How am I Going To Respond?
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It was a long travel day and I sure didn’t need this challenge. Check out the story here.
When You’re Waiting for Momentum
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January can feel slow. The excitement fades, and progress feels barely measurable. But that’s often where God does His best work — in the unseen, steady start.
The world celebrates instant results; God values faithful roots. Momentum grows quietly before it’s visible.
So instead of forcing movement, focus on faithfulness. Start the small habit. Pray the simple prayer. Take the next step. Growth will come, but patience prepares the soil.
Remember: slow progress isn’t failure — it’s formation.
Reflection questions:
What area of life feels slow to move forward right now?
How can you practice patience in your current pace?
What “small beginning” could God be rejoicing over today?
Fresh Starts and Firm Foundations
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A new year always brings fresh energy — new goals, new plans, new hopes. But before we start building, it’s worth checking what foundation we’re building on.
A shaky start built on emotion or ambition will crumble when the storms come. But a foundation built on the Word of God will hold steady in every season.
As you set your goals for the year, consider these questions:
Does this plan draw me closer to Christ or just make me busier?
Am I chasing outcomes or pursuing obedience?
What spiritual habit could strengthen my foundation this year?
The best new beginnings are built on old truths.
Reflection questions:
What foundation are you building on this year?
Which spiritual practice will help you stay grounded?
How can you align your plans with God’s purpose?
The Gift of Presence
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We give a lot of gifts at Christmas, but the most meaningful ones can’t be wrapped. They come through presence — through being with rather than just around others.
Jesus modeled this perfectly. He didn’t send love from afar; He entered our world and stayed close. That’s what real love does — it shows up.
This year, try giving the gift of presence:
Put your phone away during dinner.
Listen longer than you speak.
Sit beside someone who’s hurting without needing to fix it.
Presence costs time, but it builds trust — and it’s the gift that never gets returned.
Reflection questions:
Who needs your undivided presence this month?
How can you create space for deeper connection?
When has someone’s presence been a gift to you?
A Quiet Christmas
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It’s amazing how loud December can get — lights, lists, travel, gatherings, expectations. Even good things can crowd out the one thing our souls crave most: stillness.
The first Christmas wasn’t loud. It was quiet, dimly lit by starlight and marked by wonder. Heaven broke into earth with a whisper, not a roar.
Maybe the best way to honor that night is to create quiet moments in our own — to slow down long enough to listen. Step outside under the stars. Turn off the background noise. Read Luke 2 aloud and remember that peace arrived wrapped in simplicity.
Stillness doesn’t mean stopping everything. It means letting the noise fade just long enough to hear God’s gentle voice again.
Reflection questions:
Where can you intentionally create stillness this Christmas?
How do you reconnect with wonder during busy seasons?
What simple tradition helps you focus on the Savior?
Gratitude in Advance
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It’s easy to thank God after prayers are answered. But real faith thanks Him before.
Gratitude in advance says, “I trust You even if the outcome isn’t clear.” It’s not denial — it’s declaration. It reminds our hearts that peace doesn’t depend on results; it depends on relationship.
Paul linked thanksgiving to peace for a reason. When we thank God ahead of time, we align our hearts with His sovereignty, not our uncertainty.
So this Thanksgiving, thank Him not only for what’s already happened, but for what’s still unseen. Gratitude in advance is faith in motion.
Reflection questions:
What situation in your life could use “thankfulness in advance”?
How does gratitude shift your perspective during waiting seasons?
Who could you encourage to trust God for what’s still unfolding?
A Season of Enough
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November always pulls us toward gratitude, but sometimes gratitude feels like a stretch. We live in a world that runs on “more.” More success, more security, more everything.
But the gospel calls us to the freedom of enough.
Enough grace for today. Enough strength for this task. Enough joy to keep going.
When we practice contentment, we stop measuring our lives by comparison and start measuring them by faithfulness.
As you gather around tables this month, remember: gratitude doesn’t come from having it all — it comes from recognizing Who already provided it all.
Reflection questions:
What area of your life could use a reminder that God is enough?
When have you experienced contentment that surprised you?
How can you practice gratitude before your circumstances change?
When Shadows Fall
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Autumn days shorten, and the light fades earlier each evening. Maybe that mirrors a little of what you’re feeling right now — things dimming, clarity fading, energy waning.
But here’s the truth: shadows can only exist where there is light. The very presence of a shadow proves that the light hasn’t left; it’s just being blocked for a moment.
Sometimes God allows shadows so we’ll look for the Source again.
If your days feel heavy or dim, don’t rush the darkness. Let it turn your face back toward the light that never goes out.
Reflection questions:
Where do you sense “shadows” right now — in circumstances, relationships, or emotions?
What helps you remember that God’s light still shines, even when unseen?
Who could use encouragement to see the light again?
Harvesting Joy
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Fall is harvest season. Farmers know what many of us forget — fruit takes time. You can’t rush growth. You can’t control the weather. You can only keep tending the field.
The same is true in our spiritual lives. Sometimes the seeds of faith, obedience, or forgiveness take months — even years — to show fruit. But God is always at work, even underground.
If you’re in a season of slow growth, don’t give up. Keep watering. Keep praying. Keep trusting. The harvest is coming, and joy will come with it.
Reflection questions:
What “seeds” have you planted that you haven’t seen fruit from yet?
How can you stay faithful in this in-between season?
What does joy look like in your current field?
The Power of Remembering
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Remembering isn’t just nostalgia — it’s a spiritual discipline. When life feels uncertain, looking back at God’s faithfulness reminds us that we’ve been here before… and He showed up then, too.
I’ve started keeping a “faithfulness list.” It’s not fancy — just a notebook where I jot down answered prayers, moments of peace, or small signs of His goodness. On hard days, I flip back through those pages and remember: He’s still the same God.
The enemy loves forgetful believers. Gratitude grows when we remember grace.
So before this month slips away, take a few minutes to remember. Write it down. Say it out loud. Thank Him again.
Reflection questions:
What moment of God’s faithfulness stands out most from this year?
How could you begin your own “faithfulness list”?
Who might need to hear your story of remembering?
New Seasons, Same God
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The first cool morning of fall always feels like a deep breath — a little relief after summer’s intensity. But every new season carries a sense of transition, and with it, uncertainty.
New calendars. New routines. New responsibilities. But the same faithful God.
When everything around us shifts, it helps to anchor our hearts in the One who never changes. Jesus is steady when circumstances aren’t. His promises don’t expire with the season.
So, as you unpack sweaters, sharpen pencils, and reset schedules, remember: consistency isn’t found in your calendar — it’s found in Christ.
Reflection questions:
What new season are you stepping into right now?
How has God proven His consistency in your life before?
What daily habit helps you stay anchored in Him?
Ordinary Obedience
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We love big breakthroughs and mountaintop moments. But most of life — and most of discipleship — happens in the ordinary. The way you answer an email. The patience you show in a conversation. The unseen work you do faithfully every day.
God is as present in the mundane as He is in the miraculous. Ordinary obedience is often the soil where extraordinary fruit grows.
Think about the widow giving her two small coins, or the boy who shared his lunch — both simple acts that made eternal impact.
If today feels uneventful, it may actually be the very place God wants to display His faithfulness through you. Keep showing up. Keep obeying. You never know what He’s multiplying behind the scenes.
Reflection questions:
What simple act of faithfulness might God be using in your life right now?
How can you find joy in obedience without recognition?
What story of “ordinary obedience” do you still remember from someone else’s example?
Transitions with Grace
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August always feels like a hinge month — one season closing, another opening. Kids go back to school, routines shift, and the pace picks up. Change can feel exciting… or exhausting.
I’ve noticed that I tend to cling tightly to what’s familiar, even when God is inviting me forward. But grace and growth rarely live in the same place as comfort.
Isaiah reminds us that God is always doing something new. The question isn’t whether He’s moving — it’s whether we’re willing to perceive it.
Maybe your new thing is a job, a relationship, a ministry, or a mindset. Whatever it looks like, walk through the transition with grace — slow enough to listen, open enough to trust.
Reflection questions:
What change are you resisting that might actually be God’s new direction?
How can you bring peace instead of pressure into this transition?
Where have you seen His hand in past seasons of change?
When You Need a Mid-Year Reset
/July marks the halfway point — and honestly, it’s easy to feel off track by now. Goals get blurry, energy dips, and good intentions drift. The good news? Mid-course corrections are part of every healthy journey.
Take an hour this week to pause and realign:
Reflect. What has God done in the first half of the year that deserves gratitude?
Review. What habits or attitudes need adjusting?
Refocus. Choose one area to pursue with fresh commitment.
God’s mercy is new every morning — and every midyear, too. The calendar may say “halfway,” but it’s never too late for a fresh start.
Reflection questions:
Where have you seen growth since January?
What one change would make the biggest spiritual difference this summer?
How can you invite God into your next six months?
Independence and Dependence
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Every Fourth of July, we celebrate freedom — but following Christ has taught me something surprising: the greatest freedom comes from the right kind of dependence.
Dependence on God isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom. When we try to carry everything alone, we end up enslaved to stress and striving. Freedom in Christ releases us from self-sufficiency so we can walk in peace.
This Independence Day, I’m asking:
Where have I mistaken control for freedom?
How can I serve others from a place of liberty, not obligation?
What does surrender look like this season?
True independence is learning to depend on the only One who never fails.
Reflection questions:
What area of your life might God be inviting you to release control?
How has dependence on Him led to unexpected freedom?
Who can you serve this week as a reflection of that freedom?
Faith on Fire
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Summer can quietly cool our spiritual lives. Routines relax, travel picks up, and it’s easy to slip into a kind of spiritual vacation. But passion for God isn’t about hype or noise — it’s about heat that stays steady.
Think of a campfire. If you stop feeding it, the flame doesn’t vanish instantly; it just fades. The same is true for our faith. Staying spiritually “on fire” doesn’t mean constant motion — it means consistent fuel.
A few sparks to keep the flame alive:
Scripture before screen. Begin your mornings with God’s Word before social media or news.
Worship on the move. Turn drives, walks, or workouts into praise time.
Conversations that warm the heart. Share what God’s doing, even briefly.
The world doesn’t need more noise; it needs more light. Feed the flame.
Reflection questions:
What “wood” (habits, people, environments) keeps your faith burning hottest?
When was the last time you felt freshly alive in your walk with Christ?
How can you nurture that spark this week?
Fathers and Foundations
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Every Father’s Day, I find myself reflecting on the men who have shaped my faith — my dad, mentors, pastors, friends. Not all were perfect, but each left a mark that strengthened my foundation.
Our culture celebrates achievement, but Scripture celebrates consistency. The kind of faith that holds steady through storms doesn’t make headlines, but it builds legacies.
You don’t have to be a father to lay a foundation. Every man who lives with character — who keeps promises, prays for his family, and quietly does the right thing — is building something eternal.
Take a moment this month to thank the men who’ve invested in you. Write the note. Make the call. Gratitude always strengthens the structure.
Reflection questions:
Who has helped shape your foundation of faith?
What traits do you most admire in godly men?
How can you pass those same qualities forward?
The Ministry of Small Gestures
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A text message at the right moment. A cup of coffee left on a co-worker’s desk. A short note in someone’s mailbox. It’s easy to underestimate the power of small gestures — yet they often carry the biggest impact.
Jesus noticed the small things: a widow’s two coins, a child’s simple lunch, a cup of cold water given in His name. Kingdom work often happens in ways the world overlooks.
I think about the people who have shaped my faith the most — rarely were they the loudest or most visible. They were the ones who consistently showed up, spoke gently, prayed faithfully, and loved quietly.
This month, as Mother’s Day approaches, let’s honor not only biological mothers but every woman (and man) who has practiced the ministry of small gestures. Ordinary faithfulness is often the most extraordinary witness.
Reflection questions:
Who has encouraged you through small but meaningful acts?
What’s one simple gesture you can do this week to bless someone else?
How might you reframe “small” as “significant”?
Bloom Where You’re Planted
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A few years ago, a friend gave me a tiny succulent. I placed it in my kitchen window, watered it faithfully for a while, and then, well — life happened. It sat in the same pot, through heat and neglect, yet somehow, it continued to grow. Quietly. Faithfully. No applause required.
It reminded me that growth doesn’t depend on perfect conditions. Sometimes, the soil we wish we could escape is the very ground where God intends to bloom something new.
Paul wrote from prison that he had “learned” contentment. That word reminds me it’s a process — not a personality trait. Blooming where we’re planted isn’t about pretending everything’s fine; it’s about trusting that God’s presence can make any place fruitful.
You don’t have to wait for better soil. The same God who grows faith in the desert can flourish hope right where you are.
Reflection questions:
Where are you tempted to wish for a different “soil” or season?
What could faithfulness look like in your current place?
How has God used imperfect conditions to grow something beautiful in you?
