October 10, 2025 · 5:59 AM

The Gift Of Discipline

I was laughing as I told my mother in law all the ways my mom used to discipline me. Like any kid, I needed a fair amount of it and hated it. As I’ve grown older, I’ve grown to appreciate discipline and now see it as a gift. Correction, when given by God, is always for my good. It’s how God shapes my character, keeps me on the right path and drives out pride from my life. It’s never fun to go through, but when I look back I can see what God was doing in me. He’s a good Father that wants the best out of us. When He disciplines us, it shows that He’s actively involved in my life and still invested in who I’m becoming. It truly is a gift from above when you understand what He’s doing.

Here are some Bible verses on being disciplined by God:

1. Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

Deuteronomy 8:5 NLT

2. When we are punished, it seems to us at the time something to make us sad, not glad. Later, however, those who have been disciplined by such punishment reap the peaceful reward of a righteous life.

Hebrews 12:11 GNT

3. Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions. You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked.

Psalms 94:12-13 NLT

4. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Proverbs 12:1 ESV

5. My son, do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the Lord [learn from your mistakes and the testing that comes from His correction through discipline]; Nor despise His rebuke, [Ps 94:12; Heb 12:5, 6; Rev 3:19] For those whom the Lord loves He corrects, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 3:11-12 AMP

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October 9, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Renewing Your Calling

Several years ago, I was running from my calling, living in sin and making some pretty dumb decisions. My life started to spiral out of control. I started to lose things and people that I wanted to hang onto, but I couldn’t stop the madness. When my first wife told me she was leaving me, it was a wake up call. Up to that moment, I always felt like I could get back to where I needed to be in my life, but when that happened, I felt like I had even lost the calling of God on my life. It was too much for me to have lost that too. Some time later, I explained to a friend how I had lost the calling of God on my life and my purpose. He asked, “Who do you think you are that you have the power to revoke God’s purpose and calling on your life?”

I wonder if David felt the same way after he had his affair with Bathsheba and murdered her husband. Maybe Peter did too after he denied Jesus three times. I can hear him beating himself up saying, “You we’re going to be the rock that Jesus built His Church on. You blew it!” Yet, despite both of their failures, and public ones at that, God continued to use them. David and Bathsheba later had a son they named Solomon. He became Israel’s next king and was the wisest person to ever live. Peter, after being restored by Jesus, went on to lead the Early Church and turn the world upside down. Despite their failures, God never removed their calling or purpose.

Romans 11:29 says, “For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn” (NLT). To me, that’s pretty clear that no matter what I’ve done, God designed me with a purpose and no matter what I do, He’s not going to withdraw it. If you’ve been hearing that voice inside telling you that it’s too late or you’ve done too much for God to ever use you, combat it with this verse. God uses our failures and humanity in our calling. He has a way of using them to humble us, to make us approachable and as a testimony to others that God can use or save anyone. No one is beyond His love or ability to forgive. No one is beyond His ability to use. You and I lack the power to revoke God’s calling though we may run from it for a lifetime. God’s plan for you is still in place. Quit running from it or believing the lie that you’re damaged goods. God’s not done with you yet.

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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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October 8, 2025 · 5:56 AM

Break The Alabaster

I remember having to read Pilgrim’s Progress when I was younger. I kept wondering what was in his backpack and why was it so heavy. That’s one of those aspects that you don’t understand as a kid. As he traveled the backpack grew heavier. Finally, as he approached the cross, the backpack breaks loose and goes tumbling down. As an adult, I now know that his backpack was full of guilt, shame, fear, his past troubles and sin. When he gave his heart to the Lord he became free from all those things that once weighed him down.

In Luke 7, Jesus was invited to have dinner at the ho,e of a Pharisee. This man lived a strict life as closely as possible to the Law of Moses. Verse 37 says they were reeling at the table, “When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume” (NLT). She knelt at Jesus feet, cried tears on His feet, wiped them with her hair and anointed Him with perfume. In order to do that she had to break the alabaster jar that carried her previous identity. It represented her immoral past, how she and others defined her, as well as her worth. By breaking it, she was declaring that she is no longer who she was. Jesus forgave her and sent her on her way in peace free from the burden of her past.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” When you come to Christ, you are breaking that alabaster jar of identity that you’ve been carrying. You are no longer defined by who you were. At the cross, you break free of your guilt, shame, fear, sin and old identity. You are free to move forward in peace. Quit carrying that alabaster jar around with you into your new life. It only carries who you were, not who you are becoming through sanctification. It’s time you break that jar and walk in freedom. Christ had given you new life. You are now free from the things that once weighed you down. If you’ve been carrying them still, take time today to sit at the feet of Jesus. Break the jar and ask Him to help you go in peace and freedom from your old identity.

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October 7, 2025 · 6:04 AM

Praying Friends

I believe one of the greatest relationships you can have is where you can count on them to pray for you. When we pray for one another as we believe for an answer, our faith is strengthened. I can think of times in my life where I’ve prayed for an answer from God for so long that my prayers became rote instead of being filled with faith. When I invited a friend to pray with me for that answer, they brought fresh faith and strengthen me where I felt helpless. All of a sudden where my faith had begun to wain, it began to rise up again. Where I had given up, I had hope. If you don’t have friends like this, find them at your church. There are people who faith to move mountains and they don’t mind taking your needs to God.

In Luke 5 Jesus was gaining notoriety because of His teaching and for healing the sick. People were coming from everywhere to see Him. As He was teaching in a house, some people carried their paralyzed friend on a stretcher to Jesus to be healed. There were so many people in and around the house that they couldn’t get to Jesus. Instead of being discouraged or even waiting until He left the house, the carried their friend up to the roof of the house. They began to pull back the tiles and other roofing materials until they had enough room to lower their friend to Jesus. Then verse 20 says, “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, ‘Young man, your sins are forgiven’” (NLT). Did you catch that? Jesus saw the faith of the friends and was moved. He then healed the man after that.

James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” We need friends we can be vulnerable enough with to confess our sins to and who will pray for us for healing. We tend to pray the most earnestly for those we care about. Just before this verse, it says you can go to the elders of your church to be prayed over for healing to. In both of these instances and in Luke 5, it’s the prayers of others who help bring healing. Quit trying to fight alone or pray alone for your needs. Share them with someone you trust. Your faith will rise because of it, and who knows, they may be the ones who pray the roof off and set your needs right in front of Jesus.

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October 6, 2025 · 5:52 AM

Pivot Points

Have you ever done all you knew to do and still came up short? It wasn’t a lack of effort that put you in the position. We were trying to raise money once for a mission trip. We decided to sell BBQ plates. After all the plates had sold and people quit coming by, I started calling car dealerships to sell more because we had several briskets left over. We couldn’t sell them no matter what we did. While in church the next day, I had the idea to cut them in 1-3 pound chunks, wrap them up and sell for donations after church. As we were wrapping, we realized how much we truly had leftover. As people left church, they grabbed chunks and dropped off checks. We made more on those chunks than from the plates we had sold.

In Luke 5, Jesus was teaching a crowd on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. There were fishermen nearby cleaning their nets from fishing all night. Jesus asked if they could take the boat out a bit so He could teach from it. When He finished teaching, He told Peter, the boat owner, to go out to deeper water. Then He told him to let his nets down. Peter explained how he was an expert fisherman, how they had fished all night long and caught nothing. I’m sure he was a bit frustrated with the request because he was the expert and had done all he knew to do, but still came up empty. What he was about to find out is when you combine obedience with God’s timing, provision follows.

Luke 5:5 says, “‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again’” (NLT). Even though it didn’t make sense, and he was exhausted, he still obeyed. His empty nets weren’t the failure he thought they were. They were an invitation for a divine appointment of God’s intervention. I want to encourage you today if you pushed through the night and still come up empty, ask God what you need to do to fill your net. Peter obeyed because it was Jesus who said to do if. God then turned the supernatural provision into a pivot point in Peter’s life. That act of obedience positioned him for the life he was created to live.

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October 3, 2025 · 5:51 AM

Your Next Step

One of the things I talk to people about is their next step. It’s hard to know what that is sometimes. Imagine Abraham when God told him to go to a place He would show him. God didn’t tell him which direction. He was asking Abraham to take his first step and then He would guide him. We miss out on so much God has for us because we’re afraid of that first step. What if it’s in the wrong direction? What if I mess up? God will direct your steps, but you have to start walking towards something. He can’t take you to where He’s leading you without that first step. It’s time to trust God and step out in faith.

Here are some Bible verses on God directing your steps:

1. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.

2 Samuel 22:36-37 ESV

2. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalms 37:23 NLT

3. Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.

Psalms 119:133 NKJV

4. Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.

Proverbs 16:9 TPT

5. You enlarge the path beneath me and make my steps secure, So that my feet will not slip.

Psalms 18:36 AMP

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October 2, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Gaining Wisdom

I was discussing the importance of mentorship with a group. While I was debriefing, a gentleman raised his hand. He said, “So I need to find someone who has been here in my position for a long time so I can get knowledge from them?” I told him that was almost it. I explained that it wasn’t really knowledge he should be seeking from the mentor. What he needs to be seeking is wisdom. You can get knowledge from just about anywhere, and knowledge is good to have. However, knowledge doesn’t really help you if you don’t know what to do with it. Wisdom gives you insight on how to make the best decisions with the knowledge you gain.

In 1 Kings 10, Solomon was visited by the Queen of Sheba. She had heard how wise he was and wanted to see for herself. She observed how his servants and palace were organized and run. She also came prepared with lots of questions hoping Solomon would mentor her a bit. After he answered her questions, she said he was even more wise than what she had heard. Then, in verse 8 she said, “How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom!” (NLT). A Queen was a bit jealous of the commoners who had the opportunity to listen and learn from his wisdom each day.

In Proverbs 3:15 Solomon wrote, “For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.” Our world has given this kind of value to knowledge instead of wisdom. More and more people are seeking knowledge over wisdom, but you and I can’t do that. We must place a high value on godly wisdom rooted in His Word. We must seek out people who are more wise than we are and learn from them. Solomon also said that if you want to be wise, you must walk with the wise (Proverbs 13:10). Look around at the people God had placed in your life. Who can you ask to mentor you and give you wisdom? Be prepared with situations and questions when you meet with them. God desires that we gain wisdom. It’s time we were proactive in getting it.

Photo by Abdul Matloob on Pexels.

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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October 1, 2025 · 5:48 AM

Wholehearted Commitment

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a pastor in Germany during Hitler’s rule. He recognized the atrocities that were going on and began to speak out against the Nazis. He believed that our faith demands action against evil and we must stand up against it. He knew there were risks associated with speaking out, and he still did it. He was arrested and placed in a concentration camp. He never let fear dictate his faith. The camp doctor, who saw him just before he died, said that he saw Pastor Bonhoeffer kneeling in prayer just before his execution. His devotion and conviction moved the doctor deeply.

In Daniel 3, the Israelites had been captured and taken to Babylon. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, though captives, had proven themselves worthy of serving the king in his court. When the king built a giant statue to be worshiped, they refused knowing the consequences. When they were brought before the king, he offered them the choice to bow or to be thrown into a fiery furnace. They told him they would not and that God was able to deliver them. Then in verse 18 they said, “But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” (NLT). They were thrown into the furnace, and God did show up in a mighty way.

Deuteronomy 6:5-6 says, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.” God doesn’t just want our heart or just our mind. If we’re going to be able to fully commit our life to Him despite the consequences, then we’re going to have to love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength to Him. How are you doing in each of those areas? Have you committed wholeheartedly to follow what He said and willing to stand up in a culture that is opposed to His way of living? Ask the Holy Spirit to shine a light in your life to show where your commitment may be lacking. Also ask Him for courage to stand up for Him despite the consequences even if He doesn’t show up to deliver you from them.

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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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