Posts with the category “daily-devotionals”

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16 One of the most important tests for a follower of Jesus is simple. Are other people seeing your life and giving glory to God? Not “Are they impressed with you?” Not “Do they like you?” Not “Do they think you’re a good person?” Are they seeing your good...  Read More

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.” - Matthew 5:14-15 Jesus did not say you might be the light of the world. He said you are. That means this is not something you can opt out of. If you follow Jesus, your life is meant to shine. You ...  Read More

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” - Matthew 5:13 Salt does no good if it stays in the shaker. Jesus did not save you so you could sit still, stay safe, and keep to yourself. He called you salt. That means you were made to be poured out, scattered, ...  Read More

“You are the salt of the earth” - Matthew 5:13 When Jesus called His followers salt, He wasn’t tossing out a random metaphor. He was speaking directly to the value, influence, and purpose He designed them to carry. And the same is true for you. Salt is a miracle. You take two elements, sodium and chloride, that on their own are toxic and deadly, but when combined correctly, they form something use...  Read More

“You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world.” - Matthew 5:13-14 The people who gathered on the hillside that day (in Matthew 5) to hear Jesus teach weren’t elite or influential. They weren’t leading cities or running businesses. They were fishermen, laborers, and ordinary families just trying to get through life under Roman rule. Many of them probably felt powerless and unimpo...  Read More

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” - Romans 12:2 Jesus didn’t just come to save your soul. He came to reshape your entire life. That includes your identity, your mindset, and your way of living. In other words, Jesus calls us not only to know who we are in Him, but to live ...  Read More

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Corinthians 15:57 If you’ve ever rooted for a losing team, you know the pain. The frustration. The hope that rises in the offseason, only to crash again by midseason. As a Cowboys fan, I know that feeling way too well. When the losses pile up year after year, winning starts to feel more like a fantasy than a possib...  Read More

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift.” - Ephesians 2:8 C.S. Lewis once said, “You’re not a body with a soul. You’re a soul with a body.” That flips the way most people think about life. We spend so much time worrying about the outside: our bodies, our schedules, our image. But God has a different focus. He looks deeper. He’s paying attention ...  Read More

“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” - Colossians 3:17 When we talk about spiritual health, it’s easy to think it only applies to church stuff like prayer, Bible reading, and serving on Sundays. But in Colossians 3, Paul pushes that thinking a whole lot further. He says whatever you do. Not some of what...  Read More

“Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” - Colossians 3:16 A lot of people think they can have a healthy walk with God while ignoring the very thing He gave them to build it, His Word. You’ll hear things like, “I love God, but I’m not really into chur...  Read More

“And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful.” - Colossians 3:15 Peace doesn’t usually show up on its own. It’s not something that just drifts into your life without permission. You have to let it in. That’s exactly what Paul is getting at in the verse above when he says, “Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts.” That word “rule” is p...  Read More

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience... And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” - Colossians 3:12, 14Have you ever put on a brand-new outfit and instantly felt different? Like something changed. Not just on the outside, but in how you carried yourself? That’s the kind of ...  Read More

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” - John 1:12 If you want to build a spiritually healthy life, the first place to start is not with what you do, but with who you are. And even deeper than that, who you belong to. In Colossians 3, Paul gives us a clear reminder of our identity. He says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and ...  Read More

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Let’s go a little deeper into the idea of the three-legged stool life that we looked at yesterday. The three legs represent the three different aspects of us: Physically, mentally, and our so...  Read More

"Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well." - 3 John 1:2 When someone asks you, “Are you healthy?” What’s the first thing that comes to your mind? For most people, it’s physical. They start thinking about their body, their weight, maybe their cholesterol or blood pressure. For others, maybe a smaller group, the first tho...  Read More

"Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:9 The last piece in this journey toward a healthy thought life is all about imitation. Not imitation in the sense of copying someone’s style or personality, but imitation that flows from wisdom and humility. Paul is wrapping up this section in Philippians by telling the...  Read More

"Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things." - Philippians 4:8 Your mind is one of the most powerful tools God has given you. And yet, it’s also one of the most vulnerable places in your life. What ...  Read More

"But in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7 Have you ever caught yourself saying something like, “I don’t want to bother God with this”? Maybe you’re good at bringing the big stuff to Him when life hits hard or the bott...  Read More

"But in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving" - Philippians 4:6 Some people just have a way of making everything feel heavy. You know the type. If it’s sunny, it’s too hot. If it’s cloudy, it’s too gloomy. No matter how much they have, they live with a mindset that it’s never enough. That’s what happens when gratitude goes missing. And it’s a real problem, not just for their a...  Read More

"Don’t worry about anything" - Philippians 4:6 Let’s be honest. Worry is something most of us carry way too often. You might not say you’re a worrier out loud, but if we looked at your thoughts during the day, or especially at night when things get quiet, we’d probably find some anxiety hanging around. It’s subtle, but it pulls on us. That’s why the word Paul uses here matters so much. When Script...  Read More

"Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near." - Philippians 4:5Step two in our journey toward a healthy thought life centers around a powerful truth: the Lord is near. That phrase changes everything. When your mind feels cluttered with anxiety or stuck in a cycle of negative thinking, one of the greatest things you can do is stop and remember that God is not far away. He is right...  Read More

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4 We are going to begin a new seven-part journey, diving into what it means to develop a healthy thought life. The first step is all about joy. Not random happiness or good vibes, but the kind of joy that comes from choosing to rejoice in the Lord no matter what is happening around you. The verse shown above is not a sugge...  Read More

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 There’s a saying that has stuck with me ever since I heard it. Inky Johnson, a former Tennessee football player turned motivational speaker, said, “Watch your thoughts, they become your words. Watch your...  Read More

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." - Matthew 22:37 When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He did not hesitate. He said the most important thing we can do is love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. That answer was not random. Jesus was pointing us to what matters most to God, and at the same time, He was showing ...  Read More

"Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 When the Bible says your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, it is not just a poetic phrase. It is a fact. If you have been saved, your body is now a dwelling place for God. That changes e...  Read More

"You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What determines value? Is it age, rarity, or condition? Most people think value is based on what something is made of or how long it has lasted. But the truth is simple. Value is set by what someone is willing to pay. I read about a baseball card that sold for $12.6 million. It was a 1952...  Read More

“You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 There’s a common phrase you hear all the time in our culture: “It’s my body, I can do what I want.” But if you belong to Jesus, that statement simply isn’t true. According to Scripture, your body does not belong to you. It belongs to the One who created you, saved you, and paid the ultima...  Read More

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?” - 1 Corinthians 6:19 If you are truly saved, you need to know that your body isn’t just flesh and bones anymore. It is occupied by God Himself. That truth might sound unbelievable, but it is straight from Scripture. The Holy Spirit, the very presence of God, lives in you. You don’t have to go to ...  Read More

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God” - 1 Corinthians 6:19 If you have a physical body, then God has something to tell you. Scripture says your body is not just a shell or a vehicle to get through life. It’s a temple. That might be something you’ve heard before, but have you ever stopped to think about what that really means? In Exodus 2...  Read More

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31 When it comes to taking care of our health, we often joke more than we act. We know what we should do, but deep down, we just do not feel like doing it. Ice cream seems more satisfying than discipline, and comfort almost always wins out over effort. But what if we stopped treating our physical heal...  Read More

"Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well." - 3 John 1:2 There’s a lot of noise out there about getting healthy. Whether it’s joining a gym, trying a new diet, or chasing physical results, health has become a major focus. But the truth is, what the world calls healthy and what God wants for your life might not always be ...  Read More

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24 There is a hidden part of obedience that no one talks about much. It is the part where you are building what God told you to build, and nobody seems to notice. The part where you are doing the work, day ...  Read More

"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9 There will be days when you want to quit. When the things God has called you to do feel too heavy. When you feel like the progress is too slow, the results are too small, and the weight is too much. In moments like that, you have to remember your “why.” Why did you say yes to God in the fir...  Read More

"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." - Nehemiah 4:14 When Nehemiah gathered the people to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, it looked like a construction project on the surface. But if you really look at what was happening, you’ll see this was never just about a wall. This was a...  Read More

“Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.” - Nehemiah 4:14 There are moments when following God’s vision will wear you out. The work gets heavy. The critics get loud. And before long, even the strongest believers begin to question if the vision is worth it. That’s exactly what happened in Nehem...  Read More

“And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.” - Nehemiah 4:9 Pursuing God’s vision will not be easy. If you’ve ever stepped out in faith, you already know that. The moment you say yes to God, the enemy starts drawing up his plan to stop you. That is not a coincidence. That is spiritual resistance. Nehemiah faced it every step of the way. The moment he began...  Read More

"So we rebuilt the wall until all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart." - Nehemiah 4:6 Nehemiah had a burden. He prayed. He believed God for a vision bigger than himself. But what came next was just as important. God didn’t call Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem by himself. He called him to lead others. And then, God provided the right people at the ri...  Read More

"So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days." - Nehemiah 6:15 Nehemiah was never supposed to be the guy who would build the city. He wasn’t a contractor. He wasn’t a general. He wasn’t a strategist or a builder. He was a cupbearer. His job was to serve drinks and stay quiet in the presence of royalty. And yet, when God gave him a vision, Nehemiah stepped ...  Read More

"Our God will fight for us" - Nehemiah 4:20 There will always be risk when you follow God. That’s the part no one talks about. We love the idea of blessing and favor and open doors, but we often forget that the path to purpose usually walks straight through danger and opposition. Nehemiah knew that firsthand. As he stepped into the vision God gave him, he also stepped into a fight. The moment he b...  Read More

"And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me." - Nehemiah 2:8 When God gives you a vision, He never leaves you empty-handed. That is one of the clearest lessons from Nehemiah’s story. God had called him to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem, but Nehemiah had no materials, no money, and no manpower. On paper, the plan was impossible. But when Nehemiah stepped ou...  Read More