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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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September 15, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Kingdom Dominion

In Genesis 1, as God was about to make man He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion…” (NKJV) Before sin entered the world, He instituted His Kingdom on earth and gave man the responsibility to have dominion. We were commissioned with a divine assignment to bring Heaven’s culture to earth. He then gave man His image, much like a signet ring, to have authority over everything. However, when the Fall happened, the call to Kingdom dominion remained, but our capacity became compromised.

Jesus coming to earth was not only meant to restore us to God, but also to the life of Kingdom dominion He created us to live. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray in Matthew 6, Jesus started out by restoring His Kingdom mandate. He prayed, “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus restored a governmental order that sin clouded. He restored our purpose and recommissioned us to bring the culture of Heaven to a world darkened by sin. Then before He ascended into Heaven, Jesus said that all power (absolute rule and authority) had been given to Him as He recommissioned us to go and make disciples who would be Kingdom carriers.

In Christ you are an image bearer with His authority. What sin tried to take away, Jesus restored. You have been given authority to cultivate the Kingdom of Heaven in your home, on your job and wherever you go. Walk in the authority He has given you, not to dominate, but to demonstrate the culture of the Kingdom. You are to enter every room as Heaven’s representative. You carry Kingdom authority, so walk like a citizen of Heaven, speak like an ambassador and love like the King of Kings. Use your Kingdom dominion to not only change the environment around you, but to shift the atmosphere as you help God’s Kingdom and will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

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September 12, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Peace Of God

Ever since the Fall, when sin entered the world, fear and chaos have tried to torment, shape and affect us. It’s hard to make decisions when they are flooding our mind. Thankfully, God offers us peace that passes understanding. He offers clarity instead of confusion. It’s up to us on whether we will allow the Prince of Peace to guard our heart and mind. He has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us His peace for every situation. It is a gift from God to you if you will receive it.

Here are some Bible verses on the peace that God gives:

1. I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27 NLT

2. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT

3. You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

Isaiah 26:3 AMP

4. GOD makes his people strong. GOD gives his people peace.

Psalm 29:11 MSG

5. I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.

Psalms 85:8 NLT

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September 11, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Breath Of Life

I’ve been in the right place at the right time to save people’s lives. I’ve saved a friend who was drowning and couldn’t swim. I’ve done the Heimlich on someone who was chocking. I’ve even talked a couple of people off the ledge when they felt they had nothing to live for. However, I have never had to use CPR thankfully, even though I’ve been trained in it. CPR is unique in that you’re taking your breath and giving it to someone to bring life. It’s one of the greatest gifts you could ever give someone.

In Genesis, we read where God breathed into Adam and he became a living being. God’s breath brings greater life than our breath ever could. In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read, “God has transmitted his very substance into every Scripture, for it is God-breathed. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness” (TPT). His Word is life to each of us who breath it in and apply it to our lives. Remember that Jesus came to give life, and that more abundantly.

Isaiah 42:5 says, “God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth” (NLT). God has given you His breath to give you life and to bring things back to life that you thought were dead. If God promised something to you that has yet to be accomplished, it will surely come to pass. Speak His Word, that He breathed into, over those areas of your life. His Word will not fail (Luke 11:37), nor will it return accomplishing what He said (Isaiah 55:11). Ask God today to breath life into those areas and have faith that He will do it.

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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 10, 2025 · 5:48 AM

A Posture Of Pursuit

In my first year of marriage, my wife pointed out a habit of mine that I didn’t know I had. When I would walk in the door to my home, I would go straight to the remote control and turn on the TV. I wouldn’t watch it. I would just have it on as background noise. When she asked why I did it if I wasn’t going to watch it, I didn’t have an answer. It occurred to me that many of us treat the Lord this way in our life. He’s just background noise. We don’t really pursue him or pay attention to Him until we need something. He’s constantly talking to us, but we aren’t really listening because we aren’t pursuing Him.

As David wrote Psalm 61, he was fleeing King Saul. He was displaced from his home, his family and friends while having to live in the desert wilderness. The first verse says, “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water” (NLT). He didn’t have the posture of despair despite his situation. Instead he was seeking the Lord continually. He compared his need for the Lord to the need his body had for water while living in the desert. His posture wasn’t one of complaint regarding his situation. It was one of praise and understanding of how much he truly needed the Lord.

Psalm 105:4 says, “Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.” We must be purposeful in our pursuit of the Lord. We must seek Him for strength to help us each and every day. Instead of seeking affirmations from social media when you wake up, seek Him. Instead of complaining about the day, praise Him. Start your day with worship instead of worry. Ask God for direction and guidance. When He moves from background noise in your life to the One you pursue and seek, everything changes. When you pursue Him as your greatest need, you can be content in whatever situation you find yourself in.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.

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September 8, 2025 · 5:48 AM

A Heart Of Compassion

I knew a girl who grew up in church, but started going out to clubs once she hit 21. It wasn’t long before she posted she was pregnant. Her posts stated how she needed help as a single mom. After the baby was born she struggled to find a job to pay enough for someone to watch her baby. She bounced from job to job and apartment to apartment with each post stating how hard life was. The more posts she made, honestly the less compassion I felt for her situation. I went from wanting to help with baby items to she put herself in this situation. My heart began to grow hard instead of seeing her through the eyes of compassion. She is just one example of a shift in compassion in my life. It challenges me to want to be more like Jesus instead.

In Matthew 9, Jesus talked about how healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. He raised a little girl from the dead, He called a tax collector to follow Him and healed a blind person. The chapter starts to wrap up with a comment about Jesus going through many towns and then an observation from the tax collector. He wrote, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (NLT). He never quit having compassion on people whether their predicament was self inflicted or not. He recognized they were confused and helpless. Then in the very next verse Jesus said the harvest is great, but the workers are few. I wonder if the workers are few because of our lack of compassion.

Colossians 3:12 says, “You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others” (TPT). Robing ourselves with the virtues of God is an act we must do that doesn’t come natural. We must become merciful as we see others in their needs and compassionate as we show kindness to everyone. The way we do that is to be gentle and humble towards them whether they created their mess or not. Jesus modeled these virtues for us to follow as His workers in the field. If you struggle with this sometimes like I do, ask God to give you eyes to see people the way He does and to have His heart of compassion.

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