Promise for Today - Chat and Chew

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

Acts 2:42, 46 (NIV)

You develop relationships through fellowship - spending time together in faith, purpose, and unity in Jesus Christ. And there’s only one way you’re going to build that kind of fellowship - and it’s through frequency.

If you’re already in a small group that meets regularly, that’s great! But if your group meets very infrequently, then you may not be allowing yourself the opportunity for meaningful fellowship. It works best when you commit to seeing each other at least once a week, when you schedule time to study the Bible together and encourage one another.

You need frequency in your fellowship.

Acts 2 describes the first church in Jerusalem this way: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42, 46-47 NIV). One of my favorite tools of fellowship is food. I’m so glad the early church’s example included eating together!

Jesus didn’t do his ministry on earth alone. He shared life with his disciples. And almost every time Jesus taught and fellowshipped with the disciples, they were either walking or eating. Why? Because when people are walking or eating, they’re relaxed. Your walls are down, you’re not defensive, and you’re open to feedback and new ideas. That’s when the best communication and fellowship happen.

Jesus spent regular, intentional, focused time with his small group of disciples and enjoyed meals with them. The early church was “devoted” to being together and learning together and praying together. They found joy in spending time together around meals.

You’ll find that following their example of fellowship around food won’t just lead to amazing personal spiritual growth. It will show the world the joy we have in being part of God’s family—and they’ll want to join in too.

Talk It Over

What are some ways you can take the stress out of sharing a meal with your small group?

How can you use food to fellowship with people outside of the church and show them biblical hospitality?

Do you treat time with people in your church and God’s family like you would any other event that you schedule and commit to? Why or why not?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer: by Natisha Anderson

Father,

          We come before You with hearts overflowing with gratitude for the gift of knowing and being known deeply by others. In those moments when we ask, "How did you know that?" and hear the response, "Because I know you," we glimpse the beauty of genuine connection and intimacy.
Thank You for creating us with the capacity to understand and appreciate each other on a profound level. Help us to cherish these moments of recognition and understanding, for they reflect the love and care You have instilled within us for one another.
           Guide us, Lord, to nurture and cultivate such meaningful relationships in our lives. Grant us the wisdom to listen attentively, to observe with compassion, and to respond with kindness. May we continue to grow in our understanding of each other, deepening our bonds through mutual respect and empathy. Bless these moments of knowing and being known, Father, as they strengthen our connections and bring us closer to You. May we always seek to honor and uplift [You and] one another, just as You have loved and cherished us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Management

Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you.

1 Peter 4:10 (GW)

I don’t really own anything. And neither do you. It all belongs to God.

It was God’s from the beginning. It will be God’s at the end. You didn’t bring anything into this world—and you’re not going to take anything out of this world. God just loans it to you for the time that you’re here.

So that means you’re a manager of the things God has given you. God gave you your health—so you need to manage your health wisely. He gave you your time—so you need to manage your time wisely. He gave you your talents—so you need to manage your talents wisely. And he gave you your money—so you need to manage your money wisely. As Peter said, “Each of you as a good manager must use the gift that God has given you” (GW).

That may not seem like a big deal at first, but when you realize your money isn’t really yours, it changes the way you think about it and use it.

And because you’re a manager of God’s money, one day you’ll give an account to him of how you used it. Ecclesiastes teaches, “Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do” (Ecclesiastes 11:9 NLT). And Romans 14:12 says it like this: “Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God” (NLT).

When your time on earth is over, you’ll stand before God and give him an account of how you used all he gave you—your time, your talents, your money, and more. He’ll ask you something like, “What did you do with what I gave you?”

How will you answer?

Talk It Over

Do you think of yourself as the owner or the manager of your money?

Think of times in your life when you’ve recognized that everything you have is a gift from God. How did that change the decisions you made?

If God asked you today, “What have you done with what I’ve given you?” how would you answer him?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          We acknowledge that “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). Everything we possess — our breath, our days, our abilities, our finances, our influence — is a trust from You, not our own to keep or hoard. Grant us the wisdom to use these gifts with integrity, care, and faithfulness, as Christ’s faithful servants. Teach us to value the small as well as the great, to share generously, and to protect the future. Let our actions reflect Your love and purpose, and may we never neglect the responsibilities You have entrusted to us. Help us to be good stewards of our time, talents, and treasures, and to use them in ways that honor You and bless others. Let our decisions be guided by Your Word, and our hearts by Your Spirit. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Fishing for Good News

‘Come, follow me,’ he said, ‘and I’ll show you how to fish for people.’

Matthew 4:19 (CEB)

Have you heard and accepted the Good News of Jesus? If you have, you need to tell somebody else about it! In Matthew 4:20, Jesus called out to some fishermen: “‘Come, follow me,’ he said, ‘and I’ll show you how to fish for people.’ Right away, they left their nets and followed him” (Matthew 4:19-20 CEB).

What did he mean by that? He was basically telling the men, “I’ll show you how to change lives. I’ll show you how to get people into heaven. I’ll show you how to bring people to me. I’ll show you how to share the Good News.”

What about you? Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you? If you’re not fishing, you’re not following. In other words, if you’re not telling the Good News to somebody else, you’re not being a disciple. God expects you to share his Good News.

Think of it this way: If I knew the cure for cancer and kept it a secret, that would be unthinkably wrong! But the truth is that I know something better than that. I know how you can have your past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a home in heaven. And God calls me—and you—to share that Good News.

You’re going to heaven because somebody told you about Jesus. And somebody told that person about Jesus and so on. You don’t want that chain to break with you.

Jesus told his followers, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 NLT).

You know the Good News. Now it’s time to go tell someone else about it!

Talk It Over

Who is the first person who told you the Good News about Jesus?

After you started following Jesus, who’s the first person you told about him?

Who do you need to share the Good News with this week?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Open doors for us to share Your Word with those hungry for it and give us the words to say when those opportunities come. Give us the boldness to open our mouths. Empower us with the Holy Spirit to deliver Your message to the world. Father, may we believe and receive Your Word in Acts 1:8, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." We know we cannot do this alone, and we ask for Your help and guidance as we strive to be a faithful witness to You. Remove any timidity that may cause us to hold back Your Words that others need to hear. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Baking Cakes

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)

Most people don’t know that I am a “master” cake builder (at least my family thinks I am). Years ago, I decided to learn how to bake cakes. I figured that if I wanted to eat them, I ought to know how to make them. One of my favorite creations was one of the more difficult cakes to make: a German chocolate cake made from scratch for my wife’s birthday.

Making cakes has made me appreciate that the individual ingredients for a cake don’t taste good on their own. Some of them are quite bitter. If you eat flour by itself, it doesn’t taste good. If you eat baking powder or raw egg or oil by itself, you’ll regret it. Even the vanilla by itself doesn’t taste good. But if you mix them all together and bake it, it’s delicious.

One of the greatest promises of the Bible is in Romans 8:28: “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” (NLT).

Notice that verse does not say that everything is good. A quick look at the news headlines proves that isn’t true. And it doesn’t say this promise is for everyone—just those who love God. The way God works all things together for good is kind of like baking a cake. God can make the bitter, better.

In your life and in the world, there will be elements that are bitter and unpleasant. You might think, “That doesn’t taste good. I don’t like that change in my life. I don’t like what’s happening in the world today.”

When you’re in a season of rapid and relentless change, and some things don’t taste very good, determine that you won’t become bitter by seeing only the negative in your circumstances. Because even when nothing makes sense, you can trust that God takes it all—the good and the bitter—and uses it for his good plan.

You can’t see it now, but you will taste its sweetness in heaven one day.

Talk It Over

How can focusing on the things you don’t understand make you bitter?

What do you need to focus on in a time of major change? How will it help you see clearly?

Why do you think God makes the promise of Romans 8:28 just for those who love and follow him?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

         We come before You with hearts that desire to get better, not bitter. Life’s challenges, trials, and disappointments often make us feel inclined toward resentment, but we know such an attitude does not reflect the Christlike spirit You desire in us. 

       We ask for Your grace to rise above pain, to choose forgiveness, and to let Your love rule in our hearts. Help us to see beyond the hurt and to learn from our experiences. Give us the strength to forgive others as You have forgiven us, and the wisdom to release the root of bitterness before it can corrupt our hearts. We trust that You are with us in every trial, as promised in Isaiah 43:2 — “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… you will not be burned or scorched”.
       Thank You for Your unchanging love and for Your peace that cannot be taken away. Help us to focus on what can heal, not what can harm. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - To Tell the Truth

Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice.

Proverbs 12:15 (GNT)

We all have blind spots. There are things in our lives that need correcting, but we can’t always see them. Why? Because we don’t always see ourselves clearly—and sometimes we just don’t want to. We don’t want to acknowledge the habits we’ve settled into that feel comfortable but keep us from growing.

That’s why God puts people around you to tell you the truth. Everybody needs somebody in their life who loves them enough to tell them the truth.

Do you have anyone like that in your life? Do you have any godly friends who don’t just tell you what you want to hear but love you enough to level with you?

If you don’t have people who speak the hard truths to you, that means you’re probably making a lot of avoidable mistakes. You need to identify the people in your life who encourage you to live like Jesus.

You also need to be that kind of person for others. Are you comfortable pointing out blind spots with grace and love to the people who matter most to you? In God’s family, that’s what we do for each other so we can grow into the people who God wants us to be.

This is why God hates pride so much. Pride makes us defensive and unteachable. When we are prideful, we build up walls and keep people at a distance. Then we can’t hear God’s voice speaking to us through others.

Proverbs 12:15 says, “Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice” (GNT). God wants to use you to help others grow. He will speak through you - but it takes courage. And he will speak through other people to you - and that takes humility.

Maybe you’re thinking of someone right now. You’ve got a friend or sibling or coworker who is headed down the wrong path, and you see it clear as day - but you’ve said nothing. You’ve kept silent, telling yourself it’s none of your business.

But love cares. And when you care, you’re aware and you dare to share. When you care, you’re aware of each other’s blind spots, and you dare to share the truth with the other person. In those moments, God can use your words to bring life and encouragement.

Talk It Over

In what ways does spending time together with friends from your small group during the week, outside of your weekly meeting, help you build trust with each other?

How can you know when you are ready to receive, with humility, counsel from others?

When has God used someone to speak truth into your life? How did you respond?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Open our hearts to compassion, soften our spirits with humility, and grant us the courage to speak truth in love. We are asking for a heart that reflects Your love and mercy. Give us compassion for everyone we meet, that we may listen with patience, forgive readily, and speak with kindness even when words are hard. Grant us humility, that we may set aside pride, value others above ourselves, and recognize that all we are and have comes from You.
      Teach us to speak truth - not with harshness or selfish ambition, but with love and gentleness and honesty that builds up. Help us to listen before we speak, to choose words that honor God and bless others, and to resist the urge to speak from pride or to cover our faults.
       As we walk in humility, may our words and actions point others to Christ rather than to ourselves. Let our speech be a reflection of Your Word, and our hearts a place of peace, mercy, and truth. May our lives be a living prayer, showing the compassion of Jesus, the humility of the meek, and the integrity of the truth. In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen

Promise for Today - Giving Out

I will bless you. . . . and you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:2 (NIV)

Most Christians want to bless others through their time, talents, gifts, and resources. But it’s not just a desire. God commands you to be a blessing to others because you have been blessed.

As you look for ways to bless others, keep in mind the four laws of God’s blessing:

1. Your blessings should flow to others.
The Bible teaches that you are blessed not just so you can feel good or so that you can be happy and comfortable. You are blessed so that you can bless others. God told Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “I will bless you. . . . and you will be a blessing” (NIV). This is the first law of blessing: It must flow outwardly.

2. When you bless others, God takes care of your needs.
There’s almost nothing that God won’t do for the person who really wants to help other people. In fact, God guarantees that if you will concentrate on blessing others, he’ll take care of your needs. In Luke 18:29-30, Jesus says, “I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come” (NLT). When you focus on helping other people, God assumes responsibility for your problems. And that’s a real blessing—because he’s much better at handling your difficulties than you are.

3. Your blessings to others will come back to you.
The more you bless other people and the more you help others, the more God blesses your life. The Message paraphrase says, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing” (Luke 6:38).

You cannot out-give God. When you look for ways to try to bless others, it’s like God is saying, “I’m going to pour blessings out on you. We’ll play a little game here. Let’s see who will win. Let’s see who can give the most. The more you bless others, the more I’m going to bless you in return.”

4. The more God blesses you, the more he expects you to help others.
Jesus said it this way in Luke 12:48: “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given” (GNT).

Never be afraid to share God’s blessings. The more generous you are with sharing what God’s given you, the more you’ll see God blessing you in return.

Talk It Over

Think about some of the blessings God has given you. Which ones have you shared with others?

Based on how much God has blessed you, how much do you think he expects you to bless others?

What will you do to bless someone today?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Fill us with Your peace and compassion so we can be a blessing to others in hard times. Let our lives reflect Your love and hope, and Your light to a darkened world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Emotional Disarmament

If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. Do your best to live in peace with everyone.

Romans 12:17-18 (NCV)

Do you think God can bring good out of something bad, like when you’re bullied or harassed?

You bet he can. It’s hard to see it and trust it in the moment. When someone wrongs you, you may be tempted to fight back or defend yourself. But God is just, and it’s his job to punish, restore, and turn things around for good.

“If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. Do your best to live in peace with everyone. My friends, do not try to punish others when they wrong you, but wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: ‘I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:17-19 NCV).

Notice the words “do your best.” As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone. That’s because God knows there are some people in life who are almost impossible to get along with. When you’re harassed or bullied, God doesn’t want you to retaliate. He wants you to walk away.

To that, you might say, “But you don’t know what they’ve done to me! They’ve hurt me. They've caused a lot of harm, and I want to get even.”

People who are bullies want to hook you. They want to get your attention and engage you—and then attack. They can’t stand it if you ignore them! This is also true online. It’s often hard to figuratively walk away from an attack in a comment thread on Facebook. But when you refuse to react, you’ve taken control away from bullies. If they can’t engage you, then they can’t control you.

Whenever you tell someone, “You make me so mad,” you’re admitting that you've given control of your emotions to somebody else. You don’t want to do that. You don’t want to give anyone power over your emotions.

Romans 12 says God gives you a choice: Either you can seek revenge yourself or you can trust God and let him avenge you. Who do you think can do a better job?

Refuse to retaliate. Walk away. Let it go! And let God do his work.

Talk It Over

What is a good way to end a conversation on social media in which you feel bullied?

Have you ever trusted God to handle a difficult situation rather than seeking revenge yourself? How did that turn out for you?

What are some practical tools you can use to control your emotions in a volatile situation so that you can respond how God wants you to?
- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          We come before You today, asking for Your peace to guard our hearts and minds. We surrender every urge to react in anger, to hold grudges, or to be drawn into ongoing conflict. We release the need to control outcomes and to carry the emotional weight of others’ struggles.  As Your Word says in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” We choose peace over strife, and we ask You to remove the spirit of division, bitterness, and resentment from our hearts.
       Father, we bind every spirit of conflict and unbelief that seeks to stir up trouble. We cast out every seed of anger, jealousy, and misunderstanding. Silence the voices that incite division, and replace them with Your calm and wisdom. Clothe us with love, as Colossians 3:14 says, “Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity”. Help us respond with gentleness, to forgive freely, and to walk in the peace that surpasses all understanding. 
     By Your Word, Lord, we declare that we will not be consumed by strife. We will stand firm in Your will, and let Your peace reign in our hearts and in our relationships. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Fed Up? Give Up!

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:29-30 (NIV)

Are you feeling overloaded? You may be trying to control things too much. We all do it, sometimes without even realizing it. We subconsciously act as if it all depends on us. We think we have to hold everything together. We think we have to make everything happen.

The greater your need to control things, the more overloaded, stressed, and empty you’re going to feel in life. You need to learn to give up control!

When you come to Jesus because you’re running on empty, your next step of obedience is this: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30 NIV).

When you get fed up, it’s time to give up control.

A yoke is not the middle of an egg (that’s a yolk). It’s the wooden frame you put over two animals so they can pull a piece of farm equipment together. The purpose of a yoke is to lighten the load, not to make it heavier. Sharing a yoke means sharing the load you’re carrying.

When you already feel like you’re carrying a heavy load, taking on Jesus’ yoke may sound like more of a burden. It’s actually the opposite—because when you’re not yoked to Jesus, you carry the burden alone, and you might move too fast and end up in a ditch.

But if you’re yoked to him, he shares the burden of the load with you, keeps your pace exactly where it needs to be, and helps you to stay on the right path.

Put simply, a yoke makes the load lighter, and it keeps you from getting in trouble. Galatians 5:25 says, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (NIV).

You keep in step with God’s Spirit by being yoked to Jesus—partnering with him and letting him set the pace. Jesus was never in a hurry, and you won’t be either when you’re connected to him.

Talk It Over

Why do you think God doesn’t just take your burden away completely every time you come to him and ask for help?

What kind of pace do you want to have in your life? What kind of pace would bring health and rest?

Look again at Matthew 11:29-30. What does Jesus want you to do after you take on his yoke? How can you do that?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer: (from the Prayer Room)

Father,

          We confess that we have been trying to sort things out in our own lives for far too long, rather than handing over the reins of our lives to You. Lord, we know we cannot carry all our worries and anxieties in our own strength, and we are ready to cast them all upon You. Please forgive us for being self‑dependent instead of God‑dependent. Carry us now in Your loving arms, and help us to abide in You, trusting that Your grace is sufficient. Lead our steps according to Your perfect will, and fill our hearts with peace as we release the need to control every outcome. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Counter-Cultural

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21 (NIV)

I don’t know if there’s anything more counter-cultural in our world today than responding to evil with good. And because it’s so counter-cultural, it can be one of the hardest things to do.

When someone is trying to make trouble in your life, you need to respond positively. But overcoming evil with good takes a step of faith, because everything in us often wants to overcome evil with evil and fight darkness with more darkness. That’s what the world tells us to do: Fight dirty. That’s why it takes faith to go against what the culture is telling you to do and instead trust God and respond to darkness with his light.

You fight darkness with light. You fight hatred with love. You fight unkindness with kindness. You don't let evil overcome you. You overcome evil with good. That’s tough to do. But it gets even tougher: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44 NIV).

Is that easy? No. Is it unusual? Yes. Is it a choice? Absolutely. It’s your choice to be better than your enemy. Choosing light over darkness means walking the way of Jesus. And Jesus wouldn’t just walk away from a fight and forget. He would lay down his life if that’s what he needed to do to show how much he loves someone—and that’s exactly what he did.

God doesn’t want you to retaliate. He also wants you to do good. He wants you to show love to even the hardest hearts by praying for them and asking God to give them hearts like his.

Jesus gave us the greatest example of responding in love and praying for our enemies. When you follow his example, you’re going to stand out in a world where everyone else thinks of themselves first.

Taking the step of faith to overcome evil with good will not always be easy, but it will make you a powerful witness for Jesus.

Talk It Over

In what ways did Jesus show us how to overcome evil with good and love our enemies?

Why do you think God wants us to pray for the people who bully or harass us? What difference does it make?

Have you ever consistently prayed for one of your enemies? How did that change your heart toward that person?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Give us the courage and wisdom to say “no” to sin and “yes” to Your will. When evil whispers, let us hear only Your Word. Guard our hearts and minds, and fill us with Your Spirit so we may walk in righteousness. Teach us to overcome evil with good, as You command in Romans 12:21, by choosing love over hatred, kindness over bitterness, and truth over falsehood. Strengthen our inner man, and let our actions reflect Your light in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Start with Humility

He has brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble. 

Luke 1:52 (NCV)

God always gives you a choice, and one of the most important choices you’ll make is whether to take his path for your life or to make your own way. And the truth is, following God’s plan for your life takes humility.

It takes humility to say, “God, I’m going to go with your plan, not my plan; I’m going your way, not my way.”

Pride says, “Forget it. I have my plans, dreams, and ambitions. I’m going to do what I want to do.”

But the Bible urges us over and over again to choose humility over pride. James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (GNT). And Proverbs 18:12 says, “Before honor is humility” (NKJV). Then James 4:10 promises, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (NLT).

I want God to honor you - to honor your family, your business, your life. I want him to lift up your health and your finances. But the Bible says that all of these things start with humility.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew this was true. She said, “He has done mighty deeds by his power. He has scattered the people who are proud and think great things about themselves. He has brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with nothing” (Luke 1:51-53 NCV). This is an amazing piece of poetry—and it paints the picture of how God works in ways that are opposite to our natural human instincts. 

Mary wasn’t educated, but she knew God and knew his Word. And she knew that she wanted his blessings. So she humbled herself and chose to take his path for her life.

What about you? Are you proudly following your own path? Or have you humbled yourself and committed to following God’s path for you instead?

Talk It Over

When did you choose to pridefully go your own way instead of humbly going God’s way? What was the result?

When did you choose to humbly follow God instead of your own path? What was that result?

What path are you on today? Do you need to shift direction in order to be on the path God has for you?

-by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

        We come before You with open hearts, knowing that pride can blind us and keep us from Your will. Teach us to see ourselves through Your eyes — not higher than others, nor lower, but as Your beloved children. When our ego rises, remind us of the gentleness of Christ. When we feel the need to prove ourselves, let us instead seek to serve others. Help us to listen more than we speak, to value others above ourselves, and to find joy in lifting others up. 
        Give us the courage to admit our faults, the grace to forgive quickly, and the wisdom to choose humility even when pride feels easier. May our words, thoughts, and actions reflect Your love, not our own glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Many Facets of Grace

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8 (NLT)

What is grace? Grace is when God gives you what you need, not what you deserve. Every day, you can be thankful for the grace God shows to you.

Everything in your life is a gift of God’s grace. Even the air you’re breathing right now shows God's grace to you! Every good and perfect gift in your life points back to God, who gave it to you because he loves you

It’s ALL by God’s grace.

The Bible says in Ephesians 2:8, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God” (NLT).

Heaven is also a gift of God’s grace. You can’t earn your way to heaven. You can’t work your way to heaven. You can’t buy or bargain your way into heaven. It’s all a gift of God’s grace.

Since you can’t earn it, all you can do is receive it—and you receive this free gift by believing that Jesus Christ came to Earth and died for your sins so you could be reconciled to God. You couldn’t do that on your own, so Jesus did it for you. It’s the greatest gift of grace the world has ever known.

In Psalm 103, David lists many gifts of God’s grace. Here are just a few things about God we can be thankful for when we put our trust in him:

He forgives all our sins.
He heals us.
He has ransomed us from hell.
He surrounds us with love.
He fills our lives with good things.
He is merciful and tender toward those who don’t deserve it.
He does not get angry easily.
He never holds a grudge.
He has not punished us for our sins as we deserve.

If we received exactly what we deserved after rebelling against God - trying to play God and claiming we didn’t need him - we wouldn’t even have our next breath. But by God’s grace, we do.

Thank God for that grace! We need it every moment, because no matter how hard we try not to, we keep sinning. We need his grace all the time, and he is always ready to give it.

Evidence of God’s grace is everywhere. Take a good look around you today, and thank God for all the ways he has shown you grace—every gift, every mercy, every act of love.

Talk It Over

Why is it important to regularly recognize and thank God for the specific ways he has shown you grace?

Where is God’s grace most evident in your life? What is a new way you see his grace at work in you today?

If you lived with a spirit of gratitude for God’s grace, what would others notice about you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for the gift of Your grace—undeserved, unearned, yet freely given. Help us to see each moment of our lives through the lens of Your mercy, so that our hearts overflow with thankfulness, even in seasons of challenge. Teach us to notice the quiet blessings: the breath in our lungs, the warmth of sunlight, the kindness of others, and the peace that comes from Your presence. 

      When we are tempted to complain or compare, remind us of the cross and the love that saved us. Let gratitude be our daily song, and may it draw us closer to You, the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Keep our hearts thankful in all seasons. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Up a Tree

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)

No matter how insignificant you feel, you can always be sure that Jesus notices you.

Zacchaeus was a very wealthy man, but he was also very lonely. He was very short and had probably been ridiculed his entire life for it. He was also a tax collector, which means everybody hated him.  When he heard Jesus was coming to his city, Zacchaeus wanted to see him. But there was one problem: A lot of people wanted to see Jesus that day, and Zacchaeus couldn’t see over the crowd because he was too short.

So Zacchaeus did two things no wealthy, self-respecting man of his time would have done: First, he ran ahead of the crowd, and then he climbed up in a tree. But Zacchaeus didn’t seem to care what other people thought of him in that moment. He was just hoping to see Jesus.

Then Jesus did something even more shocking when he got to the tree Zacchaeus had climbed. The Bible says, “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up” (Luke 19:5 NIV). In a packed crowd, Jesus paused and paid attention to Zacchaeus.

Can you imagine how Zacchaeus’ heart must have been racing? He was just hoping for a glimpse of Jesus, and suddenly Jesus had stopped and looked straight up at Zacchaeus. The man who had been overlooked his whole life had Jesus’ full attention.

I don’t know what you’re going through right now. You may feel like you’re up a tree financially. You may feel like you’re out on a limb relationally. You may feel like you’re in a hole spiritually - and nobody even knows you’re there.

But Jesus knows where you are, and he’s paying attention to you. He notices you. There’s never been a moment of your life when God has taken his eyes off you.

Do you feel all alone right now? You’re not! God is not a million miles away. He is paying close attention to you. God notices you because you matter to him.

Talk It Over

Why is giving someone your attention such a powerful way to show love?

What spiritual habits do you need to develop so that you are more aware of and confident in God’s presence?

Do you believe that God cares about the details of your life? How does that change the way you relate to him?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You that You are always watching over us — never sleeping, never absent, never forgetting our needs. We come before You with hearts full of gratitude, knowing that You are our shield and our shepherd. We know according to Your Word that Your eyes are upon us, and Your care surrounds us day and night. Thank You for being our refuge in trouble, our strength in weakness, and our guide in every step. We trust that You see our struggles, understand our fears, and hold our future in Your hands. Like the sparrows, we are valued and protected by You, and even the hairs on our head are numbered.
     Father, we release all our anxieties into Your hands, knowing that You care for us and will not let us fall. We declare that we walk in the shadow of the Almighty, safe under Your wings. We affirm that we are never alone — You are with us now and forevermore. Thank You for watching over us, guiding us, and keeping us safe. We rest in the peace that comes from knowing You are always near. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Sum Total

We shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.

Ephesians 4:13 (GNT)

Discipleship is the process of becoming like Christ. It’s a journey that will last a lifetime!

This is how it works: Every day God wants you to become a little more like him. As the Bible says, “You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you” (Colossians 3:10 NCV).

Today, people are obsessed with speed. But God is more interested in strength and stability than swiftness. You might want the quick fix, the shortcut, the on-the-spot solution. Maybe you’re looking for a sermon, a seminar, or an experience that will instantly resolve all problems, remove all temptation, and release you from all growing pains.

But real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual. The Message paraphrase says, “Our lives gradually [become] brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

People often build their identity around their defects. You might even tell yourself you can’t change, saying, “It’s just the way I am.” The unconscious worry is that if you let go of your habit, your hurt, or your hang-up, you won’t know who you are anymore. This fear can slow, or even stop, your growth.

So how do you let go of those old habits and grow to be more like Christ? How do you conform your character to his? By developing Christ-like habits to replace those old habits.

Your character is the sum total of your habits—and habits take time to develop. You can’t claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind, showing kindness without even thinking about it. You can’t claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest. A husband or wife who is faithful MOST of the time is not faithful at all! Your habits define your character.

There’s just one way to develop the habits of Christ-like character: You have to practice them, over and over, until they become part of your identity. And that takes time!

But over time, you—and the people around you—will see the difference. As Paul urged Timothy, “Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress” (1 Timothy 4:15 GW).

Talk It Over

What old habit have you been hanging on to? How can you begin to replace it with a Christ-like habit today?

What is one character trait that you want to be known for?

Who in your life can help and encourage you as you work to develop that habit of Christ-like character?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

        We come before You with humble hearts, longing to reflect the love and purity of Christ in all we do. Strengthen us when our spirit feels weak, and guide our thoughts, words, and actions so they honor You. Teach us patience when life tests our resolve, kindness when others wound us, and humility when pride tries to take root. Fill us with courage to choose righteousness over convenience, and grace to forgive as You have forgiven us. Daily, shape our hearts, so that our character shines with compassion, integrity, and truth. May our lives be a living testimony of Your goodness, drawing others closer to You.
In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Keep Going

We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. 

2 Corinthians 4:9 (TLB)

If you’ve ever been at a race, you’ve probably heard spectators shout, “Keep going!” to motivate the athletes. That’s also great advice for anyone who feels emotionally, mentally, or spiritually exhausted from running the marathon of life: Keep going!

Scripture includes many examples of people who had determination to keep going in the face of opposition, including Jesus and Paul.

Jesus faced constant opposition. Religious and political leaders tried to intimidate him. They repeatedly tried to stop him from teaching and helping people. At one point, they even warned him that King Herod wanted to kill him.

But Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way” (Luke 13:32-33 NLT).

Nothing was going to stop Jesus from accomplishing his purposes—not fear, opposition, or criticism. He was resilient and had the endurance to keep on keeping on. 

Paul also faced obstacles that threatened to slow him down. In the Living Bible paraphrase, he said, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

Maybe that sounds familiar, because you feel like troubles are coming at you from every direction. You’re tired and worn out, and you don’t think you’ll make it to the finish line.

How do you keep going? You get the power to keep going from the same place Jesus and Paul did: God.

The Message paraphrase says, “We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work” (2 Timothy 1:8-9).

God doesn’t expect you to fulfill your purpose and do his will in your own power. First, he saves you, and then he gives you the power for daily living. He will give you everything you need to keep going and finish what he has called you to do.

Talk It Over

What kind of fear, opposition, or criticism tempts you to pull back from doing the things God has called you to do?

In what way do you feel “pressed on every side by troubles” today?

Where do people turn, other than to God, looking for power to endure hardships? When have you seen God’s power carry you through a difficult time?

by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

Please renew my spirit, quiet my fears, and give me the courage to take just one more step today. Remind me that I do not need enough strength for the whole journey—just enough grace for this moment. Surround me with Your peace, hold me steady when I stumble, and help me keep going. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Community

Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NCV)

Did you know that God has special work for you to do? That’s why you’re alive. He made you to do good works that he planned before you were even born. Ephesians 2:10 says, “God made us to do good works” (NCV). But God never meant for you to do good works by yourself. He knows that would only lead to fatigue.

Sometimes we think that people do their greatest work alone. For example, there’s a misconception that Mother Teresa served on the streets of Calcutta all by herself. But she actually had an army of sisters helping her. Like her, you need other people helping you fulfill the work that God has for your life. By yourself, you won’t be able to do a lot. But working with other people, you can get more done.

A snowflake by itself doesn’t make much impact. But if enough of them stick together, they can stop traffic! People are the same way. On our own, you or I may not be able to create much change. But together, we can make a greater difference, with each person doing what God made them to do.

Maybe you’re feeling exhausted today. Do you have anyone helping you? If not, you’re missing out on one of the benefits of being connected to a church family. You may attend a church, but that doesn’t mean you’re connected to its people.

Community is God's answer to fatigue. Do yourself a favor and get connected this week.

Talk It Over

Have you discovered the work God has for your life? What is it, and how are other people helping you to fulfill it?

Think of a time when you worked with others to accomplish God’s work. How did working together ensure the best outcome?

How has your small group or church family helped you learn to serve without becoming burned out and exhausted?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You for bringing together brothers and sisters in Christ, each with unique gifts and backgrounds, to worship You and serve one another. Lord, we invite Your presence to dwell richly among us, guiding us to love, serve, and encourage each other with grace and compassion. Remove any bitterness or division from our hearts, and teach us to be patient, kind, and forgiving. Let our words and actions reflect the character of Your Son, and may our church be a place where everyone feels welcome, valued, and at home.
    We pray that you strengthen our leaders - pastors, elders, deacons, and all who serve - granting them wisdom, humility, and integrity as they shepherd Your people. Comfort the weary, heal the hurting, and renew the discouraged.
     We also lift up our community beyond our church walls. Cause us to be Your light in our neighborhood, bringing hope to the lost, healing to the broken, and reconciliation where there is division. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Don't Go There

Come to me and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 (CEV)

When Jesus says, “Come to me and I will give you rest", what kind of rest is he talking about? Jesus offers a rest for your soul that’s much deeper than physical rest—because he knows that the problem you need help with right now is probably not overworked muscles.

When you come to Jesus in your emptiness, what you probably have is an overloaded mind, soul, and spirit. You need rest not just from physical work but from tension, stress, anxiety, hurry, and worry. You need the kind of rest that a good nap or a vacation can't give.

Most people unwind differently when they’re physically tired than when they’re emotionally and spiritually exhausted. Maybe when you’re tired, you watch a movie or spend time on your phone. Maybe you lie down or take a walk. Maybe you choose to spend time with friends, or maybe it’s better for you to be alone. Those can all be good things—but none of them can restore your soul.

Only God can restore your soul. That’s why, when you have soul emptiness, soul depression, or soul overload, Jesus wants you to come to him. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak” (Isaiah 40:29).

When you’re empty inside, culture says you need to do more. You need to make more money, get more stuff, do more things, travel more places. Go, go, go. More, more, more. But that’s the very reason you’re empty!

Jesus wants you to do the opposite: Don’t go. Come. Come to him—and come just as you are.

Your soul will never find rest in anything the world has to offer. That’s because your soul was not created to be filled by anything in this world. You were made for God, and you only find true rest when you bring your weary soul to him.

Talk It Over

Do you ever feel guilty when you slow down and rest? What will you remind yourself of when you start to feel this way?

How do you know when your weariness comes from your soul and not just your body?

When Jesus restores your soul, what do you feel empowered and equipped to do?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for the gift of this day, filled with moments both joyful and challenging. As we seek rest, we're reminded of Your unwavering faithfulness. Help us to focus on the blessings that surround us, even in the midst of turmoil. Let our hearts overflow with gratitude, transforming our worries into praise. May Your peace envelop us, guiding us into a night of restorative sleep, where we can awaken renewed and ready to serve. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Hold Off

The one who gives an answer before he listens—this is foolishness and disgrace for him.\

Proverbs 18:13 (CSB)

One of the problems with humans is that we like to fix things. When we see a problem, we want to quickly jump to how we can solve it so we can move on. But God wants you to be a feeler before you’re a fixer. He wants you to feel someone’s pain before you try to solve the problem.

You may be barely into a conversation before you think, "I know how to fix this." But that's not loving. People don't care what you know until they know that you care. They want to feel heard. They want to feel loved. They want to feel understood.

There is healing in sharing. Your ear is a healing tool God can use if you'll learn to listen without trying to fix anything.

In John 11, when Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, he delayed and took three days to travel what should have taken less than a day. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had died. His sisters were grieving and told Jesus that if he had come sooner, Lazarus would not have died.

Jesus’ delay might seem callous, but he had a plan: He didn’t want to heal Lazarus. He wanted to raise him from the dead to show that he, Jesus, was the Son of God. He already knew the solution before Lazarus even got sick.

"Jesus saw her weeping, and he saw how the people with her were weeping also; his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved. ‘Where have you buried him?’ he asked them. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they answered. Jesus wept” (John 11:33-35 GNT).

Jesus was not unconcerned about their pain. When he saw everybody around him grieving, he mirrored it. He entered into it. Jesus knew the solution, but it didn’t keep him from sharing their grief. He shared their feelings, not his solution.

You may know the solution to someone’s problem, but you need to hold off. If you're going to be a great listener, you've got to listen to their feelings and enter into their pain.

Talk It Over

How does sharing in someone’s grief help that person heal?

When might be the right time to share your thoughts on a solution with someone who is in pain or grieving?

What is one way you can practice patience in your life?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Give us the grace to truly listen to others. Help us to be quick to hear and slow to speak, not waiting for our turn to share, but fully present in the moment. Grant us the humility to set aside our own opinions and provide the strength to hear without judgment, criticism, or impatience. Let our hearts be open, our minds quiet, and our spirits receptive, so that we may understand not only their words but also their needs, hopes, and fears. 

Father, teach us to be a safe space where others feel valued and heard, and may we represent Your love. Give us the patience to hold space for their pain, their joy, and their truth, and to respond with kindness and compassion. In Jesus’ Name we pray,  Amen

Promise for Today - To Live Without Fear

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.

1 John 4:18 (NIV)

God is a God of radical freedom. In fact, the Bible says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1 NIV). What does God’s freedom give you? It gives you many things, like a clear conscience, direct access to God, and the power to do what’s right. It also gives you freedom from the fear of death.

Death is a universal fear, yet it’s a fear that few people want to face. It may be tempting to go through life pretending you’re not going to die. But only a fool would go through life unprepared for what they know is inevitable.

Here’s the good news: Jesus came to set you free from the fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14-16 says, “For only as a human being could he die and in dying break the power of the devil who had the power of death. Only in that way could he deliver those who through fear of death have been living all their lives as slaves to constant dread” (TLB).

I can say, in all honesty, that I am totally free from the fear of dying. Why? Because I know God, and I’m not afraid of him. I’ve been his friend for more than 60 years. The only people who are afraid of God are people who don’t know him. The more you get to know him, the less you’re afraid of him, because God is love. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18 NIV).

How could you fear someone who loves you unconditionally? How could you fear someone who thinks about you more than you do? God knows every detail of your life. He even knows how many hairs you have on your head! So why would you be afraid to go be with him forever?

If you know the Lord when you die, you’re not leaving home—you’re going home! You’re going where you were meant to be for all eternity, to “the kingdom [God] prepared for you since the creation of the world” (Matthew 25:34 NIV).

Praise God, you can live free! You can live without guilt, able to talk to God anytime and anywhere, free to do what is right, and confident there’s no need to fear death—all because you belong to Jesus.

Talk It Over

How has your salvation changed the way you feel and talk about death?

In what areas do you live as though this life is all there is?

Whom do you need to talk to today about the hope and freedom God offers them through Jesus?

You don’t need to fear death.

Many people are afraid to die—but Jesus can give you freedom from that fear. If you want that freedom and the assurance that you will be with God forever, you can pray something like this:

Dear God, 

                I know I’ll stand before you one day. I confess I’ve ignored you and gone my own way, but I want that to change. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins so I can have eternal life with you.
Jesus, thank you for taking my guilt and giving me your grace. I believe in you, and I trust your promise to forgive me, guide me, and bring me home to heaven one day. In your name I pray. Amen.

- by Pastor Rick
If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email Pastor Rick at Rick@PastorRick.com and let him know about it. He’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

Promise for Today - It's a Gift

Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.

1 Peter 4:10 (GNT)

Do you know what purpose God created you for? Do you know what your destiny is? Part of understanding your purpose is recognizing the gifts God has given you to use.

These gifts are part of the cards you’re dealt in life. They include the things you can’t control, like who your parents are, where you were born, and your background. They also include your SHAPE - Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. These are the things that make you uniquely you.

You’re responsible for making the most of these God-given gifts. But you’re not responsible for the gifts God didn’t give you. In other words, if you are not artistically gifted, you are not expected to paint pictures like Rembrandt. If you’re not mechanically-minded, God likely won’t call you to bless your elderly neighbor with oil changes.

But God does expect you to use your own gifts for the good of others: “Each one, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God” (1 Peter 4:10 GNT).

When you get to heaven, God isn’t going to compare you with anyone else, but he will compare you with yourself. What did you do with what you were given? What could you have done if you had trusted God a little bit more? Romans 14:12 says, “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (NIV).

The Old Testament tells the story of Esther, a Hebrew woman who became queen and rescued her people. She had three assets that God gave her to fulfill her destiny. She was intelligent, was physically beautiful, and had an engaging personality. Because of these qualities, “Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her... She won [the king’s] favor and approval ... So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen” (Esther 2:15, 17 NIV).

God gave Esther specific gifts for a purpose. In the same way, God has given you gifts for a purpose. And just like Esther, you have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts - not for selfish uses but for the good of others.

God used Esther’s gifts to save the Hebrew people from a potentially murderous king. How might God use your gifts to benefit other people?

Talk It Over

To know your destiny, you need to know your God-given gifts. Make a list of those gifts, including things like your family, your culture, and your SHAPE (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences).

Look at the list you just made. Ask yourself: “What things on this list does God want me to start using for the good of other people?”

Remember, you’re responsible for your own gifts, not the gifts of other people. What are some practical ways to stop comparing yourself to others?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           You are the source of every gift and talent within us. Open our hearts to see how we can use these gifts to serve others, glorify You, and bring comfort, hope, and healing to those in need.
         Lord Jesus, You multiplied the loaves and fishes so that others might be fed — multiply the impact of the gifts You've given us so they may be instruments of Your love and grace. Help us to recognize the unique abilities You have entrusted to us, and to use them not for our own glory, but to uplift others and to honor Your Name.  
     Grant us wisdom, discernment, and courage to act in ways that align with Your will. Let the talents be a living testimony of Your work in our lives, inspiring others to discover and use their own gifts for service. Teach us to serve with humility, love, and faithfulness, as faithful stewards of God’s grace. We want the gifts to be channels of Your peace, Your healing, and Your encouragement. May we always choose to use the abilities You've given us to build up others, to meet their needs, and to reflect Your light in the world. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - You Look Just Like...

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. 

 Romans 8:29 (MSG)

From the very beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like his Son, Jesus. God announced this intention at creation: “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image and likeness’” (Genesis 1:26 NCV). In all of creation, only human beings are made in God’s image. It’s a great privilege—and it gives you dignity.

What does it mean to be made in God’s image? It’s one of those concepts that’s too big to fully understand, but here’s some of what it means:

• Like God, you are a spiritual being. Your spirit is immortal and will outlast your earthly body.
• You are intellectual. You can think, reason, and solve problems.
• You are relational. You can give and receive real love.
• You have a moral consciousness. You can discern right from wrong, which makes you accountable to God.

But there’s a problem: The image of God in you is incomplete and has been damaged and distorted by sin. So God sent Jesus on a mission to restore the full image that you - and everyone else ever born - have lost. What does the full “image and likeness” of God look like? It looks like Jesus Christ!

The Message paraphrase says: “God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. ...We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him” (Romans 8:29).

The Bible says Jesus is “the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT), “the visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15 NLT), and “the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV). Jesus is God!

People often use the phrase “like father, like son” to refer to family resemblance. When people see my likeness in my kids, it pleases me. In the same way, God wants his children to bear his image and likeness. The Bible says you were “created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” 

(Ephesians 4:24 NLT).

Live like an image bearer today so that when people look at you, they’ll think of how much you’re like your heavenly Father!

Talk It Over

In what ways are you striving to become more like Christ?

What are some ways people would say you already resemble Christ?

What Christ-like characteristics do you want to start developing in your life?
- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Shape our thoughts to be pure, our words to be gentle, and our actions to be filled with love. Let Your compassion flow through us, Your truth guide us, and Your peace rest upon us. May our lives reflect Your light so others see You in all we do. Teach us patience, kindness, and forgiveness, even when it’s hard. Help us to serve without seeking recognition, and to love without limits. Today and every day, make us more like You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - As Unto the Lord

Guest author: Christopher Glotzbach

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“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Colossians 3:23

We put an offer on a house, had it accepted, listed our current home, and then had to renegotiate our accepted offer. Needless to say, there’s a lot up in the air right now! But in the middle of all the uncertainty, we’ve continued working on our house and trusting the Lord with the outcome.

When we first bought our home, we had a pretty serious hard water problem. Everything was turning yellow! We eventually installed a whole-house water filtration system, but even that couldn’t undo some of the stains left behind in our sinks.

One thing our realtor recommended was trying to get those rust stains out before selling. The funny thing is, we had just gotten used to how everything looked. But over the last week, I’ve spent COUNTLESS hours scrubbing showers, bathtubs, toilets, and sinks, trying to get rid of those stains.
And if I’m honest, my flesh started asking, “Why am I working this hard to make this house look so nice when I might not even be here much longer?”

And then came the check in my spirit.

 
What would it look like to finish extremely well? To sprint through the finish line. Instead of throwing in the towel (literally), what if I prayed a blessing over the person or family who will eventually move into our home? What if I worked hard to prepare a place for them, even if they never knew the hours I spent or the prayers I prayed?

I think we’re all tempted to check out when things get hard, when we’re tired, or when we start believing our decisions won’t really matter in the long run. But life is so much bigger than ourselves.  Sometimes, faithfulness looks like doing the little things well, even when no one is watching.  Sometimes, serving God means serving people we may never meet. Praying over situations for which we never know the outcomes. 

And sometimes, the Lord uses something as ordinary as scrubbing a bathtub to expose something in our hearts that needs to change.

So here’s my challenge for you today:
Where are you tempted to believe the lie that it doesn’t matter what you do?
Maybe it’s at work.
Maybe it’s in a relationship.
Maybe it’s in a season of life you’re ready to leave behind.

Don’t check out. Don’t throw in the towel. FINISH STRONG!

Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:23:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
That verse hit a little differently this week. Maybe the next owners of our home will never know the work we put in or the prayers we prayed over them. They may never know how much we cared about preparing this place for their next chapter. But God sees it. And that’s enough.

I want to live in such a way that everything I do is done unto Him.
Not for recognition.
Not because I’ll get something out of it.
Not because it’s convenient.
But because I love Him, and I want my life to reflect that love in the way I serve others.

My prayer today:

Lord, thank You for the gift of serving You by serving others.
Forgive me when I’m tempted to make everything about me.
Help me walk in humility, valuing the needs of others and looking for opportunities to bless people, even when I may never see the fruit of my efforts.
Remind me that You see everything and that when I work as unto You, it is never in vain.
Help me finish well in every season, trusting You with what comes next. In Jesus' Name

And, Lord, if You wouldn’t mind helping us sell our house quickly, that would be great too. 
We love You! 

Promise for Today = Gifts of Purpose

There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (GW)

If you’re like most people, you struggle to know the unique calling God has for your life. But once you understand the gifts he gives you - and the abilities he’s given specifically to you - you can begin pursuing the plans he’s called you to.

The moment you step across the line and put your faith in Christ, God gives you four major gifts:

Forgiveness. 

Romans 5:15 says, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ” (NLT). When you put your faith in Jesus, the first thing he does is wipe out everything you’ve ever done wrong. You are forgiven! There is no condemnation.

Eternal life. 

God has long-range plans for you. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV). You’re never going to work your way or earn your way into heaven. The only way you’ll ever get into heaven is by God’s free gift that you accept by faith.

The Holy Spirit. 

Romans 5:5 says, “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (NIV). How do you know when you’re letting God live through your life? When you embody the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Special abilities. 

In the Bible, these special abilities are called spiritual gifts. They are different from material or physical gifts. They’re the abilities you need to do the job that God wants you to do. Most people who are believers don’t even know they have spiritual gifts, much less what those gifts are. But if you’re a follower of Jesus, you do have them!

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person” (GW).

God has a purpose for your life, and your spiritual gifts are the tools he gives you to do what he asks. Remember: God will never ask you to do something he doesn’t give you the ability to do!

Talk It Over

When you become a Christian, God gives you forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, eternal life, and special abilities. Which of those gifts do you think about most often? Which do you tend to forget? Why?

What special gifts has God given you? How have you seen him use those gifts in the body of Christ?

When have you benefited from other Christians using their spiritual gifts?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         You are the giver of every good and perfect gift. You formed us with intention, weaving purpose into every part of our being. We come before You with an open heart, asking for Your light to shine on the gifts You have placed within us. Reveal to us the talents, passions, and spiritual gifts that You have entrusted to us. Remove any doubt or fear that clouds our understanding, and replace it with wisdom, courage, and discernment. Guide our steps so that we may use these gifts to serve others, bring hope, and glorify Your name. Align our hearts with Your will, so that our purpose is not just known, but lived out daily in love, humility, and faith.  
      Thank You for creating us with intention and for calling us into a life that matters. Lead us to use these gifts to serve others and glorify You. We trust that as we seek You, You will make our path clear. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Bring Out the Best

The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others - ignoring God! - harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. 

Galatians 6:7-8 (MSG)

Selfishness destroys relationships. It is the number one cause of conflict, arguments, divorce, and even war. James 4:1 says, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (NIV). Every trouble starts because of self-centeredness.

It’s very easy for selfishness to enter relationships. When you first start a relationship, you work hard at being unselfish. But as time goes on, selfishness begins to creep in. People often put more energy into starting and building relationships than they do in maintaining them.

If selfishness destroys relationships, then selflessness is what makes them grow. What does selflessness mean? It means less of “me” and more of “you.” It means thinking of others more than you think of yourself and putting other people’s needs before your own. As Philippians 2:4 says, “Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others” (CSB).

Selflessness brings out the best in people. It builds trust in relationships. In fact, if you start acting selflessly in a relationship, the other person changes too; when you’re selfless, you’re not the same person anymore, so they have to relate to you in a different way.

I’ve seen it many times. Some of the most unlovable people, those who no one wants to be around, are often transformed when someone is kind and selfless toward them. When someone is given what they need - not what they deserve - they change in beautiful ways.

This is the biblical principle of sowing and reaping. What you sow, you’re going to reap. When you sow selflessness, you reap God’s blessing. This is how he’s wired the universe: The more unselfish you are, the more he blesses you. He wants you to become like him, and he is unselfish. Everything you have is a gift from God, a result of his unselfishness toward you.

So while you’re here on this earth, you’ll be most fulfilled when you give yourself away. Jesus said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it” (Mark 8:35 NLT).

Talk It Over

What is one of the hardest things for you to give to someone else? (Maybe it’s your time, your money, or your emotional resources.)

How can you practice giving that thing away this week?

In what ways have you seen God bless you when you are unselfish?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          In moments when we are tempted to seek only our own desires, grant us the wisdom to remember the needs of others and the eyesight to see them. Help us to embrace selflessness and to serve with a generous heart. May our prayers align with Your will, bringing forth love and compassion for all Your children. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Growing

Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

John 12:26 (NLT)

Jesus talked a lot about being a “disciple.” If you’re a believer, that’s probably a word you hear a lot too.

But what did Jesus mean when he used the word disciple? To be a disciple, you must spend time with Jesus. In any relationship, the more time you invest, the more you’re going to get out of it. It’s true in your relationship with Jesus too. You can’t be a part-time disciple; it’s a full-time responsibility.

Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me” (John 12:26 NLT).

This verse teaches three things about spiritual growth.

First, spiritual growth is a choice. 

The verse starts off, “Anyone who wants to serve me. . .” God won’t force growth on you, and it won’t come automatically. You have to want and choose to serve him—to be his disciple.

If you feel distant from God, it’s not because he’s moved away. He’s always right there, inviting you to draw near to him. You have the choice to draw closer to him or to move away.

Second, spiritual growth is a commitment. 

Jesus said that his disciples “must follow” him. After you’ve made the choice to grow, you “must” follow through with commitment! You grow by making commitments. Getting married is a commitment that makes you grow up. So is having kids, or taking on a new job, or pursuing an education. Anytime you make a commitment, you grow. That includes when you commit to being Jesus’ disciple.

Third, spiritual growth is a relationship. 

Jesus said, “My servants must be where I am.” It’s not about rules. It’s not about rituals. It’s not about a formula. It’s not about a bunch of expectations. It’s about being with Jesus.

Obviously, Jesus isn’t here physically today. So how can you be with him? A great way is by having an ongoing conversation with him. Those can be quick prayers as you’re talking to someone at work, cleaning your house, or driving a car. As you do this over time, you will hear God speaking back to you, by filling your mind with truth and putting impressions in your heart.

Are you ready to start growing as a disciple of Jesus? It’s simple to get started: Just spend time with him.

Talk It Over

What usually comes to mind when you hear the word disciple? How has today’s devotional changed that?

When have you grown by making a new commitment?

What one change can you make to start spending more time with Jesus this week?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Help us to be wholly and steadfastly committed to You, so that our hearts, minds, and actions are always aligned with Your will and love. Help us to grow in the awareness that You are our sustenance and our only true source of strength. Give us the grace to rest in Your strength, to rely on Your wisdom, and to yield to Your instructions at all times. Remove anything that keeps us from You, and strengthen our resolve to stay faithful, even when life is hard or distractions arise. Let our commitment to You be unwavering, our trust in You deeper, and our love for You greater each day. We will not turn back from the path of righteousness. Help us to press on in obedience and devotion until the end. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Skilled Empathy

We must bear the ‘burden’ of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others.

Romans 15:2 (TLB)

Listening is probably the most important skill in building friendships and relationships. You can’t love people without listening to them.

But sometimes people run into trouble in their relationships when they think hearing and listening are the same thing. The truth is that there’s a big difference between hearing someone and listening to them.

You can hear something and not really be listening. I can’t tell you how many arguments I’ve had with my kids or my wife because I was hearing the words but not really listening to the emotions. Sometimes the words don’t even matter. Someone can say to you, “I’m fine,” but the way they say it tells you that they’re not fine. Listening means you also hear what the person isn’t saying.

When you listen that way, you’re showing empathy. Empathy means to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and learn their point of view. You ask yourself, “How would I feel if I were in that situation?”

Listening with empathy means you listen without interruption and you listen for what’s not being said—the feelings and fears behind the words. And you don’t need to try to fix the situation. In fact, sometimes healing comes just from someone listening!

Romans 15:2 says, “We must bear the ‘burden’ of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others” (TLB).

What does it mean to be considerate or to bear the burden of someone else’s doubts? It means that, when people are in so much pain that they don’t even know what they believe, they need the devotion of a loyal friend. They need someone who will be present and listen with empathy.

Will you be that friend today?

Talk It Over

How can you show someone through your body language that you are really listening?

What is the benefit of asking, “How would I feel if I were in that situation?”

What are some ways you can limit interruptions and distractions when you are trying to listen to someone?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          In the noise of daily life, we come before You seeking the gift of an open heart. Quiet the chatter within us, and open the gates of our soul to truly listen to those who cross our path.  Grant us the serenity to set aside judgment and preconceptions, so we may be fully present. Help us to hear the words, the emotions, and the unspoken needs of others, and to respond with compassion and empathy.
Let our friendship be a sanctuary where people feel safe to share their stories. Thank You for the opportunity to connect deeply through listening. Help us to be better at it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Pride Kills Relationships

Be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves.

Philippians 2:3 (NCV)

Pride destroys relationships. It shows up in a lot of different forms, like criticism, competition, stubbornness, and superficiality.

The problem with pride is that it’s self-deceiving. When you have too much pride, you don’t see it in your life—but everyone else does!  Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride leads to destruction; a proud attitude brings ruin” (NCV). I love that same verse in The Message paraphrase: “First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.”

While pride destroys relationships, humility serves as its antidote, and relationships are built instead. Our verse for today, Philippians 2:3 tells you how to combat pride by choosing humility: “Be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves” (NCV). 1 Peter 3:8 gives more details: “Everyone must live in harmony, be sympathetic, love each other, have compassion, and be humble” (GW).

How do you grow in humility? You let Jesus Christ begin to control your thoughts, heart, attitude, and reactions. Ephesians 4:23-24 says, “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person” (CEV).

The basic law of relationships is this: You tend to become like the people you spend time with. If you spend time with grumpy people, you get grumpier. If you spend time with happy people, you get happier. If you want to become a new, humbler person, you need to spend time with Jesus Christ, because he is humble. By building a relationship with him through prayer and reading his Word, you’ll get to know him and become more like him.

Philippians 2:5-6 says it like this: “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to” (NLT).

Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. He came from heaven to earth to become a man, live for you, give his life for you, and be resurrected for you. When you spend time with him, it makes you humble. That humility, in turn, builds your relationships.

Talk It Over

What characteristics and habits do the humble people in your life display?

What does it look like to give more honor to others than to yourself (as Philippians 2:3 teaches)?

In what ways do you think God’s Spirit needs to change the way you think to make you more like Jesus?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer by Faith&Forward

Introduction: Prayers to Overcome Pride and Walk in Humility is a powerful collection of targeted prayers designed to help you approach God's throne with confidence and faith. These prayer points are rooted in Scripture and crafted to address specific areas of need in your spiritual journey.

Prayer is our direct line of communication with the Father, and when we pray according to His will, we can be confident that He hears us. Use these prayer points as a guide, but also allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into deeper intercession as you pray.

Prayer Points:

Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness and loving-kindness.

Lord, let Your will be done in this situation as it is in heaven.

I surrender every concern to You and trust in Your perfect plan.

Father, give me the grace to walk in obedience to Your word.

Lord, let Your favor go before me and make my path straight.

I receive Your peace that surpasses all understanding.

Lord, let Your glory be revealed through this situation.

Father, I give You all the praise and honor for what You are doing.

I stand on Your word and believe for complete victory.

Lord, help me to be a blessing to others through this testimony.

Father, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done.

I reject every lie of the enemy and embrace Your truth.

Lord, fill me fresh with Your Holy Spirit today.

Father, order my steps and lead me in Your righteousness.

I claim every promise You have spoken over my life.

Lord, let my life bring glory to Your name.

Father, give me a heart of gratitude in every circumstance.

I decree that goodness and mercy shall follow me.

Lord, connect me with the right people at the right time.

Lord, I ask for Your divine wisdom and guidance in every decision.

Father, strengthen my faith and help me trust You completely.

Father, let this prayer produce lasting fruit in my life.

I declare that Your promises over my life shall come to pass.

Lord, remove every hindrance in me and let Your purpose be fulfilled.

Father, thank You for hearing and answering my prayers.

Closing Declaration: Father, I thank You for hearing my prayers today. I believe that even as I have prayed, You are already at work on my behalf. I receive Your answers by faith and declare that nothing is impossible for You. Let Your Name be glorified in my life as these prayers come to pass. In Jesus' Name, we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Five Minutes

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

When you’re going through a season of great change and stress, how do you maintain joy? You do it by developing the habit of thanking God for all that’s good, despite all that’s bad.

This principle is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Be thankful IN all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT). This means that we should develop an attitude of gratitude in every situation. It doesn't mean that we have to be thankful for everything that happens to us, especially the bad things like cancer or car accidents. We don’t have to be thankful for all the evil in the world.

But every time you take a minute to express gratitude to God about anything—it could be your favorite music, a spot in nature, or Scripture—it helps refill your empty emotional tank so you can move forward in life. Choosing to be thankful is for your own good; it keeps you from becoming bitter and helps you to finish strong.

Being grateful is easy when your emotional tank is full and things are going great. It’s much harder to find something to be thankful for when you're facing a crisis or prolonged chronic stress. But that’s when you need to express gratitude the most.

The story of Job is a great example of gratitude during hard times. He was a wealthy and successful man, but he lost everything in a single day. He didn't know why it all happened to him, and he had every reason to be angry and bitter. Despite this, he continued to trust God. Even in his darkest moment, he fell to the ground and worshiped God, saying, “May the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21 NIV).

One of the most practical yet powerful habits you can develop is to make a daily gratitude list. Just sit down for five minutes each day and ask yourself, "What am I grateful for?” It’s a habit that will strengthen your soul and keep you going when you feel like giving up.

Even in our darkest moments, we can follow Job's example and gratefully worship God, knowing that his will for us is to give thanks in all circumstances.

Talk It Over

What does having a grateful attitude reveal about your belief in a good God?

What are some things you have taken for granted that you can start thanking God for today?

When has an attitude of gratitude given you the strength to get through a hard time?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           We come before You with hearts full of gratitude for Your unending goodness and mercy. Thank You for the gift of life, for the breath in our lungs, the strength in our body, and the clarity in our minds.  Thank You for the light of day, the shelter of home, the love of family, and the countless small and great blessings that surround us.
       Even in moments of challenge, we choose to see Your hand at work, trusting that You are good, faithful, and present. Thank You for Your patience, Your compassion, and Your constant presence. Forgive us for times when we have been slow to thank You, and renew our hearts to focus on You alone. Lord, help us to live each moment with a thankful spirit, to reflect Your love in our words and actions, and to find joy in Your presence. May our gratitude be a constant prayer, not just on special days, but in all circumstances. We give You praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen

Promise for Today - Changing My Want To...

Note: Sorry for missing 2 days - lawn guy cut the Internet connection. :(

You are my friends if you do what I command.

John 15:14 (NLT)

You can’t say you love Jesus and then go live like the devil. You can’t say you’re a Christian and then keep living a self-centered life. You can’t say you’re a follower of Jesus and then pick and choose the verses that you want to listen to and ignore the ones you don’t. Jesus says you’re his friend if you obey him and his commandments.

Why do Christians obey God? Nonbelievers get this wrong all the time. They say, “I don’t want to be a Christian, because I don’t want to obey God. You believers obey him out of guilt or fear or obligation, and I don’t want that for my life.”

But why do we really obey God? The Truth is because he loves us! He wants the best for us. He loves you like nobody else will ever love you.

The Bible says the only reason there’s love in the world is because God is love. We don’t obey God out of fear or guilt or obligation. We obey God out of love—because he loved us and saved us.

When I was a kid in high school, a guy came up to me and said, “You’re restricted.” I said, “What do you mean?” He said, “Because you’re a Christian. You can’t do any of the fun stuff the rest of us do.”

I looked him in the eye and said, “I could take all the drugs I want to take. I could get stoned all I want to get stoned. I could drink all I want to drink. I could go to all the parties I want to go to. I could be in as many relationships as I want. But here’s the difference: Jesus changed my want to.”

I didn’t want to do those things then. I don’t want to do those things now. They are cheap, phony thrills that give a temporary kick to life, but then they kick back. They may look like freedom, but they don’t last. They lead to despair, not dignity; they end in depression, not delight.

Jesus said, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. . . . When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:9-11 NLT).

God doesn’t want you to obey him because you’re afraid of him. He doesn’t want you to obey him because you’re scared of punishment. God wants you to obey him because of love. It’s his love that leads to true joy.

Talk It Over

When have you obeyed someone (perhaps a parent, teacher, or boss) out of fear? When have you obeyed out of love? What were the differences in those relationships?

As you’ve grown in your love for God, how has he changed your desires?

How have you experienced joy through loving obedience to God?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         We humbly ask for hearts that are willing to follow Your will. Remove every trace of stubbornness and resistance within us. Soften our spirit to embrace Your Word, even when it’s difficult. Help us to surrender fully, that our desires may align with Yours. Change our hearts, Lord, and make us open to Your instructions. Let obedience become our joy and not a burden. Mold us into the person You desire us to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen