Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Read the context Chronic pain pops up from injuries from the past. Your back aches. Your joints hurt. You can feel it in your bones that you can't live like this forever. Your health may fail, but your God won't. The life he gives you lasts forever. He is the What does your heart long for when your flesh feels weak? How does God answer that longing in the resurrection? DAILY JOURNAL PROMPT...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Hebrews 2:14–15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Read the context You were locked in the jail cell of death. Satan held the key. You were a prisoner. But through his death and resurrection, Jesus breaks the power of the devil. This is full-blown prison break. Jesus breaks...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Luke 24:31–32 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Read the context Two doubting disciples walked all day with Jesus... and they didn't recognize him. But as they walked he gave them what they needed: understanding from scripture. In your moments of doubt in your walk with Jesus, seek Jesus where he is still...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Psalm 30:4–5 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime;weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Read the context A new day is like a restart. At sunrise, the past day and night is gone. Forgiveness is a new day. God turns the page. He leaves your sins in the past. With the dawn of Easter, God shows us that this new day of forgiveness will last forever. You live in the...
6 days ago • 1 min read
1 Cor 7:24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. Read the context What does it look like to serve God meaningfully? Do you need to preach to crowds? Do you need the highest paying job? You certainly can do those things, but you don't have to. Instead, God works through ordinary things. Your love to a family member and your faithfulness at your job. You are the mask of God as he blesses those around you....
7 days ago • 1 min read
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Read the context The menu at Cheesecake Factory is notorious. The number of options makes it overwhelming. God has placed an overabundance of opportunities in your life to serve him. The good works he prepares aren't limited. You won't choose wrong. When you struggle with purpose or direction, remember this first: God specially formed you to serve him and others....
8 days ago • 1 min read
Romans 6:1–2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Read the context Ever wonder what it would be like to attend your own funeral? What stories would be told? How would you be remembered? Paul invites you to just that: the funeral of the old you. The sinful, rebellious self is dead and buried with Christ. And now, raised with him, you don’t look back. You live a new life—his...
9 days ago • 1 min read
John 21:6–7 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. Read the context Peter denied knowing Jesus just hours before Jesus would be crucified. Now, Peter...
10 days ago • 1 min read
John 20:27–29 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Read the context Thomas missed Jesus’ first appearance and was left with doubts. But Jesus didn’t leave him there—he came back for Thomas. Today, Jesus doesn't appear in the room,...
11 days ago • 1 min read