The Connection Corner

A daily source of encouragement and inspiration to connect your heart to hope and faith.

A Refreshing Plot Twist

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

Proverbs 11:25 — A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Have you ever been set up by God?

Like, you sign up to go somewhere thinking you’re going to support somebody else, and then God changes everything?

That’s what happened to Miss Gwendolyn.

She took her granddaughter to the Live Original Conference, which is coming to town this weekend. Her granddaughter had really come to know the Lord through her youth group and loved Sadie Huff. So Miss Gwendolyn thought, “Of course. I’ll get two tickets.”

She imagined them buying merch, taking pictures, and making some memories. That’s really as far as she thought it would go.

But then she stepped into worship.

Through the songs, God started ministering to her heart and revealing that this wasn’t just about the teenagers.

He wanted to meet her, too.

And from that moment on, something began to deepen in Miss Gwendolyn’s relationship with the Lord. Her eyes were opened in a new way, even though she had known Jesus for a long time.

Sometimes we think we’re the ones pouring out, but God has a way of pouring into us at the same time.

That’s what I see in Scripture: whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

And that’s why I think this is such a beautiful reminder for us today:

You never know where God is waiting to meet you.

There is no stage, no age, and no season of life where the Lord can’t still pierce your heart and draw you closer to Him.

You might think you’re showing up for someone else, but remember this:

God refreshes the refresher.

As you encourage someone else, serve someone else, or simply show up for someone else, don’t be surprised if God has something He wants to do in you, too.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Have you ever shown up somewhere or served someone else, only to realize God had something He wanted to do in your heart, too?
Who is someone you could intentionally encourage or refresh this week?
What might it look like to serve someone without focusing only on what you’re giving, but also being open to what God might want to teach you?
Is there an area of your relationship with God where you would welcome Him refreshing or renewing you?
How does Proverbs 11:25 change the way you think about generosity—not just giving things, but giving your time, attention, encouragement, and presence?

September 8, 2026/by Bri Dunn

Can You Sit with Me

Daily Devotional, Denise Pagano

Romans 12:15 — Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

Sometimes all we need to do is be in someone’s presence when they’re not feeling so good, when they’re having a bad day, or when they’re going through something difficult.

Yes, just sit in their presence.

We want to solve everything all at once. At least I do.

But that’s not my job.

We don’t have all the right answers or the perfect things to say. And honestly, sometimes there aren’t any words that can make someone’s pain go away.

But God doesn’t ask us to have all the answers. He asks us to love people well, and sometimes that means simply being there.

It reminds me of a story I once heard about a nurse who worked overnight. After her shift, she liked to stop at a park to watch the sunrise. One morning, she noticed someone sitting on a bench, crying.

So she went over and sat beside her.

She didn’t try to fix her. She didn’t rush to explain why everything would be okay. She just sat there and listened.

She was willing to enter into this woman’s sorrow instead of rushing past it—to share, even in a small way, the weight of what this woman was carrying.

They talked, and the nurse learned that this woman was facing one of the hardest seasons of her life. She had come to that park feeling completely alone, but that unexpected conversation gave her hope.

And I think that’s part of what Paul means when he tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

When someone is celebrating, we celebrate with them.

When someone is hurting, we don’t have to rush them out of their pain. We can be willing to sit with them in it.

Sometimes the best gift we can offer is simply showing up.

Because God often ministers His love and comfort through the presence of His people, reminding others that they are not alone.

So maybe today, instead of trying to fix someone’s pain, just sit beside them while they’re feeling it.

Listen. Pray. Stay.

You don’t have to have the answer to be part of God’s answer.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When someone you love is hurting, is your first instinct to listen or to try to fix the problem? Why?
Is there someone in your life who might simply need you to show up and be present right now?
How can you become better at celebrating with others when they’re happy, even when their joy has nothing to do with you?
What makes it difficult for you to sit with someone else’s pain without trying to make it go away?
How might God use your presence, even when you don’t have the right words, to remind someone that they aren’t alone?

September 7, 2026/by Denise Pagano

The Secret to Being Blessed

Daily Devotional, Heart of the Artist

Ephesians 1:3 — All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

The tour bags were still packed when CAIN realized they might not be going anywhere.

You see, siblings Taylor, Madison, and Logan Cain climbed onto their first tour bus a few years ago and, at least in that moment, felt pretty convinced they had so much to be thankful for.

“We’re so blessed,” they kept telling each other.

Then the cancellations started.

Nearly 80 shows disappeared from their calendar. That’s when their little phrase became a joke. They would say, “I’m so blessed,” with just enough sarcasm to make it clear they weren’t feeling very blessed at all.

But eventually, something shifted.

They stopped letting their circumstances determine whether or not they were blessed. Instead, they started looking at what was still there.

They had a heartbeat. Breath in their lungs. Family beside them. And, most importantly, they had Jesus.

That attitude adjustment became the inspiration behind their song, “I’m So Blessed,” played here on 88.7 The Cross. The song celebrates a truth that can be easy to forget: your circumstances don’t get to decide whether you’re blessed.

And underneath all of it is a truth found in Scripture.

Centuries ago, Paul taught the church that in Christ, we have already been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.”

I love that because Paul isn’t saying you’re blessed only when the calendar is full, the bills are paid, your plans work out, or life feels easy.

He points us somewhere deeper.

Your circumstances may change, but what you have in Christ does not.

Because of Jesus, you have God’s grace. You have forgiveness. You have been welcomed into His family. You have an inheritance that isn’t dependent on what happens around you.

So today, before you measure your life by canceled plans, unanswered prayers, or things that aren’t going your way, look again.

Your circumstances may change every day, but your identity is in Christ, and that does not change.

Today, you are still His. You are still loved. And you still have reason to give thanks.

Because real blessing doesn’t start when everything goes right.

It starts with knowing who you belong to.

So when life doesn’t look the way you hoped it would, you can still say:

Because of Jesus, I am blessed anyway.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When life isn’t going the way you hoped, what do you tend to use to measure whether you’re “blessed”?
How does Ephesians 1:3 change your understanding of what it means to be blessed?
What spiritual blessings do you already have because you belong to Christ?
Is there a circumstance in your life right now that has made you feel less blessed? How might you look at that situation differently through the truth of Ephesians 1:3?
What is one thing you can thank God for today—not because everything is going well, but because you belong to Jesus?

I’m So Blessed

I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed
I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed

Trouble knocking at my door today
I ain’t gonna let it in
And worry wanna steal my joy away
But I ain’t gonna let it win

‘Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God
Oh, everyday is a good day
And You’re the reason why

I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed

I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed
I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed) (okay)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed

And when I count the problems that I see
Hope looks all, but gone (Yeah)
But when I count the ways You’re good to me
You got me counting all day long
Oh, yeah!

I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed
(Hey) I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed

‘Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God
Oh, everyday is a good day
And You’re the reason why
(Hey)’Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God
Oh, every day is a good day (Every day is a good day)
And You’re the reason why (Reason why)

I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed (Sing it again)
I’m so blessed, I’m so blessed
And I’ve Got this heartbeat in my chest
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord, I’m so blessed (Hey, yeah)

‘Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God (Oh)
Oh, every day is a good day
And You’re the reason why (Reason why)
‘Cause on my best day, I’m a child of God
On my worst day, I’m a child of God
Oh, everyday is a good day
And You’re the reason why

I’m so blessed (I’m so blessed)
Hallelujah, I’m blessed
I’m so blessed
Hallelujah, I’m blessed
No, it doesn’t matter about the rest
If I got You Lord
Hallelujah, I’m blessed

September 6, 2026/by David Hall