Today’s Always Uplifting Verse and Devotional to start your day off right!

Running to Rescue

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Ephesians 2:8-9 — God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

I’ll never forget the first time I heard “Rescue” by Desperation Band.

I was in high school, sitting in a youth service, trying to look like I had it all together. But inside, it felt like every little mistake disqualified me—like every wrong thought or reaction meant I had let God down again.

Week after week, I carried it.

This pressure to be perfect. To finally get it right.

I remember thinking I’d never be the “perfect Christian.” And the truth is—I wasn’t then, and I’m not now. But somewhere along the way, something shifted.

I began to understand that I don’t have to beg to be in God’s good graces. I don’t have to beat myself up to earn my way back to Him. What I thought was distance from God was really a misunderstanding of His grace.

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. He already paid the price—so salvation is a gift I could never earn. And that heaviness? That constant wondering, Did I mess up too much this time? It doesn’t have to steal my confident hope.

Because His grace never runs out—it rescues us again and again.

So now, that’s what I think of when I hear that song on replay.

I don’t know if you’ve experienced that kind of rescue yet, but know that you don’t have to be perfect to get in His presence. You don’t have to beg the Lord to love you, and you don’t have to earn your place at His table.

What Jesus did was more than enough. He paid the price so grace could be given freely, meeting you right where you are.

Receive it. Walk in it. Let it be enough today.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Have you ever felt like you had to earn God’s approval? What did that feel like?
  • How does understanding that salvation is a gift—not a reward—change the way you see your relationship with God?
  • Are there areas in your life where you’re still trying to “be good enough” instead of resting in grace?
  • What does it look like for you to actually receive grace, not just understand it?
  • How would your daily life change if you truly believed that what Jesus did was already enough?

Lyrics

You are the source of the life
I can’t be left behind
No one else will do
I will take hold of you

I need You Jesus
To come to my rescue
Where else can I go
There’s no other name by
Which I am saved
Capture me with grace
I will follow you

You are the source of life
I can’t be left behind
No one else will do
I will take hold of you (yeah)

I need you Jesus
to come to my rescue
where else can I go
There’s no other name by
which I am saved
capture me with grace

I need you Jesus
to come to my rescue
where else can I go
There’s no other name by
which I am saved
capture me with grace
I will follow You

This world has nothing for me
I will follow You
This world has nothing for me
I will follow You

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The Fire That Forms You

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1 Peter 1:6-7 — So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Everyone wants growth. It’s universal. It’s a desire planted deep within every human heart.

The desire to move forward—to grow in what matters—is strong within you. You don’t want to waste time. You yearn to use every gift God has given you and long to lay down more of yourself and take on more of Jesus.

But also—remember—worthwhile progress requires humble surrender. Growth isn’t neat. It isn’t quick. It’s the slow decision to stay when everything in you wants to run.

Growth often comes from learning to stay when things feel uncomfortable.

You want a faith that’s tested by fire—like gold. Not to destroy it, but to prove and refine it. That is what reveals what is real and what only looked real before things got hard.

For a little while, there is grief in all kinds of trial, but what comes out on the other side is something so much better. Something that lasts.

The more mature your faith becomes, the more you start to see it. Escaping the circumstance was never the answer. Quick exits don’t form deep roots. Staying does.

Standing firm does.

More of Jesus—that’s the goal. And that kind of transformation doesn’t happen in comfort zones. It happens when pride loosens its grip, when control is handed over, and when you trust that God knows exactly what He’s doing—even when you don’t understand the process. You weren’t meant to be undone by the fire—you’re being formed through it.

So, keep going.

Not by striving harder, but by surrendering deeper.

Not by chasing comfort, but by trusting refinement.

Let the pressure shape you instead of scare you. LLet the fire do what God will use it to do. So, stay steady, stay surrendered, and stay rooted in Him.

Because you are not being burned up.

You are being made new.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When you think about growth, do you tend to expect progress through ease or through challenge?
  • How have past trials shaped your faith in ways comfort never could?
  • Is there a situation right now where you’re tempted to “exit” instead of stay and trust God?
  • What might God be refining in you through your current circumstances?
  • What would it look like today to surrender deeper instead of striving harder?
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Kindness in the Crossfire

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Ephesians 4:31-32 — Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

You know, there’s a different kind of sting when someone doesn’t just hurt you, but they actually criticize you to a boss, coworker, or friend.

They didn’t come to you first and say, “Hey, I didn’t like the way you handled that.”

They went around you and over you.

I experienced that recently. And I have to tell you, I felt it deeply. I felt blindsided. Betrayed. It got to the point where I didn’t even want to be in the same room with them.

But here’s what the Holy Spirit keeps whispering to my heart:

“You don’t have to win this. Just represent me.”

He reminded me that as a Christian, I’m called to put away the things that grow sharp inside me—bitterness, anger, and offense. And in their place, choose a different way—a way that looks like kindness when it’s not deserved.

Jesus understood what it meant to be misrepresented too.

People twisted His words. They questioned His motives and talked about Him instead of to Him. And still—He didn’t lash out. He didn’t scramble to protect His image. He stayed anchored in something deeper than public opinion.

So, here’s the hard truth I’m learning: you can’t control how they handled it, but you can control what it grows inside you.

Being Christ-like doesn’t mean pretending it didn’t hurt. It means refusing to let the hurt harden you. You’re choosing to stay free instead of becoming bitter. Because when you honor God, the victory shows up in the moments you refuse to plant bitter seeds.

So today, if something happens that stings, I want to encourage you to pause before reacting. Let the wave of emotion pass. Then deliberately choose who you are going to represent in that moment. Even at the heart level.

Lay down the need to be right and pick up kindness… tenderhearted… forgiving—just like you’ve been forgiven. Lean into compassion. Choose forgiveness—even if it’s one step at a time.

Because the real victory isn’t proving a point. It’s protecting your heart.

When you refuse to plant bitterness, you make room for something better to grow.

And that changes you.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When someone hurts you, what tends to grow in your heart first—bitterness or grace?
  • Is there a situation right now where you feel misunderstood or misrepresented?
  • What would it look like to “represent Christ” in that situation instead of defending yourself?
  • Are you holding onto offense that is beginning to harden your heart?
  • What is one practical step you can take today toward kindness or forgiveness?
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Peace That Overcomes Panic

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Proverbs 19:23 — Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.

Life can flip in one second.

One minute you’re planning your day. The next minute you’re in an ambulance.

That’s what happened to my friend Laura. She had a heart attack recently, and when you hear the word “heart attack”, everything in you tightens because we all know what that can mean.

But here’s what I need you to hear today. God did a miracle.

Doctors ran the tests. They checked everything, and there is zero heart damage. None!

I mean, we’re all stunned. It’s the kind of outcome that makes medical teams pause and say, “We don’t see this often.”

And I keep thinking about something Scripture says: “Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.”

Now that doesn’t mean people who love God never walk through scary moments. Clearly Laura did. Sirens still sound. Ambulances still roll. Hospital rooms still fill with worried families.

But something deeper was holding her. Reverence for God anchored her soul in a way that nothing could shake. And when life flips in a second, that kind of foundation matters.

Because the truth is, we don’t get to control when the ambulance shows up. But we do get to decide where our hearts rest before those moments ever arrive.

Nothing—not fear, sirens, or hospital rooms—can take away the peace God gives. Because when you fear the Lord by loving Him well and anchoring your hope in Him, the outcome is peace. And that peace isn’t based on your circumstances.

It’s rooted deeper than that.

So, maybe today you feel like something just knocked the wind out of you. Maybe your world feels shaky.

But what if this is your reminder? Look to our holy and mighty God, and keep living for Him. Because the same God who protected my friend Laura’s heart is holding yours right now too. That peace is not fragile, friend.

It’s unshakable.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • When life feels uncertain or scary, where does your mind go first—fear or trust in God?
  • What does “fearing the Lord” look like in your everyday life right now?
  • Can you think of a time when God gave you peace in the middle of a difficult or unexpected situation?
  • What would it look like to anchor your heart in God before the next hard moment comes?
  • Is there something in your life right now that feels shaky? How can you invite God into it today?
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The “Brrr” Before the Breakthrough

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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.

This Spring, are you doing pickleball or water aerobics?

I’m doing water aerobics, and I love it. It is so good and so much fun.

One of the ladies in my class encouraged me to start swimming laps in the Olympic-size pool we have at the gym. But she warned me ahead of time.

“It’s cold when you first get in.”

She was not kidding.

My goodness—that first step into the water was a shock. I almost turned around right there. Then I looked up and saw how long that pool was, and I thought, “Oh I don’t know if I can do this.”

But step by step, I slowly went in.

It was cold, but before I knew it, I was cruising along. Oh my goodness—I’m actually doing this. I finished the laps. I felt strong. I felt accomplished.

I really did.

And honestly, I think following God can feel a lot like that first step into the pool. Sometimes what He calls us to do feels intimidating. It can feel cold. It can seem longer than we expected when we’re standing at the edge.

Most of the things God grows in us begin with a step that feels uncomfortable.

But when we take that first step and trust Him, something surprising happens. He meets us there. He says, “Do not be afraid or discouraged.” He steadies our hearts, stays right beside us, and strengthens us—just like He promises. Strength for every lap.

He never promises it will be easy. No, no.

But He does promise He will be right there with us the whole way.

And maybe today there’s something in front of you that feels like that cold pool a little—something that makes you hesitate. It looks harder and longer than you expected.

Remember that sometimes it just takes easing one foot into the water.

And then the next.

And when you do, eventually you’ll discover you’re not swimming alone.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What is something in your life right now that feels intimidating or uncomfortable—like that first step into cold water?
  • What fears or doubts tend to hold you back from taking that first step?
  • Can you remember a time when God met you after you stepped out in faith? What did that teach you?
  • What would it look like to trust God for “the next step” instead of the whole journey?
  • How does knowing God is with you and strengthening you change the way you face what’s ahead?
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From Fan to Follower

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Mark 8:34 — Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”

Before I was a follower of Christ, I was a fan of Christ. When I think of my “Jesus Fan” era, one of my favorite Christian music artists—Tiffany Hudson from Elevation Worship—comes to mind. Let me elaborate.

I have attended many concerts, admiring her voice from a distance. Every one has been sold out, which means I’m no different than the thousands of people in the room who admire her.

I know every word to every song she sings. I follow her on every social media platform you can think of. I know a lot about her, but I don’t personally know her. I don’t have a personal relationship with her.

Being a fan is more about admiration than commitment.

For many years, I was comfortable being a fan of Jesus. I didn’t want the responsibilities of a follower. I believed in Him, admired Him, and even spoke His name—yet I struggled with fully surrendering my life to Him.

While I carried the label of “Christian,” my everyday choices, my speech, and my character behind closed doors told a different story. People look at the outside, but God looks at the heart, and my heart was far away from Him.

I was active in church life: attending regularly, serving, joining small groups, and investing in marriage retreats. Through the world’s eyes I looked like a disciple, but deep down I knew I wasn’t. But I didn’t quite fit with the world anymore either. Jesus had set me apart from it.

Yet Jesus never called people to be admirers in the crowd. He called them to follow after Him—to deny themselves, take up the cross they’ve been avoiding, and follow Him.

It is only by the grace of God that I can confidently say I am no longer a fan, but an unashamed follower of Christ. In March of 2023, I dropped my nets, just like Peter, to follow Him. The responsibilities that I once viewed as burdens, I now see as an abundant life. The character that was questionable behind closed doors now carries a holy conviction.

So, I challenge you to ask yourself this:

If someone found out you follow Jesus, would it surprise them—or make perfect sense? Would they say, “Wow, that’s surprising!” or “Oh, that makes sense?”

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Would you describe your relationship with Jesus as more of a fan or a follower right now? Why?
  • Is there an area of your life where you’ve been resisting surrender to God?
  • What does “taking up your cross” look like for you in this season?
  • Do your daily choices and private life reflect your faith publicly?
  • What is one step you can take today to follow Jesus more intentionally?
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When Faith Covers the Fear

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Psalm 23:4 — Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Have you ever been through a tornado? I’ve sat in a bathtub with a mattress over my head, heart pounding, dog shaking, and cat wide-eyed. I’ve heard the warnings. I’ve felt the fear. But this story—this one is different.

It was an ordinary day in Oklahoma until the sky turned dark and the tornado sirens began to wail. A first-grade teacher had seconds to react.

She gathered her class and rushed them into the only interior room they could reach—a tiny bathroom with no windows. The building trembled. The lights flickered. The air itself seemed to groan. She crouched low and pulled the children close, covering them with her own body, doing the only thing she could think to do.

And she prayed.

Not silently. Not politely. She prayed out loud until her voice turned rough and thin. She kept speaking the old shepherd’s song, the one about green pastures and still waters. And when her words reached the dark part—the valley part—she didn’t skip it.

She spoke of walking straight through the deepest shadow without surrendering to fear, because even there the Shepherd does not leave His own, and no evil gets the final word.

She just kept saying it. Over and over.

When the storm finally moved on, the classroom was gone. The roof had been torn away like the lid off a shoebox. Walls collapsed. Papers were scattered for blocks. But every child in her care walked out unharmed.

Later she said, “I couldn’t calm the storm, but the Lord helped me calm their hearts.”

And I can’t stop thinking about that.

Because sometimes faith doesn’t look like stopping the wind. Sometimes it looks like standing in a shaking room and refusing to let terror move you. Sometimes it looks like one steady voice in the dark, reminding everyone that we are not alone.

There are valleys we all walk through—diagnoses, prodigal children, layoffs. Storms that do not ask permission before they arrive.

But what if in the storm we become the steady presence for someone else. What if we speak hope when our own knees are knocking.

Because the world will shake. It just will. But the greatest ministry sometimes is simply standing in the gap, holding on to God for the sake of others when the world literally feels like it’s falling apart.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • What “valley” are you walking through right now, and how has it been affecting your faith or emotions?
  • When fear rises, what helps remind you that God is still with you in the middle of it?
  • Have you ever experienced peace or comfort in a difficult moment that didn’t make sense? What did that teach you about God’s presence?
  • Who in your life might need a steady, faith-filled voice right now—and how could you be that for them this week?
  • What would it look like for you to trust God’s presence today, even if your circumstances don’t change?
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The Blood-Bought Glow Up

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Ephesians 2:13 — But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

It started with a question: “What has God done for you?”

Charity Gayle and others were sitting in a loose circle at a songwriting retreat. Around the room you could see faces of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds all carrying their own story to tell.

One by one, they began to share what God had done for them.

A man talked about who he was before grace found him—how far he ran from God for years. A woman followed, sharing her past regrets and breakthroughs. Then another shared. And another.

And without anyone planning it, a pattern began to form.

Every story started in the same place: far from God.

And every story ended the same way: Jesus met them there and gave them new life.

Lost, then found.

Charity sat still, listening, feeling something stir. She thought about the songs she used to sing in church as a child. You can almost hear it—threads of Amazing Grace weaving through the air, carrying the steady truth of Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.

It was the reality that people who were once distant didn’t stay that way. They were brought near by the blood of Christ.

That moment would become the heartbeat behind her song, “Thank You Jesus for the Blood.”

But the story didn’t stay in that room.

Because it’s your story too. And mine.

Maybe yours doesn’t feel dramatic. Maybe it’s simple or you grew up in church or it’s hard to put into words. But it still holds the same miracle—a before and after and a life that didn’t stay the same.

And somewhere, someone is sitting across from you, needing to hear it. You’re living proof that Jesus is alive and that His blood was enough. There’s power in your testimony.

And I hope you will tell it too.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Your Story:
When you think about your own life, where do you see the “far” and “brought near” moments in your story?

Recognizing Grace:
Is there a part of your past you’ve minimized or overlooked that actually shows God’s grace at work?

Sharing Your Testimony:
Who in your life might need to hear what God has done for you—and what’s holding you back from sharing it?

Personal Connection to the Gospel:
Does your relationship with Jesus feel personal right now, or more distant? What would it look like to lean back into that closeness?

Gratitude and Worship:
How can you intentionally thank Jesus today for bringing you near—through your words, actions, or time with Him?

 

 

L Y R I C S

I was a wretch, I remember who I was
I was lost, I was blind, I was running out of time
Sin separated, the breach was far too wide
But from the far side of the chasmYou held me in Your sight

So You made a way, across the great divide
Left behind, Heaven’s throne, to build it here inside
And there at the cross You paid the debt I owe
Broke my chains, freed my soul, for the first time I had hope

Thank You Jesus, for the blood applied
Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white
Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light

You took my place, laid inside my tomb of sin
You were buried for three days but then You walked right out again
And now death has no sting and life has no end
For I have been transformed by the blood of the Lamb

Thank You Jesus, for the blood applied (thank You, Jesus)
Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white
Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light

There is nothing stronger
Than the wonder working power of the blood, the blood
That calls us sons and daughters
We are ransomed by our Father through the blood, the blood
There is nothing stronger
Oh, the wonder working power of the blood, the blood (it calls us)
That calls us sons and daughters
We are ransomed by our Father through the blood, the blood

Thank You Jesus, for the blood applied
Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white
Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light

Glory to His name
Glory to His name
There to my heart was the blood applied
Glory to His name

Songwriters: Bryan McCleery / Charity Gayle / David Gentiles / Ryan Kennedy / Steven Musso
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Faith that Wears Stretchy Pants

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Matthew 11:28 — Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Let me tell you something. Being tired doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re fighting. You’ve been carrying more than what most people can see.

I believe that everything that we have been through has got us exhausted. Some of you have been bracing yourselves for years—through disappointments, through family strain. You’ve been holding it all together with a decent attitude and coffee.

But you’re just tired.

Here’s the thing. It’s ok to rest and unplug. Jesus took naps.

He slept in boats. He stepped away from the crowd. He withdrew to pray to His Father. Even from the beginning, God modeled rhythms of rest.

So, if the Son of God needed a reset, I promise you, you do too.

Sometimes we treat faith like it’s a treadmill—if we just run a little faster, pray a little louder, try a little harder, we’ll finally catch up. But I’m starting to think faith is less about pushing than it is learning to lean on God.

Because let’s be honest, sometimes renewal looks like reheating leftovers, wearing stretchy pants, canceling plans, and saying no. Instead of soaring with eagles, it looks like saying, “Jesus, I’ve got nothing left. You’re up.”

Because renewal comes through rest.

When you come to Him weary, you’re not letting Him down—you’re finally letting Him carry you. He says, “Come to me and I will give you rest.”

Just come.

Bring your overextended calendar, the parenting guilt, and the smile you’re pinning on and give it to God.

Because guess what? He’s not disappointed in you at all. He’s not looking down from heaven saying, “Wow… dry shampoo again?”

He is saying, “Come to me. I’ll carry what you can’t.”

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Where in your life do you feel the most exhausted right now—physically, emotionally, or spiritually?
  • When you’re overwhelmed, do you tend to push harder or pull away? Why?
  • What makes it difficult for you to truly rest and bring your burdens to Jesus?
  • What would it look like for you to “come to Him” in a real, practical way today?
  • Is there something you’ve been carrying that God is inviting you to release?
  • How can you create space this week for real rest—not just distraction, but renewal?
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Heaven Doesn’t Count Like That

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Galatians 6:9 — 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.

You want to know what’ll make you just about crazy?

Eating clean. Working out hard and passing on dessert. Then stepping on the scale and seeing the exact same number blinking back at you.

Ask me how I know.

Oh my goodness, I just about lost it.

I had just finished a four-week program. Nothing extreme, but for me? It was disciplined. I showed up. I did the reps, and I made better choices.

But I didn’t lose a single pound.

I stood there in my bathroom staring down at that scale, feeling the discouragement creep in.

See? It’s not working. Why are you even trying?

But instead of spiraling, I tried something different. I downloaded one of those body-scan apps—you know, the kind where you awkwardly prop your phone up and hope nobody walks in. It lets you know how your proportions are actually doing.

When the results came in, they were better than I thought. Although I didn’t lose any weight, I had lost some inches.

Wow, how often do we do that? Measuring our lives one way but never go back and look a little deeper. We do this with our souls too.

We pray and think, “Nothing’s changing.” We try again and still stumble and think, Welp, back to square one.

But what if Heaven measures differently than we do? What if that is part of your character still forming or your roots stretching a little deeper?

I would have been super discouraged thinking that all my hard work was for nothing, and maybe that’s you. Maybe there’s been something that on the outside, it doesn’t look like anything has happened, and you want to give up.

Don’t.

Scripture reminds us, “Don’t grow tired of doing good. In due season there will be a harvest if you don’t give up.”

It’s so true. The harvest you hoped for isn’t always immediate. Sometimes the soil is doing its work underground, beneath the surface and beyond the numbers. God is doing something in you.

If you stay steady, if you keep sowing, and if you refuse to grow tired of doing what’s right, progress will come. You will see the harvest!

And it will be worth the wait.

 

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

  • Where in your life do you feel like you’re putting in effort but not seeing results yet?
  • Are you measuring progress by what’s visible, or are you trusting that God may be working beneath the surface?
  • What is one area where you’re tempted to give up—but sense God asking you to stay faithful?
  • How might your perspective change if you believed growth was happening even when you can’t see it?
  • What would it look like today to “not grow tired of doing good” in a specific situation you’re facing?
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