The Connection Corner

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

The Blood-Bought Glow Up

Daily Devotional, Heart of the Artist, Kirstie Ford, Stories About Songs

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

April 26, 2026/by Kirstie Ford

Faith that Wears Stretchy Pants

Daily Devotional, Tammi Arender

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?

April 25, 2026/by Tammi Arender

Heaven Doesn’t Count Like That

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

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?

April 24, 2026/by Bri Dunn