Focus of the Week:

God speaks to us. He isn’t a distant creator who set everything in motion and then took a step back. Instead, He is intimately involved and engaged, reaching out —most clearly through His living words of Scripture.

This week will look a bit different. Instead of written content each day to read in addition to Scripture, we are diving deep on day one, then giving Scripture for each following day. As you do so, make space to read and hear more from God's word directly as you reflect and journal on His words.

Notes on the practices:

Journaling and reflection both help to slow down and be mindful of what is being read. Both are similar practices; feel free to journal reflection questions or reflect on journalling questions. These are here to be a guide, not a task. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to whatever He may want to highlight for you specifically.

Getting Started:
 
As we set out this week, let's consider the nature of conversation. Conversation is not something that's intended to be one-sided, like listening to a lecture or a monologue. It's dynamic, it's engaging, and it involves active intentional participation from both parties. That's the kind of connection that God desires to have with each of us.

We can look all the way back to Genesis to find evidence of God interacting with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, speaking to them directly. Through the example of Moses in Exodus, we learn that He can choose to disclose to His people through signs, giving instruction and guidance. God also connected with the prophets, such as Isaiah, through dreams and visions, revealing His holy nature and message.

How then does God speak now? One of the ways is through His holy written Word, that is Scripture. Through the Bible, God reveals His will, character, and love.  Each day this week, we'll look at different passages that speak directly to this reality and what it means for our walk with Him.

Right about now, you might be thinking, what could God possibly say to me today through ancient words written thousands of years ago? Friends, this question encapsulates a beautiful mystery of God. The living nature of Scripture means it is not dead or archaic; it is a vital force that speaks fresh perspective and applies to our circumstances. It holds the continued potential for personal healing, correction, and maturity. Truly, a single passage can pierce the surface to expose our humanity.

As you spend time in God's Word, be mindful of your role in the intentional two-way flow of communication. Lean in, make it a priority to engage His written word; be prayerful and expectant as you show up for the conversation.  

Let this be the starting point:
Ask God reveal himself through His written word each day this week.

Scripture helps us hear God and act on His truth. This week we will focus on passages that demonstrate the incredible power of His word to shape and change our lives.

"And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper."

1 Kings 19:12 NLT

Spend time each day this week reading and rereading the passage of Scripture. Reflect and journal aspects that stood out to you as God speaks through His written Word. Join us next week as we explore how we hear from God through the practice of prayer.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Jesus, we are rescued by grace to share His grace; pulled from the depths to draw others to safety.

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

Galatians 6:9 NLT

Reflecting back on this week, perhaps you have a voice in your head that says, "You're just one person; what can you do to possibly be a part of God's rescue mission?" Or it might sound like, "You don't know enough; no one will believe what you say." Regardless of the script that plays in your head, you probably feel like the odds are stacked against you, and you couldn't possibly make a difference.

The beauty of this is that Jesus is made all the more of in our weakness and failure. Paul repeatedly wrote of his failures for the purpose of making much of Christ. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). And it does not stop there. Jesus sent the Spirit to empower us to do the same work He did. To proclaim who the Father is and the saving work of Christ. When the voices rise to say "you can't," lean into what Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!" - John 14:12-14

So as we finish out our time together, be encouraged to continue to strive to do what is good - sharing the gospel message of hope and rescue with those who need it most. Remember, you are precious to Him; in your weaknesses, His strength and glory are magnified. He rescued you from the darkness and brought you into the kingdom of light so you could do the same for someone else.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Lord, I praise you for giving me what I need to keep going every day. Help me to show who you are to those around me as you sustain me in every situation. Thank you for not giving up on me! Amen.

Join us Monday as we begin to look at how God speaks.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Jesus, we are rescued by grace to share His grace; pulled from the depths to draw others to safety.

"For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’."

Acts 13:47 NLT

Whenever someone does something for us that is so outrageously generous, what’s your first response? That’s the question before us: How does the audacious rescue mission of God motivate you?

Receiving the gift of God's unearned grace comes with a profound responsibility to extend that same compassion to those around us (Proverbs 24:11-12). As believers, we become living reflections of His rescue mission, sharing the hope and love that transformed our own lives for the sake of one more person who desperately needs redemption.

The sense of urgency in our shared mission calls to mind the story of Desmond Doss. In May 1945 at Okinawa’s Hacksaw Ridge, as U.S. troops retreated from a fierce Japanese counterattack, Army combat medic Desmond Doss bravely stayed behind without a weapon to rescue wounded soldiers one by one, praying after each: “Lord, help me get one more.” He saw the plight of his fellow soldiers and felt compelled to do something about their circumstances. God honored His prayers, and the lives of seventy-five men were spared that day because of Doss’ efforts.

Friends, you and I were rescued to rescue. What would radically change if each of us faithfully adopted the prayer and posture of “Just one more, Lord” when it came to sharing the gospel?

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Lord, thank you for empowering me to continue your mission. Guide me each day in how I should act and talk with those around me so you would be made known. I praise you for all you've done, are doing and will do! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we explore persevering in the faith.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Jesus, we are rescued by grace to share His grace; pulled from the depths to draw others to safety.

"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 2:4-6 NLT

Now we come to the incredible turning point, the moment where rescue becomes a startling reality. God’s mission to save us can truly be summed up as audacious, powerful, and wholly unexpected.

Our Heavenly Father made an intentional choice - rather than staying distant and removed from our circumstance, He draws even closer. Scripture teaches us that He emptied Himself to become man, allowing Himself to be subjected to the ultimate humiliation of death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-11). The infinite God of the universe traded glory for servanthood. For the Jews who were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, this flew in the face of every expectation they held for a conquering deliverer. But Jesus didn’t come to become an earthly king, overthrowing governing principalities; He came to reconcile us to God.

Consider this then, as you reflect today on God’s bold rescue mission for you and me: the full expression of God’s grace and power is not dimmed by weakness or suffering. In fact, those are the very things that magnify our dependence on the Father, encourage ownership of grace, and direct all praise and Glory to Him. Rescue isn’t something that happens from the outside or simply takes away all our weakness. Instead, we are changed through our weakness—sharing in both the suffering of the cross and the incredible power of resurrection, all because we’re united with Christ.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Lord, thank you for being a God rich in mercy and boundless in love. You stepped in and rescued me, making me completely alive together with Christ. May my life be a daily reflection of this saving grace and a testament to the immeasurable riches of Your kindness. Amen!

Join us tomorrow as we realize God’s rescue mission revealed in Jesus, who humbly entered our world to reconcile us through the cross.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Jesus, we are rescued by grace to share His grace; pulled from the depths to draw others to safety.

"I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway."

Romans 7:19 NLT

One of the hardest things about rescue is reckoning with the depths of our sin. We have to be able to take a hard look at our hearts and realize that when it comes to our sinful nature. There is no safe harbor from its destructiveness, and we can’t possibly hope to save ourselves apart from God.

Paul’s words from Romans should feel instantly and uncomfortably relatable. Try as we might to make the right choices, say the right things, and do the right things, we simply can’t do it on our own steam, so we fail over and over again. And what’s worse, the outcome of those decisions wreaks continual havoc in our lives and the lives of those around us (Romans 5:12). Like the Israelites in Exodus, caught between Pharaoh’s armies and the raging sea, we find ourselves impossibly trapped by our sinful actions and inescapable consequences.

But in this place of realization, we make space for the real work of rescue and redemption to take place. Can you truly appreciate the gift of grace and salvation without first realizing you actually need it? Rest in this hope today, friends: God loves you at your darkest, but His love is far too great to let you stay there.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Lord, give me the wisdom to seek your guidance before each day and opportunity to share who you are. Thank you for being generous and blessing me with all that I have. I praise you for rescuing me! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we wrestle with our inability to overcome sin on our own and recognizing our need for God's grace.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Jesus, we are rescued by grace to share His grace; pulled from the depths to draw others to safety.

"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves."

2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT

As we start out this week, our first steps focus on grasping the depth of our need for rescue; we wrestle with our worth and weakness. You and I hold inestimable value to God, but we are not the picture of perfection or self-sustaining. We are holy, fragile beings.

Think about the musings of David from Psalm 8. He spends time marveling at the incredible work of God’s hands and questioning, of all that God has created, what is man? In the grand scheme of all things, the Lord makes us a little lower than angels and crowns us with glory. It’s interesting to place these words over the context of David’s own life. He was a chosen king, a man after God’s own heart, and yet he lived a life marked by moral failings, grief, and suffering.

In many ways, this is a picture of us. We are created in the image of the Most High God. That means He gives us an inherent and absolute purpose. But we are finite; our lives are short and subject to decay. The gravitational pull of sin means we are prone to error. And lastly, we can’t “do it all” for ourselves; we are wired for spiritual dependence on the Lord.

Your journey towards rescue starts here, with recognition of the great treasure you carry in a fragile clay jar. You are His masterwork (Psalm 139:13-14), faults and all, and you carry His desire to restore what was broken and lost.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Father, thank You for placing the priceless treasure of the Gospel within my fragile, human life. Though I am weak and easily broken, I praise You that Your surpassing power shines through my frailty. Help me to embrace my humanity and rely on Your strength alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we wrestle with our inability to overcome sin on our own and recognizing our need for God's grace.  

Focus of the Week:

As followers of Jesus, we are rescued by grace to share His grace; pulled from the depths to draw others to safety.

As we set out this week, we will look at the major themes and process through reflection.

Notes on the practices:
Reflection helps to slow down and be mindful of what is being read. These questions are here to be a guide, not a task. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to whatever He may want to highlight for you specifically.

Diving in:
This week, we unpack the theme of rescue - what it means for you and I personally and the larger mission that we are called to as followers of Jesus.

Friends, you and I were created with we are created with inherent, absolute purpose, but we are also finite, fragile, and inherently prone to error. Confronting that paradox leads us to wrestle with our own limitations and the inescapable trap of our sinful nature; we find there is “no safe harbor” of our own making.

That place of realization prepares our hearts to truly understand and receive grace. We begin to appreciate the bold and daring rescue of a God who desires to restore what was broken. We also recognize what's at stake - we have a role to play as living reflections of that mercy and grace so others can be rescued.
 
Join us as we discover what it means to be rescued by grace to share His grace.

Let this be the starting point:
Ask God to reveal your need for rescue and the same need for those He has placed in your life.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:13-14 NLT

This week is about learning to trust God's guidance in taking part in His 'rescue mission'.

Come back tomorrow as our journey toward rescue begins with recognizing our value to God alongside our fragility and need for Him

This Week's Focus: 

As Christians, our lives look different because our hope is set on a different source: Jesus Christ's victory over sin and death.

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Daniel 3:17-18 NLT

As we bring our week to a close, we cannot neglect to mention what happens when our circumstances are entirely out of our control and all seems lost: what happens to us? The easy answer is "return to Jesus." That is exactly what Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego did. They refused to abandon God in favor of bowing to idols. Their hope in God was eternal; whether they died or lived, they wanted to make it clear that they worshipped God.

For us, what does a return to Jesus look like? When it feels as though there is no hope left? Like these three friends, we have to remind ourselves that our souls are eternal, but these circumstances are temporary. Recall the times God has stepped in and provided, rescued, or guided you through a difficult situation in the past. Samuel does this with Israel when the Lord rescues them from the Philistines. He places a large stone between two towns as a remembrance that the Lord has helped them. (1 Samuel 7).

As we go forward, we stand firm in our hope. For our hope in Christ is not of this world, it is eternal and everlasting.

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

Lord, I praise you for rescuing me. Thank you for continually showing up in my life. Help me to remember all you have done for me. Amen. 

Join us Monday as we dive into God's rescue mission to bring His beloved children "home".

This Week's Focus: 

As Christians, our lives look different because our hope is set on a different source: Jesus Christ's victory over sin and death.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13 NLT

With each passing day this week, we've continued to expand and sharpen our view of hope. Today we talk about the flow of hope. It is not something that ends or diminishes with us - it multiplies. Hope fills us by who Christ is and what He has done. We are then compelled to action because of what He has done, and then we are filled with confidence and the power of the Holy Spirit, so that the same hope we have will overflow into the lives of those around us.

What does having a hope that overflows look like? As we've already learned, hope changes the way we encounter hardships - everything from the mild irritations that derail our day to the devastations that we grieve for months. When we choose to trust God in those moments, people around us take notice. They witness the love and blessing that God has poured out on us that finds roots in who He is, His character. We can share about our experiences with Him from a place of assurance rather than shame (Romans 5:5) because we aren't focused on our circumstances or performance.

So our hope becomes a hope that belongs to others. The goodness and faithfulness of God cascade from our lives, shaping and changing those around us. Not in grand gestures, but in small, extraordinary everyday moments of trust.  

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

Lord, thank you for blessing me with a hope that extends beyond my understanding. Help me to see others the way you see them. Guide me to share my story of hope with those around me in every opportunity. Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we look at standing firm in hope regardless of our situation.

This Week's Focus: 

As Christians, our lives look different because our hope is set on a different source: Jesus Christ's victory over sin and death.

"Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works."

James 2:26 NLT

A first pass of this week's passage may feel a bit disconnected from our focus. But when we dig a bit deeper, we find that James highlights an important principle in our walk with Christ that informs hope.

If we look back a bit further in the second chapter of James, we find the author recounting the stories of Abraham and Rahab. Abraham was a readily recognizable figure in Israel's history whose journey clearly demonstrated some moments of dedicated faithfulness in response to God's guidance. Rahab, however, provides a more surprising example of someone on the fringes of society who still acted with courage and obediently followed God's leading. James is using these examples to make a point: our faith is not one of passivity but activity.

Returning to our focus, if we have hope but there is no outward expression of confidence, that hope is completely empty. Our hope is meaningless if it does not motivate us to take concrete steps that demonstrate our dependence on God. Trusting in God's constant presence and direction should always challenge us to respond with action that aligns with His will and character (Psalm 37:23-24).

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

Lord, thank you for guiding and directing me. Help me to be active in my faith. Open my eyes to see each opportunity you have placed me in to share who you are. I praise you for all you have done, are doing, and will do! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we explore having an overflowing hope.

This Week's Focus: 

As Christians, our lives look different because our hope is set on a different source: Jesus Christ's victory over sin and death.

"And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see."

1 Peter 1:5 NLT

Friends, our hope is alive! But what do we mean when we say we have a living hope? This statement is rich, yet we often fail to grasp its full impact on our daily lives.

Let's break it down a bit - the word "living" does some pretty heavy lifting when we make a statement about hope. It immediately calls to mind the contrast between life and death. Our hope as believers is active, fruitful, and transformative, whereas the hope of the world is empty, vain, and lifeless. That quality comes from God - His promises, His love, His faithfulness. Therefore, a living hope isn't wishy-washy or based on a "wait and see" approach; it is a steadfast and trustworthy anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:18b-19).

So what does this mean for you and me right now? Well, as we talked about last week, living hope means we face life's ups and downs differently. It also means we are allowing ourselves to be shaped and transformed to look more like Jesus - here and now. Because of what He did on the cross, we are able to embrace genuine freedom and restoration as we grow in our faith (2 Corinthians 3:18)

This is living hope - a surety that fills us with anticipation and joy in the promises of God fulfilled - because Christ achieved victory over sin and death, so will we.  

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

Lord, thank you for sending your Son to save us. I praise you for the living hope you have given me. Help me to share the hope I have in you with those around me! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we lean into what it means to be active in our hope and faith.  

This Week's Focus: 

As Christians, our lives look different because our hope is set on a different source: Jesus Christ's victory over sin and death.

"But Joseph replied, 'Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

Genesis 50:19-20 NLT

As we set out this week, we begin with the truth that our hope as Christians is not the same as that of those who don't know Jesus. Here's a truly profound facet of our hope: the redemptive work of God transforms the way we walk through times of trial and challenge. We don't experience struggles the way the rest of the world does because we trust that God isn't passive. He's always working.

Think about the story from today's passage. We find Joseph, beaten, sold into slavery, thrown into prison, and ultimately forgotten. Yet his hope in God remains despite the circumstances. And when he faces his own brothers, the perpetrators of his suffering, he responds with a radical perspective: "You intended me harm, but God intended it all for good."

What could possibly have led him to have this kind of outlook? By the world's standard, he could have easily "abandoned ship" and given up all hope. Joseph chose to put his trust in the goodness of God, assured that His hand was at work even when he couldn't always see the evidence. He accepted the hope of a bigger plan (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11) that would reposition him from a prison cell to second-in-command over all of Egypt.  

The same is true for us. God is always working, even when we feel like the circumstances don't reflect that reality. That hope isn't just wishful thinking; it's embracing the plan of a good and faithful God that is bigger than we could possibly imagine.

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

Lord, remind me of your steadfastness. Help me to continue to hope in you even when I cannot see that you are working. Thank you for all you have done in my life! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we see what it means to have a living hope.

Focus of the Week:

As Christians, our lives look different because our hope is set on a different source: Jesus Christ's victory over sin and death.

As we set out this week, we will look at the major themes and process through reflection.

Notes on the practices:
Reflection helps to slow down and be mindful of what is being read. These questions are here to be a guide, not a task. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to whatever He may want to highlight for you specifically.

Pressing On:
We are all hopeful people. Hoping your kid's team wins the game. Hoping conversation on a first date won't be too awkward. Hoping things will all work out in the end.

Yet, there's a difference to a Christian's hope. Our hope doesn't come from the actions of those around us or from a particular set of circumstances. Our hope is founded on Christ's victory over death which saves us and reunites us with our Creator.

We see this truth evident from Paul in Romans 5:3-5: "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

So as we go about our day, we rest in the hope of who Christ is and in God's love for us.

Let this be the starting point:
Ask God to help instill this hope in you. That hope may overflow from you to those around you by how you live.

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

This week is about learning to place our hope in Christ regardless of our situations.
Come back tomorrow as we learn to hope because we know God is always at work.

This Week's Focus: 

Our culture often tells us, "Your past defines you." But in Christ, we are forgiven and released from our past, so we can be set free to experience real, hopeful joy grounded in the present and looking to the future.

"Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.”

Colossians 3:9-11 NLT

As we end this week, what better place to conclude then with the promise of new life? Through his words to the Colossians, Paul invites us to take the bold steps of stripping off the old sinful nature and putting on a new nature, renewed by God to become more and more like Him every day.

We may wrestle with the effects of bitterness, guilt, and shame. But we can also realize the truth of how Christ atones for our guilt, steps into our shame, and renews our hearts so we can let go of bitterness. It is through Christ, our focus on Him, that we can finally release the past, move forward, and accept our identity as a child of God.

But the restoration and new life Paul talks about aren't just for us - they're for everyone. We are unified in Christ, all sinners in our own right, yet found, forgiven, and freed (Romans 3:23). Jesus becomes the peace that tears down the walls separating us, so that we can experience genuine and lasting reconciliation (1 Corinthians 12:12–13).

May you step into that new life, for yourself and others, so you can be set free to experience real, hopeful joy grounded in the present and looking to the future.

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9 NLT

Lord, thank you for saving me. Help me to have the courage to use every opportunity to share who you are with those around me. Even those who have hurt me. I praise you for continually making me more like you. Amen.

Join us Monday as we seek to learn how to choose hope in all circumstances.

This Week's Focus: 

Our culture often tells us, "Your past defines you." But in Christ, we are forgiven and released from our past, so we can be set free to experience real, hopeful joy grounded in the present and looking to the future.

“Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces."

Psalm 34:5 NLT

Yesterday we unpacked a pretty heavy subject. We considered guilt and how, through Jesus, we are justified, and the debt is no more. Today we are going to take a look at shame.

Guilt focuses on behavior or actions that were wrong. Shame, on the other hand, is rooted in the belief that we are worthless and wrong. That's why feelings of guilt, when left unresolved, can lead us to a dark place where shame takes hold.

Think about it this way: shame is like a terrible narrator that follows you everywhere, judging and criticizing everything. The lie it tells slowly erodes your sense of identity and self-worth. Eventually, you start to isolate yourself from Christ and other believers who care about you. The end result is living with a barrier that leaves you feeling like an imposter, completely cut off from God's love and mercy.

That's why the words of the Psalmist are so important. When we find ourselves struggling with shame, we are to "look to Him for help." Christ empathizes with the pain of our shame, having endured pain and rejection (Hebrews 12:2). When we bring those burdens to Him, choose to see hope, confess what needs confessing, and step back into the community of believers, we find the blessings, honor, and joy God intends (Isaiah 61:7).

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9 NLT

Lord, I praise you for your intense understanding of all situations. Thank you for stepping into my shame and bitterness and helping me forgive and move toward joy and peace in you. Thank you Jesus for all you have done! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we continue to learn to let go of the old and put on the new life we have in Christ.

This Week's Focus: 

Our culture often tells us, "Your past defines you." But in Christ, we are forgiven and released from our past, so we can be set free to experience real, hopeful joy grounded in the present and looking to the future.

"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."

1 John 1:9 NLT

Before the Lord, each of us is guilty. We have all done something that goes against what God has commanded of us and that grieves Him. God, being righteous and holy, would be fully justified in condemning all of humanity to separation from Him. Yet He willingly chooses to forge a path toward redemption and restoration.

Through Jesus, our guilt is removed. We are justified. Each time we confess our sin, because of Jesus' sacrifice, God is faithful and forgives us. We are made right again. There is an ongoing work the Spirit is doing in us to cleanse us fully from all wickedness, but there is an immediate justification done through Christ that removes our guilt. (Romans 4:25)

Thinking about our journey thus far, the struggle with guilt and forgiveness can be twofold. First, you might have difficulty extending grace to guilty parties who have wronged you or those you love.  Perhaps the greatest challenge before you is to forgive yourself as you wrestle with the crushing emotions of guilt. This is why we return over and over again to the foundation of God's redeeming love, mercy, and grace. Grasping this reality helps us to see the guilt of others and ourselves more clearly:

The debt of our sin has been canceled (Colossians 2:14).
Jesus satisfied the righteous wrath of God on the cross (1 John 4:10).
We have been redeemed from the curse (Galatians 3:14).  

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9 NLT

Lord, thank you for saving me and justifying me. Help me to show others the same type of grace and mercy you have shown me. I praise you for all you have done, are doing, and will do! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we look to understand the lingering weight of shame.

This Week's Focus: 

Our culture often tells us, "Your past defines you." But in Christ, we are forgiven and released from our past, so we can be set free to experience real, hopeful joy grounded in the present and looking to the future.

"Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many."

Hebrews 12:15 NLT

When it comes to being wronged, our modern culture teaches us not to let it go with the well-known phrase "never let them live it down." While that response may seem small or inconsequential, it can easily grow into something much, much worse. The writer of Hebrews warns against a resentful attitude as he urges Christians to watch over one another so that bitterness does not take root and corrupt us.

The Bible clearly teaches us that bitterness poisons everything it touches, without exception. It can blind us and make us behave in foolish ways we might never otherwise. Psalm 73:21-22 paints a vivid picture of this reality, stating, "Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you."  

What's worse, bitterness never stays private; it always has a greater impact on our communities, families, and relationships. It inevitably opens the door to other sins, such as jealousy and gossip, that lead to further offense and destruction (Proverbs 17:9).

So if we know bitterness is the poison, what's the antidote? Forgiveness - the very same that was shown to us through Christ. When we choose not to seek justice for ourselves, and entrust that work to God, we guard our hearts against bitterness. Let us then choose to do this for ourselves and our brothers and sisters so that we might not grow embittered but experience the joy of redemption.

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9 NLT

Lord, help me to be honest with my heart. Let me see where I am holding onto past hurt you want to redeem. Thank you Lord for all you have blessed me with. Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we lean into what Jesus' actions mean for our guilt.  

This Week's Focus: 

Our culture often tells us, "Your past defines you." But in Christ, we are forgiven and released from our past, so we can be set free to experience real, hopeful joy grounded in the present and looking to the future.

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”

Psalm 30:11-12 NLT

As we shift into this week, we look to set a foundation that we have been redeemed by God. This includes all of who we are, not just who we are becoming.

David writes today's psalm and his history is one full of tragedy and trauma. Yet he rejoices knowing God turns his "mourning into dancing!" David does not always understand why he is experiencing what he is in the moment or even long after it has passed, but he knows that God redeems all things and makes them good in His time, to His plan and purposes.

David isn't the only one who offers this perspective. Even Joseph, who was persecuted by his own family, stated to the brothers who wronged him, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive…" (Genesis 50:20). God's redemptive power is consistently on display throughout scripture.

What is your tendency when you have been wronged? Maybe you lean towards offering empty apologies or holding grudges. Perhaps you cling to a past hurt because you wanted a better outcome, or you didn't like the people involved. Remember, Jesus calls us to repent of such behavior and adopt a heart and posture that extend true forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35. When we surrender those things to the Father, the door is open for His redemptive power to take the mourning in our hearts and relationships and turn it into dancing.  

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9 NLT

Lord, open my heart to your redeeming power, even the part that I hold back from you. Help me to show kindness to those in my life and forgive those who have wronged me. Thank you Jesus for all you have done for me! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we explore how bitterness and forgiveness can shape our hearts.

Focus of the Week:

Our culture often tells us, "Your past defines you." But in Christ, we are forgiven and released from our past, so we can be set free to experience real, hopeful joy grounded in the present and looking to the future.

As we set out this week, we will look at the major themes and process through reflection.

Notes on the practices:
Reflection helps to slow down and be mindful of what is being read. These questions are here to be a guide, not a task. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to whatever He may want to highlight for you specifically.

Getting Started: 
Our past is part of our story. It can be hard to let go of, it can hurt, but it can also be transformative. Christ takes who we are, saves us, and then works to change us to be more like Him.

There's no better case study for this than Paul. Philippians 3:5-10 depicts his story. Yet he did not let his past define him. He pressed forward knowing he was forgiven in Christ and called to extend the Gospel to those outside of the Jewish faith.

Paul could have dwelt on the people he chased down, likely tortured, and condemned to death. Yet, Jesus saved him, he was forgiven, and Christ continually worked to make Paul less like his past and more like Him.

Let this be the starting point:
Ask God to reveal one or two things you may be holding onto from your past that you have already been forgiven for and need to let go of this week.

"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9 NLT

This week is about learning to trust God as Lord over all of our life, including our past.

Come back tomorrow as we take the next step together, discovering how we can respond to God's redemptive power of our past.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Christ, we are to look to Him instead of to other people. Keeping our eyes on Jesus allows us to enjoy Him more now and forever.

"Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me."

Psalms 71:18 NLT

As we close out this week we have looked at the importance of remaining focused on Jesus while also being conscious of those around us.

This extends into today as we look at what it means for those younger than us. The Psalmist is telling us that we should always be proclaiming what God has done so that the next generation would know. This faith story can then compound generation to generation as God continues to engage with us.

Speaking of how God has blessed us is also a way to help guide the next generation from being distracted by what was or was not. Passing down the accumulated wisdom, tested faith and witnessed miracles are how we can help guard the younger ones against the discontentment found in the comparison game culture is begging to be played.

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else."

Galatians 6:4 NLT

Lord, thank you for all you have blessed me with. Help me to speak of your goodness often. I praise you for who you are and all you have done! Amen.

Join us Monday as we explore the inexplicable power our past can have on our present and future.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Christ, we are to look to Him instead of to other people. Keeping our eyes on Jesus allows us to enjoy Him more now and forever.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Romans 12:15 NLT

So far this week we have focused on ourselves individually. Remaining focused on Jesus so that we are not consumed with the comparison of me vs them.

Yet, as Christians, we are to care deeply for those around us. Not just those who are our friends and colleagues, but also those who are strange to us and far from God. This is where Paul's exhortation to the Romans comes in. Stay focused on Jesus that you may not lose sight of what is important, and be tenderhearted and show mercy.

By focusing on Jesus we remain protected from becoming distracted. As we grow closer to Him and become more like Him, we mature in our ability to have empathy for others without becoming absorbed in comparing what we have or do not have.

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else."

Galatians 6:4 NLT

Lord, help me to see everyone around me the way you see them. As I go about my day, remind me to be focused on you. I praise you for all you are doing in my life! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we explore the theme of leaving a legacy and mentoring.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Christ, we are to look to Him instead of to other people. Keeping our eyes on Jesus allows us to enjoy Him more now and forever.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."

Hebrews 12:1-2

Throughout the week we have continued to see the importance of focusing on what God has called us to rather than what is happening around us. This idea is made even more plain in today's passage from Hebrews.

The metaphor Paul uses of athletes running is one we know well. When we run, or even are walking fast, and then become distracted the chances of tripping and falling increase. So when something grabs our attention, we slow down. What Paul is urging believers to do is to not become distracted. Don't slow down, don't trip, and don't fall. Keep your eyes up. By keeping our eyes on Christ we are protecting ourselves from slowing down or from being tripped up.

What would this look like? It could be that distraction of busyness comes and so the regular rhythms of spending time with Jesus are not part of your day. It could be running after the wrong things so there is an emptiness or discontentedness when achievement comes. In keeping our eyes on Christ, He protects us and we experience the joy and contentment that comes in experiencing Him.

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else."

Galatians 6:4 NLT

Lord, thank you for saving me. Help me to focus on running after you without being distracted by the things of this world. I praise you for all you have done, are doing and will do! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we dive into how to be with others without falling into the comparison trap.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Christ, we are to look to Him instead of to other people. Keeping our eyes on Jesus allows us to enjoy Him more now and forever.

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

Matthew 25:21 NLT

Digging a little deeper into the countercultural idea of focusing on Jesus rather than on others' paths, Christ's teaching in Matthew takes it a bit further than the parable of the three servants. The takeaway from this story is that faithfulness is far more important than the measure of success. When Jesus tells this parable, He does not offer more praise to the first servant than to the second, even though the first had more resources; He values them both equally because, regardless of outcomes, they were faithful in their respective stewardship.

Comparison inevitably leads us to distort what actually matters most in life. That can lead us to chase the new, the expensive, or whatever the next "in" thing is, perpetuating discontentment and emptiness. Jesus is teaching in a different way, replacing comparison with obedience.

Being faithfully obedient to what God has called you to means that the result will be in God's hands and not yours. In doing so, we learn to trust Him to provide and bless us as the good Father that He is.

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else."

Galatians 6:4 NLT

Lord, help me to be faithful with what you have given me. Guide me in letting go of my need to control the results. I love you Lord, and I praise you for all you have done! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we explore what it means to keep our eyes on Jesus.

This Week's Focus: 

As followers of Christ, we are to look to Him instead of to other people. Keeping our eyes on Jesus allows us to enjoy Him more now and forever.

"Jesus replied, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

John 21:22 NLT

As we set out this week, we begin with a short but impactful conversation between Jesus and Peter. Peter asks Jesus who will betray him, and he replies, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me."

In short, what Jesus is saying to Peter is this: "Do not worry about what I am doing in the circumstances of someone else's life. Just focus on me." This interaction recalls a previous encounter in which Peter, eyes fixed on Christ, stepped out onto stormy waters. He walked on the water, but the moment he took his gaze off Jesus, he immediately began to sink. How often do we experience the same thing when we get sidetracked, derailed, or lose sight of what is actually important?

The steadfastness of our spiritual walk with the Lord depends on where we choose to fix our gaze. Just like Jesus called Peter to change his perspective, he calls us back to a pursuit of personal obedience rather than comparison; joy instead of distraction. When we start looking at others and playing the comparison game, the result is a state full of pride, fear, conceit, jealousy, and discontent.

Today, let us choose to refocus on Jesus, and the result will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else."

Galatians 6:4 NLT

Lord, help me to focus on you. While the many distractions plead for my attention, hold me close to you. Guide me along the path you have for me. Thank you for all you are doing in my life! Amen.

Join us tomorrow as we lean into what "faithfulness is greater than being successful."  

Focus of the Week:

As followers of Christ, we are to look to Him instead of to other people. Keeping our eyes on Jesus allows us to enjoy Him more now and forever.

As we set out this week, we will look at the major themes and process through reflection.

Notes on the practices:

Reflection helps to slow down and be mindful of what is being read. These questions are here to be a guide, not a task. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to whatever He may want to highlight for you specifically.

Getting Started: 

In a world that flaunts comparison and dozens of phrases like "keeping up with the Jones'." Christians are taught to focus more on what Jesus is teaching them, not what is happening in someone else's life.

With social media, the ever growing need to have "latest and greatest," and status symbols promoted anywhere from stadiums to shirt pockets; there's the cultural understanding that screams, "if I don't have ___ then I'm not worth anything."

Yet, Jesus said, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?"
Matthew 16:26a

Let us keep our eyes on Jesus that we may enjoy Him more now and forever!

Let this be the starting point:

Ask God to reveal how you might be comparing your life with someone else's. Seek to focus on Jesus more this week.

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else."

Galatians 6:4 NLT

This week is about learning to turn our focus to Jesus rather than compare ourselves to others.

Come back tomorrow as we take the next step together, discovering Jesus' words to Peter to focus on him.