Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Trust is at the foundation of every relationship! The more that you trust someone, the better the relationship can become. When there is mutual trust, the relationship can grow deeper and stronger. It is true in marriages, families, friendships, and work relationships. Every single relationship is either positively or negatively impacted by trust or the lack thereof.

The same is true with our relationship with God! God is calling us to trust Him...and not just a little bit. These two verses challenge us to go “all in”. With all of our hearts, we need to trust the Lord. This is where we get stretched. It is one thing to entrust a part of our lives when it is easy. It is certainly a much different thing to entrust the entirety of who we are to the Lord when it is difficult.

Yet, if I am going to follow the Lord well, I can’t pick and choose the times I am going to trust Him. I need to trust God with everything. It is a decision I need to make today. It is a choice I must make now. If I don’t make the choice now, I am certainly not going to make it when I am in the midst of a difficult decision or a crossroads of life.

If I choose to make the commitment to go “all in” and trust God with everything, there is a freedom that comes on the other side of that decision. No longer am I worrying, because I have entrusted it to God. No longer am I stressed or pulled down by the weight of the world, because I have truly given it to the Lord.

Even though it may not be easy, trusting God may be one of the best decisions we can make!

Heavenly Father, thank you for challenging me to trust you with all of my heart!  Help me to surrender every aspect of my life to you.  Reveal anything in me that is not fully submitted to you.  I want to trust you with all that I am and all that I have. In Jesus name. Amen!

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Peter isn’t just speaking to believers in general - he’s speaking directly in the context of leadership (1 Peter5:1-4). After addressing leaders and calling them to shepherd well, he follows it with this comment: “Cast all your anxiety on Him.” That’s not accidental. There’s a direct connection between how we lead and what we carry. Leadership comes with weight, but God never intended for you to carry it alone.

Ministry has a way of piling things on - people’s needs, expectations, decisions, and often pressures no one else sees. It’s easy to preach trust and still privately carry anxiety. It’s easy to counsel others to release burdens while quietly holding onto our own.

But this verse confronts that. “Cast all your anxiety...” - that includes ministry stress, leadership pressure, church challenges, and personal burdens. If you’re leading but not releasing, you’re carrying something God never asked you to hold.

The reason matters: “because He cares for you.” Not just for your church. Not just for your calling. For you. God’s care for you is not tied to your performance as a leader - it’s rooted in your identity as His child.  

You can’t effectively shepherd others if you’re weighed down yourself. The Holy Spirit doesn’t empower us to carry pressure- He empowers us to walk in dependence. Peace in leadership isn’t found in control; it’s found in surrender.

If you don’t cast it, you’ll carry it - and eventually, it will affect how you lead.

Ask the Lord to help you release the hidden weight of leadership and to renew your strength as you trust Him with both your calling and your care.  Ask Him to reveal any unnecessary pressure you’ve placed on yourself so He can lift that weight from your shoulders.

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6 (NIV)

As we prepare to attend our Annual Network Conference, this year’s theme is “Set Free.” I love this theme because, at some point in life, every one of us needs freedom from something.

In Acts 3, we read the powerful story of Peter and John going to the temple one afternoon to participate in the time of prayer. As they approached, they encountered a man who had been lame from birth, sitting at the gate begging for money. It’s here that we hear Peter’s well known response:  “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

In that moment, the man was instantly healed. It’s one of the great miracles of Scripture. The Bible tells us he went into the temple courts, walking and jumping, praising God.

Often, we view this story through the lens of what the man received, and rightly so. He was given something far greater than silver or gold; he received physical healing.

But there’s another perspective worth considering. Peter and John didn’t allow their lack of money to limit their response. They didn’t see what they didn’t have, they acted in faith with what they did have.

So often in life and ministry, we look to money as the solution to our challenges. And when we do, we can miss the greater miracle God wants to perform.  My prayer is that we would never become more dependent on money than on God. That when opportunities arise, we wouldn’t walk past them simply because we feel we lack resources, but instead, we would discern the deeper need and trust God for what only He can do.

Lord, thank You for always providing.  Help me to depend more on You than on what You provide.  Give me eyes to see the greater need, and set me free from limiting what You can do in and through my life. Amen.

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)

Being “free people,” has meant different things, at different times in history. In the Roman world that Peter was writing to, the free people were Roman citizens. Citizenship came with privileges, but it also came with responsibilities.

Our view of freedom tens to be more modern, more Western, more American. We view freedom as autonomy, not being held to account for anything, and being able to do whatever we want, whenever we want.  

But freedom without responsibility is the forge of tyranny.

Does freedom without responsibility make you a slave to others? No, but it will make you a slave to your desires, to your sin.

It is easy to justify our behaviors, saying things like, “I’m just being real,” or “God knows my heart,” and while I would NEVER make a case for us to assume a more religious attitude, I will make a case for us to assume a more sanctified lifestyle.

If we treat the freedom that God has given us as an excuse to cover up our evil behaviors, we have simply traded masters, and installed an actual tyrant over our lives.

Like the Romans, our freedom in Christ is an issue of citizenship. We choose the one truly good Master, and we reject the others, including ourselves. Instead of Casesar, we bow to Jesus, and He gives us freedom; a different sort of freedom. Freedom, with responsibility, the sort of freedom that ends our selfish tyranny, and makes us more like Jesus.

Lord, thank you for setting me free.  Help me to never take advantage of this freedom, but instead, use me to help bring freedom to others. Amen.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Life in Christ is lived so differently when we understand what freedom means!

I grew up in a home and church environment that was very legalistic. They taught me to love Jesus, and I loved Jesus, but I also felt like I had to do a lot. I had to follow a lot of rules in order to achieve God’s full love and acceptance for me. As I look at this scripture, it teaches us so much differently. It tells us that Christ has already set us free. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. In other words, we don’t need to live with guilt. We don’t need to live with shame. We don’t need to strive. We don’t need to “do” in order to feel accepted or loved by God. Jesus has already done it all for me and for you to be fully loved and fully accepted by Him.

We can be so tempted to live a performance based faith. Well, at least I can, by trying to earn God’s love. I strive for perfection, for acceptance and approval, and we don’t need to do that. Our acceptance and love from God is based solely on what Jesus did on the cross.

So today, I want to encourage us to do what the apostle Paul says “stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” In other words, he’s saying don’t go back to those religious rules, but stand firm in the grace that you have received, the full grace that we have received through that which Jesus did on the cross.  Let’s stand in this truth. Let’s believe God’s word. It’s for freedom that we have been set free! Let’s let go of our striving. Sometimes the striving looks like spiritual discipline or spiritual performance as pastors and leaders, but let us rest in what Jesus had done for us on the cross. You and I are fully loved and accepted. Our identity and self-worth comes only through what Jesus had done on the cross of Calvary.

So, live in freedom! Walk each day grateful and confident in Christ’s work on the cross for you, because He loves you! He accepts you! He is enough for you! And when we know these truths, then we can joyfully obey God with all the gratitude in our hearts for what He has done.

Jesus, thank you for our freedom. Thank you that our freedom is based on what you have done on the cross of Calvary. Thank you that we are fully loved and accepted. Our full identity comes from you. Let us be confident, not only today, but each day of our lives. May we be confident in the finished work of the cross-in our lives. Thank you Jesus for dying for us. Thank you for setting us free!! Amen

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)

Finally, after five chapters of rich theology and practical application, Paul emphatically declares, “In light of all this grace, here’s what to do when the pressure is on!” I often think of this portion of his letter as a locker room speech. He shifts from description and application to preparation for what lies ahead. Pastor, leader, servant of Christ, this is where we’re reminded of the realities of life and ministry: resistance and resilience. So where do we begin? Paul reminds us to be strengthened in the Lord. When spiritual warfare comes, it starts with dependence, not swagger, not self-protection, but complete reliance on Christ.

Paul isn’t simply telling believers to be strong; he’s calling them to plug into resurrection power. We are not the heroes. Our strength is borrowed, supplied by Christ Himself. Just as he said to “put on the new self,” he now calls us to “put on the full armor of God,” the complete equipment of a Roman soldier: belt, breastplate, boots, shield, helmet, and sword, everything needed for battle.

So how do we fight? Not by charging ahead recklessly, but by standing firm and holding the line. Spiritual victory often looks less like big wins and more like steady faithfulness, still loving Jesus and His people a year from now.  We’re up against the enemy’s schemes - division, distraction, and discouragement.

So today, let’s lead well, follow well, and disciple well. Strength is received, not performed. The battle is real, and it’s spiritual. The good news? We know where our strength comes from. Stand firm. Stay united. Put on the full armor. It’s how we remain faithful in the fight.

Lord Jesus, I confess how often I try to lead, preach, and care for others in my own strength. Today, strengthen me in You and Your mighty power. Open my eyes to see the unseen battle around me, within me, and within the church. Expose the enemy’s schemes and the areas where I have grown numb or distracted. Clothe me with Your armor, truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and Your Word. Help me stand firm, love well, and shepherd faithfully. Amen!

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5 (NIV)

We all have the same amount of time in a day - 24 hrs. I remember hearing that and immediately thinking, What am I doing wrong?  I continue to press on with my daily tasks and whisper to myself, I’ll rest this weekend. I need more time. Can I borrow a few hours from someone? I’ve even prayed, Lord, I need more time. I have so much more to accomplish today. Maybe this is a thought that rolls through your mind each morning and lingers throughout the day.

But what if we could add hours to our day? Or better yet-stop time? What would you do with that time? Would you rest?  Would you take time to replenish your soul? Would you reflect on when God was your highest priority?  

That is what David did - he called out to the only One who could bring true rest. Not the kind of rest that requires a clear calendar or an isolated island, but the kind of rest that actively leans on the Lord. The kind of rest that says, circumstances may change, but my heart is anchored. The kind of rest that brings a renewed spirit and a replenished soul. This is the only rest that truly comes from the Lord.

It is the rest that brings hope in the midst of deadlines, inflation, meetings, and household responsibilities. The rest that sets our feet upon The Rock. The kind of rest that restores peace and revives hope within us again. It is a rest that culivates a life that is safe and steadfast-a rest and hope that cannont be shaken. Are you willing to find rest in His stillness?

Heavenly Father, today, I choose to lay it all down before You - my schedule, my burdens, my unanswered questions, and the things that weigh heavily on my heart. Teach me what it truly means to find rest in You alone. Quiet my mind, calm my spirit, and help me to trust that You are in control of every detail of my life. Amen!

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4  NIV

Psalm 37 is one of the most beloved and well-worn Psalms in all of the Psalter. Verses 3-7 hang together as a unique section because each of these verses describes the disposition of heart the righteous are called to cultivate toward God. The righteous are called upon to:
                    

Trust in the Lord (vs 3)

Take delight in the Lord (vs 4)

Commit your way to the Lord (vs 5)

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. (vs 7)

It’s the exhortation found in verse 4 that captures our attention today. Specifically, we are told to “Take Delight in the Lord”. Only a person whose heart has been redeemed possesses the privilege of obedience to this wonderful exhortation.

The heart of the ungodly is bound in sin. For this reason, they delight in lies (Psalm 62:4). They delight in war (Psalm 68:30). They delight in mockery (Proverbs 1:22) and in doing wrong (Proverbs 2:14). They are not free from the prison of self and sin that prevents them from delighting in the perfections of our God.

Yet, God’s great mercy has liberated the once bound heart of the righteous. Now, we find our satisfaction and joy in his Person and presence! Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight (Psalm 43:4). In Him we find our heart set free and fulfilled.

Seek your soul’s satifaction in the Lord today!

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17  NIV

I love that when Jesus went away and left those who had come to rely on Him behind, He made a wonderful promise that all of us get to share.  After Jesus ascended, the Holy Spirit came in His place giving us the great honor to have the Holy Spirit as our comforter, our counselor and our best friend.  According to Paul, He is also the One that brings us freedom. In the preceding verses, Paul also uses the analogy of the veil that places limitations on us.  But there is also another veil mentioned in scripture, the thick curtain that hung in the Temple that was torn giving us full access to all that God has for us.  Too often though, we still allow the veil of limitations, fear, and doubt, to keep us away from the fulness of all that God has designed in us as children of God, and as leaders.

As a child of God, the Holy Spirit sets us free and therefore we are free!  But I know, at least for me, that I need to be reminded of this fact often.  As a leader it’s easy to take on too much of the weight that is associated with leadership.  It can become so heavy at times, that it’s nearly unbearable.  This verse reminds me that as a leader and a pastor, what I am supposed to mostly be is just one of His kids!  We need to remember that what God desires most for us is an abundant life in Christ.  We are to live abundantly while accessing all He has to offer us and to do so in complete freedom.  Remember, we are so much more than what we do!  Therefore, let the Spirit help you to be free to simply be.

Lord, help me to remember, at the end of the day, I am just Your child.  Help me to see myself as You see me and only take on the burdens You place on me.  Holy Spirit set me free to just be me as I move closer to you to accomplish Your will in me and through me.

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, “ says the Lord Almighty.   Zechariah 4:6  NIV

Zerubbabel faced an impossible-looking task: rebuild God’s temple after decades of exile, amid opposition, discouragement, and dwindling resources.  The work stalled.  The people grew weary.  Yet God didn’t send a new strategy, more workers, or a motivational speech.  He sent a promise through the prophet: this mountain will become level ground - not by human grit or ingenuity, but by My Spirit.

As pastors and leaders today, we’re invited into a similar calling: not to construct brick-and-mortar temples, but to build the Church - one transformed life at a time.  And let’s be honest- sometimes raising a building feels easier than shepherding souls through doubt, hurt, and spiritual resistance.

Jesus Himself declared, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18). Notice who’s doing the building: not us-HIM.  Our role is partnership, not ownership.  We labor faithfully, but the growth, the breakthroughs, the lasting fruit come from the Holy Spirit moving in, through, and around us.

Church growth isn’t ultimately about our clever strategies, dynamic preaching, polished programs, or even that desperately needed upgrade to decent coffee (seriously, let’s all commit to better coffee!).  It’s “not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.”  Apart from Him, we can do nothing. When we forget this, the weight of “making it happen” crushes us.  When we remember, we’re set free to rest in the One who never fails to complete what He starts.

Today, lay down the misplaced pressure to single-handedly build the church.  Surrender the timeline, the metrics, the outcomes.  Invite the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do, build His Church.

Lord Jesus, forgive me for grabbing the weight of building Your church as if it depends on me.  Set me free from striving in my own might.  Holy Spirit, come-move powerfully in me, through me, and beyond me to build what only You can build.  I rest in Your promise and Your power.  Amen.

Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9  NIV

Joshua 1:9 comes at a moment of transition, uncertainty, and weighty responsibility. Moses was the only leader Israel had ever known. Now he was gone, and Joshua found himself standing on the edge of the Promised Land with a nation looking to him for direction. God’s words to Joshua were not merely encouragement; they were a divine command rooted in His unchanging presence. Strength and courage were not to come from Joshua’s personality, experience, or confidence, but from the assurance that God Himself would go with him.

We often read this verse as a personal pep talk, but its power lies in the context. God was calling Joshua into something bigger than himself, something that required obedience, trust, and a willingness to step into the unknown. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the decision to move forward because God is already ahead of us. Discouragement may knock, but it does not have to stay, because God’s presence is not seasonal or situational. It is constant.

In our own transitions, new responsibilities, unexpected challenges, or seasons where we feel unprepared, God’s command still stands. “Be Strong and Courageous.” Strength is not something we muster; it is something we receive. Courage is not something we perform; it is something we practice as we lean into God’s faithfulness. Joshua’s story reminds us that God does not call us to places where He will not accompany us. Whenever He sends us, He sustains us. Whatever He asks of us, He equips us. And whatever we face, He faces with us.

Ask God to strengthen your heart with His presence and to replace fear with courage as you walk into the responsibilities and opportunities before you.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17  NIV

Have you ever met someone who is full of joy and living free from shame and regret and find out later about their dark past or event in their life?  Do you wonder to yourself, “How can they be so content and have such freedom with such a history?” The answer is simple. They have been set free from the burden of their past because they are no longer bound to it. Their transformation has set them free.  2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Becoming a new creation does not mean Christians are just better versions of their old selves. It means we are completely transformed from the inside out, getting a fresh start and a new identity.

We often use the beautiful imagery of the caterpillar transforming into a butterfly to describe this process. However, we often overlook the “goo” stage - the transformative process that lies in between. This is the stage where the caterpillar has no form, no shape, it is just goo. Many times, in our lives, we resist this stage. We want to go from caterpillar to instantly be the butterfly, but this process is important. We must be so transformed that we no longer bear our image, but the image of Christ, and that only happens when we allow ourselves to embrace the formless parts of our lives. This is the process where God is forming us into His image.

This transformation requires courage and a willingness to trust God, even when we don’t have all the answers.  It’s the realization that being in Christ means allowing ourselves to be molded into something new - a new creation that is beautiful and free.

God, please show me the places I have hidden away in the dark.  Reveal those things that hinder me from being free.  I surrender to your will and allow the process of transformation in my life.  I am willing to be “goo” for a moment in order to be free at last.  

May your prayer be the place where you trust God and where your faith is greater than your fear.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Galatians 5:13  NIV

The apostle Paul taught that Christian freedom is anchored in Christ’s redemption.  We are no longer under the law’s penalty or sin’s power;  Jesus’ sacrifice has freed us from guilt and the demands of legalistic righteousness.  

However, Paul warns us that freedom is not a license to gratify our own desires.  True freedom leads us to serve one another through love, fulfilling the entire law in the simple command to love our neighbor.  

Ministry leadership can tempt us toward self-promotion or the pursuit of influence.  The scripture challenges us to use our liberty to build up others through the power of the Holy Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit, we bear fruit such as love, joy and gentleness, and that fruit produces a culture of service rather than celebrity.  

Serving through love means seeking the good of the congregation above our own preferences and giving our time and gifts without expecting service in return.  Leaders who use their freedom to love release others from legalism and fear by modeling grace.

I have heard it said that “the freest person is the one who becomes a servant to others.”  By giving yourself away, you experience the freedom Christ secured and foster a community marked by genuine care and mutual support.

Lord, thank you for freeing me from sin’s guilt and penalty.  Empower me by Your Spirit to use my freedom to serve others selflessly and gently tear down what I have built for myself that does not honor you first!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5  NIV

In Genesis God spoke, “Let there be light,” and there was light. A physical light shone into the dark, formless world, and the light gave way to life. John’s gospel invites us to see that this same light now comes to light up the darkness of the human heart. Whether in creation or in the human heart, there is nothing like darkness of sin, shame, anxiety, fear, pride, self-righteousness, even the exhaustion of self-reliance, will confine the sould and spirit of a person, until The Spirit breathes, “let there be light.” The light brings life and give way to new found freedoms. (2 Cor 4:6)

The Prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:2) foretold that people living in deep darkness will see a “great light”. Light brings to mind the illuminated sky in Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:9). We see the Light again at the Resurrection of Jesus (Luke 24) where the ultimate victory over the darkness of the cross, death, hell and the grave was once and for all overcome by light (John 19:30). All of humanity - set free by the unquenchable Light! Throughout scripture, we see the Light of the world spiritually setting free the shackled, the bound, and the imprisoned (Luke 1:79). Even as creation groaned for freedom...so people groan to be free. John explains, there is a light that brings life (John 8:12). This light cannot be extinguished. This light has always been. This light will remain. And, now this light has come to your front door to light up your personal darkness to give you life, and to set you free.

What darkness in you cannot be overcome by this life-giving, resurrecting, Light? There is no darkness that cannot be overcome. It is John’s confession, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” The question is: Is it also your confession?

Jesus, “Light of the world,” flood your light into every dark place in me. Expose what doesn’t belong, remove anything holding me captive. Thank you, Father, there is no darkness too great for your light. I confess Jesus, you are the Light and the darkness has not and cannot overcome you in this world or in me.

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13  NIV

Temptation is a fight every believer must endure. Even we, as pastors and church leaders, face this unending battle. As a Lead Pastor, I understand that the struggle of temptation is incredibly real, and its end goal is to take us out.  It breaks my heart to hear about lead pastors and church leaders losing their ministry positions because the fight against sin overwhelmed them. In his book, Dangerous Calling, Paul David Tripp writes, “It is only ever the sin inside of you that draws and hooks you to the sin outside of you. Every day there is a war fought for control of your heart.” Pastors, ministry leaders, church workers, board members, if you’re struggling with the temptation of sin, give it to Jesus, right now, and don’t give in! Don’t let the sinful desire inside of you pull you out of the place God has ordained for you to be. Fight the good fight!

Paul provides us with an answer, more like a declaration, regarding our sin problem. He says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.” My temptation isn’t unique to me because I know many of you have faced the same struggles. So, I can’t feel sorry for myself or start planning my pity party because I feel alone. No, nothing has tempted me that God hasn’t already defeated. In my walk with God, His faithfulness hasn’t or doesn’t spare me from the temptations I face. What it does demonstrate, is that I’m a part of Christ and that God will not permit any hardship or temptation I cannot handle through the strength of Christ.

Lastly, and let’s be honest with ourselves on this. God has, and always will, give us a way out of our temptations. Do we really believe there is a good enough excuse to justify our sin if we give in to temptation? Of course, not. So, when God gives us a way out.....let’s take it!

• Thank God you’re not alone. Pray for a heart that finds comfort in knowing others have walked this path and, by His grace, have overcome it.
• Specifically pray about a current pressure you’re experiencing. Tell God that, due to His Word, you believe this challenge. isn’t more than you can handle with His help.
• Often, the “way out” is subtle - a quiet thought to walk away, a prompt to call a mentor, or a verse that comes to mind. Cultivate spiritual alertness to recognize these exits as they happen.

I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.  Is anything too hard for me?
Jeremiah 32:27  NIV

Jeremiah is in prison, and Jerusalem is under siege by Babylon because of the disobedience of the Jewish people.  In the middle of this chaos, God tells Jeremiah to purchase land in a nation that is about to be conquered.  Confused, Jeremiah questions it, but God reminds him that He will one day restore His people back to Jerusalem.  After all, He is God, and nothing is too hard for Him.  I’ve often said we serve a God of restoration.  Can you imagine being in Jeremiah’s shoes, wondering why God would ask you to do something that doesn’t make sense?  It’s in those moments that God reminds us of who He is.

In 2020, my wife and I were so excited to share with our family that we were expecting.  In the midst of COVD, it felt like a glimmer of hope.  But when my wife went to the doctor, we found out her HCG levels were decreasing, and we were devastated to learn we were having a miscarriage.  What made it even harder, was that I couldn’t be with her during the procedure due to COVID restrictions.  I sat in the car, helpless, as we lost our first child.  The next time we became pregnant, we kept it a secret, trying to guard our hearts.  But one day, my wife walked out of the restroom during a staff lunch, and I could tell - it was happening again.  I told God I didn’t think we could go through this again.  Still, He was faithful to carry us through.  Later, we discovered a polyp that was removed.  During our third pregnancy, when fear tried to set in, God  gave us a sign.  My wife found a bracelet in her shoe that read, “Trust Him.”  That was the confirmation we needed.  

Today, our daughter is three years old, and we have another baby on the way.  Even when things feel dark and uncertain, nothing is too hard for God - and He is always faithful.

Lord, thank you that even in the midst of hardship I can rest in the fact that You are faithful.  Help me to remember that nothing is too hard for You.  Strengthen my faith today.  Help me to believe your word is faithful when I don’t see.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33  NIV

Jesus’ words to the disciples in John 16:33 come after He has told them about a great grief that will befall them, that He will be with them no more. The pain, despair, and confusion for the disciples after Jesus’ last breath cannot be understated. They had given up everything to follow Jesus. They had seen so many miracles, had dreamed of what life would be like, and it seemed all of their hope was dead on the cross.

This is where Jesus’ words can help bring us back to the reality of who He is. That even under immense turmoil, when the storms of life seem to have overtaken us, we can stand on solid ground. That with Christ, the victory is already won. We can have peace that no matter what, Christ will prevail. That even when this world throws everything at us, when we are shaken and disoriented by the pain inflicted by those outside and inside the church, when we feel like the world has won, we remember the everlasting words of our Savior, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

There is an overwhelming peace that should come from this. A peace that stems from trust. A peace that reminds us that time and time again, when we have stood on a foundation rooted in Christ, we have seen Him come through for us. We have the testimonies of our past to remind us that He can control storms, heal the blind, and raise the dead.

As Christians, and especially, Christian leaders, this is our call. We need to remind and reflect to our people that no matter what happens in the world, we can still have peace. A peace that comes from trust. That God in His infinite wisdom is still in control.

Thank you Lord for the times in your life where Christ brought you through trouble.  Pray that you both proclaim and reflect the peace that can only come from Christ.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2  NIV

In these passages, the Psalmist, David attributed his victory over his enemies to a clear understanding that his help comes not from his own strength or military might, but from God alone, the Maker of heaven and earth. These truths gives us hope and assurance that no matter what circumstances we are facing, “God will be our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Each of us faces struggles at different levels. There are times when it feels like we are down and out, trampled by the enemy of our souls, crushed and seemingly defeated. Yet our hope is in the Lord, and He will not leave us nor forsake us. The Psalmist encourages us to lift our eyes to the mountains from where our help comes. By doing so, we will see the hand of God come to our rescue, leading us into triumph.

Psalm 120:1 reminds us that “when we call on the Lord in our distress, He will answer us.”  The question is: where do we look for help? As followers of Christ, we are not exempt from trials and difficulties. I believe there are times God allows us to go through the fiery furnace of affliction to develop our faith and trust in Him. God is our deliverer, and He will set us free from every scheme of the enemy. The Lord, our helper, is the Maker of heaven and earth, and nothing is too hard for Him. Setting our eyes on Him and placing our trust in what He can do establishes our foundation that will not be shaken. As someone once said, “We may not understand how God’s hands work, but we can always trust His heart.” Let us look unto Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith!

Lord, I acknowledge that You are my source of strength and my ever-present help in times of trouble.  Help me to lift my eyes to You, trusting that when I call, You will answer.  I believe that You will set me free from the schemes of the enemy and deliver my soul.

“For I know the plans I have for you, “ declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11  NIV

In high school, we had a class project in which we were required to write out our life plan.  I loved this project and oh, did I ever have a plan for my life.  My plan included going to college, working in the family business, have a nice home, a beautiful wife, lots of kids, and success!  I thought I knew how my life was going to go.  What could go awry?  I found out quickly that life doesn’t always happen like we thought or hoped.  In fact, sometimes our life feels like a mess and sometimes our plans go awry, but we can trust God - He has it figured out for us.

In Jeremiah 29, God just told Israel that the mess that they created would lead them into captivity that would last for 70 years.  But, at the same time, God reminded them that His plan for Israel had not changed, if they would be willing to seek Him again.  And God’s plan for you and I haven’t changed either.  Occasionally, you and I may find our lives in what feels like a mess, but let’s remember that God’s plan for us is still the same as when He first called us.  His plan is still to prosper you and not to bring you harm.  His plan provides us with hope and a future.  God’s plan is not for us to stay in the bondage of our mistakes or in the confusion of our chaos, but to set us free into a life full of hope and a blessed future.  Whatever season you may be in, remember that God is for you!

God, thank you that even when my life feels like a mess and my plans seem to have gone awry, that you have not left me and that your plan to give me hope and a future have not changed.  Help me to seek you and trust you when I can’t see beyond the mess.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has send me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:18-19 NIV

Church two thousand years ago looked a lot different from what it does today. The scroll that was read in the synagogue, carefully picked and handed to the reader, “happened” to be from Isaiah as it is recorded here. Luke recalls this moment just a few short verses after telling of Jesus’ 40 days of testing in the desert. Forty days, I, myself, am weary after 4. But instead of crawling out of the desert, being depleted and exhausted from weeks on end of spiritual battle, scripture records that, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.” (4:14)

He didn’t take a vacation. He didn’t have a long sabbatical. Jesus faced immeasurable testing and emerged as a conquering victor. And on this morning, He reads what God’s people had only been promised: good news, restoration...freedom. Despite not yet having died and resurrected, Jesus boldly tells those who would hear, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (4:21)

When I imagine this moment on an otherwise usual Sunday morning service in His hometown of Nazareth, I can’t help but think of the familiar faces He was speaking to. People who had heard the words over and over. The same city that would reject Him and become an obstacle for any of those promised miracles to take place. But I also can’t shake the excitement and JOY that must have been radiating from our Savior. His face wasn’t stern, weary from the fight. Scripture records that He was full of grace. While the tangible reality of their surroundings and the familiarity of the messenger clouded their judgement, Jesus was resolute in His speech. He could see what they could not. They had no idea they were even bound; still, Jesus’ heart is to set them free.

May God grant your eyes heavenly sight for you to take hold of His promise and His will in all things.  May His words, not our desired outcome, be the driving force that empowers us to continue on in strength, sharing what God has already proclaimed and accomplished - freedom.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36 NIV

In the tech world, there is something known as the Patent War. Large companies like Samsung and Apple have gone to court to defend their designs, software, and ideas. When someone tries to use something that belongs to another, the owner must go legal to protect their territory. The central question is always: Who is the true owner? This reality helps us understand a spiritual truth. As children of God, we also have spiritual territory. Christ Jesus bought us with his blood, saved us, transferred us into His kingdom, and gave us an inheritance. Our freedom is not disorder or absolute independence, nor license; it is true freedom within the territory of the Word of God. Jesus declared that when the Son sets us free, we are truly free. That freedom is legitimate because it was purchased by his sacrifice.

However, there is an intruder who tries to invade that freedom: the enemy. He often comes in by lies, sickness, thoughts of defeat or scarcity. He may whisper: “You’re no good,” “You’ll never change,” “There is no blessing for you,” but those words are deceitful and illegal. In Christ, we have healing, purpose, and spiritual abundance.

The enemy wants to keep what God has already given us. But that inheritance does not belong to him. Scripture says we were predestined according to God’s eternal purpose (Ephesians 1:11), chosen for praise of His glory (v 12), and sealed with the Holy Spirit (v 13), so do not let the intruder remain. The freedom Christ gave you is legal, it has a territory, and that territory is our inheritance in the Kingdom of God.

Lord, thank you because in Christ you have given me true freedom.  Help me recognize the enemy’s lies and remain firm within the territory of your truth.  Remind me each day that I am your child, that I have an inheritance in your Kingdom, and that your Spirit has sealed me to live in victory.  Strengthen my faith to reject every deception and walk in the freedom Jesus won for me.  Amen.