Your Future Grows from What You Plant Today

“Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow—perhaps it all will.” Ecclesiastes 11:6 (CEV)

Everything in my life starts as a seed. There are many kinds of seeds—beautiful seeds like kindness, love, faith, and integrity. And then there are uglier seeds, like gossip and greed. But there are two things all seeds have in common. First, all seeds need time to grow. And second, I harvest whatever I have sown.

Think about literal, physical seeds. When I plant a seed in the ground, there is always a waiting time between planting and harvesting. I sow in one season, and I reap in another season. I don’t plant tomato seeds and pick a tomato an hour later. I have to wait.

It’s the same way in life. Maybe I’ve planted seeds of kindness in a relationship. I don’t necessarily reap kindness immediately. I have to plant the seeds, trust God to grow them, and then wait.

Ecclesiastes says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. . . . A time to plant and a time to harvest . . . A time to scatter . . . and a time to gather” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 5 NLT).

Once the seeds have grown and I'm ready to harvest, I can trust that I will gather what I have sown.

If I plant seeds of gossip, the people in my life will likely gossip about me too. But if I plant seeds of kindness, people will be kind to me in return. If I plant seeds of faith, I will experience faithfulness.

So what do I do while I'm waiting on God—after I’ve planted seeds and are waiting on them to be ready to harvest? I keep sowing the kind of seeds I want to reap.

The Living Bible paraphrase says, “Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow—perhaps it all will” (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

Am I waiting a long time for the harvest in my life? If so, here is a verse for encouragement. In Habakkuk 2, God says, “At the time I have decided, my words will come true.  You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting— it will happen!” (Habakkuk 2:3 CEV).

The harvest may be slow in coming, but God says that, at the right time, it will. Keep waiting, trusting God, and sowing good seeds in my life. God will grow my seeds, and one day I will reap a harvest. 

In summary: 

Everything in life begins as a seed—whether good ones like kindness, faith, and integrity, or destructive ones like gossip and greed—and each seed takes time to grow before it can be harvested. Just as in farming, sowing and reaping happen in different seasons, so in life we must patiently wait for the results of what we’ve planted, trusting God to bring growth in His timing. What we sow, we will eventually reap: kindness produces kindness, gossip produces gossip, and faith produces faithfulness. While waiting for the harvest, the key is to keep sowing good seeds, knowing that God promises the harvest will come at the appointed time.

Bottom Line:

Keep planting good seeds through your actions and attitudes, trust God with the timing, and stay patient—because in the right season, you will reap a harvest.

So I need to start consistently “sowing” seeds of value into those that God brings around me.

Finding Purpose in Your Past

“Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else.” Galatians 6:4 (CSB)

I've been looking at the unique ways God has made me—how he planned every day of my life before I was born and how he gave me my own unique SHAPE—Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences.

But even when I know that God formed me intentionally and uniquely, I still find myself unsure of how to move forward—in ministry or in life. At times, when I think about the future, I can feel more confusion and less joy.

When this happens, it might be overlooking the advice the Bible from Galatians 6:4: “Let each person examine his own work, and then he can take pride in himself alone, and not compare himself with someone else” (CSB).

The Bible gives two-part guidance here. First, I should “examine my own work.” In other words, I should look at my past and learn from it.

Next, I should “not compare myself with someone else.” As I examine my own life, don’t let my eyes wander to how God is working in people around me. Concentrate on what he’s done in and through me instead.

There are plenty of reasons to not compare myself to others. One, I will always be able to find someone who seems to be doing a better job than me—and that can lead to discouragement. Two, I will always be able to find someone who doesn’t seem as effective as me—and that can lead to pride. Either attitude will rob me of my joy.

God has a better way to help me discover what’s next. He wants me to take a close look at my past so that I'll be able to step into the future he’s prepared for me.

God doesn’t want me to waste my past. God wants to use it.

But sometimes it can be hard to know how to look back effectively over my life. Here’s one easy exercise I found to get me started:

Take a half-hour this week. Sit down with a piece of paper. Separate it with a line for each period of my life. I could decide to divide my life into five-year periods, or into decades.

Now it’s time to “examine my own work” by creating a life inventory.

Answer these two questions for each time period: What was I good at doing? What did I enjoy doing?

Now go back and look for patterns. If I was good at something when I was younger, I still am. Maybe there’s something I enjoyed a few years ago that I've forgotten about.

After I’ve identified patterns in my life, ask God what he wants me to do with this information. He might show me things in my past that I can celebrate and be proud of. And seeing patterns of what I’ve enjoyed or been good at over the years can help me know how God might want to work through me in the future. 

I shouldn't get caught in a trap of comparison. Instead, take an honest look at my own past. And then step forward with confidence into my future.

In summary:

God designed me uniquely with my own SHAPE—Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences—and calls me to focus on how He has worked in my life instead of comparing myself to others. Galatians 6:4 teaches me to examine my own work, learning from the past so I can step into the future God has prepared. Comparison only leads to discouragement or pride, both of which steal joy, but reflecting on my past strengths and joys reveals patterns of how God has shaped me. By taking time to inventory my life, I can see His hand at work, celebrate His faithfulness, and move forward with confidence into His purpose for me.

Bottom line:

God calls me to examine my own life, learn from my past, and focus on how He uniquely shaped me—without comparing myself to others—so I can step confidently into the future He has prepared for me.

So “Stop comparing, start examining—your past reveals God’s design for your future.”

Living the Life Only You Can Live

“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you.” Jeremiah 1:5 (MSG)

To live a life of purpose and meaning I need to think of what I do well—and find ways to do more of those things. Then think of what I don’t do well—and find ways to do less of those things.

God created me to be unique. He shaped me in a specific way for a special purpose only I can fulfill. In the Message paraphrase, God says, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you” (Jeremiah 1:5).

No matter what, I can rest in the truth that God is working in my life and that he shaped me to succeed. He shaped me in advance for those plans. God’s plans for my life didn’t start the moment I was born. Those plans started before my birth, when the Bible says God shaped me in my mother’s womb. 

But here’s the best part. The way God shaped me reveals how he wants to use me.

So how do we (I) discover the unique way God made us (me)?

Use the acrostic SHAPE—my Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. These are the five things that make me, me. And, by looking at each of these areas, I can begin to understand what God wants me to do with my life.

Spiritual gifts are God-empowered abilities for serving him that are given only to believers. For instance, some gifts motivate me for ministry—like serving, teaching, encouraging, leading, giving, showing mercy, or offering biblical insight.

Heart refers to the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections I have. It’s what I love to do and what I care about most.

Abilities are the natural talents I was born with. God wants me to do what I'm able to do.

Personality affects how and where I use my spiritual gifts and abilities. I'll use my gifts in ways that are different from anybody else.

Experiences teach me lessons that help me mature. They also help me minister to others going through similar experiences.

When God made me, he broke the mold—there is no one else like me. My prayer is that I will find freedom and renewed energy as I live and serve according to my SHAPE.

In summary:

God created me uniquely and with intention, shaping me before I was even born with holy plans for my life (Jeremiah 1:5 MSG). My purpose and calling are revealed through the way he designed me, which can be discovered by examining my SHAPE—my Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. Each of these factors shows how God wants to use me and helps me live a life of purpose, meaning, and impact. By leaning into what I do well and minimizing what I don’t, I can align more fully with God’s design for me, walking in freedom and renewed energy as I serve in the way only I can.

Bottom Line:

"God made me on purpose, for a purpose. Before I was born, He shaped me with unique gifts, passions, abilities, personality, and experiences (my SHAPE). When I live from who He designed me to be, I find freedom, energy, and impact. There’s no one else like me—and that’s by God’s design."

Next steps:

Clarify and write out your own SHAPE profile (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences).

The Power Of Acting Is In The Moment

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.” Proverbs 3:27 (NLT)

Every day God gives me opportunities to show kindness to people around me. As he does, he’s watching to see how I'll respond.

Will I choose to be self-centered? Or will I notice the people who need a word of encouragement, a pat on the back, an errand done for them, or some other practical means of help?

The Bible says, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them” (Proverbs 3:27 NLT).

I won’t always have an opportunity to help. So when I do, just do it!

I probably have people in my life that I've thought about helping. I have the best intentions. But I've done nothing. Why?

I've made excuses. I might have thought, “I’ll do it when things settle down.” Guess what? Things never will.

If I'm going to do good in my life, the time is now. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (Ecclesiastes 11:4). Today’s the day to make a difference in someone’s life.

Jesus said, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work” (John 9:4 NLT).

God has specific tasks he wants me to do, so I shouldn't wait for perfect conditions to do them. Instead, look for the opportunities he gives me each day to help and encourage others—and just do them.

In summary:

This passage reminds me that every day God places opportunities before me to do good and help others, and he’s watching to see how I respond. Too often, I delay or make excuses, waiting for the “perfect time” to act, but Scripture reminds me that perfect conditions never come. Proverbs 3:27 commands me not to withhold good when it’s in my power to give it, and Ecclesiastes 11:4 warns that waiting only leads to inaction. Jesus himself said we must carry out our God-given tasks while we can because time is limited. The truth is simple: the best time to encourage, serve, or help someone isn’t later—it’s now.

Bottom line: 

God gives me daily opportunities to help and encourage others, and the wisest thing I can do is act now rather than wait for the “perfect time.”

Based on this I need to choose one specific person in my circle today—whether a family member, colleague, or connection in your leadership network—and intentionally encourage or serve them with a simple act of kindness. This aligns with my calling as a coach and leader to grow people and help them fulfill their purpose, starting with small but timely actions.

What God Sees When He Looks at Me

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 (NLT)

The world is full of heart disease today—but not just the physical kind. There are many spiritual diseases of the heart, like guilt, addiction, loneliness, and worry.

When Jesus died on the cross, he solved all my biggest problems, including every kind of spiritual heart disease. One way he did that is by being my replacement.

“Replacement” simply means that Jesus took my place and received the punishment I deserved for my sin. There was no other way for an imperfect person (you) to be in a perfect place (heaven) with a perfect God who hates and judges sin. On the cross, Jesus was my replacement—my substitute.

Romans 3:25 says, “God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us” (TLB).

Nobody’s perfect. We all know that! None of us have measured up to our own standards, much less God’s. When I break a human law, I have to pay a human penalty. If I speed down the freeway and get stopped, I get a ticket for it. If I break into someone’s home, I'll likely have to serve time in prison.

When I break God’s laws, I pay God’s penalties. And God says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23 NLT).

The Good News is that Jesus has already paid the death penalty for my sins. Everything I've ever done wrong and everything I ever will do wrong has already been paid for.

The Bible says this in Isaiah: “It was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down . . . he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT). 

Jesus became my substitute; he was my replacement on the cross. “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NLT). 

When I trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord of my life, he heals me of my spiritual heart disease. And that means that God no longer looks on me with condemnation. He only sees me covered with Jesus’ righteousness.

In summary:

All of us have strayed from God’s path and carry the weight of sin, but Jesus became my substitute by taking the punishment I deserved on the cross. Just as breaking human laws requires paying human penalties, breaking God’s law demands a divine penalty—death. Yet in His love, God placed all my sins on Jesus, who was pierced, crushed, and beaten so I could be healed, forgiven, and made whole. Because of His sacrifice, every sin—past, present, and future—has been paid for, and when I trust Him as Savior, there is no condemnation. Instead, God sees me covered in Christ’s righteousness, free from guilt and spiritual heart disease.

Bottom line: 

Jesus took my place on the cross, paying the penalty for sin once and for all, so I can live forgiven, healed, and free from condemnation.

Given that my heart is to help people discover and live out their God-given purpose, I should share this truth in simple, relatable language with someone I mentor, coach, or encounter in my daily leadership journey—remind them they don’t have to carry guilt, because Jesus already carried it for them.

Living for What Lasts

“For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (GNT)

Most people rarely evaluate their values or question their perceptions until they have a crisis. 

It’s often in deep pain that I begin to examine what I'm building my life on. I might realize I'd been living my life to feel good, look good, or accumulate wealth or power. But in a crisis, I instinctively know that there has to be more to life.

So why wait for a crisis to evaluate values? Instead, I need to stop today to consider what I should value. I can start by asking myself this critical question: What’s going to last?

The world seems to value the here and now. Its message is that tomorrow doesn’t matter. Next year doesn’t matter. A thousand years from today doesn’t matter. Eternity and heaven don’t matter. Live for today. Live for self. Live it up, as we only live once!

But we know that’s not true, because the Bible says something different: “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17 NIV).

Consider what happens when I'm tempted. Temptation isn’t just a battle between good and bad or what’s best and what’s not best.

Temptation is always a battle between now and later: Will I do what God says and enjoy the benefits later, or will I do what I want and enjoy the benefits now

The Bible teaches us to “fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18 GNT).

Whether I'm in a crisis or not, take some time to evaluate what I'm basing my life on. Am I trying to live it up, or am I  giving my life away? Ask the hard questions that reveal where I have put my trust and how I have invested my time and resources.

Then choose to build a life on God’s truth. It will last forever and never let me down.

In summary:

Life’s crises often reveal the fragility of the things we usually value—appearance, pleasure, possessions, or power—and remind us that these are temporary. But God calls me to look beyond what is seen and build my life on what is eternal. Temptation always tests whether we will live for short-term satisfaction or long-term fulfillment in God’s will. Rather than waiting for hardship to reassess priorities, i should regularly evaluate what I'm basing my life on and ask whether it will last forever. The Bible reminds me to fix my attention on eternal truths, not temporary gains, because only God’s Word and purposes endure.

Bottom Line:

Life is short, and the things of this world won’t last—but God’s truth and purposes will. What matters most is building a life on eternal values, not temporary ones. 

My next wisest step is for me to take time this week to clarify my own “eternal values” in writing—list the truths, principles, and purposes I want to guide my life and leadership. Then, intentionally weave one of those values into my coaching, speaking, or daily leadership interactions, so that I'm not only living it but also modeling it for others.

Made for This Moment

“You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother’s body.” Psalm 139:13 (NCV)

God planned every single day of my life. Before I took my first breath, God knew everything that would ever happen to me.

In fact, before I was conceived by my biological parents, I was already conceived in the mind of God. It is not by fate, chance, luck, or coincidence that I am breathing at this very moment.

I'm alive right now because God wants me—with all of my strengths and weaknesses—to be alive.

Whether my parents were good, bad, or indifferent, God used them. They had the exact DNA needed to create me. God wanted me alive. From the beginning of time, God has had a plan for my life—and he has a purpose he wants me to complete.

And God made me to be me.

The Bible says, “You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother’s body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. . . . You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother’s body. When I was put together there, you saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old” (Psalm 139:13-16 NCV).

God created me so he could love me—for eternity. My parents may have contributed my DNA, but God made me. I'm not just another baby born. God personally planned for my birth.

I am God’s masterpiece. He made me so he could love me and so I could fulfill his purposes in this world. At different seasons of life, I may struggle to see what his purpose for me is. But I never have to doubt that it’s there. Before I was born, God gave me a purpose

In summary:

God personally created me with intentionality and purpose, forming me in my mother’s womb and planning every day of my life before I was even born. My existence is not an accident of fate or chance but the result of God’s design, using even my parents—regardless of their role—to provide the DNA needed for me to be alive. I am his masterpiece, uniquely shaped with strengths and weaknesses to fulfill a divine purpose. Though I may not always see that purpose clearly, I can be confident that God made me so he could love me and so I could live out the plan he prepared for me since the beginning of time.

Bottom Line:

I am not an accident—God intentionally created me as his masterpiece, with a unique identity, purpose, and eternal love. 

Since my calling is to help people discover and fulfill their purpose, I'm going to write a short “purpose statement” for myself rooted in Psalm 139. I can then use it not only as a personal reminder but also as a tool I can weave into my coaching workshops / calls to inspire others to see themselves as intentionally designed by God.

Here is a draft:

“I am God’s masterpiece, created with love and purpose. Today, I choose to grow, empower, and help others live out their calling.”

The Power of Priorities

“Someone may say, ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ but not everything is helpful.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 (GW)

Successful people know what matters, and they don’t waste time worrying about what doesn’t matter.

The apostle Paul said, “I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (Philippians 3:13-14 NLT). Paul didn’t dabble in 40 things or pack his calendar. He stayed laser focused on God’s calling to share the Good News of Jesus.

Learning to focus on what really matters in life is a skill—and like any skill, it takes practice.

I don’t have time to do everything I want to do or think I need to do. But the good news is that God doesn’t expect me to do everything. And there are only a few things in life worth doing in the first place.

God hasn’t called me to do everything in life. He’s called me to do what he made me and shaped me to do—and there is just enough time for that.

There will be a lot of things in life that are good but aren’t all that important. The Bible says, “Someone may say, ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ but not everything is helpful” (1 Corinthians 6:12 GW).

I'm free to do what I want with my life. God isn’t going to force me to do anything! I can waste my life, I can spend my life, or I can invest my life.

Everything is permissible—but not everything is beneficial. Some things in life are not necessarily wrong; they’re just not necessary.

I'll save myself a lot of time and energy if I learn and practice the skill of knowing what matters most and then devoting my life to it. I figure out what God has put me here on earth to do, and then I get right to it! 

The better I get at selecting and prioritizing what matters in my life, the more effective I'm going to be as a person, as a spouse, as a parent, and as a leader.

In summary:

The Bible teaches that while many things may be permissible, not everything is beneficial or worth pursuing. Paul modeled a focused life, keeping his eyes on God’s calling rather than being distracted by lesser things. In the same way, life isn’t about doing everything—it’s about discovering and devoting myself to what God uniquely designed me to do. Success and fulfillment come not from busyness but from prioritizing what truly matters. By practicing the skill of focus, I can invest my life wisely, becoming more effective in my faith, relationships, and leadership.

Bottom Line:

I don’t need to do everything—I just need to focus on the few things God has uniquely called and equipped me to do. Today I will take 10 minutes this week to list out all my current commitments, then prayerfully highlight the one or two that most align with my God-given purpose of helping people discover and fulfill their calling. I'll commit to focusing my energy there, and consider letting go of or delegating what doesn’t align.

Deciding What Will Guide Me

“The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. No one can understand how deceitful it is.” Jeremiah 17:9 (GW)

One fundamental question in life stands above all others:

What will have the final authority in my life?

Will it be Spouse? Or my peers? Maybe my friends or my career? Perhaps the books I read? The people I follow on social media? What about the movies or shows I watch or the songs I listen to?

All of these sources will shape my values if I let them—and my values ultimately determine what has final authority in my life.

So, what will it be? God allows me to decide. He’s given me free will.

Most of my authority options fall into these three categories:

My opinions: I can depend on my gut to tell me what to do. But there’s a problem with that: Studies show my perceptions are more likely to be wrong than right. In fact, sometimes I even lie to myself. The Bible says, “The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. No one can understand how deceitful it is” (Jeremiah 17:9 GW).

The world: I could base my values on what others think—but people often value the wrong things. For instance, the world emphasizes beauty over character, tells me to pursue whatever feels good, and declares that whoever has the most possessions wins. I'm bombarded with these worldly values through all sorts of media, so much so that it’s easy to start thinking God put me on this planet to look good, feel good, and get stuff. But that couldn’t be further from the truth!

God’s Word: God’s Word is objective and truthful—unlike my own perceptions or the world’s opinions. God’s Word says, “If you continue in My word . . . you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32 NASB).

The choice is clear. There’s only one authority that’s always reliable and will never lead me astray. So I need to decide today to allow God’s Word to shape my values by giving it the final authority in my life.

In summary:

Every person must decide what will have the final authority in their life—personal opinions, the world’s values, or God’s Word. Opinions can be deceiving, as our own minds often mislead us (Jeremiah 17:9), while the world promotes shallow priorities like beauty, pleasure, and possessions that distract from God’s true purpose. Only God’s Word is completely reliable, objective, and freeing, offering truth that never fails (John 8:31-32). Since values shape decisions and destiny, the wisest choice is to give God’s Word the final authority, allowing it to guide and transform every part of life.

Bottom LIne:

Only God’s Word is a trustworthy authority for life—my opinions and the world’s values will mislead me, but Scripture will always guide me into truth and freedom. I will make a deliberate decision to continue to give the Bible final authority in my life by aligning one daily choice—big or small—with what God’s Word says rather than my feelings or outside influences.

Purpose Beyond Opinions

“The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in GOD protects you from that.” Proverbs 29:25 (MSG)

Anyone who has ever tried to do anything great has, at some point, come face-to-face with naysayers—people who tried to convince me that my dream or goal wasn’t worth going after.

• When the Wright brothers tried to fly their first plane, people told them it would never work, because humans can’t fly.

• When Moses led the Israelites across the desert, the people complained, “We’re going to die! We want to go back to Egypt!”

• When John F. Kennedy said the US would send a man to the moon, many people said it could never be done.

If these people had let the naysayers discourage them, imagine where the world would be today!

While some naysayers have bad intentions, not all naysayers are bad people. Some may truly want what’s best for me. They may even love me.

But they’re not God. 

So don’t treat their opinions like I would God’s opinions.

The Bible says, “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in GOD protects you from that” (Proverbs 29:25 MSG).

Some of us have been held back by the opinions of others, and we don’t even realize it. Others have become addicted to the approval of others.

But consider another translation of Proverbs 29:25: “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe” (GNT).

Other people’s opinions can sidetrack me from God’s purpose for my life.

When I give more weight to the opinions of others than I do to God’s opinion, I stay on the sidelines when God wants me in the game. I stay locked up in a prison of self-made fear.

Don’t let that happen.

Let go of my fears and trust God’s vision for my life—it’s bigger and better than anything I could dream up on my own. God is my biggest cheerleader, and he’ll supply everything I need to do what he’s planned for me. He wants me to succeed, and he’s working in my life to make it happen.

In summary:

Fearing the opinions of others can paralyze us and keep us from living out God’s purpose, but trusting in Him brings freedom and protection. Throughout history—from the Wright brothers to Moses to JFK—great achievements faced opposition, yet pressing forward required ignoring the naysayers. While some people may genuinely care, their opinions are not equal to God’s. When I give more weight to human approval than to God’s vision, I'll end up sidelined by fear instead of stepping into the life He has planned. Proverbs 29:25 reminds me that real safety comes from trusting God, not people, and His plan is always greater, backed by His love, encouragement, and provision.

Bottom Line: 

I shouldn't let fear of others’ opinions hold me back—trust God’s voice above all, and He will guide and equip me to live out His purpose. Today I will identify one area where you’ve been hesitating because of what others might think, and choose today to move forward in faith, trusting God’s approval over people’s.

No Barriers Between Us

“All of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NLT)

When Jesus was on the cross, he wasn’t just taking my place. He was also restoring my relationship to God by becoming my Mediator.

Mediators are people who bring two sides together. The Bible tells us that because of sin, we are separated from God. God is on one side, and all of us, as sinful people, are on the other side. And there is a divide between us that we can’t cross on our own.

But there’s good news! Jesus came to earth so he could go between us to bring us together. He is my Mediator—the bridge-builder between myself and God.

The Bible says, “All of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NLT). Jesus became the bridge between myself and God.

In the Old Testament, before Jesus came to earth, the only way someone could have access to God was through a priest. In fact, only the Jewish high priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies—the most sacred part of the Tabernacle. Once a year, he would enter to make atonement—making amends—for the sins of the people. This one priest represented all of Israel before God. He was the mediator between the people and God.

But when Jesus came, he made a way for each individual to have direct access to God. I don’t have to go through a priest or a saint or a pastor or any other person. I can talk directly to God. 

Jesus is my Priest and Mediator. That’s why I often end prayers with the phrase “in Jesus’ name.” It’s not a requirement to end prayers that way, but it’s one way I can acknowledge that Jesus made a way for me to go directly to God and ask him for anything. I can be confident that God hears, accepts and cares for me. 

Because of Jesus, I can have direct fellowship, communion, and conversation with God. He wants to be my friend! There is no better time to start talking to him and spending time with him than today.

In summary:

Because sin separated humanity from God, we needed a Mediator—and Jesus became that bridge through his death on the cross, reconciling us to God and giving us direct access to Him. Unlike in the Old Testament, where only a high priest could approach God on behalf of the people, Jesus made a way for each of us to personally come before God without barriers. Through Christ, my sins are no longer counted against me, and I am invited into fellowship, prayer, and friendship with God. This gift of reconciliation is not just for me to receive but also to share, as God has entrusted me with the message of bringing others back to Him.

Bottom Line: 

Jesus is my Mediator who reconciles me to God, giving me direct access to Him and inviting me into a personal relationship. I should spend intentional time talking with God today—pray directly to Him in Jesus’ name, knowing I am  fully heard, accepted, and loved.

God’s Correction Is for Your Good

“Happy is the person whom God corrects! Do not resent it when he rebukes you.” Job 5:17 (GNT)

If I'm running from what God has called me to do, there is something I should know: God is calling me back to him.

He knows that the longer I run, the worse life will get for me. And he wants to get my attention before it’s too late.

Even though God is patient, he won’t let me ignore his call forever. God loves me just the way I am, but he loves me far too much to let me stay that way.

One day he’s going to get my attention.

The prophet Jonah found this out the hard way when he ran from God by boarding a boat headed in the opposite direction from where God had called him. While on the boat, a storm came up—and “it was getting worse all the time” (Jonah 1:11 GNT).

The more Jonah ran, the worse the storm got. Jonah’s running had consequences.

It’s the same way for me. When I run from God, eventually I’ll find myself surrounded by storms. Sometimes those are the storms of God’s correction. But when God corrects me, it’s not negative. It’s because he loves me!

Loving parents discipline their children because they love them and want to see their children change their behavior for their own good. God is the same way. The Bible says: “Happy is the person whom God corrects! Do not resent it when he rebukes you” (Job 5:17 GNT).

As the storm got more intense, Jonah’s shipmates asked a question many people ask when troubles build: “What should we do . . . to stop the storm?” (Jonah 1:11 GNT). The answer is always the same. I must completely surrender my life to God. When I surrender, peace comes.

Jonah did this. He responded, “Throw me into the sea, and it will calm down. I know it is my fault that you are caught in this violent storm” (Jonah 1:12 GNT).

It was Jonah’s first unselfish act—and his first step toward a fresh start. He admitted he was the cause of the storm, and he surrendered to God’s will.

If I'm running from God’s plan for my life and now I'm facing a storm, surrender to him. It might not be a literal storm—or one where I'm tossed overboard like Jonah—but it feels just as overwhelming. The good news is, I can confidently surrender to God because he is for me, and he’s calling me back to him.

In summary:

When I run from God’s calling, life only grows harder, but God uses correction—like a loving parent—to bring me back to Him. Jonah learned this when he fled from God, only to face a worsening storm until he surrendered and admitted his fault, which became the first step toward a fresh start. In the same way, when I face storms in life, they may be God’s way of getting my attention and calling me to surrender. His correction isn’t punishment but love, reminding me that true peace comes when I stop resisting and fully submit to His will.

Bottom line:

Running from God only leads to storms, but His correction is an act of love that calls you back to Him.  So the next step is to stop resisting and fully surrender to God—acknowledge where I’ve been running, turn back to Him, and trust that His plan will bring peace and a fresh start.

Purpose is Written, Not Imagined

“Always remember what is written in the Book of the Teachings. Study it day and night to be sure to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything.” Joshua 1:8 (NCV)

Everyone wants something to live for—but many of us look for it in the wrong places. You can’t find your mission in a billboard, on social media, or by watching TV. You can’t just guess what it is either.

You can only find God’s mission for your life in one place: God’s Word.

Studies show that each of us has 600 to 700 talents, but we never use most of them. When you embrace God’s mission for your life, though, you’ll find that he can use many more of the gifts and talents he’s given you.

Jonah, one of God’s prophets in the Bible, received his life mission from God. The Bible says, “The LORD spoke his word to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Get up, go to the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it, because I see the evil things they do’” (Jonah 1:1-2 NCV).

God gave Jonah his mission. He’ll give you one too as you read his Word. The more you dig into the Bible, the more you'll understand your mission for life.

God uses many different ways to get his Word into your life. Sometimes you sit down to read it. Other times, you may hear someone preach it. And on other days you’ll read a devotional like this one. If the only time you open your Bible is when you’re in church, you likely will never discover God’s mission for your life.

Instead, make the Bible a regular part of your life. Spend time with God every day, even if it’s just a few minutes. Put it in your schedule—write it on your calendar, or set a daily alert on your phone.

Joshua 1:8 says, “Always remember what is written in the Book of the Teachings. Study it day and night to be sure to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything” (NCV).

If you want to successfully accomplish God’s mission for your life, stop looking for a vision and start looking for a verse. God won’t write your mission in the sky. He has already written it in his Word.

In summary:

True success and purpose come from discovering God’s mission for life through His Word, not from social media, entertainment, or guesswork. The Bible teaches in Joshua 1:8 (“Always remember what is written in the Book of the Teachings. Study it day and night to be sure to obey everything that is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything.”NCV)) that studying and obeying Scripture daily leads to wisdom and success. Just as Jonah received his mission directly from God, we too will find ours as we consistently engage with the Bible—whether by reading, hearing it preached, or studying devotionals. God has given us many untapped gifts and talents, and when we align with His mission, He can use them fully. To discover and live out our purposes, make God’s Word a regular part of our daily routine and let it guide life.

Bottom Line: We will only discover God’s mission for our life by regularly reading, studying, and obeying His Word so make Bible reading a daily habit—schedule it, set a reminder, and commit to spending time in Scripture so you can understand and live out God’s purpose for your life.

Why Self-Reliance Will Always Runs Dry

“My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT)

The sad reality is this: I live in a broken, fallen world—a world where sin and evil exist. And as a result, I live with unmet needs.

This is not a perfect place, so all my needs will not be met while I live on earth. I have unmet relational, physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs. I have a need to be known and understood and loved.

It’s understandable to want my needs to be met, but the last thing I should do is try to meet them my own way instead of trusting God. When I think I can meet my needs better than God can, it leads to broken hearts, broken dreams, broken bodies, and broken promises.

God said, “My people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me—the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” (Jeremiah 2:13 NLT).  

A cistern is a hole dug into the ground to store water. In a well, you have water that’s coming up from the ground. But a cistern is not connected to a water source, so it has to be constantly filled with water. Over time the water leaks into the ground, and the cistern goes dry. It eventually runs out of water. It’s temporary. Also, because there’s no new water coming into the cistern, the water can become murky and polluted. 

God is saying that when I try to meet my needs in my own way, it’s like trying to keep fresh water in a cracked cistern. I will always run out of water in a cracked cistern—and I will always run out of power when I'm trying to meet my needs on my own.

In the book of John, Jesus refers to himself as Living Water. He said, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38 NIV). God’s love and care for me and the power he gives me to live the Christian life are like a well that never runs dry. When I trust in him, he’ll take care of all my needs in the best way and at the right time. I will have everything I need.

So I shouldn't dig my own cistern that will always go dry. Instead, trust in the Living Water that never runs out!

In summary: 

This passage reminds me that in a broken world, I will always have unmet needs—relational, emotional, physical, or spiritual—but trying to meet them on my own only leaves me empty, like storing water in a cracked cistern that leaks dry. God warns that when I abandon Him, the true fountain of living water, and rely on my own ways, the results are temporary, polluted, and unsatisfying. Jesus, the Living Water, offers a never-ending source of love, strength, and provision. The wisest choice is to stop digging my own cisterns and instead trust fully in Him, who alone can meet my needs in the right way and at the right time.

Bottom line: 

Only God, the Living Water, can truly meet my needs—if I try to do it my own way, I’ll always end up empty.  My next wisest step is to pause and identify one “cracked cistern” in my life—one area where I've been trying to meet my own needs apart from God (maybe control, overworking, seeking approval, or numbing distractions). Write it down, and then intentionally surrender it in prayer, asking God to be my Living Water in that specific area.

Finding Hope in a Broken World

“The LORD is kind to everyone who trusts and obeys him.” Lamentations 3:25 (CEV)

We live on a broken planet, with natural disasters, physical decay, and death. There’s emotional distress and disappointment, distance and discord in relationships, and spiritual discontent and darkness. It’s no wonder why there is an epidemic of hopelessness in our world. I would feel hopeless too if I thought this broken place was the end of the story—but it’s not. There’s good news!

How can I be happy in a world full of pain and suffering and sorrow? How can I be happy when I deeply and personally feel the effects of broken bodies, broken relationships, and broken hope? 

Do what Jeremiah did. Jeremiah was a prophet who experienced plenty of suffering and disappointment. He wrote the book of Lamentations, where he gives his testimony:

“I cannot find peace or remember happiness. . . . Thinking of my troubles and my lonely wandering makes me miserable. That’s all I ever think about, and I am depressed. Then I remember something that fills me with hope. The LORD’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. The LORD can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. Deep in my heart I say, ‘The LORD is all I need; I can depend on him!’ The LORD is kind to everyone who trusts and obeys him” (Lamentations 3:17, 19-25 CEV).

The key to happiness in a broken, messed up, damaged world is ultimately this: The Lord is all I need.

So I shouldn't put my trust in people, because they can let me down. I shouldn't put my trust in circumstances, because they can disappoint me. I shouldn't put my trust in the things of this world, because they won’t last.

Instead put your trust in God. Remember his promises to me in his Word and his faithfulness to me in the past. Then I'll be able to trust in his unfailing kindness for my future. I'll be able to obey him with joy and say with confidence, “The Lord is all I need. I can depend on him!”

In summary: 

In a broken world filled with pain, disappointment, and hopelessness, the key to true peace and joy is trusting in God’s unfailing kindness. Like Jeremiah, who poured out his struggles in Lamentations yet found hope in God’s mercy and faithfulness, we are reminded that people, circumstances, and things will fail us—but the Lord never does. His kindness and mercy are new every morning, and when I choose to trust and obey Him, we can confidently say, “The Lord is all I need; I can depend on Him.”

Bottom LIne: 

In a broken world, true hope and lasting peace come only from trusting in God’s unfailing kindness and depending on Him each day.

Based on this, my next wisest step is to pause and recall a specific moment when God has been faithful to you in the past—write it down, thank Him for it, and let that memory fuel my trust and obedience today. 

Hope in a Broken World

“The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.” 2 Peter 3:9 (GW)

When God looks down on the earth and sees so much sin in the world, why does he put up with it? He’s got the power to shut it all down. So why is he allowing a broken planet to continue to limp along?

Because although the world’s broken, God is still in control—and history is moving toward a climax. History is his story, and he’s not finished yet.

The Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act” (GW). 

God is patiently enduring all the grief that he sees on this planet. Why? Because he’s waiting for people to step across the line and follow Jesus as their Savior and Lord. He wants all people to become part of his family—that includes me!

And if I'm in his family, he wants me to tell everyone I know about the Good News of Jesus because he wants them in his family too. God is waiting so that more people have the opportunity to receive his grace.

Many people say, “I can’t believe in a God who would callously stand by, unmoved, and watch children suffer.” I don’t believe in that kind of God either!

I believe in a God who weeps when he sees the people he created hurting each other. And I believe in a God who is one day going to stop evil dead in its tracks and settle the score. The Bible says there’s going to be a day when God judges all sin and evil.

But here’s the good news: Since I’ve accepted Jesus as my Savior, I don’t need to fear that day. The Bible says, “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NLT). That means when I stand before God, I won’t stand there alone or ashamed. I'll stand in his grace—totally forgiven, because of what Jesus has already done for me on the cross.

Yes, the world is broken, and yes, there’s evil—but God is in control. He’s still got the whole world in his hands. And he’s giving everyone a little more time to choose him and to tell others about his love for them.

What am I waiting for? 

In summary: 

God has not forgotten His promises, nor is He slow to act—He is patient, giving the world time to repent and turn to Him. Though the world is broken and filled with sin, God is still in control and history is moving toward His final plan. He endures the grief of evil because He desires everyone to have the opportunity to receive His grace and join His family through Jesus. For those who have accepted Christ, there is no condemnation, only forgiveness and hope. Until the day He sets all things right, God calls me to trust His timing, live in His grace, and share the Good News so that others may also find life in Him.

Bottom line: 

God delays judgment out of love, giving everyone more time to turn to Him—and if I already belong to Christ, my role is to share His grace and hope with others. 

I need to prayerfully identify one person in my life who needs encouragement, hope, or an introduction to God’s love—and then take a small, intentional action to reach out to them this week (a conversation, a note, a prayer, or an invitation).

From Harm to Hope: God’s Greater Purpose

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

Every problem in life has a purpose; there’s meaning in the mess of it all.

When I'm in the middle of a difficulty, it’s hard to see its purpose. But hindsight is 20/20—so when I look back at a problem after I've gotten through it, I often can see what God was doing.

God can take everything in our lives—the good stuff, the bad stuff, the hurtful stuff, the bizarre stuff—and use it for good.

Remember, God doesn’t cause my problems. But he does allow them so he can use them for his own good intentions, even when other people have bad intentions.

A great example of this in the Bible is the story of Joseph. Joseph faced a whole string of terrible problems. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers. He was falsely accused of seducing his master’s wife. He was thrown into prison. 

But Joseph kept on being faithful. And eventually he was placed second in charge over all of Egypt. In this role, he was able to save entire nations from famine. He was even able to save his own family—including his brothers, who had sold him into slavery. 

He told his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20 NIV). Joseph knew that God’s good intentions had been working, even in the bad circumstances of his life.

I will be in bad situations at times. It may seem like everything has gone wrong. People with bad intentions may have hurt me. But God intends to bring good out of it. He wants me to bring him the broken pieces of my life. He can bring peace out of those pieces.

Remember, God’s purpose is greater than any problems I've been through. And he’ll bring good out of them if I'll trust him.

In Summary:

Life’s problems are never wasted—God can use even the hardest and most painful circumstances for good. Like Joseph, who was betrayed, falsely accused, and imprisoned before being raised to power and saving countless lives, I can trust that God’s purpose is greater than the intentions of others or the trials I face. Though God doesn’t cause my problems, he allows them and weaves them into his greater plan, turning brokenness into peace and setbacks into opportunities for growth. My role is to stay faithful, trust him with the pieces of my life, and believe that he is working for good even when I can’t yet see it.

Bottom Line:

No matter the harm or hardship, God can turn it into good and fulfill His greater purpose in our lives.  The next step is for me to Bring a difficult situation or painful memory to God in prayer, asking Him to show me how He can use it for good.