Where Do I Go for Help? We sometimes face issues around our health, marriage, finances, relationships, work, and life in general that cause us to feel heavy. They often leave us broken, hurting, wounded, messed up, confused, doubting, hopeless, and uncertain. Where do we go with our stuff? Church? Really, how helpful has that been? Have you, like m…

The Enemy's Footholds in Your Life In our attempts to move toward the future that God wants for us, we have to recognize how our enemy, the devil, is holding us back. In Genesis 3:1-7, he is a deceptive yet convincing snake sowing doubt about God’s goodness. In 1 Peter 5:8, he is a roaring lion seeking to devour us. In John 10:10, he is a thief see…

A God-Fearing LifeThat's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. — Ecclesiastes 12:13 What is the purpose of life? Solomon gives us the answer in Ecclesiastes 12:13: "Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty." It's a powerful (albeit succinct) conclusion to a …

Empty MaterialismThose who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! — Ecclesiastes 5:10 How much is enough? Solomon observed in Ecclesiastes 5:10 that those who love money will never be satisfied. The pursuit of wealth and material gain often leaves us feeling empty. Why? Because money and posse…

The InevitableFor the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be forgotten. — Ecclesiastes 2:16 Death is the great equalizer. Solomon observed that no matter how wise or foolish a person might be, all eventually meet the same end. He writes, "The wise will not be rememb…

The Limits of Human Wisdom and UnderstandingThe greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. — Ecclesiastes 1:18 Have you ever been overwhelmed by the weight of knowledge? Maybe you've learned something about the brokenness of the world or carried the burden of understanding someone else's pain. Solomon knew…

The Futility of Earthly Pursuits"Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "completely meaningless!" — Ecclesiastes 1:2 Have you ever worked tirelessly to achieve something, only to find the excitement didn't last? Maybe it was a career milestone, a personal goal, or a big purchase. At first, it felt like the ultimate fulfillment. But before lo…

If we make a daily practice of the first four daily habits, after a while, others will ask us why we are doing what we are doing. We need to be able to answer in the first person. Why Are You Doing This? When you go beyond your job description and serve others, they will be curious. In their mind, they will try to understand your actions through wo…

Serve Others The fourth daily habit is to serve others. This may be the most difficult activity. After all, the Greek word most often translated to mean ‘servant’ is also translated to mean ‘minister.’ Therefore, we need to rewire our brains so we can remember that leading others is really the same as serving others. Concentrate on Serving Others A…

Can you explain why you follow Jesus in non-churchy terms? When I ask others why they follow Jesus, I often get answers like “because he loves me.” While that answer is true, it doesn’t explain things very well to people who don’t follow Jesus. In Mark 5:1–20, Jesus has an encounter with a man filled with an army of demons. Jesus heals the man, but…

Our ‘stuff’ won’t travel with us to heaven. Eternal treasure isn’t about possessions; it must have something to do with the people who join us there. Jesus came to seek and save us. He laid aside his glory and majesty to come as a humble baby. He went on to live in submission to his parents, to learn, grow up, teach, serve, suffer, and die for us. …

5 Daily Habits to Integrate Faith and WorkDay 1 – Pray Jesus is active right now in the life of every person you know, meet, see, and interact with. Throughout this reading plan and every day thereafter, we want to challenge one another to make ourselves available to God daily. We’re available for him to use us to do whatever he suggests in the lif…

The Waiting Game One of the most adorable challenges that went viral on TikTok was the Fruit Snack Challenge, also known as the Patience Challenge or Candy Challenge. Basically, this game encourages parents to test their child’s self-restraint. It’s simple; parents put a bowl of snacks or delicious treats in front of their kids and tell them they c…

Hide and SeekFrom The Game Of Life by Dacia James Lewis “. . . Ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred. Ready or not, here I come.” That was the indicator for every player to expedite their plan and be securely tucked away in the best hiding place so that they are not found by “it” (the seeker). You know the game. Hide and Seek! The human scavenger …

Tug of WarFrom The Game Of Life by Dacia James Lewis Most people assume that Tug of War is a sport that only requires power and endurance, but in actuality, it is a technical sport requiring mechanics and strategy to be effective. This is executed with the help of what is known as a driver. Though not actually in the game, the driver directs their …

Trust FallFrom The Game Of Life by Dacia James Lewis Trust Fall is a game that many businesses, sports teams, and church organizations use to build trust amongst their members and teammates. One person crosses their arms over their chest, closes their eyes, and blindly falls back with the hope that the person behind them catches them before they hi…

The Quiet GameFrom The Game Of Life by Dacia James Lewis Who can remember a time in school when students got rowdy and a teacher said, “Ok guys, let’s play a game!” Excitedly the kids would settle down and prepare for some fun when the teacher continued with, “It’s called … the quiet game.” Moans and groans filled the room because we weren’t naive …

A Legacy of FaithFrom Rahab, How God Uses the Unlikely on YouVersion Rahab’s faith didn’t just transform her own life. Her faith created a ripple effect that shaped generations. She is one of only two women mentioned in Hebrews 11, often called the “Hall of Faith,” where she is celebrated for her bold trust in God. The writer of Hebrews highlights …

Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

The Scarlet Cord of RedemptionFrom Rahab, How God Uses the Unlikely on YouVersion Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.” Befo…

Bold Faith in ActionFrom Rahab, How God Uses the Unlikely on YouVersion Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through …

God Choosing the UnlikelyFrom Rehab, How God Uses the Unlikely on YouVersion Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed t…

GROWING A LEGACYFrom Lead Me by Matt Hammitt So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. – Galatians 6:9 NLT Few things bring me more joy in life than when my marriage and family are healthy and thriving. Conversely, few things have brought me more pain than when my ma…

FIGHT YOURSELF FIRSTFrom Lead Me by Matt Hammitt Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. – Philippians 2:3-4 NLT Learning how to tend to Sarah’s emotional needs has been one of the most difficult marital l…

PLANSFrom Lead Me by Matt Hammitt 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. – Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. – Prover…

GOOD INTENTIONSFrom Lead Me by Matt Hammitt What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that per…

WHO YOU’RE CALLED TO BEFrom Lead Me by Matt Hammitt But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perf…

Living Out Love in Everyday LifeFrom Love Like Jesus on YouVersion Colossians 3:14, “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14 calls us to prioritize love as the foremost virtue in our lives, which holds all other virtues together. On this final day of our devotional, let’s contemplate how…

The Joy of Loving OthersFrom Love Like Jesus on YouVersion Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4 calls us to a higher standard of love – one that values others abov…

Love as a Reflection of FaithFrom Love Like Jesus on YouVersion James 2:17, “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17 offers a powerful reminder that our faith manifests through our actions. In this context, love is not just a feeling or an idea but an active expression of our faith. Let’s explore how our love for ot…

The Power of Sacrificial LoveFrom Love Like Jesus on YouVersion John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” In John 15:13, Jesus speaks of the ultimate expression of love – the willingness to lay down one’s life for others. This scripture reflects the heart of Christ’s mission and sets a profound…

True Love Like JesusFrom Love Like Jesus on YouVersion 1 John 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” In our quest to fathom the depths of true love, there stands a beacon of divine example – God Himself. T…

What if I don’t follow-through? from GOD + GOALS: How To Set Goals As A Christian by Lara Casey You have some good goals in mind, and you trust that the Lord will lead you. But, what if you fail? You’re afraid you won’t follow through, you’ll mess up, and you’ll disappoint God. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is mad…

How do I make my goals happen and not overstep God’s Will? from GOD + GOALS: How To Set Goals As A Christian by Lara Casey You’re standing at the starting line, you want to get after God-led goals, and…. you’re afraid. You’re scared to take action on those goals, getting so focused on achieving them that you edge God out in the process. How do you …

What do faith-fueled goals look like?from GOD + GOALS: How To Set Goals As A Christian by Lara Casey Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. – Proverbs 16:3 What do God-led goals even look like? Can you have a goal that doesn’t explicitly have to do with ministry—like getting in shape or going back to school? Or, do al…

How do you know if a goal is from God or from yourself?from GOD + GOALS: How To Set Goals As A Christian by Lara Casey You’re starting to see it: without goals, you might wander around aimlessly in life. God-led goals are good. But! How do you know if they’re God-led and not from yourself? How can you tell the difference? You’re afraid you’ll choos…

Is it okay to set goals as a Christian?from GOD + GOALS: How To Set Goals As A Christian by Lara Casey The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. – Proverbs 21:5 NIV You want to follow God AND achieve goals with purpose. But you’re worried that setting goals will lead you away from God’s plans for you. So, you’re …

A vessel (think water pitcher) is designed and created for the purpose of containing something.Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

Come and see—what an interesting strategy. Like Andrew and Peter, Philip hardly knew the one he now believed was the Messiah.Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

We’ve all been delivered from things. Our mothers delivered us from their wombs. Good explanations delivered us from confusion. Time delivers us from our pasts.Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

Every follower of Jesus has a not-so-great “before”: A rash, brash fisherman. A pious, fancy-pants religious leader. A thieving, indifferent-to-suffering tax collector.Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

What would it be like to narrowly escape being murdered by your brothers—only to have them sell you as a slave into a lifetime of bondage and degradation? That is Joseph’s story, and he certainly had valid reasons to feel betrayed and abused!Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

What do we do with the power that money brings us? Do we further His purposes for our lives and the lives of others? Or do we squander it in foolish ways?Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

Oleh Digging Deeper Podcasts

From Not Afraid by Pastor Craig Groeschel on Youversion As Christians, how do we respond in the face of a crisis? When a crisis happens in our world, it’s easy to question our faith, and it’s hard to replace the panic we face with the peace we’re promised as Jesus-followers. So, what can we do as Christians in response to natural disasters, pandemi…

Oleh Andi and Brian Hale

We are to be Sacrificial, not Selfish. LISTEN IN to Andi and Brian as they share this devotional from youversion.Oleh Andi and Brian Hale

From Not Afraid by Pastor Craig Groeschel on Youversion We live in a time where there is no shortage of information. And that’s an incredible gift! Especially in times of disaster, it’s wonderful to be able to communicate quickly, take action swiftly, and connect globally on current events. But when we consume too much information—particularly in i…