GROWING IN GRACE

09/15/2026

Do Not Be Afraid

When you fall to the ground, Jesus is there to pull you back to your feet.

Matthew 17:1-8

Have you ever noticed that the more time you spend with someone, the better you understand where that person is coming from? Our relationship with Jesus is similar. When we have a close connection with Him, we’re not praying to some cold and distant deity “out there somewhere.” Instead, we are speaking with a God who is near (Ps. 145:18)—a God who loves us, sustains us, and molds us into His own image. That changes how we approach Him, doesn’t it?

In today’s passage, Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration and were terrified. Their reaction was understandable, as they were seeing divine glory with human eyes. But even in that overwhelming moment, Jesus didn’t leave them lying on the ground where they had fallen. Instead, He came to the three disciples, touched them, and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid” (v. 7). That’s the kind of compassionate, personal God we serve—One who meets us in our awe and gently draws us back to our feet.

It’s wise to keep this picture in mind when spending time with the Lord. If you are struggling to connect with God, remember that He loves you, forgives you, and rejoices in your prayers.

09/10/2026

Avoiding Enslavement

Though sin may beckon, God has equipped us with the power to resist temptation.

Romans 6:16-19

Like a physical prison that’s built brick by brick, a spiritual prison is erected one sin at a time. Ensnarement happens slowly, beginning with a thought. Over time, contemplation can turn into action.

But we can avoid spiritual chains. Our first step is to acknowledge two basic truths: All sin enslaves, and it begins in the mind. We cannot maintain a healthy relationship with the Lord while deliberately indulging in sin. When a wrong thought creeps into our consciousness, we have the choice to either expel or entertain it (2 Cor. 10:3-5). Through the strength of the Holy Spirit, every believer possesses power to change his or her mind.

A long-term view of disobedient behavior is a strong antidote to temptation. Obeying the Lord will always bring more joy, fulfillment, and purpose than choosing our own way (Ps. 119:1-2). A second step, then, is to ask ourselves, Is the pleasure of this sin worth the consequences? Inevitably, the answer is no.

Third, we order our life according to Scripture. That is, we make the choice to surrender to the Father because we find true freedom in Him.

Ask God to speak to you through His Word today, and see what He reveals about your life.

09/03/2026

It's not what happens
to you that determines how far you will go in life; it is how you handle what happens to you.

09/03/2026

The Waters Of Satisfaction Scattered

Nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord. 2 Samuel 23:16

What has been like water from the well of Bethlehem to you recently — love, friendship, spiritual blessing? Then at the peril of your soul, you take it to satisfy yourself. If you do, you cannot pour it out before the Lord. You can never sanctify to God that with which you long to satisfy yourself. If you satisfy yourself with a blessing from God, it will corrupt you; you must sacrifice it, pour it out, do with it what common sense says is an absurd waste.

How am I to pour out unto the Lord natural love or spiritual blessing? In one way only — in the determination of my mind. There are certain acts of other people which one could never accept if one did not know God, because it is not within human power to repay them. But immediately I say — “This is too great and worthy for me, it is not meant for a human being at all, I must pour it out unto the Lord”; then these things pour out in rivers of living water all around. Until I do pour these things out before the Lord, they endanger those I love as well as myself because they will turn to lust. We can be lustful in things which are not sordid and vile. Love has to get to its transfiguration point of being poured out unto the Lord.

If you have become bitter and sour, it is because when God gave you a blessing you clutched it for yourself; whereas if you had poured it out unto the Lord, you would have been the sweetest person out of heaven. If you are always taking blessings to yourself and never learn to pour out anything unto the Lord, other people do not get their horizon enlarged through you.

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

Listening to God

God gives us many means to hear His voice and see His work in our life.

Proverbs 2:1-5

Learning to listen to God is an essential part of following His will. He speaks to His children through …

Scripture. The Bible is a rich revelation of who God is—His character, His promises, and His purposes (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is an invaluable source that can help Christians discover what He is like and develop trust in Him. As we take in His Word, we can listen for the ways He might be directing us to apply it.

Prayer. God designed prayer to be a conversation, not a monologue. When we bring our heart to Him, we should linger—making space for Him to speak into our stillness (Ps. 46:10).

Circumstances. Throughout Scripture, the Lord revealed His ways to men and women through their circumstances—and He hasn’t stopped. Situations change, but our God does not.

Others. Pastors, friends, and mentors can all speak truth into our life. The Lord places believers in community so they can be encouraged, challenged, and helped.

In order to reach His children, God uses all four of these avenues, often working through two or more simultaneously. Our part is to stay attentive—always remembering that a message from the Lord will agree with His Word. What might He be saying to you today?

01/12/2026

Have You Ever Been Alone with God? (1)

When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. Mark 4:34

Our Solitude with Him. Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves! We don’t even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage?

We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we will never say, “Oh, I’m so unworthy.” We will understand that this goes without saying. But as long as there is any doubt that we are unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone. Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can’t teach us anything. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear.