This week, I read Psalm 95, and these verses stood out to me: “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did.” -Psalm 95:8–9

These words are a warning—and a reminder. God is looking back at the Israelites and reminding them of what happened after He brought them out of Egypt. For years, they had been in bondage. They had cried out to God to rescue them. And then He did.

He set His people free, leading them out of Egypt. And when they found themselves trapped between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea, God made a way where there was no way. He parted the waters, and His people walked through on dry ground.

They had seen God do the impossible, but then life in the wilderness didn’t look the way they thought it should. There wasn’t enough water. There wasn’t enough food. The journey was difficult. Things were uncertain. And instead of remembering what God had already done, they began to complain and murmur. They began to question things. And slowly, their hearts began to harden.

And this is what makes verse 9 so powerful: “They tried me, though they had seen what I did.” In other words, they had seen what God could do—and yet they still struggled to trust Him with what was next.

If we’re honest, don’t we sometimes do the same thing? We pray for God to work in a situation and, when He answers, we’re thankful. We can clearly see His hand at work and we celebrate His faithfulness. But then something new happens. Things don’t go the way we expect. The path gets difficult. The answer doesn’t come as quickly as we hoped. And before long, we can begin to question the very God who has proven Himself faithful over and over again.

When things don’t look the way we want them to look, how do we respond? Do we continue to trust God? Or do we complain? Do we remember His faithfulness? Or do we allow our circumstances to cause us to forget? Do we keep our hearts soft? Or do we slowly allow them to harden?

The truth is, a hard heart often begins when we focus more on what God hasn’t done than on what He has done. That’s why remembering is so important: We must remember the prayers God has answered; Remember the doors He has opened; Remember the times He has provided for us; Remember the moments when we didn’t know how things were going to work out and—somehow—God made a way.

We can’t forget that the same God who was faithful then is still faithful today. Our current circumstances may not look the way we want them to look. The road ahead may seem uncertain. But we can’t let what we don’t understand today cause us to forget what we know about God. And we can’t allow today’s uncertainty to erase yesterday’s faithfulness. 

The Israelites had seen what God did. May we never forget what He has done for us. As we remember His faithfulness in our past, may it give us the faith to trust Him with our future.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” -Colossians 3:17

One of the easiest things for us to do as Christians is to divide our lives into different compartments. There is our church life—Sunday mornings, worship, prayer, Bible studies, serving, and fellowship. And then there is our regular life— our homes, our jobs, our hobbies, our relationships, and our conversations with friends. 

Somewhere along the way, we can start living as if those two lives are separate. We act one way at church and another way everywhere else. We speak differently, think differently, respond differently, and even make different choices depending on which “life” we happen to be living. But God never called us to live two lives. We have one life—and that one life belongs to Him.

Paul says, “Whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Whatever you do: not just when you’re at church; not just when you’re singing worship; not just when you’re reading your Bible. Whatever you do. When you’re at work—live for Jesus. When you’re talking with your family—live for Jesus. When you’re working in the garden—live for Jesus. When you’re driving in traffic—live for Jesus. When nobody is watching—live for Jesus.

In Romans 12:1, Paul says, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” I love that phrase—living sacrifice. Our worship isn’t simply what happens when we sing. Worship is what happens when we surrender our lives to God. That means our work can be worship. Our relationships can be worship. Serving our family can be worship. Doing our job with integrity can be worship. Being patient when we’re frustrated can be worship. Choosing forgiveness can be worship. Even the ordinary, everyday things become meaningful when we do them for Jesus.

And maybe that’s what makes this idea so powerful. Sometimes we think living life to the fullest means going more places, experiencing more things, or accomplishing more. But Jesus gives us a different picture. In John 10:10, He says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus came to give us life—real life, abundant life, eternal life. 

And living that life to the fullest is about inviting God into every part of our lives: not just the spiritual parts; not just the parts we’re comfortable giving Him. All of it. Our victories and our disappointments. Our work and our rest. Our Sundays and our Mondays. Our public lives and our private lives. This is important: there is no part of our lives where Jesus doesn’t belong.

In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” He doesn’t just give us life. He is our life.

So maybe today is a good day to ask ourselves a few questions: Am I living one life or two? Does the person others see at church look like the same person at home or work? Does the faith we talk about on Sunday shape the way we live on Tuesday? Does Jesus have access to every area of our lives?There is One Lord. And He’s called us to One life.

“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” -Proverbs 12:15

We live in a world where there is no shortage of advice. Turn on the television, scroll through social media, listen to a podcast, or spend five minutes on the internet and you can find someone willing to tell you how you should live, what you should believe, how you should spend your money, how you should raise your kids, what you should be angry about, and who you should blame for everything that is wrong in the world.

Everyone has an opinion. But having an opinion doesn’t make someone wise. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.”

One of the marks of foolishness is believing we already have all the answers. A fool doesn’t ask, “Could I be wrong?” Instead, they assume their way is always the right way. Wisdom, however, begins with humility. Wise people are willing to listen, learn, and be corrected.

Here’s another important question: Who are we taking advice from? Not all advice is good advice. Just because something is popular doesn’t make it true. Just because a post has thousands of likes doesn’t mean it’s filled with wisdom. And just because something is repeated over and over again doesn’t mean it lines up with the heart of God. 

James reminds us in James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all….” God’s wisdom isn’t based on trends or public opinion. His truth doesn’t change with the culture because His character never changes. In Matthew 24:35 Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Every day we have a choice. We can allow the endless voices around us to shape our thinking, or we can allow God’s voice to shape our hearts. One leads to confusion. The other leads to life.

Before we accept someone’s advice, we should ask ourselves: Does it line up with God’s Word? Does it lead me closer to Jesus or further away from Him? The wisest people aren’t those who know the most—they’re the ones who consistently listen to the One who knows all things.

May we seek to spend less time scrolling through everyone else’s opinions and more time sitting at the feet of Jesus. His Word has never failed, His wisdom never changes, and His guidance will never lead us astray.

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” – Psalm 103:1-2

One of the things I’ve noticed about life is how easy it is to remember our problems while forgetting God’s promises. We replay conversations that didn’t go well, we dwell on unexpected expenses, worry about an uncertain future, or focus on the burdens we’re currently carrying. Yet, at the same time, we tend to overlook the countless ways God has been faithful to us.

I think David understood this tendency. That’s why he speaks to himself here in Psalm 103. He tells his own soul, “Praise the Lord… and forget not all His benefits.” I don’t think David was suggesting that life’s problems aren’t real. They were certainly real for David. But our perspective changes when we intentionally remember the goodness of God. 

As he continues through the Psalm, David begins listing those benefits—God forgives our sins, heals, redeems, covers us with love and compassion, and satisfies our lives with good things. In other words, David fights forgetfulness with remembrance.

Perhaps that’s a good reminder for all of us today. Instead of allowing our minds to simply dwell on what’s going wrong, what if we intentionally remember what God has already done? Think back to the ways He has provided, protected, comforted, forgiven, and carried us through difficult seasons. The same God who was faithful then is faithful today, and He will be faithful tomorrow.

We can’t let our problems become louder than God’s promises. Maybe we should take a few moments today to remember His goodness, thank Him for His faithfulness, and let our hearts once again respond with praise.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”—Matthew 6:34

How much of today’s energy are we spending replaying yesterday’s mistakes or worrying about tomorrow’s problems? If we’re honest, probably more than we’d like to admit.

Worry has a way of stealing today. It pulls our mind backward with regret or pushes it forward with fear, which distracts us from the very moment God has given us today. And simply telling ourselves, “Don’t worry,” rarely makes the worry disappear.

So, what do we do? I believe we need to redirect our focus. All throughout Scripture, whenever God’s people faced uncertainty, they were continually reminded to lift their eyes to the Lord. David wrote in Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul encouraged believers saying: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God…will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

God’s answer to worry isn’t always the immediate removal of our problems. Often it’s His presence. Imagine carrying a heavy backpack on a long hike. Every mile feels harder as the weight presses down on your shoulders. Then someone stronger comes alongside you and says, “Give it to me.” The path is the same, but the burden becomes lighter because you’re no longer carrying it alone.

That’s what God invites us to do every day. He doesn’t ask us to pretend that our burdens aren’t real. He simply asks us to give them to Him. Maybe today, instead of spending our energy on yesterday’s failures or tomorrow’s uncertainties, we can place our attention on the One who has redeemed yesterday, who is already in tomorrow, and has promised to walk with us today. As our focus shifts from our problems to our Savior, I believe we’ll discover that His peace is greater than our worry.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  –Psalm 34:18

One of the realities of living in a fallen world is that none of us escapes heartache. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a difficult diagnosis, broken relationships, financial struggles, disappointment, or simply the weight of life’s burdens, every one of us will walk through seasons where our hearts feel heavy.

Sometimes we wonder where God is in those moments. Has He forgotten us? Has He turned away? Psalm 34 gives us a beautiful reminder that these rogue thoughts couldn’t be further from the truth. David doesn’t say that God is only close when life is easy or when our faith feels strong. He says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” When our hearts are hurting the most, God doesn’t distance Himself—He draws near.

The beautiful truth of Scripture is that, when we long to have someone beside us in difficult times, God Himself promises His presence. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

Notice this verse doesn’t promise a life free from pain. Instead, it promises something even greater—the presence of God in the middle of our pain. 

I’m so thankful for a God that draws near, stepping into our pain with His comfort, His strength, and His unfailing love. Whatever burden you’re carrying today, rest in the assurance that the One who is close to the brokenhearted is even closer than you think.

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” –Colossians 4:5-6

One of the things I say often is, “Sometimes we have to earn the right to be heard.” Now, that doesn’t mean we earn the right to share the Gospel by being perfect. Nor does it mean we compromise the truth to make people like us. It simply means that in a skeptical world, people are usually more interested in watching our lives before they listen to our words.

I think Paul understood this reality. That’s why he encouraged believers to be “wise in the way you act toward outsiders.” Notice that Paul first tells us how to live before he tells us what to say. People are watching how we treat others, how we respond when life gets difficult, how we handle disagreement, and whether our lives actually reflect the Jesus we talk about.

Then Paul says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.” Grace should be the defining characteristic of our speech. Salt adds flavor—it doesn’t overpower the meal. In the same way, our words should make people want to know more about Christ, not push them further away.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. Before He called Matthew to follow Him, He shared a meal with him. Before the Samaritan woman recognized Him as the Messiah, He took time to have a conversation with her and meet her where she was. Again and again, Jesus demonstrated love before demanding change. His truth never changed, but His approach was filled with grace.

I’ve often wondered how many opportunities we miss as Christians because we’re so eager to win an argument that we forget to win a person. People may still choose to reject the Gospel, and that’s something we can’t control. But let’s make sure they never reject it because of the way we’ve treated them. Instead, may they see Jesus in us—through our love, kindness, humility, and integrity—and may our lives cause them to wonder what makes Him so different.

We can’t change people’s hearts—that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. But we can faithfully represent Jesus everywhere we go. And sometimes we really do have to earn the privilege to be heard. One of the best ways we do that is by living a life that looks like Jesus.

As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday tomorrow, many of us will gather with family and friends to enjoy barbecues, parades, fireworks, and the many blessings we often take for granted. It’s an opportunity to reflect with gratitude on the freedoms we enjoy and to remember the countless men and women who have sacrificed to protect them. As Christians, giving thanks for these blessings is both appropriate and biblical.

At the same time, while we are grateful citizens of this nation, Scripture reminds us that our ultimate citizenship is found elsewhere. Paul writes in Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Knowing that our citizenship is in heaven doesn’t cause us to care less about this place where God has planted us—it actually gives us an even greater reason to love and serve the people around us. We should be known as people who pray for our leaders, who love our neighbors, who serve our community, and who use the freedoms we’ve been given to share the hope of Christ with others. We’re called to be ambassadors for Him wherever we are.

As we celebrate, may we take a moment to thank God for the many blessings He has given us through this nation and for the men and women who have faithfully served to protect our freedoms. And may that gratitude turn our hearts toward an even greater truth, because our greatest hope has never been found in a nation, political party, or president. Our hope is found in Jesus Christ alone.

There will come a day when all the kingdoms of this world will fade away, but the Kingdom of God will remain forever. On that day, people from every nation, tribe, people, and language will stand together before the throne of Jesus, worshiping the One who alone is worthy. What a beautiful reminder that while we’re grateful to be citizens of this nation, we’re even more grateful to be citizens of His Kingdom. 

So, let’s enjoy the celebration tomorrow, let’s give thanks for God’s many blessings, and above all, let’s keep our eyes fixed on the One King whose reign will never end.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul says: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” That’s a pretty bold statement. And I think it challenges us to ask an important question: Could I honestly tell someone to follow my example?

When Paul made this statement, He wasn’t claiming to be perfect. In fact, he was very aware of his weaknesses, failures, and ongoing need for God’s grace. What I believe gave him the confidence to say these words was that he was wholeheartedly pursuing Jesus. His life matched his message. He didn’t just talk about faith—he actually lived it.

As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same. Jesus said that we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). And he calls us to let our light shine (Matthew 5:16). In a culture filled with confusion, discouragement, and darkness, God desires for our lives to point people toward Him. Our words matter, but our actions have the ability to speak even louder. The people around us—our children, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow believers—are watching how we live.

Of course, this doesn’t mean we have to be perfect before God can use us. If perfection was the requirement, none of us would qualify. Instead, God calls us to be faithful. He calls us to keep growing, keep learning, and keep taking steps towards Christ. Sometimes those steps are big, but often times they are small and almost unnoticeable. A little more patience. A little more kindness. A little more time spent in prayer. A little more trust in God’s promises.

Think of a child learning to walk. Those first steps are shaky and uncertain, but every step is evidence of their growth. In the same way, every step we take toward Jesus matters. Spiritual maturity is rarely instant, it’s usually the result of many small acts of obedience and faith over time.

So today, we must ask ourselves: Am I following the example of Christ: not perfectly, but intentionally. Am I more like Him now than I was a year ago? A month ago? Even last week?

The good news is that God is not finished with any of us. Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” As we continue to follow Jesus, He continues to shape us into His image.

So let’s keep taking those steps. Keep pursuing Jesus. And as we do, our lives will be light that helps lead others to Him as well.

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” -Proverbs 1:5 

This week, I had the privilege of watching my son walk across the stage and receive his Master’s degree from the University of Oregon in Curriculum and Teaching. It was a proud moment for our family. After nearly 18 years of school, he’s finally done! No more classes, no more exams, and no more 60-page papers that nearly broke him.

This graduation marks the end of one chapter, but not the end of his learning. The reality is that some of life’s greatest lessons are learned after we leave the classroom behind. The best teachers never stop learning. The most effective leaders never stop growing. And the wisest people never reach a point where they think they know it all.

The same is true in our walk with Jesus. Following Christ is not a destination we arrive at but a lifelong journey of growth and transformation. The moment we think we’ve learned all there is to know about God, His Word, or His ways is the moment we stop growing. No matter how long we’ve followed Jesus—whether it’s been five years or fifty—there is always more for Him to teach us.

The Apostle Paul understood this. Near the end of his ministry, after planting churches, writing much of the New Testament, and faithfully serving Christ for decades, he still wrote in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ.” Paul never graduated from learning. He never stopped pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Every day presents us with opportunities to learn and grow. We learn through God’s Word as He reveals His truth to us. We learn through prayer as we listen for His voice. We learn through life’s victories and disappointments as God shapes our character. We learn from one another as fellow believers who encourage and challenge each other.

One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is becoming spiritually stagnant and closed off—assuming we’ve heard it all before or that we’ve grown enough. But disciples are learners. In fact, the word disciple literally carries the idea of a student or learner. To follow Jesus is to remain teachable.

So let me encourage you today: stay curious about God. Open His Word expecting Him to show you something new. Ask Him what He wants to teach you in this season of life. Remain humble enough to learn from others and attentive enough to recognize His lessons in everyday moments.

Graduation may mark the end of a specific season of learning, but for followers of Jesus, there is no graduation from discipleship. We are lifelong learners, continually being transformed into the people God created us to be.

Lord, keep our hearts teachable. Help us never become satisfied with what we already know about You. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a willingness to learn, and a desire to keep growing in faith each day. -Amen