Posts with the tag “trust”

God knows what you need better than you do, and He has never once been late. The hard part is rarely His provision; it is our waiting.  Read More

"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" - Acts 20:35Generosity is the natural overflow of a grateful heart. When we understand how much God has given us, we can't help but share with others. This doesn't mean giving beyond our means or ignorin...  Read More

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce." - Proverbs 3:9Our financial resources, whether abundant or modest, are tools for honoring God and blessing others. Giving the firstfruits means prioritizing God before our own desires, trusting that He will provide for our needs. This practice builds faith and breaks the power of money to control our hearts. Contentmen...  Read More

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15–16Time stewardship also means paying attention to the small moments. A few quiet minutes in prayer, a kind word to someone who is hurting, or a pause to listen instead of rushing ahead can become sacred offerings to God. When we invite Him into our daily rhyth...  Read More

"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." - 1 Corinthians 4:2God calls every believer to be a steward, not just those with great wealth or obvious talents. Faithfulness, not perfection, is what God requires. The widow's two coins were as valuable to Jesus as the rich man's large donation because faithfulness is measured by the heart, not the amount. Your stewardship might...  Read More

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5–6As this month of focusing on wisdom comes to an end, we're reminded that the journey of learning and growing in wisdom is just beginning. These familiar verses from Proverbs provide a perfect summary of what it means to live wisely: c...  Read More

"For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." - Psalm 30:5Sitting in a tree stand an hour before dawn tests your endurance. The deep woods are completely pitch black, and the temperature usually drops to its lowest point just before the sun breaks over the horizon. Every snapping twig sounds like a massive t...  Read More

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5–6Every experienced hunter or hiker knows the sudden, sinking feeling of losing direction in the deep woods. You spend the afternoon tracking through dense thickets and unfamiliar valleys. As the sun begins to set, the shadows stretch l...  Read More

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” - Isaiah 43:2If you spend enough time exploring the backcountry, you will eventually encounter a roadblock. Imagine you have been hiking for three hours deep into the woods. Your legs are tired, your pack feels heavy, and you are ready to reach your campsite. You turn a famil...  Read More

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” - James 5:7Anyone who has planted a food plot knows how much work it takes—clearing, tilling, and sowing, then waiting while the dirt still looks empty. Many days, you see no change, but you have to believe the seed ...  Read More

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” - Psalm 121:1–2Climbing a mountain is tough, especially when the path gets steep and you can’t see the summit. The same is true in our walk with God. We often start out strong, but when challenges get real, whether it is financial struggles, family conflicts, or questions...  Read More

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1God offers us peace that goes beyond understanding. In Mark 4:37–40, Jesus and His disciples faced a sudden storm on the Sea of Galilee. Even though the disciples were experienced fishermen, fear overwhelmed them and they thought they would drown. In the midst of the chaos, Jesus was asleep in the boat, showing His perfe...  Read More

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” - Proverbs 16:9Have you ever gotten lost in the woods? Maybe you followed a deer trail or wandered off the beaten path, only to turn around and realize every tree suddenly looks the same. When your instincts tell you one thing and your compass points in another direction, you are faced with a choice, do you trust you...  Read More

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” - Lamentations 3:25–26If you have ever climbed into a deer stand long before dawn, you know waiting takes patience and trust. Sitting there in the cold, not knowing what the morning will bring, reminds us that some things are beyond our control. We prepare, we do al...  Read More

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” - Psalm 119:105If you have ever had a quiet morning fishing on a lake, you know it takes patience and trust. You cannot see beneath the surface, yet you keep casting your line, hoping for a catch. We do this in life, too—wanting to control every outcome, longing for guarantees in our marriages, our families, and our futures. But often, God ask...  Read More

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” - Proverbs 3:5–6Faith is a lot like walking through the woods in the dark.We live in a world that tells us to plan everything. We want to know the destination, the exact route we will take, and what the weather will be like when we get there. We crav...  Read More

"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out." - Proverbs 10:9Trust is the currency of relationships. Without it, even the most promising relationships struggle to thrive. Trust is built through consistent truthfulness over time and can be destroyed by a single act of deception. Solomon reminds us that integrity provides security while deception lea...  Read More

"Therefore, putting away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." - Ephesians 4:25Relationships are the testing ground for truth. It's relatively easy to be truthful when it doesn't cost us anything, but relationships require truth even when it's uncomfortable, inconvenient, or potentially costly. Paul reminds us that as members of the b...  Read More

"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart... And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.” - Luke 18:1, 7-8aWe have all experienced the discouragement of an unanswered prayer. We pray for a loved one’s healing, for a breakthrough in a diffi...  Read More

"For we live by faith, not by sight.” - 2 Corinthians 5:7As humans, we are wired to trust what we can see, touch, and measure. We want evidence, guarantees, and a clear view of the road ahead. But the currency of our new life in Christ is not sight; it is faith. Living by faith means we choose to trust God’s character and His promises more than we trust our circumstances, our feelings, or our own ...  Read More

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.” - 2 Corinthians 9:11 Resurrected people live open-handed. We don’t have to clutch our time, gifts, or resources, because our security is anchored in an empty tomb, not an overflowing bank account.Paul links generosity to resurrection. Since Christ gave everything—His very life—we're invited to echo that abundance. G...  Read More

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” - Romans 8:15Childhood can be a game of belonging. On playgrounds or at dinner tables, we ache to know whether we are wanted, loved, and truly "home." So much of life, even in adulthood, is colored by the fear...  Read More

“The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” - Luke 23:55-56Between the devastation of Friday and the hope of Sunday, there is Saturday—a forgotten day, wrapped in silence and uncertainty. The world holds its bre...  Read More

He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” - Matthew 4:4After forty days of fasting in the wilderness, Jesus’ physical need was real. Hunger was not sinful. Wanting relief was not wrong. The temptation did not come from the need itself, but from the way the enemy suggested meeting it.Turn these stones into bread.Satan invited ...  Read More

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” - John 15:5 Relationships are always growing into something. They never stay neutral. Even when no one is trying, something is forming beneath the surface. Over time, patterns develop, tone settles in, and trust either deepens or erodes. What grows in your relat...  Read More

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither.” - Psalm 1:3 It is hard to stay patient when nothing looks different yet. You are praying, showing up, trying to trust God, and still waiting to see change. From the outside, it can feel like nothing is happening at all. That waiting can mess with your confidence and make you quest...  Read More

“For in him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled by him.” - Colossians 2:9, 10 There are moments when faith feels electric. Worship hits deep. A sermon lands hard. Emotions run high, and everything feels clear. In those moments, it is tempting to believe this is what will finally change you. This time feels different. This time feels powerful. Then life settles back in...  Read More

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” – Psalm 1:3 It is easy to measure your life by what you can see. Progress feels real when results show up. Growth feels valid when something changes on the outside. When that fruit takes longer than expected, discouragement creeps in fast. You start wond...  Read More

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” – Colossians 1:27 A lot of people believe Jesus is in charge but still feel alone in their day-to-day life. They know Christ rules heaven. They trust His authority. Yet when anxiety hits or weakness shows up, it can feel like God is distant, watching from above instead of present within. That gap is where many believers quietly struggle. The gospel offers someth...  Read More

“He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” - Colossians 1:17 Some days can feel like you are just barely holding it together. Energy is low. Emotions are heavy. Motivation comes and goes. You still show up, still function, still smile when needed, but inside, you know how close everything feels to unraveling. That quiet exhaustion can make faith feel fragile. What steadies mom...  Read More

“He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:17 There are moments when life stops feeling manageable. Things you thought were stable start slipping. Relationships strain, plans unravel, energy runs out, and it feels like everything is coming undone at the same time. You may still be showing up and holding it together on the outside, but inside, it feels fragile, s...  Read More

“For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” – Colossians 2:9-10 Most people do not reject Jesus outright. They just quietly reduce Him. He becomes a piece of life instead of the center of it. A helper when things get hard. A spiritual option among many others. That sounds harmless, but it change...  Read More

“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.” – Colossians 2:6–7 Many people have had an experience with Jesus without ever submitting to Him as Lord. They felt something in a moment, made a decision, or responded to a need. Over time, when pressure showed up, their faith began to wobble. Experienc...  Read More

“You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.” – Isaiah 26:3 Every day, we are surrounded by noise, pressure, and uncertainty. The news is heavy, the future feels fragile, and even the smallest things can stir anxiety. We live in an imperfect world, and sometimes it feels impossible to find peace in the middle of it. But the truth of Scripture remind...  Read More

"Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." - Colossians 3:21 Whether you realize it or not, your words shape more than behavior. They shape belief. Over time, the way you speak to your kids becomes the way they think about themselves. And in many cases, how they imagine God speaks to them, too. That’s a heavy responsibility, but it’s also a holy opportunity. You are not...  Read More

"Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them." - Colossians 3:19 When Paul wrote to husbands, he didn’t call them to dominance, control, or passivity. He called them to love. Not a surface-level love built on convenience or emotion, but a Christlike love that lays everything down. A love that sacrifices comfort, pride, and self-interest for the good of someone else. Jesus didn’t love ...  Read More

"And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." - Matthew 5:40 This verse would have shocked the original audience. In Jesus’ day, a person’s outer cloak was untouchable. It was their right, protected by Mosaic Law. If someone sued you and took everything, they could not take your coat. It was essential for survival and was often used as a blanket at night. Givi...  Read More

"But he who listens to me shall dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster" – Proverbs 1:33. Sometimes the storms in our lives do not pass quickly. Sometimes they linger. The sky stays gray, the winds keep pounding, and you start wondering how long you’ll have to keep holding on. It’s one thing to have deep roots when a storm hits suddenly and leaves just as fast. It’s another to ...  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

"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