The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller

Do you want to hear from the Lord? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 3. I've titled this chapter "Into Our Silence God Speaks." In this chapter, we will witness Samuel's remarkable journey as he emerges as the next spokesman for God. The key verse of this chapter is verse 10, which reads: And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears." — 1 Samuel 3:10 From Boy to Prophet This verse represents a crucial moment in this book, in Samuel's life, and in the life of the nation of Israel. In this chapter, Samuel is about to undergo a significant transformation. He is transitioning from a boy serving in the temple to becoming a divine leader of God's people. It's like watching a disguised superhero enter a phone booth and emerge as this eager superhero ready to save the day. Into Silence God Speaks Yet this unveiling occurs because Samuel is a man who is willing to listen to God and speak His will. From his interaction with God, we will learn six ways to listen to God this week. Navigating Silence: Navigating times when God is silent (3:1) Increasing Reception: What prevents us from hearing God's voice (3:2-7) Recognizing His Voice: Learning to recognize God's voice (3:8-10) Painful Messages: When we recognize God's voice but don't like the message (3:11-14) Telling the Message: Telling others what God has told us (3:15-18) Becoming His Messenger: Declaring his message as his designated messenger (3:19-21) Amid life's noise and distractions, it's easy to miss God's call. But just as He spoke to Samuel in the quiet of the night, God desires to communicate with each of us today. Whether we're navigating moments of silence, wrestling with doubts, or grappling with the weight of His message, the key lies in our willingness to listen and respond, just as Samuel did: "Speak, for your servant hears." #ListenToGod #DivineDialogue #HeedHisVoice Ask This: How can we intentionally create moments of silence in our lives to better hear from God amidst the noise and distractions of our daily routines? How can we respond like Samuel when we sense God's prompting, moving from simply hearing His voice to actively obeying and sharing His message with others? Do This: Ready your heart and ears to hear from God. Pray This: Heavenly Father, grant me the grace to quiet my heart and mind, so that I may attentively listen for Your voice and faithfully respond to Your call, just as Samuel did. Help me to discern Your will and courageously share Your message with others, trusting in Your guidance and provision every step of the way. Amen. Play This: I'm Listening.

You never age out of spiritual leadership. Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are immersing ourselves in 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 contrasts two families—one who stands with God and one in defiance. Today I am reading verses 18-21: Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. — 1 Samuel 2:22-26 Then, jumping down to verses 31-35, a man of God comes to Eli and delivers a message from God. Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever. The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep his eyes out to grieve his heart, and all the descendants of your house shall die by the sword of men. And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day. And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever. — 1 Samuel 2:31-35 An Old Spiritual Leader There are some interesting details in both of these texts. Eli was very old. In fact, according to 1 Samuel 4:15, he was 98 years old. This suggests that he may have been out of touch with what was happening with his sons and their spiritual leadership. However, he eventually learned about their involvement in two forms of serious corruption. Using their power and position for personal gain. Using their power and position for sexual exploits. What you have are two boys who feel entitled and have become especially egregious in their behavior. But what makes these sins egregious is that they interfere with God's sacrifices and in his house, and the boys just simply don't care. Then Eli's "why" is as close as he gets to calling them to repentance. He approaches them like a helpless old man and father who has washed his hands of them. In addition, we know the boys are going to dismiss his extremely soft interrogation. An Indictment The most startling part of this text and chapter is the indictment by God in verse 25: "for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death." The boys had gone too far. Most of us reading this text don't like to hear this. But it's a serious mistake to assume that these boys and their stubborn, entitled, sacrilegious, and hard hearts should be blamed on God. The hardness of their hearts was their choice, and thus, we see God's judgment for that choice. And given what I read here, Eli should have been a little more engaged in guiding them to repentance. However, what is particularly interesting about this whole situation is that we never get the impression that Eli was a wicked priest. On the surface, he seems to be presented as a fairly "good" guy, but the way he deals with his sons and stewards the house of the Lord at the end of his life is not good. He is simply too old and lacks the fortitude to deal with his son's wicked conduct, which is not good. But when one father fails to do his job, another takes over. God, the Father of his nation, inserts himself where Eli fails to lead. An Ageless Responsibility This is an important message for fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers. The spiritual leadership of your family never ends. There is no time in your life when you age out or retire from giving your family spiritual correction and guidance. You cannot simply wash your hands of giving needed spiritual correction and direction. Sometimes, you need to muster some fortitude and call your family to repentance because you love them. It's not loving as a father to let them face judgment from the Heavenly Father. So, what sins do you need to address in your family, and how are you going to do it? #SpiritualLeadership #FamilyFaith #LegacyofFaith Ask This: How can you emulate Eli's initial concern and engagement with your family's spiritual well-being, despite any challenges or discomfort it may entail? Reflecting on the consequences of Eli's passive approach, how can you actively cultivate a culture of repentance and spiritual growth within your family, fostering open dial

Are you leading your kids spiritually? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are immersing ourselves in 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 contrasts two families—one who stands with God and one in defiance. Today I am reading verses 18-21: Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord." So then they would return to their home. Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. — 1 Samuel 2:18-21 One clear observation from this section is that Samuel and his parents (Elkanah and Hannah) remain faithfully devoted to God. Even Eli is reminded of this every year as they bring their sacrifices, and his mother provides Samuel with another robe. As a result, Eli continues to pass blessing after blessing to Elkanah and Hannah, who end up having not one child but six in all. The impact of parents who actively guide and spiritually support their children is significant. There is a remarkable contrast between the children of Elkanah and the children of Eli. Elkanah and his family were actively devoted to God and took their spiritual responsibilities seriously, even after Samuel had left. In contrast, Eli was more passive in his approach to parenting his sons, assuming they would just understand at some point, and if you have read ahead, you know they didn't. This chapter has really persuaded me to reflect on how I lead my children and take a few more steps in spiritually leading them. My role is not merely teaching them secular skills or new leadership techniques or persuading them to win friends and influence people; I am called to invest meaningful spiritual time, talent, and treasure in their lives. So how about you? Are you serving your family spiritually? Are you intentionally nurturing their faith, modeling godly character, and providing opportunities for them to grow in their relationship with Jesus? If not, commit to prioritizing your children's spiritual well-being. Pray for them fervently, teach them the Word of God diligently, and lead them by example as you walk in obedience to Christ. Invest time, energy, and resources into building a firm foundation of faith in their lives. May God bless your efforts abundantly as you faithfully serve your children, shaping them into the men and women of God He has called them to be. Remember, your children (just like Samuel) are a precious gift "lent to you by the Lord." They are only under your immediate care and direction for a short season. How you steward this season will have eternal significance. And for those who don't have kids or whose kids have flown the nest: keep praying, keep leading, keep speaking the truth, and keep asking the Father to draw them to him. He is the only perfect father even when you are not. Father, Thank you for all the children you have lent to us. Draw them to you all their days. Guide them through sin into your holiness. Be their redeemer and use them to advance your kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen. #ParentingWithPurpose #SpiritualLeadership #FaithfulFamilies ASK THIS: How can you prioritize spiritual investment in your children's lives amidst the busyness of daily routines? Reflecting on the contrast between the families of Elkanah and Eli, what specific steps can you take to actively nurture your children's faith and spiritual growth? DO THIS: Do one thing to spiritually lead your family today. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the wisdom and strength to lead my children spiritually, nurturing their faith and guiding them into a deeper relationship with You. May Your presence be evident in our home, shaping their hearts and lives according to Your will. PLAY THIS: Run To The Father.

Have you checked your greed lately? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are in 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 contrasts two families—one who stands with God and one in defiance. Today, I will read verses 13-17. The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw." And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish," he would say, "No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force." Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt. — 1 Samuel 2:13-17 Unethical Conduct In The Priesthood This text reveals a troubling reality of religious corruption and entitlement within the priesthood. Eli's sons, who served as priests, abused their authority for personal gain. Their actions weren't just selfish; they were sacrilegious. While priests were entitled to a portion of the sacrifices after they were presented, the sons of Eli went far beyond what was acceptable. Instead of honoring God's regulations, they exploited their position to snatch the best portions of the sacrifices being prepared by the worshippers. Imagine making preparations for your best offering to God, only to have it forcibly taken by one of the priest's servants. For worshippers, these sacrifices were deeply meaningful acts of devotion. Yet, Hophni and Phinehas, Eli's sons, showed no regard for the sacredness of these offerings. They intruded on families while their meat was cooking, taking what they desired and even demanding raw meat for themselves before the fat was burned—an act directly contrary to God's instructions. Their behavior was reprehensible, driven by greed and a blatant disregard for God. Unregulated Selfishness Can Become Sacrilegious Greed So, what do we learn? Every man, including spiritual leaders, can succumb to the temptation of selfish gain. If unchecked, it can spiral into insatiable narcissism and sacrilege, elevating oneself above God. Today, let's examine our own lives. Are there areas where selfishness or greed are taking root? Left unaddressed, they can lead us down a path of wickedness. Let's strive to regulate our desires and align them with God's will, guarding against the allure of selfish gain. #GuardAgainstGreed #SacrilegeInService #SpiritualLeadership Ask This: Reflect on a time when you were tempted to prioritize personal gain over honoring God and others. How did you navigate that situation, and what lessons did you learn from it? In what areas of your life do you see the potential for selfishness or greed to creep in? How can you actively guard against these tendencies and align your desires with God's will? Do This: Check your greed today. Pray This: Lord, help me to recognize and resist the allure of selfish gain, guiding me to honor You in all that I do. Grant me the strength and wisdom to align my desires with Your will, that I may serve You faithfully and with integrity. Amen. Play This: Greed.

Are you ready to compensate for lost time as a husband, wife, father, or mother? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are in 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 contrasts two families—one who stands with God and one in defiance. Today, I will read two texts that illustrate this contrast again. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation. — 1 Samuel 1:16 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. — 1 Samuel 2:12 Worthless Sons The word "worthless" here is harsh and vivid. It's Belial, which could be translated as Hannah being the "daughter of the Devil" or, in the case of Eli's boys, "sons of the Devil." The irony in the text is unmistakable. Eli indicts Hannah as worthless when his sons are the worthless ones. Eli is a man, father, and leader with extremely clouded judgment. He easily indicts an innocent, humble, and devout woman and misses the judgment passed onto him by his sons, who serve as spiritual leaders but "do not know the Lord." Too Late To Build Worth In my years of ministry, I have noticed that many believing men, like Eli, do not learn the burden of their roles as husbands, fathers, and spiritual leaders soon enough. They love the title and experiences of these roles but fail to see their spiritual significance. Therefore, later in life, they have regrets about the spiritual disposition of their wives, children, and even themselves. Some men believe it's too late to rectify the lost time and the ministry required to have a spiritual impact on their lives. But it's never too late. God can redeem anything and anyone at any point in life, and there are plenty of examples throughout the Bible. Had Eli stepped in and even stepped up a little, which he didn't, he could have turned his sons from worthless to worthy. See The Worthy One For this to happen in your life and your family, you have to stop dwelling on the past, lost time, and all your regrets. You need to stop focusing on yourself and focus on God's worth. God has endless worth, infinitely more than all your worthless years and every worthless regret. So, if you are a father, mother, husband, or wife, don't give up yet. Don't quit. Look again at Elkanah and Hannah. They never quit believing, obeying, trusting, and offering, even through their deep vexations. Then God provided and turned their sense of worthlessness into great worth. #RedeemingLostTime #FamilyRestoration #GodsRedemption Ask This: Reflecting on Eli's missed opportunities as a father and leader, what steps can you take today to prioritize your spiritual influence within your family? Considering Hannah and Elkanah's faith transformation amidst challenges, how can you cultivate a mindset of unwavering trust in God's ability to redeem and renew your family's story? Do This: See God's worth and spiritually lead! Pray This: Lord, help me release the weight of past regrets and embrace Your redeeming grace. Empower me to lead my family with wisdom, humility, and unwavering faith. Grant me the strength and perseverance to journey forward, trusting in Your ability to restore and renew all things according to Your perfect plan. Amen. Play This: Family.

Do you know a woman who is a spiritual warrior? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are immersing ourselves in 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 contrasts two families—one who stands with God and one in defiance. We begin this chapter with Hannah, a woman, wife, and mother who stood on the side of God. This section is called Hannah's Prayer, and I am not going to read the whole prayer, but I do encourage you to read it. I will read the first verse of this prayer. 1 Samuel 2:1 reads And Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. — 1 Samuel 2:1 Her prayer is powerful. It read more like a war cry than that of a prayer by a barren housewife. And I love that we have a record of this. You see, we need godly women like this. Women who are fully committed to the Lord. Women who have been tested by life but relentlessly hold on in faith. Women who go to war in prayer for their families. Women that perceive their roles as wives and mothers as one of the most important vocational callings they will ever have in this life. Contrary to all the modern beliefs about women and their roles, Hannah understands and models what womanhood is supposed to look like. It oozes out of her in this prayer. She fights for her faith and battles in prayer for her family because she wants them all to know victory in the Lord. Later, we see how great her victory was. God not only gave her one son—Samuel—but gave her many. 1 Samuel 2:21 reads Indeed the Lord visited Hannah, and she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew in the presence of the Lord. — 1 Samuel 2:21 If you are a woman listening today, I want you to know that believing men like us need believing women like you. We need you to war with us in the way only you can. And for the men listening today, you need to support your wife in her spiritual calling. Like Elkanah, you need to love her, nourish her, support her, and listen to her, for she is a woman who cries out in war for your legacy. #HannahsPrayer #SpiritualWarfare #WarriorWomen ASK THIS: How can we emulate Hannah's fervent prayer life in our own spiritual journey, especially in times of difficulty or uncertainty? In what practical ways can husbands support and encourage their wives in their spiritual calling, following Elkanah's example of love and support for Hannah? DO THIS: Support warrior women who are faithful to God. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the strength and faith of Hannah, to boldly stand in prayer and unwavering commitment to You, trusting in Your faithfulness to bring victory in my life and family. Help me, Lord, to honor and support the women in my life as they courageously walk in their God-given roles, striving for Your kingdom's sake. Amen. PLAY THIS: Warrior.

Are you taking a spiritual lead? Do you even know what this means? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. This week, we are looking at 1 Samuel 2. Chapter 2 shows the contrast between the two families—one for God and one against God. But the family against God is surprising; it's a religious leader and his family. Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. — 1 Samuel 2:12 The contrast between Elkanah's family and Eli's family is remarkable. In the first chapter, we see a devout family. In the second chapter, we see a corrupt family. The first family is blessed. The second family is cursed. One becomes salvation for the people of God. The other leads to sacrilege and shame in the house of the Lord forever. If you are a father, mother, or spiritual leader in any capacity today and you read Chapters 1-2, you will observe something that cannot be ignored or missed. Your devotion to God and the spiritual leadership of your family are critical all the days of your life. Men, you need to lead your family spiritually. If you are not leading them spiritually, then you're not leading. Here's the problem I see evident in the lives of numerous believing. Most men and fathers concern themselves with mere material matters when it comes to their life and their families. They focus primarily on matters of financial provision and personal success. Then, they pass on this same burden and concern to their wives and children. Either directly or indirectly, they focus all their time and attention on matters of material success and appearance: educational excellence, athletic success, social status, and financial independence. Yet, I do want to recognize that excellence, success, status, and independence are necessary in some capacity. However, when that is all we ever concern ourselves with, these matters become all-consuming until we and our family finally bow to the gods of excellence, success, status, and independence, which at some point become corrupted by our selfish desires. This is precisely what happens with Eli and his worthless sons in Chapter 2. Eli has let go of the reigns of spiritual leadership. In my years of ministry to men, I have noticed that most believing men don't know how to lead spiritually. They don't even know what this means. They don't know how to lead themselves spiritually. Thus, they feel ill-equipped to lead their family spiritually. This deadly cycle of self-disqualification leads to spiritual insecurities that keep men from taking confident steps in the Spirit to lead. What happens is sin, selfishness, and vanity take over, and now the problem is so significant they don't know what to do. This happens a lot in believing families. Men, you are called to provide for your family. But there is a provision far more important than the natural provision you provide. It's spiritual provision, and you don't provide it. A heavenly Father provides it, but you must lead your family to him. If you are not pointing them to the Father who is their Provider, then you are providing your family with nothing but futile and natural resources that will not last, and at some point, will let them down. So today, point your wife and children to God. Lead them spiritually. Here are some actions you could take: Text them a verse from God's Word. Pray over them in person or by phone. Guide them through a problem and give them sound spiritual direction. You are called and commanded to do this all the days of your life. And don't do nothing. If you do nothing, you are no better than Eli. Soon, you will see the fate of a believing father who does nothing and who goes down in the chronicles of God's Word forever as a failed spiritual leader with worthless sons. Don't be that guy. #SpiritualLeadership #FamilyFaith #MenOfGod ASK THIS: Reflecting on your role as a spiritual leader, what specific actions can you take today to intentionally lead your family closer to God? How can you shift your focus from worldly success to spiritual growth within your family, and what practical steps can you implement to prioritize spiritual provision over material provision? DO THIS: Lead spiritually. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the wisdom and courage to lead my family spiritually, guiding them closer to You each day. Help me prioritize their souls over worldly success, and empower me to exemplify Your love and grace in all I do. Amen. PLAY THIS: Lead Me.

Are you struggling to trust God's plan for your life? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel and are currently in chapter one. The theme of chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: So far, we have identified Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, Eli, Hophni, Phinehas, Samuel, and today the Lord. Today, verses 26-28. And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord." — 1 Samuel 1:26-28 1 Samuel 1 is not primarily about Hannah, Elkanah, or even Samuel. It is primarily about the Lord. This chapter may begin with God caring for Hannah and providing for her in her distress, bareness, and shame, but as we will see, in caring for Hannah, the Lord also cared for all of Israel. What he did for Hannah was not exclusively for Hannah. Unfortunately, this is how many want to read and understand the story because we want a God who saves us from our unique problems. We want a God who bows to serve and save us from our every need. But in this situation, God was not just serving and saving Hannah but all of Israel. Through one child, he provided an immediate path through their social unrest and hinted about another child who would save the world from all sin—Jesus. This is an essential lesson in divine providence. Sometimes, we understand acts of God as acts done only for us. This is a very arrogant assumption. The things God does might be done to us and might bring us pleasure, but they are not done only for us nor to please our will. They are done for his will at his pleasure and to accomplish his plan. God may do things for you that look like they are only for you, but usually, God has a greater plan in play. This is what Hannah understands in this statement at the end of chapter one. She even hints to Eli that he may not understand, but Samuel is one "lent" who will lend a hand in God's plan. Samuel's time has come to spend the rest of his days serving the Lord. I want you to know today that God does care about you, but he doesn't only care about you. He cares about all his children. This means that your life, will, plan, vision, and even your aspirations are not the only ones at play. God's will will win the day. Hannah understood this. She had her will, but then there was God's will. He provided for her, but then she did not get in the way of God's will. By doing so, she, her son, and her family became a beautiful part of the story of God. (Which, by the way, will stand in contrast to Eli and his sons in the coming chapters). The ultimate application of chapter one is this: God is at the center of the story. Don't let your will get in the way of God's will. See the connection of your story to his and become a beautiful part of the most remarkable story ever told. #DivineProvidence #SurrenderedFaith #GodsPlan ASK THIS: How can we cultivate a mindset of surrender, trusting that God's will surpasses our own desires and plans? In what areas of our lives do we struggle the most to align our will with God's will, and what steps can we take to surrender those areas fully to Him? DO THIS: Live in the will of the greatest story ever told. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to trust in Your divine providence and surrender my will to Yours, recognizing that Your plans for me are far greater than I can imagine. Guide me to align my desires with Your purpose and to become a beautiful part of Your remarkable story. Amen. PLAY THIS: God Is In This Story.

Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of parenting or leadership? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel and are currently in chapter one. The theme of chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: So far, we have identified Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, Eli, Hophni, Phinehas, and today Samuel. Today, we will be at the end of the chapter in verses 23-28. Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word." So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord." — 1 Samuel 1:23-28 So I have several observations from this text: Dedicated as Lent First, Elkanah is presented as diligent and devout. He diligently makes his annual trips to the Tabernacle. In addition, he also affirmed his wife's right to make commitments to God, and he wants to support her in fulfilling these vows even though it will cost him a firstborn son from the wife he loves. In addition, the sacrifice he brings to the Tabernacle is sizeable, generous, and even lavish. A side note: husbands, you need to look for ways to support your wife's spiritual calling, especially when it honors the Lord. Prepared as Lent Second, Hannah is given only three precious years with her only biological son. From the day Samuel was conceived, Hannah knew her time with the "one God lent" (Samuel) would be short. Therefore, these years were preparation years for Samuel until he was lent back. As another side note: all believing parents would be blessed to think about their children in the same way, as ones being lent and prepared for an interdependent relationship in service to the Lord. Given as Lent Third, and one of the most intriguing aspects of this passage, is the wordplay in Hannah's statement. The phrases: 'granted me my petition,' 'I made,' 'I have lent him,' and 'he is lent' all stem from the same Hebrew word 'to ask,' which directly relates to the meaning of Samuel's name. This connection underscores the divine providence in Samuel's birth and Hannah's act of dedicating him to the Lord. Samuel's early years are marked by a unique perspective. He was one lent to them who would be lent back to God for a lifelong Nazarite vow. For a moment, consider how a perspective like this would change how you think about everything. Consider how it might affect how you parent, prepare, live, and give. Without a doubt, this child changed Elkanah and Hannah forever. I have three grown children now. Each has required a different type of leadership, direction, encouragement, and challenge. Thinking about how to lead them through their challenges has changed me as a father. Sometimes, it has been frustrating, but God has used each to shape and form my perspective as a father, husband, man, and leader. In some ways, God has used them to influence me, just like God used Samuel to influence his parents. But this only happened when I was willing to pay attention to the divine Father parenting me as I parent them. If you feel a little frustrated today as a parent or leader, try paying more attention to God's divine providence and plan. Worry less about what you want and pay attention to what God wants. When we align with God's divine plan, like Elkanah and Hannah did, the decisions along the way are a lot easier because many of them are already made. #ParentingWithPurpose #LentToTheLord #DivineParenting ASK THIS: How can you actively support and encourage your spouse's spiritual journey, as Elkanah did for Hannah, even when it requires personal sacrifice? Reflect on your role as a parent or leader. How might viewing your children or those you lead as lent to you by God influence your approach to guiding, nurturing, and preparing them for their own unique journey of faith and service? DO THIS: Get a new perspective from the Father. PRAY THIS: Father, help me emulate Elkanah's faithfulness and Hannah's surrender as I navigate my role as a parent, spouse, and leader, trusting in Your divine plan for those entrusted to my care. Guide me to recognize and embrace the opportunities to align my will with Yours, knowing that Your purposes far exceed mine. Amen. PLAY THIS: Changed.

Ready to break free from those negative influences? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel and are currently in chapter one. The theme of chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: So far, we have identified Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, Eli, and today Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. I will read a single verse today that quickly references these two men. It's verse three. Now [Elkanah] used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the Lord. — 1 Samuel 1:3 Hophni and Phinehas remain obscure in this text but become essential to Samuel's backstory. We will learn more about these two malicious, devious, and worthless sons when we get into chapter two. When you discover their character, you will see a contrast between the fathers (Eli & Elkanah) and their sons (Hophni, Phinehas, and Samuel). As expected, social and parental influences significantly shape the sons mentioned in this story. Samuel's spiritual trajectory is much different than that of Hophni and Phinehas. But as Samuel grows, we will see his tender heart toward God and his willingness to listen to God shape his leadership and life more and more. Today, this made me think of all the parents and people who have influenced my life—some good, some bad, some spiritual, some secular. But as I have matured, I have also learned that I bear a burden. It is a burden to listen to the right parents and the right people. The best part is that it's easy to learn who to listen to because I have a Father. He is the best Father because he is the Father of all mankind. If I listen to this Father, I will find the most fulfillment and purpose in this life. That's the difference between the two fathers and the sons in this story. So, who are you listening to today? Are you listening to pop culture, popular media, posts on your socials, or to the Father who gives the best advice because he has your best interests in mind? #InfluenceMatters #ListenToTheFather #SpiritualTrajectory ASK THIS: Reflecting on your own life, who are the significant influencers shaping your spiritual journey? How can you discern which voices to listen to and which ones to filter out? Consider the contrast between the characters of Samuel and the sons of Eli. In what ways can you emulate Samuel's tender heart toward God and his willingness to listen despite the influences around you? DO THIS: Listen to your Father! PRAY THIS: Father, help me to discern Your voice amidst the multitude of influences in my life, guiding me toward fulfillment and purpose. Grant me the wisdom to listen to Your guidance above all others, shaping me into the person You desire me to be. Amen. PLAY THIS: I'm Listening.

Are your words building up or tearing down? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel, and we are currently in chapter one. The theme of chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: So far, we have identified Elkanah, Peninnah, Hannah, and today Eli, Israel's judge and priest. I am going to read verses 9-17, which pick up on this interaction between Hannah and Eli. After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, "How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you." But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation." Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him." — 1 Samuel 1:9-17 Eli is an interesting character in Samuel's story. I really don't want to give too much away yet because you are going to get more to his story in the next four chapters, concluding with his tragic death, resulting from a fall from his chair. So, I want to hold off on giving you too much detail. But in this immediate text, we do catch a glimpse of Eli's character. We see that he is quick to make a judgment about a very humble and reverent woman. Who knows exactly why he does this, but he does, and I think this is a little interesting because he is supposed to be a judge. Most theologians consider him to be one of the final judges of Israel. Below is a sequential list of the judges of Israel if you want to see them: Othniel - 40 years (Judges 3:7-11) Ehud - 80 years (Judges 3:12-30) Shamgar - Time unspecified (Judges 3:31) Deborah and Barak - 40 years (Judges 4:1-5:31) Gideon - 40 years (Judges 6:1-8:35) Abimelech - 3 years (Judges 9:22) Tola - 23 years (Judges 10:1-2) Jair - 22 years (Judges 10:3-5) Jephthah - 6 years (Judges 10:6-12:7) Ibzan - 7 years (Judges 12:8-10) Elon - 10 years (Judges 12:11-12) Abdon - 8 years (Judges 12:13-15) Samson - 20 years (Judges 13:1-16:31) Eli - Not explicitly called a judge. Served as a high priest and judge during this time. Time unspecified (1 Samuel 1:9-4:18) Samuel - The final judge to transition Israel from judges to kings. Regardless, Eli's time marks the beginning of the end. As we will see, one of his failings was his lack of leadership as a father, which was a big black mark on his record as a priest and judge. Yet, we have to give him a little bit of credit because he does extend an important blessing to Hannah. This blessing would result in a son—Samuel. He would soon be conceived, born, raised, and ironically mentored by Eli, replacing him and ending the time of the judges. Isn't it interesting that the cursing and blessing come from the same mouth? My mouth has great power to speak amazing truths about Jesus that can lead people to Christ. At the same time, my mouth can speak sarcastic and hurtful things that wound other people. In addition, the older I get, the more I see the effect of my words. I was just telling my wife the other day that our three children speak the way they do to each other sometimes because of my biting sarcasm. And now, when I watch them do what I do, I don't like it because I know it can be taken too far and can wound others. At the same time, I am still humbled by how God uses my mouth to affect other people spiritually. There are testimonies I have heard time and time again from others about things I have said that have forever affected their lives. It's amazing that my mouth can have a powerful effect in both ways. It's sobering and humbling at the same time. But this is true with you, too. Just like it was for Eli. Do me a favor: Speak a blessing. Speak a blessing to your wife, children, friend, neighbor, or peer. And when you do say it with meaning. Look them in the eyes. Make sure you have their attention. Speak it clearly and see if God doesn't alter your impact. #BlessingAndCursing #PowerOfWords #SpeakLife ASK THIS: Reflecting on Eli's initial judgment of Hannah, how can we guard against making quick assumptions about others, especially in moments of distress or vulnerability? Considering the impact of our words, how can we intentionally use our s

Do you need provision from God in a present trial? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a new series on 1 Samuel and have just begun chapter one. The first chapter's theme is the six people who influenced Samuel's life: Elkanah, Peninnah, and today, Hannah. We are jumping down to verses 9-11. Hannah has slipped away from the family while in Shiloh and is headed to the Tabernacle by herself to pray. The text reads: After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." — 1 Samuel 1:9-11 Two things about Hannah stand out to me: her character and her commitment. Character First, Hannah has remarkable character. This account presents her as a humble wife, mother, and follower who is faithful from beginning to end. She is faithful through emotional distress, doubt, and mistreatment. She never gives up on what she believes God can do in her baren situation. She is inspirational because many people would have given up on God by now. Even Sarah gave up. She laughed at God. But not Hannah. She makes another trip to the Tabernacle year after year, even though Peninnah disdains her and Eli degrades her. Some believers are not properly prepared for this part of the spiritual journey—the long waits. We wrongly believe that the spiritual life should be easy and we should get quick answers from God. But this is not how it always works. Sometimes, it comes with long waits. In these times, what is required is faithfulness. That is how Hannah models faithfulness in a very long period of distress. Commitment Second, notice Hannah's commitment to God in her vow. This is a great vow, and I will show you why. But first, let's make sure we understand what a vow is. In the Old Testament, a vow was a solemn promise made to God. It was made on three occasions: in response to a blessing received by God, in a desperate situation calling on God, or in an act of devotion to God. When we think about vows today, we typically think about marital vows, which don't have the same weight they used to because we have subtracted God from them. Vows were made to God. They were taken very seriously and permanently binding as a vow to God should be. When God makes a vow to man, he makes good on it, and when we make a vow to God, we should make good on it. There were a few examples of these in the Old Testament: Nazirite Vow: The Nazirite vow is described in Numbers 6:1-21. It involved a period of consecration during which an individual abstained from alcohol, avoided contact with the dead, and refrained from cutting their hair. This vow was often taken for a specific period as an expression of dedication and devotion to God. This vow appears a little later in this chapter. Jacob's Vow: After Jacob has a vision of a ladder reaching to heaven at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22), he makes a vow to God, promising to give a tenth of all he receives and to worship God faithfully if God will be with him, protect him, and provide for his needs. Jephthah's Vow: Jephthah, a judge of Israel, makes an infamous vow to God (Judges 11:30-31), promising to sacrifice the first thing that comes out of his house if God grants him victory in battle. Unfortunately, he does win, and the first thing he sees exiting his home when he returns is his daughter, his only child. Hannah's Vow: In this text. Here's what I love about Hannah's vow. It is potent. It is the promise to give to God what Hannah has longed for her whole life. It is what is most precious to her that she doesn't presently have. Hannah vows to give up to God, the one thing she has always wanted. But she's not just giving up a child. She is agreeing to give up raising him. She is giving up her family continuity. She is giving her unconceived son to the Lord for a lifetime. That is a big deal. This is a potent vow, and she makes good on it. If you are paying attention to what I said, this sounds like God's covenant promise to Abraham in the divine son that was to come—his Son, Jesus. At least I hear echoes in her vow to God with God's vow to us. Then this happens: Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him." And she said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked f

Is there a rivalry holding you back? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a brand new series on 1 Samuel, and we have just begun chapter one. The theme of the first chapter is the six people who influenced Samuel's life. The first is Elkanah, Samuel's father. The second is Peninnah, Samuel's second wife. Before we read the text, let's set the stage for Peninnah. We know little about her, but her actions in verses 4-8 reveal a lot about her character and the dynamics of her relationship with Hannah. On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. And Elkanah, her husband, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?" — 1 Samuel 1:4-8 For context, it's crucial to note that during Elkanah's time, the place of sacrifice was in Shiloh, about fifteen miles north of their town. This was where the Tabernacle resided, as the Temple had not yet been constructed. This detail indicates Elkanah's devoutness, faithfully adhering to the command to go up to the Tabernacle for annual sacrifices. However, it's evident from the text that Elkanah shows favoritism toward Hannah over Peninnah. He seems unaware of the impact this has on their relationship, which is characteristic of many men. Sometimes, God-fearing men make decisions without considering their long-term effects. While Elkanah and Hannah likely decided together to find a concubine to bear children, they were evidently unprepared for the relational, emotional, and spiritual repercussions. One consequence is the escalating tension between the two wives, a complication of polygamy, with Peninnah becoming a rival, as the text describes. What strikes me about Peninnah's character is her propensity to provoke Hannah. She is mean-spirited, likely fueled by jealousy over Elkanah's greater love for Hannah. When love is unevenly distributed, it breeds contention and competition, leading to the kind of rivalry Peninnah incites. This contention escalated over time, taking an emotional and psychological toll on Hannah, evident in her bitter weeping and loss of appetite. It's intriguing how sin operates. When we act outside of God's will, sin's effects are insidious and far-reaching. One sinful act in a marriage can permeate every aspect of life, breeding bitterness, anger, regret, and sadness. And when someone in a marriage, like Peninnah, knows how to stoke that flame, it can rage into a consuming fire within us. If you are married and you feel this contention, don't add to it. What we need in marriage is not more rivalry and provoking. What Christian marriages need is more grace because we are both sinners who act sinfully and whose sin has a long-lasting effect. But back to the big picture. Samuel's family wasn't perfect. His father's sin led to a jealous wife who sowed rivalry within the family. Yet, despite this, God performed miracles, setting the stage for the birth of a new legacy. He opened Hannah's womb and gave them a biological child. Not just any child, but one of Israel's greatest prophets and judges. Maybe today, it's time for you to pray for the beginning of a new legacy—one beyond sin, rivalry, provoking, shame, and sadness. If so, come to the Temple, return to God, bring the sacrifice to him, and ask him to provide. Lord, we come before you, bringing all that we are—our sin and shame, our past, present, and future. We lay it all down at your feet. We humbly ask for your provision, knowing that we are unable to provide for ourselves. Amen. #InfluencesOfFaith #FamilyDynamics #GraceOverRivalry ASK THIS: Reflecting on the dynamics between Elkanah, Hannah, and Peninnah, how can we ensure that favoritism or comparison doesn't hinder our relationships with others, especially within our families? Considering the consequences of sin and rivalry within Samuel's family, what steps can we take to cultivate an atmosphere of grace and forgiveness in our own relationships, particularly in moments of tension or conflict? DO THIS: Mend any strained relationships. PRAY THIS: Lord, as I lay before you all that I am—my flaws, my struggles, and my hopes—I humbly ask for your guidance and grace to navigate the complexities of relationships with humility, forgiveness, and love. Amen. PLAY THIS: Lay It Down.

Do you feel small, like a nobody from nowhere? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a brand new series on 1 Samuel. As I mentioned yesterday, we will do an overview of the chapter on Mondays and then, for the following six days, a closer look at that chapter. The theme we are looking at in chapter one is the six people who influenced Samuel's life. The first of these is Elkanah, his father. What's interesting about Elkanah is that he is a nobody from nowhere. We know little about him and his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, all named in the text. Here are verses 1-3. There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Now this man used to go up year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts at Shiloh. — 1 Samuel 1:1-3 What does stand out when we read this text is that Elkanah had two wives. This is such a glaring observation that we should probably address it. Many of you know he's not the only man in the Bible who had more than one wife. Several prominent men in the Old Testament, like Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, and others, had more than one wife. There were about three reasons for this: The first apparent reason is personal pleasure and power. Such was the case with Solomon and his over 700 concubines. Second, it's worth noting that in patriarchal societies, unmarried women faced significant challenges in providing for themselves. They were often uneducated and untrained and relied heavily on male family members like fathers, brothers, or husbands for support and protection. Unfortunately, when this was absent, it led to desperate measures, like turning to prostitution or slavery. Therefore, sometimes marriage was a way to rescue a woman, another reason some men had multiple wives. The third reason is the instance here. Elkanah and his first wife, Hannah, were unable to conceive. Therefore, they probably agreed to take another wife (which should sound familiar because Abraham and Sarah did the same thing). Thus, Elkanah took another wife for reasons of family continuity. What is interesting about polygamy is that the Bible does not expressly condemn it. But fellas, before you get any crazy ideas, the Bible is very clear about the prescription of a godly marital relationship: one man with one woman (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-6). Like Abraham and Sarah, Elkanah and Hannah inherited problems that stemmed from their lack of faith. That's the bottom line of this situation. They lacked faith in believing God would provide, so they provided for themselves, which is what we do sometimes. When we don't have faith trusting God to provide, we try to provide for ourselves. And when we provide for ourselves, we incur the problems of providing for ourselves and not letting God provide. As we will see further down in chapter one, they incurred family tension, sexual insecurities, competition, contention, and shame. With this in mind, I would like to point out one tiny detail about Elkanah worth our attention: He is an Ephrathite. This area was later known as Bethlehem and became the birthplace of two other great men. This means the Prophet Samuel, King David, and the Messiah were all born in the same tiny, seemingly insignificant town and were great men in the great story of God. I love it when God does stuff like this. I would not put it past God for all three men to be born in the same location. Believers too often fail to see the opportunity for greatness in the small events of our lives. I know I do. With small seeds of faith in insignificant places and from apparent unimportant people, God can produce incredible things. So, if you feel insignificant, inconsequential, like you are standing at an impasse, instead of taking matters into your hands, hold on in faith. Cast your concerns to God. He sees things you do not. Trust in him. Don't get in his way. Great things are birthed in small seeds of faith. God, we bring our small seeds of faith to you today. We confess that, at times, we act like Elkanah, taking matters into our own hands. We recognize that your divine sight sees things that we cannot. Instead of doing things our way today, we are choosing to do them your way—by faith. Strengthen our faith and show us your ways. Do great things with us and through us. Amen. #FaithInSmallBeginnings #TrustGodsTiming #FindingPurpose ASK THIS: How can Elkanah's story inspire us to trust God's timing and provision in our own lives, especially when faced with challenges or uncertainties? In what areas of our lives do we tend to take matters into our own hands, like Elkanah did, instead of relying on God's guidance and provision? How can we surrender those areas to God and walk in

GET THE 1 SAMUEL JOURNAL HERE: 👉🏼 https://bit.ly/1SamuelJournal Who are the people who have undeniably influenced your life? Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller. We are in a brand new series on 1 Samuel. As this is a rich and expansive story, I will provide a birds-eye view of the chapter each Monday, followed by six devotionals from that chapter for the next 31 weeks. This will allow us to explore the larger story at the beginning of the week and the smaller details for the remainder of the week. 1 Samuel is divided into three major parts that discuss three important men: Part One: The Story of Samuel (1 Samuel 1-8) Part Two: The Story of Saul (1 Samuel 9-14) Part Three: The Story of Saul and David (1 Samuel 15-31) But we begin in chapter one, and here are the first few verses: There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the other was Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. — 1 Samuel 1:1-2 The story begins with Samuel's father and the events surrounding Samuel's birth. In chapter one, we read about six different people—six men and women with undeniable influence. Over the next few days, we explore the lives of these characters, each with a unique story and impact. For some, it was a positive and spiritual influence, and for others, not so much. Stay tuned as we uncover and discover their roles in this story. As I have already hinted, this book predominantly tells the story of Samuel, a man with incredible spiritual influence. But here's the immediate backdrop. It's about 1050 B.C. Leadership was a burning issue in the minds of the people of Israel. For over 200 years after entering the promised land, Israel went through intense social turmoil, bordering on chaos, a little like the social turmoil we are experiencing in our country today but far worse. Joshua was the man who led them from the Desert to the Promised Land, but as we learn, people were not listening or following God because spiritual drift does not take long. Just before 1 Samuel, we discover a sobering observation at the end of the Book of Judges: In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.—Judges 21:25. Israel was in the middle of a profound leadership crisis. But right on time, Samuel was born and emerged as one of the greatest Judges and Prophets in the history of Israel who would transition the nation from a Theocracy to a Monarchy led by three subsequent kings: Saul, David, and Solomon. Samuel would indeed be one of the great influencers in all of the Old Testament, but in chapter one, there are people who influenced him even before he was born. These people played a role in this story and had an influence, good or bad, on the events of his early life. We will look in detail at these people. But again let me ask that question, that I asked at the start: Who are the people who have undeniably influenced your life? There are people influencing you. Some positive and others negative. Their character, their attitudes, their lifestyles, their proximity, their choices, and their faith have an impact on you. So, who are you spending time with? At the same time, we are all leaders in some capacity, and we influence others. So the other side of this question is, how are you influencing the people around you? Does your character, attitude, lifestyle, proximity, choices, and faith positively impact those around you? As we read chapter one over the next week, I encourage you to take a personal assessment of those influencing you and the influence you have, and let's see what we learn and discover together from 1 Samuel 1. #InfluentialEncounters #ImpactfulConnections #UndeniableInfluences ASK THIS: Reflect on the positive influences in your life. How can you express gratitude to those who have shaped you for the better? Consider the negative influences you've encountered. What steps can you take to minimize their impact and surround yourself with more positive influences? DO THIS: Reflect on influence this week. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank you for the people you've placed in my life, both those who inspire me and those who challenge me. Help me to discern their influence wisely and to be a positive force in the lives of others. Amen. PLAY THIS: Jehovah.

Happy Mother's Day! And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, "I have asked for him from the Lord." — 1 Samuel 1:20 Today, we begin a new book of the bible, and it's fitting that today is Mother's Day because 1 Samuel begins with a humble and obedient mother. Her name is Hannah. Hannah is one of two wives married to a man named Elkanah, and why a man would want two wives perplexes me. But anyhow, this man has two. Their names are Peninnah and Hannah. As we read chapter one, we discover that Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. For this, Peninnah would relentlessly ridicule Hannah, which was mean and vicious and just one of many issues with having two wives (1 Samuel 1:6). Of course, this troubled Hannah to the point of emotional distress and loss of appetite (1 Samuel 1:7). Until finally, we discover that Hannah is pushed to her limits. She is at the Temple of the Lord by herself, weeping bitterly and praying in her distress (1 Samuel 1:10). As this is happening, insult is added to injury by a priest with absolutely no emotional intelligence that berates her, his name is Eli (1 Samuel 1:14). She begs him not to dismiss her. Then he offers Hannah this blessing in verse 17: Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him." — 1 Samuel 1:17 Of course, in time, she gave birth to a son—but not just any son—Samuel. Samuel was a prominent Old Testament leader known for his dual roles as a prophet and judge. He was dedicated to God's service from a young age. As a prophet, he played a crucial role in spiritually guiding the nation of Israel. He also anointed the first two kings in the monarchy, Saul and David. But Samuel also served as a judge, settling disputes and leading the nation in crisis. His influence was longstanding and profound because he bridged the transition from the period of the Judges to the period of the Kings. Samuel's integrity, wisdom, and devotion to God left a lasting legacy, shaping Israel's history and demonstrating the importance of faithfulness and obedience in leadership. But note the seed through which his massive influence was born. It was through a humble and obedient mother who endured ridicule, who suffered heartbreak, and who prayed earnestly and faithfully to God. So today, let's celebrate mothers, the women of faith who inspire us to trust in God's promises and obey his will. Happy Mother's Day! #MothersDay #FaithfulMotherhood #HannahAndSamuel ASK THIS: Reflecting on Hannah's perseverance through ridicule and heartbreak, how can we apply her example of unwavering faith and persistence in our own challenges? Considering Samuel's influential role in Israel's history, how does his story inspire us to recognize the profound impact of godly motherhood in shaping future generations? How can we honor and support the mothers in our lives today? DO THIS: Celebrate and thank a faithful mother. PRAY THIS: Father, on this Mother's Day, I thank You for Hannah's steadfast faith and Samuel's impactful legacy. They remind us of the power of prayer and the influence of godly women. Bless all mothers today, and may they seek to be faithful to you just as Hannah was. Amen. PLAY THIS: A Mother Like You.

Are you tired of all the pointless drama? We begin 1 Samuel tomorrow, so get your 1 Samuel Scripture Journal from the website so you can follow along. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. — Galatians 6:16-17 I love the allusion in the closing text. If I were to put this text in my own words, Paul is saying: If you want to see and know the marks of Jesus, let me take off my shirt for you. Five times, I have been beaten with 39 lashes. I have been shipwrecked. I have been stoned and left for dead. Your pointless ritual of cutting off a tiny piece of your foreskin does nothing for you. Instead, try enduring a beating for sharing the Gospel, and then you will know the Gospel. So stop bothering me with these petty issues and join me in real suffering by proclaiming the Gospel just as it is. For the Gospel has all the grace you need to endure every issue in this life. Church, I have loved reading this letter with you. But never forget Paul's point. Adding anything to the Gospel makes it no Gospel at all. Salvation is by faith alone, not by works so that no man can boast except in Christ Jesus alone. #DramaFreeLiving #GraceInSuffering #GospelCenteredLife ASK THIS: How can we distinguish between the petty dramas of life and the enduring truths of the Gospel in our daily experiences? Reflecting on Paul's words, what steps can we take to prioritize proclaiming the Gospel above getting entangled in trivial matters, and how might this shift in focus transform our lives and relationships? DO THIS: Don't add anything to the Gospel. PRAY THIS: Father, help me discern what truly matters amidst life's distractions, and empower me to boldly proclaim the Gospel with unwavering faith and grace-filled endurance. May Your Spirit guide me to live a life that reflects the marks of Jesus, bearing witness to Your transformative love in all I do. Amen. PLAY THIS: The Power of the Cross.

It's all for God. It's his mission, his people, and his glory, not yours. We are days away from beginning the book of 1 Samuel. So remember to visit our website and secure your copy of the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal. Pick it up so you're fully prepared to dive into this study. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.— Galatians 6:16 As Paul closes this letter, he wants the Galatians to know that they don't get to have their way with God's story. It's God's story about Israel. They only get to tell the story as it is. While there are Judaizers who want to modify and adjust it to their liking, God does not like this. I have often repeated a maxim that echoes this idea. It goes like this: The church is God's people, on God's mission, for God's glory. I repeat this maxim to myself to remind myself, as a leader and other leaders, that God is the only leader. We are merely followers of God even though he might give us the task of shepherding a few sheep in our lifetime. But as Paul clarifies, this is the best way to walk. It's to walk by this rule because it is the only way to find the peace and mercy we want and need. Friend, this is the most peaceful way to live life. Let God be God. Live by his rules, and don't make up your own. Are you ready to submit to his rules again? God, we submit our lives to you today. We remember again that you are telling your story for your glory, not our own. Father, may we follow you all our days and walk in all your ways. Amen. #GodsMission #HisGlory #SurrenderToGod ASK THIS: How can you actively surrender your plans and desires to God today, trusting in His mission and His timing? In what areas of your life are you tempted to assert your own control instead of submitting to God's leadership? What steps can you take to align your priorities with His will? DO THIS: Proclaim it today: It's his mission, his people, and his glory, not yours. PRAY THIS: Father God, today I humbly submit my life to Your perfect plan, recognizing that Your mission and Your glory far surpass my own desires. Help me to walk in Your ways, finding peace and joy as I surrender to Your leadership and follow Your story for my life. Amen. PLAY THIS: Come and Rest.

Are you boasting about the wrong things? We are days away from beginning the book of 1 Samuel. So remember to visit our website and secure your copy of the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal. Pick it up so you're fully prepared to dive into this study. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.— Galatians 6:13 Paul is so familiar with twisted acts of legalism that he tells the Galatians (both Gentiles and Jews) how twisted the motives of legalism can be. Simply put, he says that some legalists will invade your churches and try to convince you to be obedient to the law, even though no one can be obedient to the law aside from Jesus, and then return to Jerusalem and boast about what they have done to you. This is insanity, but it's precisely what Paul says they will try to do, and he knows this is their motivation because he was a devout Jew before he became a follower of Jesus. But then he says this: But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. — Galatians 6:14-15 This is good, and here is why. What you boast about is what you care about. If you boast about the things of this world, then you care about the things of this world. But if you boast in the Lord, then you care about the things of the Lord. So let me give you a little life hack I have used to help retrain my mind, spirit, and soul. When people praise me for something I have done, I try to immediately deflect glory to God by responding with the phrase—"Praise The Lord!" Sometimes, at least in Christian circles, people dismiss this declaration as a little cliche. But for me, it is not. I use this statement to preach a truth to myself. You see, I need to be reminded that it is only by Jesus's redemption and salvation and the Spirit's gifts and power that I can do anything. So I proclaim this statement to preach this truth to myself when I am tempted to boast in myself. But by preaching this truth to myself, I am also preaching this truth to others that only the Lord is one that ever deserves praise. Thus, I am training myself while preaching to others, which is more than cliche; it's the truth. #BoastInTheCross #NewCreationInChrist #OvercomeLegalism ASK THIS: Reflect on a time when you were tempted to seek approval or boast about your achievements. How can you shift your focus to give glory to God in similar situations moving forward? Consider the phrase "Praise the Lord" as more than just a saying, but a declaration of where your worth lies. How can this practice help you and others focus more on God's work in your lives rather than personal accomplishments? DO THIS: Proclaim it today, "Praise the Lord!" PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to boast only in Your cross, recognizing that all my accomplishments are gifts from You. Teach me to redirect every praise back to You, grounding my identity and worth in Your gracious love. Amen. PLAY THIS: Praise.

Are you scared of the truth because you are trying to please people? We are days away from beginning the book of 1 Samuel. So remember to visit our website and secure your copy of the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal. Pick it up so you're fully prepared to dive into this study. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. — Galatians 6:12 There are all kinds of reasons we do the things we do. Sometimes, the motive is clear, and other times, the motive is murky. Sometimes, we do it for the payoff, and sometimes, we do it to avoid the consequences. Either way, there is always a motive, regardless of how conscious we are of it. At the close of Galatians, Paul shines a bright light on the dark motives of the false teachers. Simply put, he points out that they were cowards. They were afraid of standing up for the Gospel truth, so they adjusted the truth to their liking. To avoid persecution by fellow Jews, they adapted the teaching to appease people who might be politically powerful and stand in opposition to the freedoms of the Gospel. Turn on the news, and you will see the exact same drama unfold today. Political parties are either motivated by personal payoffs or to avoid the consequences of political losses. Their motivations may appear a bit murky, but they are not. They either do it to secure their position or avoid losing it because their positions are the means of retaining power and money for themselves. But in Galatians, we are not talking about the government. Paul is addressing the church. This is the one place we assume our leader's motives will be truthful and righteous. It's the one place we hope will be free from impure motivation. Yet we learn that even spiritual leaders are not infallible. I am not, and neither is your pastor. At some point, even spiritual leaders become susceptible to fear—fear of loss, fear of opposition, or fear of standing up for the truth as it is written. There are certain texts of the Bible that I read that still disturb me. When I read them, they test me. This internal dialogue happens where, for a second, I think, "How should I say this? Should I say it stronger or softer? Is there a way to avoid this topic or the offense?" This still happens to me because the living Word always has something to say to our rapidly changing culture, and as a result, there is a strong temptation to adapt the Gospel to our liking to ensure we don't lose butts in the seats and bucks in our wallets. So today, the call of this text is for all of us to address our motivations. But I also would like to ask you to do something specific. Pray for me and all our pastors. Pray that our motivations as your spiritual leaders will always be pure and that the Gospel message will stand tall amidst the pressure to please people over preaching the Gospel truth. #FearOfTruth #GospelIntegrity #CourageousFaith ASK THIS: How can you discern whether your actions are motivated by a desire to please others or by a commitment to proclaiming the truth of the Gospel? What steps can you take to ensure that your motivations align with God's truth, even when faced with pressure to conform to societal expectations or avoid conflict? DO THIS: Test your motives and pray for your pastor's purity of motive. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me examine my motives honestly and courageously, choosing to stand firm in proclaiming Your truth even when faced with the temptation to please people. Guide me in aligning my heart with Your will so that Your Gospel may shine brightly through my words and actions. Amen. PLAY THIS: God Help Me.

There are some things you need to do yourself. We are days away from beginning the book of 1 Samuel. So remember to visit our website and secure your copy of the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal. Pick it up so you're fully prepared to dive into this study. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. — Galatians 6:11 There is a lot of speculation about why Paul says this. The most likely explanation is that Paul had a secretary who wrote the letter for him as he dictated. Then, at the end of the dictation, he took the pen from the secretary and finished the letter himself so they knew it was authentic. So, what do you need to do today that must be authentically from you? Is there a task or issue that only you can do? Whatever that is, do it. But as you do it think about why only you can do it. Often, there is a divine reason. The reason could be as simple as there is something God wants to do in you as you do something for others. So take up your task and address that issue, but give care to how you do it because God is going to do something in you as do something for others. #AuthenticAction #DivineDesign #UniqueCalling ASK THIS: What tasks or responsibilities in your life do you often delegate or overlook because you think someone else could handle them better? How might embracing these tasks with authenticity lead to personal growth and deeper connection with God? Reflect on a recent situation where you felt hesitant or reluctant to take ownership of a task or issue. What insights did you gain from today's devotional about the importance of embracing tasks that are uniquely yours? How can you approach similar situations in the future with a greater sense of authenticity and purpose? DO THIS: Get it done and do it with care for His glory. PRAY THIS: Father, help me recognize the tasks that are uniquely mine and grant me the courage and wisdom to embrace them with authenticity, knowing that through them, You are shaping me into the person You created me to be. Guide my actions today, Lord, so that I may fulfill my purpose and grow closer to You in the process. Amen. PLAY THIS: Rapha.

Ever felt like giving up on doing good when the world weighs heavy? We are days away from beginning the book of 1 Samuel. So remember to visit our website and secure your copy of the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal. Pick it up so you're fully prepared to dive into this study. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. — Galatians 6:9-10 When we feel the weight of the world bearing down on us and witness conflicts within the church, it can be draining. This was the challenge faced by the churches in Galatia. External pressures coupled with internal disputes sowed seeds of exhaustion and frustration. Haven't we all experienced moments when we've had enough drama and just crave a break? Yet, it's precisely at these junctures that many believers grow tired of doing good. What's required is another act of kindness, motivated by the Spirit. Think of it like a critical moment in a football game—fourth down with just one yard to go, the game hanging in the balance. We're standing on the spiritual goal line, seconds ticking away, feeling weary, yet knowing we must execute one more crucial play—the most important one. Despite being behind, despite the internal squabbles on the team, we must deliver. The play needs to be solid and flawlessly executed. So, despite the burdens and conflicts you face today, hold firm. Do one more good deed because that deed might just tip the scales, leading to another small victory on the path of salvation—for you and your fellow believers. #DoGood #PerseveranceInFaith #RenewedStrength ASK THIS: Reflecting on your own experiences, when have you felt weary in doing good? How did you overcome that weariness, and what motivated you to continue pressing on? In what areas of your life do you currently feel the weight of weariness or frustration? How can you apply the encouragement from Galatians 6:9-10 to those situations, and what specific steps can you take to persevere in doing good despite the challenges? DO THIS: Do good yet again. PRAY THIS: Lord, grant me strength and perseverance to continue doing good even when I feel weary or discouraged, knowing that in due season, I will reap a harvest if I don't give up. Fill me with your Spirit, guiding me to be a beacon of kindness and love amidst the challenges I face today. Amen. PLAY THIS: Gratitude.

Are you living in eternal life now? Remember to visit our website and secure your copy of the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal. This valuable resource will help you prepare for our upcoming sessions and ensure you're fully prepared to dive into this study. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. — Galatians 6:8 When Paul talks about sowing to the Spirit leading to eternal life, it adds a significant theological twist here at the end of the letter. It challenges his explanation up to this point that eternal life is solely a result of faith and not human works. However, Paul isn't negating faith by adding to it human works; instead, he's revealing the inseparable connection between faith and works. Sowing to the Spirit is living a life of faith, where every action, decision, and sacrifice is motivated and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It's not focused on outward actions for the sake of outward actions but on the heart posture driving those actions. When we sow to the Spirit, we entrust our lives to God's guidance and surrender to his will, allowing him to shape and direct our choices. Therefore, "eternal life" in this text doesn't just refer to life after death. It's also about experiencing the fullness of eternal life with the Spirit in the here and now. Sowing to the Spirit leads to this abundant life that transcends earthly circumstances and extends into eternity. So, sowing to the Spirit isn't about earning salvation through our works; instead, it's about living out the salvation we've already received by faith. Our works are the natural outflow of our faith, evidence of our relationship with God. Through this faith-filled living, empowered by the Spirit, we truly experience the richness of eternal life. Therefore, Paul's message is twofold. First, continue to walk by faith, allowing the Spirit to guide and empower you in every aspect of life. Second, persevere in doing good, knowing your faith-filled actions have eternal significance and impact. It's not about striving to earn God's favor but about responding to the Spirit with faith, where every act of kindness and generosity reflects his grace at work within us. So do this today. Live in eternity now. #SowToTheSpirit #SpiritLedLife #EternalHarvest ASK THIS: How can you discern if your actions are being sown to the Spirit or to the flesh? What practical steps can you take to ensure your decisions align with God's will and reflect a Spirit-led life? Reflect on a recent decision or action you've taken. How might approaching similar situations with a mindset of sowing to the Spirit impact your choices and outcomes? DO THIS: Live in eternity now. PRAY THIS: Father, guide me to sow seeds of faith, love, and obedience, trusting in Your Spirit's leading as I navigate life's challenges and opportunities. May my actions reflect Your grace and bring forth a harvest of eternal significance, honoring Your name and glorifying Your kingdom. Amen. PLAY THIS: One Day.

Are you reaping the benefits of spiritual nourishment? Remember to visit our website and secure your copy of the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal. This valuable resource will help you prepare for our upcoming sessions and ensure you're fully prepared to dive into this study. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. — Galatians 6:6-7 Let's start by recognizing that this verse speaks about what I do. My profession is, to some degree, like any profession. There should be this reciprocating effect, including sowing and reaping. The problem is that sometimes people justify not rewarding a pastor financially because they feel their only reward should be an eternal reward. But this is not the case. Pastors need sustenance, too, which comes not only in the form of a pat on the back. Paul addresses this not only here but also in 1 Timothy 5:18. His statement here to Timothy and the Ephesians church reads: For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." — 1 Timothy 5:18 The picture is of a muzzled ox. Why is this important? Because in Deuteronomy 25:4, God established a law for how farmers leveraged animals for their advantage. He understood that people would abuse even the rights of animals by working them to death for their benefit. And that they would become so selfish that they would muzzle them so that they could not "slow down" even for a quick bite. What Paul is pointing out here is that Pastors deserve their wages and that we are sometimes so selfish that we don't realize that our selfishness is a burden to pastors as well. Remember that this whole text is about burdens, and your pastor bears more than average. He is shepherding and bearing the burdens of the body continually. So don't add a more significant burden to his life by withholding the one thing you can give that he should reap. So give generously today to the pastors who have sown great things in your life. #SupportSpiritualLeaders #SowGenerosity #PastoralCare ASK THIS: How can you practically support your pastor or spiritual leader beyond financial means, demonstrating appreciation for their dedication and service? Reflect on a time when someone's teaching or pastoral care significantly impacted your life. How can you show gratitude and reciprocate their investment in your spiritual growth? DO THIS: Don't hold back. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me a heart of generosity to honor and support those who faithfully teach and shepherd me. Help me to recognize the value of their labor and to sow seeds of gratitude and provision into their lives. Amen. PLAY THIS: Surely.

Do you have a heavy burden or is it only a little load? Remember to visit our website and secure your copy of the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal. This valuable resource will help you prepare for our upcoming sessions and ensure you're fully prepared to dive into this study. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. — Galatians 6:4-5 If you read the previous text and then read this one, you will feel like there is this apparent discrepancy. However, this is quickly resolved when we realize that Paul used two different words to refer to two situations. The word translated "burdens" from verse two refers to a "heavy load with an oppressive weight" that someone must carry for a long way. But the word "load" in verse five is a different word, which refers to a traveler's backpack. So, hopefully, you sense Paul's point. There are burdens and loads. There are burdens that require help from others, and then there are loads that you need to carry. In other words, you must empower yourself with discernment, understanding the weight and how much help you really need. Every believer in life has macro-burdens and micro-burdens. Some things concern believers together politically, economically, ideologically, sociologically, and theologically. And then there are things that only we can bear alone: marital problems, career challenges, sin issues, and health concerns. The key here is striking a balance. Not being so independent that we don't seek help from the church when it's needed and not being so dependent, we expect the church to solve all of our consequential needs. This balance is what makes us a supportive and thriving community. So, what's your burden today? Is it macro or micro? Is it heavy or light? Is it a big burden or just your backpack to bear? Discern the difference because some in the community have enormous burdens they need help with, and your load shouldn't take time and attention away from that. Besides, sometimes your burden is God's way of keeping you humble and trusting in him, and you might have to carry this backpack to the threshold of the pearly gates. #BurdensAndBackpacks #CommunitySupport #BalanceInFaith ASK THIS: Reflecting on your current challenges, do you tend to lean more towards seeking help from others or carrying your burdens independently? How can you strike a healthy balance between independence and community support in facing these challenges? Consider a recent burden or load you've been carrying. How might viewing it through the lens of discernment and trust in God's guidance change your perspective on its weight and significance in your life? DO THIS: Discern your burden from your load. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the wisdom to discern between burdens that require community support and loads I must carry alone, and help me find balance in seeking both independence and assistance. May I trust in Your guidance and lean on Your strength as I navigate life's challenges, knowing that You are always with me. Amen. PLAY THIS: Burdens.

Are you deceived by the myth of self-sufficiency? Don't forget to visit our website and secure your copy of the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal. This invaluable resource will equip you for our upcoming sessions, ensuring you're fully prepared to delve into the Word of God! For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. — Galatians 6:3 Self-sufficiency is an arrogant myth. There is no such thing as self-sufficiency in the church. We all have burdens! Every one of us, from the oldest member to the youngest member, from the newest believer to the oldest believer, from staff members to occasional attenders, has burdens that cannot be borne by ourselves. This is precisely why Jesus came. Jesus came and bore the weight of all our burdens and left us with the Spirit so that we could bear each other's burdens. But as soon as we think "we are something" or can handle it alone, we are deceived. Thus, we will reject the Spirit and the relief found in the church. So, to those of you who have been told: You've got this. You're strong enough. You can manage. You have the strength. You can tackle it alone. You're capable. You're self-sufficient. You can take care of it. You're able to handle it on your own. You can get over it. Not one of these statements is true. If you are a believer, they are the farthest thing from the truth. To believe them is to live in self-deception. You need Jesus, his Spirit, and a Christ-fearing body of believers who can help you bear the burdens in your life. #BearingEachOthersBurdens #CommunityStrength #RejectingSelfDeception ASK THIS: Reflect on a time when you believed you could handle a burden alone. How did that experience impact your relationship with God and your community of believers? In what ways can you actively seek support and share burdens with others in your church community this week? DO THIS: Offload your burdens or lighten the load for a needy brother today. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to recognize the deception of self-sufficiency and embrace the truth of my need for You and the community of believers. Grant me the humility to seek support and share burdens with others, as I trust in Your strength to sustain me. Amen. PLAY THIS: This Is Your Church.

Do you have a burden that needs bearing? Remember to go to the website and grab the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal today so you are ready to go when we begin! Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. — Galatians 6:2 One of the beautiful aspects of the church is the presence of those who've walked the same paths as you. They've been entangled in the same traps you're caught in now. The church is filled with men who've faced marriage struggles, financial setbacks, career challenges, health problems, and the snares of repetitive sin. Just like you, they've been trapped and found their way out. They've gained spiritual insight through their mistakes and can assist you in finding deliverance and freedom from your current trap. You need these men, and they need you. They can direct you to freedom, and you're their opportunity for ministry, reminding them to remain in freedom. But to break free from your trap, you must humble yourself and make your way to church. Then, you'll need to connect with a brother who's walked the same road as you and share your burden with him. Next, you must listen and take to heart any good and godly advice you receive. And as you make progress, you'll be called to help others shoulder the burden you've carried and lead them to the victory and freedom you've discovered. In doing so, you're fulfilling the law of Christ. Just as Christ bore our burdens, you're bearing the burdens of others to direct them to the ultimate burden-bearer—Jesus, who carries all burdens and grants us freedom from every sin's entrapment. #CommunityOfFreedom #BearingEachOthersBurdens #WalkingTogetherInFaith ASK THIS: How can you actively seek out a fellow brother in Christ who has faced similar challenges to yours, and how can you initiate a conversation to share burdens and offer support? Reflecting on your journey of overcoming past traps and snares, how can you now step into a role of mentorship and support for others struggling in similar ways? DO THIS: Offload your burdens or lighten the load for a needy brother today. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me humbly seek out fellow believers who can walk alongside me, share my burdens, and offer godly wisdom and support. Guide me as I, in turn, extend my hand to others, bearing their burdens with love and pointing them toward the freedom found in You. Amen. PLAY THIS: Cast Your Burden.

Do you feel stuck? Do you need to get unstuck? Remember to go to the website and grab the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal today so you are ready to go when we begin! Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. — Galatians 6:1 One of the great things about the church is that it is filled with people who have walked the same path. There have been many times when I have been stuck in life, only to have a fellow believer who's been there offer invaluable help—coaching, guiding, and praying for me. Many Christians think they can go it alone, but the truth is, you can't. Eventually, you'll need others, just like I have, and the best part is, they'll need you, too. But as this text points out, it needs to be the right believer. It needs to be a believer who has been down the path, who knows the right steps to take, and who knows the right way to say it because they are attentive to the same issues in their lives. The wrong direction, given the wrong way, only tightens the trap and worsens the transgression. So, if you feel "caught" today, stop trying to resolve that issue alone. Turn to a believer who knows the way out, and you both will find freedom. #BreakFreeTogether #CommunityOverIsolation #StuckNoMore ASK THIS: Have you ever hesitated to reach out for help when feeling stuck or trapped? What barriers do you face in seeking support from fellow believers? Reflect on a time when you received valuable guidance or support from a fellow believer during a challenging period. How did their involvement impact your journey, and how can you extend similar support to others in need? DO THIS: Walk the tightrope and give attention to your pride. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me recognize when I need support from fellow believers and give me the humility to seek their guidance and encouragement in times of struggle. Grant me the wisdom to offer the same compassion and assistance to others on their journey towards freedom and growth. Amen. PLAY THIS: Stuck.

Do you feel like you are walking a spiritual tightrope? Remember to go to the website and grab the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal today so you are ready to go when we begin! If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. — Galatians 5:25-26 This verse might seem like an add-on, but it is not. Paul is explaining the spiritual tightrope we walk each day—the tightrope between an old form of arrogance and a new form of arrogance. The cliff on one side is a life directed by proud fleshly desires. The cliff, on the other side, is a life lived by the Spirit but tempted by a righteous form of pride that takes credit for what the Spirit does. You see, once you have been a believer long enough, you will learn to walk in the Spirit. But sometimes, as we are walking in the Spirit, we will feel a sense of pride for the fruit that is produced through us. We have to be careful at this point because righteous arrogance is just as insidious as unrighteous arrogance. Thus, we have to keep our step as we walk this tightrope to ensure we are not tipping either way. On the one side, we tip into selfish arrogance, and on the other, we tip into self-righteous arrogance. So, are you watching your step as you live by the Spirit? #SpiritLedLiving #HumilityOverPride #WalkingInFaith ASK THIS: Reflecting on your own spiritual journey, have you ever found yourself tipping towards either side of the tightrope described—either into selfish arrogance or self-righteous pride? How can you actively guard against these pitfalls and maintain a balanced, Spirit-led walk in your daily life? Think about a recent experience where you sensed the Holy Spirit working through you to produce fruit or bring about positive change. How can you ensure that, instead of taking credit for these actions, you humbly acknowledge the Spirit's role and give glory to God? What practical steps can you take to cultivate a heart of humility and gratitude in your spiritual walk? DO THIS: Walk the tightrope and give attention to your pride. PRAY THIS: Father, help me to walk humbly in the Spirit, avoiding the pitfalls of both selfish arrogance and self-righteous pride. May I always acknowledge Your work in my life and give glory to Your name. Amen. PLAY THIS: Obedience.

Have you truly killed those passions and desires? I want to shout out to all my brothers from Family Community Church in San Jose, California. We had a great time yesterday, and I pray this time of restoration was a blessing for you. Also, remember to go to the website and grab the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal today so you are ready to go when we begin! And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. — Galatians 5:24 The word that stands out to me in this text is the word crucified because crucifixion is violent. Crucifixion is still one of the most brutal forms of execution in all of history. If you have ever seen Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ," you might remember how chilling and brutal this scene was. Crucifixion involves nailing a victim to a wooden cross, leading to a slow death from asphyxiation, exhaustion, and shock. The excruciating pain arises from both the piercing of nails and the prolonged agony as the body struggles to breathe while suspended. Victims must push on the nails in their feet and pull on those in their wrists to inhale, intensifying the torment. Crucifixion was always public, heightening the psychological suffering. This combination of physical agony, prolonged torment, and public shame makes it a fierce and disturbing form of execution. Now, apply this imagery in the way Paul does here. He says if we belong to Jesus, we have (past tense) crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. And herein lies the core problem with believers who struggle with repetitive patterns of sin. They attempt to change by altering their behaviors. And there is nothing wrong with altering behaviors if you also nail, crucify, kill, and drain the very life from the source of those behaviors, which is your old fleshly passions and desires. Thus, we are left with a very pointed question. What desire is still living that you need to kill? Is it a sexual desire? A drive for retribution? Is it a passion for wealth and success? A desire for control? Whatever it is, you better be killing it, or it will be killing you. #CrucifyDesires #KillSin #SpiritualTransformation ASK THIS: Reflect on a desire or passion in your life that you know is contrary to God's will. What steps can you take today to begin crucifying that desire and aligning your heart with God's purposes? Think about a repetitive pattern of sin you struggle with. How can you go beyond merely modifying your behavior to truly crucifying the root of that sin, allowing God's transformative power to bring lasting change in your life? DO THIS: Kill one old desire that needs to be killed. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to truly understand the depth of what it means to crucify my fleshly desires, and empower me to take decisive action in aligning my heart with Your will. Grant me the strength and courage to put to death those passions that hinder my walk with You, so that I may experience the fullness of freedom and life in Christ. Amen. PLAY THIS: The Passion of Christ (Crucifixion Scene)

Do you want more fruit in your life? We are going to be starting a new book of the Bible soon. We are returning to the story of three men: Samuel the Prophet and Kings Saul and David. The book of 1 Samuel tells the story of Israel's transition from a theocracy to a monarchy, marked by intrigue, betrayal, and divine intervention. Through the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David, it vividly illustrates the complexities of leadership, the consequences of disobedience, and the continuing faithfulness of God amidst human sin. So go to the website and grab the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal today so you are ready to go when we begin! But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. — Galatians 5:22-23 Paul's words serve as a stark contrast to the behaviors of the flesh he discussed earlier. He urges believers to embrace the blessings of the "fruit of the Spirit." These qualities, however, are not just positive signs but tangible manifestations of a believer who is guided by the Holy Spirit's desires. But here's the issue with this list. Many believers consider these items a list of things they need to do. Therefore, they aim to be more loving, joyful, peaceful, etc. And yes, it is good to be more loving, joyful, peaceful, and the like. But if you reduce the outputs of the Spirit to mere behaviors, you have now engaged in the same legalism Paul has argued against throughout this letter. The goal is not legalism by righteous behaviors but liberty by surrendering to the desires of the Holy Spirit. When we surrender to the desires of the Spirit, fruit is a byproduct of our behaviors. The best part is that it's not just one fruit but many and all fruits simultaneously because they are not our fruit. It's his fruit. So, how do we cultivate this fruit in our lives? Start by examining your behaviors and discerning the true source of your desires. Ask yourself: Are my thoughts and actions aligned with the Spirit's desires or my own? If you already know the answer, make a conscious choice to follow the Spirit's leading, and you'll bear fruit. If unsure, seek guidance through Scripture, prayer, or wise counsel from a fellow believer. Then, once you have clarity, surrender to the Spirit's direction, and you'll witness abundant fruitfulness. #SpiritualFruitfulness #SurrenderToTheSpirit #CultivateTheFruit ASK THIS: Reflect on a recent decision or action in your life. Was it motivated by the desires of the Holy Spirit or your own? How might consciously surrendering to the Spirit's guidance have impacted the outcome? Consider a relationship in your life where you desire to see more fruitfulness. How can you align your thoughts and actions with the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, allowing the Spirit to work through you in that relationship? DO THIS: Assess your desires then act and be fruitful. PRAY THIS: Father, help me to surrender my desires to the leading of your Spirit, so that I may bear fruit that reflects your character and brings glory to your name. Guide me in aligning my thoughts and actions with the qualities of love, joy, peace, and all the fruits of your Spirit. Amen. PLAY THIS: Nothing Else + The Heart of Worship.

Do you feel like you are missing out on something in your spiritual life? We are going to be starting a new book of the Bible soon. We are returning to the story of three men: Samuel the Prophet and Kings Saul and David. The book of 1 Samuel tells the story of Israel's transition from a theocracy to a monarchy, marked by intrigue, betrayal, and divine intervention. Through the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David, it vividly illustrates the complexities of leadership, the consequences of disobedience, and the continuing faithfulness of God amidst human sin. So go to the website and grab the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal today so you are ready to go when we begin! Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. — Galatians 5:19-21 Paul clarifies the difference between a believer who lives directed by the Spirit and one who lives directed by the flesh. The core issue is corrupt desires. However, the problem is that we cannot see corrupt desires; we can only see their outputs. So Paul does this here: He lists fifteen seeable proofs of our unseeable corrupt desires. They can be grouped into four categories: Group One: Impure Private Desires Sexual Immorality Impurity Sensuality Group Two: False Public Worship Idolatry Sorcery Group Three: Destructive Interpersonal Behaviors Enmity Strife Jealousy Fits of anger Rivalries Dissensions Divisions Envy Group Four: Excessive Personal Indulgence Drunkenness Orgies But what is most interesting is how Paul ends this long list of fleshy evidence. He states, "I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." His point of emphasis is not about missing out on inheriting a future kingdom. It's about missing out on experiencing a present kingdom (or present way of life with God) where God's kingship rules our every thought, action, and decision. In other words, living the Christian life directed by carnal desires resulting in carnal actions is to miss out on the leadership of Jesus and the direction of the Spirit. So don't miss out on the Spirit's life. The Spirit's desires are greater than those old carnal ones. Living your life like a "Carnal Christian" is a misnomer. Don't live this way. Kill those old behaviors and desires, and invite the Holy Spirit to give you strong and new godly desires. #KingdomLiving #SpiritLedLife #CarnalChristianity ASK THIS: Reflecting on your own life, which of the "fleshy evidence" mentioned by Paul do you struggle with the most? How can you actively work to replace those desires with godly ones? Consider a recent decision or action you took that was influenced by carnal desires. How might that situation have played out differently if you had sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit and aligned your actions with God's kingdom principles? DO THIS: Invite the Spirit to give you strong godly desires. PRAY THIS: Father, I pray for strength to overcome my carnal desires and to walk in the guidance of your Holy Spirit, embracing the fullness of life in your kingdom today. Help me to continually seek your will and to live in alignment with your ways. Amen. PLAY THIS: Holy Spirit.

Are you feeling weighed down by the expectations of others or limited by your inadequacy? We are going to be starting a new book of the Bible soon. We are transporting back in time to the story of three men: Samuel the Prophet and Kings Saul and David. The book of 1 Samuel tells the story of Israel's transition from a theocracy to a monarchy, marked by intrigue, betrayal, and divine intervention. Through the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David, it vividly illustrates the complexities of leadership, the consequences of disobedience, and the continuing faithfulness of God amidst human sin. So go to the website and grab the 1 Samuel Scripture Journal today so that you are ready to go when we begin! But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. — Galatians 5:18 Living by the Holy Spirit means living in freedom—but it's not freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want. It is freedom from being a slave to obedience by laws, which reduced obedience to precepts that try to win God's approval. Paul reminds us that as followers of Christ, our primary guide is not the old way but a new way—not walking by the Law but walking by the Spirit. We are no longer confined to a static checklist of do's and don'ts. Instead, we enjoy a dynamic relationship with God. When we allow the Spirit to lead us, we step into a new experience of boundless freedom. But this newfound freedom is not the absence of rules; it is the presence of someone far greater—a life lived with the power and person of the Holy Spirit. It's about being led by the Spirit in every decision, every relationship, and every aspect of our lives. When we surrender to his guidance, we discover a sense of purpose and fulfillment that transcends the old way and earthly constraints. Yet many new believers, and even those of us who have been followers for a while, don't discover the wonder of the Holy Spirit's power and person. We live lives led by other "spirits," like the spirit of others' expectations, the spirit of our own inadequacies, the spirit of our past, and the spirit of personal effort. But none of these spirits lead to freedom. That is a life lived in bondage to the wrong spirit that leads to slavery. Today, you are called to a life of freedom. A life free from the spirits that hold you back. You are called to be led by the person and power of the Holy Spirit. So, instead of heeding the whispers of those other spirits, make a choice today. Choose to listen to the Holy Spirit. Choose to live a life of freedom. Holy Spirit, lead us today. Silence the other voices and their whispers. I choose to be led by only you today. Amen. #SpiritLedLiving #FreedomInChrist #BreakTheChains #HolySpiritGuidance #LiveInFreedom ASK THIS: Reflect on a time when you felt weighed down by the expectations of others or limited by your own inadequacies. How did this impact your decisions and actions? What steps can you take today to break free from these constraints and live more fully in the freedom of the Holy Spirit? Consider the voices or "spirits" that often influence your thoughts and actions—the expectations of others, feelings of inadequacy, past experiences, or personal efforts. How can you discern the voice of the Holy Spirit amidst these competing influences? What practical steps can you implement to intentionally listen and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your daily life? DO THIS: Invite the Spirit to speak more clearly to you. PRAY THIS: Holy Spirit, I surrender my heart to Your guidance today, freeing me from the weight of expectations and inadequacies. Lead me into the boundless freedom You offer, guiding every step and decision with Your wisdom and power. Amen. PLAY THIS: Spirit of the Living God.

Do you sense the war that's raging within you? Our call out today goes to all the men from Texas I spent time with this weekend at Rough Creek Lodge & Resort. I love you guys. Thanks for hosting me at this incredible location. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. — Galatians 5:17 This verse describes one of the harsh realities that often rudely awakens many new believers. We learn that Jesus's free gift of eternal life doesn't free us from our temporal struggles. Within us continues to rage an ongoing war. The war within is a specific battle, one of the desires. One is a longing to fulfill our human desires, and the other is the longing of the Spirit and his desires. It's important to clarify that this is not a war between our flesh and our spirit. Rather, this is a war between our flesh and His Spirit, which by nature infers victory is within our reach. You see, at the moment of our salvation, our eternal address was changed, but we were also given a divine gift, the Holy Spirit, who now resides within us. The Holy Spirit is the person of God who possesses the power of God. He equips us to combat the desires of our flesh as we await our ultimate salvation. Without the Holy Spirit, we would lead a life of daily defeat. But with the Spirit, we can engage in a daily battle. By learning to walk by the Spirit (as Paul mentioned in the previous verse), we can discover a path that leads to satisfaction in God, not in the flesh. This means that we can experience day-to-day victory when we obey the Spirit's will and desires. So today, if you feel like a war is raging inside you. You are right. There is one. It's a battle between your fleshly desires and God's will for you. To overcome this, you are going to have to do some things differently, which Paul is going to make clear in the coming verses. But for now, do this. Start by recognizing your will and the Spirit's will. Differentiating and discerning between these two wills is the first step to waging and winning the war within. #WarWithin #SpiritualBattle #FleshvsSpirit ASK THIS: How can you actively discern between your own desires and the prompting of the Holy Spirit in your daily decisions and actions? What practical steps can you take today to align your will with God's will, thus gaining victory in the ongoing battle within your soul? DO THIS: Start discerning the Spirit's will. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the wisdom and strength to discern and overcome the desires of my flesh, as I surrender to the leading of Your Holy Spirit within me. Guide me in walking faithfully on the path of victory over the internal battles that wage within my soul. PLAY THIS: Whatever Your Plan Is.

Are you walking right today? But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. — Galatians 5:15 For the rest of this chapter and much of the next, Paul will show the Galatians the right way to act. This is an example of great discipleship. Up to this point in the book, he has: Addressed false Gospel teachings. Shared his transformation through the Gospel. Highlighted tension between Jews and Gentiles regarding the Gospel. Centralized justification by faith in the Gospel. Demonstrated the Law's role in revealing the need for the Gospel. Pointed to the promise of the Covenant and the Gospel's fulfillment in Christ. Emphasized freedom from the Law through the Gospel's revelation. That is a comprehensive discipleship method. It reminds me of discipling my children. I have to say it, then say it again, then say it again but differently, then show them how, then get angry with them, then someone else tells them, and they finally listen. In education and psychology, this is affectionately called the "Rule of Seven." It suggests that people typically need to encounter information around seven times before it sticks in their minds. So go back and notice how many items are in that list above. Seven! Yet, Paul's about to introduce an eighth point, and this one's vital. He's not just going to outline what they shouldn't do; he'll also emphasize what they should do. This move by Paul is great discipleship. Great disciplemakers, teachers, and parents know how to do this. They know how to teach both what not to do and what to do. The operative line that Paul wants the believer to do is "Walk by the Spirit." When Paul uses the word "walk" in this context, he employs it metaphorically. He is using this word to describe the way believers should conduct themselves. But catch this: In the Old Testament, there were clear commands about how to "walk" and "conduct" yourselves. Numerous times in the Old Testament, followers were instructed to "walk according to the statutes of the Law." (Exodus 16:4, Leviticus 18:4, Jeremiah 44:23, Ezekiel 5:5-6). Even in the central declaration of the Jewish faith, the "Shema" of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 commanded teaching and walking in God's commands. Can you discern the internal conflict that these believers were having? Jewish believers only understood God as revealed by the Law. They were commanded repeatedly to walk by it. They were so used to one way of walking that they could not see another way. Paul is telling them they shouldn't walk in the old way because there is a new way. As you will see later in this chapter, Paul will parallel walking according to the law with walking according to the flesh. Without giving a lot away in the coming verses. This is why people get stuck in repetitive issues with sin. They don't see another way to walk. They keep walking in a new life in an old way. But here's the deal: we must find a new way to walk. And the only way to do this is not by our power. It's by the Spirit's power. To discover how to do that, you will have to show up for a few more days. #WalkByTheSpirit #SpiritLedLife #NewWayToWalk ASK THIS: How can you practically incorporate "walking by the Spirit" into your daily routine and decision-making process? Reflect on a recent situation where you relied on your own strength rather than the Spirit's guidance. How might the outcome have been different if you had surrendered to the Spirit's leading? DO THIS: Learn a new way to walk. PRAY THIS: Father, guide me today to walk in step with Your Spirit, that I may honor You in all I do and experience the abundant life You have promised. Grant me the wisdom and strength to surrender my will to Yours, trusting in Your guidance for every step of my journey. Amen. PLAY THIS: Walk With You.

Are you caught in the crossfire of a battle over words? Today, our call-out goes to Craig Rogers from Long Island, NY. Thanks for your encouragement! But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. — Galatians 5:15 This verse gives us new insight into all the issues Paul is trying to address in Galatia. The churches were engaged in a civil war. They were biting, devouring, and consuming one another with their words and opinions. Conflicts and divisions can be disheartening in our family or in the church. Once they begin, they can quickly escalate, especially if our selfish motivations take control. This is precisely why, in the preceding verses, Paul emphasized the importance of love as a motive. In addition, Paul will guide us in a new, more loving way in the following verses. But right here, we are reminded of the crushing and consuming power of words. The old adage, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," is a lie. Words do hurt. They are weapons that wound, leave lasting scars, and permanently damage relationships. When I was a child, I overheard a statement my biological father said one day to my mother one day in an argument. He was unaware I heard it, but I will never forget it. I remember every detail of this day because what he said left such a pronounced scar. From his truck, he yelled to my mother, "I don't want to spend time with him. You spend time with him!" and then he drove off. These words hurt and marked one of the last times I would spend time with him. Give attention to your words today. Don't bite, devour, and consume people. Speak the truth, but say it in love. And if there is something you need to rectify, repent quickly before a nasty wound leaves a permanent scar in a relationship with someone you love. #SpeakLife, #WordsMatter, #LoveInAction ASK THIS: Reflecting on your recent interactions, were there moments when your words may have unintentionally caused harm or division? How can you proactively seek reconciliation and restoration in those relationships? Consider a time when you experienced the impact of someone else's hurtful words. How can that experience shape the way you choose to speak to others, especially in moments of conflict or tension? DO THIS: Give attention to your words. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the wisdom and humility to speak words that build up and encourage, rather than tear down and wound. May Your love guide my tongue, leading me to reconciliation and healing in all my relationships. Amen. PLAY THIS: Speak.

What drives your action? Your love or Christ's love? Today, our call-out goes to Craig Rogers from Long Island, NY. Thanks for your encouragement! For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." — Galatians 5:14 This is an interesting line from Paul because, throughout this letter, he has been referring to the law and the works of the law negatively. But here, he makes an abrupt turn. He encourages obedience to the law summed up in a single command. So why this change? He does this only because he views the law through the life of Jesus, who fulfilled it. In Jesus's fulfillment of the entire law, we are freed to love. In loving others, we embody Jesus's love because his love sustains and empowers us to love ourselves and others rightly. Returning to the previous text, this all hinges on what motivates our love. Is our love motivated by selfish intent or selfless intent? Do we love our neighbor with our selfish love, or do we love our neighbor with his selfless love? There is a vast difference between these two motives. This is the motivational tightrope we walk every day, and the hope is that all our motivation is driven to love others perfectly from his perfect love working through us. So go, love people today. But love them differently. Look at them and love them by his love, not your love. Love them selflessly, not selfishly. Love them like Jesus loved them, and I pray all your actions will reflect more of him and less of yourself. #ChristlikeLove #SelflessAction #MotivatedByLove ASK THIS: Reflect on a recent interaction with someone. Did your actions reflect selfish love or Christ's selfless love? How could you have responded differently to align more closely with Christ's example? Think about a challenging relationship in your life. How might intentionally choosing to love that person with Christ's love instead of your own impact the dynamics of the relationship? What steps can you take to embody Christ's love more fully in that relationship? DO THIS: Love like Jesus. Selflessly. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to love others with the same selfless love that You have shown me, guiding my actions to reflect Your heart for humanity. May Your love flow through me, transforming my motives and empowering me to love others as You have loved me. Amen. PLAY THIS: For God So Loved.

Do you rightly understand the freedom you have in Christ? Today, our call-out goes to David Fortney from Sidney, OH. Thanks for your support! For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. — Galatians 5:13 This potent verse by Paul outlines three key ideas: liberty, license, and love. These concepts are crucial to understanding the spiritual life and the potential pitfalls that can lead us astray. Liberty Believers have incredible spiritual liberty. Christ has set us free from slavery to sin. However, our freedom is threatened by the call of legalism. Legalism exchanges those old rusty shackles of sin for the new shiny shackles of our works. While we have incredible liberty, we walk a fine line every day between the call of our old life driven by self-centered sin and the call of our new life driven by our self-centered works. In both cases, the voice of our self-centeredness persuades us. One is the call of disobedience, and the other is the call of obedience by my works. License Liberty is not a license to do anything we want. Think of it like being a newly licensed driver: you have the freedom to drive, but it comes with responsibilities. Just as we have rules of the road to keep us safe, there are boundaries to our freedom in Christ. On one side, there's the danger of indulging in lawless lusts of the flesh. Conversely, there's the temptation of legalism, trying to earn our standing with God through our efforts. Love Then there is love. Love is the driving motivation for enjoying our liberty and the license. When aligned with God's love, love drives us to mind the boundaries. But we cannot love without knowing God's love. We must accept his love and then, by his love, serve others from his love. We are merely a conduit for this incredible resource. And note: It's how we love that exposes what we know about our liberty and how we mind the boundaries of our license. If this has convicted you in any way today, consider one of these steps today: Evaluate your motives and avoid abusing liberty through selfish sin or works-based effort. Set boundaries for yourself and steer clear of legalism and licentiousness. Allow yourself to be loved by God and then share this love with others. #FreedomInChrist, #LibertyVsLicense, #LoveDrivenLife ASK THIS: Reflect on a recent situation where you may have struggled to balance your freedom in Christ with the temptation to indulge in sinful desires or rely on your own efforts. What steps can you take to align your actions more closely with God's principles of love and righteousness? Consider how your understanding of God's love has influenced the way you interact with others. Are there areas in your life where you can more effectively demonstrate God's love by serving others selflessly and without reservation? DO THIS: Live in freedom and love. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the wisdom to discern between true freedom in Christ and the deceptive allure of legalism and license. Fill me with Your love, Lord, so that I may serve others with humility and grace, reflecting Your selfless love in all I do. Amen. PLAY THIS: Freedom.

Is it okay for a Christian to use strong language? Today, our call-out goes to David Garrett from Pasadena, MD. Thanks for your support! I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! — Galatians 5:12 There are a few times in Scripture where we encounter very strong language. This is one of those accounts, if not the most vivid of all accounts. But I would contest: this is not categorically strong language. It's extreme hyperbole (or exaggeration) that leaves room for imagination. Paul is doing something strategic. He is working out their logic. Paul, seasoned at debate, is playing out their theory regarding circumcision. In other words, if these people so adamantly support circumcision because they believe it will enhance a believer's experience, why just trim it up; cut that thing off. Paul intends to illustrate the absurd nature of this religious ritual. If circumcision could have enhanced their relationship with God, then there would have been no need for Jesus. However, if it could by some means improve their relationship with God, why not cut the whole thing off? The progression of this logic suggests they would be even more holy. I would put to task people who suggest it's okay because this text does not give us permission to curse. But if we were to emulate what Paul did here, it would permit us to play out flawed logic from woke teachers and use hyperbole to illustrate it that might be graphic and vivid. But Paul is not permitting us to curse. In fact, this same man wrote other letters instructing believers to do the opposite. I have included those texts below. So, to all my brothers who served in the military or spent time in prison and learned the F-word was a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb, you might want to find some more edifying words. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. — Ephesians 4:29 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. — Ephesians 5:4 #ChristianLanguage #TongueTaming #SacredSpeech #WordsOfLife #GracefulCommunication ASK THIS: How can we balance authenticity and reverence in our speech, especially when faced with situations that might provoke strong emotions? Reflect on a time when you've been tempted to use strong language. How could applying the principles of Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4 have changed the outcome of that situation? DO THIS: Adjust those unedifying words. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to guard my tongue and use my words to build up others, reflecting Your love and grace in all my communication. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen. PLAY THIS: I Speak Jesus.

Has your reputation ever been under attack? Today, our call-out goes to Jody Jones from Newcomerstown, OH. Thanks for your support, Jody! Today, our text is Galatians 5:11. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. — Galatians 5:11 What is apparent in this statement is that someone claimed Paul was a proponent of circumcision. We know Paul isn't, and Paul knows he isn't. Yet, someone misappropriated a small reference from him and then borrowed his credibility to manipulate others. Eventually, this happens to everyone. Someone with some influence uses it to intentionally or unintentionally spread disinformation about us. It's a troubling experience, especially if you care about your image and reputation. But Paul's concern is not his own reputation. His concern is Jesus's reputation and representing the Gospel truth. Therefore, Paul is determined to defend it. He confronts the false teachers and defends the Gospel because God's grace is at stake. The salvation of the people he knows and loves hangs in the balance, so the veracity of his defense is for them and not for himself. So the next time people spread disinformation about you, seek the truth over seeking vindication. Instead of engaging in pointless battles to defend yourself, your image, and your reputation, stay focused on sharing God's grace and defending the message of truth with others because God's truth is the only thing worth defending. #DefendTheFaith #GraceOverGossip #TruthPrevails #FaithfulWitness #IntegrityMatters ASK THIS: How can you discern between defending your reputation and defending the Gospel when faced with accusations or misinformation? In what ways can you prioritize sharing God's grace and truth over seeking personal vindication when confronted with false allegations or rumors? DO THIS: Defend the Gospel truth, not yourself. PRAY THIS: Lord, grant me the strength to uphold your truth with integrity, even in the face of false accusations. Help me to prioritize your Gospel above my own reputation, seeking your grace and wisdom in every circumstance. Amen. PLAY THIS: My Defender.

Are there people peddling bad theology in your church? Today, we'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Michael Forte from Astoria, OR. Michael, your support through purchasing materials from our website is invaluable to us. We honestly couldn't do this without you! Let's dive into our scripture for today, a thought-provoking verse from Galatians 5:10. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. — Galatians 5:10 One Bad Apple Continuing with yesterday's lesson, Paul points out that the bacteria of legalism stems from one bad person. He assumes that this guy, whoever he is, is the peddler of all the bad theology that has infiltrated the churches in the area. If you are a new believer, you need to know that sometimes people peddle bad theology. Some people and pastors peddle bad doctrine that is harmful to the Gospel. Usually, it stems from one charismatic person peddling a charismatic idea and spreading it to numerous churches. In my lifetime, I have seen this spread, just like it did here, through the churches in Galatia. So, how do we respond to bad theology? Here's a clear, three-step process: Three Good Responses First and foremost, you need to know that not all theology is good theology. Bad theology exists, and it's harmful. As we discussed yesterday, it's like a bacteria that will infect and alter the composition of the truth. Second, make sure you are listening and learning from people who teach from the Bible. The people and pastors that you listen to need to be people who open the Bible. They should be people who read the Bible, reference it, and live according to it. They will have a rich understanding of biblical truth and teachings because they don't skip over texts and subject their life to the text. In the case of the Galatians, Paul was that man. Paul's intention with this letter was to guide them back to the purity of the Gospel. Fortunately for the churches there, he had enough sense to engage with the issue and point people back to the Bible and the pure Gospel. In the same way, we need to listen to proven teachers like Paul, not simply the ones with the latest and greatest charisma. So, seek out great biblical teachers. Lastly, the most effective way to detect bad theology is to raise obvious questions when something seems off and wait until you get a logical, biblical answer. When I hear something from a teacher that raises a red flag, questions usually start firing off in my mind, like: What was that again? How does that work? You want me to do what? For example, suppose you are listening to a teacher who declares that all the men ready to go to the next step in their faith need to line up at the altar for a circumcision ceremony, and Pastor Richard is going to lend a hand. In that case, some questions should be firing off in your mind. Questions like: Pastor Richard is going to do what? Even this suggestion might seem absurd to you, but that's precisely what happened in Galatia, and men were lining up to do it. They lined up to do it because false teachers had manipulated the Old Testament Law to prove a point that wasn't valid, and it appears people lined up without questioning it. Their explanations failed to account for the fact that everything in the Old Testament Law pointed to one man, one birth, one death, and one resurrection accomplished in Jesus—not by the rite of circumcision. Therefore, if you detect bad theology and it doesn't prove itself in Jesus' accomplished work on the Cross, then it's time to ask Pastor Richard that question that is stirring in your mind before you unbuckle your pants. #GuardAgainstFalseDoctrine #BewareThePeddlers #PureGospelTruth #SpottingRedFlags #DefendTheFaith ASK THIS: How can you actively discern between sound biblical teaching and potentially harmful theology in your own church community? Reflecting on your own spiritual journey, what steps can you take to ensure that you are rooted in the truth of the Gospel and not swayed by charismatic but erroneous teachings? DO THIS: Ask questions when you encounter questionable doctrine. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me wisdom to discern between truth and falsehood, and the courage to stand firm in the purity of your Gospel amidst the noise of deceptive teachings. Guide me to seek out and learn from faithful teachers who faithfully proclaim your Word, so that I may grow deeper in my understanding and application of your truth. Amen. PLAY THIS: Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me.

Are you adding bacteria to the Gospel? Today, we want to extend a special thank you to Chuck Peter from Roseville, MN. Your support of our ministry is invaluable, and we truly appreciate it. We couldn't do this without you! A little leaven leavens the whole lump. — Galatians 5:9 How Leaven Works Here is your science lesson for the day. Leavening causes dough to rise by introducing microorganisms into it. Yeast is the most common form of bacteria. When this is added to a dough, it begins to feed on the sugars. As the yeast feeds on them, it produces carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide gas forms bubbles within the dough, causing it to expand and rise. One of the byproducts of this reaction is alcohol fermentation, which gives bread its taste. How Legalism Works Paul is making a parallel. Like leaven in a dough, legalism works the same way. Legalism is like bacteria. It is a small additive that spreads fast from one believer to the next. Therefore, a tiny thought of legalism inserted into the Gospel story affects the whole story. We may think that adding this in is good, but it's not. It changes the composition of the story, thus changing the whole story. Don't Improve The Gospel With Bacteria Here's the point. You don't need to improve God's story. It belongs to him. He is the one who told it. Tell it like it is, and stop adding bacteria to it. When you add anything to it, you puff yourself up and distract others from the one who saves. Besides, you can't save anyone anyway. Only Jesus saves, so let's point them all to him. #GospelIntegrity #LegalismWarning #PureGospel #SpiritualContamination #JesusSaves ASK THIS: How can we actively guard against adding our own "leaven" of legalism or personal agendas to the Gospel message in our conversations and teachings? How can we ensure that our presentation of the Gospel remains faithful and true to its original message without being diluted or contaminated by human ideas or traditions? DO THIS: Don't contaminate the gospel with your bacteria. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to recognize and resist the temptation to add anything to your perfect Gospel, knowing that your message stands alone in its power to save. Keep my heart focused on pointing others to you, the only true Savior. Amen. PLAY THIS: The Gospel.

Are you ready to run a long spiritual marathon? Today, we extend a warm welcome to Patrick Hurley from Liberty Hill, TX, who has recently joined our community by signing up for Video Access on our website. Patrick, we're thrilled to have you on board! You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. — Galatians 5:7-8 A few times in Paul's letters, he uses a running metaphor to describe the spiritual race. This is one of those instances. So, let's lace up our spiritual running shoes and explore three key parallels Paul makes here. There is a Form for the Run Form is crucial when running in any race. Just as a marathon runner needs to maintain proper form to endure the demanding miles ahead, we, too, must cultivate a form that will sustain us. There will be seasons when our spiritual form feels effortless, and we must commit this form to memory. Because there will be more challenging stretches of the race, we will get sloppy, and then we will need to return to the memory and habits of that form. There are Obstacles on the Run No marathon is without obstacles. Runners encounter hills to climb, rugged terrain, and unexpected hurdles. In the same way, our spiritual journey is thick with obstacles that threaten our progress. Whether it's temptation, doubt, or the pressures of the world, there will be moments when we stumble and lose our stride. Yet, as Paul reminds us, these obstacles are not insurmountable, and we can quickly get back to form. There are Voices as We Run As we race towards the finish line, we are bombarded with voices vying for our attention. Just as an athlete hears the cheers and heckles of the crowd, we, too, encounter voices along our spiritual journey. There are two persuasive voices: the voice that is from God and the voice that is not. Both are persuading you at the same time. One is giving you good advice, and one is giving you bad advice. One is from the Holy Spirit and speaks truth, offering wisdom, guidance, and encouragement that leads you back to the proper form. Conversely, the enemy seeks to deceive and derail us with lies and distractions that lead to bad form. As you reflect on the text today, here's the call to action: check your form, watch the obstacles, listen to the Spirit's voice, and fix your eyes on the prize. Let us charge ahead with unwavering resolve, ready to run the long race of faith with our eyes fixed on the ultimate prize—eternity with Jesus Christ. #SpiritualMarathon #RunTheRace #FaithEndurance #KeepTheFaith #EternalPrize ASK THIS: How can you actively cultivate and maintain your spiritual form to endure the challenges of the long spiritual marathon? Reflecting on your recent spiritual journey, what obstacles have you encountered, and how have you overcome them to stay on course in your race of faith? DO THIS: Run and keep your form. PRAY THIS: Father, guide me as I lace up my spiritual shoes and embark on this marathon of faith. Grant me strength to overcome obstacles, discern your voice, and run with endurance towards the eternal prize awaiting me. Amen. PLAY THIS: Run To The Father.

Does your spiritual life, as of late, feel like it is in an endless free fall? Today's callout goes to Rolf Jostad from Birchwood, WI, who recently signed up for Video Access on our website. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. — Galatians 5:5-6 The Free Fall of Faith Our spiritual journeys can sometimes feel like free falls. This is how faith works. But faith is not like free-falling out of a plane without a working parachute attached to our back or jumping off a cliff without a bungee cord securely attached to our ankles. The spiritual journey comes with an assurance attached—the Holy Spirit. The Free Fall Instinct Yet here is the problem with the free fall of faith. When we take a leap of faith for the first time, we may not completely trust the security of the Holy Spirit. If we don't, we will instinctively reach for something. This something, whatever it is, is usually something tangible. It is something we have reached for in the past. We reach for it to create a sense of security in the fall. But all this does is tangle our parachute, propelling us faster toward the ground; thus, we end up rejecting our security and salvation through the Holy Spirit. In the free fall of faith, we need to do what Paul recommends in the text. We need to stop reaching for other things. Rites and rituals are not the right things to reach for in a fall of faith. The right thing to reach for is our security in the Holy Spirit. We must trust that the Holy Spirit is going to catch us. That the Spirit cares about us. That he is interceding for us. He will ensure the parachute will deploy at precisely the right time because he loves us. And this is what Paul means by, "faith working through love." #FaithJourney #HolySpiritGuidance #TrustInGod #SpiritualFreeFall #EmbraceTheUnknown ASK THIS: Reflecting on your own spiritual journey, what tangible "securities" have you instinctively reached for during challenging times? How can you shift your reliance towards trusting in the Holy Spirit's guidance instead? In what areas of your life do you struggle the most to let go of control and trust in God's timing and provision? How can you actively cultivate a deeper sense of faith and surrender in those areas? DO THIS: Trust in the love of the Holy Spirit. PRAY THIS: Father, help me release my grip on earthly assurances and trust wholeheartedly in Your guiding Spirit, knowing that Your love will catch me in every free fall of faith. May my journey be a testament to Your faithfulness and grace. Amen. PLAY THIS: Give Me Faith.

Are you convincing yourself to do the wrong thing? Today's callout goes to Takoda Ruble from Pace, FL, who recently signed up for Video Access on our website. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. — Galatians 5:4 Your Mind Is Powerful Our minds are powerful tools. They perpetually and privately persuade us. In fact, today, the salesperson living in your mind has already convinced you to say and do things you probably should not do. If people heard even half the thoughts you have in your mind, they would think you are crazy—and maybe a little abusive, insecure, or maybe demented. But here's the deal: Our minds are always stirring. They process information so quickly that sometimes we grab onto thoughts and ideas that are dead wrong. Then, we privately persuade ourselves these thoughts and ideas are true. Without anyone knowing it and with great speed, our minds have convinced us of things that are untrue about ourselves and about God. Our Thoughts Don't Justify As Paul says, this is exactly how we fall away from grace: We justify thoughts that do not justify. This is exactly why you and I need to read and ruminate on Scripture daily. Scripture renews and resets our minds because they need to be renewed moment by moment. Scripture tells the salesmen in our heads to "Shut up" and "Stop selling me that." Besides, in the end, your self-justifying thoughts don't justify anything. The only one who justifies is God alone. #MindOverMatter #GraceOverJustification #RenewingTheMind #SilencingTheSalesman #GodsTruth ASK THIS: How can you identify and challenge the self-justifying thoughts that lead you away from grace? What practical steps can you take to renew your mind daily with the truth of Scripture and resist the persuasive narratives of self-justification? DO THIS: Stop listening to the voices in your head and listen to God through Scripture. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me recognize the deceptive thoughts that lead me away from Your grace, and grant me the strength to silence them with the truth of Your Word. Renew my mind daily, guiding me to align my thoughts with Your will and resist the temptation of self-justification. Amen. PLAY THIS: Purify My Heart (Refiner's Fire).

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. — Galatians 5:2-3 CALL OUT: Today's callout goes to Keron Taylor from Sterling, VA, who recently signed up for video access on our website. Are you feeling the pressure in our culture to conform to practices when they contradict the Gospel of Grace? We have discovered through Galatians that circumcision was the big issue in these churches. Jewish teachers were putting pressure on non-Jewish new male converts to fit in with the new Christian culture by being circumcised. In the following ten verses, Paul will be very direct about addressing this matter among men. What I find interesting about this issue is that new converts, and even some well-known believers, are falling for it. They are succumbing to the pressure to conform because they are convinced there is no harm, and it might enhance their relationship with God. This is evidence that the peer pressure we faced as young teens will manifest into adulthood. Peer pressure never goes away. You don't outgrow it. You are going to experience it everywhere, including in the church. Sometimes, this peer pressure can be good, helping us avoid sinful actions. On the other hand, sometimes it can be bad, leading us toward feelings, beliefs, and actions that are abominable in our relationship with God. The latter is Paul's concern here. We often succumb to social pressure because we give too much credence to the people who expose certain ideas. For example, let's consider some of the comments made by Whoopi Goldberg just a few days ago on The View. She used one of the Ten Commandments to justify abortion. Obviously, you and I believe her statement is blasphemous. But don't forget some people give Goldberg and the things she says a lot of credence, so much so they will follow her right off the cliff in blasphemy. And that is Paul's concern here. That new converts are going to follow false teachers right off the cliff into blasphemy. But did you know there is a way to test when a false teaching or false teacher is pressuring us? The test is quite simple. Paul presents it in our text, in verse three. It's this: Play the principle out practically. Here is what Paul says: I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. All you need to do is play the concept out. If it plays out and doesn't align with the intended outcomes of the Gospel, then it's not the Gospel. And if it isn't the Gospel, then don't listen to it, don't be pressured to do it, and definitely don't share it with others. #FreedomInChrist #RejectingConformity #GospelOverCulture #DiscerningTruth #StandingFirm ASK THIS: How can we discern between beneficial peer pressure that aligns with the Gospel and harmful pressure that leads us away from Christ? Reflecting on your own experiences, what are some practical steps you can take to guard yourself against conforming to cultural practices that contradict the principles of grace found in the Gospel? DO THIS: Test the pressure by playing it out. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to stand firm in the truth of your Gospel, resisting the pressures of this world that lead me astray. Grant me discernment to recognize and reject falsehoods, and empower me to live boldly according to your Word. Amen. PLAY THIS: Pressure.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. — Galatians 5:1 CALL OUT: Today's callout goes to Jay Riggleman from Williamson, NY, and his group, which is using our study 7 Challenges Men Encounter on RightNow Media. Thank you so much. Do you see what Paul is doing here? Paul is persuading the Galatians that it's time to resist. This text is both a charge and a command. Paul wants believers to anchor themselves in a truth that can only be realized if they refuse to return. They must resist. If they don't, they will be drawn in and dragged down, yoked like slaves to their former ways. What an image! You see, the war a believer fights is fought in our hearts and minds for the soul. Each day, believers go to war empowered with the Holy Spirit—the very power of our risen Savior. As we go to war, we must remember we are not fighting for freedom. Freedom has been won by Jesus. We are also not fighting against people. We are fighting against the temptation within us to submit to any of our former ways. Our former ways are so devious and insidious that the temptation to return is strong. But we must resist. If we don't, it's like walking up to the yoke and willingly putting our neck back in it. That would be preposterous! Today resist. Resist the old temptations. Resist the old thoughts. Resist the old language. Resist the return. Plant your feet and spiritual identity firm in the freedom already won for you. That is good news! #FreedomInChrist #StandFirm #ResistTemptation #AnchoredInTruth #VictoryInJesus ASK THIS: How can you actively resist the temptation to return to your former ways and instead embrace the freedom that Christ has won for you? What practical steps can you take today to anchor yourself firmly in the truth of Christ and avoid being yoked again to the slavery of sin? DO THIS: Resist all your old yokes. PRAY THIS: Father, grant me the strength to resist the allure of past temptations and to stand firm in the freedom that Christ has secured for me. Help me to anchor myself in Your truth and walk boldly in the victory You have provided. Amen. PLAY THIS: Who You Say I Am.

But what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman." So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. — Galatians 4:30-31 CALL OUT: Today's call-out goes to Jay Turner from Seabrook, SC, and his group, who is using our study Attributes for Men on RightNow Media. Thank you so much. Are you hearing voices that are competing with the truth? Paul's words in this text pierce through the legalistic voices we all hear. He urged us to cast off the shackles of slavery that entangle our souls. Just as Sarah demanded the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael, so too are we called to purge our lives of legalism and legalistic voices that come from anywhere or anyone who would speak anything but the truth. As you travel your spiritual journey, you will encounter people and voices that seek to ensnare you. Certain Jewish teachers in Galatia did. They sought to impose circumcision and obedience to the law as requirements for salvation, which was a denial of the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. Some believers silently accepted this, assuming it was the truth. But Paul's voice rose louder. He spoke back to these people and their voices, proclaiming that legalism has no place in the life of a believer. Today, instead of passively accepting everything you hear, it may be time to test these people and their voices. When they do not align with Scriptural truth, speak back to them. Preach the truth to them and know that sometimes just saying it is enough to reject the voices and people who entangle us all. God, give the believer listening today the strength to reject and speak back to any untruth that is stirring in their mind or resting on their soul. Liberate them from legalism. In Jesus's name, amen. #FreedomInChrist #RejectLegalism #VoiceOfTruth #CastOutShackles #EmbraceGospelFreedom ASK THIS: How can you discern between voices that align with Scriptural truth and those that promote legalism or falsehood? In what areas of your life do you feel the pull of legalistic pressures or voices? How can you actively cast out these influences and embrace the freedom found in Christ? DO THIS: Speak back to the voice of untruth. PRAY THIS: Lord, grant me discernment to recognize and reject the voices of legalism that seek to entangle my soul. Empower me to boldly embrace the freedom found in Your truth. Help me to speak out against falsehood and stand firm in the liberty secured for me by Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Amen. PLAY THIS: Truth I'm Standing On.

For it is written, "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband." Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. — Galatians 4:27-29 CALL OUT: Our call-out today goes to Thomas Hine and his men's group that has been using our book 30 Men Who Lived With Conviction. Thank you so much. This text can be confusing because it combines several different genres and literary devices. Paul uses a historical account with an allegorical interpretation, followed by a prophetic text (Isaiah 51:1), in a letter to the Galatians. This makes it very hard to interpret this text with precision because it is hard to understand Paul's intent. The simplest interpretation is: Rejoice! You are people of the promise. The life you enjoy is a miracle. Cast out all other means and methods, but faith alone. Thus, we witness a profound reversal—believers move from barrenness to fruitfulness, from despair to joy, from desolation to blessing—which is only accomplished by Divine intervention. This text reminded me today that we need to regularly celebrate God's work in our lives. It's appropriate to sing praises to his name and thank him for his faithfulness. We are all prone to move too quickly past moments of great spiritual joy—the salvation of a friend, the birth of a child, the answer to a prayer, or a physical, emotional, or spiritual healing. We move too quickly past these divine events to get on with the next thing. But when we take the time to celebrate, it communicates to God that we know what he did, and it sears this emotional event to our soul, which benefits us down the road. Sometimes, it becomes the emotional, mental, and spiritual anchor that reminds us of God's faithfulness when we need him the most. So the next time God does something for you, to you, or with you, take the time to rejoice like a child of the promise. #RejoiceInGodsPromises, #DivineIntervention, #CelebrateGodsWork, #Faithfulness, #ChildOfThePromise ASK THIS: How can we actively cultivate a mindset of celebration and gratitude for God's work in our lives, even in the midst of challenges? In what ways can we ensure that we don't overlook or rush past moments of spiritual joy, but instead anchor them in our hearts and minds for future encouragement and faith? DO THIS: Rejoice in your relationship and celebrate God. PRAY THIS: Father, thank You for Your unfailing faithfulness and the miraculous work You do in my life. Help me to rejoice continually in Your promises and to anchor every moment of spiritual joy in my heart, trusting in Your enduring love and provision. Amen. PLAY THIS: Celebrate.

GET THE BOOK: Daniel: A Strong Man Is Faithful here https://amzn.to/3ToZqOk Do you testify to others about your fiery trial of faith? Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." He answered and said, "But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way." Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. — Daniel 3:24-30 We live in times ruled by the spirit of Babylon. Satan roams the earth, and men like Nebuchadnezzar still exist. They will till the end of this time. This means we're going to have trouble in this life. We might even have long seasons of fiery trials. We will experience trials on a macro-level in the world, in our countries, with governments, politicians, and leaders. We'll also experience trials on a micro-level in our marriage, family, workplaces, and personal lives. Somedays, the furnace of these trials is going to rage on both levels. Occasionally, the heat is going to get turned way up. But know this — a man of faith always has God standing by their side. God will stand by you through the fire, even when a vengeful spirit walks you to the edge of the furnace and pushes you in. God will not let you be burned. Not a hair on your body. Not a singe of your skin. Not even a smell of flame. But you'll have to have faith that the Spirit of God is greater than the spirit of this world. In fact, I bet you have a story like this—a tale of a test where God intervened for you. This story is a testimony of God's greatness and faithfulness through you. It's worth recalling and retelling because it tells the tale of a faithful God who is ready to save. So do that today. Testify about God by telling the tale of your trial and his salvation. Give some hope to others who are walking through the same test or trial that you did. Because the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is not the only great story of God's salvation. It's one of many God has done through men just like you. God, use our stories to testify about the great works you do. As we share them, may they testify to your faithfulness and greatness and help others know there is hope in their tests and trials. May our stories of you be salvation to others. In Jesus's name, amen. If you liked this devotional series, check out the 30-day Devotional Book that partners with this study—Daniel: A Strong Man Is Faithful, which you can find on Amazon at the link below. https://amzn.to/3ToZqOk