Will Jesus find faith in us when life hasn't unfolded the way we expected? Through the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus reminds us to keep praying and not lose heart. Faith isn't simply trusting God when answers come quickly, but continuing to trust His character when His timing is difficult to understand. If we're willing to remain teachable, prayerful, and faithful through every season, our lives can reflect a trust in Jesus that goes beyond our circumstances.   Read More

Have you become so busy doing things for Jesus that you've forgotten how to simply be with Him? In Gethsemane, Jesus asked His disciples to stay awake and pray with Him, but He found them sleeping. His question reminds us that even good responsibilities can crowd out the time we need to be still, listen, and draw close to Him. If we're willing to slow down and make room for His presence, we may begin hearing what the noise of life has kept us from noticing.   Read More

Have you ever allowed a past failure to make you question your future? After Peter denied Jesus three times, Jesus met him with a question: “Do you love Me?” Rather than allowing shame to define Peter's story, Jesus used that painful conversation to restore him and call him forward. If we're willing to face the hard questions Jesus asks, we can discover that His grace is greater than our failures and His purpose for us isn't finished.   Read More

Is there a difference between what you say you believe and how you're actually living? When Jesus asked, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” He challenged the distance between hearing His words and putting them into practice. Genuine trust in Jesus is revealed through our willingness to follow Him, even when obedience is difficult. If we're willing to surrender our preferences and respond to what Jesus has already made clear, our lives can begin to reflect the faith we profess.   Read More

What if the things you're working so hard to gain are quietly costing you what matters most? Jesus asked, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” It's a question that invites us to examine the small trades we make every day and whether what we're pursuing is worth what we're sacrificing. If we're willing to honestly examine what our pursuits are costing us, we can begin making choices that reflect what matters most to Jesus.   Read More

If Jesus asked you what you wanted Him to do for you, would you know how to answer? When Jesus asked Bartimaeus this question, He invited him to name his desire. But Bartimaeus also demonstrated a willingness to leave behind what belonged to his former life. Sometimes receiving something new requires releasing what we've grown accustomed to carrying. If we're willing to honestly bring our desires before Jesus and surrender what no longer belongs, we can move forward in faith toward what He has for us.   Read More