Promise for Today - He Will Tell You

The Holy Spirit, God's gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them. If you will stir up this inner power, you will never be afraid to tell others about our Lord.

2 Timothy 1:7-8 (TLB)

You can be confident in sharing your faith when you remember you don’t have to know all the answers. Why? Because Jesus does!

Here’s something else you need to remember: When you share the hope you have in Christ with others, you’re not doing it alone. God is with you! And his Spirit is working in the other person's heart as you're sharing with them.

The Bible says, “The Holy Spirit, God's gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them. If you will stir up this inner power, you will never be afraid to tell others about our Lord” (2 Timothy 1:7-8 TLB).

When you realize the Holy Spirit's power and God's truth are in you, you never have to be afraid to tell others about Jesus. That should give you a lot of confidence!

Luke 21:13-15 also gives encouragement for sharing your faith: “This will be your chance to tell about your faith. Don’t worry about what you will say to defend yourselves. I will give you the wisdom to know what to say” (CEV).

It’s common to be fearful about sharing your faith with someone. You might think, “I don't know what to say to that person at the office, on the soccer field, or in my neighborhood.” But God essentially says to you, “I will tell you what to say when you need it.”

What an amazing promise! You may not feel ready or equipped to share the gospel, but the truth is, you have everything you need because of God’s presence and power in you.

Talk It Over

Describe a time when you felt God’s power at work within you while sharing God’s love with someone.

Who in your life do you look up to as someone who isn’t afraid to share their faith?

How would this next week look different if you were constantly aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

       We want to honor You and fulfill the calling to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Lord, fill us with courage to proclaim Your gospel boldly, without fear or hesitation, and let our love for You and for others be greater than our fear of rejection. Empower us by Your Spirit to be faithful witnesses, trusting that You will work through us for Your glory. Father, forgive us for the times we were silent when we should have spoken, allowing fear, doubt, or hesitation to hold us back. Forgive us for relying on our own strength instead of trusting in Your Spirit. Remove any timidness from our hearts and give us the boldness to open our mouths, speaking words that bring hope and salvation to those who need You.
Lord, guide us to the people You want us to reach. Soften their hearts and help us to share Your truth with compassion and clarity. Give us wisdom to know when to speak and when to listen, and let our actions reflect Your love and grace. 

      Father, we rely on Your Spirit to empower us, not our own abilities. Strengthen us to persevere in sharing Your Word, even if the harvest is slow, and remind us that we are Your co-workers in spreading Your message. May the boldness You give us lead others to repentance and salvation, and may You be glorified in all we do. Tell us, Father, so that we are able to tell others. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen

Promise for Today - In Your Spare Time

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

Philippians 3:8 (NLT)

You’re never going to become a friend of God in your spare time. To become his friend, you have to make knowing him your number one priority. So let me ask you: Are you doing that? Are you seeking God with all your heart each day?

Remember: You are as close to God as you choose to be. Becoming a friend of God starts when you decide that’s what you want.

If you feel far from God, think about who moved. It wasn’t God. And you can’t blame anyone else, not your spouse, your parents, or your kids. It’s simply that you didn’t make him your number one priority.

Knowing and loving God is humanity’s greatest privilege. And being known and being loved by God is our greatest pleasure.

I’ve noticed that you can tell what’s important to people by what they brag about. If their kids are most important, they brag about their kids. If their job is the most important thing in their life, they brag about their job. If travel and having experiences are most important, that’s what they talk about. If partying or buying new clothes is what you talk about most, guess what you value most? You brag about what you value most.

God says in Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT, “Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness,  judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.” 

Knowing God is what matters most—it’s what life is all about. The God of the universe loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. And getting close to him will give you peace and perspective. That’s good news!

Talk It Over

How do you need to re-prioritize your life so that getting to know God better is your number one priority?

Based on what you talk about most, what would people say is most important to you?

What you brag about is what’s most important to you. How can you boast about your relationship with God in your everyday conversations?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          We seek to place You at the forefront of our lives. Align our hearts with Your will, and guide our decisions so that every action reflects Your love and grace. Strengthen our faith, that we may honor You in all we do.
     In every choice we face, guide our thoughts and actions to seek Your wisdom. Help us begin each day with prayer and reflection, inviting Your presence into every challenge. Teach us to prioritize Your kingdom and righteousness above all else, trusting that all other needs will be provided according to Your plan. May our lives be a testament to Your love and purpose. 
     We ask for Your help to organize our priorities and focus on what truly matters. Remove distractions, strengthen our self-discipline, and help us dedicate our time and energy to serving You first. Let our work, relationships, and daily tasks reflect Your glory, and guide us to make choices that honor Your will. In Jesus' Name we pray,  Amen

Promise for Today - Intentionally Available

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV)

Most people get to watch history; very few choose to make it. But I believe you can be a history-maker.

You’re not sitting where you’re sitting by accident. You haven’t had the experiences in your life by chance. God designed your life to make a difference in the world. A thousand years before you were born, God knew you’d be right where you are today. He knew you’d be reading this devotional. I believe it’s because God has something special, something unique in store for you.

No matter where you’ve been, what you’re afraid of, or what sin is in your rearview mirror, God can still use you to make a difference in this world. What he needs from you is a total commitment to him. God wants you to be all in on his plan for you.

God is less interested in your ability; he cares about your availability.

At an early age I told God, “I’m all in! I don’t care what you ask me to do or how tough it is, I’ll say yes—anytime, anywhere, anyplace.” Since then, it has been a wild and amazing adventure doing what God has asked me to do.

You can make that same decision, too. God is looking for people to use to change the world.

The Bible says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV). God is looking for you—yes, you—so he can strengthen you and use you to make an impact.

And it all starts with a committed and available heart. You can start today. Let God know that you’re committed to doing whatever he wants with your life. Tell him you’re available for him to use you, and then watch how he answers your prayer.

 
Talk It Over

Why is availability so important to God when he looks for people he can use? Have your opinions about your own abilities ever kept you from saying yes to him?

What do you think holds people back from telling God they are all in?

What’s the hardest thing for you to give up when considering whether to give God everything?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           We want to be fully present for Your will. Remove the distractions that pull us away from Your voice, and quiet the noise that clouds our spirit. Teach us to pause, to listen, and to respond without hesitation when You call. Fill us with courage to step into the unknown, and with humility to serve wherever You place us. Let our time, talents, and thoughts be aligned with Your purposes.
     We want our lives to be vessels—ready, willing, and yielded—so that Your love flows through us to others. Father, give us Your wisdom so that we are available not just in moments of convenience, but in every season, every circumstance, and every opportunity You provide.
     We are here —send us, use us, and shape us for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Being Present

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.

Job 2:13 (NLT)

If you're always in a hurry, then you're never going to be a great listener. To have great conversations, you start by investing as much time as needed. Why? Because you can't listen very well when you’re in a hurry. Great listening takes time.

Job was a wealthy man who lost virtually everything, including his money, health, and even his children. “When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. . . . Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words” (Job 2:11, 13 NLT).

This is called the ministry of presence. When you’re ministering to someone in pain, you must remember this: The deeper the pain, the fewer words you use. If somebody's having a bad hair day, then you can talk about it for 30 minutes. But if that person has a major crisis, talking about it for a long time is probably not going to help.

A lot of people don’t know how to help someone who is in crisis. They don't know what to say. Those same people will often stay away from a friend because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing.

The truth is that you don’t need to say anything. Just show up and shut up. You can’t talk people out of their pain. Some pain is beyond words. When it's the right time, your hurting friend will say something. When it's the right time, then you'll be able to say something too.

This kind of investment takes time. Notice how many days Job's friends sat on the ground with him: seven. Do you have anybody in your life who'd sit on the ground with you for seven days without saying anything? That takes a very mature person and a true friend.

If you want to be that kind of friend, then you have to be willing to sacrifice so that you can give people your love, attention, and presence—as much as they need.

 
Talk It Over

What can you do right now that would give you more margin to be available to your friends when they are in crisis?

Is it difficult for you to listen and not talk in a conversation? If so, why?

Why is it an investment to give someone the ministry of presence?

-by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         Grant us the wisdom to set aside distractions and use our time for what matters most. Help us be present, patient, and willing to serve others with love. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - To Love You More

Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God.

1 Timothy 6:21 (TLB)

The key to a friendship with God is deciding whose friendship you want most.

You don’t have time to be everyone's best friend. You have to decide who you want as your closest friend. 

The Living Bible paraphrase says, “Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God” (1 Timothy 6:21). They know all the baseball scores. They know the stock market quotes. They know the top 10 songs. They know who’s in and who’s out in every TV Show. But they don’t know God. They’ve missed the most important thing in life!

If you’re not a friend of God, it means you care about something else more. James 4:4 says, “You should know that loving the world is the same as hating God. Anyone who wants to be a friend of the world becomes God’s enemy” (NCV). When James writes “loving the world,” he means loving the value system of the world. God wants you to love people, but that doesn’t mean you have to love the world’s value system.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the distractions of life. And when you’re distracted by loving the world’s value system, there’s not much room to love people. Instead, you love materialism. You love pleasure. You love popularity. You love prestige. You love passion, possessions, and position.

But God loves people. And he wants you to love them too. One way to show your love of others is by taking an interest in their interests. In other words, what is important to you becomes important to me (always within the context of biblical truth).

That’s how you show your love of God too. If you’re going to be a friend of God, then you’ve got to care about what he cares about and stop caring about the things he doesn’t care about. God doesn’t care about your image. He’s not interested in your status. He’s interested in your character—not how you LOOK but who you ARE.

Are you ready to take a practical step toward friendship with God? Choose to value what he values.

Talk It Over

Describe the relationship you have with your best friend. How does it compare to the relationship you have with God?

What’s more important to you than knowing God? Why do you value it more?

What are some things that you know God values? How important are those things to you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           We long to know You more deeply. Draw us closer to Your presence, Lord, and remove anything—sin, distraction, fear, or doubt—that creates distance between us. Awaken in us a hunger and thirst for You, like the deer that pants for water in Psalm 42:1. Teach us to hear Your voice clearly and to recognize Your leading. Give us hearts that seek You above all else, minds that delight in Your Word, and a spirit that responds quickly in obedience.
       Reveal more of who You are—Your love, Your holiness, Your mercy, and Your power. Help us to abide in You daily, to slow down enough to listen, and to walk in step with Your Spirit. We want to make our relationship with You to be real, to be intimate, and life-changing. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - As Long As It Takes

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Forgiveness is not a term you can casually throw around, making everyone instantly feel better. That’s not real forgiveness. 

The Bible says there are four characteristics of real forgiveness:
1. Forgiveness is remembering how much you’ve been forgiven. 

This is the starting point for genuine forgiveness. If you don’t feel forgiven, you probably won’t want to forgive anyone else. If you’re hard on yourself, you’re going to be hard on others. But the more grace you receive from God, the more gracious you’re going to be with others. The more you receive God’s forgiveness, the more forgiving you’ll be toward others.

2. Forgiveness is relinquishing your right to get even. 

The Bible says in the Living Bible paraphrase, “Never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those who deserve it” (Romans 12:19). Life is not fair, but one day God’s going to settle the score. He’s going to right the wrongs. So who’s better at getting justice—you or God?

3. Forgiveness is responding to evil with good.

The Bible says in Luke 6:27-28, “Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (NIV). How can you tell when you’ve really forgiven someone? When you can look at that person’s hurt, not just your own, and pray for God to bless them. You ask, “How could I possibly forgive them? They really hurt me.” Only the love of God can help you do something like that. It’s why you must fill your life with God’s love.

4. Forgiveness is repeating the process as long as necessary. 

“Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’” (Matthew 18:21-22 NLT). Jewish law said you had to forgive a person three times, so Peter doubled it and threw one in for good measure. But Jesus said to go even further with your forgiveness!

How long do you have to keep forgiving someone? Until the pain stops and the desire to get revenge goes away. In other words, as long as it takes.

Talk It Over

What difference has God’s grace made in your life? How can you extend that grace to others?

Who can you ask God to bless today? How can that prayer be part of the process of letting go of your hurt?

What good can you do for someone in your life who dislikes you or who has wronged you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         We recognize that holding onto anger only harms our own souls. We know that we need Your strength to forgive what seems unforgivable. We ask for Your help to release the anger, bitterness, and resentment that weigh us down. Help us to let go of the pain, to release the burden of grudges, and to see others through Your eyes of grace. Grant us the grace to forgive those who have wronged us, just as You have forgiven us. Teach us to forgive repeatedly, even when memories resurface, and to trust in Your healing power. Please give us the strength to extend mercy freely. May Your peace fill our hearts as we choose forgiveness, and may we experience healing and freedom through Your love. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen

Promise for Today - Give Up or Look Up

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ 

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NIV)

What do you do when you can’t fix an unfixable problem or change an unchangeable circumstance? What do you do when you can’t control something that hurts deeply in your life? [What can you do?] You throw yourself on the sustaining grace of God.

To get the kind of grace you need to keep going in spite of temptations, trials, tension, tiredness, and troubles, you need to do four things:

1. Cry out for God’s help. 

When you pretend to be self-sufficient, you short-circuit God’s power in your life. You need to admit your inadequacy and say, “God, I can’t handle this!” The Bible says, “‘God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.’ So give yourselves completely to God ... Come near to God, and God will come near to you” (James 4:6-8 NCV).

2. Fill your mind with God’s Word. 

Study the Bible every day of your life, and let it comfort you, strengthen you, and energize you to keep going. The psalmist prayed, “I lie in the dust; revive me by your word” (Psalm 119:25 NLT). If the solution were to look within yourself, you’d already be changed. You need to look to God! He’s the only one with sustaining grace.

3. Accept support from God’s people. 

The Bible says that by helping each other with our troubles, we obey the law of Christ, which is, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” God never meant for you to go through life on your own. He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV). Our weaknesses help us realize how much we need God’s grace and each other.

4. Hold on to God’s promises. 

There are more than 5,000 promises for you in the Bible. Here’s one of them: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired . . . but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV). Keep your eyes focused on the hope of heaven, not just on the here and now.

God’s sustaining grace is always available to you. When you’re going through a problem you can’t fix, don’t give up. Just look up!

Talk It Over

In what situation do you need God’s sustaining grace right now?

Which of God’s promises do you need to claim for that situation?

What godly people in your life can provide the support you need to keep going?

-by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          When our circumstances feel hopeless, please renew our hope. Help us see beyond present difficulty and trust Your presence and promises for our future. Thank You for holding plans filled with purpose and peace. Strengthen our faith when discouragement rises and remind us that You work all things for our good. We place our hope in You, believing that this season will not define our story and that thanks to Your sustaining grace, better days are ahead. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen