The Daily Dose

Leaven

Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” ~ Mark 8:15

What if the smallest influence in your life is shaping you more than you realize?

You may remember hearing as a child that who you spend time with is who you begin to imitate. Another saying that was once commonly used was, one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. It might take time, but it’s true. When you stay connected to unhealthy influences, they can slowly seep into your heart. Even when your intention is to help someone, it can backfire if you’re not guarding your own heart and paying attention to what’s trying to take root in it.

In this passage, Jesus warned His disciples to be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees. This was the most religious group of their day, the very people you would expect to point others toward God. Yet something had taken these leaders off course. Over time, their teachings had become distorted. They were focused on rules and traditions, and they had lost sight of love, grace, and compassion.

Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that following Him wasn’t about becoming rigid or judgmental. It was about growing in mercy, love, and truth. He brought them with Him as He ministered to people, not only so they could learn, but also so they could walk in accountability and stay grounded. Even as the Son of God, He modeled the importance of staying connected and guarded in heart and mind.

Galatians 5:9 reminds us that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. In other words, small influences matter. What we allow into our thinking and our hearts will eventually shape our actions and our attitudes. Jesus was preparing His disciples for the time when they would need to stand strong together, encouraging one another and staying rooted in truth.

That same encouragement is for us today. We’re not called to live with a mindset that measures ourselves against others or tries to earn righteousness through works. We’re called to love people, extend grace, and walk in humility. At the same time, we’re called to be wise about what we allow to influence us.

Here are some practical ways to apply this truth in your life:

• Take an honest look at your closest influences, consider the conversations, attitudes, and environments you’re regularly part of
• Spend time in God’s Word daily, even if it’s just a few minutes, let His truth shape your thinking
• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize anything that’s pulling your heart away from love, grace, and truth
• Choose one relationship that encourages your faith and invest more time there this week
• If there is a relationship that consistently drains you or pulls you down, begin to create healthy boundaries
• Find a small group, Bible study, or community where you can grow, be encouraged, and stay accountable
• Speak life and encouragement over others, this shifts your heart toward compassion instead of criticism

If you’re not sure where to begin, start simple. Open your Bible, invite God into your day, and ask Him to guard your heart. Then take one step to connect with someone who will encourage your walk with Him.

Today I want to encourage you to guard your heart with intention, to choose influences that strengthen your faith, and to allow God’s truth and love to grow in you so deeply that it overflows into every relationship and every place you go.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 8:11-21

11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 

12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

13 And He left them, and getting into the boat again, departed to the other side. 

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. 

15 Then He charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.”

17 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? 

18 Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember? 

19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

They said to Him, “Twelve.”

20“Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?”

And they said, “Seven.”

21So He said to them, “How is it you do not understand?”

Journal:

• What influences in your life are shaping your thoughts and attitudes the most right now
• Is there any area where you’ve noticed negative patterns slowly taking root
• Who can you invite into your life for encouragement and accountability
• What is one step you can take today to fill your heart more with God’s truth and love

Three days and nothing

“I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. Mark 8:2

Have you ever gone three days without food? Most people today struggle to go even three hours without something to eat. Even missing one or two meals can leave your body feeling weak and unfocused. Hunger has a way of getting your attention quickly.

In this passage, Jesus noticed the crowd had been with Him for three days without food, and His heart was moved with compassion. He understood their need because He lived in a human body too, yet He never made provision for Himself first. His focus was always on others. What stands out is that even after witnessing Him feed five thousand with just a few loaves and fish, the disciples were still unsure of how provision would come again.

The people stayed anyway to hear Jesus. They didn’t leave to meet their natural needs first. They were drawn by something deeper. They were hungry for the Word. Some may have come for miracles, but many stayed because being near Jesus mattered more than their physical discomfort.

That kind of hunger challenges me. It makes me consider if I still press in like that today? Do I pursue His presence with that same intensity, even when it costs me something? There is a strength that comes from being with Him that goes beyond what food can provide. Yes, He fills me spiritually, but there are also times when saying no to the flesh creates space for Him to move in greater ways.

His power was present then to heal, restore, and provide, and it’s still present today. Nothing about His compassion has changed.

Here are some simple ways to step into this kind of hunger and connection with Him

• Set aside one meal this week to spend intentional time in prayer and the Word
• Start small, choose a specific time of day and guard it like an appointment
• Turn off distractions, put your phone away, and give Him your full attention
• Read a short passage and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you personally through it
• Pray honestly, share your needs, your struggles, and your gratitude
• Listen closely and allow quiet moments for Him to impress things on your heart
• Ask God to give you compassion for others and look for opportunities to encourage someone

If you are not sure where to start, begin with just ten minutes. Sit with Him, open your Bible, and invite Him into that time. Consistency matters more than length. As you make space for Him, you will begin to notice His strength rising in you.

Today I want to encourage you to press in even when it feels inconvenient, to choose His presence over comfort, and to trust that He will meet you there with strength, provision, and compassion. Just like the crowd who stayed with Him, you will find that what you receive from Him far outweighs anything you set aside.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 8:1-10

1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 

2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 

3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar.”

4 Then His disciples answered Him, “How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?”

5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”

And they said, “Seven.”

6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 

7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 

8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 

9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 

10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Journal:

• What is one thing that often pulls your attention away from spending time with God
• How can you create space this week to prioritize time with Him
• When have you experienced God’s strength in a time when you felt empty or worn out
• Who in your life needs the compassion of Jesus right now, and how can you lead them toward Him

When courage calls your name

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. ~ Judges 4:14

Have you ever known deep down that God was asking you to step forward in a situation, but everything around you felt uncertain, intimidating, or just plain uncomfortable? That moment where your heart says go, but your thoughts say wait. That tension is where courage is born, and it’s exactly where we meet Deborah, Barak, and Jael in Judges 4.

This chapter isn’t just a historical account, it’s a reminder that God still moves through willing hearts, even when the situation feels overwhelming. He calls ordinary people into extraordinary moments, and He goes before them every single time.

Let’s take a look at three powerful truths from this account that can strengthen your faith and give you courage right where you are.

1. God goes before you, even when the outcome feels uncertain

Deborah didn’t just give Barak a command, she gave him a promise. The Lord had already gone ahead. The victory wasn’t something they had to create, it was something they had to step into.

In your daily life, this might look like saying yes to something that stretches you. Maybe it’s leading a group, having a hard conversation, or stepping into a new opportunity that feels bigger than you. You might not see how it’s all going to work out, but God does.

A practical example of this could be something like you feel prompted to invite someone to church or share your faith, but you hesitate because you don’t know how they’ll respond. Instead of pulling back, you take the step anyway, trusting that God is already working on their heart before you even speak. Make every interaction with others more about you and God rather than you and the other person.

2. Your obedience can unlock someone else’s breakthrough

Barak was called to go, but he hesitated and asked Deborah to come with him. Even though his faith wasn’t perfect, he still moved forward, and because he did, an entire nation experienced deliverance.  Your yes matters more than you think. It’s not just about you. Someone else could be waiting on the other side of your obedience.

A practical example of this could be like feeling led to serve or get involved, but you question if you have time, are qualified or if it will make a difference. You step in anyway, and through your willingness, someone feels seen, encouraged, or even encounters God in a new way.

3. God uses unexpected people in unexpected ways

Jael wasn’t a soldier even though she wasn’t part of the army. Yet she played a critical role in the victory. God positioned her at the right place, at the right time, and she had the courage to act.

Sometimes we disqualify ourselves because we don’t fit the picture we think God should use. But God isn’t looking for perfect, He’s looking for ready and willing.

A practical example could be that you feel like your story, your past, or your personality disqualifies you from being used by God. But then an opportunity comes to encourage someone who is walking through something you’ve already faced. You realize your experience is exactly what God wants to use.

This plays out in my own life almost every day. My natural instinct and desire is to shut out my past, the pain I’ve walked through because of others or even my own choices. It would feel easier to move on and not revisit those places. But time and time again, God brings someone into my life who needs that exact understanding and compassion. In those moments, I see Him open doors to reach hearts, to pray with someone, and even lead them to salvation.

Today I want to encourage you, whatever God is placing in front of you right now, He has already gone ahead of you. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to feel fully ready. Just take the next step in obedience. Your courage could be the very thing that unlocks freedom, breakthrough, and purpose, not only in your life, but in the lives of everyone around you.

Today’s Scripture Reading: Judges 4

1 When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. 

2 So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth Hagoyim. 

3 And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord; for Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and for twenty years he had harshly oppressed the children of Israel.

4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. 

5 And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 

6 Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; 

7 and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?”

8 And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!”

9 So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. 

10 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; he went up with ten thousand men under his command, and Deborah went up with him.

11 Now Heber the Kenite, of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, had separated himself from the Kenites and pitched his tent near the terebinth tree at Zaanaim, which is beside Kedesh.

12 And they reported to Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 

13 So Sisera gathered together all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth Hagoyim to the River Kishon.

14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?” So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. 

15 And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. 

16 But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth Hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left.

17 However, Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 

18 And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear.” And when he had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket.

19 Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him. 

20 And he said to her, “Stand at the door of the tent, and if any man comes and inquires of you, and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ you shall say, ‘No.’ ”

21 Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 

22 And then, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, I will show you the man whom you seek.” And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in his temple.

23 So on that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan in the presence of the children of Israel. 

24 And the hand of the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Journal:

• What is one area where I feel God prompting me to step forward, but I’ve been holding back
• Who might be impacted if I choose to say yes to what God is asking me to do
• What truth from Judges 4 can I hold onto the next time I feel uncertain or afraid

Strength in the Struggle

Only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it. ~ Judges 3:2

Have you ever wondered why some battles don’t go away as quickly as you prayed they would? You believed, you trusted, you asked God to remove it, and yet it’s still there. It can feel confusing, even frustrating, especially when you’re trying to walk closely with Him.

Today’s scripture offers a perspective we don’t always consider. God allowed certain challenges to stay, not to harm His people, but so they would trust Him and because He wanted to walk with them through those battles into victory. The reason was because walking through the battle with His guidance strengthened their trust in Him for the next battle that would come. In the same way, there are moments in our lives when God doesn’t immediately remove the struggle, because He is developing something within us through it and walking with us in it.

Here are three truths from this chapter that can help you to see your current battles differently.

1. Battles are meant to make you stronger, not stop you

God allowed opposition so His people would learn how to fight and depend on Him. Not every struggle is meant to be avoided. Some are meant to strengthen you. Instead of asking only for the situation to be removed, ask God what He wants to build in you and lead you through it.

If you’re facing constant pressure at work, instead of seeing it only as stress, begin to ask God for wisdom, patience, and strength. You may find that He’s building confidence and resilience in you that you wouldn’t gain any other way.

2. God raises up help right on time

Throughout this chapter in Judges, when the people cried out, God raised up deliverers. He didn’t ignore their pain. He responded with provision. Don’t stop calling on God in the middle of your struggle. Your breakthrough may already be in motion.

Maybe you’ve been praying for direction in a difficult season. Keep seeking Him. That right conversation, that opportunity, or that moment of clarity is closer than you think.

3. Your obedience positions you for freedom

Each time the people turned back to God, they experienced deliverance. Their response mattered. In the same way, begin to choose obedience in the small things of life. It keeps your heart open and ready for what God wants to do. If God has been prompting you to forgive someone, take that step. It may not feel easy, but it releases you from carrying something that was never meant to weigh you down.

I’ve seen this play out many times in my own life. One particular example was when I was searching for a place to live near my children’s school. Because of the strain of separating from their father, I didn’t want to add the tension of a new school while everything was still settling. I kept praying that God would lead me to a home in their school district, but each time I prayed, He pointed to a places about a half hour away.

During that time, the Holy Spirit began to show me that the daily drive to and from school would become a time of strengthening and deepening my relationship with my kids. Even though it wasn’t always convenient and I didn’t always enjoy those early mornings, those car rides became precious moments. They turned into opportunities to pour into them, to share godly truths, and to learn Scripture together.

What I had been asking God to remove because it felt too hard to carry was actually something He was using for a greater purpose. At first, it didn’t make sense. It felt like wasted time, driving back and forth. But looking back now, I can see how He was showing me how to trust Him more deeply, to stand firm when things didn’t change right away, and to depend on Him in ways I hadn’t before. What felt like resistance was actually preparation and growth for what was coming next.

Today I want to encourage you that the battle you’re facing is not wasted. God is using it to strengthen you, to prepare you, and to draw you closer to Him. You are not alone in it, and you are not without help. He is with you, He is working, and He is faithful to bring you through.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 3

1 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan 

2 (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), 

3 namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. 

4 And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.

5 Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 

6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods.

7 So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs. 

8 Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years. 

9 When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 

10 The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim. 

11 So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

12 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. 

13 Then he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and Amalek, went and defeated Israel, and took possession of the City of Palms. 

14 So the children of Israel served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.

15 But when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab. 

16 Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh. 

17 So he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.) 

18 And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute. 

19 But he himself turned back from the stone images that were at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” He said, “Keep silence!” And all who attended him went out from him.

20 So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he arose from his seat. 

21 Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. 

22 Even the hilt went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and his entrails came out. 

23 Then Ehud went out through the porch and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

24 When he had gone out, Eglon’s servants came to look, and to their surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, “He is probably attending to his needs in the cool chamber.” 

25 So they waited till they were embarrassed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them. And there was their master, fallen dead on the floor.

26 But Ehud had escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the stone images and escaped to Seirah. 

27 And it happened, when he arrived, that he blew the trumpet in the mountains of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountains; and he led them. 

28 Then he said to them, “Follow me, for the Lord has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him, seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over. 

29 And at that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, all stout men of valor; not a man escaped. 

30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

31 After him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed six hundred men of the Philistines with an ox goad; and he also delivered Israel.

Journal:

• What current challenge might God be using to strengthen me
• How can I invite God into my situation instead of trying to handle it on my own
• What is one step of obedience I can take today that will move me closer to freedom

When we forget, God is still with us

 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel. ~ Judges 2:10

What happens when something powerful is forgotten? Not misplaced, not ignored for a moment, but truly forgotten. It fades from memory, loses its influence, and no longer shapes decisions. That’s where today’s scripture begins to press on the heart. A generation rose up that didn’t know the Lord, not because God had changed, but because what He had done was no longer being remembered, passed on or lived out.

It’s easy to think that could never happen to us, but if we’re honest, we can drift. We can get busy, distracted, weighed down by life, and slowly lose sight of what God has already done. Not intentionally, but subtly. Yet, even in that, God’s faithfulness never wavers.

Here are three truths from this chapter that can help us stay grounded and growing in our walk with God.

1. Don’t let what God has done become distant

The people didn’t just forget God, they forgot what He had done for them. When we lose sight of His faithfulness, it becomes easier to drift into self-reliance or discouragement. Be intentional about remembering. Write down prayers God has answered. Talk about His goodness with your family. Bring it up in everyday conversations.

When you’re facing a tough situation at work and you feel overwhelmed, pause and remind yourself of a time God came through before, that He gave you that position for a reason or a scripture promise that He spoke to your heart. Those memory will strengthen your faith and lift your spirit in the present moment.

2. What you pass on matters more than you think

A new generation didn’t know the Lord because something wasn’t carried forward. Faith is personal, but it’s also something we share and demonstrate. Live your faith out loud. Not perfectly, but consistently. Let people in your life see how you trust God, especially in hard moments.

If your children or those around you see you pray when things get difficult instead of panic, you’re showing them where your strength comes from. That leaves a lasting impact.

3. God’s grace meets us even when we drift

Judges 2 shows a cycle, people turn away, consequences follow, they cry out, and God raises up help. It’s a powerful reminder that even when we wander, God responds with mercy. Don’t stay stuck in guilt when you recognize you’ve drifted, instead turn back quickly. God isn’t waiting to reject you, He’s ready to restore you.

Maybe you’ve felt distant from God lately. Instead of avoiding Him, take a moment today to pray honestly. Even a simple, “God, I need You,” opens the door for His presence to meet you again.

I’ve shared before how I went my own way when I became an adult. I made decisions based on what I wanted in the moment or what felt easiest at the time. It took years for me to recognize that God had a plan, and that I could walk in a blessed path instead of falling into every trap set to trip me up. I was constantly falling into open pits, but even then, I didn’t forget Him completely. In my times of need, I cried out for His comfort and rescue, and He was faithful every single time.

Looking back, I can see that I wasn’t as aware of Him in my daily life. I wasn’t walking closely with Him, but every time I turned back, even in a simple moment of surrender, He met me with grace, not judgment. He reminded me that He never moved, I just needed to come close again.

Now I carry the memory of His faithfulness in every season, even in the ones where I was so far off course. When I think about it, I can plainly see that if He was that faithful then, how much more is He leading me now as I trust Him and seek Him in every decision and every detail of my life.

Today I want to encourage you, don’t let what God has done in your life become a distant memory. Stay connected, stay aware, and keep choosing Him daily. You’re not too far gone, you’re not behind, and you’re not disqualified. God is still working, still pursuing, and still inviting you into a deeper relationship with Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 2

1 Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. 

2 And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? 

3 Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ ” 

4 So it was, when the Angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept.

5 Then they called the name of that place Bochim; and they sacrificed there to the Lord. 

6 And when Joshua had dismissed the people, the children of Israel went each to his own inheritance to possess the land.

7 So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. 

8 Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old. 

9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 

10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.

11 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; 

12 and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. 

13 They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 

14 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. 

15 Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.

16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. 

17 Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so. 

18 And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. 

19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.

20 Then the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice, 

21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 

22 so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.” 

23 Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

Journal:

• What are three things God has done in my life that I never want to forget
• Who in my life needs to see my faith lived out more consistently
• Is there an area where I’ve drifted that God is inviting me to return to today

Keep moving forward

_{And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.” ~ Judges 1:2}

Have you ever started something you knew God told you to do, only to find resistance right away? Not just a small inconvenience, but real opposition that made you question if you heard Him correctly. Today’s scripture reading opens with a people who just lost their leader, stepping into uncertainty, asking God what to do next and God answered them clearly. He said: Go up, I’ve already given it to you.

What’s interesting is that even with that promise, the journey wasn’t instant victory. There were wins, but there were also areas they didn’t fully take. That tension speaks to us right where we are as children of God in the world today. We’ve been given promises, direction, and purpose, yet we still face resistance, delays, and moments where we don’t finish what we started. But God’s faithfulness doesn’t change, and His call to move forward still stands.

Here are three truths for us in this chapter to walk out in real life:

1. Move when God speaks, even if you don’t see the full picture.

Judah didn’t have all the details, but they had a word from God, and that was enough to take the first step.

In your daily life, this might look like God nudging you to reach out to someone, start something new, or step into a role you feel unprepared for. Maybe you feel called to pray more consistently, or to speak truth in a situation where you’ve stayed quiet. You might not know how it will turn out, but obedience starts with movement. One step at a time builds momentum. When you choose to act on what God has already said, you position yourself to see Him move in ways you couldn’t have planned.

2. Don’t let partial progress become your stopping point.

The chapter shows several victories, but it also repeats something important, they did not drive out all the inhabitants. They settled in some areas instead of fully possessing what God gave them.

It’s easy to do the same today. You start strong, you make changes, you see growth, but then you get comfortable. Maybe you begin to set healthy boundaries, but you allow certain habits to remain. Maybe you step into your calling, but hold back in areas that feel challenging or uncomfortable. Growth requires consistency. Finishing what God started in you means not settling for halfway freedom when full freedom is available. Keep pressing forward, even when it stretches you.

3. Be aware that what you tolerate today can affect tomorrow.

The people allowed some of the inhabitants to remain, and over time, those compromises became problems.

In your life, this can look like ignoring small things that don’t seem like a big deal right now. It might be negative thoughts you entertain, distractions that pull you away from time with God, or relationships that quietly influence you in the wrong direction. At first, it feels manageable, but over time it grows. Being intentional now protects your future. When you notice something that doesn’t belong, address it early. God’s desire isn’t just for you to survive, but to walk in total freedom and strength.

I’ve mentioned this situation in other messages, but one real life example of this played out when we were buying our home. We were trying to secure a land easement with our neighbors so we could move forward with the purchase, and they weren’t willing to cooperate. We explored every option we could think of. We considered cutting a new access point through our property, taking them to court, or even walking away and finding another home. Every option was expensive, time consuming, and stressful, but because we knew this was where the Lord had led us, we were committed to see the transaction through to the end. The opposition was real, and it would’ve been easy to stop or settle for a different outcome.

One morning during that process, I felt a nudge in my spirit to bake a cake, take it to the neighbors, and talk with them about the situation. Honestly, I didn’t want to do it because I wasn’t exactly happy about the complications they were causing, but I chose to take that step of faith. I was willing to do what God was asking, to make an effort to bring peace into the situation. As I baked and prepared for the visit, something shifted in me. I began to feel excited because I realized I had the opportunity to bless them, regardless of the outcome. I didn’t even tell my husband what I was doing, so you can imagine his surprise when they called later that day and agreed to sign the paperwork. What could have cost us thousands of dollars and created years of tension with the people we were moving next to turned into peace, favor, and even a friendly relationship. God is so wise.

As we chose to keep moving forward, we saw God show up in ways that reminded us He had already gone before us. What felt difficult and full of resistance at first became a testimony of His faithfulness.

Today I want to encourage you, if God has spoken something to your heart, don’t stop halfway. He hasn’t changed His mind about what He’s called you to do. Even if it feels unfinished, even if there’s resistance, keep going. The same God who said go up is the same God who goes with you. You’re not doing this alone, and you’re not without direction. Stay committed, stay attentive, and trust that what He’s given you is still yours to walk in.

Today’s scripture reading: Judges 1

1 Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, “Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?”

2 And the Lord said, “Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand.”

3 So Judah said to Simeon his brother, “Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory.” And Simeon went with him. 

4 Then Judah went up, and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they killed ten thousand men at Bezek. 

5 And they found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek, and fought against him; and they defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 

6 Then Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. 

7 And Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to gather scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me.” Then they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.

8 Now the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem and took it; they struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire. 

9 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the mountains, in the South, and in the lowland. 

10 Then Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron. (Now the name of Hebron was formerly Kirjath Arba.) And they killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

11 From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debir was formerly Kirjath Sepher.)

12 Then Caleb said, “Whoever attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife.” 

13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife. 

14 Now it happened, when she came to him, that she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” 

15 So she said to him, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

16 Now the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up from the City of Palms with the children of Judah into the Wilderness of Judah, which lies in the South near Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people. 

17 And Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called Hormah. 

18 Also Judah took Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory. 

19 So the Lord was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron. 

20 And they gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said. Then he expelled from there the three sons of Anak. 

21 But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

22 And the house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 

23 So the house of Joseph sent men to spy out Bethel. (The name of the city was formerly Luz.) 

24 And when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, “Please show us the entrance to the city, and we will show you mercy.” 

25 So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man and all his family go. 

26 And the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.

27 However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land. 

28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites under tribute, but did not completely drive them out.

29 Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

30 Nor did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute.

31 Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. 

32 So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.

33 Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh or the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them.

34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountains, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley; 

35 and the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim; yet when the strength of the house of Joseph became greater, they were put under tribute.

36 Now the boundary of the Amorites was from the Ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela, and upward.

  
Journal:

• What has God asked me to step into that I may have slowed down in
• Where have I settled for partial progress instead of continuing forward
• Is there anything in my life I’ve been tolerating that I need to address now
• What is one step I can take today to keep moving forward

Choose again today

_{And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” ~ Joshua 24:15}

What if the biggest spiritual breakthrough in your life wasn’t found in a dramatic moment, but in a quiet decision you make today? Not someday, not when everything settles down, not when you feel more ready, but right here in the middle of your current reality. Joshua stood before the people and didn’t leave room for hesitation. He brought them face to face with a choice and that same invitation still stands for us today.

We live in a world full of noise, opinions, pressure, and distractions. Every day, something is competing for your attention, your time, and ultimately your devotion. Being a child of God isn’t just about what you believe, it’s about who you choose to follow daily, even when life feels busy, uncertain, or overwhelming.

Below are three ways this passage challenges us to live with intentional faith right where we are.

1. Make your decision personal

Joshua didn’t say, “As for the nation,” he said, “As for me and my household.” There was ownership in his words. Following God is deeply personal. It’s not based on what others are doing, what culture says, or even what feels convenient in the moment.

Start your day by choosing God before anything else tries to claim your attention. For example, before checking your phone or jumping into responsibilities, take a moment to pray and invite God into your day to lead and go with you. That simple act shifts your focus and reminds you who you belong to.

2. Choose consistency over convenience

The people Joshua spoke to had seen God move, yet they still struggled with divided loyalty. It’s easy to serve God when everything is going well, but real faith shows up in consistency.

In your current circumstances, this might look like choosing integrity at work when no one is watching or responding with patience when you feel stretched thin at home. Maybe it’s continuing to trust God financially when things feel tight. Consistency builds strength in your walk with Him, even when it’s not easy.

3. Lead by your example

Joshua didn’t just make a private decision, he made a declaration that would influence those around him. Your life speaks, whether you realize it or not. The way you trust God, the way you respond under pressure and the way you love others all points people somewhere.

Think about the people in your life right now. Your family, your coworkers, your friends. When challenges come, choose to respond in faith instead of fear. For example, when unexpected news hits, instead of reacting with panic, pause and pray. That response may be the very thing that encourages someone else to trust God too.

I have mentioned in several past doese that I lived many years of my life trying to figure things out on my own.  I would call out to God when I was in trouble or needed help, but outside of those moments, I kept my relationship with Him tucked quietly in my heart. It wasn’t something that guided my daily life. If someone had looked at my home or my routine, they probably wouldn’t have recognized that God was truly at the center. He wasn’t first place, He was someone I turned to when things felt out of control.

Then there came a moment that shifted everything. I found myself once again searching for answers to some of life’s hardest questions. But this time, something was different. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t keep living the same way, reaching for God only when I needed Him and then going back to doing life on my own. That’s when it became clear. It was time to make a real decision, not just to believe in Him, but to make Him Lord of my entire life and my home.

I discovered that God had a plan, and if I truly wanted to walk in it, I couldn’t hold parts of my life back. I had to surrender everything. The truth is, I still didn’t have all the answers. I had responsibilities pressing in, decisions to make, and more questions than clarity. Part of me wanted to wait until everything made sense before moving forward. But God kept bringing me back to something simple and steady, choose Me today. Not when you understand everything, not when it feels easier but right here and now in this day.

So, I did. I made the choice to trust Him in the middle of the unknown. I chose to put Him first, not just in words, but in the way I lived each day. As I did, step by step, I began to see His faithfulness show up in ways I never would have experienced if I had stayed stuck waiting. That decision didn’t just change a moment, it changed the direction of my life. It turned my faith from something occasional into something intentional, and it made my relationship with God real, active, and central in my everyday life. That’s exactly what Joshua was calling the people to. Not a casual connection with God, but a clear, personal decision to serve Him fully.

Today I want to encourage you to stop waiting for the perfect moment and make the choice to follow God right where you are. You don’t need all the answers to take the next step. You don’t need everything to make sense to say yes to Him. Just like Joshua, you have the opportunity to decide who you will serve, not tomorrow, but today. When you choose Him, again and again, you’ll see your life shaped by His faithfulness in ways that are steady, personal, and real.

Today’s scripture reading: Joshua 24

1 Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods. 

3 Then I took your father Abraham from the other side of the river, led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac. 

4 To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. 

5 Also I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to what I did among them. Afterward I brought you out.

6 ‘Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 

7 So they cried out to the Lord; and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, brought the sea upon them, and covered them. And your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you dwelt in the wilderness a long time. 

8 And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who dwelt on the other side of the Jordan, and they fought with you. But I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land, and I destroyed them from before you. 

9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose to make war against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you. 

10 But I would not listen to Balaam; therefore, he continued to bless you. So, I delivered you out of his hand. 

11 Then you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. And the men of Jericho fought against you—also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I delivered them into your hand. 

12 I sent the hornet before you which drove them out from before you, also the two kings of the Amorites, but not with your sword or with your bow. 

13 I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.’

14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

16 So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; 

17 for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed. 

18 And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.”

19 But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 

20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.”

21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord!”

22 So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord for yourselves, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses!”

23 “Now therefore,” he said, “put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.”

24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!”

25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

26 Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. 

27 And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.” 

28 So Joshua let the people depart, each to his own inheritance.

29 Now it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred and ten years old. 

30 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Serah, which is in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.

31 Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel.

32 The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of silver, and which had become an inheritance of the children of Joseph.

33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in a hill belonging to Phinehas his son, which was given to him in the mountains of Ephraim.

Journal:

• What areas of my life have I been delaying my decision to fully trust God
• What does choosing God today look like in my current season
• Who is being impacted by the way I live out my faith right now

Interesting instructions

And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. ~ Mark 7:33

Have you ever sensed God leading you to do something that didn’t make sense, something that felt completely opposite of what you would naturally do? I sure have. I remember a time when we were trying to secure a land easement with our neighbors so we could move forward with the purchase of our home. They were not willing to cooperate, and we explored every option we could think of. We considered cutting a new access point through our property, taking them to court, or even walking away and finding another home. Every option was expensive, time consuming, and stressful. Not to mention that we believed this was where the Lord had led us.

One morning during that process, I felt a nudge in my spirit to bake a cake and take it to the neighbors and talk with them about thee situation. Honestly, I didn’t want to do it.  I wasn’t exactly happy with the complications they were causing, but I chose to take that step of faith. I was willing to do about anything to resolve the situation and I know a little humility goes a long way in God’s hands.

As I baked and prepared, something shifted in me. I began to feel excited because I realized I had the opportunity to bless them, regardless of the outcome. I didn’t even tell my husband what I was doing, so you can imagine his surprise when they called later that day and agreed to sign the paperwork. What could have cost us thousands of dollars and created years of tension with the people we were moving in next to turned into peace, favor, and even a friendly relationship. God is so wise.

I’ve seen this in other situations too. There was a time I was involved in a court battle that was draining me emotionally, financially, and relationally. The Holy Spirit led me to step out of the legal process and trust Him to handle it. That did not look like the right decision from a natural perspective. It felt like I might lose financially and waste time, but I obeyed. Over time, not only did peace come, but a deep wound was healed. Looking back now, it was one of the wisest decisions I could have made.

When you look at scripture, you see this pattern over and over. God’s instructions often look very different from what we would expect. Jesus taught that if you want to elevate a situation, first you must humble yourself. If you want to receive, you give. If you want to be great, you serve. If you want to live, you surrender your life over to Him.

God told Noah to build an ark before rain had ever fallen. He told Abraham to leave everything familiar without a clear destination. He even told Joshua to march around a city instead of attacking it. None of it made sense in the natural, yet every act of obedience led to something powerful.

In today’s reading, Jesus healed a man in a very unexpected way. He took him aside, touched his ears and tongue, and then told him not to tell anyone. It wasn’t a formula, it wasn’t predictable, it was personal. That is how God works. He knows exactly what is needed in each situation, and His instructions are always purposeful, even when they seem unusual.

Here is the truth, when you go to your heavenly Father with a need, don’t try to figure out how He is going to answer. His ways are higher, and His solutions are often very different from what we expect. But understand this when you turn a matter over to Him, you can trust Him completely.

Here are some practical ways to apply this truth in your life:

• Stay open when you pray, do not limit God to your expectations of how He should answer
• Pay attention to the small nudges in your spirit, they often carry His direction
• Be willing to act, even when the instruction feels simple or does not make sense
• Choose obedience over understanding, trust that He sees what you cannot see
• Let go of fear of how it will look to others, focus on what God is asking you to do
• Look back on past acts of obedience and remind yourself how faithful He has been

When I think about the ways God has led me over the years, I am so thankful I chose to listen, even when it felt uncomfortable or unexpected. It has shaped my life in ways I never could have planned on my own. I have not always done it perfectly, but I have learned to get excited when His direction feels different, because I know something good is on the other side of it.

Today I want to encourage you to trust God’s instructions, even when they seem unusual or go against what you would naturally do. He knows exactly what you need and how to bring it to pass. Stay sensitive to His leading, take the step of faith when He speaks, and believe that His way will always lead to something better than you could have imagined.

Today’s scripture reading: Mark 7:31-37

31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 

32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 

33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 

34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 

36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 

37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Journal:

• What is something I am currently asking God for
• Have I been limiting how I think He should answer
• Is there a nudge or direction I have sensed but hesitated to follow
• What is one step of obedience I can take today, even if it does not fully make sense

Press through in humility

But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”  ~ Mark 7:27

Have you ever felt like you weren’t getting through in prayer, or even that you were being resisted, only to later realize that what felt like resistance was actually an invitation to press in deeper? Have you ever wanted something so badly, but something happened along the way that stole your hope of receiving it? I know I have. I remember a time when we were trying to buy our home and complication after complication kept slowing the process down. It started to feel personal, like an offense, and definitely a disappointment. Just when we were close to closing, there was an unexpected death in the family that shifted everything into perspective, and I had almost given up on the purchase happening at all. I could feel bitterness and frustration trying to take root because of all the struggle we were going through.

This same kind of disappointment could have easily taken hold of the woman in today’s reading. She came to Jesus from another region, desperate for her daughter to be healed from demonic oppression. Yet this is one of the only times we see Jesus respond in a way that seems to push someone away. He told her His ministry was to His own people and then He made a statement that could have easily offended her.

Those words could have caused her to walk away hurt and angry, but instead, she responded with humility. She didn’t argue, she didn’t defend herself, and she didn’t allow offense to take root. She took what was said, stayed low in her posture, and pressed in even more. She was determined to see her daughter set free, no matter what it took.

It may look like Jesus changed His mind, but what we really see is a heart that refused to be offended and chose humility instead. He wasn’t trying to push her away, He was drawing out a deeper response of faith and humility.

We see a similar situation with Naaman in the Old Testament. He was a man of authority and status, yet when he was given simple instructions for his healing, he became offended because it did not meet his expectations. He almost walked away from his miracle because of pride, until he chose to humble himself and follow the direction given.

How many times have we done the same thing? We pray, we believe, and when the answer doesn’t come the way we expected, or when it feels delayed, we become discouraged. Sometimes we even allow frustration or offense to pull us away when God is actually inviting us to come closer.

Here are some practical ways to apply this truth and get started today

• Check your heart when things do not go as expected, ask yourself if disappointment is turning into offense
• Stay in His presence even when you do not feel immediate results, keep talking to Him and trusting Him
• Choose humility in your response, even when something does not make sense or feels uncomfortable
• Be quick to obey any direction He gives you, even if it seems simple or challenges your pride
• Thank Him in advance for working behind the scenes, even when you cannot see the outcome yet
• Guard your thoughts and words, do not allow bitterness or frustration to take root in your heart

The truth is, faith will bring you to Him, but humility will keep you there. When you stay low before Him, you stay in a position to receive everything He has for you.

Today I want to encourage you to press through in humility when things do not go the way you expected. Do not allow disappointment or offense to pull you away from the very place your answer is waiting. Stay close to Him, trust His timing, and be willing to follow His leading even when it challenges your understanding. He is not withholding from you, He is working in ways you cannot yet see, and your breakthrough may be just on the other side of your willingness to stay humble and keep moving forward with Him.

Today’s scripture reading:  Mark 7:24-30

24 From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. 

25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 

26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 

27 But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

28 And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”

29 Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

Journal:

• Where have I felt discouraged because something did not happen the way I expected
• Is there any offense or frustration I need to release to God today
• What is one area where I can choose humility instead of reacting emotionally
• Am I willing to follow God’s direction even if it challenges my pride or expectations

Hold fast and finish strong

But you will hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day. ~ Joshua 23:8

The greatest victories in your life are not just about how you start, but what matters most is how you choose to stay connected and finish what you have been called to? In today’s scripture reading, Joshua spoke to the people near the end of his life. He reminded them of everything God had done, every battle that has been won for them, every promise He had fulfilled. Then Joshua gave them a clear and loving instruction, hold fast to the Lord. Stay close, stay committed, and don’t drift from His plan and path.

As God’s people today, we live in a world full of distractions, pressures, and influences that can slowly pull our attention away from Him. Usually it’s not a sudden decision, but a gradual shift. That’s why this reminder is so important. Staying connected to God is what keeps us grounded, steady, and moving forward in His purpose.

Below are three truths from this chapter that we can carry into our lives today.

1. Remember what God has already done

Joshua reminded the people that it was God who fought for them and gave them victory. Their past was filled with evidence of His faithfulness.  In your life, it is important to remember where God has brought you from. When you recall His faithfulness, it strengthens your trust for what’s ahead.

Be intentional to remind yourself of past victories. For example, when you face a new challenge, take a moment to think about a time when God came through for you before. Let that memory build your confidence that He will do it again.

2. Be intentional about what you allow into your life

Joshua warned the people not to mix with influences that would pull them away from God’s plan and ways. He knew that what they allowed around them would eventually affect their hearts.  In today’s world, we are constantly surrounded by voices, opinions, and influences. What we give our attention to matters more than we sometimes realize.

Evaluate what you are allowing into your daily life. For example, if certain conversations, media, or environments leave you feeling drained or distant from God, begin to limit your exposure to those things. Choose instead to fill your time with what strengthens your faith and keeps you focused.

3. Staying close to God is a daily choice

Holding fast is not a one-time decision, it is something we choose again and again. It is built through consistency.

Create simple habits that keep you connected to Him. For example, take time each day to talk with God, read His Word, and listen for His direction. Even in busy seasons, small moments of connection can keep your heart steady and centered.

One of the biggest areas in my life where I’ve had to learn to hold fast to Him is when I feel worried about something I’m going through. In those moments, I don’t just remind myself of His faithfulness in my past, I also ask Him to bring to mind a scripture that connects with what I am facing and shows me His faithfulness in a similar situation.

I remember a specific time when I was consumed with concern about the influences surrounding my children, especially when they were spending time with their father after we separated. I found myself constantly talking to God about it, praying that their time there would be limited so that those influences would not pull them away from their relationship with Him.

Finally, I asked the Lord if there was anyone in scripture who had experienced something similar, having to trust Him with their children in an environment they could not control. Immediately, He brought Samuel to my heart. His mother had dedicated him to the Lord, and he went to live in the temple as a young boy. Even though that seemed like the safest place, the priest’s sons were living in great sin. Yet God protected Samuel there and spoke to him, even in the middle of everything that was going on around him.

He also reminded of Moses, who was raised in Pharaoh’s palace, surrounded by idol worship and a culture that did not honor God. Yet God not only preserved him, He also used that very environment to prepare him for his calling and gave him influence that would later be part of God’s plan.

As those truths came to my heart, peace filled me. I knew that because I had committed my children to God, He would be faithful to carry them through that season and lead them into the purpose He had for their lives. I didn’t have to control everything, I just had to trust Him.

There were moments when I had to make a conscious choice to pause, turn my attention back to Him, and hold onto what I knew was true. Even when the feelings of fear tried to come back, choosing to stay connected to Him made all the difference.

Today I want to encourage you to hold fast to the Lord in every season of your life. Don’t let distractions or pressures pull you away from the One who has been faithful to you. Remember what He has done, be intentional about what you allow into your life, and choose daily to stay connected to Him. As you do, you will remain steady, strong, and confident, knowing that the same God who has brought you this far will continue to lead you forward.

Today’s scripture reading: Joshua 23

1 Now it came to pass, a long time after the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age. 

2 And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them:

“I am old, advanced in age. 

3 You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you. 

4 See, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward. 

5 And the Lord your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the Lord your God promised you. 

6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 

7 and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, 

8 but you shall hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.

9 For the Lord has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. 

10 One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you. 

11 Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. 

12 Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, 

13 know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

14 “Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed. 

15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the Lord your God promised you, so the Lord will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the Lord your God has given you. 

16 When you have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”

Journal:

• What has God done in my life that I need to remember today
• Are there any influences in my life that are pulling my attention away from God
• What is one daily habit I can strengthen to stay more connected to Him
• What does holding fast to God look like in my current season