Our Awesome God

The Overflowing Heart of a Humble Servant Full Scriptures (NLT) Psalm 20:7–8 “Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.” Proverbs 11:2 “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Psalm 23:5 “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” John 13:16 “I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message.” Psalm 89:1 “I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.” The Boast of the Faithful We live in a world that leans heavily on “chariots and horses”—bank accounts, titles, resources, and control. But Scripture reminds us that our strength is not in what we hold, but in Who holds us. To “trust” the Lord is to rest in Him with c...

  The Shield of the Humble Heart Scriptures (NLT) Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Psalm 121:8 “The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Devotion In Psalm 28:7, the word for shield is māḡēn—not a small defense, but a large, surrounding protection. When we trust God, He doesn’t just stand beside us; He surrounds us completely. His help is not distant or delayed—it comes exactly when our strength runs out. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is especially near when we feel crushed. The Hebrew word dāka’ paints a picture of something ground into dust. And yet, it is...

  Job 19:25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.” Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Psalm 30:5 “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” Isaiah 26:4 “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? The Everlasting Rock:  Eternal Security This collection of scriptures forms a powerful narrative of God’s character: He is our Redeemer, our Intercessor, our Joy, our Rock, and our Light. 1. The Living Redeemer (Job 19:25) Job cries out, "...

  ​ 1 John 1:5 – "This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all." ​ Proverbs 14:16 – "The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence." ​ 1 Corinthians 10:13 – "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." ​ 2 Corinthians 5:21 – "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." ​ 2 Corinthians 9:8 – "And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others." ​The Walk of the Righteous: From Darkness to Abounding Grace ​1. The Radiant Purity of Phōs (1 John 1:5) ​God is Phōs (φῶ...

  The Path of the Redeemed Heart Scripture Foundations (NLT) Psalm 51:10–12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.” Matthew 12:23 “The crowd was amazed and asked, ‘Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?’” 1 Peter 1:18–19 “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” Proverbs 20:21 “An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end.” Psalm 104:33 “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!” The Transformation We begin with a plea: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” The Hebrew word for “create” here is Bara (בָּרָא)—a word used o...

  Strength for the Journey Daily Devotion: April 23, 2026 Scripture Foundations (NLT) 1 Corinthians 15:21–22 (NLT) “So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Psalm 28:7 (NLT) “The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Proverbs 16:17 (NLT) “The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.” Strength for the Journey Life often feels like a series of paths we must navigate—some smooth, some steep, and some shadowed by fear. Today’s Scriptures offer more than encouragement—they give us a roadmap for walking forward with confidence, grou...

  The Daily Harvest: Choosing the Spirit Over the Storm  Galatians 6:8   Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. Matthew 6:34   So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Micah 5:5   And he will be the source of peace. When the Assyrians invade our land and break through our defenses, we will appoint seven shepherds to watch over us, eight princes to lead us. Proverbs 16:13   The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly. 1 Corinthians 15:57   But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:17   God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. The Foundation: Sowing in the Spi...

  The Deepest Hunger, The Eternal Fullness Scripture Foundations (NLT) Matthew 5:6 “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” John 6:30–35 “They answered, ‘Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, “Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.”’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘give us that bread every day.’ Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” 1 Corinthians 15:20–22 “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as dea...

  The Shield, The Story, and The Strength Scriptures (NLT): • Psalm 3:3 – But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.  • John 5:29 – and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.  • Luke 1:37 – For the word of God will never fail.    • Isaiah 43:19 – For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.  • Philippians 2:1-4 – Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking ...

  A Symphony of Unity and Service ​Scripture Foundations (NLT) ​ Psalm 133:1: "How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!" ​ Proverbs 13:3: "Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything." ​ 1 Corinthians 1:18: "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." ​ 1 Peter 1:3: "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation." ​ 1 John 4:18: "Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love." ​ 1 Thessalonians 5:11: "So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are alre...

  1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.” 1 Timothy 5:3 “Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.” Romans 13:8 “Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.” Love in Action: When Faith Gets Dusty In 1 John 3:18, we are called to love in Aletheia (Greek: ἀλήθεια), meaning “truth” or “reality.” This kind of love isn’t theoretical or convenient—it shows up. It has weight. It gets its hands dirty. Sometimes, it even has mud in the wheel wells. Recently, we had the opportunity to live that out. We didn’t just offer kind words—we chose action. We drove down roads others might have avoided to meet a real need in a real way. That is love in truth. Now, the story has turned, and we find ourselves in need. We are facing a ...

  Our Anchor in Every Storm Psalm 56:3 “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 “All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” Psalm 100:2 “Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” Exodus 23:25 “You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness.” The Runner’s Ascent Ben stood at the base of the mountain trail, his lungs burning before the race had even begun. The path ahead was jagged and wrapped in morning mist, making the heights look impossible. T...

  Unshakable Love and Impossible Odds Scripture Readings (NLT) Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.” Proverbs 19:22 “Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.” 1 John 3:23 “And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.” Isaiah 54:17 “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Luke 1:37 “For the word of God will never fail.” Isaiah 12:2 “See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” There are days when loving others feels natural, and then there are days when it feels nearly impossible. Sometimes the greatest battles we face are n...

  The Full Table ​The Scriptures ​Isaiah 53:6 – "All of us, like sheep, have gone astray. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all." ​Ecclesiastes 7:14 – "Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times come, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life." ​John 5:24 – "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life." ​Psalm 23:5 – "You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings." ​Ephesians 4:32 – "Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." ​The Story ​Imagine a traveler named Elias. Elias spent years wandering a dry, cracked wilderness. He was a ...

  From Homelessness to Harvest: A Journey of Surrender Scripture Readings (NLT) 1 Timothy 6:7–8 “After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7 “God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.” Romans 3:23–24 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” John 3:5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” 1 John 1:9 “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” Psalm 16:8 “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” For a long time, Ross and I walked a blurred line. We talked t...