Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Fearless Generosity

Daily Devotion – August 9, 2023

Devotion based on 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

See series: Devotions

Recently, my wife and I planted a zinnia garden in our yard. We weren’t sure of the soil quality in that spot, so we were tempted to plant only a packet or two of seeds. After all, why waste good seeds in bad soil? In the end, we decided to plant multiple packets of seeds, way more than needed. Why? Because we wanted zinnias and lots of them! The only way to get lots of zinnias is to plant lots of seeds, even if there is risk involved.

The apostle Paul applied that same principle to our material wealth. Paul was writing to the Corinthian congregation and inviting them to participate in the offering of money that Paul would take back to the needy Christians in Jerusalem. The gift would support the preaching of the gospel. And the more preaching that happens, the more opportunity the Holy Spirit has to claim souls through the gospel.

Sometimes, we act as though God has given abundantly to us so that we can be comfortable and enjoy this life. And we worry about the risk of giving—there will be less for me! But God gives us more than enough so we can be fearlessly generous. He mitigates the risk of giving with his promise that we’ll still have plenty.

So where do you find joy to give? Find it in recognizing what God has given to you! And not just the material stuff. He’s given you the precious blood of his Son for the forgiveness of sins. And that isn’t just a gift for you—it’s a gift to share! Use your resources to share that message of forgiveness so that others may have the same joy you do. And don’t just give a little give lots! After all, that is why God himself gave so much to you.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your generosity to me. Help me to reflect your generosity fearlessly to others. Amen.

So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
1 Kings 17:5,6

Unlikely Provision

Daily Devotion – August 7, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Kings 17:5,6

See series: Devotions

The French philosopher, Dennis Diderot, once famously said, “A deist is someone who has not lived long enough to become an atheist.” Deists believe that God exists and that he created everything. However, they picture him more like a watchmaker, a God who builds a watch and then leaves it alone to run itself. A deist doesn’t see God as active in his creation. Instead, they picture creation left to operate on its own.

Our Bible verses today show us that God is not like a watchmaker. God is active in his creation. And, even more than that, he is active in caring for his people.

In 1 Kings 17, the prophet Elijah bursts on the scene with little to no introduction. Speaking God’s word, he boldly prophesied that there would be a drought in the land of Israel because the Israelites had turned away from God and were following Baal. There was only one problem, Elijah himself lived in Israel. How would God make sure to take care of the prophet?

God provided for Elijah in an unlikely way: he commanded the ravens to bring Elijah bread and meat twice per day. God, who is in control of his creation, used his creation to take care of his people. Far from being absent from creation, God is intimately involved in directing it day-by-day and minute-by-minute.

In fact, so great is God’s love for what he created that he entered creation as a man to save it. Jesus Christ became a man with flesh and blood, just like you and me, except Jesus was without sin. Because of his love for us, he died on the cross to take away all our sins. Having given us his Son for eternity, he promises to take care of you each day too.

Prayer:
Almighty God, I praise you for your promise to daily take care of me and my family. Help me to trust your provision for both physical and spiritual needs until the day you take me to heaven. Amen.

[King Solomon prayed]: “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”
1 Kings 3:9

Wisdom

Daily Devotion – August 5, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Kings 3:9

See series: Devotions

We live in the information age (and misinformation). If you don’t have knowledge on a topic, what you want to know is usually just seconds away. A quick internet search and you suddenly know the 24th President, the name of that weird-looking insect, and 97 recipes for chocolate chip cookies.

Knowledge is available to us. The problem is we often don’t ask for it. And, when we have it, we don’t apply it. This problem impacts more than our retirement planning, fantasy football picks, and menu choices. We are not wise in the way we think and live. Too often, wisdom is missing in the way we treat others and honor our God. We know what is right, but we unwisely choose ourselves over others. We lash out in anger. We love things of this world more than God. This kind of “un-wisdom,” God calls sin.

In wisdom and mercy, God the Father sent Jesus. God’s wise plan included Jesus living perfectly in our place. In God’s wisdom, Jesus suffered and died for all our sins. In perfect wisdom, Jesus rose to life on the third day in victory over sin and death. God’s wisdom resulted in forgiveness for all.

Solomon had recently succeeded his father, David, as the king of Israel. As a young man and inexperienced leader, what could God give him that would enable him to serve his people and his God best? Wisdom. And so, Solomon asked for a discerning heart. God blessed him with a wise and discerning heart.

We don’t need to be a king or be stuck with a seemingly impossible task to realize one of the many things we really need. We need wisdom in our work, in our relationships, in our witness to others, and in our lives of thanks to God.

Pray. Ask God for wisdom to serve and love him in all you do. And thank God that his wisdom and love led him to purchase and give you forgiveness through Jesus.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your love and wisdom, your forgiveness and peace through Jesus. Give me wisdom so that I faithfully serve others and honor you in all I do. Amen.

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
Romans 7:18,19

Rest From Good Intentions

Daily Devotion – August 3, 2023

Devotion based on Romans 7:18,19

See series: Devotions

It happened again, didn’t it? The thing that you have been struggling with. The thing that you promised yourself you were not going to do again. Maybe you got drunk. Perhaps you let yourself worry away a few hours rather than pray for strength. It could be that you visited that same website or caught yourself cursing at work.

We always have such good intentions. We have sins that we do not want to repeat. We want to do the right thing and intend to make positive changes in our lives. But we so often fail to make those changes. It has been said the road to heaven is not paved with good intentions. We are not saved because we mean well. We won’t go to heaven simply because we want to do the right thing. In fact, we cannot be saved by anything we can do.

We are saved only because of Jesus. Jesus, true God and true man, is the only one who always did the right thing. The only one who never once thought about doing the right thing, only to fail and fall into sin. In fact, the Bible tells us that Jesus never sinned even one time! And at the end of that perfect life in our place, Jesus gave his life on the cross to set us free from sin.

The road to heaven is not paved with our good intentions but with the perfect life and innocent death of Jesus. It has been washed clean by his blood. Through faith in Jesus, we have been placed on the road to heaven. Jesus forgives our sins and gives us strength for our daily struggles.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to find comfort today, not in my good intentions, but in your life and death for me. When I struggle with right and wrong, give me the strength to live for you. Amen.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1,2

Rest From the World

Daily Devotion – August 1, 2023

Devotion based on Psalm 62:1,2

See series: Devotions

What is it that makes you feel shaken? What recent events have filled your heart with worry? What happened to you to cause you to live your life in fear? Maybe your twenty-four seven consumption of news has you wringing your hands over the state of the world. Perhaps recent health issues with no answers have left you wondering whether or not it is going to be okay. It could be that a tragedy in your life has left your faith so shaken that you have been seriously questioning whether God really does love you the way everyone says he does.

We need rest from the challenges of this world, and there is only one place to find such rest. This kind of rest can only be found in God. Only with God can we find salvation.

You were not the only one to notice the chaos of this world. God saw it too. He saw a world wrecked by sin and wanting to spin out of his control. God saw it, and he was moved to act. He sent his Son, Jesus, into this world to live and die in our place so that sin would no longer have control over us. And in rising from the dead, Jesus showed his complete control over sin and death. Thanks to Jesus, we are forgiven and saved.

The good news is that the God who saved us, is also in control of everything in this world. All of the things that cause us to worry and leave us shaken in our faith are all things that fall under the control of our God. Nothing happens without his knowledge. Knowing his love that saved us in Jesus, we can now rest secure in his loving care. With God as our rock and fortress—we will never be shaken!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you are my rock. You are my fortress. No matter what happens today, help me to trust in your love and never be shaken. Amen.

[Solomon said], “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.
1 Kings 3:9,10

The High Value of Wisdom

Daily Devotion – July 30, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Kings 3:9,10

See series: Devotions

Thanks to Walt Disney and others, we’ve all heard of the magic genie who grants you three wishes for anything you want. I doubt most folks have ever seriously thought about what they would ask for if they were given that opportunity. Why? Because it isn’t realistic.

In today’s Bible reading, we have an example of the powerful Lord God himself—not some cartoon genie—offering Solomon anything he wanted. And for what did Solomon ask? He asked for a discerning heart, that he would have the wisdom to govern God’s people. What a request!

It might be more impressive what he did not ask for. He didn’t ask for more wealth than he already had. He didn’t ask for continued health, that he might enjoy long life on this earth. He didn’t ask for the death of his enemies so that his throne would be secured even more than it already was. He didn’t even ask for a trouble-free life. Instead, he asked for wisdom.

We can learn from Solomon. We can place a high value on wisdom in the Lord, which starts with knowing, “There is a God, and I am not him.” We can set our hearts on carrying out the work the Lord has given us in a way that honors him. We can set our hearts on things above—the eternal promises of the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life through Jesus—and not on things below.

Prayer:
Lord, earthly blessings are important, and you have given me too many of those to count. But today I ask you not for more money, better health, or a trouble-free life; instead, I ask you to give me wisdom that I might have deep contentment with all you’ve given me, and make choices that honor you as my Savior. Amen.

“The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one . . . Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
Matthew 13:38,43

Wheat Among Weeds

Daily Devotion – July 28, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 13:38,43

See series: Devotions

It’s not easy being wheat among weeds. Weeds can take up valuable nutrients in the soil. Weeds can choke the life out of a healthy plant. Weeds can rob a healthy plant of life-giving water and sunlight. Yet if that wheat grows, it can still carry out its purpose. Stalks of ripe wheat provide food for people and animals. As for the weeds, they have no purpose. They get torn out of the ground. They get thrown in the trash or burned.

It’s not easy being wheat among weeds. Sin in our lives robs us of God’s good gifts of time, ability, and wealth. The worries of this life, the demands on our time, the reality of evil in our world can choke our trust in Christ and his promises. Our sinful natures inside of us don’t want us to prioritize time with Jesus in the study of his Word or time receiving God’s good gospel gifts in worship. Instead, the weeds of this world threaten our faith and oppose every attempt we make to live for Christ.

Yet Jesus calls us to live as wheat among weeds. He gives us life so that we may carry out the purposes he has given to each of us—to be fruitful with the gifts he’s given us, to be faithful in demonstrating his love to every person he puts in our path to serve, and to be mindful that he is coming again to deliver us from evil. So we need not fear what the weeds can do, but rather we live as wheat planted by our God, who will one day give us life eternal and cause us to shine with his righteousness forever.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to live as wheat even among the weeds of evil in our world. Keep their threats far from me and cause me to be fruitful, faithful, and mindful until you come again in glory to deliver me from evil. Amen.

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
Matthew 13:29,30

Wait for the Harvest

Daily Devotion – July 26, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 13:29,30

See series: Devotions

It’s hard to wait. Whether waiting for a special event or a medical procedure—it’s hard to wait patiently. We would much rather skip all the preparation and get to the event. We would much rather get the surgery over with so we can move on with life.

For Christians living in a world where evil is still present, it’s hard to wait. We would love for life in our world to be free of evil. After all, we follow Christ. Shouldn’t life get better? Why do we still struggle to follow Jesus? Why are so many still so opposed to him? Daily we are reminded of the reality of evil. In frustration, we wonder if God will ever carry out his judgment and rescue his people.

But in the midst of evil, what does Jesus urge us to do? He urges us to wait for the harvest. On the Last Day, Jesus will fix everything. Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead; at that time, the weeds and wheat will be separated. God will sort it all out and deliver us from evil once and for all. We have no need to fear the present evil since God holds our future in his hand.

What do we do until that time? How can we possibly be patient? We look to the Lord and his promises in his Word. Our God never fails to keep his promises. After all, he kept his most important promise of sending a Savior to rescue us from sin and death. With eyes fixed on Jesus, we wait for the harvest when he will come again in glory to bring us to be with him.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you know how evil is always present in our lives and in our world. Grant me patience to follow you, even as I wait for you to return in glory and deliver me from evil. Set my heart on the sure knowledge that you always keep your promises. Amen.

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.”
Matthew 13:24-26

The Problem With Weeds

Daily Devotion – July 24, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 13:24-26

See series: Devotions

Weeds are a problem. If you do any kind of landscaping or gardening—weeds are bound to confront you. You can plant flowers, plants, or vegetables in fresh, cleared soil, but before long, little green weeds start breaking through the soil. Weeds are everywhere. Left on their own, they are liable to choke the life out of the plants you originally planted.

Weeds have always been a problem. Yet when Jesus tells a story about weeds and wheat, he’s not giving advice about how best to grow your garden. Rather, Jesus helps us understand why evil is still present, even as the good news of forgiveness and life through him goes out to the world.

The gospel goes out through us to the world. We share the good news of the Savior with the people in our lives. We live out our faith and speak up for it, but what happens? People oppose that message. They mock and ridicule those who believe it. They consider us out of touch with reality. Perhaps they even make life miserable. Like weeds, evil pops up wherever the gospel is preached or shared. In this sinful world, it’s inevitable.

The reality of evil in our world can fill us with doubt. Why doesn’t God’s Word work the way we expect? Is it somehow not powerful enough to change hearts? Why does evil still persist? So what can we do? It’s not so much what we do but what our God does. Yes, God allows evil in our world. Yet through his Word, he works faith in our hearts and even in the hearts of the people with whom we share that Word. As his gospel continues to go out through us to the world, the Lord will cause a great harvest of souls to grow!

Prayer:
O Lord, evil is all around me like weeds, threatening your harvest. Keep me from becoming discouraged as I share the gospel. Help me realize that your Word will always work, even in ways I do not expect. Amen.

[Jesus told the people] many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.”
Matthew 13:3-9

Planting Seed

Daily Devotion – July 22, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 13:3-9

See series: Devotions

Songwriters have used it. Thinkers have used it. Investors have used it. Even Jesus Christ used it. Used what? They used the picture of planting seed to make a point. Jesus told a story about planting seed to teach us that when we hear and learn the Word of God, spiritual seed is planted in our hearts.

But, sadly, sometimes that seed doesn’t grow. People can get distracted from their relationship with God. And, without regular exposure to God’s Word and worship, their faith fails. In a way, they are like a child who excitedly plants a seed in a foam cup and waters it regularly. But a couple of days later, the child forgets about it, and the seed dries up.

But praise be to God, the seed he sows in some people’s hearts produces a bumper crop of spiritual fruits. As they are reminded of the forgiveness Jesus won for them on the cross and the eternal life he achieved for them when he rose from the tomb on Easter morning, they live their lives in service to him and the people he brings into their lives. God grant that this is true for you!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, plant the seed of your Word in my heart and make it grow into a fruitful plant of faith to give you glory. Amen.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it.
1 Corinthians 3:10

The Long Play

Daily Devotion – July 20, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 3:10

See series: Devotions

It must have been hard for the apostle Paul to leave each church he helped start. Usually, after just a short time, Paul had to move on to a different city for his mission work. Sometimes he had to leave due to persecution or because other places needed to hear the gospel of Jesus too. It’s easy to imagine why Paul had a hard time leaving each of the fledgling congregations he helped get off the ground. Maybe, in some ways, it felt like letting go of his baby—to let someone else hold it for a while.

But in our Bible verse today, we see Paul trusting that the work in each of those cities would continue. He got to lay the foundation, and someone else was coming along to build on it and finish the work.

We can get discouraged when we don’t see God’s kingdom built as swiftly as we’d like or not see people filling every pew in the church. We can get discouraged when that person we’ve been trying to reach out to hasn’t come to church yet.

But it’s good to have patience in this gospel-sharing work. Just because we don’t see immediate results doesn’t mean we should stop working to build up the Church of God. Like Paul, maybe we are just laying the groundwork for someone else to come along and build upon it further. This could apply in the ministry of a church or in the personal ministry of witnessing to others.

Even if the friend we invite to church doesn’t accept our invitation immediately, we at least built a foundation, planted a seed, and made a positive impression with them. We never know what God might have in store for them in the future and whom he might put in their life to continue building on that gospel foundation we began to lay down. We play the gospel-long game, trusting God’s long-term plans that he has for every person.

Prayer:
Lord, give me many opportunities to lay down gospel foundations for others in your Word. Amen.

“My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11

Our God Speaks No Empty Words

Daily Devotion – July 18, 2023

Devotion based on Isaiah 55:11

See series: Devotions

Imagine having the power to speak a command and knowing your words will always be followed exactly to the letter: your toddler always listens immediately when you tell them to get ready for bed, and your boss always listens to every recommendation you give. Our words don’t have that kind of power, but God’s words do. His words always accomplish the purpose that he has in mind.

Sometimes God’s Word carries out its purpose to convict a person of sin. It points out a person’s disobedience to God’s will, even if they’d rather not admit it. But God also uses his Word to carry out the purpose of curing the heart that is broken and guilty due to sin. Whether convicting of sin or comforting with the promise of his forgiveness, God will always make sure his Word accomplishes its purpose.

Just a few verses before the words of our Bible reading for today, God’s words are compared to the rain and the snow. When it rains or snows, you can guarantee the ground will get wet one hundred percent of the time. Sometimes the ground is drenched immediately by a downpour. Just like a person’s heart might be drenched by the storm surge of God’s powerful Word, sometimes the rain falls in a refreshing light sprinkle. God’s Word can also work in small and quiet ways in people’s lives. Sometimes the moisture falls to the ground as snow. The ground doesn’t get watered until the snow melts, and sometimes it takes a long time to happen. In the same way, sometimes God’s Word doesn’t seem to be doing anything in a person’s heart, but given time, it will accomplish God’s purpose according to his timetable.

Our God speaks no empty words, and we can trust that his Word will always work according to his perfect purpose.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for letting your Word work in my heart. Amen.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
1 Corinthians 3:6,7

Plant the Word

Daily Devotion – July 16, 2023

Devotion based on 1 Corinthians 3:6,7

See series: Devotions

Did you ever plant something but didn’t get to see whether it grew or not? Several years ago, I planted a garden. Then I moved to another city. I never found out whether the new residents kept up the garden, whether they watered and weeded the tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, and melons.

Do you ever wonder whether your witnessing for Jesus bears fruit? What happened with that neighbor who came to church a few times before moving away? Did she look up the name of the church you gave her? Did she follow through on her promise to take the pastor’s instruction class? There are many times in life when we don’t get to see the results of our witness about the good news of salvation.

That fact shouldn’t bother us though. It didn’t bother Paul. He had come to Corinth on his second missionary journey to preach the gospel. Luke tells us that he stayed for eighteen months, and many were brought to faith. After he left, a man named Apollos became the leader of the church. But the congregation split into factions. Some favored Paul. Others said they were followers of Apollos. Paul attempted to bring those groups together. He pointed out that Apollos and he were merely servants of God. Both were doing the same work. Both were spreading the seed of the gospel—one planting, the other watering. Any and all blessings were strictly God’s. He alone was responsible for people coming to faith.

So it is in our witnessing. We talk to our friends and coworkers. We take them to a Bible class offered at church. We bring them to worship. That’s planting the seed. That’s letting the Word have a chance to take root in their hearts. Someone else may water the seed by teaching that new Christian. Finally, we pray that God will cause the seed to grow.

Prayer:
Dearest Jesus, give me eyes and ears of faith to trust that your Word is at work creating a harvest for you. Amen.

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. . . . What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:18,19,24,25

Delivered Through Christ

Daily Devotion – July 14, 2023

Devotion based on Romans 7:18,19,24,25

See series: Devotions

Maybe you’ve heard some people describe the Christian life as “victorious.” But when the apostle Paul describes the Christian life here, it doesn’t sound victorious. It sounds like a struggle. And what Paul says here about himself applies to every Christian.

Living for Christ means being in a war. Every morning when you put your feet on the ground, you step onto the battlefield of temptation. This battle rages inside of you.

Within every Christian lives the sinful nature. Your sinful nature is why you question God”s Word and struggle with its teachings. Your sinful nature wants you to be in charge, not God. This is why you can continue to do the evil you do not want to do.

On this battlefield, we have all been battered and defeated. It makes you want to scream with Paul, “Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”

Jesus, that’s who. The Bible tells us that Jesus “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). So when you are troubled by your sins and by how often you have been defeated, know this: you have been delivered by the Savior who took your place in this battle and was perfect every day of his life. More than that, he died on the cross and gave his perfect life as the once and for-all sacrifice for all your sins. So even though you are not always victorious in your battle against sin, you are always delivered through Christ.

Prayer:
Jesus Christ my Lord, deliver me when the battle against temptation rages within. Amen.

[Jesus said] “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29,30

An Easy Yoke

Daily Devotion – July 12, 2023

Devotion based on Matthew 11:29,30

See series: Devotions

In today’s Bible verse, Jesus tells you that finding rest for your soul involves taking his yoke upon yourself. If you think that sounds counterintuitive, he reassures you that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

And that, of course, makes no sense. If something is easy, it cannot be a yoke—a collar for doing hard labor. And if something is light, by definition, it is not a burden.

But this is what Jesus does: he turns things on their heads. With Christ, yokes become easy, burdens become light, death becomes life, despair becomes hope, and fear becomes faith.

So how is this not nonsense? Because Jesus does not say, “Take my yoke upon you and pull with me.” Instead, he says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”

Come to Jesus in his Word, and listen to what he tells you. He teaches you that faith is what yokes you to him. In your walk of faith, you are not alone because Jesus walks with you. This makes the burden light because Jesus bears the weight, not you. Just walk along with him; Jesus does the heavy lifting so that you will find rest for your souls.

Those who are yoked to Christ can pray—anywhere, anytime, about anything. Why wouldn’t you? He knows you better than anyone else. No worry is too small for him to snuff out or too large for him to solve. So you can rest when you prayerfully pour it all on him.

Because that is Jesus’ invitation. He knows what’s good for your soul, and in Christ alone, there is rest that cannot be found anywhere else. What’s easier than that?

Prayer:
Gentle Savior, thank you for hearing and answering my prayers. Amen.