness to climb the world’s ideas of success. By contrast, to have godliness with contentment is great gain. In verse 9 he wrote, “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition” (NKJV). To chase after the world’s ideals and definitions of success is to open ourselves up temptations.

Verse 11 says, “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” Instead of chasing the ideals of the world, we must pursue the things of God. Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness are what we should be looking to cultivate in our life and to strive for. These are spiritual disciplines that require cultivation on a daily basis. They require us to be intentional about pursuing them as we flee what the world is chasing after Because these not only shape who we are, they change who we’re becoming. If we’re going to live countercultural lives, we need to stop chasing worldly values and start pursuing godly ones.

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September 22, 2025 · 5:52 AM

Relief From Exhaustion

Have you ever felt exhausted? Where it’s not just physical exhaustion, but mental, emotional and spiritual exhaustion too? It happens to all of us. Sometimes you’re so depleted that it can be hard to rest. You’ve got so much going on that your mind keeps going to prevent you from getting the rest you need. This weekend was one of those times for me. The things to get done were important and necessary. There were heavy problems to solve as well as lots of spiritual guidance that took a lot out of me. It’s moments like these that draw me deeper into prayer because I recognize my need for true rest and peace.

In 1Kings 18, we read one of the most incredible stories in the Bible where Elijah stands on Mount Carmel and calls down fire from Heaven. The next day, Jezebel says she going to kill him. In 1 Kings 19 he flees for his life to south Israel. He’s physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually exhausted. He tells the Lord he’s had enough and is ready to die. However, God doesn’t grant his request. Instead He provides food, drink and rest. Instead of rebuking him for running and hiding, God cares for him. What was a moment of exhaustion became a moment of transformation. What he thought was the end became an encounter with God.

In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (NLT). Just like He cared for Elijah, He will care for you. He understands exhaustion because He became human. He also understands the need for true rest, and that is what Je offers to you. Instead of running away, run to Him. He will encounter you in your moments of exhaustion. He will transform us when we lay down our burdens and worries, pick up His yoke and learn from Him. You won’t be condemned for reaching this point. You’ll be received with open arms, given what you need to sustain you and find the rest for your exhausted soul.

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September 19, 2025 · 5:48 AM

Complete Confidence

I’ve always heard people associate Job with patience, but honestly, I think he should be associated with confidence. When everything was taken from him in a day, he had confidence in God so much that he fell down and worshipped while trusting God’s plan. He didn’t understand why things were happening , but he had confidence in God. Then in Job 19:25, in response to his friends who accused him of wrongdoing, he said, “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last” (NLT). That’s the kind of confidence in God that we should all aspire to have. It allows us to worship in the storm, move forward when the path is unclear and trusts in impossible situations.

Here are some Bible verses on the confidence we can have:

1. I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].

Philippians 1:6 AMP

2. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, And the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.

Isaiah 32:17 AMP

3. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

4. My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!

Psalms 108:1 NLT

5. I’ve written this letter to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you will be assured and know without a doubt that you have eternal life. Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before him, for if we ask anything agreeable to his will, he will hear us.

1 John 5:13-14 TPT

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September 18, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Worry Is A Choice

Did you know that worrying is a choice? When we worry, we make an agreement with ourselves to spend precious energy and brain power on something that may or may not happen. We’re choosing to allow something to consume our thought life. We lose focus on the present and forget about what’s happening right now in exchange for worrying about an unknown future. We get consumed by the what if’s and all the possible solutions to something that hasn’t happened yet. I’m as guilty of it as anyone. I’ve chosen to let worry keep me up at night, consume my energy and cause me to hoard things so that I can be prepared for whatever.

In Exodus 16, the Israelites had been traveling for a month and a half after leaving Egypt. They began to worry where their next meal was going to come from. They were so worried that they reasoned it was better to be a slave and know where your meals were come from than to trust in God. They were blinded by worry to all He had done for them to set them free. So God offered them mana each day, but they could only get enough for that day. God was testing them with this instruction to see if they would quit worrying and trust in His provision. Many let worry grip their heart and chose to get more than a day’s worth. When they did, the mana became an expression of what was going on in their heart and it rotted. God provided this daily meal until they crossed the Jordan and ate of the produce in the Promised Land.

In Matthew 6, Jesus taught the disciples to:pray one of the most famous prayers in the world. In it, he taught us to pray, “Give us this day, our daily bread” (KJV). Again, He was teaching us to trust in God’s provision for today. The chapter ends with verse 34 where Jesus says, “Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself” (TPT). This imperative statement reminds us that we need to choose not to worry and to trust God. Instead of being guided by worry, remind yourself of all God has done in the past, and trust in His provision for today. He will give you your daily bread.

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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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September 17, 2025 · 5:36 AM

Spiritual Recalibration

When I was in my teens I was in a scouting program through my church. When it came time to earn my orienteering badge I had to get a compass. The first thing I remember learning about it was that the little, metal arrow inside was magnetized and that’s how it found north. I went on to learn that it was pointing to magnetic north instead of True North. The North Pole of the earth never shifts. It is a geographic constant, but magnetic north is constantly moving. Because of that, and our reliance on maps in our phones, software companies have to send packets every so often to recalibrate north on our devices so they stay up to date with it.

In Luke 22, after spending up to three years with Jesus, Peter was confronted by a teen girl who accused him of being a follower of Jesus. He denied knowing Jesus just as he had been told he would. Not long after, in John 21, Jesus pulled Peter aside to ask him, “Do you love me?” Then He told Peter to feed His sheep. What Jesus was doing was recalibrating Peter’s heart and directing it back to True North. Once he was recalibrated, we read how he went on to be one of the Early Church leaders, led thousands to Jesus and even became a martyr. It was a significant turn around in his life and for the Church.

Colossians 3:1-2 says, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth” (NLT). There are a lot of distractions in this world that take our eyes off of Jesus, Heaven and eternity. It’s easy to take our eyes off of True North and to begin following the magnetic north of this world that is constantly changing. Paul’s reminder to us here is that we need to keep recalibrating our hearts and minds to look beyond this life and to keep our eyes on Jesus. When is the last time you asked Jesus to recalibrate your heart and mind? Today is a great day to reset and refocus on what matters most.

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