Posts with the category “daily-devotion”

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23Once you’ve made the decision to fully commit to God and stop chasing after the world, there’s another critical step you have to take: guarding what you’ve just surrendered. It is one thing to choose the path of life. It is another thing to stay on it when distractions, temptations, and pressures keep coming at...  Read More

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." - Matthew 6:24There is a battle that plays out in many hearts, and maybe you know it well. It is the pull between chasing after God and chasing after what the world offers. You want the peace of God, the blessing of God, the purpose He gives... but at the same...  Read More

"I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." - Revelation 3:15-16Let’s be real, when you read the verse above, you see those are some strong words from God. Lukewarm. Half in, half out. Riding the fence. It is easy to think that as long as we are mostly doing the r...  Read More

"His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’" - Matthew 25:23It is tempting to believe that significance comes from doing something big, something noticeable, something that turns heads. We often look for the flashy moments - the breakthroughs, the platform, the recognition - and ...  Read More

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28Sometimes the greatest frustration in life is feeling like nothing you are doing is connected to the promise God gave you. You have a vision for where you believe He is leading you, but your current reality feels completely unrelated. It’s easy to wonder, Wha...  Read More

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8We like stories that make sense. We love a good movie plot where everything builds in a straight line. Where each step forward leads predictably to the big moment of victory. But if you have walked with God for any length of time, you know that His way of working rarely looks like that.You might...  Read More

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." - Ephesians 3:20When you are in a long season of preparation, it is easy to grow tired and start settling. You pray for God to open big doors, but when it takes longer than you hoped, you may start thinking, maybe this smaller door is enough. Maybe this is all I’m meant for.H...  Read More

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." - Romans 5:3-4If you are in a season where God is preparing you, it can feel heavy. It can feel long. You might even start to wonder if God has forgotten what He promised you. But here is something crucial to understand: while God is working t...  Read More

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." - 1 Peter 5:6We all want the blessing. We pray for it, chase after it, and believe for it. But what we often miss is that God is not just interested in giving you a blessing. He is interested in making sure you are ready for it.Sometimes God brings something into your life, not just to give yo...  Read More

"He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30If you are going to run your race with endurance, if you are serious about laying down the weight, dropping the sin, and living out a bold Why Not You? mentality, you have to prepare for it every single day. You cannot expect to walk in victory without a plan. The moment your feet hit the floor in the morning, the enemy is already on notice. That...  Read More

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Heb...  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 3:23-24If you know sports, you know what third string means. It means you rarely, if ever, get in the game. I was third string myself until my senior year of college basketball, and I can tell you firsthand, it ...  Read More

"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." - Luke 6:45What you say matters. Not just because words have power, but because your words reveal what is really going on in your heart. Luke 6:45 makes it clear, whatever is overflowing in your heart is going to ...  Read More

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" - Psalm 141:3It is wild when you really think about it. Nobody talks to you more than you. All day long, your inner voice is shaping your thoughts, your feelings, and even your actions. The question is, what are you saying to yourself?For so many of us, we are kind, encouraging, and uplifting when it comes to other people. ...  Read More

"For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity." - Proverbs 24:16There is a battle we all face, and sometimes it is not just the storm in front of us but the shame that follows behind. Yesterday, we talked about having that buffalo mentality, charging into the storm, facing it head-on, knowing that running through it is the fastest way to get to t...  Read More

"The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." - Psalm 9:9Have you noticed that some storms in your life seem to keep circling back? The same struggles, the same battles, the same frustrations. It is like you can never fully outrun them, no matter how hard you try. There is a reason for that.In the same pasture, cows and buffalo live side by side, but when a storm ...  Read More

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9There is real freedom in realizing that every fight you face is not yours to carry alone. We live in a world that tells us to push harder, fight harder, and figure it all out. But God’s Word offers a different perspective. When Joshua st...  Read More

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9Courage is not about feeling fearless. It is about moving forward even when fear is gripping your heart. As John Wayne said, "Courage is being afraid but saddling up anyways." The truth is, every one of us will face things that feel bigg...  Read More

"Then Jesus said to him, 'Be gone, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" – Matthew 4:10The third temptation wasn’t just a test. It was an all-out attempt by the devil to get Jesus to betray His purpose. This time, the devil pulled out all the stops. He took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their g...  Read More

"Jesus said to him, 'Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" – Matthew 4:7The second temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness was all about manipulation. The devil took Him to the holy city, set Him on the highest point of the temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On th...  Read More

"But he answered, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" – Matthew 4:4Right after Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Forty days and nights of fasting, nothing to eat, nothing to drink. And when Jesus was at His weakest physically, the enemy showed up.The first temptation the ...  Read More

"And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." – Ephesians 6:15Imagine trying to fight a battle on slippery ground with no grip, no stability, and nothing keeping you from losing your footing. That’s what it’s like trying to stand firm without the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace. And here’s the thing. The enemy knows how to create unstable ground. He knows ho...  Read More

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." – Hebrews 4:12When it comes to spiritual warfare, the Sword of the Spirit is your only offensive weapon. And what is the Sword of the Spirit? It’s the Word of God. It’s not just a collection o...  Read More

"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one." – Ephesians 6:16Have you ever thought about what it means to be truly effective in spiritual warfare? It’s not just about being protected. It’s about being effective. And the Shield of Faith is one of the most critical pieces of armor you can carry.Ephesians 6 talks about more t...  Read More

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." – John 17:17What holds your life together? For most people, it’s whatever feels good in the moment. We live in a world that says, “What’s true for you might not be true for me.” We love to avoid confrontation, so we settle for things like “agree to disagree.” That’s all fine until someone gets hurt and justice is needed. Because the reality is, you...  Read More

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." – 1 John 1:9The Breastplate of Righteousness is your protection over one of the most vulnerable areas of your life, your heart. The enemy knows that if he can corrupt your heart, he can corrupt your walk with God. That’s why God gave you this critical piece of armor.What does the en...  Read More

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." – Ephesians 6:11If you want to be fully covered and protected from the enemy’s attacks, you have to start with the most important battlefield, your mind. That’s why the Helmet of Salvation is the first piece of armor you need to put on. Because where’s the battle? In your mind.The devil’s schemes are s...  Read More

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." – Proverbs 3:5Sin always feels good in the moment. But the problem is, it’s never enough. The pleasure wears off, and you find yourself chasing after something new, something that can give you that next high. And before you know it, you’re stuck in a cycle. Your triggers lead to unhealthy tendencies, and those tend...  Read More

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." – Ephesians 6:11Have you ever wondered what the schemes of the devil actually look like? It’s not just random attacks. It’s a calculated strategy where he uses your own tendencies against you. The devil knows your cravings. He knows your triggers. And he’s ready to use them to keep you from living in v...  Read More

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." – Acts 1:8When you walk in your anointing, it’s not just about you. It’s about what God wants to do through you to reach others. Your talent is a gift from God, but your anointing is the power of the Holy Spirit working through th...  Read More

"But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him." – 1 John 2:27Have you ever wondered what makes someone truly effective for God’s Kingdom? There’s a difference between being gifted and being anointed. And it’s a diffe...  Read More

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." – Ephesians 6:11Have you ever played paintball? It’s a game where you shoot each other with paintballs flying over 100 mph. They leave welts and bruises, and if you get hit, you’re out. It’s simple, but it’s also a great lesson about staying covered.I remember playing paintball at a student conference....  Read More

"Be sober-minded; be watchful, your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." – 1 Peter 5:8Back in the day, I used to hoop. I know some people question whether I was ever really an athlete, but there was a time when I lived and breathed basketball. My high school coach had a way of motivating me that stuck with me. He’d say, “Newton.” “Yes, sir?” “When you ...  Read More

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." – James 1:2-3The moment you begin stepping into who God has called you to be, it’s going to come with opposition. When you choose to live fully surrendered to Jesus, you become a target. The enemy sees a life on fire for God and wants to put it out. And when t...  Read More

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." – Ephesians 6:12The battle you’re facing isn’t just physical. It’s spiritual. And it’s happening in the heavenly places. The devil is fine with you coming to church, singing the songs, an...  Read More

"Be sober-minded, be watchful, your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." – 1 Peter 5:8Have you ever made the decision to go all in for Jesus, to fully surrender and walk in His purpose, only to find yourself facing more opposition than ever before? You decide to lay down the things that aren’t good for you, the habits and distractions pulling you away ...  Read More

"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law, indeed, it cannot." – Romans 8:7Every single day, you’re faced with a choice. And it’s a choice that shapes everything about your life. Will you please God, or will you please yourself? That’s it. Those are the only two options.If you’re honest, living for yourself sounds like freedom. You get to do what...  Read More

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." – Matthew 4:4Have you ever thought about what you’re really putting into your soul? What you feed yourself spiritually determines how you grow. And the truth is, a lot of people are starving themselves spiritually without even realizing it.I read something recently that hit me hard. Out of the people who say t...  Read More

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." – Proverbs 31:28Motherhood is one of the most powerful callings God has ever given. It’s more than just a title. It’s a ministry. It’s a mission. It’s a life of pouring yourself out day after day, even when it feels like no one notices. But God sees you.Maybe you’re a mom in the thick of raising little ones, feeling...  Read More

"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.'" – 1 Corinthians 15:33What would it look like to make a one-degree change today? Not trying to be perfect overnight, but just aiming to be one degree better than yesterday. It’s about making progress daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. So, how do you do that? You have to mind the gap.Your choices have to be different. Your circles have to be...  Read More