Promise for Today - Reflection of the Generous

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

If a farmer goes out with a trailer load of beans and plants them in a barren field, what fruit does he expect to bear? Watermelon? Cucumbers? No, he’s going to get beans. He doesn’t doubt or question that outcome, because whatever you plant is what you’re going to get back.

This is the law of reproduction, and it applies to every single area of your life, especially your finances. Another way to explain the law of reproduction is this: You reap what you sow.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (NIV).

This can work either positively or negatively in your life. If you’re planting seeds of kindness, people will be kind to you. If you forgive others, they will be forgiving of you. If you’re generous, people will show generosity to you.

But if you are angry all the time, people will respond in anger. If you cheat other people, people are going to cheat you. If you gossip about other people, guess what? People are going to gossip about you.

The law of reproduction says that you reap what you sow. But the principle of multiplication says that you also always reap more than you sow.

When you put one kernel of corn in the ground, you don’t get one kernel of corn back. You get a cornstalk with multiple ears and hundreds of kernels. This is the exponential power that God has established in the universe. You always get more out of it than you put into it.

It’s why, when people verbally attack me, I never attack in return. Why? I don’t want to get caught in the chain. No matter what anyone says to me, I don’t want to say anything bad back to them because if I do, I’m going to reap more than I sowed. Instead, I choose to do the exact opposite of what they’ve done to me. I choose to bless them and pray for them. Why? Because that’s what I want to receive, and I always reap more than I sow.

The Message paraphrase says, “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller” (Proverbs 11:24).

Talk It Over

How have you seen the principle of multiplication active in your life?

What do you expect from your investments? How are you sowing so that you can receive what you want to reap?

How do you want God to make your world larger (Proverbs 11:24)? What do you need to change about your finances so that he can increase your influence and giving?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,
           We come before You with humble hearts, asking for Your grace to be more generous. Teach us to see giving not as a burden, but as a privilege that reflects Your abundant grace. Open our hands and our hearts to share Your blessings freely, without hesitation or expectation. Remove selfishness, fear, and reluctance that may hold us back from truly serving others.
      Help us to give not only with our resources, but also with our time, our words, and our love. May our generosity overflow into acts of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness, bringing healing, unity, and hope to those around us.

     Teach us to trust You fully, knowing that when we give, You will meet our needs and bless us in return. Let our giving be joyful, sacrificial, and in faith, so that it may glorify Your name and make Your light shine brightly. Father, we pray that our generosity may be a reflection of Your heart — open-handed, selfless, and full of love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - For Your Good

As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (TLB)

There’s nothing in your life that you can’t learn from if you’ll just respond with the right attitude.  Instead of saying, “God, why is this happening to me?’ learn to say, “God, what do you want me to learn from this?” Every situation in life will either make you bitter or better. It’s your choice because you CAN choose how you respond to it.

Every problem has a purpose, and the purpose is to help you grow up spiritually and become more like Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5 says, “In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus” (ICB). If one of God’s purposes for your life is to grow up spiritually and to become like Jesus, then what is Jesus like?

The Bible calls Jesus’ character the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 GW). These are the qualities God wants to build in your life. He wants your life to overflow with love, joy, peace, and all of these attributes.

God often produces these qualities in your life by putting you in the exact opposite situation. 

He teaches you how to love by putting you around unlovely people. It’s easy to love people who are cool, people who are like you, people you get along with. But God will put you around seemingly unlovable people to show you what his unconditional love looks like.

He’ll teach you joy not by giving you everything you want but by showing you in adversity and grief that he is still enough.

He doesn’t teach you peace when you’re out fishing by the lake or wherever you choose to rest and relax. God teaches you real peace in the middle of chaos, when everything in your life is falling apart and you learn to trust him more.

God teaches us patience in traffic jams and waiting rooms and the thousand different ways we have to wait in life.

Becoming like Christ is a lifelong journey. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18 in The Living Bible paraphrase, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.” God’s Spirit will be working on you the rest of your life to help you grow up spiritually.

When he uses ways to help you grow up that seem uncomfortable or inconvenient, remember that they are producing in you God’s best fruit.

Talk It Over

Think about a recent situation or circumstance that was difficult or stressful. How might God have intended to use it for your spiritual growth?

Why does adversity often teach us better than prosperity?

What do you think God wants you to do when you’re faced with adversity and you can’t see how God is using it for good in your life?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Holy Spirit, we come before You with humble hearts, asking You to cultivate Your fruit in us. Let Your love flow through us, touching everyone we meet. Fill us with joy that overflows, peace that surpasses understanding, and patience that endures through trials.
           Lord, we ask for kindness and goodness to define our interactions, faithfulness to guide our commitments, and gentleness to reflect Your tender care. Grant us self-control to walk in righteousness and to resist temptations that seek to lead us astray.
          May love permeate our actions and words, joy radiate even in trials, and peace reign even amidst storms. Foster in us patience towards others, kindness in our dealings, goodness in our actions, faithfulness in our commitments, gentleness in our responses, and self-control in our desires.
         As we abide in You, we will bear much fruit, glorifying Your name and being a blessing to others.
We trust You, Father, to change us into the image of Your dear Son, and it's in His Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Essence of God

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6 NLT

The Bible says that “God is love” (1 John 4:8 NLT). It doesn’t say he has love. It says he is love. It is the essence of his character. It is the nature of his being. God is love.

The Bible says that you were created as an object of God’s love. The very reason you’re taking a breath right now is this: God made you simply to love you. He thought you up and created you as the object of his love because he is love. 

God didn’t need you. He wasn’t lonely. But he wanted you! The number one reason you were made was simply to be loved by God.

When you grasp this truth and let it shape your identity and purpose, you will never again have a problem with low self-esteem. Because when you realize how valuable you are—that God created the entire universe just so he could create the conditions so that human beings could exist so he could create you and love you—it will take away all those feelings of insecurity.

Unlike animals, we’re made in God’s image. That gives us the capacity to know and love God back.

One day Jesus was walking down the street when someone asked him, “Lord, what’s the most important command in Scripture?” And Jesus says, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38 NIV). The most important thing in life is to know and to love God.

God says in Hosea 6:6 in The Living Bible paraphrase, “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me.” The most important thing you can KNOW in life is that God created you to love you. And the most important thing you can DO in life is to know and love him back.

When you get up in the morning, before you do anything else, sit on the edge of your bed and say, “God, if I don’t get anything else done today, I want to get to know you better, and I want to love you more.”

That’s the start of living with purpose.

Talk It Over

How do you love God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 NIV)?

If your life focused first on loving and knowing God, what would change about your other priorities?

Why is it important to start your day by speaking truth like the one in today’s devotional, but also spending time with God and in his Word?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Let no distraction steal our focus from You. Open our eyes, our hearts, and our minds to comprehend the depth of Your teachings. May Your Word become our daily bread, sustaining us in every aspect of life. We ask a hunger and thirst for Your Word like never before—may it be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us to apply Your Truth in practical ways, to live it out in our daily life, and to share it with others who seek the Truth.
          Lord, draw us close to Your heart. Take away anything that stands between us. Help us to love You more than the world, to obey Your commandments, and to reflect Your love in all we do. We surrender our will to Yours. Lead us, guide us, and draw us closer to You with each passing day. May our pursuit of a deeper understanding of Your Word bring glory to Your Name and transform our lives for Your purpose. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Seasons In His Time

Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

The Bible tells us that there are seasons in life. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (NIV).

The fact that life is made up of seasons means that life also includes times of waiting. Between the “then” and the “now” (or the “now” and the “what’s coming next”), there is always a delay. This irritates most people. It can be frustrating to make a deposit, investment, or plan and not have it instantly come to fruition.

But fruit ripens slowly. Would you rather eat a vine-ripened tomato or one that has been picked green and ripened later in storage? There’s no comparison between a vine-ripened tomato, which was allowed to grow slowly, and a tomato that was picked prematurely. If you pick too soon, you miss the flavor.

In money management, you always reap in a different season than you sow. And, by the way, not all fruit ripens at the same time. When you grow peaches, they’re not all ripe at once. They come in little by little; you pick a few a day. When you start planting and following God’s money management principles, you’re not going to see all the results tomorrow. It’s going to come in over time. You’re going to have to wait to reap in a different season.

But while you’re waiting, God is working. When you’re waiting for the fulfillment of the efforts or money or energy that you’ve put into something, you may think nothing’s happening. But, oh, it’s happening! While that seed is hidden in the ground, it is slowly germinating. And when that seed bursts with God’s blessing on it, it will continue growing and growing. One day a little shoot will stick up out of the ground, and then you will see that it’s working.

But until then, you need to trust that God is working, even when you can’t see the fruit of your labor.

Plants take time to grow. There’s no such thing as instant maturity. No farmer goes out, plants the seed in the ground, comes back an hour later, digs it up, and expects it to have grown. You’ve just got to let it be, and let God grow it in his time.

Talk It Over

What have you been waiting on God to bring to fruition in your life?

How have you grown spiritually as a result of having to wait for that harvest? What has God taught you as you’ve been waiting on him?

Why do you think God makes you wait to reap what you sow?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

       Lord, we know You are good, and Your timing is perfect. Even when we cannot see the full picture, we trust that You are working all things together for our good. Help us to let go of our own timetable and to wait with patience, knowing that You are never late and that Your plans are good. If impatience begins to stir in our hearts, remind us that You are faithful and that Your provision will come at the right time. Give us the strength to remain steadfast, even when progress seems slow, and to trust that Your protection may be keeping us from something that is not right for us.
      Teach us to be patient like the farmer who waits for the harvest, knowing that in due season, blessings will come. Renew our strength and courage so that we do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap when we don't give up.
     We come before You with a heart full of hope and trust, surrendering our plans, desires, and unanswered prayers into Your hands. Thank You for the peace You give, and for the hope that fuels our patience. Help us to be grateful for what we have now while trusting in what You are preparing for us. Keep our hearts from comparing our season with others, for each of us walks our own path. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen    

Promise for Today - Give It Away

Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

John 12:24 (NIV)

What does a farmer do when he has a barren field that’s producing no income? He doesn’t complain about it. He doesn’t even have to pray about it! He just goes out and starts planting seed, because nothing is going to happen until he plants the seed. He can pray all he wants, but prayer doesn’t replace planting.

Maybe you think you’re waiting on God. You think you’re waiting on God for that job. You think you’re waiting on God for a spouse. You think you’re waiting on God for the windfall. But God might be saying to you, “You think you’re waiting on me? I’m waiting on you! I’m waiting for you to plant a seed.”

Everything in life starts as a seed: a relationship, a marriage, a business, a church. And nothing happens until the seed is planted. Why does God require you to plant a seed? Because planting is an act of faith. You take what you’ve got, and you give it away. That takes faith, and it brings glory to God.

Jesus described this principle of sowing and reaping when he explained why he came to earth to die on the cross. In John 12:24, Jesus said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (NIV). Jesus was saying, “People will be saved and go to heaven because of my death and resurrection. I’m going to plant a seed, and the seed is going to be my life.”

Here’s the principle of sowing and reaping: Whenever you have a need, plant a seed. Whatever you need—more time, more energy, more money, more support, more relationships, more wisdom—just plant a seed. If you need more time, give more time to your kids. If you need more money, give it away to someone who needs it. If you need more wisdom, share what wisdom you have with others. Give yourself away!

It may not make sense to you to give away something that you need more of, but that is exactly the kind of attitude that God wants to bless and that will produce fruit in your life.

Talk It Over

What need have you been waiting on God to provide?

What do you think God might be waiting for you to do about that need? What seed can you plant today?

What kind of results do you see in yourself and others when you plant a seed and give of yourself? How is God building your character through that?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           We come before You, asking for Your grace to transform us into more generous people. Help us to see that everything we have—time, talents, resources, and love—comes from You and belongs to You. Remove every form of selfishness, fear, or reluctance that holds us back from giving freely .
         Lord, we pray for a cheerful giving heart, one that flows from joy and gratitude rather than obligation. Teach us to give without reservation, whether it’s our time, our words, our encouragement, or our material blessings. Let our generosity reflect Your boundless love and compassion, and may our actions be a beacon of hope and kindness to those around us.
         Help us to overcome the fear of lack and to trust that You are our Provider. Give us wisdom in how, when, and where to give, so that our generosity blesses others and glorifies Your name.
         We ask You to break down the walls of scarcity in our spirit and replace them with a desire to bless. May our lives overflow with generosity, and may we be a vessel of Your grace, pouring out love and compassion to all we meet. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Choose - Culture or Christ?

But as for me, my contentment is not in wealth but in seeing you and knowing all is well between us. And when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face-to-face.

Psalm 17:15 (TLB)

Life is not about things. You have to maintain the right perspective about what you own, or you’ll be possessed by your possessions. You’ve got to realize that none of it is going to last.

Jesus says in Luke 12:15, “Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be” (GNT).

Never judge your self-worth by your net worth. Never think your value is related to your valuables. Realize that the greatest things in life aren’t things. You didn’t bring anything into the world, and you won’t take anything out of it. Life is not about acquisition or achievement; it’s about relationships and learning how to love God and other people.

The best way to remember that your life is not about things is to build it on eternal priorities. Focus on what will last forever. Every possession is temporary, so don’t build your life on acquiring possessions. Only two things are going to last forever: the Word of God and people.

You’ve got a choice to make. The world is telling you that you need to get more to be happier, more successful, more important, more valuable, and more secure. So you’ve got to decide: Are you going to listen to Madison Avenue or the Master? Are you going to listen to culture or Christ? Are you going to listen to the world or the Word? One will leave you dissatisfied the rest of your life; one will make you truly happy.

Before you can move toward financial freedom, you have to ask yourself, “What is the primary purpose of my life? Is it just to get more? What do I think about, talk about, and give my attention to? What am I living my life for?”

Look around, and you’ll see many people who have a lot to live on. You’ll see celebrities on television and successful businesspeople in your own community. These people’s bank accounts are overflowing. They have plenty to live on, but some of them may have very little to live for.

What about you? You may have a lot to live on, but do you have anything to live for? Do you have a relationship with God? The myth of the world is that you can have it all. The truth is that you can’t have it all. And, more importantly, you don’t need it all to be happy. You’re as happy as you choose to be.

The secret to contentment is finding your security and your satisfaction not in what you have but in whose you are. You find it in Christ.

The Living Bible paraphrase says, “But as for me, my contentment is not in wealth but in seeing you and knowing all is well between us. And when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face-to-face” (Psalm 17:15).

Talk It Over

What tangible or intangible things have you been acquiring instead of strengthening your walk with God?

How have you sacrificed your relationships in the pursuit of success or status? What do you need to do today to start repairing those relationships?

Are you okay with not “having it all”? Why or why not?

-by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           We come before You with hearts that long for You above all things. Help us set our minds on heavenly priorities and not be consumed by the noise, worries, and temptations of the world. Thank You for Your Word, which is our lamp and light. Help us to dwell on Your truth so that our thoughts are fixed on You, not on the fleeting things of this life. Clear our minds of distractions, fears, and the lure of material gain, and fill us with Your peace that surpasses understanding.
     Abba, we confess that we have allowed the desire for goods to cloud our focus. Help us to take every wandering thought captive and bring it under obedience to Christ. Strengthen our will so that we choose Your kingdom and righteousness over the temporary pleasures and riches of this world. Purify our hearts from double-mindedness and worldly attachments, and renew our minds to see the emptiness of material pursuits. May our lives be built on Your promises, not on the shifting sands of wealth or status.
      Father, rebuke the noise and distractions that pull us away from You. Let our attention remain fixed on You. We trust Your timing, Your provision, and Your love above all else. We choose to live with a hunger for You, for You alone, and for Your eternal purposes. Help us, O Lord, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Choose to Refuse

If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 (GNT)

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17 that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (NIV). That’s the kind of God we serve. He gave us the world for our enjoyment! But here’s the problem: We’re so busy getting more that we don’t enjoy what we’ve got.

The secret of contentment is to learn to enjoy what God has given you. 

Instead of grasping for more, pay attention to what you have now. Open your eyes, appreciate what God has already given you, and enjoy what you’ve got.

One of my favorite things to do is to watch the sunrise from the slope in our yard. I put a deck chair out there decades ago. I think I bought it at Target, and it wasn’t expensive. It’s faded, and a couple of slats are broken. I love to sit in that ratty old chair and watch the sun come up. It gives me great pleasure!

Would I have any more joy watching the sunrise if I were sitting in a diamond-encrusted recliner instead of my old, worn chair? No, it would not increase my joy one bit. In fact, there is an advantage to not having a diamond-encrusted recliner and instead being content with my old chair: No one will steal it!

You need to ask yourself, “What am I not enjoying right now?” Most of us get into what I call “when and then” thinking: “When this happens, then I’ll be happy.” 

“When I get a boyfriend, then I’ll be happy.” “When I get married, then I’ll be happy.” “When I have kids, then I’ll be happy.” “When my kids go off to school, then I’ll be happy.” “When I get married again, then I’ll be happy.”

But here’s the truth: You are as happy as you choose to be. If you’re not happy now, you’re not going to be happy later. Happiness is a choice!

I could take you to some of the poorest places in the world and show you two people living right next door to each other. One is miserable, and one is happy. Why? Happiness has nothing to do with your circumstances and everything to do with your attitude.

If you’re not happy with what you’re living on right now, I can guarantee that you’re not going to be happy with more. Because no matter what you have, you’re always going to want a little bit more.

Happiness is a choice. Choose right now to enjoy what God has given you!

Talk It Over

What has God blessed you with that you have not been enjoying to the fullest?

What have you been waiting for to be happy?

If happiness is a choice, why do people choose to be unhappy?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Today we choose joy. Not because everything is perfect, but because You are with us. Let joy fill our thoughts, happiness overflow in our words, and peace guide our actions. Lord, today we choose to refuse to be ruled by fear, anger, or disappointment. Instead, we embrace Your goodness and receive Your smile over our lives. Help us to breathe in gratitude with every breath. 

     Your joy protects us from bitterness and despair when we keep our focus on Your faithfulness rather than life's difficulties. Help us to find lasting happiness not in circumstances but in Your unchanging love. Let us rejoice in You always, no matter what we face. 
     Lift our spirit above discouragement. Replace sorrow with laughter, doubts with faith, and fears with peace. Help us embrace gratitude so that happiness becomes our natural state. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Not Mine

It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (GNT)

The first step to becoming a contented person is to stop comparing yourself to others. But the problem is that comparison is our favorite pastime! We do it all the time.

You walk into somebody’s house, and the first thing you do is make comparisons: “I like that floor! Look at that drapery! Wow, what a television!” You think to yourself, “My house doesn’t look anything like this!” Or you walk past somebody and think, “I like the way she did her hair; mine looks terrible today.”

If you’re going to learn contentment, you’ve got to stop comparing your life to everyone else’s. You are constantly comparing, and it keeps you frustrated. You’ve got to stop it! 

You also have to learn to admire without having to acquire. You need to learn to rejoice in other people’s prosperity without getting envious and feeling like you need it too.

Here’s a great principle that many people don’t understand: You don’t have to own it to enjoy it! Maybe you like to vacation in the mountains. Why do you have to buy a mountain cabin when you can just rent or even borrow a friend’s cabin the one time a year you go to the mountains? Ownership isn’t the only way to enjoy something.

Not making comparisons isn’t just a good idea; it’s a commandment from God. Exodus 20:17 says, “You shall not covet . . . anything that belongs to your neighbor” (NIV).

Coveting is the uncontrolled desire to acquire. It’s such an important sin to avoid that it’s included in the Ten Commandments. The word covet in Greek means that you grasp something so tightly that you can’t let it go. If God ever gives you something and he tells you to give it away and you can’t, then you don’t own it; it owns you.

God is not saying you should never desire anything. Desires are not wrong. In fact, many of your desires come from God. But when a desire is uncontrolled, it becomes coveting; you compare yourself to others and think you must have more. That uncontrolled desire for something that is not yours is sinful and leads to all kinds of problems.

But desire isn’t always negative. In fact, nothing can be accomplished unless you desire to do it. You can’t become more like Christ without desiring to become more like Christ. You can’t be a more loving person without desiring to be a more loving person. You can’t be a more generous person without desiring to be a more generous person.

This kind of Christ-like, contented life only happens when you learn not to compare. When you compare, that leads to coveting, and when you covet, you can’t be content.

The book of Ecclesiastes says it simply: “It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else” (Ecclesiastes 6:9 GNT).

Talk It Over

How can you change your perspective about your own possessions so that you can rejoice with others over theirs?

What do you think God wants you to fill your life with instead of possessions?

Christians talk a lot about God giving them the desires of their heart. What kind of desires do you think God wants to give you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,
            Teach us to be content with what You have given us, knowing that You are faithful and will never leave us. Fill our hearts with gratitude for the blessings we already have, and help us to focus on Your will rather than on what is not in our possession. Guard our thoughts and desires, that we may not be drawn to covetous thoughts of any kind.

     Grant us wisdom to avoid situations and influences that lead us to envy, and help us to rejoice in the success of others, knowing that You have good things in store for us. Strengthen us to trust in Your provision, even when circumstances change, and to find joy in the present moment. We know that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10), and that covetousness leads us away from You. Forgive us for the times we have wished for what we do not have, resented those who prosper, or allowed comparison to cloud our joy. Search us deeply, O God, and renew a right spirit within us (Psalm 119:36).  May our lives reflect Your love, generosity, and contentment. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Moving Against Your Fear

Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

Matthew 25:28-29 (NLT)

What keeps you from investing your life? What keeps you from moving toward financial freedom? I’ll tell you what it is: fear.

Many kinds of fear can hold you back. One type of fear is self-doubt, which says: “You’ve failed in the past, so you’re never going to try again.” But just because you fail doesn’t mean you should give up. Everybody fails; it’s the only way you learn what works! God uses ordinary people who choose to keep on going after failure instead of giving up.

Two disciples, Judas and Peter, denied Jesus before his crucifixion. They committed the same sin, but they reacted differently to their failure. Judas focused on his sin and not the forgiveness of God. His remorse overwhelmed him, and he ultimately took his own life. When Peter realized his sin, he repented and asked God for forgiveness. Not long after, Peter preached on Pentecost, and 3,000 people were saved the first day. 

Jesus chose to build the church on the biggest failure in the bunch. What a God! He didn’t choose the superstar. He chose the guy who had blown it the worst.

You may have really messed up financially or in other ways. But it doesn’t matter where you’ve been. What matters is the direction you are going right now.

In the parable of the talents we looked at yesterday in Matthew 25, a rich man entrusted his money to three servants before leaving on a long trip. When he returned, he asked for an account from the servants. Two of them had doubled the master’s money, but the third had been afraid and had hidden his portion instead of working and investing it. His fear disappointed and angered his master, who said, “Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver” (Matthew 25:28 NLT). The master took away everything the servant had been given.

When you try to do things God’s way, you may feel afraid. In fact, Satan will try to get you to ignore God’s principles for money management by making you afraid of failure or making you doubt your ability to be a good steward of God’s money. But if you’re going to be successful in life, you have to move against your fears. You have to do the very thing that you fear the most!

As Matthew 25:29 says, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away”. When you move forward in faith and follow God’s guidelines for financial peace, you will experience his blessing; like the servant, God may give you even more...

Talk It Over

What financial failure has kept you from moving forward with God’s financial principles for your life?

Do you pray for God to give you more financial responsibility as a steward of his money? Why or why not?

What is it about God’s way of handling money that makes you afraid to be obedient? Talk to God about those fears today.

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for the many blessings You have poured into our lives. Help us to cultivate a heart of contentment and gratitude, even when facing financial challenges or uncertainties. Guard our hearts from feelings of envy or dissatisfaction, and remind us daily of the abundance we have in You. 

        Give us wisdom to manage our finances responsibly and in ways that honor You. Teach us to resist impulsive spending and to embrace discipline in creating and following a budget. Help us prioritize You over material desires and to steward our resources for Your glory. May we be generous with what we have, sharing with others in need and trusting Your provision for our own needs. Inspire us to use our finances as a tool for good and to reflect Your love in all that we do. Thank You for Your unwavering guidance. Strengthen our faith as we trust in Your timing and direction. Help us to remain faithful, patient, and trusting in Your perfect timing. Remind us that Your plans are greater than our own, and that You are always working for our good. Help us remember that all we have and all we are comes from You and is meant to be used for Your glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Law of Possession

Once there was a man who was about to leave home on a trip; he called his servants and put them in charge of his property. He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave five thousand gold coins, to another he gave two thousand, and to another he gave one thousand. Then he left on his trip.

Matthew 25:14-15 (GNT)

Jesus told a story about a rich man who entrusted his property to his servants while he was away on a long trip. When he returned, he asked each one for an account of how they’d handled his money.

The rich man was looking for good stewardship. The word stewardship is related to the Old English word for “manager.” Your stewardship, your management, is key to your financial freedom. The first law of financial freedom is the law of possession: Everything you have belongs to God; you are only a manager!

You are called to be a steward of your time. You are called to be a steward of your influence. You are called to be a steward of your health, your relationships, and your opportunities. God calls you to be a steward or manager of everything you have.

You may say, “But wait a minute! I worked for my money, and now you want to tell me it isn’t mine?” Where do you think you got your body to work for your money? Where do you think you got your mind to work for it? Where do you think you got the energy to work for it? Where do you think you got the intelligence to work for it? Everything you have comes from God.

You don’t really own anything in life; it’s all on loan. You only get to use God’s money while you’re here on earth. He’s loaned it to you for a few decades. He loaned it to somebody before you, and he’s going to loan it to somebody else after you die. You don’t own it; the Master owns it all. You just get to manage it.

Do you know what the sign is that you’ve forgotten the law of possession? When you think your money is yours, you worry about it. You feel pressure and stress that you weren’t meant to.

Money management is a spiritual discipline. God is watching how you handle his money to see what spiritual riches he can trust you with in heaven. This might make you feel pressure, but there is actually freedom in the law of possession.

When you remember that God is the owner and you are the manager, you’ll worry a whole lot less and focus more on managing God’s money well.

Talk It Over

If you were the manager of a business, would you have as much pressure to succeed as the owner? Would you still want the business to succeed as much as the owner did? Why or why not?

How do you learn a spiritual discipline like money management?

What role does prayer play in your financial decisions? Why is prayer important in money management?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          We come before You with a humble heart, recognizing that everything we are and everything we have belongs to You. You are the Creator of all, the Giver of life, and the Sustainer of every breath. Our time, our talents, our resources, and our very souls are Yours, entrusted to us for Your glory.
      Teach us to steward well what You have placed in our hands, never clinging to what is not ours, but joyfully offering it back to You. Help us to live with open hands and a willing spirit, knowing that Your plans are perfect and Your ownership is absolute. May our lives be a reflection of Your love, our actions testimonies of Your grace, and our hearts a place where You reign without rival. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Terrific Servant or Terrible Master

[The] master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Matthew 25:21 (NIV)

Money is the acid test of your faithfulness. God uses it more than any other thing in your life to test your faith. Why? Because it’s the thing people have the hardest time with.

Look at the rewards God gives for wise money management: “[The] master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:21 NIV).

The law of compensation is this: God will reward you for good money management. Matthew 25 suggests three steps of this reward: affirmation, promotion, and celebration.

It’s as if God affirms you by saying, “Good job! I was testing you to see if you could be trusted with what I gave you, and you passed the test. Well done, good and faithful servant.”

The second step is promotion. As you show faithfulness with a few things, God will give you greater responsibility. Then, as you show your responsibility, God will celebrate with you. You will share in God’s happiness!

Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24 NIV).

Notice he doesn’t say you shouldn’t serve God and money. He says you can’t. It’s impossible. Nobody can serve two masters. So you’re going to have to decide what will be number one in your life: God or money.

Money is a terrific servant but a terrible master. When it masters you, you’re always under stress. You’re always worried. You’re always uptight about it. But when you master your money, when you make it your servant, it serves you. When money works for you, instead of you working for your money, you will have peace.

Talk It Over

If God audited your finances, what grade would he give you, and why?

When has your money mastered you? When have you mastered your money? What were the differences in your relationship with God during those times?

How can you manage your money more wisely so that it works for you instead of controlling you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           Thank You for every resource You’ve placed in our hands. We acknowledge that all we have comes from You, and we desire to honor You with it. Grant us wisdom to make decisions that reflect integrity and foresight. Teach us to live within our means, to save diligently, and to give generously. 
Guard our hearts from greed, fear, and comparison, and help us see money not as our security, but as a tool to serve others and fulfill Your purposes. May our stewardship bring peace to our home, blessing to those in need, and glory to Your name. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Because Mercy

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7 (NLT)

Have you ever noticed that if you’re critical of others, they’re critical of you? If you’re kind to others, they’re kind to you? Or if you’re generous to others, they’re generous to you? Whatever you give in life, you’re going to get in return.

The same is true of God’s mercy. [Our verse for today -] Jesus says in Matthew 5:7, “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (NLT)

But why does God want you to show mercy to others? Why is being merciful so important?

Because God has shown you mercy.

Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved” (GNT). God wants you to pass on (share) the mercy you’ve received from him.

Because God commands you to be merciful.
Do you want a summary of what life’s all about? Here it is: “The Lord has told you what is good. This is what the Lord requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8 GW).

Because you’re going to need more mercy in the future.
You’re going to make a lot of mistakes between now and when you get to heaven, and you’re going to need God’s mercy. But you cannot receive what you are unwilling to give. James 2:13 says, “You must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you. But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment” (NCV).

Because showing mercy brings happiness.
Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful” (NIV). The word “blessed” also means “happy,” so the more you learn and demonstrate mercy, the happier and more blessed you’re going to be.

Because so many people in the world are living for themselves, showing mercy and grace to others will always stand out. Be known for your mercy as you model for others how good God has been to you, and you will make an eternal difference!

Talk It Over

What do you think it means to “love mercy”? (Micah 6:8)

How have you seen God bless you when you’ve shown mercy to someone—even when it was difficult to do?

Think of a way you could have shown mercy to someone in the last week but didn’t. How do you think it might have changed the outcome of that situation?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          You have shown us grace when we least deserved it, and kindness when we could offer nothing in return. Soften our hearts toward those who stumble, and open our eyes to see them as You see them— 
precious, loved, and worthy of compassion. When we are tempted to judge, remind us of the mercy You have poured over our lives. When we are hurt, teach us to respond with patience instead of anger. Let our words bring healing, and my actions reflect Your gentleness. Fill us with a love that forgives quickly, serves humbly, and seeks peace over pride. May our lives be a living testimony of the mercy we have received from You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - So Loved

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:9-10 (NLT)

Everything in life changes—relationships, jobs, health, finances. But there’s one thing in the universe that will never change: God’s love. God loves you, no matter what. Your failures, your brokenness, and your sin can never diminish his love. Knowing you can count on God's love provides a rock-solid foundation for your life.

The Bible’s most famous verse, John 3:16, says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (NIV).

Consider the small word “so” that goes before “loved” in that verse. “So” suggests the extravagance of God’s love. God loves you with a generous, extravagant love that can never be taken away. It’s beyond comprehension. He loves you on your good days and your bad days. He loves you when you sin and when you are faithful to him.

It's important that you don't just recognize this lavish love intellectually. You need to experience it emotionally, to really understand it deep down in your spirit. Love is God’s nature. God created the universe and everything in it just so that he could love it. And God created you so he could love you.

In fact, in Jesus, God shows what real love, his love, looks like. The Bible says, “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4:9-10 NLT).

Many people say they love you. But God showed you he loves you. He loves you so much that it hurt. He sacrificed his Son. When Jesus died for you, he was saying he loved you so much he’d rather die than live without you.

The Bible says that’s what real love—the kind of love you can build your life on—looks like. Real love makes sacrifices. Real love gives all. Real love endures for all eternity.

That’s the kind of love only God has for you. He’s waiting with open arms to show you his goodness, mercy, and love.

Talk It Over

Why do you need to build your life on something that cannot be lost or taken away?

When do you most often doubt God’s love?

What does God’s love, demonstrated in Jesus, tell you about how you should love others?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for the gift of Your Word, which reveals the magnitude of Your love. Help us to open our hearts and minds so we may truly understand the breadth of Your love — how it stretches across nations, generations, embracing every believer and reaching the most forgotten in our world. May we also comprehend the length of Your love — its eternal nature, stretching from the beginning of creation to the end of time. Teach us to trust in Your everlasting presence, knowing that Your love will never falter, no matter the trials we face. 

       Immerse us in the depth of Your love — the part that goes beyond surface understanding, that sees and heals our brokenness, and brings restoration to our souls. Help us to walk alongside others in their pain, reflecting Your compassion to them. And may we be lifted by the height of Your love — the glorious hope it brings, elevating us from despair to joy, from darkness to light. Call us to rise above the mundane to live a life that reflects Your holiness and majesty.

      Father, we surrender ourselves to Your love — unconditional, perfect, and complete. Let it fill every thought, word, and action, transforming us from within. Help us to share this love with others, so that they too may know the fullness of Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Heaven's Reunion

There will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words. 

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (MSG)

When I was young, I didn't really think about heaven that much. First, it seemed so boring—at least the way the world describes it. Second, it seemed like a long way off. And third, no one I knew was there yet. But I know a lot of people who are in heaven now, and I can't wait to get there and be with them.

In heaven, we're going to be reunited with our loved ones who love the Lord. Those who are in the family of God are all going to be there.

Who would you like to talk to first in heaven? Of course, you’re going to meet and worship the Lord first. But who are you excited to see next? Every believer throughout history will be there. Would you like to talk to Moses? You can! How about Abraham or Mary or Paul? I don’t know about you, but I definitely have some questions for Jonah. You’ll see famous people from throughout Christian history and scientists and world leaders and people from every tribe and nation. You're going to have all of eternity to talk with them!

The Message paraphrase says, "There will be one huge family reunion with the Master" (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Can you imagine how emotional, how joyful that's going to be? Then verse 18 says, “So reassure one another with these words.”

My mother is in heaven, my father is in heaven, my older brother, Jim, is in heaven, and my youngest child, Matthew, is in heaven. I have many dear people who served with me in ministry in heaven. The more of my family and friends who are on that side of death, the dearer heaven becomes to me.

Are you encouraged by the thought of being in the presence of Jesus and reunited with your friends and family? When we are grieving with someone, we should share that encouragement with them. If they and their loved one know Jesus as their Savior, then death is not the end. They will see them again!

This is God’s goodness to us: there is no greater hope in life than a big family reunion for eternity!

Talk It Over

How does knowing you will see fellow members of God’s family in heaven motivate you to share the gospel?

Who in your life needs to hear about God’s offer of an eternal home in heaven? What will you do about it?

What kinds of things do you think you will want to talk about in heaven, once you’ve left the world behind?

-by Pastor Rick

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Prayer (prayer for salvation, following the 'Reunion' prayer)

Father,

         Hold close the ones we love who have gone before us. Let their laughter bloom again in the gardens of Your kingdom, where no shadow falls, and no tear is shed. Keep them in the warmth of Your presence until the day our own steps take us through the gate of pearl. Grant us patience in the waiting, faith in the unseen, and hope that does not fade with the years.
      When the trumpet of Your promise sounds, may we meet again in the embrace of forever - no more parting, no more night - only the joy of reunion in Your everlasting peace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

****************Prayer for Salvation

Will you be part of the heavenly family reunion?

The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. You cannot earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, pray this prayer:

“Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess I have sinned, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died to take away my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Promise for Today - Ambassadors of Truth

God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 

1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)

God has called you to represent him everywhere you go. Just as countries send ambassadors, God is sending you out to tell others about his love and forgiveness.

But maybe you lack the confidence needed to share your faith. Maybe you think it requires having a salesperson mentality. But that simply isn’t true! You don’t have to be good at “closing the deal” to invite people into God’s family. You see, all humans have the same inner longings. So, when you tell others about Jesus, you’re offering them something they’re already looking for. What a confidence booster!

Another confidence booster in sharing your faith is this: Most people don’t really know what they believe. They may label themselves a certain way, but when you scratch beneath the surface, they sometimes don’t even know what that system believes.

Some people claim to think a certain way but end up contradicting themselves. For example, they’ll say, "There are no absolutes in life." But that’s nonsense because that statement contradicts itself. They may as well say, “There are absolutely no absolutes in life.” In fact, people who make that claim live by rules and beliefs based on absolutes all the time.

Sharing your hope in Christ can help bring clarity to people’s lives. It gives them the understanding they need. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:33, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (ESV). The truth of God’s Word sets people free from contradiction, confusion, and everything else that binds up their lives.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV).

Next time you lack the confidence to share your faith, you can relax, knowing that the message of Jesus will bring much-needed clarity to people’s lives.

Talk It Over

Do you live life consciously that you are an ambassador for Christ everywhere you go? If not, how might that practice change your life and the lives of those around you?

What confusing or conflicting beliefs did you once have? How has God’s Word brought clarity to those beliefs?

Who do you have who can hold you accountable to share your faith while you do the same for them?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Make us faithful ambassadors of Your truth. Let our words be seasoned with grace, our actions reflect Your love, and our lives bear witness to the transforming power of the Gospel. Give us the courage to speak boldly when the world is silent, and the wisdom to listen deeply when hearts are hurting.
      Clothe us with the armor of righteousness, so that we may stand firm against deception and fear. Fill us with compassion for the lost, patience for the searching, and steadfastness in the face of opposition. May we never distort or dilute Your Word, but proclaim it with clarity, humility, and love.
      Holy Spirit, guide our steps so that every conversation, every decision, and every moment becomes an opportunity to point others toward Christ. Let Your presence in our lives bring light into darkness, hope into despair, and peace into chaos.
      Father, we surrender our will to Yours. Use us as Your vessel - whether in quiet acts of kindness or in bold declarations of faith—to draw others closer to You. May our lives be living testimonies that Jesus is Lord, and may all glory be Yours forever. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Knowing What Counts

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 

Philippians 3:8 (NLT)

Every day when you wake up, you need to remind yourself of what counts and what doesn’t count. Don’t be distracted by things that are insignificant and petty.

Why is it important to remind yourself of what matters? It’s easy to lose your joy over some small thing. In fact, it’s usually the small irritations—not the big issues—that cause you to lose your happiness. Somebody cuts you off when you’re trying to make a turn, and you lose your happiness. The clothes you put on don’t fit anymore, and you lose your happiness. It’s the little things that sometimes affect people the most, and yet they don’t really matter.

Paul said in Philippians 3:7, “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done” (NLT).

What was the most important thing in your life before you met Jesus Christ? Was it your career? Making money? Maybe it was getting a date or being popular. For some believers, the most important thing was collecting possessions or getting ahead or proving themselves. Paul said all those things are “worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8 NLT).

Here’s a good question to ask when you’re distracted by worthless things: How much will this matter in 100 years? Many things won’t even matter tomorrow, much less for eternity. When you ask this question, it changes your perspective. You understand that all the things you used to care about don’t even compare to the joy that comes from having a relationship with Jesus.

When you become a Christian, Jesus doesn’t only change your perspective. He changes your values. You no longer want to do the things you used to do. He changes your “wants.”

When God comes into your life, you learn the joy of knowing Jesus. And that’s what really counts.

Talk It Over

What small things have you been worrying about that are robbing you of your happiness?

What was the most important thing to you before you believed in Jesus Christ? How do you feel about it now?

What are some practical ways you can turn your focus to God and keep an eternal perspective?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          In the words of Paul, we want to count all things but loss for the excellency of knowing You, our Lord and Savior. Help us to discern what truly matters in this life - not the achievements, possessions, or status that pass away, but the eternal value of Your love, grace, and truth. Father, we acknowledge that the world often pulls us toward things that bring temporary joy but leave emptiness behind. Teach us to see all such pursuits in their rightful perspective, so that we may set our hearts on You above all else. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - A Soul Restored

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

Psalm 23:1-3 (ESV)

Why does your soul need to be restored—and how can God restore it?

There are all kinds of ways that souls are damaged, but they most often are damaged when we try to deal with our grudges, our guilt, and our grief on our own. The truth is, God never intended for you to carry those burdens alone. So how does Jesus bring you rest and restore your soul?

Jesus turns your hurts into holiness.
Sometimes we hold onto our hurt; in other words, we hold grudges. And when you start thinking about retaliation or getting revenge against someone who has hurt you, you become bitter. But you can trust God with your hurt. He has a way of bringing good even out of evil. Romans 8:28 promises, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (NIV).

Jesus takes your sins on himself.
You should only hold on to guilt for about five seconds—long enough to realize you were wrong, confess it to God, and let it go. But instead, many people carry around the burden of unconfessed guilt. The Bible teaches, “[Jesus] was willing to give his life as a sacrifice. He was counted among those who had committed crimes. He took the sins of many people on himself. And he gave his life for those who had done what is wrong” (Isaiah 53:12 NIRV). There’s no need for you to keep living with guilt for something that God has already forgiven and forgotten.

Jesus feels your grief and heals your heart.
Grief [can be] good; it’s how we get through life transitions. But sometimes we get stuck in our grief. And unprocessed grief will hurt you. But there’s good news: Jesus understands your grief because he’s experienced it, too. Isaiah 53:3-4 says, “He was hated and rejected by people. He had much pain and suffering... But he took our suffering on him and felt our pain for us” (NCV). However, he doesn’t just feel your grief; he heals it: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NIV).

God never intended for you to go through life carrying all your grudges, guilt, and grief alone. Jesus wants you to come to him for restoration. He promises, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NLT).

Talk It Over

What hurts have you held onto and allowed to become grudges? Ask God to take those hurts and work them for good in your life.

What old sin do you still feel guilty for? Take a few minutes to confess it, to accept God’s forgiveness, and to ask God to help you live in the freedom of being forgiven.

What grief have you never processed? Ask God to help you work through it and bring you healing.

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer: (make it personal)

Father,

        My heart is heavy with the weight of grudges, the sting of guilt, and the ache of grief. I lay these burdens before You, trusting in Your mercy and grace. Help me to forgive where I have been hurt, and to seek forgiveness where I have caused pain. Wash away the shadows of regret, and fill the empty spaces with compassion and light. Teach me to let go of what I cannot change, to honor what I have lost, and to walk forward with courage and hope. May Your peace settle deep within me, healing what is broken, and guiding me toward a life rooted deeply in love. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Building Bridges or Walls

The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy. 

James 3:17 (NLT)

Mercy is like a diamond; it is multifaceted. The Bible reveals seven facets of mercy, and if you will learn how to be an agent of mercy, it will transform your relationships.

1. Mercy means being patient with people’s quirks.
The Bible says in James 3:17, “The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy” (NLT). The wiser you become, the more patient and merciful you become.

2. Mercy means helping anyone around you who is hurting.
You cannot love your neighbor as yourself without being merciful. Proverbs 3:27 says, “Whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it” (GNT).

3. Mercy means giving people a second chance.
When somebody hurts you, it’s natural to want to get even or write that person off. But the Bible says, “Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others . . . Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ” (Ephesians 4:31-32 CEV).

4. Mercy means doing good to those who hurt you.
Mercy is giving people what they need, not what they deserve. Why should you do that? Because that’s what God does with you: “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back . . . Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:35-36 NIV).

5. Mercy means being kind to those who offend you.
You need to be more interested in winning people to Christ than in winning an argument. The Living Bible paraphrase says it like this: “As for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them. . . . Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners” (Jude 1:23).

6. Mercy means building bridges of love to the unpopular.
This is what I call premeditated mercy, because you intentionally build friendships with people who don’t have friends or aren’t accepted at work or in society. When the Pharisees questioned why Jesus ate with tax collectors and other unpopular people, Jesus said, “‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners” (Matthew 9:13 NLT).

Talk It Over

Where in society do you see people more interested in winning arguments than in winning people to Christ? Is there a time in your own life when you have done that?

If mercy means valuing relationships over rules, what do you need to change about the way you interact with your coworkers or neighbors? What about with your family members?

This week, how can you intentionally show mercy to people around you who are hurting?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for the mercy You have so freely given us - mercy we could never earn. Soften our hearts to see others through Your eyes, not through our judgments or frustrations. When we are tempted to withhold kindness, remind us of the countless times You have forgiven us.
Help us to listen with patience, speak with gentleness, and act with compassion. Teach us to forgive quickly, to love deeply, and to extend grace even when it feels undeserved. Let our lives be a reflection of Your mercy, so that others may feel Your love through our words and actions. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Front and Back

The Lord watches over all who love him.” Psalm 145:20 (NIV)

When you put your trust in Jesus, you never need to fear the future. His goodness and mercy are with you every day.

In fact, the Bible says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” 

(Psalm 23:6 ESV).

You have a Good Shepherd, and he is out in front of you with his rod and staff. Behind you are a couple of sheepdogs. In your life, those sheepdogs are goodness and mercy, guarding the flock and nipping at your heels to keep you from wandering off into a ravine. Those two sheepdogs help keep you on track as you follow the Good Shepherd.

God’s goodness is watching over you. Did you know that not one second has ever passed in your life when God was not watching you? God is always paying attention to you, because he created you to love you. He knows every detail of your life.

Not only does he watch over you, but he also protects you. The Bible says, “God will command his angels to protect you wherever you go” (Psalm 91:11 CEV).

God’s protection does not mean that only good things will happen to you. Suffering and disappointment will still come your way. But God will ensure that good will come out of everything that happens to you—whether or not you’re able to see in this lifetime how he has been working.

God’s mercy and grace are working in you. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “I will have mercy on you through my grace” (Isaiah 60:10).

Grace is when God gives you what you don’t deserve. Mercy is when God doesn’t give you what you do deserve. For all the ways you’ve sinned, failed, and made mistakes, you deserve punishment, yet God pardons and forgives you through Christ. That’s mercy. It is God’s nature to be merciful. He loves to show his mercy! He doesn’t get bored with it. He doesn’t get tired of it. He doesn’t get frustrated that you keep coming back for more. God doesn’t say, “Okay, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, I’ll give goodness, and on Tuesday and Thursday, I’ll give mercy, and on Saturday and Sunday, you’re on your own.” That’s simply not true!

The truth is, God is with you every moment of every day, always offering his goodness and mercy.

Nobody knows what’s going to happen next week, much less next year or in the next 10 years. But when you face the future, you can know this: God will fill your life to overflowing, and his goodness and mercy will be with you. There is no need to fear.

Talk It Over

Read Psalm 103:2-13. Think about all the ways God shows his mercy.

How does a right view of God’s mercy affect how content you are in life?

If you truly believed God was always working for your good, what would you have the courage to do for him?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         In our times of trial and tribulation, we come before You, seeking Your divine grace and boundless mercy. Lord, grant us Your strength to endure life’s challenges, for we know that Your love and guidance are unending. Help us find and LEARN the lessons from our struggles, and give us the courage to face them with unwavering faith. In Your grace and mercy, we find comfort for our souls, knowing that You are by our side, leading us toward whatever lies ahead, and knowing it is Your plan for the best of our lives. We want to be as faithful to You as You are to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Such a Pain

Guest Author: Christopher Glotzbach

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And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 NLT

What’s the deal with pain? I read once that pain is an incredible gift. But if we’re being honest… nobody wants to hear that.

Yet if we really stop and think about it, a life without pain could actually be dangerous.

Pain reveals.
Pain tells us when to stop.
Pain tells us when something is wrong.
Pain tells us when we’ve gone too far.

But sometimes, I think we misappropriate our pain. Often, we blame the wrong person. Sometimes I blame God for the pain in my life. Sometimes I blame other people. And if I’m really honest and willing to examine the situation, sometimes the pain is simply the result of my own choices, my own mistakes, or my own limitations.

For example:

A few months ago, I was at the gym attempting to do pull-ups. And because I’m not strong enough to do more than one pull-up, I have to use those elastic resistance bands.  And because I’m also apparently the least flexible person on the planet, I have a hard time getting out of those bands when I’m finished.

So picture this:
The band is fully stretched out, wrapped around my foot, and sitting at the bottom of my shoe. I finish my set, and I’m trying to get out of it. The band slips out from underneath my foot… …and SMACKS ME RIGHT IN THE FACE.

I was mad.  But more than anything, I was mad at the band. And then the Lord reminded me:
“The band is a tool. It didn’t hurt you.” And that got me thinking.

How often do I misappropriate pain onto God or onto other people when, in reality, the pain came from my own mistake? 

Now, I’m not saying all pain is like this. Some pain is completely outside of our control. Some pain comes from the brokenness of this world. Some pain is caused by the choices of other people. 

But sometimes… the thing I’m blaming for my pain is actually just the tool God is using to make me stronger. And maybe that’s why Scripture tells us to “consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2). Not because pain feels good. But because God can use even our pain to form us. 

So today, my prayer is:

God, 

       Help me not to blame the tool or the vehicle You are using in my sanctification. Help me see my circumstances accurately. Give me the humility to recognize when I’ve contributed to my own pain. Forgive me when I wrongly accuse You—or others—for pain that I have caused myself. And regardless of where my pain comes from, help me trust You. Help me hold on to You. Help me walk with You. And help me allow You to use even the painful things in my life to make me more like Jesus.
Amen.

Promise for Today - You Be You

It's healthy to be content, but envy can eat you up.

Proverbs 14:30 (CEV)

To live an abundant life that overflows with God’s goodness, the first thing you need to do is start being grateful and stop complaining. The second thing you need to do is start being content and stop comparing.

God made you to be you. He doesn't want you to be anybody else! When you compare yourself to other people, you get envious and resentful, and you might even start to copy them.

But God has never made a clone. God only makes originals. Even identical twins are different in thousands of ways. If you won’t be you, then who will be?

The truth is that comparing only gets you into trouble. When you compare your looks, your grades, your spouse, your career, or your kids, it causes two problems.

One, you get full of discouragement, because you can always find someone who's doing a better job than you—someone who is better looking, makes more money, or has more talent. And two, you get full of pride. Why? Because you can always find someone who’s not doing as good a job as you.

The Bible says, “It is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more, and that is like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6 NCV).

Because of social media, it's easier than ever to compare yourself to others. When you see posts every day that shout, “Look at me! Look what I can do! Look what I’ve got!” it can draw you into a state of envy and discontentment. It can even cause you to try to impress others with your own posts. But the thing is, you don’t have to impress anyone. A key to living a life overflowing with joy is to just be yourself, content with who God made you to be.

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed? Do you want to be spiritually and emotionally healthy?  Contentment comes when you enjoy what you have rather than waiting for something else to make you happy. Stop comparing yourself to other people, and start being content with what God has given you—and then watch your joy overflow!

Talk It Over

What do you enjoy about your life right now?

When it looks like God is blessing others in a way he’s not blessing you, how does it make you feel? In those moments, what can you remind yourself about God’s goodness?

If you know something like social media is going to cause you to be discontented, what will you do to lessen its effect on you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          It is written in Psalms that You make known to us the path of life; You will fill us with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand. Help us to find true satisfaction in Your presence. Let our joy not be tied to possessions, achievements, or people, but to You alone. Fill the empty places in our hearts with Your love and peace. Let Your presence be enough for us, in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Stewing without Doing - (Doing the Two-Step)

In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing.

Philippians 2:14 (TLB)

If you want to move from an overwhelmed life to an overflowing life, there are two things you need to start doing, and three things you need to stop doing.

Today we’ll look at the first pair: Start being grateful and stop complaining.

Studies have shown that gratitude produces chemicals in your brain—dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin—that make you feel peaceful and happy.

An attitude of gratitude is something you can start the moment you wake up. Before you get out of bed, make a list of things you're grateful for. For example, your list might say, “God, I'm grateful for air; I'm grateful for this bed; I'm grateful I’m not in danger.” Even if you can't think of anything to be grateful for, the simple act of trying to be grateful will change your brain chemistry.

The Living Bible paraphrase says, “In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing” (Philippians 2:14).

When you complain about something, how does that help you? If you complain about the weather, does it change the weather? If you complain about the way you look, does it change the way you look? If you complain about your spouse, your children, or your job, does it change any of those things?

Complaining is a total waste of time. It's stewing without doing. It's worthless. Complaining will never make you feel better. Instead, God wants your life to “overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done” (Colossians 2:7 TLB).

Sometimes people will say to me, “You know, I just want to know God's will. What does God want me to do in my relationship? What does he want me to do in my career? What does he want me to do in school?”

“Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God's will in Christ Jesus that you do this” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 GW). Why would God teach you step two when you haven't done step one? If you want to know God's will on who to marry, God wants you to do step one—always be thankful—and then you can move on to step two, then step three, and so on.

If you want to live an overflowing life rather than an overwhelmed life, stop complaining, and start being grateful.

 
Talk It Over

What is one thing you wouldn’t change about today? Add it to your gratitude list.

When you are tempted to complain this week, think about a specific way God has been good to you. What difference do you think it will make?

Who in your life are you grateful for? What is one way you can show them how you feel?

Want the security of God’s unbreakable promises?

Just pray this simple prayer: 

Father,

           I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord. Jesus, please come into my life and change my priorities, my values, my purpose, and my direction. Thank You for the promise of heaven when I put my faith in You. Please transform me into the person you want me to be. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

-all by Pastor Rick

Promise for Today - No Grapes

Guest Author - Christopher Glotzbach

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Thank God He doesn’t always say “Yes.”

This morning when I opened the refrigerator, the dogs came running and sat really nicely — they were expecting a treat.

We call this the cheese tax.

Every once in a while I’ll give them some cheese, and each time the door opens it’s like Pavlov's dogs.

This morning it got me thinking, though, about the biggest mistake I ever made with our pups.

One evening before dinner, I was washing grapes and Munsee, our Blue Merle, was sitting at my feet.

This is his way of asking for something.

"Look — I’m good — now give me a reward."

And being honest, it’s sometimes how we treat the Lord, right?

“God, look at me!”

“Look at how well I’m behaving” — “How well I am doing.”

“Where’s my reward!?”

And I’m so thankful God doesn’t work this way.

Because in my foolishness, because I love my dog and because he was behaving well — I tossed Munsee a grape.

I know (Well, I didn’t know then), but Brittany did.

Panic set in — we were convinced in the moment I had killed our dog.

Thankfully — He was okay.

But, as I’ve reflected on the moment, no matter how well Munsee behaves while I’m washing grapes — no matter how badly he wants it. The answer will always be, “No”

Because I love him.

And I’m so thankful that the Lord loves me infinitely more than I could ever love anyone or anything. And even though I’m begging the Lord for the thing I think will be best for me in the moment. The answer will always be, “No,” because God loves me. And God loves you.

It’s changed a lot for me.

That I’m so thankful looking back on all the things I so desperately wanted and asked the Lord for that he said “No.” Because he knew what I didn’t— that it wouldn’t be good for me.

How many grapes do we ask for? — when God has something so much better for us.

Here’s my prayer today:

God, help me trust this section of Scripture. Help me rest in this, knowing You are a Good Father who knows what I need better than I ever could.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭31‬-‭34‬

Your will be done in my life just as it is in Heaven. In Jesus' Name. Amen.