Grow In Faith

We talk about the cross. We talk about the resurrection. But how often do we slow down and reflect on the incarnation — the staggering moment the Creator stepped into His own creation? In Day 23 of our Colossians devotional series, we slow down on Colossians 1:19 and let the weight of one of the most overlooked realities of the Christian faith sink in.In this devotional, we explore:→ The breathtaking claim in this verse: "God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him" → Why we tend to race past the incarnation to get to the cross and resurrection → The profound humiliation of Jesus that began the moment He entered time and space → How Paul's hymn in Philippians 2 describes Jesus's "downward mobility" — emptying Himself, taking the form of a servant, becoming obedient even to death on a cross → Charles Spurgeon's powerful reflection — overwhelmed not by the cross, but by the simple fact that people spit on their Creator's face → Why the humiliation of Christ didn't begin at Calvary — it began at Bethlehem → Why theology isn't impractical — and why we shouldn't think we need "Velcro" to make Scripture stick → How seeing what Jesus gave up deepens our understanding of His love — and reshapes how we respondKey takeaway: "Don't minimize the incarnation or the humiliation of Jesus. The more clearly you see what He gave up, the more deeply you understand His love. And that changes how you respond — leading to gratitude, humility, and worship."This devotional is a powerful invitation to sit — really sit — with the staggering reality that the Creator of the universe stepped into His own creation for you and for me. Don't rush past it. Let it lead you to awe.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:19-20 + Philippians 2:5-12 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-22 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue toward the close of this incredible chapterSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss the final devotionals in this rich series. If this teaching moved you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded just how much Jesus gave up to come for us.💬 Drop a comment below: What part of the incarnation moves you most when you really stop to reflect on it?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Incarnation #Philippians2 #Spurgeon #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #Humiliation

When Paul talks about Jesus, he doesn't hold back. In Day 22 of our Colossians devotional series, we revisit one of the most stunning summaries of who Jesus is found anywhere in Scripture — and it reads like a resume with no close second.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why Paul plays offense instead of defense — holding up Christ rather than just tearing down false teaching → The towering "resume" of Jesus: image of the invisible God, Creator of everything, Sustainer of all things, Head of the church, Conqueror of death → Why Jesus has no rival, no peer, no close second — He is in a category all His own → The crucial reminder that the church belongs to Christ — not to leaders, pastors, personalities, or preferences → What "firstborn from the dead" really means — and why it's a different use of "firstborn" than we saw earlier → How Jesus's resurrection isn't just an event — it's category-changing and permanent → Why Lazarus's resurrection (and others) wasn't the same — they died again. Jesus didn't. → Why the Christian hope isn't disembodied spirits floating in some mystical realm — but a resurrected body → The Apostles' Creed reminder: "I believe in the resurrection of the body" — your body, not just Christ's → Abraham Kuyper's famous declaration: "There is not one square inch over which Jesus does not claim, 'Mine!'" — and how that includes death itselfKey takeaway: "If Jesus is who Jesus claims to be — the Creator, Sustainer, Ruler, Redeemer, and Judge — then He is not just part of our life. He is over our life. And that's not something to resist. It's something to lean into. Because the one who holds everything together is the one who holds you."This devotional is a powerful, soul-anchoring reminder that your future isn't uncertain. If you're in Christ, it's anchored in the One who has already conquered death itself.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:16-18 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-21 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our final week through this incredible chapterSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional as we close out Colossians 1. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that Christ holds them — and their future.💬 Drop a comment below: Which line from Jesus's "resume" in this passage means the most to you today?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #SupremacyOfChrist #AbrahamKuyper #Resurrection #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #ApostlesCreed

We're in the last week of our journey through Colossians chapter 1 — and today we land on a verse that contains one of the most weighty and freeing truths in all of Scripture. In Day 21 of our Colossians devotional series, we unpack Colossians 1:16 and uncover three game-changing takeaways about who Jesus is and why you exist.In this devotional, we explore:→ The context of Paul's "prison epistles" — written from a Roman cell to churches he loved deeply → Takeaway #1: Jesus is not created — He is the Creator. Everything that exists was made by Him, through Him, and for Him. → Why the Council of Nicaea fought so hard to establish that "there was never a day before Christ existed" → The beautiful theology of the Gloria Patri: "As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be" → Takeaway #2: Jesus has unmatched power — He didn't slowly assemble creation, He spoke it into existence. Whatever power impresses you (technology, nature, human achievement) is all downstream of His power. → Takeaway #3: Everything exists for Him — including you and me → Why this third truth is the hardest one to accept — most of us start by assuming God exists to help us → The freeing realization: God doesn't exist for our benefit. We exist for His. → Why idols ultimately collapse under their own weight — they can never sustain the meaning we try to place on themKey takeaway: "If everything is about us, that's an incredible weight to carry. But when this truth moves from an idea to a reality — that God is the center, and we don't have to be — it changes everything. Our life has purpose, not because we define it, but because He has defined it. We exist for Him. That's very good news."This devotional is a soul-anchoring, perspective-shifting reminder that being made for God isn't a burden — it's the most freeing news you could ever hear.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:16 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-20 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our final week through this incredible chapterSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional as we close out Colossians 1. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who's been carrying the weight of trying to make life all about them.💬 Drop a comment below: Which of the three takeaways hits you hardest today — Jesus as Creator, His unmatched power, or that we exist FOR Him?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #SupremacyOfChrist #Purpose #Creator #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #CouncilOfNicaea

"He is the firstborn over all creation." It's one of the most misunderstood phrases in the New Testament — and if you read it too quickly, you'll get it very wrong. In Day 20 of our Colossians devotional series, we slow down on this critical phrase in Colossians 1:15 and uncover one of the most foundational truths about who Jesus really is.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why "firstborn" does NOT mean Jesus was the first thing God created → How the Bible uses "firstborn" to refer to rank and exaltation, not birth order → Examples from Scripture: God calling Israel His "firstborn" and David being made the "firstborn" though not the literal eldest son → The towering claim Paul is making: Jesus is supreme over everything — not part of creation, but its Creator → Why the early church had to settle this question once and for all at the Council of Nicaea (whose 1,700th anniversary we just marked last year!) → The crucial truth defined at Nicaea: "There was never a time when Jesus did not exist" → Why the virgin birth matters — and what it really proves (hint: it's not about embarrassment over sex) → How Jesus preexists His incarnation as the eternal Logos — present at the very beginning of creation → Why a small view of Jesus throws everything else offKey takeaway: "It is impossible for us to think too highly of Jesus. He is certainly not just a teacher, a moral example, or even a spiritual leader. He is all of those things — and so much more. If your view of Jesus is too small, everything else will be off. But if you begin to see Jesus as He truly is — eternal, sovereign, supreme — then things start to come into focus."This devotional is a powerful, theologically rich invitation to lift your eyes higher than you ever have when you think about Jesus. He's not the side issue. He is the very center.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-19 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue exploring the supremacy of ChristSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a bigger view of who Jesus really is.💬 Drop a comment below: Has your view of Jesus grown bigger through this series? What's stretched you most?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Firstborn #CouncilOfNicaea #VirginBirth #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #DeityOfChrist

How do we actually know anything about God? We can't put Him under a microscope. We can't run experiments on Him. So where does our knowledge of God come from? In Day 19 of our Colossians devotional series, we step back and look at the bigger picture of how God reveals Himself — and why Jesus is still the clearest picture we have.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why we don't discover God through chemistry experiments or by looking inside ourselves — we know Him because He has revealed Himself → The two big categories of revelation: natural (general) revelation and supernatural (special) revelation → How creation reveals the Creator — just like a painting reveals something about the painter → Why natural revelation alone isn't enough — the world (starting with us) has been impacted by sin → How special revelation reaches its pinnacle in Jesus — the Word of God incarnate — and continues in Scripture — the Word of God written → Why God is not described as a vague force, cosmic energy, or "the ground of being" — but as a personal God who speaks, acts, and relates → The incommunicable attributes of God: infinite, eternal, unchanging, self-sufficient — qualities altogether beyond us → The communicable attributes of God: loving, just, wise, merciful — qualities we share, but never to the same degree → Why Jesus is the premier revelation: not His physical appearance, but His life, teaching, priorities, and how He treated people, power, and suffering → John Stott's powerful observation: "The world's greatest need right now is a clearer vision of God"Key takeaway: "Don't settle for a vague idea of God. Don't rely only on what you feel or assume. Go back to Jesus, because He is not just part of the story — He is the image of the invisible God. The more clearly we see Him, the more clearly we understand everything else."This devotional is a powerful framework for understanding how we come to know God — and a reminder that the journey always leads back to Jesus.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15-18 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-18 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue digging into the supremacy of ChristSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who's been chasing vague spirituality and needs to see God as He has actually revealed Himself.💬 Drop a comment below: Which attribute of God — communicable or incommunicable — has meant the most to you recently?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #JohnStott #AttributesOfGod #Revelation #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #Theology

God is invisible. We can't put Him under a microscope. We can't run experiments on Him. So how do we actually know what He's like? In Day 18 of our Colossians devotional series, we dig into Colossians 1:15 and confront one of the most subtle dangers in modern spirituality — the temptation to remake God in our own image.In this devotional, we explore:→ Eugene Peterson's beautiful paraphrase of this verse: "We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen" → Why getting God right matters practically — what we believe about God shapes how we live → The Old Testament moments when God showed up in physical form (theophanies — burning bush, cloud, voice) and the unique revelation of God in Jesus → How modern Romanticism has trained us to look inside for spiritual answers → The real danger of trusting our feelings: "God made us in His image, and ever since then, we've been attempting to return the favor" → The fascinating example from a church in Nazareth — paintings of Mary and Jesus from 100 different countries, each one made to look like the people who painted it → G.K. Chesterton's piercing reminder: "I don't need a church to tell me I'm wrong when I know I'm wrong. I need the church to tell me I'm wrong when I think I'm right." → Why the real danger isn't when we know we're off — it's when we're confident we're right and we're notKey takeaway: "If it's been a while since something in Scripture has challenged you, if it's been a while since you've had to rethink an assumption, if your picture of Jesus hasn't stretched or unsettled you — there's a good chance you're not really looking at Him."This devotional is a powerful, humbling invitation to put down the mirror and pick up the Gospels — to see Jesus as He really is, not as we've imagined Him. Because when we see Him clearly, He doesn't just inform our thinking — He reshapes our life.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-17 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through this towering passage about JesusSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a fresh, unfiltered vision of who Jesus really is.💬 Drop a comment below: When was the last time something in Scripture genuinely challenged you? Let's encourage each other by sharing.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #ImageOfGod #GKChesterton #EugenePeterson #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1

What if the passage we're about to read was actually an ancient hymn sung by the earliest Christians? In Day 17 of our Colossians devotional series, we step into the towering vision of Jesus found in Colossians 1:15-20 — and discover why everything in the Christian life ultimately comes back to two things.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why many scholars believe Paul lifted this passage straight from an early first-century hymn about Jesus → The two things people almost always get wrong when they drift spiritually: who Jesus is and how we are made right with God → Why Paul doesn't engage the false teachers' specific arguments — he simply elevates the supremacy of Christ → C.S. Lewis's famous challenge: Jesus is either the Son of God — or a madman, or something worse. There is no middle ground. → The towering claims of this passage: Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the Creator (not part of the creation), supreme over all things, and the one in whom everything holds together — including your life → Why reconciliation with God doesn't come through effort, rule-keeping, or being good enough — but through Christ's blood shed on the cross → Tim Keller's profound insight: "We are more sinful than we ever realized, but more loved than we ever imagined" — and how both meet at the crossKey takeaway: "In a world with lots of voices, lots of ideas, and lots of spiritual options — don't miss Jesus. Don't reduce Him. Don't sideline Him. Don't add to Him. Jesus is enough. He is who He claimed to be. He has done what He said needed to be done. He is the one in whom all things hold together."This devotional is a powerful, soul-anchoring reminder of who Jesus really is — and why everything else in your life finds its meaning and stability in Him.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15-20 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-16 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We dig deeper into the towering claims of this passageSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional as we walk through one of the most important passages about Jesus in all of Scripture. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a clear, unreduced vision of who Jesus really is.💬 Drop a comment below: Which phrase from Colossians 1:15-20 stands out most to you — and why?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #SupremacyOfChrist #CSLewis #TimKeller #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #Gospel

We're stepping into what may be one of the most important passages in all of Colossians — and arguably in the entire New Testament. In Day 16 of our Colossians devotional series, we set the stage for Colossians 1:15-20 — a dense, rich, towering passage about who Jesus really is.But first, we have to understand Paul's brilliant strategy for dealing with false teaching... and it's probably not what you'd expect.In this devotional, we explore:→ The context once again: Paul writing from a Roman prison to a small church he never visited → Why Paul doesn't name the false teachers or dismantle them point by point → Paul's surprising strategy: instead of reacting to error, he elevates the truth → The old sports adage that perfectly captures Paul's approach: "the best defense is a good offense" → Why this approach still works today — Jesus as "just a teacher," "just a moral example," or "one option among many" → Why in theology, the basics aren't the simple things — they're the foundational things we never move past → The startling truth: everyone is a theologian, including you — the question isn't whether you have a theological framework, but whether it's any good → A first look at the towering passage ahead: Jesus as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, the one in whom all things hold togetherKey takeaway: "When in doubt, focus on Jesus. When you're confused, go back to Jesus. When there are competing voices, go back and start over again with Jesus. Because when you see Him clearly, you begin to see everything else more clearly and rightly."This devotional is the launching pad for one of the most theologically rich sections in all of Scripture. Get ready — we're about to behold the supremacy of Christ.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15-20 (Introduction) 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-15 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Next: We begin verse-by-verse through one of the most important passages about Jesus in the New TestamentSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss what's coming. The next several devotionals will be some of the richest in the series. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a fresh, clear view of Jesus.💬 Drop a comment below: What's ONE thing about Jesus you're hoping to see more clearly through this passage?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #SupremacyOfChrist #Jesus #Theology #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #ImageOfGod

"Pastor, should I take the job?" "Should I buy the house?" "Should I marry this person?" People come asking about the will of God all the time. And in Day 15 of our Colossians devotional series, we get incredibly practical wisdom — not just on how to find God's will, but on something even more important.In this devotional, we explore Paul's prayer in Colossians 1:9 and unpack five practical filters for discerning God's will — plus the surprising twist that reframes the whole conversation.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why if you want to do God's will, you're already in a good spot — celebrate the win! → Filter 1: God has already made many things clear in His Word — He won't lead you against what He's already said → Filter 2: Use your mind. God gave you the ability to think, evaluate, weigh pros and cons, and seek wise counsel → Filter 3: Don't overread the circumstances — just because a door is open doesn't mean you're supposed to walk through it → The story of Jonah and the ship to Tarshish — "there's always a ship headed in the wrong direction" → Filter 4: At some point, you have to take a step — you don't need perfect clarity to move forward → Why God is far more gracious than to let a humble, seeking heart be permanently led astray → Filter 5 (and the most important): Don't miss that knowing God matters more than knowing His will → Why being driven to our knees in uncertainty is a win in itselfKey takeaway: "A lot of times people are trying to use God to get to the right answer — which suggests that the right answer is more important than God. But the goal is not the will of God, as significant as that is. The goal is to know God."If you're facing a decision right now and feeling stuck, this devotional is a practical, freeing reminder that God isn't playing hide-and-seek with His will. Instead of just asking "What should I do?" — try asking, "Where is God meeting me in this?"📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:9 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-14 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through Paul's powerful prayerSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who's wrestling with a big decision right now.💬 Drop a comment below: What decision are you praying through? How can the rest of us pray for you?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #WillOfGod #Decisions #Wisdom #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #SpiritualGrowth

What we believe about God shapes us in ways we can't even imagine. In Day 14 of our Colossians devotional series, we go deeper into the distinction between knowing about God and actually knowing God — and uncover the surprising pathway that draws us into a richer relationship with Him.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why what you believe about God may be the second most important thing about you — and what's actually #1 → The stunning truth that God chose to make Himself known — not because He's lonely, but because He loves → How Jesus is "the exact representation of His being" — the clearest picture we have of the Father → Why the Word of God written (Scripture) often ends up reading us → Why nothing else — success, pleasure, relationships, experiences — will ever fully satisfy the deeper longing we were made for → Augustine's profound insight: "If you fully grasp God, then that's not God" — because the finite cannot comprehend the infinite → A beautiful 40-year marriage analogy: there are always more depths to discover → The often-missed third pathway to knowing God — alongside prayer and Scripture — is obedience → Why disobedience doesn't just shape our behavior — it hardens our heart and dulls our sensitivity to GodKey takeaway: "If a way forward is not just to learn more about God but to actually have a relationship with God — and that comes through obedience — where is God prompting you? That is a place to start. Don't settle for knowing about God. Take a step toward knowing Him."This devotional is a powerful invitation to stop chasing the things that can never satisfy and start walking in the kind of relationship with God you were designed for — one that grows deeper through prayer, Scripture, and yes, obedience.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:9-14 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-13 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through Paul's powerful prayerSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who's been chasing things that don't satisfy.💬 Drop a comment below: Where is God prompting YOU right now? What's one step of obedience you can take today?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #KnowingGod #Augustine #Obedience #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #SpiritualGrowth

You can know everything about Winston Churchill — read his speeches, study his life, memorize his quotes — and still never have met him. You can have a PhD in the physics of bicycles and still not know how to ride one. And, as it turns out, you can know a lot about God... and still not actually know Him.In Day 13 of our Colossians devotional series, we land on a powerful phrase from Paul's prayer: "growing in the knowledge of God." And what Paul means by that is far deeper than information.In this devotional, we explore:→ What Paul is really praying for the Colossians — not just right behavior, not just right beliefs, but knowing God → The false teachings creeping into Colossae — and how they echo the same lies today (try harder, unlock the secret, follow the system) → The crucial distinction between knowing ABOUT God and knowing God → Soren Kierkegaard's haunting quip about two doors in heaven — one marked "Heaven" and one marked "Lectures About Heaven" — and which one too many people would choose → Why podcasts, books, sermons, and devotionals (even this one!) are means — not the end → The startling biblical analogy: marriage between a husband and wife is actually the metaphor — the real marriage is between Christ and the Church → Why our relationship with God is meant to be lived, not just studiedKey takeaway: "Don't just focus on learning more about God. Focus on spending time with Him. The goal is not simply knowledge about — the goal is to walk with Him, to meet with Him, to listen to Him, to pray, and to know."This devotional is a powerful gut-check for anyone who's ever confused information for intimacy — and a beautiful invitation to step into the relationship God actually designed us for.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:10 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-12 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through Paul's powerful prayerSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that God wants relationship — not just resumes.💬 Drop a comment below: What's ONE practical way you can spend time with God this week — not just learning about Him?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #KnowingGod #Kierkegaard #Relationship #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #SpiritualGrowth

When Paul saw false teachers pulling the Colossian church off course, what did he do first? He didn't write an argument. He didn't launch a campaign. He prayed. And in Day 12 of our Colossians devotional series, we step into the powerful, energetic, run-on prayer of a man writing from a prison cell with love overflowing for a church he had never even met.In this devotional, we dive into Colossians 1:9-14 and explore:→ Why Paul says he has "not stopped" praying for the Colossians — not occasionally, not when it crosses his mind → The remarkable list of things Paul prays for: knowledge of God's will, wisdom, understanding, lives worthy of the Lord, fruit, endurance, patience, and joy → Why this prayer is even more striking knowing Paul wrote it from prison → The energy of Paul's writing in the Greek — no pauses, no commas, no periods — just idea after idea spilling out → Why prayer is "love in action" and one of the most powerful things you can offer someone → A practical tip: When someone asks for prayer, pray right then — don't promise to do it later → How to use Scripture itself as the structure for your prayers → Why prayer is not a last resort or a formality — but an ongoing, daily practiceKey takeaway: "There are lots of voices trying to shape us, lots of confusion, lots of noise. One of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and for others is to pray — and to focus yourself on the kinds of things we find in Scripture, which are God's Word."This devotional is a powerful, practical reminder that prayer isn't a backup plan — it's the front line. And if you've never known what to pray, Paul gives you a template right here that you can use today.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:9-14 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-11 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Soon: A practical 4-week prayer class — stay tuned!Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that their prayers matter more than they know.💬 Drop a comment below: Who are YOU praying for right now? Name them (or just initials) — and let's lift each other up in the comments.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Prayer #PrayWithoutCeasing #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #PrayerLife

In a world full of algorithms, ideologies, headlines, and competing voices — what is actually shaping the way you think? In Day 11 of our Colossians devotional series, we pause before moving forward to highlight something foundational that runs underneath everything Paul has been writing: what we think matters.Your thoughts aren't neutral. They're shaping the person you're becoming.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why Paul wrote this letter in the first place — to correct thinking, reshape views, and anchor truth → The powerful idea behind the book Ideas Have Consequences — and why it's even more personal than it sounds → Jesus's call to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength → Paul's command to "take every thought captive to Christ" and to be "transformed by the renewing of your mind" → John Stott's pointed reminder: "The battle for the Christian life is often won or lost in the mind" → Why 2026 is filled with forces — algorithms, media, ideologies — that are actively trying to disciple you → Why we carefully guard what our kids consume — but get casual about what's shaping us as adults → The crucial question: What are you thinking about God? Because that shapes everything elseKey takeaway: "Be a good steward of your thoughts. Pay attention to what you're feeding your mind. Notice what you're rehearsing internally. Don't simply passively absorb the ideas and ideologies in the air around us — be intentional. Ground your deepest thoughts in Scripture and in the person and work of Jesus."This devotional is a wake-up call to stop being passive consumers of culture and start being intentional stewards of our minds. Because the ideas you regularly entertain determine the person you become.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1 (Foundation) + Romans 12:2 + 2 Corinthians 10:5 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-10 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We move forward into the next section of Paul's letterSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that what they think about matters more than they realize.💬 Drop a comment below: What's ONE thing you can start (or stop) feeding your mind today? Let's encourage each other to be intentional.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #RenewYourMind #JohnStott #IdeasHaveConsequences #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #SpiritualFormation

We use the word "love" for almost everything — we love a team, a show, a certain kind of food. Over time, the word has become thin. But the love Paul writes about in Colossians? It's something far deeper, far stronger, and far more costly than anything Hallmark could put on a card.In Day 10 of our Colossians devotional series, we explore the final word in Paul's trio — love — and discover that biblical love looks very different from what our culture has taught us.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why the word "love" has become so thin in our cultural vocabulary → The different Greek words for love — friendship, affection, eros — and the one Paul has in mind here → Why Christian love is decisional — chosen, committed, and aimed at the highest good for the other person → John Stott's powerful insight: "Love is not a feeling, it's a principle of action" → Why a love based on feelings is unreliable — but a love based on commitment can endure → How biblical love runs countercultural to our age of "my rights, my preferences, my fulfillment" → Why Jesus calls us to serve, give, forgive, and lay down our lives — none of which is easy or natural → What every married couple learns about feelings coming and going — and how commitment leads the way → Why the gap between the love we're called to and the love we can muster should drive us to JesusKey takeaway: "Love in the Christian sense is not soft. It is strong. It's steady, and at times it's costly. It means showing up even when you don't feel like it — and choosing to act for the good of the other."This devotional is a powerful, practical challenge to rethink what love actually means — and to step into the kind of love Jesus modeled: committed, costly, and unwavering.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:4-5 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-9 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through this rich opening chapterSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single verse in this powerful chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that real love is a choice — not just a feeling.💬 Drop a comment below: Who is God calling YOU to love today — not based on feelings, but based on what's best for them? Let's encourage each other to step up.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Love #JohnStott #FaithHopeLove #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #AgapeLove

"I hope things work out." "I hope next year is better." In everyday speech, hope has become a thin, wishful word. But biblical hope? That's something else entirely. In Day 9 of our Colossians devotional series, we slow down on the third word in Paul's powerful trio — hope — and discover why it's been misunderstood for far too long.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why hope, as we usually use it, is more like wishful thinking than real confidence → Why so many people are worn down and hesitant to hope in today's world → The crucial difference between optimism (tied to optics) and hope (tied to a person) → Why Paul says faith and love spring from the hope stored up in heaven — not the other way around → Tim Keller's powerful definition: "Christian hope is not the absence of darkness, it is the presence of light" → How biblical hope allows us to look honestly at brokenness AND still trust that God is at work → Why our confidence rests on the trustworthiness and faithfulness of God — not changing circumstances → C.S. Lewis's stirring conviction: "There are far better things ahead of us than behind us" → How an empty tomb changes everything about how we face the futureKey takeaway: "I don't want to tell you to just look at the bright side. I want to say look at God. That's where we go. We look at Jesus. We look at His character. We look at His promises. When your hope is placed in Christ, it holds even when everything else feels shaky."If you're walking through a season that feels hopeless — where the situation looks stuck and the headlines feel heavy — this devotional is a powerful reminder that real hope isn't found by looking around. It's found by looking up.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:5 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-8 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through Paul's rich opening wordsSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single verse in this powerful chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs real hope today — not just wishful thinking.💬 Drop a comment below: Where do you need biblical hope right now? Let's encourage each other by pointing one another back to Christ.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Hope #TimKeller #CSLewis #FaithHopeLove #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1

Faith. It's one of the most important words in the Christian life — and one of the most misunderstood. In Day 8 of our Colossians devotional series, we slow down on the first word in Paul's famous trio of faith, hope, and love to ask a vital question: What does biblical faith actually mean?In 2026, "faith" can mean almost anything — optimism, sincerity, spiritual feelings, or believing something intensely. But biblical faith is something far different, and far more powerful.In this devotional, we explore:→ The famous trio of faith, hope, and love — seen here and in 1 Corinthians 13 → What faith is NOT: wishful thinking, blind belief, mere feelings, or faith in our own faith → Dallas Willard's game-changing insight: "The power of faith is not in the intensity of our faith — it's in the object of our faith" → Why sincerity doesn't make something true — faith means trusting the right person → How Christian faith is grounded in evidence, history, and testimony — not a blind leap into the dark → C.S. Lewis on believing in Christianity "as I believe that the sun has risen... because by it I see everything else" → John Stott's powerful reframe: faith is "not a leap in the dark, but a step into the light" → Why real faith always has legs — it takes action, not just agreementKey takeaway: "The faith you have, in one sense, is the faith you show. It's unlikely that you need more information. What's likely is that you simply need to start obeying — enough trust to take the next step."Where is the gap between what you say you believe and how you actually live? Maybe it's in your finances, a relationship, your honesty, or in surrender. This devotional challenges us not to take ten steps — just one.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:4-5 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-7 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue with the next word in Paul's trio — hopeSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single verse in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs the courage to take their next step of faith.💬 Drop a comment below: What's ONE step of faith you can take today? Name it — and let's encourage each other forward.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Faith #CSLewis #DallasWillard #JohnStott #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1

How do you know what's true? In a world drowning in information, misinformation, news, fake news, and algorithms feeding us exactly what we want to hear — that question has only gotten louder. And in Day 7 of our Colossians devotional series, we discover that Paul answers it in a surprising way: not with an argument, but with a prayer.Even more surprising? He's writing from a prison cell.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why the ancient question "What do I trust?" is more relevant than ever in 2026 → How Paul opens not with a debate, but with gratitude — from inside a first-century prison → The critical difference between thanking God FOR prison and thanking God IN prison → How Paul trained his heart to notice what God is doing even when life is hard → Dallas Willard's powerful insight: "Grace is not opposed to effort, but it is opposed to earning" → Why gratitude is a discipline we practice consistently — not just once a year at Thanksgiving → The "hedonic treadmill" — why the promotion, the house, the recognition, the next milestone never satisfy for long → Why we can't fill the God-shaped vacuum in our hearts with anything but God → How a faith anchored in the hope "stored up in heaven" changes everythingKey takeaway: "We are not to depend on our circumstances to bring us the lasting joy we were designed to enjoy. We can cultivate gratitude even in hard moments — and that leads to peace."This devotional is a practical, encouraging challenge to notice what you're noticing — and to retrain your heart toward gratitude and thanksgiving, no matter what your circumstances look like.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:3-5 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-6 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue unpacking Paul's prayer of faith, love, and hopeSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single verse in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded that gratitude is possible — even in hard seasons.💬 Drop a comment below: What's one thing you're grateful for today? Name it and let's encourage each other!#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Gratitude #Thanksgiving #DallasWillard #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #Hope

We all want peace — but how many of us actually experience it? In Day 6 of our Colossians devotional series, we slow down on a single word in Paul's opening greeting that holds far more depth than we often realize: peace.Instead of asking "How are you doing?" what if we asked, "Are you sleeping well? And if not, what's keeping you up?" That question gets to the very heart of what biblical peace is all about.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why peace is something everyone wants but few consistently experience → The rich meaning of the Hebrew word shalom — not just the absence of conflict, but a deep sense of wholeness and wellbeing → Why real peace doesn't mean life is easy — it means life is anchored → How our world of news, pressure, speed, comparison, and uncertainty makes peace feel rare → A surprising Old Testament moment when King David asks a soldier, "How is the shalom of the battle?" — and what it reveals about inner peace → Why peace is a fruit of the Spirit — something we receive, not something we manufacture → How to pay attention to what disturbs your peace, because it reveals where you're placing your hope and confidence → Why fighting for peace sometimes means facing hard things before we can truly restKey takeaway: "We learn to get peace by resting in Christ — not by trying harder, but by returning again and again to the truths of Scripture, to the character of God, and reminding ourselves that God is at work, and God is for me."This devotional is a gentle invitation to pause and ask the honest question: Is my soul at peace? And if not, to bring that openly before the One who offers a deep, steady, anchoring peace.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:2 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-5 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue unpacking Paul's rich opening wordsSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single verse in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a reminder of God's peace today.💬 Drop a comment below: What's been disturbing YOUR peace lately? How do you return to rest in Christ?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Peace #Shalom #FruitOfTheSpirit #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father." It's easy to skim right past these opening words as just another standard greeting. But Paul chose them on purpose — and today we slow down to discover why grace might be the most important word we keep racing past.In Day 5 of our Colossians devotional series, we dig into the very heart of the gospel.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why Paul opens so many letters with the word "grace" — and why it's never throwaway language → The crucial difference between justice (getting what you deserve), mercy (not getting the punishment you deserve), and grace (getting a gift you didn't earn) → Why grace is so easy to celebrate in theory — but so hard to actually receive → How our performance-driven culture makes grace feel almost impossible to accept → A deeply personal and humbling story from the dark days following a stroke — and what a spouse's love revealed about the nature of grace → Why we are called "God's holy people" — not because of our holiness, but because Christ's righteousness is credited to our account → How truly understanding grace transforms our motivation — from exhausting ourselves to earn, to serving out of gratitude and securityKey takeaway: "Grace doesn't make you passive. It changes your motivation. When grace moves from an idea to a reality, it changes everything."If you're someone who's wired to achieve, earn, and prove yourself, this devotional is an invitation to let grace confront your instinct to repay — and to finally rest in what God has already given.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:2 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-4 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue our journey through Paul's opening wordsSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single verse in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded of God's grace today.💬 Drop a comment below: Is grace hard for YOU to accept? What gets in the way of receiving it freely?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Grace #Gospel #Jesus #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #GraceAndPeace

A young apprentice walks into a jewelry shop expecting to learn the trade. Instead, the master hands him a piece of jade and says, "Study this." Day after day, the same thing. Until one day, the master hands him a fake — and the apprentice instantly knows. Why? Because he had spent so much time with the real thing.That's the heart of today's devotional as we finally dive into Colossians 1:1 — verse by verse — in Day 4 of our series.In this devotional, we unpack:→ The powerful jade apprentice story and what it teaches us about discerning truth → Why Paul's introduction is FAR more important than you might think → The three key words that open this letter: apostle, grace, and peace → What it actually means to be an "apostle" in the New Testament (and why Paul claims this title) → How Paul was an "apostle untimely born" — encountering the risen Christ in Acts 9 → Why Paul is essentially "playing the trump card" right at the start of his letter → The dangerous phrase: "Jesus AND..." — and why you should be alert whenever you hear it → How modern people appeal to science, experience, tradition, and feelings — but Paul appeals to apostolic authority → Why staying close to the real Jesus is the only way to spot counterfeit truthKey takeaway: "If we're going to spot the difference between the real jade and a convincing fake, we have to stay close to the truth. That means we have to keep coming back to Christ Jesus, who is revealed in Scripture."This is where our verse-by-verse journey truly begins — and it sets the tone for everything Paul is about to teach us.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:1 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-3 if you're just joining us! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We unpack the words "grace" and "peace"Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single verse in this rich chapter. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with someone who's trying to discern truth in a confusing world.💬 Drop a comment below: Have you ever encountered a "Jesus AND..." teaching? How did you recognize it?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Jesus #Truth #Discernment #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Colossians1 #BibleVerse

What were the real problems facing the church in Colossae? And why does Paul's response still matter for us today? In Day 3 of our Colossians devotional series, we set the stage for a verse-by-verse journey through one of the most theologically rich chapters in the New Testament.Before we dive into the text itself, we need to understand the world Paul was writing into — and the timeless issues he was confronting head-on.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why Colossae's location on a trade route made it a hub for competing ideas and influences → The three issues that have always plagued churches: money, sex, and power → Why early church leaders were often dangerously underprepared (they didn't know what they didn't know) → How Jesus introduced a radically countercultural model of leadership — built on humility, not strength → Why the return of the "strongman" mentality on the world stage stands in stark contrast to Christian virtue → How ancient historians point to Christ's incarnation as the moment humility and compassion became valued → Why evil is "the privation of good" — and why drawing theological lines is harder than we think → How Colossians helps us tell the difference between essential truths and secondary issuesKey takeaway: "The goal isn't just to spot error. It's to know Jesus more deeply and to be shaped by Him. The more we are shaped by Him, the less likely we are to be misled into theological error."This devotional is the perfect launching pad as we get ready to walk through Colossians 1 verse by verse — holding tight to Jesus and learning what to fight for and what to let go of.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1 (Setting the Stage) 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1 & 2 if you missed them! ⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We begin our verse-by-verse journey through Colossians 1Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional. If this teaching encouraged you, share it with a friend who's trying to navigate hard theological conversations.💬 Drop a comment below: What "secondary issue" have you seen divide a church unnecessarily? How do we hold tight to Jesus through it all?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #Humility #ChristianLeadership #Jesus #Theology #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #ChurchHistory

Have you ever been disappointed by the church? Discouraged by failures, scandals, or broken people in leadership? You're not alone — and as we continue our journey through Colossians, we discover that the church has been wrestling with problems from the very beginning.In Day 2 of our Colossians devotional series, we step back to look at the bigger picture behind Paul's letter and uncover a truth that's both humbling and incredibly freeing: God has always worked through broken people.In this devotional, we explore:→ Why Paul wrote Colossians around 60 AD — and what was going wrong → The Apostle Paul's wild missionary "MO" (preach, riot, jail, repeat 😅) → Why brand-new believers were often left to lead entire churches → The hard truth about church history — from the Crusades to modern moral failures → The "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11 and why it's filled with deeply flawed people: Abraham the liar, Moses the murderer, David the adulterer, Rahab the prostitute → Why the church is a community of broken people following a perfect SaviorKey takeaway: "If you find a perfect church, don't join it — because as soon as you join it, it won't be perfect."This is an encouraging, honest conversation about why we shouldn't be shocked by failure in the church — and why we should never give up on what God is doing through imperfect people like you and me.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1 (Background) + Hebrews 11 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏮️ Missed Part 1? Check out the first video in this series! ⏭️ Coming Up: We dive deeper into Paul's celebration of JesusSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss the rest of this powerful journey through Colossians 1. If this encouraged you, share it with someone who's been hurt or discouraged by the church.💬 Drop a comment below: Has God ever used YOU despite your flaws? We'd love to hear your story.#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #BrokenButLoved #ChurchLife #Faith #Jesus #HallOfFaith #Hebrews11 #DailyDevotional

Welcome to Day 1 of our brand-new devotional journey through Colossians chapter 1 — one of the most theologically rich passages in the entire New Testament. We're going slow, digging deep, and discovering why this short letter from the Apostle Paul still speaks powerfully into our lives today.In this opening devotional, we unpack Colossians 1:1-8 and explore:→ Why Paul wrote this "occasional letter" to the church in Colossae → The fascinating backstory of Epaphras — the unlikely church planter who carried the gospel home → How faith, hope, and love are woven together from the very first verses → Why the problems facing the early church might feel surprisingly familiar today → The beautiful truth that the gospel is still "bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world"As John Calvin reminded us, to move forward in life we must truly know God — not just know about Him, but know Him personally through Jesus Christ. This chapter is a celebration of Christ, and we can't wait to walk through it with you.📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:1-8 🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional ⏭️ Next Up: We continue unpacking Paul's greeting and the foundation of gospel-centered faithSubscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss a single devotional as we journey through this incredible chapter together. Share this with a friend who needs encouragement in their walk with Christ!💬 Drop a comment below: What stands out to you most from these opening verses?#Colossians #BibleStudy #Devotional #Christian #ApostlePaul #NewTestament #DailyDevotional #Faith #Jesus #Gospel

In this final devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff brings the journey to a close with one of the most famous declarations in all of Scripture — and one of the most personally searching invitations in the entire Bible.Joshua is an old man now. He has led the people through the Jordan, through Jericho, through victory and defeat, through failure and restoration. And as he gathers the people for his final address, he doesn't ease into a gentle farewell. He recounts God's faithfulness from Abraham all the way through the Promised Land — and then he looks the people in the eye and calls for a decision."Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." — Joshua 24:15As Tim Keller once observed, faith always demands a decision. We cannot drift into discipleship. We must choose to follow — not just once, but over and over, day by day.Joshua isn't calling for vague religious sentiment or borderline ritual observance. He's calling for wholehearted, all-in devotion. Throw away the idols. Stop hedging your bets. Plant the flag. He knows firsthand what divided hearts produce — he's seen the wavering, the consequences, the chaos. And so he presses the point with the urgency of a man who has walked with God long enough to know it's worth everything.Pastor Mike closes the series by turning that same challenge toward us. Not as a sentimental bumper sticker moment, but as a genuinely practical question: What would it actually look like for you to say "as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord"? What habits would you need to build? What compromises would have to end? What conversations would need to happen?God has brought you through battles, setbacks, and redemptive moments throughout this series — and throughout your life. He has provided, corrected, and led. Now, like Israel standing at the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, the invitation is the same.Choose this day. Not because it's easy or trendy. Because God is faithful — and He is worthy.📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 24:15Subscribe and follow along as we continue our journey through Scripture together.

In this devotional, Pastor Mike Woodruff launches a brand new series through the book of Joshua — and the timing couldn't be more fitting. Coming off the heels of Easter, there's a natural sense that it's time to turn the page, take stock, and step into something new.The book of Joshua opens with a stark, emotionally loaded statement: Moses is dead. For forty years, Moses had been the towering figure — the one who stood before Pharaoh, delivered the Ten Commandments, and met with God face to face. And now he's gone. In his place stands Joshua, his former assistant, with no fanfare and no resume introduction. Just a calling and a river to cross.But this moment is about more than a leadership transition. The people of Israel are standing on the same riverbank where their parents had stood forty years earlier — and their parents had turned back in fear. Now it's their turn. And this time, the two spies come back with a different report: We can do this. God is in charge.That's the heartbeat of Joshua — and Pastor Mike makes clear it's our story too. Wherever you find yourself right now, whether you've been wandering, stuck in the same spot for too long, or facing something that feels like flood-stage waters — this book is an invitation. God is in the business of new beginnings. His mercies, we're told, are new every morning.But second chances aren't automatic or effortless. The Jordan is at flood stage. The step of faith comes before the waters part. God calls us to move before things feel safe or certain.So the question Pastor Mike leaves us with is simple and searching: What riverbank are you standing on — and what new ground is God asking you to take?📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 1 | Lamentations 3:22–23Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

After Israel's stunning victory at Jericho, the defeat at Ai catches Joshua off guard — and God's response reveals that the real issue wasn't military strategy, but hidden sin in the camp. In this devotional, Pastor Mike Woodruff walks through the difficult judgment of Achan and what it teaches us about holiness, confession, and the corrosive nature of unaddressed sin. The freedom Christ purchased isn't license to do whatever we want; it's freedom to walk closer to God.📖 Passage: Joshua 7Key themes:Why God treats sin more seriously than we doHow hidden disobedience affects an entire communityJohn Owen's warning: "Be killing sin, or it will be killing you"Confession, humility, and walking in the lightHow the cross upholds both mercy and holiness"Light is a great disinfectant. Is there anything that needs to be brought into the light?"🙏 Take a moment today to invite the Spirit to examine your heart. Owning our sin is the doorway to experiencing God's mercy and grace.—Pastor Mike Woodruff serves as the Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Lake Forest, IL. These daily devotionals are released Monday through Thursday on YouTube and as a podcast.🎧 Subscribe to the podcast on BuzzSprout 🔔 Subscribe to this channel for daily devotionals#DailyDevotional #BookOfJoshua #BibleStudy #Faith #ChristianPodcast #SinAndGrace #Achan #ChristChurchLakeForest

In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff turns to one of the most sobering chapters in the book — the surprising and costly defeat at Ai.Jericho had just fallen. The walls came down, the victory was miraculous, and the momentum was real. So when Israel turned its attention to Ai — a much smaller city with a much smaller army — confidence was high. Too high. They went in without seeking God first, underestimated their enemy, overestimated themselves, and came away defeated.Joshua 7 tells us why: there was sin in the camp. A man named Achan had taken items God had commanded be set apart, and that hidden disobedience rippled outward into chaos and defeat for the entire community.But Pastor Mike draws out a deeper pattern that goes beyond Achan. As Dallas Willard observed, spiritual success is far more dangerous than failure. When things go well, we subtly begin to believe we've earned it. Prayer becomes less urgent. Humility quietly gives way to self-reliance. We start calculating risks and returns instead of listening for God's voice. Israel didn't lose at Ai because they tried and failed — they lost because they succeeded at Jericho and forgot.It's a pattern most of us recognize. A good season, a string of wins, and then — almost without noticing — spiritual complacency sets in.The lesson from Joshua 7 is clear: we need God just as much after the victory as before the battle. In fact, perhaps even more. Because the danger isn't in trying and failing. The danger is in succeeding and forgetting.📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 7Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff opens the final week of reflections from the book of Joshua by weaving together two of its most powerful threads — the long, silent march around Jericho and the unlikely faith of Rahab — into a single, sustaining encouragement for anyone who feels stuck, stalled, or unable to see where God is taking them.The march around Jericho didn't look like progress. It looked ridiculous. And yet it was obedience — what Eugene Peterson called "a long obedience in the same direction." God asked His people to trust, obey, and wait. And waiting on the Lord, Pastor Mike reminds us, is never passive. It is one of the most active things we can do.Then there's Rahab. A Canaanite. A prostitute. A woman with no resume of faithfulness — just one moment of it. And God weaves that single act of trust into eternity, placing her in the genealogical line that leads all the way to Jesus. As A.W. Tozer observed, God is looking for people through whom He can do the impossible. The problem is that we tend to only plan for what we can manage on our own.Pastor Mike closes with a word for anyone who can't see how the pieces fit together right now. We don't get to see the full tapestry — only the underside, with all its knots and loose threads. What's on the other side may be richer than we can imagine, but it won't always be obvious. Not now. Maybe not for years. Maybe not in our lifetime.But our job was never to see the whole picture. Our job is to be faithful in the next step.Like Rahab. Like Joshua. Like the Israelites circling a wall that hadn't fallen yet.📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 2 | Joshua 6 | Hebrews 11Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff arrives at one of the most iconic moments in all of Scripture — the walls of Jericho — and invites us to look past the miracle itself to what this strange, silent march reveals about the nature of faith.Four things stand out from this remarkable account.First, obedience to God can look genuinely odd. Marching around a fortified city in silence for six days isn't in any military handbook. And yet that's exactly what God commanded and exactly what Joshua did. As Eugene Peterson's famous phrase captures it — drawing on Nietzsche of all people — this is what "a long obedience in the same direction" looks like. Faithfulness that shows up even when the results aren't visible yet.Second, Jericho is less a military campaign than a worship act. The priests lead the way. The Ark of the Covenant follows. Victory doesn't come through strategy or strength — it comes through spiritual surrender and alignment with God.Third, there's the silence. In a world of constant noise, screens, podcasts, and distraction, silence feels threatening to most of us. But as Dallas Willard observed, it's often in silence that we finally hear the voice of God. The march around Jericho is a reminder that stillness isn't emptiness — it's space for God to speak.And fourth, the battle belongs to the Lord. The walls don't fall because of clever tactics. They fall because God is faithful. Our job is to walk in obedience and trust Him to do what only He can do.If you find yourself circling your own Jericho right now — staying faithful, staying silent, waiting on a breakthrough that hasn't come yet — this story is for you. God's timing is perfect, and He is faithful to bring the walls down.📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 6Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff pauses the march toward Jericho to spotlight one of the most surprising figures in the entire Bible — Rahab.She is, by every outward measure, an unlikely candidate for anything. A Canaanite. A Gentile. A prostitute. An outsider in just about every conceivable way — ethnically, morally, and geographically. And yet when Joshua's two spies slip into Jericho, it's Rahab who hides them, protects them, and makes one of the most striking confessions of faith in the Old Testament: I know God is on your side. I know He is going to give you this land.While Israel's own history is littered with doubt and delay, Rahab — the ultimate outsider — simply believes and acts on it.And God doesn't forget her for it. The New Testament mentions her by name three times. Hebrews lists her among the heroes of faith. James holds her up as a prime example of genuine belief producing real action. And Matthew includes her in the genealogy of Jesus himself.As Tim Keller once observed, the gospel is so remarkable — so scandalous — that God doesn't just use the weak. He uses the wicked, if they will turn to Him and trust. That's not a footnote. That's the whole point.Pastor Mike closes with two pointed questions worth sitting with: Who have you written off as beyond the reach of God's plan? And have you written off yourself because of something in your past?Rahab's story answers both. God's grace is bigger than our history, and His mission has always included people nobody expected.📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 2 | Hebrews 11 | James 2 | Matthew 1Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff returns to that charged midnight encounter between Joshua and the pre-incarnate Christ — and zeroes in on the question at its heart.Joshua asks what so many of us ask: God, are you with me? Are you for me or for my enemies? And the answer — neither — is as jarring today as it was then. Because we want God on our side. We assume He is. We treat Him, if we're not careful, like a flag to wave, a weapon to wield, or a mascot for our cause.But as A.W. Tozer wrote in The Knowledge of the Holy, what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. If we see God primarily as a divine helper or spiritual therapist, we'll spend our lives trying to fit Him into our agenda. But if we see Him as Lord — holy, sovereign, and wise — we'll do what Joshua did: fall on our face and ask what message He has for us.Pastor Mike also brings in Abraham Lincoln's famous reflection from the Civil War. When asked whether God was on the Union's side, Lincoln replied that his greatest concern wasn't whether God was on his side — it was whether he was on God's.That's the shift this passage calls us to. Not from passivity to action, but from planning to submitting. From "here's what I want you to bless" to "Lord, what message do you have for your servant?" This kind of surrender isn't passive or easy — it's active, costly, and foundational to everything that follows.Before you rush into your Jericho today, Pastor Mike invites you to pause, bow low, and ask the only question that really matters: Am I aligned with what God is doing — or am I just hoping He endorses what I've already planned?📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 5:13–15Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff reflects on one of the most searching questions the book of Joshua puts before us — not "Is God on my side?" but "Am I on His?"The Israelites have crossed the Jordan on dry ground, renewed their covenant through circumcision and Passover, and watched forty years of daily manna come to an end. They are finally in the Promised Land. And yet the journey isn't over — it's just entering a new and harder chapter. Jericho looms ahead, a famously fortified stronghold, and Joshua finds himself alone at night in that liminal space between yesterday's miracle and today's reality.That's when the figure appears — sword drawn, unannounced. Joshua steps forward like the soldier he is and demands to know: Are you for us or for our enemies?The answer reframes everything: Neither. But as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come.This is a Christophany — the pre-incarnate Jesus appearing to Joshua. And just as Moses removed his sandals on holy ground, Joshua is told to do the same. He falls on his face. Because this is not a moment to recruit God. This is a moment to surrender.As Tim Keller once observed, we tend to want a God who comforts us but not one who commands us — a Savior who comes to our aid but not a Lord who takes the lead. But that's not what this encounter offers. God doesn't show up to endorse our agenda. He shows up to invite us into His.Pastor Mike closes with a question worth sitting with today: Are you submitting your life to God, or are you simply asking Him to bless yours?📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 5:13–15Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff sets the scene for one of the most pivotal moments in the entire book — not the famous battle itself, but the quiet, charged encounter that happens the night before.The Israelites have crossed the Jordan and are now in the land. Three spiritually significant moments mark this transition: the men are circumcised, reestablishing the Abrahamic Covenant; Passover is celebrated, remembering God's deliverance; and the manna stops. Forty years of supernatural provision comes to an end. The wandering is over. The real work begins.Then we find Joshua alone at night — walking, thinking, praying, maybe panicking. The river crossing is yesterday's miracle. Now he's staring at Jericho's walls with an untested army and not enough food. And out of the darkness, a man appears with a drawn sword."Are you for us or for our enemies?" Joshua asks.The answer stops everything: "Neither. But as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come."This is what theologians call a Christophany — an appearance of Jesus before the incarnation. And Joshua's response is immediate: he falls on his face. Because he understands in that moment that he was never going to recruit God onto his side. God doesn't take sides. God shows up to take over.Pastor Mike leaves us with a challenge that cuts straight to the heart: before we wage war on whatever battle lies ahead of us, we need to do what Joshua did. Pause. Look up. Recognize who's really in charge. And worship before we fight.📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 5:13–15Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff opens with a disarming story — a four-year-old lying awake, convinced wolves were lurking outside the window. No wolves were ever there, of course. But the fear was real. The only thing that changed when his mom came in wasn't the situation — it was who he chose to trust.That simple childhood memory becomes a powerful lens for understanding one of Joshua's central themes. Joshua faced enormous challenges — a river crossing, battle after battle, leadership crisis after leadership crisis. And yet the message he kept receiving wasn't "don't be afraid." It was "be strong and courageous" — because God was with him. The fear was real. The call was to trust anyway.Pastor Mike turns the question on us: What's your Jordan River? What feels uncrossable right now? Financial pressure, relational tension, fear of losing a job, parenting stress — whatever it is, the invitation is the same. Name it. Admit it to yourself and maybe to a trusted few. And then hand it over to God.As Dallas Willard said, faith isn't wishful thinking — it's confidence grounded in reality. It's trusting that God is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do.Fear looks out the window for wolves. Faith chooses to trust the Father.📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 1 | "Be strong and courageous"Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

In this devotional from the Joshua series, Pastor Mike Woodruff reflects on the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River and what happened immediately after. Just as God parted the waters for the priests carrying the ark — a stunning echo of Moses and the Red Sea — the Israelites were commanded to do something easy to overlook: build altars.Two piles of stones. One hidden beneath the Jordan's current, seen only by God. One standing on the Promised Land's shore, built from twelve stones representing every tribe of Israel. Both meant to answer a future question: What happened here?Pastor Mike challenges us to ask ourselves — do we have our own altars? Tangible reminders of the moments God showed up, provided, and carried us through. A journal entry. A framed verse. A rock from a meaningful place. A regular practice. Something that stops us, points us back, and says: remember what God has done.The Christian life calls us forward in faith and obedience — but never at the cost of forgetting. Scripture repeats the word remember over and over for a reason. Remembering builds the courage to keep going.📖 Series: Joshua — A Devotional Study 🎙️ Pastor: Mike Woodruff 📌 Scripture Focus: Joshua 3:15–17 | Psalm 114Subscribe and follow along as we journey through the book of Joshua together.

The Israelites are on the banks of the Jordan River—the same spot where their parents stood 40 years earlier. But this time, they're looking forward in faith. Two million people, plus animals, all organized and ready. The priests lead with the Ark of the Covenant. The river is at flood stage, dangerous, muddy, and impossible to see through. And the people don't know how to swim.It's a moment that requires courage. A step of faith into the unknown.But in this installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff shifts our focus. Yes, there are big, bold moments that define our spiritual lives—inflection points that change our trajectory. But more often than not, it's not the big events that matter most. It's the small steps. The daily faithfulness. The ongoing trust. The perseverance that is steady.As Eugene Peterson put it, what we need is a long obedience in the same direction.Pastor Mike turns to Hebrews 2:1: "We must pay careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." The operative word is drift. Not rebellion. Not defiance. We lose our focus through inattention and distraction. It's a slow fade. That's what holds us back—not a lack of courage, but a lack of clarity and a loss of focus.So here's the question: What's holding you back from deeper growth in Christ? Is it a lack of courage? Or is it a lack of clarity? Most of us don't get stuck because we're afraid of the big leap. We get stuck because we neglect the things that matter. We drift.Don't let distraction rob you of the next step. Keep the main thing the main thing. Long obedience. Same direction. One small step at a time.

"As soon as the priests who carry the Ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—step foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap." — Joshua 3:13Here it is. The moment of decision.The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant are told to step into the Jordan River—still at flood stage, still dangerous, still impossible. They don't know how to swim. There's no promise of safety. No backup plan. Just faith.And what happens? As soon as their feet hit the water, the river piles up. Not a slow recede. Not a gradual easing. A sudden, miraculous stop. Dry ground appears, just like the Red Sea. And two million people cross over into the Promised Land—not because the river got easier, but because God made a way.This passage suggests something profound: sometimes we have to believe in the miracle before we see it. Sometimes we have to step into the unknown when everything in us wants to stay put. Trusting God is the better move.This was a make-or-break moment for Joshua. He'd only been on the job a few days. If he fails here, he's done. But he doesn't fail. God is there. The people obey. And it works.Pastor Mike Woodruff reflects on the classic book In His Steps—about people who decided to live as if they would do whatever Jesus would do. That's the question for you today: What would it look like if you really decided to trust and obey?The current might look strong. The water might look deep. But God is faithful, and God is able. Take the next step. Step in before the water parts.

"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you." — Joshua 3:5Before the miracle comes the moment of preparation. Joshua stands before nearly two million people and tells them to get ready—not just logistically, but spiritually. Clean your hearts. Examine your lives. Confess your sin. Rededicate yourselves. Because God is about to show up and lead you forward.The word "consecrate" means to set apart for a sacred purpose. Israel is preparing to step into the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land. God wants their hearts aligned with Him before He parts the waters.Pastor Mike Woodruff shares a personal story of sailing across Lake Michigan with his two boys when a sudden storm appeared on the horizon. He woke them up, had them put on life preservers, and said, "If you have unconfessed sin, now would be a good time to bring that before the Lord." That's the spirit of this passage. Things are about to get real. Are you ready? Are you right with God?The priests go first, carrying the Ark of the Covenant—representing God's law, God's leadership, and God's provision. And just as the Ark foreshadowed God's presence leading His people, Jesus is the true and better Ark. He perfectly fulfills the law, perfectly leads us, and gives Himself as the bread of life.So here's the question: What is your East Bank? What is God calling you to step into? And before you take that step, have you consecrated yourself? Have you prepared your heart?The miracle is coming. But first comes the moment of preparation.

"Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them." — Joshua 1:2Some decisions can't be delayed. You're either going to take the job or not. Forgive the person or not. Step into something new or stay where you are. In this installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff reminds us that the moment comes when we have to choose: trust or fear, obey or stall, move forward or retreat.The Israelites are back on the east bank of the Jordan—the same spot where their parents stood 40 years earlier. Their parents saw giants and fortified cities and refused to cross. That decision cost them four decades in the wilderness. Now it's the children's turn. And this time, Joshua sends just two spies into the land. They return with a good report: "The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands."Game time.The Jordan is at flood stage—wide, fast, and dangerous. The Israelites have spent 40 years in the desert; they don't know how to swim. And there are two million of them, with children, elderly, goods, and livestock. Crossing isn't a small ask. It's a giant step of faith.So here's the question for you today: Where are you camped? What river are you standing on the bank of? What step forward is God asking you to take that feels too risky, too big, too impossible?If we're going to follow Jesus, we have to be willing to get wet. The river represents risk. The step forward requires faith. Don't stay on the east bank forever. Get ready to cross.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, because you know that the testing of faith produces endurance. (James 1:2-3)Let's be honest—trials don't feel like gifts. They feel like chaos, disruption, and heartache. Something to be endured, not embraced. But the Book of Joshua highlights a different perspective: even in hardship, even in the middle of the desert, trials can be good because God is at work.In this installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff reflects on second chances—and what it takes to actually grow through them. Israel stood at the Jordan River, frozen, 40 years earlier. They paid a high price for their fear. But now, mercifully, God gives them another chance. Yet a second chance only works if you take advantage of it. That means facing your mistakes, learning from them, and pressing ahead.Pastor Mike recalls Peggy Noonan's hopeful writing during COVID—that we might emerge better, more reflective, more thankful. But years later, that's not what we've seen. Most people didn't emerge stronger. They numbed out, grew more anxious, or settled into soul-dulling patterns. Trials are an opportunity. They're a moment when God has our attention—whispering, sometimes shouting, "Come closer. Let me shape you."You don't have to pretend to enjoy the trial. But you can see it as a sacred moment to grow in maturity, grit, and resilience. The question isn't whether we'll face trials. The question is: when we face them, will we grow through them?Deepest spiritual roots tend to come in times of drought. God doesn't promise to make your life easy—He's more concerned with your character than your comfort. So may the trials you're facing today leave you more humble, more honest, more grateful, and more Christ-like.Don't miss the opportunity to grow.

We're still standing at the edge of the Jordan, still talking about second chances. But today, Pastor Mike Woodruff pivots to an uncomfortable truth: resets aren't guaranteed to work. A second chance doesn't automatically produce a better outcome—not unless we do something with it.Some people are given a clean slate, a do-over, a mulligan… and they waste it. They fall right back into old patterns and bad habits. They don't do the soul work. They don't ask, "How did I get here, and what do I need to change so I don't end up here again?" Others are paralyzed by fear, frozen on the riverbank, unable to move.That's not what we see in Joshua. He pushes for the changes that need to happen. The walls of Jericho fell, but the people still had to step forward. Obedience requires courage. The reset requires movement.Pastor Mike reflects on the 1990s film Grand Canyon, where characters experience a cataclysmic event and a reset—and we watch as some take advantage of it while others do not. The same is true for you. If you're gaining an opportunity for a spiritual reset after a season of wandering, don't stand on the edge of the Jordan forever.God isn't offering a second chance just to make life more comfortable. He's inviting you into deeper trust and deeper faith. And that will require courage. Courage doesn't mean you don't feel fear—it means you feel it and move forward anyway.Be strong and courageous. Take the next step.

Let's be honest—most of us would love a second chance. A redo. A clean slate. We romanticize them in sports, root for them in movies, and long for them in life. But second chances are seldom painless. They come at a cost. They're often preceded by struggle, humiliation, and a deep learning curve.In this installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff takes us back to the banks of the Jordan River. The Israelites have come full circle—back to the edge of the Promised Land where their parents stood 40 years earlier. But this isn't just a geographic repeat. It's a heart check. Not a test of physical strength, but of trust and surrender.The first time, fear won. Ten spies spread panic throughout the nation, and a generation was condemned to wander the wilderness—over 14,000 days, an estimated one hundred funerals a day. Second chances do not come cheaply.Now, standing at the same river, the question is: Will this generation trust God in ways their parents did not?Pastor Mike reflects on the "mulligan"—golf's free do-over—and reminds us that in real life, mulligans are rare. When we get them, they often follow a season of wilderness, consequences, and shaping. The Israelites didn't just kill time in the desert; God was preparing them. And sometimes the second chance you receive isn't for you to keep—it's one you can extend to someone else.Second chances are a gift. They're rarely free. The Israelites inherited theirs because a generation died in the desert. You and I inherited ours because Jesus went to the cross.So if you're standing on the edge of something new today, don't waste the moment. Don't repeat the cycle. You've been given another shot. Take the next step.

In this second installment of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff picks up where we left off—Moses is gone, Joshua is in charge, and the Israelites stand on the banks of the Jordan River. The weight of leadership is heavy. Joshua has spent years in Moses' shadow, learning and waiting. But his assignment was never to be Moses. It was to be obedient and follow God's lead.Here's the deeper truth Pastor Mike unpacks: Joshua is not just a historical figure. His name in Hebrew is Yeshua—the same name that becomes Jesus in the Greek. Joshua points ahead to the true and better Joshua. Just as Jesus is the true and better Adam, the true and better Joseph, and the true and better Moses, He is also the true and better Joshua—who doesn't just get us across the river but gets us all the way home.Whatever obstacle, hardship, or fear you're facing today, Jesus leads the way and fights on your behalf. He does what you cannot. But like Joshua, you still have to move your feet. God told Joshua, "I will give you every place where you set your foot." The victory is won. The promises are certain. But we walk by faith and take steps—sometimes big, sometimes small—always in the direction God leads.So where is Jesus inviting you to follow today? Where do you need Him to be your true and better Joshua?

In this first message of our "Joshua" devotional series, Pastor Mike Woodruff explores the theme of new beginnings and second chances. Just as the Israelites stood on the banks of the Jordan River after 40 years of wandering—facing a long-delayed transition—we too are invited to turn the page, take stock, and ask, "What's next?"Pastor Mike reflects on the emotionally charged opening of the Book of Joshua: "Moses is dead." The towering leader is gone, and now his assistant Joshua must lead God's people into an uncertain future. Unlike their parents' generation, who gave in to fear, this new generation chooses faith. But crossing into God's promise isn't automatic or effortless—the Jordan is at flood stage, and they must step into the water before it parts.Whether you've been stuck, wandering, or facing a difficult season, this series is an invitation to stop circling the same spot and move forward. God is in the business of new beginnings—His mercies are new every morning. But second chances require risk, faith, and a willingness to change.Join us as we learn to trust God, cross our own rivers, and take the new ground He's calling us to.

It's not too late to engage with Lent on a deeper level. And fasting might be the practice that opens the door.Hi, I'm Brad Coleman, the Campus Pastor at Christ Church Highland Park. This is our final devotion in this week's "Holy Habits" series on fasting. We've covered the biblical foundation, fasting as worship, and fasting as training in righteousness. But if you've never tried fasting before—or if it's been a while—you might be wondering: How do I actually do this?Today, I'm giving you practical suggestions to begin experimenting with fasting.In this devotion, we explore:The key to fasting: it doesn't work unless you're intentional. Every pang of hunger becomes a reminder—a trigger for prayer and worship.A simple approach: find a day that works for you. Some people fast from sundown to sundown. I fast from after dinner one night until dinner the next day.What to do when hunger hits: use it as a prompt to say, "Lord, I worship You. I surrender all to You. I need You above all else."Other ways to fast: it doesn't have to be food. During Lent, I remove all social media apps from my phone—and the NBA app (that one's tough for me!).The principle: fasting from something we enjoy is what makes it effective. Giving up something we already hate isn't the point. Fasting says, "This pleasure in my life is not master over me."If fasting is new for you, I encourage you to give it a try this Lent. Allow it to become part of what makes this season unique. You may find it as beneficial as I have in my own walk with the Lord.Thank you for joining us for this week's Holy Habits series. Don't forget to like and subscribe so you don't miss future devotionals!

We don't drift toward Christlikeness. We have to aim for it.Hi, I'm Brad Coleman, the Campus Pastor at Christ Church Highland Park. Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series on fasting. We've explored the biblical foundation and fasting as worship. Today, we're looking at fasting as something else entirely: training in righteousness.In this devotion, we explore:The athlete's mindset: I swam competitively from age six through college—10 miles a day in training for a race that was only 200 yards. The training made the race feel easy.Paul's words in 1 Timothy 4:7-8: "Train yourself to be godly. Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things."The reality: Our hearts don't naturally move toward righteousness. We can easily be lured toward toxic and harmful desires. We need to train.Fasting as a teachable moment: Every pang of hunger becomes an opportunity to say "no" to an appetite—to practice self-control, which is the fruit of the Spirit.The outcome: Fasting is like lifting spiritual weights. It strengthens the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within us and diminishes the power of the flesh.A personal example: A nightly prayer walk—even when tired, even when it's 12 degrees—trains me to become someone more aware of God's presence and available for His purposes.Fasting is not something we do to earn God's favor. It's an act of worship—and it's training that shapes us into the kind of people who naturally love, think, and act like Jesus.Tomorrow, I'll share practical suggestions for experimenting with fasting. Don't forget to like and subscribe so you don't miss it!

What if fasting isn't about what you give up, but about who you lift up?Hi, I'm Brad Coleman, the Campus Pastor at Christ Church Highland Park. Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series on fasting. Yesterday, we laid the biblical foundation for this ancient practice. Today, we're exploring fasting as an act of worship—and it might change how you think about it entirely.In this devotion, we discover:We are designed to worship. The first act of human rebellion was an attempt to place ourselves at the center of the universe—and it never works.Idols aren't just statues. An idol is anything that takes the place designed for God alone—anything that draws our focus away from Him.Worship involves surrender. Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice—our "spiritual service of worship."When we fast, food becomes a stand-in for any human appetite. Laying it aside for a time is a way to posture our hearts in submission before God.The built-in reminder: hunger. Every pang becomes an invitation to say, "Lord, I worship You. I surrender all to You. I need You above all else."The ultimate goal: to become the kind of person who naturally and joyfully places God in His rightful place—so our hearts align with His heart, our values shaped by His kingdom.Fasting is not ultimately about what we gain from it. It's about what we lay down—and who we lift up.Tomorrow, we'll talk about fasting as training in righteousness. Don't forget to like and subscribe so you don't miss it!

What if fasting wasn't just for biblical heroes, but for ordinary followers of Jesus? What if it was assumed—not optional?Hey, Christ Church. I'm Brad Coleman, the pastor of Christ Church Highland Park. Welcome to this week's "Holy Habits" devotional series. We're in the season of Lent—40 days leading up to the most significant moment in human history: the death and resurrection of Jesus. And during this season, we're focusing on spiritual practices that help us place ourselves more intentionally in God's presence. This week, we're talking about fasting.In this first devotion, we lay the biblical foundation for the practice of fasting:The many examples of fasting throughout Scripture: Moses (40 days on Mount Sinai), Esther (a three-day fast for her people), David (praying and fasting for his sick child), Daniel (a partial fast for 21 days), and countless others.The most significant example: Jesus Himself. In Luke 4, He fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, full of the Holy Spirit, preparing for His earthly ministry.Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6: "When you fast..."—not if. The assumption is clear: this will be a regular practice for His followers.The right way to fast: not for show, not with a gloomy face, but in secret before your Father who sees in secret and will reward you.A connection to Jesus' teaching on anxiety: "Do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink." Fasting helps us reorder our relationship with food, with provision, and with trust in our Heavenly Father.Fasting is not a relic of the past. It's a spiritual practice with deep biblical roots—and it has a place in our lives as we grow toward Christlikeness.Join us this week as we explore fasting as worship, training in righteousness, and practical ways to experiment with this holy habit during Lent.Don't forget to like and subscribe so you don't miss the rest of the series!

We've talked about why silence and solitude matter. But how do you actually do it? What do you do when you get alone and quiet?Hi everyone! I'm Jamie Morrison, and this is our final devotion in this week's "Holy Habits" series on Silence and Solitude. We've covered the currents that cause us to drift, the example of Jesus, and the whisper that met Elijah in the cave. But if you've ever tried to be silent and found your mind racing with noise, this one's for you.In this devotion, I walk you through a simple, practical framework to guide your time in silence and solitude. I call it: E.A.R. to H.E.A.R.T.First: E.A.R.E — Escape: Get away from your surroundings. Hide in the bathroom. Go for a walk. Leave the phone, the music, the podcasts—even the Bible, if necessary. Just be alone with God.A — Aware: Notice what's on your mind. The critical thoughts. The barking dog. The ticking clock. Don't fight them—just notice them.R — Release: Let it go. Trust God with your worries, your distractions, your noise. Rest in the knowledge that He has you.Then, move from E.A.R. to HERE:H — Hold whatever you're sensing from God. A truth? A promise? A story from Scripture? A characteristic of God? Hold it. Contemplate it. Let it settle.Finally, move from HERE to HEART:T — Thanks: End with a short prayer of gratitude. Thank God for the time, for the thoughts, for the simple truth that you are loved by a personal and involved God.This is how silence and solitude move from your ears to your heart.Try it today. Start with 10 minutes. Your appetite will grow.Don't forget to like and subscribe as we continue our Holy Habits series with more topics in the weeks ahead!

If you're waiting for God to show up in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire—you might miss Him. He's often in the whisper.Hi everyone! I'm Jamie Morrison, and welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series on Silence and Solitude. Today, we're looking at one of the most dramatic stories in the Old Testament—and discovering that God's most powerful moment came in the quiet.In this devotion, we explore:Richard Foster's famous line: "Superficiality is the curse of our age. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people or gifted people, but for deep people."The story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19—fresh off a miraculous victory on Mount Carmel, yet exhausted, depressed, and hiding in a cave.How God revealed Himself: not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire—but in a gentle whisper.A practical lesson from family road trips: sometimes the problem isn't that the volume is too low—it's that our noise is too high.The connection between Elijah, Moses, and Mount Sinai (Horeb)—a place of solitude and silence where God met both prophets in transformative ways.God's not looking for holy mountains. He's looking for holy hearts with holy habits that are seeking Him. Every place can be a sanctuary when we quiet ourselves enough to listen.Take some time today to turn down the noise and listen for the whisper.Don't forget to like and subscribe as we continue our Holy Habits series!