Promise for Today - You Be You

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

Proverbs 14:30 (CEV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Talk It Over

What do you enjoy about your life right now?

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

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

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

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

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

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

Philippians 2:14 (TLB)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 
Talk It Over

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

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

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

Want the security of God’s unbreakable promises?

Just pray this simple prayer: 

Father,

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

-all by Pastor Rick

Promise for Today - No Grapes

Guest Author - Christopher Glotzbach

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

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

We call this the cheese tax.

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

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

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

This is his way of asking for something.

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

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

“God, look at me!”

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

“Where’s my reward!?”

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

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

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

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

Thankfully — He was okay.

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

Because I love him.

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

It’s changed a lot for me.

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

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

Here’s my prayer today:

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

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

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

Promise for Today - Getting Over

My cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. 

Psalm 23:5-6 (NIV)

Is your life overflowing? If you’re like most people, it may be overflowing—but not with goodness. So many people have overbooked their calendars, overspent their money, overdrawn their credit, overloaded their emotions, overworked their bodies, overcrowded their days, and overvalued the approval of others. As a result, they wind up overstressed, overanxious, and overwhelmed—and they’re over it! They are far from experiencing the goodness of God.

Why do we do let ourselves get overextended? Often the fear of missing out motivates us to do more. But the truth is you’re not missing out on anything when you rest in the goodness and provision of God.

God wants to move you from being overwhelmed to overflowing. He wants to meet all your needs—and he can! First, you need to recognize two fundamentally different approaches to life that either keep you from God’s abundance or bring you into God’s abundance: a shortage mindset and a surplus mindset.

With a shortage mindset, you constantly think, “I don’t have enough time. I don’t have enough money. I don’t have enough energy or contacts or opportunities or knowledge or education.” It’s the sense that you’re always a day late and a dollar short. A shortage mindset focuses on your limited resources, and the result is an overwhelmed life.

A surplus mindset focuses on God’s limitless resources, and the result is an overflowing life.

Have you ever worried that the person breathing next to you is stealing your air? Of course not. You know that God created more than enough air for everybody to have all they need.

The Bible includes words like abundance, plentiful, abounding, and bountiful to describe what God has to offer you. God has more than enough to meet all your needs and everybody else’s needs at the same time.

The Message paraphrase tells us what Jesus said: “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of” (John 10:10).

You don’t have to worry about running short of anything, because God is the source of your life. He wants to fill you with an endless supply of his goodness, joy, blessing, hope, and peace, so you’re able to say, “My cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:5-6 NIV).

Talk It Over

What perspectives or emotions reflect a shortage mindset?

How does a surplus mindset produce peace in your life?

Why do we so often worry about how much others have instead of focusing on God’s abundant provision in our own lives?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          In the middle of all the noise, pressure, and concerns around us, we need Your peace. Our hearts long for calm and our minds long for quiet. Please fill our thoughts with Your presence. Replace stress with stillness and worry with trust. Help us remember that You are near in every moment. When we start to feel overwhelmed again, remind us to return to You in prayer. Help us release our burdens instead of trying to carry them alone. Your peace is greater than every problem we face. Let that peace guard our hearts and guide our decisions today. No matter what challenges appear, help us walk forward with confidence that You are beside us. Thank You for being our Refuge and our Strength. In Jesus' Name we pray.
Amen.

Promise for Today - Wanna Wrestle?

I will not let you go unless you bless me.

Genesis 32:26 (NIV)

When God blessed Jacob, he promised to give him land, multiply his family, make him a mighty nation, and use him to bless the world. He made Jacob and his family God’s chosen people.

But just like he does with you today, God gave Jacob a promise and then tested his faith in that promise.

In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled with God all night long in a struggle that tested his patience, faith, and trust. Then God touched Jacob’s hip and injured it, putting him at a serious disadvantage. Jacob was hurt and exhausted, and yet at dawn he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me”.

Isn't that an interesting thing to say to somebody you're wrestling with? At some point during that all-night struggle, Jacob became aware that this was no ordinary opponent. He was wrestling with God. And so, Jacob refused to let go, knowing that God could bless him.

Maybe you feel like you’re wrestling with God right now, and the struggle is lasting way too long. Maybe you don’t want to do the things God has told you to do, like be generous or obey his rules for sex or be kind to your enemies.

The very God you’re wrestling with is the one who gives you your dream for your life. He's the one who will make it happen! God’s not trying to thwart your dream—he’s getting you ready for it. Your struggle will build your stamina, deepen your patience, and increase your resilience.

Your wrestling match will also bring you to the point of commitment. At the very moment when you think it’s time to give up, you need to turn to God and say, “I’m in this struggle as long as it takes for you to do your good work in me and bless me.”

That kind of response to God’s test shows you’re ready for his anointing on your life.

Talk It Over

What things in your life do you think God wants to bless? What things are keeping you from his blessing?

How does God help you when you commit to his work in your life, even when it is painful?

Do you want God’s anointing on your life? Why or why not?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         We confess to You that sometimes our worries seem too big. We don’t see an end to our current situation, and Your timing seems different than what we would have chosen. But we know and believe that no matter how much we’ve struggled, You alone can see the big picture. And we praise You, that You are with us in it all. Help us to hear Your voice through the difficult days. Help us to set our eyes on You alone. Help us to keep moving in the direction You are leading us. Thank You for Your reminders that through every weakness and hard place, Your strength is displayed in beautiful ways through our lives. We can’t do it on our own, Lord. We’re so freshly aware of that. But You can work Your great miracles in us, and through us.
         Thank You that this battle will never have the final say over our lives. And that because of Your power and compassion, we will come through to the other side, with greater perseverance, stronger faith, and deeper awareness of Your presence with us. Thank You that You are fighting for us, and will bring us out as gold. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Impossible Possibles

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV)

God never tells you to do something without providing what you need to do it. Anointing is a sign that he is equipping and empowering you to fulfill an assignment he’s given you.

Do you want God’s resurrection power to work through your life? Then you need to understand what it means to have his anointing. To understand God’s anointing, you need to keep a few things in mind.

1. When God says to do it, you can count on his anointing. Jesus’ last assignment to his disciples was impossible. There was no way they could take the gospel to the ends of the earth—except through his power. God will often give you an assignment that looks physically impossible, but he will make it possible.

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV).

2. God’s anointing makes difficult tasks easier. Your resources, energy, knowledge, wisdom, and talent are all limited—but God is not. With God’s anointing, you can handle things better, last longer, and go farther.

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources [God] will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit” (Ephesians 3:16 NLT).

3. God’s anointing makes the impossible possible. In your business, marriage, health, and relationships, you’re going to come up against seemingly insurmountable problems. God is a competent Father. No problem is beyond his ability to provide.

“What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27 NIV).

4. God anoints your life to bless others. Jesus came to comfort the afflicted, broken-hearted, and those who are enslaved to bad habits. And he anoints you to comfort others as well.

Acts 10:38 is paraphrased in The Message this way: “Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.”

5. For every new challenge, you need renewed power from God. Anointing by the Holy Spirit can’t be stored up. You can’t handle today’s problems with yesterday’s anointing.

Stay in touch with God so that he can constantly fill you with his grace, love, and power. James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask God” (NIV). Ask for God’s anointing again!

Talk It Over

If you believed God wanted to bless your life, what would you ask of him?

Do you try to accomplish your tasks based on your own power or God’s power? What difference does it make?

In what ways do you see how God has anointed you, or equipped you, to fulfill whatever assignment he has given you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

         We come humbly, yet boldly to Your throne of Grace seeking fresh anointing to cleanse, refill, and align us with Your will for our lives. Let the anointing oil break off the spiritual dryness and dullness that has crept in. Lord, we need Your anointing to operate with Your power and boldness so that we may fulfill our assignments with excellence. Let Your anointing separate us from every distraction and empty pursuit, and draw us deeper into Your presence and purpose. Renew the gifts You have placed inside of us, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Powerful Weakness

Guest author - Christopher Glotzbach 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

You need help.

Those are words I have a hard time believing… and an even harder time receiving.

But something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is this:
When I receive help, I’m not just allowing someone to help me — I’m giving them an opportunity to bless. And when I refuse help, sometimes I unintentionally hinder someone else from living out the way God created them. 

The other day during a workout, I was on the ground (yes, on purpose ) trying to get a weight onto my lap so I could do some glute bridges. I was struggling. Like… really struggling. Before I knew it, a woman from the gym came over and offered to help me lift the plate into position.

Now, I’m pretty hardheaded… I mean, determined … so I was still fighting to get it myself.
She offered again and I looked at her and said: “No, I’m okay.”  She walked away, and I could tell she looked a little confused. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I wondered if my refusal didn’t only communicate, “I don’t need help,” but maybe even, “I don’t need you.” And that bothered me.

After my workout, I found her and apologized. But honestly, the whole thing felt awkward.
And the reality is… it didn’t have to be.
How much harder would it have been to simply say, “Yes, thank you”?
I could have humbled myself, accepted help and given someone else the opportunity to serve...

But

The reason I said no wasn’t because I didn’t need help. It was because of pride. 

And that moment has had me thinking: 

How often do I refuse help from people who genuinely want to help me? 

Over the last week, I’ve challenged myself to say yes more often. And you know what I’ve discovered? Something really beautiful happens when we allow people to lean in. We give people the opportunity to live out the way God created them. Because we weren’t created to live independently from one another. We were created to serve, encourage, carry burdens, to give ourselves away, practice hospitality.  It’s the mission of Christ through us. 

That’s part of what it means to die to ourselves.
And sometimes my refusal to receive isn’t humility — it’s actually pride. Because when I refuse help, I’m not only trying to prove I can do it on my own… I may be keeping someone else from experiencing the joy of serving.

And I wonder how often we do the same thing with God. How often is the Lord offering us help — giving us peace, wisdom, strength, or direction — and we respond: “No, I’m okay.” How often do we rely on our own strength instead of receiving His?

The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul says: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Maybe weakness isn’t something we need to hide.
Maybe weakness is an invitation to experience God’s power — and the blessing of others.
Because when people are generous with their time, talent and treasure, it makes us want to be generous in the same way. Right?!

 
So today my prayer is this:
Lord, 

       Help me stay humble and open to receive help. Remind me that when I accept help, I’m not just receiving a blessing — I’m allowing someone else to be a blessing. Help me stop trying to prove I can do everything on my own. Help me boast in my weakness, knowing that Your power is made perfect in my need. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Banquet On the Battlefield

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

Psalm 23:5 (NIV)

King David knew what it meant to be attacked emotionally, verbally, and physically. As a young man, he was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king of Israel, but Saul was still king and decided to kill him. David had to hide from Saul in caves while lies were being told about him across the kingdom. Yet David never retaliated, because God was preparing him to be a king who followed God’s heart.

David said of God, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5 NIV). Does it sound like David was stressed out? No! He didn’t have to use up all his energy defending himself, because he trusted God to be his defender.

It takes a lot of faith and humility to trust God and rest when you’re under attack, when you’re misunderstood, and when rumors are spreading about you. When that happens, everything in you wants to rise up and do something about it. 

How do you handle people who attack you? You don’t. You let God handle them. Trust God to be your defender.

Not only does God want to defend you, but he also wants to fellowship with you. The Message paraphrases Psalm 5:11 this way: “You’ll welcome us with open arms when we run for cover to you. Let the party last all night! Stand guard over our celebration.”

Both Psalm 23 and Psalm 5 paint the picture of a banquet, or a party, at an unlikely time—not just when good times are happening but when you’re under attack.

If you’re in the heat of the battle right now, God knows about it. Maybe you’re fighting for your job, your health, your sanity, or your dignity. While the battle is going on, God wants to throw a banquet for you to offer just a little encouragement.

God wants to host a banquet on a battlefield. That kind of encouragement is available to you today when you surrender your worry, pain, and control to Jesus and rest in his promises to you.

If you’re a child of God, your heavenly Father is proud of you. Critics may spite you, slander you, ignore you, ridicule you, or libel you, but they can’t stop God’s blessing on your life.

As the Bible says, “He brought me to his banquet hall and raised the banner of love over me” 

Song of Solomon 2:4 GNT.

Talk It Over

What battle are you in right now? What opposition is staring you down?

What will you have to let go of in order to surrender your defense to God?

How does resting during a battle help you fight better?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

         Arise, O Lord, and defend Your people. Lead us swiftly through the valley of the shadow of death. Come as a pillar of fire and illuminate our path to make it away from hostility and lead us into Your land of promise. Shield us from the plots of the wicked who would cut us off from Your life-giving grace. Instead, let us dwell in Your courts and grow in our holiness through Christ. 
     Keep our souls pure and washed clean by the blood of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Guard the doors of our hearts that nothing unclean can enter into us or have any influence over us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Where Are You?

The Lord is nearer to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

What if you’re exactly where you need to be?

In 2026, it feels like we’re constantly being told what will make us happy. A bigger house. A nicer car. A better job. More influence. More success. That promotion. That relationship. Better neighbors. While there’s pressure from all sides, the message is always the same: “The grass is always greener...”

Monday night, a storm rolled through our house, and it hit our little garden pretty hard. Especially our jalapeños. (My favorite thing we grow.)  The wind snapped branches, flattened the plants, and, sadly, we had to remove a large section. Months of growth…Gone in one night. 
Disappointing.

It wasn’t all bad. In the next bed over, we had recently planted green beans. They hadn’t even broken through the soil yet. While the jalapeños were taking the full force of the storm, the beans rested safely beneath the surface—hidden, protected and completely out of harm's way from the wind.

As I stood there looking at both beds, I couldn’t help but wonder…

What if we spent less time wishing we were somewhere else and more time trusting God with where we are? Content.

 
Sometimes life feels like the jalapeños. The winds come. Things break. Dreams fall apart. We feel crushed by life: Devastated. When that happens, I cling to these words:
"The Lord is nearer to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
(Psalm 34:18)

The reality?
God draws nearer to us in our brokenness. Regardless of how we feel, He’s not absent in the storm. He’s especially present there.

But, man, there are other times that life feels more like the green beans. Hidden. Unseen. Waiting. Expecting. Wondering when it’s finally going to be our turn. Questions like: “Does God care about me!?” “Does God see me!?”

Maybe—just maybe—that hidden season isn’t God holding us back.
Maybe it’s His loving kindness.
Maybe He knows we’re still developing roots.
Maybe He’s protecting us from pressures we’re not ready to carry yet.

Praise God in the moments I so desperately wanted to get out of the developing season, He was kind enough to say “not yet.”

The truth is, neither season is wasted. Both are good. And maybe you’re exactly where you need to be.

 
Whether you’re weathering the storm or waiting beneath the surface — God is still at work in you. Not every season looks like it’s producing fruit. But what if the fruit it’s producing is not seen, but felt?
Like: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Written by Christopher Glotzbach, Muncie, Indiana

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
                          Whether I’m waiting for breakthrough, enjoying seasons of peace, standing in the middle of a storm, or picking up the pieces afterward, help me remain in You. Teach me to be content where You’ve planted me. Exactly where I am. Exactly how I am. Knowing I won’t be here forever.
Increase my trust that Your timing is better than mine. Keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, because You are worthy of it all. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Compassion: Anything It Takes

I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

John 10:10-11 (GW)

What's in our hearts often determines what we feel when we look at people. When we see a crowd, we can easily get irritated or impatient. But when Jesus saw a crowd, “he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 ESV).

That's the same way God looks at you: with compassion. Remember: He doesn’t put you down. He lifts you up! No matter how angry, hurt, or betrayed you feel, Jesus will always respond with compassion. He knows how helpless we are without him, “like sheep without a shepherd.”

Without a shepherd, sheep are defenseless. They don't have any claws, they don't run fast, and their teeth are not very sharp. They need the protection of a shepherd.

Throughout the Bible, sheep are a symbol of God's people. John 10:10-11 says, “I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (GW).

That kind of compassion comes only from Jesus, our Good Shepherd. And it’s different from sympathy and empathy.

Sympathy says, “I'm sorry you're hurt,” and it stops there. Empathy is a deeper commitment that says, “I hurt with you." But compassion says, “I will do anything it takes to stop your hurt."

And that is, in essence, what Jesus did through his life, death, and resurrection. He did anything it took to stop your hurt, even if it meant dying on the cross, even if it meant having nails pounded through his hands and feet. Compassion does whatever it takes.

Jesus said the reason he came was “not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT). Notice the two words “serve” and “give.” They define what it means to follow Jesus.

Do you look at people who are hurting and helpless the way Jesus does? Are you full of love and compassion, willing to do whatever you can to stop their pain?

The Bible repeatedly tells us that when Jesus looked at people in pain, he was moved with compassion. God wants you to be like him, which means looking at others the same way.

Talk It Over

Describe a time you were moved with compassion for someone. How did your response reflect your compassion?

Do you struggle seeing God as compassionate? Why or why not?

In what areas of your life do you think God wants to build more compassion for others?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Open our hearts to see others with kindness, to listen without judgment, and to give without expecting. Let our words bring comfort and our actions reflect Your love. In Jesus' Name we pray.
Amen.

Promise for Today - Guide, Guard, Save

When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice.
John 10:4 (CEV)

God guides you. 

When you get confused or wander away, Jesus will find you and bring you back. Much like sheep, we tend to wander—and we get lost. So God sent Jesus on a search and rescue mission to save us, “to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10 NLT).

Why? Because every single one of us matters to him.

When God brings you back from wandering away from him, he will not punish you, but he may discipline you. Like a shepherd who wraps the legs of a sheep that is prone to wander, God may give you a “limp” to keep you from wandering.

God guards you. 

If you fail or fall, Jesus rescues you and sets you on the road to recovery. We not only wander, but, just like sheep, we also stumble and fall. The good news is that you can run to Jesus every time you mess up and expect him to rescue and restore you.

Jesus said, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep!” (Matthew 12:11-12 NIV). If it’s common sense to rescue an animal that stumbles, won’t God act the same way toward you when you stumble?

God saves you. 

If you trust him to save you, Jesus will keep his promise to do just that. It’s not your job to save yourself. Your job is simply to put your hand in God’s and say, “I’m all yours—the good, the bad, and the ugly.” God loves you too much to ever let you go. Jesus said it like this: “My Father gave my sheep to me. He is greater than all, and no person can steal my sheep out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:29 NCV).

When you trust in Jesus as your Savior, you’re no longer on your own. When you feel lost, confused, or like you’ve fallen into a pit, you can trust that the Good Shepherd is always there for you. He will guide you, guard you, and save you.

Talk It Over

Have you experienced God’s discipline to keep you from wandering away from him again? How would you describe his discipline?

When did God rescue you from a bad situation? In what ways did your faith change through that experience?

What does God’s promise to always come after you when you surrender to him tell you about his character?

-by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Guide our steps with Your wisdom and guard our hearts with Your peace. Keep us safe in Your care and lead us where we should go. Help us to always follow Your voice. In Jesus'' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Direct and Protect

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

John 10:10-11 (NLT)

Sheep are essentially defenseless animals, so a shepherd carries a few tools to care for and protect his sheep. He has a rod for guarding and protecting, and he uses a staff with a little crook in it to rescue the sheep.

We are like lost sheep in need of protection and direction, so Jesus came to earth to be our Good Shepherd. He said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11 NLT).

Just as a shepherd uses the physical tools of the rod and the staff for direction and protection, God wants to direct and protect you. Here are two ways he does that:

If you follow him, Jesus leads you in the right direction.
You need a guide—a shepherd—to go before you in life. You need Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who leads from the front and calls you forward. This is different from a cowboy, who drives cattle from the back. Jesus is not going to push you through life. He gets in front of you and essentially says, “Watch how I do it. Look where I go.”

John 10:4 says, “When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice” (CEV).

If you bring your hurts to him, Jesus is compassionate.
Jesus has compassion on us because he knows that we are helpless without him. Matthew 9:36 says, “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (NIV). The sense in the original Greek text is that Jesus hurt deeply for the people in the crowd and wanted to help them.

In the same way, when you bring your pain to Jesus, he doesn’t put you down; he lifts you up. He doesn’t hassle you; he heals you. Because of God’s goodness, Jesus directs and protects you. Jesus is our Good Shepherd, who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28 ESV).

Talk It Over

When have you sensed God going in front of you to lead you? In what ways did that experience grow your faith?

How have you seen Jesus’ compassion bring healing in your own life or someone else’s?

In what direction is Jesus leading you right now? In your work? Your family? Your community? Your church? Your relationships?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          We come before You with open hearts. Guide our steps so they align with Your will, and light the path when the way ahead feels uncertain. Grant us wisdom to make choices that honor You, and courage to walk in faith even when we cannot see the whole road. Cover us with Your protection - shield us from harm, guard our minds from fear, and keep our spirits anchored in Your peace.
          Surround our loved ones with Your care, and let Your presence be the constant compass that leads us safely through each day. We trust that You go before us, and walk beside us. Watch over us always. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Fear Not

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 (NLT)

What are you worried about today? The economy? Your health? Your bills? Your kids? Are you worried about the future? The fact is there are a lot of reasons to be afraid in today’s world. More than ever, we feel the stress of even everyday tasks that seem infinitely more difficult because of the state of the world. Life is just hard.

But God promises that, even in your darkest valleys, he is walking beside you.

It’s interesting to note that there are 365 verses in the Bible that say, “Fear not.” God provided us with one “Fear not” message for every day of the year! He wants us to hear the message: Don’t be afraid!

Why does God have to repeat himself so often when it comes to our worries and fears? It’s because our hurts and hang-ups can often cause us to think that God is out to get us, that all he wants to do is condemn us and punish us. But that simply isn’t true. Jesus is the proof of that.

When you understand God’s grace and mercy, then you have no need to fear the future. God isn’t trying to get even with you. Jesus has taken the penalty for everything you’ve ever done wrong or will do wrong. He paid for it on the cross. So, when a bad thing happens, you don’t have to think, “God’s getting even with me.” Instead, remember and pray this verse:“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NLT).

But you can’t just say this Scripture and then expect all your fears to go away once and for all. These are verses you will have to pray over and over again as your human nature slips back into worry. But keep praying. Keep reminding yourself of God’s promises.

They never fail!

Talk It Over

What promises from God’s Word can you claim when you’re tempted to worry about something in your life?

In what ways does God protect you?

Why should understanding Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross keep you from fearing the future?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          When our hearts are overwhelmed, overwhelm us with Your peace. Lead us to You, our Rock. Guide us to Your word, which gives us strength and refuge. Help us not to run from our pain but to trust fully in Your goodness and power to carry us through. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - A Never-ending Story

We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again . . . we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 14 (CEV)

When the future is uncertain and there is a lot of fear, it might seem like your story is coming to an end. When life seems uncertain, remember this truth: You can’t lose! You’ll win in the end, no matter what happens. Even when you lose your life, you’re going straight into the presence of God if you believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. 

And when you arrive in heaven, your story is only just beginning.

Have you ever watched a TV show where every single episode ended in a cliffhanger and left you thinking the hero might not survive? Even though it’s just a story, the tension can feel enormous. But when all the episodes from the entire series are available to stream, you don’t feel as much tension because you know the hero survives for another six seasons. When you know the series will continue, then you know each episode is not the end of the story. The hero will make it out of a tight spot and on to the next season.

That’s how your life is. Even when you’re in a difficult circumstance, you know that the tough spot isn’t the end of your story. You can live with hope in the middle of a crisis because you have an eternal perspective.

One day, when you meet Jesus in heaven, all your pain, sickness, sorrow, sadness, stress, and grief will end. Here's what you can look forward to in heaven: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" (Revelation 21:4 NIV).

This life is not the end of the story. We don't know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future.

Talk It Over

In what specific areas of your life do you need to change your focus from fear to hope?

What tools do you have to remind you of the hope of Jesus when you feel discouraged or fearful?

Why is it important for the world to see that Christians have hope and confidence, even in the midst of a crisis?

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Are you certain of where you will go when you die?
One day your life on earth will end—but your story won’t end. If Jesus is your Savior, you’ll spend eternity with him in heaven. How can you have confidence that your story will continue after you die?

The Bible says that every one of us sins and that the penalty of sin is death. But God loves you so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty of your sins, to bring you into the family of God, and to save you from the fear of death.

PRAYER:

If you’re ready to enter God’s family, here’s a prayer you can pray: “Dear God, I know that when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you directly. I confess I have ignored you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I ask you to save me. Please save me from my sins and from my fear of death. I believe in you, Jesus, and your promise to save me instantly and bring me to heaven one day to continue my story with you in eternity. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.”

If you prayed the prayer above, please write and tell me at Rick@PastorRick.com. I’d like to send you some materials as you begin your journey with Jesus.

Promise for Today - Seeing Our Way Out

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV)

When a crisis hits, you have to do the smart things necessary to get through it. You listen to God’s Word and godly advice, you make good choices, and you keep moving forward while remembering that this will pass. It’s not going to last forever!

The Living Bible paraphrases 1 Peter 4:12 this way: "Dear friends, don't be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you" (TLB).

In this world, there will be times of trial and testing. It’s guaranteed! Since sin entered the world, nothing works perfectly. Everything on this planet is broken—the weather, the economy, your body, and even your best plans. Nothing works perfectly in this life because sin broke everything on earth.

The Bible says, “The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant . . . The earth has broken up. It has utterly collapsed" (Isaiah 24:5, 19 NLT).

On earth, everything is lost, abandoned, and confused. Even nature is groaning. We may wonder why God allowed sin and evil to enter the world; it’s because God wanted us to have a choice. And we're the ones who have chosen to cause evil. We're the ones who are selfish and self-centered, causing problems in society and in our environment.

This earth is not heaven. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray the Lord's Prayer—"your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10 NIV). Heaven is a perfect place with no sorrow, sickness, sadness, or stress, but we shouldn't expect heaven on earth. One day we'll get there, but we're not there yet.

You will get through whatever trial you’re facing right now. Soon enough you will marvel at all that God did in the midst of your trouble as you look at it from the other side.

There will be more challenges to face and adversity to endure. But you can always hope in this truth: "Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV).

Talk It Over

What are some ways you hope to grow spiritually, physically, and emotionally through a current time of trial?

God does not cause bad things to happen, but he can work to redeem those bad things. How have you seen him redeem adversity in your life or in someone else’s life?

What do you place your hope in during a crisis? Is it enough to sustain you?

- by Pastor Rick
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Prayer:

Father, 

        We come before You with humble hearts, seeking solace and strength in the midst of crisis. In times of hardship, when the storms of life threaten to overwhelm us, we turn to You, the source of all comfort and grace.

In the depths of our struggles, we find refuge in Your boundless love. As we navigate the turbulent waters of uncertainty, we lean on the pillars of faith You have provided. Grant us the wisdom to recognize the lessons hidden within the challenges we face and the courage to embrace growth in adversity.

We lift up those directly impacted by crisis—whether through illness, loss, or unforeseen challenges—and surround them with Your healing light, O God. May Your comforting embrace be felt in the darkest moments, offering reassurance that even in the midst of pain, Your love prevails. Grant resilience to those at the epicenter of chaos, infusing their spirits with unwavering strength so they may stand firm against the winds of despair. May they emerge from the tempest with newfound courage, resilient like the mighty oak that withstands the fiercest storms.

In our collective efforts to manage a crisis, instill in us a spirit of unity and collaboration. Let compassion be the guiding force, inspiring acts of kindness that ripple through the tapestry of human existence. Guide the hands of those in positions of leadership so that they may navigate these challenges with wisdom, empathy, and a commitment to the greater good. Illuminate their minds to make decisions rooted in justice, equity, and compassion.

In our moments of despair, help us find solace in the power of community and connection. Let us be reminded that we are not alone in our struggles, for You have blessed us with the gift of one another. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - In the Valley

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” 

Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

You may not be in the valley of the shadow of death right now, but you may be in another valley. Valleys are the hard places on your journey, where it’s easy to doubt or overlook God’s goodness. But you can always trust that God walks through the valleys with you. And he’s promised to bring you through to the other side.

Here are three truths to remember when you are in the valley:

1. You are not alone. God is with you.
The shadows in your life are evidence of the presence of light. How do you deal with a shadow? You turn your back to the shadow and look at the light. Jesus said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life” (John 8:12 CEV).

The Bible says that God is light and that in him there is no darkness at all. You need to stop focusing on the dark things that scare you: those bills, health concerns, or worries about your children or aging parents. When you move your focus off your fears, you can focus on the Father.

2. God has a good purpose for your valley.
God can’t do evil. Even when you’re facing problems, conflict, grief, fear, or failure, God is at work, creating good from your valley.

Romans 5:3-5 says, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (ESV).

3. The reward will last forever.
You’re going to be rewarded for remaining faithful to Christ in the valley of failure, fear, conflict, grief, or trouble. You’ll be in heaven less than a minute before thinking, “Why did I worry when I was going through those valleys? God was right there with me all the time, and he was good to me all the time.”

As the Bible says, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT).

Talk It Over

What do you fear most right now? What lies are you believing that are making you so afraid?

How can you be reminded of God’s goodness when you walk through your next valley or while you finish walking through the valley you’re in right now?

Why is it important to look for the good that God is working out while you’re in your valley and not just after you’ve come through to the other side?
- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          It is written in the Gospel of John, chapter 8, verse 12, that Jesus spoke to them, saying 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.' In the midst of shadows that surround us, we seek Your light to guide our paths. Illuminate our hearts with hope and courage, dispelling the darkness that seeks to overwhelm. May Your presence be our comfort and strength, leading us to peace and clarity. Help us to shine Your light in the lives of others, reflecting Your love and grace. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Busier Than God

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127:2 (NLT)

God doesn't want you to accomplish everything all at once. He wants you to learn to pace yourself as he uses the circumstances of your life to help you mature little by little. While God is growing your business, he’s growing you. While God is growing your children, he’s growing you. While God is growing your career, he’s growing you. For you to grow, you have to learn to rest in God’s goodness.

Some people think God only smiles on them when they're working, praying, or doing “spiritual” things. But God also smiles on you when you rest.

If you’re a parent, and you’ve ever gone into your kids’ room and checked on them at night, you know the joy it gives you just to watch them sleep. Your heavenly Father enjoys watching you sleep and rest too. He created you to need rest. Even God rested! Are you busier than God?

The Living Bible paraphrase says, "Work six days only, for the seventh day is a special day to remind you of my covenant—a weekly reminder forever of my promises to the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and rested on the seventh day, and was refreshed" (Exodus 31:17).

God has taught me some things about balance—which I’ve had to learn over and over again since starting our church. Here’s what I learned: Resistance to rest is immaturity. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is the church nor anything else that is worthwhile.

Why did God rest and relax on the seventh day? It’s not because he was tired, because God doesn't get tired. He was modeling what he wants you to do: Stop work and relax. Keep a Sabbath, and rest in God’s goodness.

Talk It Over

What are your reasons for overworking at home, school, or work?

How is creating margin in your life a spiritual discipline?

Does your daily schedule reflect a priority to finish your to-do list or to grow spiritually? In what ways?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         Jesus withdrew to pray and seek solitude in Your presence. Teach us this divine rhythm, to pause and find our quiet place. As we rest in Your love, we ask for renewal and clarity. Clear our minds of clutter and fill our hearts with Your peace, so we may rise with strength and purpose, ready to face each day with grace and understanding. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Wait for It

Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there! 

Psalm 77:19 (NLT)

The Bible says God actively works through your circumstances. But you cannot judge your situation apart from God’s wisdom. In other words, you must leave it up to God to interpret your circumstances. Only God is capable of understanding all the facts, and only he sees the significance of every detail. That’s why it is so important that you use his Word to test what you’re going through.

If you feel overwhelmed or confused about a decision, it might be because you’re so caught up in your own limited way of thinking that it blocks out God’s voice. The Bible says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV). He is not the author of confusion. So if you’re feeling confused, guess what? It’s not God’s voice speaking in your life.

There will be times you come up against enormous financial, spiritual, or physical barriers. That’s when you need to confess, “God, there are mountains on either side and an impassable barrier in front of me.” And then you wait for God to respond and assure you that he’s got you exactly where he wants you to be. He will make a pathway where there seems to be no way. Psalm 77:19 says, “Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters—a pathway no one knew was there!” 

When you don’t know what to do, God will guide you. He didn’t design you to go through life on your own ingenuity and power. You don’t have to just hope you can figure things out. God wants to lead you on the right path, and he will do that when you surrender to him and his guidance.

Talk It Over

When you’re frustrated because God doesn’t seem to be answering your prayer for guidance, what do you think he wants you to do? What have you learned through those kinds of experiences in the past?

How has God used your pain to show you his purpose for your life?

Why do you think God sometimes lets you get to the point where there seems to be no way out of a difficult circumstance?

 - by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,
            Your Word tells us in Isaiah 40:31 that those who wait for You will renew their strength. Renew our strength as we wait for You, trusting You for patience, courage and peace as promised in Romans 8 and Psalm 27. Lord, You are good to those who wait for You. We ask for Your promised peace, that confusion and anxiety will not rule our thoughts; for endurance, that we will keep going without losing heart; for Your wisdom. You said we only have to ask and You will give it to us so that we will know what steps to take and what to release. Increase our measure of faith that our trust in You will grow and deepen. That Your joy in us would be our strength. Help us to not become caught up in the cares of situations that seek to erase our ability to worship You. Father, we ask all these in Jesus' Name. Amen

Promise for Today - Learning the Lessons

Hi! I'm back - on a (somewhat) limited basis. According to the doctor, complete healing is projected to take 3-6 months, but doctors practice medicine. Our Father is the Creator, the Great Physician, Jehovah Rapha, our Healer. And His Word is the final Word - 1 Peter 2:24 declares that Christ suffered the stripes on His back to pay for our healing, amen? So, if you'll bear with me, I will pick up with using other's encouraging words where I can copy and paste (with their permission) until my arms and hands are restored to full capacity for unlimited keyboard use. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes. We don't need to always understand, but we DO need to always trust Him. His plans and timing are perfect as is everything He does. And God is faithful.

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Today's comes from Pastor Christopher Glotzbach, of Muncie, IN, USA

This morning on our way home from the gym, Brittany and I pulled out behind a truck that was going 10 MPH below the speed limit.

It should be illegal to get as annoyed as I was before 6:00 AM. But if I'm being honest, I found myself in a very judgmental place. 
Thoughts like:

"This guy shouldn't be on the road."

I was a little embarrassed by how badly I wanted to lay on the horn—just to encourage him to speed up.  But again, it was 6:00 AM.

So I slowed down and tried to be okay with not getting home as quickly as I would have liked. Then we came to the first stop sign.

He came to a complete stop and then sat there for what felt like forever before moving forward. Here comes the judgment again:

"What is going on with this dude?"

At the next stop sign, we stopped under a streetlamp and for the first time I could see the bed of his truck. It was piled high with materials. Nothing was strapped down. It looked like enough lumber and supplies to build a shed.

And then I sensed the Holy Spirit whisper something that stopped me in my tracks:

"Christopher, sometimes people are carrying heavy burdens and it requires them to move at a different pace."

Man, that was convicting. How often do I pass judgment without knowing what someone else is carrying? 

The reality is that if he had driven any faster, he would have risked losing some of that load. It could have ruined the materials—or worse, hurt someone else on the road. Suddenly, my frustration turned into gratitude. Well... for a moment.

Then I caught myself thinking, "He still could have tied it down."

Apparently the sanctification process wasn't quite finished.

But because he didn't, God used a slow-moving truck to expose something in me: how quickly I can assume, judge and criticize when I don't have the full story.

And I wonder how often we do the same thing with people.

Someone seems distant.
Someone seems slow.
Someone seems distracted.
Someone seems frustrated.
And we immediately create a story about them without knowing the burdens they're carrying.

I love what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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."

What a beautiful invitation. When we're overwhelmed, burdened, exhausted, or carrying more than we should, Jesus invites us to come to Him. Not only that, He invites us to yoke ourselves to Him—to walk alongside Him and learn from Him.

And notice what He says we'll learn: Gentleness. Humility.

Those don't come naturally to me. Maybe they don't come naturally to you either. But Jesus says, "Learn from me."

So today my prayer is simple:

Jesus, teach me to be gentle and humble in heart. Teach me to stay tethered to You—not just on the hard days, but on the ordinary ones. The days when life is moving too slowly. The days when I'm frustrated. The days when I think I know what's going on in someone else's life.

Thank You for using a slow truck before 6:00 AM to remind me that I still have a long way to go in becoming more like You.

And thank You that Your grace meets me on that journey.

Amen

Promise for Today - Every Good Thing

Protect me, God, because I trust in you. I said to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord. Every good thing I have comes from you.’ 

Psalm 16:1-2 (NCV)

Not everything that happens in your life is good. But God is good—and he is pouring his goodness into your life.

Circumstances may be very difficult in your life right now, but God can take the bad and bring good out of it. Even in the worst times, you can trust this: God has a good purpose, a good plan, and a good reason. No matter where you are in life right now, you could use a reminder of God’s goodness. And sometimes the best way to remember something is to talk with God about it through prayer.

Would you stop now to pray and talk to God about his goodness? Say something like this:

“God, you are so good. I could never deserve your goodness. I’m sorry that I have often forgotten or doubted your goodness. Forgive me for my ungratefulness and prideful self-centeredness. I am nothing without you. Like King David in the Bible, I would despair if I didn’t know your goodness. Open my eyes to see how good you really are and let your goodness transform my life.

“God, my soul needs restoring. I don’t always think right. I don’t always choose right. I don’t always feel right. I need you to restore my damaged soul, my mind, my will, and my emotions. As I continue learning about your goodness, I trust that my sins have been forgiven because I’ve come to you and admitted I need a Savior. I’m going to release the people who have hurt me and pray a prayer of blessing over them. I’m going to team up with you and ask you to help me with the load I’m carrying. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Talk It Over

Why is it prideful not to acknowledge God’s goodness?

How have you seen God turn the bad things that have happened to you into something good?

When you look back and recognize God’s goodness in your life, how does it affect your perspective on your current circumstances?

- by Pastor Rick

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The greatest example of God’s goodness is Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. You won’t fully experience His goodness until you experience His salvation. If you don’t know Jesus as Savior, you can pray this right now:

“Jesus Christ, I want to get to know You. I want to learn to love You and trust You. Please forgive me for my sin. I ask You to accept me into Your family, not because I deserve it but because on the cross, You paid for all of my sins. Thank You for Your gift of salvation. I receive it and ask for Your help to follow You faithfully as my Lord. I pray this in Your Name. Amen.”