By: Angie Drummonds

There are days when life doesn’t make sense.
Days when what we see around us feels discouraging, uncertain, or overwhelming. The world can be loud with fear, disappointment, and bad news, and if we’re not careful, we can begin to lean on our own understanding and let what we see shape how we feel.
But God gently reminds us to do something different.

He calls us to trust Him… even when we don’t understand.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". 
Proverbs 3:5

Trusting Jesus doesn’t mean we will always have the answers. It means we believe His plan is still good, His promises are still true, and His hand is still at work…even when we can’t see it yet.

One of the most powerful examples of this kind of trust is found in the life of Joseph.  
Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers, thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, and later wrongfully imprisoned. From the outside, his life looked like a series of setbacks and disappointments. It would have been easy for him to give up, become bitter, or assume God had forgotten him.

But Joseph kept trusting God’s plan, even when he couldn’t understand it.
Years later, God used Joseph to save countless lives during a famine, including the very brothers who had hurt him. What once looked like defeat became part of God’s greater purpose.

One of my most favorite verses is found in Genesis 50:20. Joseph’s words say it best…
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good". 
That story reminds us that what we see right now is not the final chapter. God is still working behind the scenes.

The Bible also tells us to think on things that are true, not just on what we see in front of us. What we see can change. Circumstances shift. Emotions rise and fall. But truth remains steady. Truth reminds us that God is faithful, that He is still in control, and that He is working all things together for our good.

Yes, this world can discourage us at times.
But as believers, our hope is not rooted in this world, it’s rooted in eternity.
One day, Jesus will return.
One day, every tear will be wiped away.
One day, the battles we face now will be replaced with victory.

And that promise is why we keep pressing on.
We keep trusting when it’s hard.
We keep believing when the path feels unclear.
We keep moving forward, not because everything is perfect, but because we know the end of the story.

Victory belongs to Jesus! And because we belong to Him, victory belongs to us too.
So today, lift your eyes above what you see. Fix your heart on what is true.

Trust His plan, even when you don’t fully understand it.
Keep pressing on. Your breakthrough, your peace, and your victory are closer than you think.

By: Blake Allums

The destination of this blog is to understand that there is a spirit that is attached to your money. The good spirit would be a spirit of generosity and the bad being greed.

Eccl. 5:10 says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”

My entire life I wanted to play college basketball. It was my dream! And so, I practiced everyday, hours at a time and strived to make my dream come true. Eventually, the Lord blessed me with the ability to play basketball at the collegiate level. Everything looked like it was about to go super great… But then I arrived on the scene. It was in the moment that I achieved my greatest dream that I found myself the most empty, depressed, anxious, and lonely.

I believe in the same way that a sport or dream did not fill, neither will money with us. A full bank account means nothing if your life is empty.

The spirit of Mammon is the spirit of greed. Scholars have actually given this spirit a name because it is so familiar. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” When we follow the spirit of mammon we idolize money. We are becoming greedy. Look at the story of the rich young ruler. He followed every “rule” and still missed Jesus because he would not give up his possessions.
 
The only way to get rid of greed— Give.
The only way to know if you're not greedy— Give.
Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

I don't mean to sound like a prosperity gospel preacher, BUT it is a kingdom principle that when you give, you will receive back (when giving with the right heart).
When you realize the money you have is all God’s then giving stops feeling loss and starts becoming multiplication in God’s hands. Giving and generosity will grow your faith faster than greed ever would.

I have countless stories of giving and the Lord blessing me and I am sure you do too. But I want to conclude with a familiar story. Mark 12:42-43 says, “And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.”

I will leave you with this one sentence: “The value of a gift is measured by the heart behind it.”

By: Gabi Pope

One of the very first things I had the privilege of doing with the revival kids was traveling to a small church in Hayden to help lead a kids crusade. I remember walking in not fully knowing what to expect, but knowing God was going to move in big ways.

Before we ever stepped onto that stage, Tabitha gave us a simple instruction that has stayed with me ever since: learn one child’s name and learn what they love.

It sounded so small, so simple. Almost easy to overlook in the middle of preparing lessons, organizing games, and getting ready to speak to a room full of kids.

But that was the whole point!!
Because the mission was never about the crowd. It was always for the one, for the One.
For the one soul in that room who needed to be seen. For the one heart that needed to know they mattered. For the One who gave His life for us. I didn’t realize just how deeply that would mark me until I met him.

A small child who, to most people, might have just blended into the group, but not to God. I learned his full name. I learned that his favorite color was green. I remember him telling me so plainly, “I’m not athletic… I prefer video games.” I remember on the last night of the crusade he looked at me and said “Julia Gabrielle Pope, I will be doing what you do one day. I want to bring everyone I know to know Jesus too!”
 
Something about that moment stuck with me, and will stick with me forever!  It’s been over five years, and I still talk about him often. Not because of something big or dramatic, but because of how God used something so small to shift something so deep inside of me!
That child wasn’t just a face in the crowd. He was the one, the one that I was sent to look for that night. The one that God ordained for me to meet!

That’s where everything changed for me. Because how often do we chase the big moments? The full rooms, the loud responses, the visible impact. We measure effectiveness by numbers, by reach, by how many hands were raised. But Heaven doesn’t count the way we do. Heaven stops for the one that we would often overlook.
 
Jesus said in Luke 15:4, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?”

He leaves the ninety-nine for one. He notices the one sitting in the back. The one who doesn’t feel like they fit. The one who quietly believes they’ll never be chosen.
And if I’m being honest, I used to miss that. I used to focus on doing something meaningful for God… while overlooking the very person He placed right in front of me.

But that one child taught me something I’ll never forget:
We do it all for that one opportunity. That one conversation. That one moment of connection. That one chance to reflect the love of Jesus to someone who may have never truly felt it before. Because when you really see someone the way God sees them, everything shifts.

They’re no longer just another person in your day, they are a soul. A soul that may be lost, wandering, searching for something they can’t quite name. A soul that was created with purpose, deeply loved, and worth everything. 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

Not anyone. Not even the one we might overlook. And suddenly, interruptions become divine appointments. The quick conversations matter more. The small acts hold more weight. The moments no one else notices… feel Holy and on time. Because bringing someone home to Him doesn’t always start with a stage or a sermon. Sometimes it starts with learning their name, remembering their favorite color, or listening when they speak. It is choosing to see them!! It is meeting them where they currently are!!

I think about that child often, not just because of who he was, but because of what God showed me through him. That if I spend my life pouring into crowds but miss the one, I’ve missed the heart of God. Because we lead for the one soul that needs saving, but we also do it for the One who gave everything to save us. Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

And when I remember that I was once the one…lost, wandering, unseen, it humbles me in a way nothing else can. Romans 5:8 puts it so simply: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

He didn’t wait for me to have it all together. He came for me when I was the one. So now I find myself praying differently. “God, help me not miss the one today.” Not the loudest or  the most obvious. But the one You’re highlighting. Because if everything I do points even one person back to Him, it will always be worth it.

By: Kara Wallis

Taking Back Ground

There are times in life when it feels like we have lost ground—spiritually, emotionally, or even in our purpose. The Bible shows us that God never intended for His people to live in defeat, but in victory through Him. In the book of Joshua, we see the people of Israel stepping into the land God had promised them, but they had to fight to take possession of what was already theirs. Joshua 1:3 says, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you.” This reminds us that God has already prepared victories for us, but we must walk forward in faith to take hold of them.

Taking back ground begins with courage and obedience. God told Joshua in Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Fear and discouragement often cause people to lose ground in their faith, relationships, and purpose. But courage is not the absence of fear—it is moving forward even when fear is present, trusting that God is with us. When we choose obedience to God instead of giving in to fear, we begin to reclaim what we have lost.

Another important lesson from Joshua is that victory often comes step by step, not all at once. When the Israelites marched around Jericho, it probably did not make sense to them, but they obeyed God’s instructions anyway. In Joshua 6, we see that the walls fell after their obedience and persistence. Sometimes taking back ground in our lives requires consistent prayer, consistent faith, and consistent obedience, even when we do not immediately see results. God often works through persistence and faithfulness.

We also learn that we must remove the things that cause us to lose ground. Throughout the book of Joshua, God warned Israel not to compromise with the things that would pull them away from Him. In our lives, this may mean letting go of habits, fears, relationships, or mindsets that keep us from moving forward. Taking back ground is not just about gaining new things; it is also about removing the obstacles that keep us from fully walking with God.

Finally, taking back ground is about remembering God’s faithfulness. In Joshua 4, the Israelites set up stones of remembrance to remind future generations of what God had done for them. When we remember how God has helped us in the past, it gives us faith for the future. No matter what ground you feel you have lost, God is able to restore, rebuild, and lead you forward again. With faith, courage, obedience, and perseverance, we can take back the ground that God has called us to walk in.

By: Brandy Wallis

There’s something about this time of year that just feels like a deep breath after holding it in all winter.

Song of Solomon 2:11–12 says, “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come…”
You don’t have to look very far right now to feel that shift beginning to happen. The trees that looked lifeless just weeks ago are budding again. Brave little buds are starting to peek through the soil. The days are stretching out a little longer. Color is slowly pushing its way back into a landscape that once felt dull and dormant.

Spring is on the way.
And with it comes that quiet but undeniable excitement of new life.
There’s an awakening that takes place every year that reminds us that what once looked dead was never truly gone — it was simply waiting for the right season to come alive again. Seeds that have been buried beneath cold ground begin to break open. Fields that appeared barren start producing beauty. What was hidden starts to emerge. What was silent begins to sing.

In many ways, this mirrors the work Christ has done in us.

Before we knew Him, Scripture tells us we were spiritually dead — separated from the life that only He can give. We may have been going through the motions, surviving, existing, even functioning well on the outside, but something deep within us remained untouched,
unawakened, and not alive. Like winter’s grip on the earth, there was a dormancy in our hearts that no amount of effort could change. Then Jesus stepped in.
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” Colossians 3:10

Through His grace, He didn’t just improve us — He made us new. The same way spring doesn’t simply polish what winter left behind but brings entirely new growth, Christ offers us a brand-new life. Old things pass away. New things begin to bloom. Hope takes root where despair once lived. Joy pushes through where heaviness once dominated. Purpose starts to grow in places that once felt empty. And just like the earth responds to the change of season, our lives begin to respond to His presence.

There’s a new song that starts to rise within us. A fresh perspective begins to take shape. We find ourselves drawn toward things that produce life instead of drain it. The cold, hardened places of our hearts soften as His love warms what was once numb.

Spring reminds us that renewal is not only possible — it’s promised.

Every budding tree and blooming flower is a visual testimony that God specializes in bringing life from what seemed lifeless. If He can renew the earth season after season, how much more can He restore, refresh, and revive the hearts of those who belong to Him?
So as you notice the signs of spring all around you, let it be more than just a change in weather.

Let it remind you of the new life you’ve been given in Christ — a life that continues to grow,
flourish, and sing as you walk with Him. The winter is past. The season of singing has come.

Philippians 4:6

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

• The Human Reality: Anxiety Is Common

Anxiety is one of the most universal human experiences. It can come from uncertainty about the future, financial pressures, family concerns, health challenges, or simply the weight of daily responsibilities. The Bible does not pretend that life is free from worry. Instead, it speaks directly into the reality of our fears.

In the Epistle to the Philippians, the apostle Paul gives a powerful command: “Do not be anxious about anything.” At first glance, this may seem impossible. How can anyone avoid anxiety completely?

The key is that Paul does not simply say “stop worrying.” He replaces anxiety with something else—prayer, petition, and thanksgiving.

God never commands us to remove something from our lives without giving us a better way to live.

• The Invitation: Bring Everything to God

Paul says “in everything.” Not just the big problems. Not just the spiritual concerns. Everything.

God invites us to bring:
* The major crises
* The everyday stresses
* The silent fears we don’t tell anyone else
* The small frustrations that pile up during the day

Prayer is not meant to be a last resort after we’ve exhausted every other option. Instead, prayer is meant to be our first response.

When we pray, we are doing something profound: we are shifting the burden from our shoulders to God’s.

• Prayer and Petition: Honest Conversation with God

Paul uses two words—prayer and petition.

Prayer is the general act of communicating with God. Petition means specific requests. God does not ask us to hide our needs or pretend we have everything under control.

Throughout Scripture, people cry out honestly to God. Consider:
* David pouring out his fears in the Psalms.
* Hannah weeping before God for a child.
* Jesus Christ praying intensely in the Garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion.

Prayer is not polished performance—it is honest dependence.

You can tell God exactly what is on your heart.

• The Often-Forgotten Ingredient: Thanksgiving

Paul includes something surprising: thanksgiving.

Why gratitude when we’re worried? Because gratitude reminds us of what God has already done.

When we thank God, we remember:
* The prayers He has already answered
* The ways He has provided before
* The faithfulness He has shown throughout our lives

Gratitude shifts our perspective from fear of the future to confidence in God’s character.

Thanksgiving strengthens our faith.

• The Promise That Follows

The very next verse, Philippians 4:7, reveals the result:

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Notice something important:
Paul does not promise that every problem will disappear immediately.

Instead, he promises peace.

A peace that:
* Doesn’t always make logical sense
* Guards our hearts from fear
* Protects our minds from spiraling worry

This peace is not manufactured through positive thinking—it is given by God.

By: Tabitha White

Recently, our RK Go Team had the privilege of leading Kids456, the discipleship camp for the Alabama district of the Assemblies of God. It was a camp that we had looked forward to for such a long time. Our theme for the week was “All In,” and throughout the weekend, we challenged kids to examine their hearts to see if they were really “all in” to following Jesus.

Each night had a different “Big Question:”

“Are you all in?”

“Are you all in, even if you feel like you are all alone?”

“Are you all in, even when it’s hard?”

I think I can speak for each of our leaders when I say that we were as challenged as the kids, as we studied and prepared for the weekend. 

On the last night, we planned to talk about the story of Daniel in the lion’s den and how Daniel was “all in” in the hardest of situations. As we prepared for the camp, I prayed and prayed about the object lesson for the last night. I googled different object lessons and watched countless YouTube videos, but nothing set right in my spirit. I was talking to Gabi about it in the office one day leading up to camp when she stopped me in my tracks.

Earlier in the week, we had talked about how kids needed to know how to fight for what was important to them…and Gabi said, “You know what you have to teach them! You have to teach them to fight for their faith, even when it’s hard!”

So, that’s what we did. On the last night of camp, I sat down on the stage and explained that I didn’t have a fancy object lesson that would impress them. Instead, we were going to talk like the big kids that they were! We were going to learn together how to fight for our faith…and even as an adult, I believe that sometimes we need this reminder too! 

With the kids’ help, and some coaching from the adults, we came up with this list of ways that we can fight for our faith.

First, we fight for our faith by digging into God’s Word every day! Joshua 1:8 tells us, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

“Study this Book of instruction continually.” To fight for our faith, we have to stay in our Bibles! As we fill ourselves with God’s Word, it becomes so much easier to identify the attacks of the devil and to combat them with the truth of Scripture. Is it always easy to make time to read our Bibles? Of course not! We have a mile-long To-Do list everyday, but we have to make our time with God a priority. Whether we read and study one verse or dive into three chapters, we need to make sure that nothing comes before our time leaning into Scripture!

Another way that we fight for our faith is in prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 states it really simply, “praying without ceasing.” We aren’t told to pray big, fancy prayers or to stop and kneel three times a day. Instead, we are told to pray “without ceasing.” To pray as we are driving, making dinner, and going through our day-to-day tasks. Just like we don’t only talk to our closest friends once a year, we shouldn’t only turn to Jesus when things get really hard!

C.S. Lewis once said, “I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God. It changes me.” Our time in prayer is our time to reconnect with God, to ask Him to refine us, and to present our needs to Him…but what if we never spent time listening to Him? Our prayer life should be an ongoing conversation between us and our God who “delights in every detail of our lives”! (Psalm 37:23)

We also fight for our faith in worship! Psalm 8:2 tells us, “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” Wow! The praise of babies and children can silence our enemy! And that’s only one reason that it’s important to worship! What about thanking God for all of the things that He has already done in our lives? Or exalting Him for who He is? 

If we have breath in our lungs, we should take time to worship God! Can you imagine the worship that is constantly being lifted in Heaven? According to Revelation 4:8, “Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” As we lift our voices in worship, we are joining with heaven to exalt our Creator!

Lastly, we fight for our faith by surrounding ourselves with Godly men and women who will help us fight for our faith! It’s going to sound like a shameless plug for our community connections, but I really do want to encourage you to find your community! Find people that you can be real with, who will challenge you and pray for you! People that will stop what they are doing to lift you up! In Luke 5:17-26, we read the story of a man that was healed because Jesus saw the faith of his friends! Your circle of friends matters…and not only if you are a teenager or young adult! No matter our age, we need a Godly community to support us as we walk through our lives.

Let me encourage you today to make a decision to daily fight for your faith, so that at the end of your life you can join with Paul and say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith..” (2 Timothy 4:7)

By: Jason White

Are you ALL IN?
Being a leader doesn’t mean having a title—it means being watched. Your choices, your reactions, and your consistency speak louder than what you say on stage or in a small group. Daniel and his friends were young leaders in a foreign culture, under pressure, surrounded by compromise. Yet in Daniel 1, 3, and 6, we see what it looks like to be ALL IN for God—not halfway, not selectively, but completely.

Are you all in with your convictions? In Daniel 1:8 we see that Daniel resolves not to defile himself. Daniel and his friends decided before the pressure came who they belonged to. They didn’t wait for a crisis to choose holiness—they lived it daily.

Leader Truth:
 You don’t rise to the occasion in pressure—you fall to the level of your convictions.

Bible Connections:

• Romans 12:1–2 – Living set apart in a culture that pressures conformity
• Joseph (Genesis 39:7–9) – Choosing purity when no one would know
• Joshua 24:15 – “Choose this day whom you will serve”

In Daniel 3, we see that the three Hebrew boys are all in no matter what it costs them. In Daniel 3:16-18 we see that they refuse to bow to the statue of Nebuchadnezzar. These leaders didn’t know if God would rescue them—but they decided He was still worth obeying even if He didn’t.

Leader Truth:
 ALL IN faith says, “Even if God doesn’t do what I want, I will still trust Him.”

Bible Connections:

• Esther 4:16 – “If I perish, I perish”
• Hebrews 11:35–38 – Faith that obeys without guaranteed outcomes
• Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42) – Surrender over comfort

In Daniel 6, we see that he was all in when no else chose to be all in. Daniel kept praying despite the law (Daniel 6:10). Years later, Daniel’s faith hadn’t faded. Same habits. Same commitment. Same courage. Leadership for God isn’t about one big moment—it’s about long obedience.

Leader Truth:
Consistency is proof that your faith is real.

Bible Connections:

• Acts 5:29 – Obeying God rather than people
• Nehemiah 6:3 – Refusing distractions from God’s call
• Paul (2 Timothy 4:7) – Finishing faithful

What ALL IN Really Means

• ALL IN with convictions (Daniel 1)
• ALL IN under pressure (Daniel 3)
• ALL IN through consistency (Daniel 6)

God didn’t use Daniel and his friends because they were perfect—but because they were fully surrendered.

Memory Verse
Daniel 3:18 (NLT) “Even if He doesn’t rescue us, we want to make it clear to you… that we will never serve your gods.”

By: Angie Drummonds

What Will Sustain You

Friends … I want to ask you a question.
What will be sustainable for the long haul?
Because there is a kind of faith that feels strong in a moment, and there is a kind of faith that remains strong through a lifetime. Emotional moments are powerful. Worship encounters are beautiful. But emotions alone cannot carry us through pressure. Inspiration alone cannot sustain us in trials. And the truth is, pressure reveals what is rooted.
Jesus told a parable about seeds that sprang up quickly with joy… but when trouble came, they withered because they had no root. That means it is possible to respond to truth, and still not be rooted in it.

Roots grow in hidden places.
Roots grow slowly.
Roots grow deep.

And a real relationship with Jesus Christ is not built only in public moments… it is built in private surrender. It is built when no one is watching. It is built in daily obedience. It is built when we choose truth over comfort… faith over fear… surrender over control.

Jesus also said the wise person builds their life on the rock. The foolish person builds on sand. We all know the story and the little song we used to sing… “The wise man built his house upon the rock… the foolish man built his house upon the sand…”
Both heard His words. Both experienced storms. But only one remained standing.  The one built upon the rock!

The difference was not the storm… The difference was the foundation. A sustainable Christian life is not one that avoids storms, it is one that stands through them. We cannot live on what we heard in church last week. We cannot survive on borrowed faith. We cannot remain faithful to surface-level devotion. We must know Him for ourselves. His Word must anchor us. His presence must steady us. His Spirit must lead us. Because there will be moments of temptation. There will be seasons of pressure. There will be times when no one sees what choice you make.

And in those moments… what is rooted will be revealed.
Scripture tells us not to be hearers only, but doers of the Word. It’s not just enough to hear it… we must live it.  Faith that lasts is faith that abides. Faith that endures is faith that is rooted. A tree does not grow deep roots during a storm… it survives the storm because the roots were grown beforehand.

So my question is, are you rooted?
Because those who are rooted will not fall when pressure comes… They will stand. They will endure. They will be found faithful. And that is the kind of life that honors Jesus! Not a momentary response… but a lifelong devotion. And that is my desire,  to be found faithful at the end of this race.

Like Paul declared, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” Timothy 4:7.
That should be what we all want…  to finish strong.
Not just start with passion… but end with perseverance.
Not just respond in moments… but remain for a lifetime.
Because it is not how we start that matters most. It is how we finish that truly means something.

So may our lives be rooted deeply in Christ, steady in every storm, faithful in every season…
And when our race is complete, may we be found faithful, may our roots be deep enough to be sustainable. And may this life we’ve lived honor the Lord the way it should! 

By: Blake Allums

“Called” (Isaiah 6:5-8)

5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the
midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” 6
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had
taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has
touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8 And I heard the
voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said,
“Here I am! Send me.”

1. Recognize your Sinfulness, compared to God’s Splendor. (V.5)
In this passage, Isaiah sees God and recognizes his sinfulness. Isaiah is not just some
random guy from the side of the street, but Isaiah is about to become a prophet from
God. If he were in church today he would be the one in his word everyday, he would be
the one raising his hands, he would be the one who was righteous. But even him, who
was righteous, is of filthy rags in the presence of the Lord Almighty.
Upon recognizing his attendance in the presence of God he sees that he is a man with
unclean lips. Here is the thing, in the Bible, lips and the heart are synonymous. Luke
6:45 says, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and
the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the
heart his mouth speaks.” So the issue with Isaiah is more so his heart than his mouth.
But for the purpose of becoming a prophet he says mouth. Because Isaiah is becoming
a prophet who will speak the words of the Living God he needs to clean up his speech.
Here is a piece of advice for anyone who wants to spread the gospel, sing/ lead
worship, be a missionary, or even lead Sunday school… Clean your words in private, so
God can use your voice in public.

2. The Coal leads to the Call. (V.6-7)
In verse 6 we see a seraphim (angels who worship at the altar of God, also known as
the "burning ones”) fly to Isaiah with a coal but holding it with tongs. Why is the angel,
known as the burning one, having to hold a coal with tongs? I believe this is because
even a coal/the fire of God from the altar of the Lord of Host is more holy than even the
angels who are in God’s presence. This coal in verse 7 is significant because it is an
example of the Holy Spirit. This coal comes to Isaiah and touches his lips and cleanses
him. This is the process that we know as sanctification (becoming more like Jesus
everyday). Remember, Isaiah was a righteous man but he still needed the Holy Spirit to
correct him.

Maybe for you the coal needs to touch your…
- Eyes (things you watch)
- Ears (things you listen to)
- Mind (things you think)
- Mouth (things you say)

This will mean some things will need to be removed from you. Yes, it may be hard, you
may lose some friends, and you may need to give up some habits BUT… the
refinement is not punishment, it is preparation.

3. Many will say “Send Me” but few will go. (V.8)
This is the sad reality. We can all agree that the gospel needs to be preached. We can all agree that we don't want people to go to hell. We can all agree on these things.
But listen, the call of God upon your life is not proven by agreement, it is proven by
action. You must attach action to your agreement. The crowd may agree but the
individual must go.

Many will say “Send Me” but few will go.
Why is this the reality?
a. Get called young and forget about it.
i. If you are truly called it won’t leave your brain.
b. Don’t want to go through the practical process
i. There are seasons of waiting. Do what waiters do and SERVE.
c. Afraid you won’t make enough money.
i. The Lord will provide. Your faith is little. You must let him be God.
d. Your family won’t support you.
i. Matthew 10:34-36

Final Teaching Point:
“Here I am” (ESV) vs. “Here am I” (Other Translations)
“Here I am” tells someone your geographical location. In other words, “I am over here,
come to me.”
The Hebrew for these words suggest something different though. This is a compound
word… “hineh” → Behold/ Look “ani” → I/Me
In other words, “Look upon me”, “I am ready and willing”, “Use me for your will”, etc.
When we switch our mindset from “Here I am” to “Here am I” we become a weapon for
the Kingdom of God. We must be ready and willing to fight against darkness and take
back a generation that is slipping from our finger tips.
We must switch from “Here I am” to “HERE AM I”!

By: Gabi Pope

Have you ever gotten a text from a friend and it says, “Can you pray for me?” Most of the time, we respond quickly with “yes, I’m praying.” And we mean it. But often, we move on with our day, trusting that we’ll remember later. Later comes… and goes and the thought to pray for them slips away!

But friend, what if we changed that habit? What if we treated those words not as a quick response, but as a sacred calling?

Prayer is not just something we just say we will do, it is something that moves heaven! The Bible reminds us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). That means when we pray, something real is happening, even when we cannot see it. When someone asks us to pray, they are inviting us into their fear, their hope, their struggle, their faith. They are asking us to stand before God on their behalf!
 
In Acts 12, Peter was locked in prison, surrounded by guards and chains. From a human point of view, there was no way out. But while Peter slept in his cell, the church was awake in prayer. Scripture says, “Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5). They didn’t just talk about praying, they actually prayed and while they prayed, God moved!! A miracle happened because people chose to pray instead of just saying they would.

Sometimes our friends are like Peter. They are trapped in situations we cannot fix. They are carrying burdens we cannot lift. They are facing battles we cannot fight for them. But we can pray and prayer may be the very thing God uses to unlock the chains that are holding them.
 
Real prayer requires us to pause, sometimes it makes us uncomfortable. It interrupts our schedule and our scrolling. It asks us to slow down and care deeply. Yet maybe those interruptions are holy moments God has placed in our day. Jesus never rushed past people who needed Him, did He? No, He stopped, He listened and He healed. And He invites us to live the same way!! To be people who don’t just promise prayer, but practice it.
What if heaven is ready to move, but we keep pushing prayer to the background? What if the breakthrough someone is waiting for is connected to the prayer we almost prayed?
So the next time someone asks you to pray, don’t wait for the perfect moment. Stop right there, whisper their name to God, and speak life over their situation. Even a simple prayer offered in faith can open doors we never imagined!! It doesn’t have to be big and fancy words.

Prayer is not just words. It is obedience!! It is love and it is faith in action. When we choose to truly pray, we may discover that God was ready to move all along… He was just waiting on us to be obedient.

By: Kara Wallis

Following Jesus, Not Our Own Hearts
Many people today are encouraged to “follow their heart,” but the Bible teaches something very different. Our hearts can be misleading because they are influenced by sin and selfish desires. Scripture says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9. Instead of trusting our feelings or impulses, God calls us to trust Him. When we follow our own desires without seeking God’s will, we often end up far from the peace and purpose He wants for us.

Jesus clearly calls His followers to deny themselves. He said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” Luke 9:23. Following Christ is not about doing whatever feels good in the moment; it is about surrendering our lives to Him. This means choosing obedience even when it is difficult and letting go of desires that do not honor God.

The Bible reminds us that God’s ways are higher and better than ours. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding”, Proverbs 3:5. When we rely on our own thoughts and emotions, we can easily make poor decisions. But when we trust God and seek His guidance through prayer and His Word, He directs our paths and leads us in righteousness.

Following Jesus also means allowing Him to transform our hearts. Rather than obeying our sinful nature, we are called to walk by the Spirit. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh”, Galatians 5:16. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, He reshapes our desires so they align with His will, producing love, joy, peace, and self-control.

Ultimately, choosing to follow Jesus instead of our own hearts leads to true life. Jesus said, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it”, Matthew 16:25. When we surrender our wants and plans to Christ, we discover lasting fulfillment and eternal hope. True freedom is not found in following our hearts, but in faithfully following Jesus Christ.

By: Brandy Wallis

How Will They Hear?

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” — Romans 10:14–15 (NIV)

Paul’s words in Romans 10 are both sobering and stirring. Personally, these words set a fire
inside of me. They remind us that salvation begins with belief—but belief begins with hearing. And hearing only happens when someone is willing to go, or when someone is willing to send.The gospel does not spread by accident. It moves forward through obedience. Romans 10:14–15 lays out a divine sequence: Someone is able to preach because they said yes to God’s call. Then people are able hear the gospel, for the first time, when someone preaches.

This provides an opportunity for those who are lost to believe the message of hope and
purpose. This leads people to believe in Jesus – the one who paid it all.
Missions effort is not optional—it is essential. Without missions, this path to Jesus is broken.
Entire communities and nations remain unreached NOT because God is unwilling to save, but because the message has not yet arrived.

In Scripture, “beautiful feet” do not refer to comfort or convenience. They speak of sacrifice,
movement, and obedience. Missionaries’ feet grow tired. They cross oceans, cultures, and
languages. They step into unfamiliar places so that others may step into eternity with Christ.
Yet those “feet” are not only found on foreign soil. They belong to the believer who gives
faithfully so the work can continue. The intercessor who prays for nations they may never visit. The one who says “yes” to God’s call—whether across the street or across the world. Every obedient step matters.

We All Have a Role to Play
Some of us are called to go. To pack our bags and move, learn a new language, and immerse ourselves in a new culture and unfamiliar world. Others are called to short-term trips, local outreach, or cross-cultural ministry right where they live. Obedience to “go” begins with a willing heart that says, “Here I am, Lord.” Maybe you haven’t heard that call to go, but every single one of us is called to be a part of the great commission.

We all can pray. Prayer is the most important thing we can do for missions, that costs us
absolutely nothing. Prayer goes before hand, preparing hearts, opens doors, and it strengthens those on the front lines. When we pray for missionaries and unreached people groups, we participate in the work long before the message is ever heard.

We can all give something. Financial support turns calling into action. Giving sends
missionaries, funds church plants, provides Bibles in native languages, and meets real tangible needs. When we give, we become partners in every life changed.

Now it the time to do something! The world is more connected than ever, yet millions still have never heard the name of Jesus. In fact, 49% of the world still has no access to the gospel. Romans 10 confronts us with a holy urgency: How will they hear if we do nothing?

Missions is not a department of the church—it is the heartbeat of the church.
When we pray, give, and go, we keep the gospel moving. We become part of God’s redemptive plan for the nations. And one day, in eternity, we will meet people who are there because someone said yes to the command to go and make disciples, however the Lord leads us. May we be a people who answer the call—so that all may hear, believe, and call on the name of the Lord.

By: Josh Sims

Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might…”
—Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV)

Ecclesiastes reminds us of a simple but challenging truth: how we work matters. Not because every task is glamorous or visible, but because every task is an opportunity to honor God.

We often divide roles into “important” and “unimportant,” especially in ministry or service. Preachers, leaders, and worship teams can feel more significant than those who clean, organize, give quietly, or pray faithfully in the background. But Scripture does not measure value the way we do. God is not impressed by titles; He is honored by faithfulness.

When Ecclesiastes says, “Whatever your hand finds to do,” it speaks to the work right in front of you—the assignment God has placed in your life right now. That work may feel small or unseen, but in God’s economy, nothing done for Him is wasted. The Kingdom of God advances not only through sermons and missions, but through kindness shown, tasks completed with integrity, and obedience lived out in ordinary moments.

Doing our work “with all our might” means offering God our best, regardless of the role. It means showing up fully, serving joyfully, and remembering that our labor is ultimately an act of worship. When each person fulfills their role with excellence and humility, the body of Christ functions as it was designed to—many parts, one purpose.

One day, our opportunities to serve in this life will end. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is no more work “in the grave.” That urgency invites us to live intentionally now. Not striving for recognition, but seeking faithfulness. Not comparing our role to others, but trusting that God placed us exactly where we are needed.

Today, whatever your hand finds to do—do it with all your might. 

The Kingdom is built not just by the seen, but by the faithful.

By: Tabitha White

People who know me well know that I love a good quote! My Bible is full of quotes from sermons. When I read a book, I highlight tons of quotes that catch my attention, and I have several quotes posted in my office. Whether they are encouraging or challenging, I just love a good quote!

About a week ago, I was listening to Hoyt’s new podcast, and he said something that caught my attention: “Obedience isn’t optional.”

Can I be really honest and transparent with you? There have been quite a few times in my life that God has asked me to do something uncomfortable, and I planted my feet where I was standing. Instead of immediately doing what I felt in my Spirit, I proceeded to argue with God. The argument would turn into bargaining, and sometimes I would throw out a compromise on how I thought that my idea of obedience was the better option. As you can imagine, that has never ended in my favor.

I vividly remember arguing with God one night at kids camp. As I was trying to go to sleep on the last night of camp, I felt like God asked me to send a simple text to someone - “don’t let something temporary keep you from someone eternal.” It was a text that would have taken less than five seconds to type…but did I do it? No. Instead, I spent the next little while praying for the person and their current situation and for God to intervene (as He was asking me to send that text..isn’t that an ironic prayer?). Each time I woke up during the night, I felt the same prompting! And each time, I said that I wasn’t going to do that, but instead I would pray.

After tossing and turning all night, I informed God that I had thought of a compromise. I would say the sentence during our last meeting at camp and make eye contact with the person, so they would clearly know that I was talking to them. Every time I think back to that moment, I roll my eyes and want to kick myself! Who am I to throw out a compromise to God?! But that’s what I did. 

Let’s read back over that quote: “Obedience isn’t optional.” It’s just not! 

Is it always easy? No!
Is it uncomfortable? Almost always, yes!
Is it necessary? Absolutely!

“Obedience isn’t optional!”

Let’s look at what Samuel told Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22, “But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

Saul had also offered God a compromise. After being told to completely annihilate the Amalekites, he spared the life of the king and the best of the animals - “everything, in fact, that appealed to them” (1 Samuel 15:9). God was so angry that He rejected Saul as king!

Again, our obedience isn’t something that we get to offer to God when it’s convenient or when we like the outcome. Our obedience is something that we should give Him fully every minute of every day.

I came across this quote as I was reading my devotional for this year, "Suffering is not the worst thing that can happen to us. Disobedience to God is the worst thing.” I want to invite you to join me this year, as I surrender my will to God! I don’t want to look back on 2026 and roll my eyes and want to kick myself, like that memory from kids camp!

Will it be easy? No.
Will we be uncomfortable? Almost always, yes!
Is it necessary? It is!
But, will it be worth it in the end? Absolutely!!

Because, my friend, “obedience isn’t optional”!

By: Jason White

New Year, Same God

A new year often brings fresh goals, new calendars, and a sense of anticipation—but it can also bring uncertainty. Life doesn’t always reset neatly on January 1. Some seasons still feel messy, unresolved, or overwhelming. Yet this truth remains steady: new year, same God.

From the very beginning, Scripture shows us that God is a God of order. In the creation story, we see Him speaking purpose into chaos—separating light from darkness, land from sea, and bringing structure where there was once formlessness (Genesis 1). Nothing was accidental. Everything was intentional. Order flowed from His voice.
That same God is still at work today.
Hebrews 13:8- "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

When our lives feel chaotic—when plans change, relationships strain, or the future feels unclear—God has not lost control. He is not surprised by the disorder we experience. The One who brought order to creation is still sovereign over every detail of our lives.
As we step into a new year, we can move forward with confidence, not because we have everything figured out, but because God does. His character hasn’t changed. His power hasn’t diminished. His faithfulness remains the same.
2 Thessalonians 3:3- "But the Lord is faithful, He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one."

So whatever this year holds—joy or challenge, clarity or questions—rest in this promise: the God of order is still on the throne, and He is still working all things together for good.
Romans 8:28- "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."

New year. Same God. And that makes all the difference.

By: Gabi Pope

A few weekends ago, my family and some friends went to a Christmas light show. After we finished walking through all the lights, we noticed a small petting zoo and decided to stop. If you know Anaya Grace, you already know why… she loves animals of any kind. Big or small, it doesn’t matter!!!

The first stall we walked up to had sheep, and right there was a brand-new baby lamb. It was tiny, shaky, and so sweet and precious. I stood there longer than I meant to, just watching it. God has a way of speaking in the simplest moments.

After a few minutes, the mama sheep wandered a little too far away. Almost right away, the lamb started crying out for her. Loud and nonstop. It didn’t try to follow her on its own. It didn’t stay quiet and hope she noticed. It cried because it knew exactly who it needed.
That moment hit my heart!!

The Bible says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6). We don’t usually wander on purpose. It happens slowly. Life gets busy, we get tired, or maybe we get hurt. We start depending on ourselves instead of God. Before we realize it, we feel far from Him and feel like He isn’t with us anymore.
 
But Jesus tells us, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Just like that lamb knew its mama, we are meant to know our Shepherd’s voice. And even when we wander, He doesn’t stop watching us!
What stood out to me most was how quickly the lamb cried out. There was no fear, no shame, no wondering if it was being a bother. It just cried out!

So many of us don’t do that. We feel like we have to have the right words. Or we think we’ve messed up too much. Sometimes we tell ourselves we’ll come back to God once we “get it together.” But Scripture says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). He isn’t waiting for perfection, friend, He’s waiting for us.

Jesus even told a story about a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to go after the one that wandered off (Luke 15:4–6). That’s how much He cares about you and I. That’s how far He will go, He doesn’t give up on the one who drifts away from Him— He goes looking!
Eventually, the mama sheep came back to the lamb and the crying stopped. Peace had returned to the precious lamb's mind and heart.

That’s what happens when we cry out to God. “Call to me and I will answer you” (Jeremiah 33:3). He hears us, He comes close and He gently reminds us that we are not alone.
Maybe today you feel like that lamb—small, unsure, and aware that you’ve wandered. Take comfort in this: “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1). Cry out to Him, He’s listening just like that mama sheep. He’s always faithful to come near!!!!

By: Kara Wallis

During this Christmas season I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what the true meaning of Christmas is and trying to make decisions on what is truly important this time of year and not on what the world says is important. All of the running around and spending money has always been so stressful to me, like I know it is to a lot of other people. I have spent the last few weeks more joyful than I think I may have ever felt this time of the year.

I have tried to renew my mind daily like it says in Romans 12:2, ”Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Thinking on things that are good and perfect and not focusing on what I lack. When I think about Jesus allowing himself to be born into this world as a tiny, helpless baby and to grow up to make the way for us to have eternal life it is completely humbling. Luke 2:6-7, "And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

The main theme for me for this season has been focusing on the joy that only Christ could have brought to this world and does bring to the world now. Joy to the world and goodwill toward men was only possible through Him. Luke 2:10 says, “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” So joy has not just come for some, but for all of us and it is there and ready for the taking. The definition of joy itself means to have a profound, lasting emotion of deep gladness, delight, and contentment. This is what is readily available from our Savior. This is what I want to walk in daily, not only in this Christmas season.

In Proverbs it talks about how a joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. One thing that has been a hard lesson for me is this right here, learning to be joyful in all things, even the really hard seasons of life. I have gone through things that have crushed my spirit and it literally felt like a drying up for my soul. There is always something to be grateful for even when life is really hard. It is my prayer that even through those incredibly trying things that we all face, for us to abide in Christ and not allow it to steal the joy that Jesus paid the ultimate price for us to have access to through a relationship with Him.

By: Jason White

Psalm 23

1) The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. 2) He lets me rest in green meadows, he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3) He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. 4) Even when I walk through the valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5) You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6) Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

I absolutely love this Psalm. It is a great reminder every time I read it, that God is with me and has good plans for me. As my shepherd, I can trust that God will lead me in the right places when I seek His face, and listen to His voice. 

No matter how chaotic life may seem at times, bills need paid, kids need to be in a million different places, deadlines at work, He brings a peace that is beyond comprehension as He leads me to rest and brings me beside peaceful streams.  

When I feel that I’m physically, mentally, or spiritually exhausted, He always renews my strength, because when I’m weak, He is strong. His yolk is easy and His burden is light. When I’m struggling to know which way to go, I can trust that as long as I’m seeking His face, He will lead me in the right direction. We all have a choice of which path to take, but as we stay in tune with the Holy Spirit’s leading we can trust that He will guide us not only on a good path, but His perfect path. 

Death cannot defeat us, because ultimately as believers we know that Jesus defeated death, hell, and the grave. In the end, we can trust that when our last breath comes there is nothing to fear, because we will be with Him for eternity. Only one person can walk with us through death’s dark valley and bring us safely to the other side-the God of life, our shepherd.

I can trust that He will provide a feast for me no matter what life’s circumstances are around me. He has blessed me with so many things, that I can confidently say that my cup overflows with blessings. I know that as long as I continue to follow Him, he will take care of all of my needs according to His riches in glory.

Lastly, I have seen his goodness and unfailing love so many times, I can testify that His love is ever pursuing me every day of my life. He is so good, I wish I had the words to eloquently describe how good He actually is. I know this though, I like David will always choose to live in the house of the Lord as long as I live. To me, there is no other option and no other way. He is my EVERYTHING!

By: Angie Drummonds

Christmas from Joseph’s view

We talk a lot about Mary at Christmas… her obedience, her courage, her “yes” to God. And rightly so. But sometimes, I think we overlook the quiet strength of the man who walked beside her, Joseph. A man whose faith didn’t make headlines or shake nations, but whose obedience changed the world.

Imagine Joseph for a moment.
A simple carpenter. 
Honest. Hard-working. Engaged to a young woman named Mary. He had plans, normal plans. A wedding. A home. Maybe children one day. A peaceful, steady life.
And then… Mary’s news.
She was pregnant.
Not by another man.
But by the Holy Spirit.

Matthew records it so simply, yet the weight of it is powerful.
“When Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:18
Joseph’s world must have stopped.
Everything he thought he knew collapsed under the weight of a story he couldn’t possibly understand.

Scripture tells us that Joseph was a righteous man:
“…Joseph her husband, being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example…” Matthew 1:19

“Just” or “righteous” meaning he lived to honor God. It also means that integrity, mercy, and compassion guided his decisions. He could have reacted in anger or humiliation. He could have exposed Mary publicly, as the law permitted (Deuteronomy 22:23–24). Instead, he wrestled quietly.

He didn’t jump to conclusions.
He didn’t shame her.
He didn’t allow fear or pride to lead him.

And it was in that humble, conflicted place that God spoke.
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20

He didn’t get all the answers. He didn’t get a full explanation. He got a simple command:
“Do not be afraid.”
And Joseph obeyed with remarkable faith.
“And Joseph… did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”  Matthew 1:24

He trusted God when the story didn’t make sense.
He took Mary as his wife.
He stepped into a calling he never expected.
He would raise the Messiah, not by blood, but by obedience.

Even after Jesus’ birth, Joseph continued listening to God’s direction. When Herod sought to kill the child, Joseph once again acted on God’s voice:
“Arise, take the young child and His mother, flee to Egypt… for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.” Matthew 2:13–14
Over and over again, Joseph shows us what faith looks like… quiet, consistent obedience rooted in trust.

Joseph reminds us that sometimes faith looks like:

• Believing God when His plan interrupts ours (Isaiah 55:8–9)
• Choosing obedience over understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6)
• Loving others sacrificially (1 Corinthians 13:7)
• Trusting that God sees the whole picture when we only see a single frame (Psalm 37:5)
• 
  

This Christmas as we celebrate the miracle of Christ’s birth— let’s take a moment not to forget the faith of ordinary people who trusted God with extraordinary assignments.
And maybe that’s a message for us this year.

Maybe God is asking you to trust Him with something that doesn’t fully make sense.
Maybe He’s calling you to walk in obedience when doubt is loud.
Maybe He’s inviting you into a story that looks different from what you planned…
Just like Joseph. This Christmas, may we have the courage to say the same quiet, powerful yes, as Joseph did.

By: Josh Sims

God With Us—The Promise Fulfilled

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).” — Matthew 1:22–23
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:14

There are moments in our lives when God feels distant—when prayers seem to float into silence, when problems appear larger than promises, and when the unknown weighs heavier than the known. It is precisely into this human experience that God spoke a promise through Isaiah: “The Lord Himself will give you a sign.” Not just any sign—but Immanuel: God with us.

Centuries later, Matthew draws our attention back to that ancient promise as he describes the birth of Jesus. He wants us to see clearly what God was doing: God was stepping into humanity with intention, compassion, and closeness. The child born in Bethlehem was not merely a messenger from God—He was God, choosing to dwell among us in the most vulnerable way.

This means something profound for your life today.

1. God keeps His promises—no matter how long it takes.

Isaiah’s prophecy was given in a time of fear, political turmoil, and doubt. People wondered if God saw them or cared. Yet God spoke a promise that He faithfully fulfilled hundreds of years later. Your waiting is not wasted. If God has spoken, He will accomplish it in His perfect timing.

2. God comes close in the moments you feel most uncertain.

Jesus’ birth story entered a world of confusion—political pressure, weary travelers, and messy manger scenes. God is present not only in the peaceful moments but also in your chaos, questions, and discomfort.

3. God with us means God with you.

Immanuel is not just a title; it is God’s heart. It means:

God is with you in your weakness.
God is with you in your worry.
God is with you in your work, your family, your pain, and your joy.
God is with you even when you don’t feel Him.

Because of Jesus, you are never alone.

By: Jason White

As the holidays approach and conversations tilt toward gratitude, it’s easy to make thankfulness feel like a seasonal exercise—something we dust off in November and tuck away in January. But real, soul-rooted thankfulness isn’t built on circumstances, comfort, or even answered prayers. It’s anchored in something far deeper and more eternal: the finished work of Jesus.

Lately, I’ve had Red Rocks Worship’s song “Only by the Blood” on repeat. The lyrics are simple, yet they cut straight to the heart: “Where would I be if it wasn’t for the blood?
The blood of Jesus.” Every time I hear that line, I’m reminded that the foundation of true thankfulness begins at the cross.

Thankfulness Starts With Remembering
Scripture constantly calls God’s people to remember:

• Remember what the Lord has done.
• Remember His faithfulness.
• Remember His mercy.
• Remember His covenant.

Thanksgiving flows naturally when we take time to reflect on what we have only because of Jesus. Not earned. Not deserved. Not achieved. Given. And that’s exactly what “Only by the Blood” proclaims. It shifts our focus from what we want God to do, to what He has already done. The more we meditate on that, the more gratitude rises within us—not forced, but freely.

The Cross Makes Gratitude Possible
Thankfulness becomes powerful when it’s rooted in grace:

• We are forgiven—only by the blood.
• We are redeemed—only by the blood.
• We are restored—only by the blood.
• We are welcomed into God’s presence—only by the blood.

No matter what is happening around us, the cross remains the unshakeable reason we can give thanks. Gratitude ceases to be about life going perfectly and becomes about Christ giving His life perfectly.

Gratitude Reframes Everything
When you start your gratitude with the blood of Jesus, everything else begins to shift:

• Hard seasons look different when you remember you’re not facing them alone.
• Prayers that haven’t been answered yet don’t feel hopeless.
• The pressure to prove yourself melts away.
• Joy grows in places you didn’t expect it to.

The more we remember what we have in Christ, the more we find ourselves grateful—not just for the big moments, but in the ordinary, the mundane, and even the painful.

A Simple Prayer of Thankfulness
Maybe today you don’t feel especially grateful. That’s okay. Gratitude isn’t a feeling—it’s a posture. It begins with remembering.
Let this be your prayer:
Jesus, thank You for Your blood. 
Thank You for forgiveness I couldn’t earn.
Thank You for grace I don’t deserve.
Thank You that You never leave me, never stop loving me, and never stop working in my life.
Everything I have, everything I am,
is only by Your blood. Amen.

Only by the Blood—Always by Grace
As you listen to Red Rocks Worship’s “Only by the Blood,” let it draw your heart back to the foundation of all thankfulness. Let it remind you that your story is redeemed, your soul is secure, and your future is bright—not because of your strength, but because of His sacrifice. And when you whisper the words, “Where would I be if it wasn’t for the blood?”
Let gratitude rise. Because the answer is simple—and life-changing: We have everything to be thankful for.
Only by the blood.

By: Amanda Allums

Many of you have heard the story of the Pharisee named Nicodemus. He was a leader of the Jews and was very curious about Jesus. He had so many questions but was a very literal man as many of the Pharisees were. You know the type: People who don’t have much of a sense of humor and take everything literally and everything is either black or white. Nicodemus was one of those types of people, and sometimes, it is difficult for such people to understand the oracles of God and the parables of Jesus. This was the case when Jesus told Nicodemus that he had to be “born again” in John chapter 3. Nicodemus asked Jesus “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”. Most of us know that part of the story very well, but the part of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John chapter 3 that I want to focus on are verses 10-12.

10 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” John 3:10-12

I love how Jesus pokes at Nicodemus for not knowing what He is talking about even though he is a teacher. Even Jesus had to say (if I put it in today’s language) “bruh come on, you should know these things!”. Jesus knew that Nicodemus had not received the teachings of Jesus and would not fully understand until he was born again. He also knew that scholars like Nicodemus pride themselves on knowledge, so if Jesus could get him to see that knowledge isn’t how you become like Jesus, then He could open his eyes and heart a little further.

To apply this scripture to ourselves, we need to ask ourselves if we are guilty of the same thing Nicodemus was. Do we have a hard time believing other fellow believers when they testify? Do we believe everything that the Holy Bible says? How can we believe what we turn a blind eye or deaf ear to? How can we believe something we don’t take time to understand? 

Being a true follower of Christ is much more than talk and it’s even much more than action. We can say and do great things for people or even the church and God. But, if we aren’t taking the personal time to fall on our face in worship, dig deep in prayer for repentance, family member’s salvation, etc., and if we don’t take time to read scripture, contemplate what it means, apply it, and allow it to penetrate deep in our hearts to make us who Jesus has called us to be, then what is the reason we are doing anything else in the first place? Your personal relationship with Jesus Christ trumps anything else He asks of us.

Like Jesus said in verse 12 “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” Do you remember the first time you believed? Do you remember when your eyes were opened and you realized that you could not do life without Jesus? Do you remember your first love? Sometimes we have to get back to the basics in order for our eyes to be able to see the heavenly things.

We are in a spiritual battle and the spiritual realms are real. Satan will do anything he can to distract us from reality. The reality is we have to be able to see heavenly things to fight the earthly attacks, and the only way to have the strength and the wisdom to do that is to put your personal relationship with Jesus above everything else.

By: Kara Wallis

I recently was doing a devotion with a friend on the subject of faith and it was so good I wanted to share it. I hope it encourages and inspires you like it did me. Sometimes it’s just the small reminders in everyday life that make a huge difference. Sometimes those little God winks leave a huge impact.

The definition of faith is having deep trust and confidence in God and his promises, which involves both believing in God’s existence and truths, and committing one’s life to Him. So we confidently trust God in a way that moves beyond just intellectual belief to us actively relying on God’s promises. Our faith shapes how we view our circumstances and leads us to live differently in response to God’s faithfulness. Hebrews 11:1 says,”Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” 

I don’t know about you guys, but in my life I’ve never seen this defined more accurately than when I’ve been challenged to exercise it. When problems come it’s not operating in mere wishful thinking, it’s a confident trust based on who God has revealed himself to be!

With my personality I love to know the whole plan, what are we doing, where are we going, who’s going with us, but with faith we don’t always get to know ahead of time. An example of this is Abraham, he had to take the next step without knowing or seeing the entire journey. When God called him to leave everything, Abraham went out not knowing where he was going(Hebrews 11:8). He didn’t have to understand the plan, because he put his faith in the character of the One who made the promise. It says in Romans 10:17, ”So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

This verse shows us that faith is not something we can manufacture through just our sheer willpower, but instead faith grows as we expose ourselves to God’s truth and promises. We have to align ourselves with God’s Word. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”‭‭

James‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ challenges our inclination to separate faith from action. When we operate in true faith it will always bring about movement. It will change how we live, make decisions, and how we respond and react to challenges that we are faced with. For Abraham faith wasn’t just a mental agreement with God it was demonstrated in his willingness to pack up his entire life and start walking, and the same goes for us.

2 Corinthians 5:7, ”For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Paul reminds us that in the daily choices to choose faith it becomes the lens through which we view and respond to life. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”. 

When with the uncertainty of life, we can remember He is both the object and originator of our faith. The smallest steps we take are empowered by His grace. One of my favorite things out of the devotion was this sentence right here: As we encounter situations that test our faith, let’s remember that God isn’t asking us to conjure up perfect confidence, instead He invites us to know Him better, trust his character, and simply take the next step in following him. Let us have a hunger and passion to get to know God better and each day spend time with Him and allow Him to reveal His true character to us.

By: Gabi Pope

Have you ever felt like you’re fighting something that you can’t see? It’s not just the stress of the work week, or the disappointment in life, or the heartbreak you’re feeling. It’s something deeper, it’s something spiritual!!! I’ve felt the weight of invisible battles pressing on my chest in the middle of the night, wondering why everything feels so heavy even when nothing looks wrong on the outside.

That’s the thing about spiritual warfare, it rarely announces itself. It sneaks in through discouragement, through comparison, through the quiet lies that whisper, “You’re not enough,” “Why are you even doing this?”

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
 
That verse used to feel too big for me, too intense. The more I’ve dug into my Word, the more and more real this verse becomes!! The enemy doesn’t always come at us with chaos and calamity. Sometimes he comes through distractions and busyness. The enemy will continue to be subtle and sneak in until at some point we forget everything we are even fighting for!!!

There was a time when I was praying but not fully believing. Reading Scriptures, but only to mark it off a checklist. I was serving every chance I could. I felt like I was doing everything “right,” and yet, I was running on empty. That’s when God whispered something that changed everything: “You’re fighting battles that only I can win.”

Spiritual warfare isn’t about fighting harder!!!!! I’m going to say it again, spiritual warfare isn’t about fighting harder, it’s about surrendering deeper!! The moment we try to battle spiritual darkness in our own strength, we lose sight of the Power that already lives within us.
“The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 
That means you don’t have to be strong enough, smart enough, or holy enough to win. You just have to stand!

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground… Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” Ephesians 6:13-14

Notice it says “stand.” It doesn’t say to run, it doesn’t say to move around, jump up and down, it simply says to stand. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do in spiritual warfare is to refuse to move away from your faith.

Growing up my pawpaw used to say, “The devil doesn’t mind you believing in God, doll, as long as you don’t believe Him.” My pawpaw was right about many things, but especially this!! The devil doesn’t mind you going to church or posting a verse on your story!!!!  Do you know why? Because even though you showed up to worship God, you still weren’t obedient when He told you to move. You’re still walking in your sin because you refused to lay it down. (And no judgement, I have been there more times then I would like to admit.) What terrifies him is when you actually walk in authority, when you remember that you’re a child of the Most High, and that every weapon formed against you will not prosper!!!
When I finally realized that, my prayers changed. Instead of begging God to fix what was broken, I started declaring truth over my life:

-“I am not a victim of my thoughts.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)
-“I have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
-“The Lord fights for me; I need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14)

There’s something about speaking truth that shifts the atmosphere. The enemy operates in lies, and when you speak Scripture, you strip him of his power. That’s why Jesus used the Word in the wilderness!!! Not because He didn’t have the power to end the enemy’s attacks in one breath, but because He wanted to show us how to fight the enemy and his lies.
Friend, maybe you’re in a spiritual battle right now. Maybe you’ve been feeling weary, unseen, or under attack. Maybe it feels like you’re fighting shadows. I want you to know this, God sees you!!! He hasn’t abandoned you and He’s already equipped you with everything you need to stand!

Sometimes the battle isn’t about defeat, it’s about development. God uses warfare to sharpen our discernment, to deepen our dependence, to draw us closer to His voice.
Even when it feels like the battle is breaking you, remember; it’s actually building you!! The fight may be tough, but so is your faith.