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

Stay Sharp, Embrace Growth

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“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

Proverbs 27:17

The knife glided cleanly through the onion. Slice. Chop. Repeat. At least something in this house was working the way it should.

I, on the other hand, felt anything but sharp.

Lately, my mind felt sluggish and foggy. Simple conversations took more effort. Work felt harder. Even at church, where I usually felt confident, I found myself struggling. I did not feel as clever or creative as I normally am. I knew it was just part of this postpartum season, but it was frustrating all the same.

My husband Chris walked in the kitchen and asked how I was feeling. So I began to share.

Though I was not speaking well about myself or my current situation, he did not dismiss my feelings. In fact, instead he leaned across the counter and reminded me of what the Word of God says. He continued by making sure I knew how important I am to him and to the Lord.

“Look, I know how you are feeling,” he said gently. “But, Bri, your faith and your words have to match! You are still working to where you want to be.”

Something about his words cut straight through the noise in my head. It was a simple statement loaded with so much truth. I wanted to argue, to explain why I felt justified in my discouragement. But deep down, I knew he was right.

Later, as I picked up the knife again, I thought about what it takes to keep a blade like this sharp. It does not happen by accident. It has to be sharpened, honed, and pressed against something that refines it.

I closed my eyes for a moment. “Thank You, Lord, for a husband who sharpens me every time instead of letting me stay stuck.”

Being sharpened is not always comfortable. It takes truth, challenge, and people willing to say the hard things in love. It is easy to resist sharpening because it requires friction. But dullness is not what we were made for. The people who love us enough to challenge us—those are the ones who help us become who God intends us to be.

Do not push them away. Embrace it, and let God give you the edge to be exactly who He has called you to be.

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How God Provides Abundantly

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”

Malachi 3:10 

Have you ever felt a pit in your stomach when you take leaps of faith? That is exactly what happened to our friend Kristie. Here is her story of generosity.

“‘Honey,’ I said hesitantly across the kitchen table, ‘once this goes through, we will barely have enough money to make it this month.’

My husband did not flinch. ‘God has us.’

I wanted to believe that. Truly, I did. However, tithing—giving ten percent of our income—felt like standing at the edge of a cliff with no safety net. Still, I took a shaky breath and pressed submit. Faith over fear.

The next morning, the knot in my chest had not loosened. But as I listened to my comfort station, 88.7 The Cross, I felt a different ache in my heart to give to the ministry.

‘God, you are in control,’ I whispered, knuckles white on the steering wheel. ‘You will provide.’

It felt like jumping out of an airplane with no parachute, but before I could talk myself out of it, I called and made a monthly donation.

As soon as I hung up, panic rushed in. What did I just do?

That afternoon, there was a knock at my office door. My husband stood there, eyes shining, holding a check.

‘Grandma sent this. She said God put it on her heart.’

I stared at the check. It was more than we had given and more than we needed! Tears welled up. This wasn’t just blind faith anymore. This was proof. God didn’t just ask me to trust Him—He showed me why I could.”

Perhaps today, you are standing at your own kitchen table, staring at a decision that feels impossible. Let this be your reminder. On the other side of obedience, you are falling into the hands of a God who always provides. He has never failed, and he will not start now.

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Jesus Walks with You

“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.”

Psalms 23:4

Charles had always believed in God, but he had never felt His presence quite like this.

One evening, he sat in his study, flipping through his well-worn Bible, and found himself lost in the story of Mary Magdalene. Closing his eyes, he let his imagination take over.

He pictured her standing in a garden, heartbroken. He could almost hear the rustling leaves and feel the damp earth beneath Mary’s feet as she wept outside of Jesus’ empty tomb.

She thought everything was lost. Through her tears, she barely noticed the man standing near her—until He spoke.

“Mary.”

It was one word. One moment. One voice she never thought she would hear again. It was Jesus, and that changed everything! He had been there all along, closer than she had realized.

Charles leaned over his desk, and in that instant, the presence of God was so real to him. It was so close. It was as if he himself were standing in that garden. He could even feel Mary’s heart leap as she realized—Jesus was alive.

His own heart pounded because this wasn’t just Mary’s story. It was his along with every believer’s story. Inspired, he reached for a pen and began to write a hymn.

” I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses…And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own…”

Over the years, “In the Garden” became more than just a song. It played at funerals, in church pews, and in hospital rooms where the weight of the world felt unbearable. The words were a reminder that Jesus was always near.

Perhaps today, you too feel like Mary, searching for hope, wondering where God is. Please know this—He is with you. When the weight of the world feels like too much, and when you can’t see the way ahead, He is there, closer than you think.

 

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Love Heals

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“We love because He first loved us.”

1 John 4:19

Love heals.

For most of my adult life, I dreamed of being a mom. I imagined late-night cuddles, tiny fingers wrapped around mine, and whispered “I love you’s” as I rocked my baby to sleep. In retrospect, I think it was because I wanted someone I could love.

And then, after years and years of infertility, I was blessed with my son, JD. Holding him, feeding him, memorizing every tiny feature—it was everything I had hoped for and more. Finally, I had someone to care for with my whole heart, without fear of rejection.

I soaked up every moment of being his mama. Loving him was the most natural thing in the world. But, one day, when JD was three, something happened I never saw coming.

He climbed into my lap, wrapped his little arms around me, and whispered, “Mommy, I love you so much.”

I froze.

Of course, I had said those words to him a thousand times. But hearing them spoken back? It stopped me in my tracks. Not because I didn’t know he loved me, but because I had never really considered what it would feel like to be loved back.

For years, I focused only on giving, pouring out what I had to offer. But in that simple moment, I understood something important: you cannot give what you haven’t allowed yourself to receive.

And I think that is true for a lot of us.

We give. We care. We pour out, hoping that in the giving, we will somehow be made whole. But love was never meant to be a one-way thing.

You were created to be loved, too.

Not just by family, not just by friends, but by the very One who knit you together. And His love? It is the kind of love that sees you, chooses you, and holds you close—no strings attached.

Love was never meant to be a one-way street.

Let love in. Let Him in.

Because love—real love—doesn’t just heal the people you pour into.

It heals you, too.

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Covered with Kindness

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“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

1 Peter 4:8

The moment I hit the ground, I knew everyone saw it.

One second, I was running across my elementary schoolyard, the next, my foot slipped, and I crashed into a deep puddle of mud. My clothes were ruined, my hair matted with dirt. The last thing I wanted was to stand up and face the stares.

I felt humiliated.

To get cleaned up, I would have no choice but to walk through the school like this. The thought of it made my face burn.

That is when my friend, without missing a beat, took off her jacket and wrapped it around me. She did not make a big deal out of it or make me feel awkward.

She did not try to fix my mess. She just wanted to help.

And somehow, that changed everything.

The shame did not feel as heavy. The walk did not feel as long. What should have been one of my most embarrassing moments turned into a memory of kindness I have never forgotten.

Her simple act of kindness meant so much, because instead of focusing on the mess I was in, I was able to focus on her support. She gave me the confidence to walk to the office without feeling humiliated, and I’ll always remember how she stepped in without a second thought.

Now, I wonder—What if we did the same? What if, instead of looking away, we leaned in?

People around us are walking through life feeling exposed—not with muddy clothes, but with regrets, shame, and insecurity. They feel exposed and wish someone would step in and offer them dignity instead of judgment.

What if your kindness was the reason someone lifted their head instead of hanging it in shame? Like Jesus, we can meet people in their lowest moments and cover them with grace and love. You may never know. It might just be the very thing that reminds them they are never to broken, too messy, or too far gone.

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Discover Strength Through Prayer

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“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

Colossians 4:2

There was a quiet spot in the kitchen, just by the little fireplace. That was Mom’s place.

Every morning, before the day had a chance to pull her in every direction, she would sit there with her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee, her Bible in her lap. I can still see her, head bowed, whispering prayers that felt strong enough to hold up the walls of our home.

She never rushed and never let the weight of the day steal that time away. No matter what the day held—bills, doctor’s appointments, hard phone calls—she returned to that little corner like it was an anchor. And somehow, no matter what storm was brewing, she always found peace there.

I did not understand it then, not really.

But I do now.

I know what it is to wrestle with God in the quiet—whispering desperate prayers for a husband I had not yet met, for children I did not know if I would ever hold, for friendships that broke my heart, for parents I had to say goodbye to too soon.

And in every season, whether I was waiting or weeping, questioning or rejoicing, I found what she found.

There is a place in prayer that holds you steady when you don’t know what else to do. It is a place where the presence of God wraps around you like breath of fresh air. The answers do not always come right away. The pain does not vanish overnight. But in that space, you are not alone.

Maybe today, you need a place like that too. It does not have to be fancy. Just quiet enough to take a breath, to whisper Jesus’ name, and to lay it all at His feet. Because that is where real strength is found. And it has been waiting for you all along.

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A Life that Shines

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“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Rick never sought the spotlight, but his life shone brightly. His was kind and steady. He listened and cared. To those who knew him, it was clear—his love for God was real.

His friends had always admired that about him. He was made to care for people. That was just who he was.

But just two weeks after graduating from nursing school, Rick’s journey ended. A sudden heart attack took him from this world, leaving everyone in shock. But as they gathered in a packed funeral, they realized his story was not over.

One by one, people shared how Rick had made a difference in their lives. As they spoke, the common thread was undeniable. Rick’s faith had shaped his entire life, and in doing so, it had spread like wildfire, igniting others along the way.

Then, something unexpected happened.

As the pastor finished speaking, fifteen people stood. One by one, they made their way to the front. They hadn’t come just to grieve. They came to surrender their lives to the same God Rick had loved.

His friends sat in stunned silence. They had never seen anything like it. But in that moment, they understood—our lives preach a sermon, whether we realize it or not.

Rick didn’t know this moment would come. He was just faithful. And because of that, fifteen people will spend eternity with the same God he loved.

So today, when you wonder if your kindness, your faith, or your small acts of love even matter—remember Rick. Someone is watching. Someone is listening. And one day, friend, you may find out that the way you lived led someone else straight to Jesus.

Because a life lived for Christ never stops making an impact.

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Setting Boundaries for a Better Life

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“But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.”

James 5:12

Have you ever promised yourself that this year would finally be different? Maybe you picked a word, set a goal, or made a resolution—then life got in the way. I get it.

A few years back, I set a goal to take better care of myself. Let’s just say it is still a work in progress.

At the time, I was a dad in full survival mode. Leftover chicken nuggets? Sure, I’ll eat them. Kids’ untouched fries? No problem. I told myself I was preventing waste, but really, I was treating myself like a human trash can.

It was not until I hit a wall that I realized something had to change. My health was suffering, and so was my peace. I began to see how my actions stemmed from something deeper: a lack of self-worth.

I had been saying yes to everything—to extra obligations, to people who drained me, to food I did not even want—because I thought my needs did not matter. But that mindset left me physically tired, emotionally burnt out, and spiritually distant from the life God wanted for me.

Little by little, I started setting boundaries. I said no to the leftovers, the unnecessary commitments, and the things that weighed me down. I did not do it to be selfish, but I wanted to make room for the things that mattered most. And you know what? My family got a more present version of me, my health improved, and my heart found space to grow closer to God.

Here is what I have learned: Love is not about doing more. It is about doing what is best. God never asked us to carry every load. He invites us to let go of what weighs us down so we can hold on to what gives life. You do not have to do it all. Set down what is not yours to carry, and trust God to lead you into freedom.

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Finding Strength Through Struggle

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“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.”

Isaiah 40:29

Franklin Roosevelt had always been in control. Wealth, education, political success—he had the confidence and connections to go as far as he wanted. But in the summer of 1921, everything changed.

The fever hit first. Then the aching. By nightfall, he couldn’t make his legs move. It was like someone had reached in and cut the wires. Doctors later confirmed what he feared: polio.

The grief was suffocating. His wife, Eleanor, watched him slip into silence. The once-boundless energy, the easy confidence, the man who strode into every room like he belonged—gone. In his place, a husband who barely spoke. A father who could not chase his children. A man who had spent his life moving forward, now stuck in place.

There were days he did not think he would recover—not just his body, but himself. But somewhere in the waiting, in the stillness, in the unbearable truth of his limitations, he made a choice. If he could not walk, he would fight.

He pushed himself through brutal rehabilitation—not to regain what was lost, but to master what remained. He strengthened his upper body, taught himself to stand with support, and learned to project confidence even from a wheelchair.

The world saw his return to politics before they saw his pain. They saw a leader who had endured. But Roosevelt knew the cost.

By the time America needed a leader strong enough to face the Great Depression, Roosevelt was ready. Not because he had never known struggle, but because he had.

When hardship comes, it is easy to believe that life is over as you knew it. But what if, like Roosevelt, this is the moment you are being shaped for? Strength is not found in avoiding suffering—but in choosing to keep going through it.

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Raw Worship, Real Faith

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“Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth!”

Psalm 96:9

Rich Mullins was the kind of guy who showed up to concerts barefoot.

He was not trying to be a rebel—this was just who he was. He couldn’t pretend.

That honesty did not always sit well in the Christian music industry. People wanted polished radio hits and predictable melodies. But Rich’s songs did not fit. His lyrics were jagged prayers, full of doubt, struggle, and desperate longing.

He was disillusioned by what the industry told him to be. Faith, for him, was not about tidying yourself up for God. It was about being raw and honest about a messy life while clinging to a perfect Savior. Were people finding God in all of this, or settling for something shallow?

It felt too clean, too put together. He was not sure he believed in that kind of faith. Jesus had calloused hands. He sat in the dirt. He wept, raged, bled. That was the Savior Rich wanted to sing about, and if it did not sell? Fine. He was tired of worship that felt like a performance.

So he wrote like he prayed—messy, unfiltered, honest.

One day, he scribbled out “Our God is an awesome God.” It was not a masterpiece. It was not even his favorite song. But he meant it.

Somehow, the song caught fire. People sang it in churches and youth groups. It belonged to the brokenhearted, the tired, the messy believers who needed to remember that God was still mighty and still good.

But if you asked Rich, he never saw the song—or his music—as a success story. Success was not standing on a stage. It was not record sales or industry approval. It was a life lived honestly before God. A worship that was not a performance but a hallelujah rising from the dust.

And maybe that is the real takeaway. Worship is not about looking good or sounding right. It is about showing up—barefoot, broken, unsure—and offering everything you have, knowing God is worthy of it all.

 

RICH MULLINS
Awesome God Story

Rich Mullins’ Awesome God is one of the most beloved anthems in contemporary Christian music, known for its simple yet powerful declaration of God’s greatness. Written in the late 1980s, the song was inspired by Mullins’ deep reverence for God’s majesty and his desire to create a song that would stir people to worship. The verses paint vivid images of God’s power and justice, while the chorus triumphantly proclaims, “Our God is an awesome God!”—a line that has echoed through churches and worship gatherings for decades.

Interestingly, Mullins himself once said, “You know, the thing I like about ‘Awesome God’ is that it’s one of the worst-written songs that I ever wrote; it’s just poorly crafted.” But he went on to explain that sometimes, the message is more important than the craftsmanship. Rather than focusing on crafting the perfect song, he wanted to write something that would make people respond—not to the song, but to the truth of who God is.

That’s exactly why Awesome God has endured as a church anthem. The melody is easy to sing, making it perfect for congregational worship, while the lyrics are a bold reminder of God’s sovereignty and grace. Even though Mullins was known for his poetic and often introspective songwriting, this song stands out as a direct and universal declaration of faith. It’s a song that unites believers, young and old, in a shared moment of praise—one that continues to resonate in hearts long after the music fades.

Awesome God
COMLETE LYRICS TO SONG

When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain’t just putting on the ritz
(Our God is an awesome God)

There’s thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists
(Our God is an awesome God)

And the Lord wasn’t joking
When He kicked ’em out of Eden
It wasn’t for no reason
That He shed His blood
His return is very close
And so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
(Our God is an awesome God)

He spoke into the darkness
And created the light
(Our God is an awesome God)

Judgment and wrath He poured out on the Sodom
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross
I hope that you have not
Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

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