Love Through Service

 January 22, 2026

John 13:12–15


“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord,” and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’” 



In John 13:12–15 the scene is intimate. I imagine the room is quiet. The disciples are confused, perhaps even embarrassed. Their Lord, the One they had seen heal the sick, calm storms, and raise the dead,  is kneeling before them with a towel around His waist.

In Jesus’ time, foot washing was the task of the lowest servant, unpleasant, menial, and far beneath the status of any respected teacher. Yet Jesus didn’t hesitate. He took on the role of a servant to show the true posture of His heart.

As it has been put, "This moment is not simply about clean feet. It is about a clean understanding of love."

in this event Jesus is redefining greatness. He is reframing leadership. He is revealing the very nature of God.

In the kingdom of God, love is not defined by status, eloquence, or prominence, but by the willingness to serve, especially in the places others avoid.

When Jesus asks, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He is inviting His disciples (and us) to see beyond the act to the pattern. He is saying:

“If I, the One you call Lord, am not above serving, then neither are you.”

In a world obsessed with being noticed, Jesus calls us to notice others. In a culture that values being served, Jesus calls us to serve. In a time when people fight for the highest seat, Jesus takes the lowest one.

And He invites us to follow.

Service is the natural overflow of a heart shaped by Christ. Service transforms. It changes the one who receives it, and even more, it changes the one who gives it. When we serve, we reflect Jesus. When we kneel, we reveal His love. When we choose the towel, we choose His way.

Let's Pray

Lord Jesus, Thank You for showing us what love looks like in action. Teach us to serve with humility, compassion, and joy. Help us to see the needs around us and respond with Your heart. Shape us into people who reflect Your love through simple, faithful acts of service. Amen.

Now That's RADICAL

 January 21, 2026

Matthew 5:43–45 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” 

Today’s message gets right to the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus takes well-known moral standards and gives them a fresh, deeper meaning, setting a higher standard for life in the kingdom of God. In these words above Jesus calls us to a love that breaks the cycle of retaliation. A love that reflects God the Father’s impartial mercy. This teaching by Jesus, points us toward a spiritual maturity in which loving our enemies and praying for those who persecute us, becomes the common practice of God's Kingdom people.

Jesus challenges the common belief of his time that loving your neighbor could go hand in hand with hating your enemy, replacing it with a bold new ethic: a love that reaches beyond simple trade of mutually beneficial practices. Our verses above echo the Old Testament call of love for neighbor but then Jesus goes further, calling his followers to reflect God’s generous kindness toward all people. From the perspective of Jesus, the call and indeed the challenge of loving enemies is a deliberate, countercultural practice that points to God’s restorative purposes. This kind of loving action reflects God’s practice of providing sun and rain to both the righteous and the unrighteous, demonstrating that God's goodness transcends human distinctions or categories. I believe we understand the challenge of this teaching it is one thing to love a neighbor who acts in loving ways toward us, however, it is quite another thing to love an enemy who is unloving toward us, one who may be downright hateful toward us, even threatening.

I once heard someone say, "Praying for persecutors is the engine of this love." Maybe prayer really is the key. I wonder if it shifts our hearts from retaliation to intercession, from bitterness to compassion, and brings us into alignment with the Father who gives good gifts to both the righteous and the unrighteous.

I remember attending a conference in which we were asked to name one person that we found hard to love. Do that yourself right now does someone come to mind? Then at the conference we were asked, challenged I should say, to spend five minutes each morning praying specifically for that person’s needs, not their punishment. Let's be honest that is a tough ask isn't it. How many of us in response to this suggestion were made uncomfortable and immediately put up some resistance. I sure did at the conference. 

**Just to be clear, loving your enemies doesn’t mean putting up with abuse or ignoring healthy boundaries. If you’re dealing with ongoing harm, prioritize your safety and seek guidance while practicing prayer and forgiveness in ways that do not put you at risk. It’s possible to love an enemy while still protecting yourself and others, those two things can go hand in hand. **

In time after that conference, I discovered that the practice of prayer for my enemies, and small acts of kindness toward someone who had wronged me: a greeting, a handshake, a brief note, or a helpful gesture, attending the funeral of their loved one. These little steps weakened hatred’s hold and set me free.

Why does this matter? Loving only those who love us is easy; Jesus calls us to become children of our Heavenly Father by imitating His amzing indiscriminate grace, which grows us toward a spiritual maturity that becomes a profound and undeniable witness to the watching world of the healing and freedom God's Holy Spirit can bring into our lives, and into theirs too, whether neighbors or enemies. 

Let's Pray

Lord, give me the courage to care for those I’d rather keep at a distance. Show me how to pray for my enemies so my heart can be changed by Your mercy. Help me show Your kindness to everyone in small, consistent ways. Amen.

Everyday Mercy: Loving Your Neighbor

January 20, 2026

Mark 12:30 - 31

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Yesterday we examined Mark 12:30 and Jesus’ call to love God wholeheartedly. Today we turn to Mark 12:31, where “Love your neighbor as yourself” is a call to make compassion tangible by treating others with the same care you give yourself, even when it requires sacrifice. This command summarizes faithful living, that is grounded in God’s love and demonstrated through daily acts of mercy and justice.

When Jesus calls the second greatest commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself,” He puts love for others right alongside love for God, showing they’re inseparable in a life of faith. Loving others is the visible proof of loving God. So, our devotion to God and God's ways, is seen not just in prayer and worship, but in how we treat those around us, especially the vulnerable, the stranger, and yes, even those we find hard to understand and therefore love.

In the Old Testament, the law Jesus quotes in Mark 12 helped shape how Israel lived together, expanding the idea of “neighbor” beyond close family to include foreigners and outsiders. A neighbor is the other person, the one we might rather overlook, because the Bible tells us that God’s covenant love crosses every boundary. Remembering God’s command to care for the alien and the poor turns our acts of kindness into reflections of God's own heart for those that we often refer to as "on the margins." Perhaps what might be helpful is for us to ask the question "What would I want if I were in their shoes?" and then act on that answer.

In everyday life, loving your neighbor often comes down to simple, repeated choices, listening without cutting in, giving time instead of rushing to fix things, sharing what you have, and standing alongside those who are oppressed. So, to live this out, we are encouraged and called to such things as offering hospitality, being fully present, speaking up for others, and giving sacrificially. Gradually over time, these small, steady acts create a life that reflects Christ’s love.

Let's Pray

Lord, teach me to see my neighbor through your eyes; give me courage to love where it costs me and wisdom to act with compassion. Amen.

Loving God Wholeheartedly

Loving God Wholeheartedly

 January 19, 2026

Mark 12:30

30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Jesus’ words in Mark 12:30 are not just a suggestion but a profound call to a wholehearted, all-encompassing devotion to God, who has already given us "all things". When He says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” He speaks of a love that is undivided, constant, and far from convenient, a love that penetrates every aspect of our being.

The heart is the center of our desires, affections, and motivations. To love God with all our heart means:

Letting Him shape what we long for
Allowing His presence to soften what has grown hard
Choosing Him even when emotions fluctuate
It’s the daily prayer: “Lord, align my desires with Yours.”

When the Bible speaks of "the soul" it is describing the innermost part of our being, the foundation of our identity and purpose. Therefore, Loving God with our soul means:

Finding our worth in Him, not in achievement or approval
Letting His Spirit breathe life into our weary places
Surrendering our whole selves, not just the polished parts

To love God with the deepest part of us is to offer the quiet confession: “My life is Yours, Lord.”

Remember, faith is not blind, mindless or without thought. In our verse today Jesus invites us to love God with our intellect, imagination, and reasoning. What might this look like?

Well, at the very least I believe it involves the following:

Allowing Scripture to shape our worldview
Bringing our questions to God instead of hiding them
Thinking in ways that reflect His truth, purity, and wisdom

It is the intentional practice of praying: “Renew my mind, Lord.”

Love the Lord your God with heart, soul and mind and lastly our verse says to love will all our strength.  Strength reflects our energy, capacity, and physical life. To love God with our strength suggests that as Jesus' followers we offer our time, abilities, and resources to be used for God's purposes, it means serving even when it costs something, it means living with faithful perseverance, not perfection. 

To love God with all our strength means the daily offering of our selves to God with a prayer like, “Use my life for Your glory.”

I know this is a well known verse to many of us, probably read lots of devotions on it, heard numerous sermons as well, yet today I believe it is a verse packed with statements that we need to return to repeatedly. For, you see, Jesus’ command to love is not burdensome, it is actually tremendously liberating. Jesus is not asking for perfection here; He is inviting us into the journey to fullness. Wholehearted love is not achieved in a moment; it is cultivated over a lifetime.Wholehearted love grows through, small acts of obedience, quiet moments of prayer, and choosing God and his purposes again and again ... Wholehearted love grows as we open ourselves to God's love that transforms us from the inside out.

I have found that the more we love God, as Jesus' words above invite us, the more we discover "How Deep the Father's Love" is, that God has loved us first, best, and completely.

Let's Pray

Lord, help me to love You with all that I am. Guide my heart, steady my spirit, refresh my mind, and strengthen my body. Lead me into a richer, fuller, and more joyful love for You, a love that fills every part of my life and shows Your goodness to the world. Amen.

Resting in God’s Presence

 January 16, 2026

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

We end our week of Devotions 

with a very well known Old Testament Psalm. 

 A Psalm that invites us 

into the comfort and rest of God's presence.

As you likely noticed as you read Psalm 46 above, the Psalm does not promise a life without trouble. It is a very honest Psalm, that says "though" life shattering circumstance happen to us, we need to remember that we belong to a God who is:

Our refuge when the world shakes
Our strength when we are weak
Our ever-present help when trouble comes
Our peace when chaos surrounds

I believe that is a truth revealed to us, not only in Psalm 46, but throughout the Bible, and I dare say most of us can testify to places in our lives where God's has been a refuge, strength, ever-present help, and our peace. 

Then the Psalm issues a command. Since God is our a refuge, strength,  help, and peace, then. “Be still." This command is a call to you and me to re-center our lives around God’s sovereignty.

What does "to be still" mean for us? Well, I believe being still means we:

Remember who God is
Make space for God’s voice
Quiet the inner noise
Surrender our anxious striving
Release the illusion of control

To "be still and know" that the Lord Almighty is with us and that our exalted God is faithful as a refuge, strength, ever-present help, and peace for his people results in a faith that says that we can, Trust His character, Rest in His power, Lean into His faithfulness, and Anchor our identity in His presence.

In a shaken and unsettled world, Psalm 46 invites us to cultivate what some call, holy stillness.

Let's Pray

God of refuge and strength,
help us find stillness in Your presence.
Ease our anxious hearts
and calm the unrest inside us.
Teach us to trust that You are God,
faithful, sovereign, and close.
Let Your presence be our peace
and Your voice our steady anchor.
Amen.

GROW IN GRACE: CULTIVATE HUMILITY

January 15, 2026

Philippians 2:1-4

If you have encouragement in Christ and fellowship in the Spirit, then be of the same mind, have the same love, be in full accord; do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves and look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others.


One of the first things we notice in our reading above is that humility in Philippians is communal and practical, it is through self-giving that unity and joy are built up. Paul, as we have noticed in other devotions this week, links inner encouragement from Christ to outward behaviors: shared mind, shared love, and mutual concern. This is rooted in the example of Christ later in Philippians chapter 2. Here in vs 1-5 the call is to think of others first as a mark of Christian maturity. 

Why does this matter?  Why this emphasis on self givng? The answer is that pride fractures communities; humility restores them. When the community of Jesus followers count others more significant, relationships become places of grace rather than competition.

Here is how the apostle Paul continues in Philippians 2:

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Do you see the example Jesus showed us? It’s not a “do as I say” command, but a “do as I did” invitation and calling from Him. Jesus turns the idea of greatness upside down, showing that it’s about humble, selfless service instead of chasing status or power. Living with His mindset means looking out for others, being open and vulnerable, and trusting God to lift you up instead of promoting yourself. True biblical humility is about serving others while trusting God to set things right.

Notice, what results from Jesus' willing obedience and how God responds,

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Let's Pray

Lord, give me the mind of Christ: to value others, to set aside selfish ambition, and to serve in love. Teach me to look beyond my interests and to build unity for Your glory. Amen.

GROW IN GRACE: Forgive Deeply

Grow in Grace: Forgive Deeply

 January 14, 2026

Matthew 18:21–22

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

In our devotion yesterday we observed that when relationships become strained, when misunderstandings arise, or when someone disappoints us, the Bible through the Apostle Paul's teaching invites us to “bear with one another and forgive one another.”  Grace embraces mercy over resentment, seeks understanding over assumption, and pursues reconciliation over withdrawal.

Grace stretches us, shapes us, and calls us beyond what feels natural. Growing in grace means allowing God to soften the places in us that have become rigid, guarded, or weary.It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to nurture patience, compassion, and humility in the small, daily moments when my reactions show what’s truly in my heart.

One part of growing in grace is learning to forgive deeply. That is a big ask, isn't it? Offering forgiveness is hard.  

In Matthew 18:21–22, Peter approaches Jesus with what he thinks is a generous question: “How many times should I forgive? Up to seven times?” In Peter’s world, forgiving someone three times was already a generous act. So when he proposes seven, he thinks he’s pushing forgiveness as far as it can go. To be honest, it does sound amazingly generous. Seven Times to the same person!

Jesus response to Peter must have been a real "brain buster" to  Peter’s expectations. We need to notice something here, Jesus isn’t giving a mathematical formula; Jesus, rather is revealing the heart of God. He is teaching that forgiveness is not meant to be counted, or measured out sparingly. Forgiveness is meant to flow out of us, again and again, over and over, because that is how God forgives us. Jesus is showing that forgiveness is not a task we perform, it is an attitude, a posture we carry into daily living. As somone has put it, "it is not about keeping track of offenses; it is about keeping our hearts free from the slow poison of resentment."  It’s about living with the same mercy that God constantly shows us.

To be forgiving in the way of Jesus, does not mean the hurt was small, but it does mean that  God’s grace toward us is great. To forgive does not excuse what was wrong, but it does help us to release what is heavy. The message here is that with God's help, God's grace enables us to forgive not once, but continually. The outcome of this life attitude means we experience  freedom over resentment, healing over hardness, and reconciliation over pay back.

Doesn't that sound like a wonderful pursuit for 2026?  

God, help me grow in grace. God, help me learn to forgive deeply. God, help me walk in the way of Jesus. Amen

GROW IN GRACE: Extending Grace

 January 13, 2026

Colossians 3:12-14

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.



Growing in grace is not simply about receiving God’s kindness, it is about allowing that unmerited kindness to reshape how we see, speak to, and treat the people around us. Paul’s words in Colossians 3:12–14 remind us that grace is not lifeless. It is a way of life, an attitude of the heart, and an intentional daily choice.

In these passages, the Apostle Paul refers to believers as “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.” He first reminds us of our identity before explaining how we should respond to the Grace we have received. Recognizing that we are cherished, loved, forgiven, and embraced by God allows us the freedom to share that love with others.

What the Apostle is teaching in these verses is that the liberty of grace results in you and me being clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. In other words, we become living reflections of Christ’s character. These virtues, say our verses above, are the everyday garments of a grace-shaped life.

Did you notice how far the apostle Paul takes the application of this truth? When relationships become strained, when misunderstandings arise, or when someone disappoints us, Paul invites us to “bear with one another and forgive one another.” You see, Grace is not naïve; it is courageous. Grace embraces mercy over resentment, seeks understanding over assumption, and pursues reconciliation over withdrawal.

Above all, Paul says, “put on love.” Love is the “thread that holds every other virtue together.” What I have learned and discovered is that without love, grace becomes duty. With love, grace becomes joy.

Growing in grace means allowing God’s love to soften our reactions, expand our patience, and to deepen our compassion. We might say it like this: growing in grace means choosing to see others not by their flaws, but through the lens of God’s mercy.


Let’s Pray

God, thank You for the grace You have poured into my life, grace I could never earn and can never repay. Shape my heart to reflect Yours, and teach me to extend grace freely, generously, and joyfully. Clothe me with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, and above all, May Your love be the strong tie that unites all my relationships. Amen.

 

GROW IN GRACE: RECEIVE the GIFT

 January 12, 2026

Ephesians 2:8–9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”  

Every spiritual journey described in the scriptures begins with grace, not effort, not discipline, not resolve. The point is, before we can grow in grace, we must first receive it. Paul reminds us, in the verse above, that salvation is not something we achieve; it is something we receive. Grace is God’s love that takes the first step, reaching out to us before we could ever turn toward Him.

This is where inner transformation begins: Not with striving, but with surrender. Not with performance, but with trust. Not with proving ourselves, but with opening ourselves.

Grace is God’s “yes” spoken over our lives before we ever whisper a word back to Him.


Receiving grace is more than agreeing with a biblical doctrine. Receiving grace really is a posture of the heart. It means:  accepting that we are loved. It means letting go of self‑reliance, it means we stop trying to earn what God freely gives. It means we surrender and allow God to define our value and worth instead of our successes, failures, or the opinions of others being the measure. 

So often I have found in myself, and heard in the stories of others, that believers struggle to receive God's Amazing gift of Grace because:

We feel unworthy. We fear disappointment. Perhaps also, the fact that we have been shaped by performance-driven environments in society and church.

I believe we confuse spiritual maturity with spiritual perfection. But please remember that grace is not given to the worthy, it makes us worthy. Grace is not earned, it is received or embraced. Grace isn’t fragile; it’s abundant and overflowing.

Today or throughout this week, in your quiet moments, reflect on these questions

Where am I still trying to earn God’s approval?
What part of my story do I struggle to believe God can redeem?
What would it look like to simply receive today?

Allow God's Spirit to bring these things gently to the surface. Remember grace meets us exactly where we are.

Let Us Pray

God, I come with open hands and an open heart. Teach me to receive Your grace as a living reality.  Let Your love define me, shape me, and transform me. Let me grow in grace by first receiving it deeply as your amazing gift. Amen.

Live Generously

 January 9, 2026

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 

“God loves a cheerful giver… and is able to bless you abundantly.”

Generosity is measured not by the quantity we give, but by the spirit in which it is offered. Paul teaches in our verse today, that the foundation of generosity lies in God’s very nature of extravagant, and joyful giving toward us. Every blessing we receive flows freely from God's open hand. 

Think of  it this way, when we choose to give freely, our time, our attention, our resources, our compassion, we step into alignment with God’s generous heart. Generosity opens the heart. We become partners in God's ongoing work of blessing, healing, and restoring lives in the world around us. It is through this partnership with God that generosity shapes us; generosity loosens our grip on what is temporary and builds our trust in God’s faithful provision. You see, generosity is not a single act, but a way of living with open-handed joyful giving that reflects the principles of the Kingdom of God.

A cheerful giver is not a person who neglects their own needs or gives beyond their means, but one who has discovered that God is "Jehovah-Jireh", the ultimate source of provision. For those who embrace this truth, giving is never a loss, but a joyful participation in the divine flow of grace. 

Paul concludes with: “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Notice the rhythm:

God is able
God blesses
God supplies what we need
God empowers us to do good

Generosity is not something we muster up. It is something God grows in us as we trust Him.

Take a quiet moment(s) this weekend and ask God: “Where can I be generous? Who needs what I have to offer?”

Then practice intentional generosity:

Offer your time to someone who needs presence more than answers.
Speak encouragement that lifts a weary heart.
Share resources, big or small, with someone who could be blessed by them.


Let Us Pray

God, shape my heart to reflect Your generosity. Teach me to give freely, joyfully, and sacrificially, of my time, my talents, my resources.  Help me keep my hands open, holding loosely to what’s mine and holding on firmly to what truly matters to You. Make my life a channel of Your abundant grace. Amen.

Practice Gratitude

Practice Gratitude

 January 8, 2026

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances…”

Psalm 136:1

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Gratitude isn’t just a polite response to something good and positive, Gratitude is a mindset, a way of seeing the world. The Bible never asks us to feel thankful for all things, but to give thanks in all things, because Gratitude reminds us that God is always present, actively working, and faithful even when things are hard. Paul isn’t telling us to fake it when things
are hard; he’s inviting us to look for God even in the messy parts.

You see gratitude slows us down. It interrupts the frantic pace. Graditude teaches us to notice what God is doing in the preseent moment. When we practice gratitude, we begin to see:

The small mercies we usually overlook
The strength that carried us through yesterday
The people who reflect God’s kindness
The breath in our lungs, the light in the morning, the grace that meets us again

Gratitude doesn’t deny hardship. It simply refuses to let hardship have the final word.
Gratitude helps us see the God who walks beside us, works within us, and surrounds us with an endless love.

What is one small thing this week that you might have overlooked but that in looking back you can thank God for now?

Where have you sensed God’s quiet faithfulness recently?

How might gratitude reshape the way you begin each new day.

Let's Pray


God of all good gifts, help us to see. Open our eyes to the blessings hidden in everyday moments. Give us hearts that hold on to Your goodness, even when life feels heavy or unsure. Let gratitude be our rhythm, our foundation, and our quiet way of worship. Amen.

Guard My Heart

 January 7, 2026

Proverbs 4:23

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

According to the Bible, our heart is basically the control center of our whole life. Heart in the scriptures embodies our thoughts, our emotions, our reactions, our choices. The biblical implication is that whatever we let settle in our heart will eventually show up in how we live. Guarding our heart is not about closing ourselves off to others or building walls of defensiveness. It’s about paying attention. It’s about recognizing what helps you grow and what slowly drains the life out of you.

Here in today's verse God invites us to treat our inner life like something precious, because it is. God calls us to be honest with ourselves, to "stay awake" spiritually, and to protect the new life God is growing in us. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it", means to practice a sacred stewardship  of healthy boundaries.

Let's do a little "Heart Check" today.

Take five quiet minutes today, no distractions, no devices, no noise, just you and God.

Ask yourself: What’s shaping my heart right now?

To answer this question you may need to take note of the things that leave you spiritually tired, anxious, or distracted. 

For example, one unhealthy influence in my daily routine has been to grab my Ipad and start scrolling through the top news events of the day. Generally, this practice creates anxiety, anger, and an overwhelming unsettledness before my feet hit the floor. In recent days I have been trying to replace this practice with something that feeds my soul, read some Scripture, engage in prayer, or some other practice that is life-giving. 

What I am finding is that "Small shifts can make a big difference!"

Pick one daily habit that strengthens your heart and commit to it for the rest of this week. It could be a Bible verse each morning, listening to a worship song on your commute to work or daily errands, perhaps a five‑minute prayer walk, or a moment of gratitude before you roll out of bed. Give this a try and see if "Small shifts can make a big difference" for you too.

Let's Pray

God, help me guard my heart with wisdom and grace. Remove anything that doesn’t belong, and fill me with Your truth, peace, and presence. Amen.

Let this be the year your heart grows more aligned with God’s voice.

Walk in Wisdom

 January 6, 2026

Ephesians 5:15–17

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise… understanding what the Lord’s will is.”



Wisdom isn’t just about collecting knowledge, it’s about living with a mindful awareness of God. In these verses, Paul encourages believers to live with purpose and intention, being mindful not just of their actions but also of how they move through each day. I believe the wisdom Paul is writing about here is one led by prayer, guided by clarity, and shaped by deliberate choices.

Walking wisely means slowing down to notice where God is already at work. It’s developed in quiet moments where we listen more than we talk, reflect instead of react, and seek God’s guidance before taking the next step. Wisdom takes root and matures when our hearts are tuned in to the quiet, guiding voice of the Spirit and our lives are consciously shaped by God’s larger, unfolding story. 

In this way, wisdom is really about living with the understanding that we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves. The choices we make, the way we treat people, and how we go about our daily lives start to show God’s work in the world. True wisdom shows up when we live faithfully and follow God’s guidance. 

In a world that’s always rushing, full of noise and repeated distractions, choosing wisdom is really counter cultural. it si like swimming against the tide. Choosing wisdom takes staying alert to God, paying attention to God's presence, listening for God's guidance, and letting our hearts be shaped by our loving creator. Living wisely, as the Bible teaches, means staying alert and making choices guided by Christ’s love, humility, and truth, rather than simply reacting on impulse or taking the easy way out.

Wisdom does not just happen. It is formed through daily surrender, ongoing learning, and a teachable spirit. Over time, it takes shape as we practice listening, reflecting, and responding in ways that honor God and bring blessing to others.

 

Let's Pray

Holy Spirit, teach me how to walk in Your wisdom.
Quiet the noise around me and within me,
so I can hear and recognize Your voice.
Shape my decisions, my habits, and my desires
to reflect Your heart and Your ways that
bring life, peace, and grace to those around me.
Amen.

In Step: Who Sets the Pace

 January 5, 2026

Proverbs 16:3

 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

When you slow down and really sit with this verse, it hits different. It’s not saying, “Go make your plans and then ask God to rubber‑stamp them.” It’s saying, “Start with God. Begin there. Let God shape what you even want in the first place.”

That’s an entire shift of thinking isn't it? 

Most of us step into a new year thinking about goals, habits, improvements, basically saying, “How can I upgrade myself?” And there’s nothing wrong with planning for growth. Yet, the Bible invites us into something deeper than self‑improvement. It invites us into alignment with our Creator God.

“Commit to the Lord…” means handing God the "steering wheel" before you even choose a destination. It’s saying:

“God, shape my desires.”

“Guide my decisions.”

“Form my character before You form my calendar.”

“Help me want what You want.”

And then comes the promise: “…and He will establish your plans.”

Not just any plans, the ones God by the Holy Spirit, planted in you. The ones God refined. The ones that actually fit who He’s calling you to be. 

What I have discovered, maybe some of you have as well, is that when God establishes something, it’s steady. It’s rooted. It’s a direction that carries you through seasons of life.

I wonder if instead of asking, “What do I want to accomplish this year?” maybe the better question is:

“Lord, what are You forming in me?”

“Where are You leading?”

“What do You want to grow in my life?”

Because the new year isn’t just about doing better, it’s about being in step with God. It’s about letting God's Spirit lead instead of letting our self determined ambitions run ahead. I know this one thing, that being aligned with God's purposes yields better "outcomes." 

Let's Pray 

God, I give You this year. Shape my intentions, guide my steps, and align my heart with Yours. Establish the plans that come from You, and let everything I do reflect Your goodness. Amen.

Subtraction, not Striving

January 2, 2026

Philippians 3:13-4

"...one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

At the start of a new year, I usually find myself thinking about all the things I should add to my life if I want to grow as a follower of Jesus. I was surveying some devotions recently that focused on the beginning of a new year, and what I found was a call to add things to my life. Have you noticed that? More prayer. More Bible reading. More worship. More church involvement. More love, more patience, more generosity, more courage. No wonder I start each year with a focus on adding things to my life. The thought process goes something like this: "If I could just stack enough “good Christian habits” on top of each other, surely I’d end up more like Jesus, steady, peaceful, purposeful."

But if we are honest, that approach usually leaves us exhausted. We can’t seem to keep up with everything we think we are supposed to add. Something always slips. Something always feels too heavy. And instead of feeling spiritually full, we end up feeling spiritually inadequate. I wonder if the Christian life isn’t about adding more. (?)

I’ve started to realize that following Jesus isn’t primarily a life of addition, it’s a life of subtraction. When I look at Jesus’ example in the Bible, following him seemed so much simpler. He never gave long checklists or complicated schedules. He invited people to seek him, follow him, and make space in their hearts and lives to encounter him.

The Pharisees were the ones obsessed with checking the boxes, not Jesus. Jesus seemed far more interested in our willingness to surrender our spiritual checklist than adding to it.

I have discovered, that when I start cutting out the noise, the clutter, and all the constant distractions, something amazing happens: space opens up. In that space, the core parts of life with God, worship, prayer, Scripture, stillness, and communion, stop feeling like chores and start becoming real encounters. You see, They are not just things to check off a list; they’re how God shapes our hearts from the inside out.

Worship draws my focus back to who He is. 

Prayer helps me let go and learn to trust. 

Communion reminds me that His Spirit is nearer than I think. 

Meditation calms my soul in the truth.

These practices don’t earn us anything, they simply make room for the God who already loves us, already wants us, already delights in being near us. Every time we clear away a distraction, we will find our Creator waiting.

So maybe the question for this new year isn’t, “What should I add?” Maybe it’s, “What needs to be subtracted?”

What’s dulling my awareness of God? 

What’s draining my energy? 

What have I allowed to take center stage in my life?

If you’re stepping into this year already feeling overwhelmed, maybe God isn’t asking you to do more. Maybe he’s inviting you to carry less.

Take a moment to look at what’s filling your life. What could be released? What could be simplified? What could be set aside?

Create space. Lighten your load. Make room for his presence.

And watch what happens when God isn’t squeezed into the margins of your life, but welcomed into the center of it.