December 5, 2025

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8

7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

How much should you give others if you want to obey the commands of God? We usually don’t ask how much we have to give because we’re hoping to give more. Usually we want off the hook because we angrily imagine we’ve already given enough. People need more time, more compassion, more understanding, more intrusion and give so little in return. Sort of sounds like motherhood.

How do we give like mothers give? We lovingly ask a different question. Instead of trying to hit the minimum required to fulfill our obligations to others, we need to ask what more you can do to show the overflowing love you feel for this person. God can teach you love. It is one of the great blessings of our universe that obediently showing others love will be followed, sooner than you expect, by feeling genuine love. Try it and see.

Prayer prompt: Lord, help me to quickly feel the love I should feel for those You have dropped in my life like a gift.

December 4, 2025

Acts 16:27-28

27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

Why should we suffer for someone else to know Jesus? In this story, one of Jesus’ followers went to tell a town about Jesus. The town, in response, hauled him before judges, stripped and beat him, then threw him into jail. God miraculously broke open the jail and yet this Jesus follower stayed put in the hope of seeing even his jailor become a Christian!

Paul suffered so much for others because he really was a Jesus follower. All this guy did was follow through with the example he saw in his Lord. Jesus suffered, going all the way below prison to death itself to set us free and save us from death. Where can we follow His example today?

Prayer prompt: Lord, please grow in me a love that will go anywhere for those You want to save.

December 3, 2025

Jeremiah 17:9-10

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

In the Smith’s parking lot, in the space of 2 minutes, I was outraged at the outrageously slow walking of the shoppers in the parking lot. I parked, then was infuriated by the crazy drivers as I walked into the store. That is the silly and dirty top to the disgusting and sinful depths of my heart. How can I work to clean things up if I can’t even see myself and chart the inconsistencies, pride, madness, and transgressions of my own life?

God sees to the bottom of that spinning chaos you call a heart and He shows you your sin. Consequences follow actions in God’s world and it is incredibly kind of Him to make it so. If your heart is beyond your own understanding, lean on His. Commit to doing life His way and watch what happens.

Prayer prompt: Lord, show me my ways that I may change them to follow Your commands.

December 2, 2025

Acts 4:13

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

What are the minimum requirements for your work? A college degree? A specific skill or talent? Presumably the more important or difficult your job is, the more qualified you have to be to do it. What would be the requirement to take the gospel of Jesus to the world? What would you need to have to be one of the few leaders of His church?

Shockingly, Peter and John were uneducated men with no obvious skills, yet God used them as His church’s first leaders. They were the first to preach the gospel after Jesus’ Resurrection. God made them bold enough to speak about Jesus to even the most important and educated Jewish leaders. How? It wasn’t their skills or smarts. God chose to work through Peter and John because they had been with Jesus. If you know Jesus, you have everything you need to tell others about Him. You are qualified.

Prayer Prompt: God, teach me to trust in Jesus and be bold for Your glory!

Written by Noah Say

December 1, 2025

Psalm 102:11-12

11 My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.

As a child few things brought me more joy than building sand castles on the beach. I would become heavily invested in the size and shape of its sandy walls and at the end of the day I would always make sure to look back at my handiwork to make sure nobody had knocked it over. How many of those sand castles are still standing today? Unfortunately, no amount of care could have ensured that those sand castles would stand tall for longer than just a few hours.

It is easy to get caught up in a difficult circumstance or situation. However, God is enthroned forever and will be remembered throughout all generations. All of our struggles and strife will one day disappear like sand castles into the ocean, but our God will always be there. His love for us will endure, even when everything else seems to fall apart.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, please comfort me in the midst of difficulty.

Written by Noah Say

November 29, 2025

Zephaniah 3:17

17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

When was the last time you were so excited or glad that you began to sing? You simply could not hold it in and erupted in song. Chances are that it hasn’t happened to you in quite a long time, maybe not even since you were a child making up a song about your love of cookies at the dinner table!

The truth is that while we sometimes have a difficult time expressing our joy, we have a God who has no problem doing so. God rejoices over us with gladness and exults over us with loud singing! A child might sing with joy for cookies or a new puppy but God sings in heaven out of His love for us.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, thank you for loving me enough to sing about it.

Written by Noah Say

November 28, 2025

1 Peter 2:9-10

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

I love playing volleyball. There’s nothing better to do when the weather is nice than to grab some friends and some food, and head to the park. I do not love when we pick teams. What happens if no one wants me on their team?

God wants you on His team. He chose you. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses, and He knows that you are a sinner. He chose you anyway, because He loves you. What a beautiful reality that God wants you to spend eternity with Him. You aren’t worthy, but He makes you worthy by calling you out of darkness into His marvelous light!

Prayer Prompt: Lord, thank You for choosing me and showing me mercy in spite of my sin.

Written by Jacob Bonesteel

November 27, 2025

1 Peter 2:1-3

1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

I vividly remember when my daughter was born. That first night was the hardest of my life. She cried and cried… and cried some more. Then I cried. While I was feeling sorry for myself, she was crying out desperately for milk. Nothing else would satisfy her.

Oftentimes, it feels like a chore to read our Bibles. We are too busy, or we are not in the mood, or we find some other excuse. However, Peter commands us to be like newborn babies longing for spiritual milk. We are to seek biblical truth like our very lives depend on it, which in fact, they do.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, help me to seek you earnestly today. Please reveal more of yourself to me.

Written by Jacob Bonesteel

November 26, 2025

Romans 13:11-12

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

As a kid, I used to have this recurring nightmare. I walk into class, and the teacher asks for my research paper. Immediate anxiety. I had no idea there was a paper due, and now I have run out of time to prepare anything. The assignment is due right now, and I have nothing to show for it.

Paul is trying to warn us that there is a deadline looming. One day Jesus is coming back to claim his church. Are you ready if that day is today? Don’t let another day go by where you neglect Jesus. Press into him today, and see how he changes your life.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, don’t let me be caught off guard when you return. Help me long for your return.

Written by Jacob Bonesteel

November 25, 2025

1 Peter 1:13

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

If you’re anything like me, then you know how easy it is to get distracted when you set your mind to something significant. One minute I’m pursuing a real goal, the next I’m checking box scores on my phone, or reading a book, or playing a video game. It’s easy to lose sight of what’s important.

As followers of Jesus, He is our goal. We get to pursue a relationship with him through prayer, reading the Bible, praising Him, and telling our friends and family about Him. When you get distracted, don’t give up! Set your mind back on Jesus. It’s not wrong to have interests and passions, but don’t let those take away from all the goodness and grace you will encounter in your relationship with Jesus.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, please help me to set my hope on You today.

Written by Jacob Bonesteel

November 24, 2025

1 Peter 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Do you feel ashamed of your sins? Some days it’s all I can think about. But God has dealt with our wrong doing. The devil will try to get you laser-focused on your failing, how horrible and pitiable you are. Before you know it, you’re not even sure if you’re actually saved!

God promises to keep your inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. What does that mean? It means that when you sin, God doesn’t give you up as a lost cause. He continues to guard your salvation, so that on the day that you meet Him face to face, you can be with Him forever.

Prayer Prompt: Lord, please forgive me for my sins. Thank You for never giving up on me.

Written by Jacob Bonesteel

November 22, 2025

Psalm 73:25-26

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

You can only lift weights as long as your body is able. Eventually your muscles will give way. In a similar way, hardship, emotional distress, and lies from the enemy can cause your heart to become… well, disheartened. When your heart fails, it feels hopeless, like you can’t go on.

It’s in these “hopeless” situations that God can teach us to trust in His power, not our own, to desire Him over anything or anyone else. Will you let Him? If you do, then whenever you feel abandoned, unlovable, or unable, He’ll remind you of what is true: He is with you, He loves you, He is able.

Prayer prompt: Lord, I need the Holy Spirit to give me strength to endure hardship, so I can also be a resource for others who are in need.

Written by Kyle Tucker

November 21, 2025

Hebrews 4:15-16

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Do you ever wonder if God understands what you’re going through? Sure, He knows what’s happening to you, but does He know what you're experiencing? It’s difficult to endure pain and suffering without other people alongside you, but it’s even harder if it feels like God is too far away to empathize.

The passage above is God’s confirmation that He knows what you’re going through. Remember that Jesus experienced temptation, but never sinned. He even suffered on a cross and bore the wrath of God for your sake. God understands your pain more than you understand it. Be comforted by this Truth, so that you can comfort others too in their time of need.

Prayer prompt: Lord, we thank you for suffering in our stead, and we find comfort knowing that you’re with us in our own suffering.

Written by Kyle Tucker

November 20, 2025

James 1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Think about the last time you faced difficult circumstances. What was your attitude toward that situation? More often than not, our gut reaction is to see trials as inconvenient or destructive, getting in the way of the life we want to live. How could any good possibly come from tribulations?

God’s word commands us to change our perspective on facing hardship. Instead of complaining about how trials ruin our plans, let’s ask God to sanctify us through our trials just as gold is refined by fire (1 Peter 1:7), so that we can grow in our love for Him and others.

Prayer prompt: Lord we trust you, especially when experiencing adversity, for You can use the trials we face to bring us closer to You.

Written by Kyle Tucker

November 19, 2025

Philippians 4:12-13

12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

How do you live when things seem to be going really well? How do you respond when you face challenges or experience suffering? Whether our circumstances are good or bad, we often find ourselves tempted to ignore God. We boast of our self-sufficiency in good times, and we resort to self-pity or despair in bad times.

The secret to facing any situation is our hope in the Gospel. Jesus died for us and saved us so that we might live with Him forever! In good times, let’s be grateful to the Giver of all good things, remembering that this present world will pass away. In hard times, let’s hold fast to God who is with us in our suffering, remembering that this present world will pass away. He is coming for us soon!

Prayer prompt: Lord, strengthen me to face the challenges of today. It is only by your power that we can persevere.

Written by Kyle Tucker

November 18, 2025

Luke 12:24

24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!

Needs seem to be everywhere. There’s always something else we need to have or we need to make time for or find the answer to. The list of needs becomes overwhelming!  Do you ever find yourself opening this eternal list, wondering if God cares or if He’ll provide?

Of course God cares for you! He cares for all of His creatures! How much more for us for whom He sent Jesus to die?  It seems silly to doubt Him, but oftentimes we do. We don’t trust his timing to meet our real needs. We make ourselves too busy to stop and actually ask Him to provide. Spiraling under the pressures of life will keep our focus off of what we need most: Him.

Prayer prompt: Lord, I thank You for all You’ve done for me, and I know You're always with me. I trust that You know what I need and that You'll provide.

Written by Kyle Tucker

November 17, 2025

Romans 12:18

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

Do you want control sometimes? Or maybe you want control all the time. We often feel anxiety or even despair when our plans or expectations fall through. How much more so when the people around us are really difficult to deal with or when people we care about reject us?

The command to “live peaceably with all” is for us as believers. We ought to forgive those who sin against us, and we ought to extend grace to those who offend or frustrate us. But we cannot force others to forgive us or extend grace to us. If someone doesn’t want to forgive, then we must find the highest level of peace with them that we can, and then pray for a true reconciliation. Instead of grasping for what little control we can find, let’s rest in God’s goodness and sovereignty, trusting that He’s working in our hearts and in the hearts of others.

Prayer prompt: Lord, thank you for making peace with us through Jesus! Help us to make peace with others, as far as it depends on us.

Written by Kyle Tucker

November 15, 2025

Psalm 139:23-24

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

King David was a man of great faith. Yet, he was deeply concerned about the possibility of sin deceiving him and leading him astray from salvation. Driven by this fear, David invited God to search the darkest corners of his heart for any hidden sin. It’s common to have moments of doubt, like David, wondering if our faith is genuine or if we’re pretending, living in rebellion. Instead of living in fear, how can we have confidence in our salvation?

God doesn’t need us but chooses us. Knowing that develops trust in a loving Father who wants nothing but goodness for our lives. This goodness manifested in God sending His Son to die on the cross for us. Instead of wondering if what we do is enough, we can have even more confidence than David, knowing that Jesus died for our sins, which is enough to blot out any deep, dark sin in our hearts.

Prayer prompt: Lord, thank you for forgiving my sins.

Written by Luke Robinson

November 14, 2025

Jeremiah 29:11-12

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

God spoke through Jeremiah to the Israelites who were facing a time of great uncertainty. Even though the Israelites had been unfaithful to God, He was merciful and promised them a future. Like the Israelites, we too may face periods of hardship and uncertainty, but God promises He has a plan and will hear us when we are troubled, like a loving father consoles a child. How can this example bring comfort to someone facing hard situations today?

Everyone experiences moments of failure and brokenness, yet God always has a plan for our good. We may feel like the world's weight is constantly bearing down on us, but we can have hope in God’s promise that He has a plan to give us a future. With this kind of Father reaching out to comfort us, who could refuse Him?

Prayer prompt: Lord, thank you for your love and faithfulness.

Written by Luke Robinson

November 13, 2025

Matthew 15:8-9

8 “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Jesus challenged religious leaders who seemed obedient, but were just going through empty practices. Like the religious leaders thousands of years ago, we too can be tempted to prioritize outward appearances over inward transformation. We may go through the motions of routines without a genuine heart connection to God, like a child reciting words without fully understanding them. Why is it important that our faith is more than just a performance? Why should we seek a genuine and deep relationship with God?

Jesus challenges us to move beyond routines and embrace a faith characterized by heart change. As we grow in our relationship with God, we begin to embody qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we live out those qualities, we honor and bring God praise—we experience a life filled with joy that reflects His love rather than one characterized by empty rules.

Prayer prompt: Lord, lead me into a deeper relationship with you that is not driven by outward appearances.

Written by Luke Robinson