Posts with the category “surrender-and-trust”

06/15/2025“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”- Romans 8:28 (NIV)This is one of the most quoted and beloved verses in all of Scripture, and for good reason. Today’s verse from Romans is a promise we often reach for when life doesn’t make sense. When tragedy strikes, when doors slam shut, or when prayers seem u...  Read More

06/11/2025“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”—2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)The battlefield of the Christian life is often not fought on distant shores or in crowded arenas, but within the quiet chambers of the mind. Paul’s words in today’s verse pull back the curtain on this unsee...  Read More

06/10/2025“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”- Revelation 21:4 (NIV)Imagine standing at the end of a long, hard journey, bruised, weary, and worn. The road has been uphill, the nights dark, and the pain real. And then suddenly, you hear these words: “There will be no more death, or mour...  Read More

06/09/2025“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” - Luke 18:14 (NIV)In this verse, Jesus finishes telling a parable about two men who went to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood confidently, listing his reli...  Read More

06/08/2025“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”— Acts 4:31 (NIV)The early church was under pressure. Peter and John had just been threatened by the religious leaders for preaching in the name of Jesus. Instead of retreating in fear, the believers gathered to pray. They didn’t ask God to mak...  Read More

06/07/2025“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” — 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NIV)In his final instructions to the Corinthian church, Paul doesn’t mince words. He fires off a series of bold commands, almost like a spiritual coach rallying his team before they take the field. These aren’t casual suggestions, they’re a call to spiritual vigilance, stability, and courage in ...  Read More

06/06/2025“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”- Mark 8:35 (NIV)At first glance, Jesus’ words here seem completely upside down. In a world that screams, “Look out for number one,” “Build your brand,” and “Protect your peace,” Jesus dares to flip the script. He presents a paradox: to truly live, we must surrender; t...  Read More

06/05/2025“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” —1 Chronicles 16:11 (NIV)Life has a way of draining our strength. The pressures of family, the weight of responsibility, the never-ending to-do lists—all can wear us down. But what if the strength we truly need doesn’t come from within us? What if it’s found in Someone far greater?David’s song in 1 Chronicles 16 is a call to wors...  Read More

06/02/2025And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”- Matthew 18:3–5 (NIV)When Jesus pulled a child into the center of the conversation, it must have stunn...  Read More

05/31/2025“For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”- Psalm 100:5 (NIV)Have you ever had a moment when life felt unpredictable, when the world shifted beneath your feet, and the people or plans you trusted suddenly failed you? In times like that, we long for something, someone, unchanging. Psalm 100:5 gives us that anchor: “For the Lord...  Read More

05/30/2025“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.”— 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)There’s something beautiful about a gift that’s given with joy. Whether it’s a child offering a crayon drawing to their parent, or a friend surprising you with coffee just because, it’s not the cost of the gift that touches th...  Read More

05/29/2025“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”—Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)When I was a kid, my family took a long road trip before GPS was even a thought. We had a folded paper map and my dad behind the wheel. Somewhere in the panhandle of Texas, we got lost. I remember watching my dad pull ov...  Read More

05/27/2025“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”— 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)We live in a world that worships six-pack abs, step counts, and wellness challenges, it’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of physical fitness. There’s nothing wrong with taking care of our bodies, in fact, Scripture aff...  Read More

05/24/2025“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”- Matthew 25:35-36 (NIV)Jesus paints a vivid picture of what true discipleship looks like, not in theory, but in action. These verses...  Read More

05/21/2025“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”— Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)There are few verses in Scripture that proclaim the depth and certainty of God’s love as powerfu...  Read More

05/20/2025“Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;’”— Mark 12:10 (NIV)Jesus spoke these words in the midst of a confrontation with the religious leaders. He had just told the parable of the tenants, an allegory that exposed how the leaders had consistently rejected God’s messengers and would ultimately reject God’s Son. But tucked in...  Read More

05/17/2025“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”- John 16:13 (NIV)In this moment with His disciples, Jesus was preparing them for life without His physical presence. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit, the One who would come after His ascension to guid...  Read More

05/15/2025Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”— Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)Our words are not just sounds, they are seeds. Every conversation we have plants something: encouragement or discouragement, peace or tension, truth or confusion. That’s why Paul urges the believers ...  Read More

05/13/2025“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)Life has a way of throwing us into whirlwinds, unexpected news, financial pressure, strained relationships, or the slow ...  Read More

05/09/2025“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”- John 13:14 (NIV)In one of the most stunning and humbling moments in the Gospels, Jesus, God in the flesh, wrapped a towel around His waist, knelt down, and washed the dirty feet of His disciples. This act wasn’t a pause in His divinity; it was a perfect picture of it. It wasn’t weakness....  Read More

05/07/2025“The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.”— Zechariah 14:9 (NIV)There’s coming a day when confusion, division, and false hope will finally come to an end. Zechariah’s vision reaches beyond his own time to the glorious future when God Himself will reign supreme over all creation, not just in the hearts of His people, but o...  Read More

05/06/2025“Why, my soul, are you downcast?Why so disturbed within me?Put your hope in God,for I will yet praise him,my Savior and my God.”—Psalm 42:11 (NIV)There are moments in life when our soul feels heavy, when sadness hangs like a fog that refuses to lift. Psalm 42 gives voice to that very feeling. The psalmist isn’t afraid to admit that he is deeply troubled. His soul is downcast, a word that...  Read More

05/03/2025“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?”—Matthew 6:25 (NIV)In a world filled with uncertainties, anxiety has become a constant companion for many. Jesus speaks directly to this in our verse today. These words are part of His famous Sermon on the Mou...  Read More

05/01/2025“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”— Ephesians 3:20–21 (NIV)There are moments in life when our prayers feel too small in the face of great needs. Other times, our dreams feel too big for the reali...  Read More

04/30/2025“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”- Romans 12:1 (NIV)When we think of the word sacrifice, we often think of something costly, something painful, something we give up. In the Old Testament, sacrifice meant placing an animal on the altar to be offer...  Read More

04/28/2025“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”— Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)Imagine standing on the edge of a vast ocean on a foggy morning. You can’t see beyond a few feet ahead, but you know, without a doubt, that the water stretches far beyond what your eyes can capture. That’s the essence of faith. It is confidence in what we hope for, and a steadfast ass...  Read More

04/27/2025“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”—Luke 19:38 (NIV)Have you ever waited for something so long that when it finally arrived, you could hardly believe it was real? Maybe it was the acceptance letter, the long-anticipated wedding day, or the birth of a child. Joy fills your heart, and your lips can’t help but shout in celebra...  Read More

04/26/2025“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”— Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)Face it, darkness can feel overwhelming. Trapped, suffocating, no way out. Whether it’s the darkness of fear, grief, confusion, or sin, it has a way of settling into our hearts, making it hard to see the way forward. Today’s verse from Isaiah was wri...  Read More

4/25/2025“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” – Psalm 34:19 (NIV)Trouble is no stranger to any of us. Whether it comes in the form of a broken relationship, financial strain, a health crisis, or the loss of someone we love, life can hit hard. And sometimes it hits the righteous hardest. That seems unfair, doesn’t it?Yet, today’s verse pulls back t...  Read More

04/18/2025“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”— John 15:13 (NIV)Love is often measured in words, gestures, and time, but Jesus gives us the ultimate standard: sacrifice. In this single verse, He reveals the depth of His love not just in sentiment, but in action. This wasn’t just a nice thought or an inspiring quote, it was a prophecy of what He was about t...  Read More

04/17/2025“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” — John 6:51 (NIV)There are moments in Scripture where Jesus says something so radical, so profound, that it causes an uproar among those who hear it. Today’s verse is one of those moments. Jesus isn’t just offering encourageme...  Read More

04/14/2025“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”— Matthew 23:37 (NIV)This verse is one of the most emotionally charged statements Jesus ever made. It’s not a moment of anger or judgment, though it comes at the end of a chapter full...  Read More

04/12/2025“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”- Galatians 5:13 (NIV)Freedom is a precious gift. And in Christ, it’s more than political liberty or personal autonomy, it’s the spiritual release from sin and the law. Paul reminds the believers in Galatia that their new life in Christ is not...  Read More

04/11/2025“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”– Philippians 4:13 (NIV)This verse has become a favorite for athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday believers alike. It’s printed on coffee mugs, stitched into gym bags, and quoted in moments of both triumph and challenge. But this verse is more than a motivational slogan. It’s a declaration of dependence, not independence. And to full...  Read More

04/08/2025“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.— Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)There are moments in life when it feels like everything is coming against us. Words spoken in anger, actions taken in secret, spiritual battles waged in silence. Face ...  Read More

04/07/2025“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”- Acts 4:12 (NIV)The early church was bold. In today’s reading, Peter and John had just healed a man who had been lame from birth. The religious leaders were furious. Not just because of the miracle, but because it was done in the name of Jesus. When questioned, Peter s...  Read More

04/06/2025“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”— Philippians 3:10–11 (NIV)There’s a longing in these words that echoes the heart of every true believer. Paul, who had already encountered Christ in a powerful way and had given up everything ...  Read More

04/05/2025“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”– Exodus 33:14 NIVMoses had just experienced one of the most intense moments of his leadership. The Israelites had sinned greatly by worshiping the golden calf, and Moses was in the middle of trying to intercede for them, asking God not to abandon His people. It’s in this moment of uncertainty and pressure that ...  Read More

04/04/2025“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”– Genesis 1:1 NIVThere’s something extremely powerful about beginnings. The first line of the Bible sets the tone for everything that follows: “In the beginning God…” Before time started ticking, before matter took shape, before light split from darkness, God was there.Today’s verse isn’t just a historical statement, it’s a theolog...  Read More

04/03/2025“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”—1 Corinthians 10:31 NIVIt’s a simple command, yet it covers every corner of our lives; Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. This verse isn’t confined to just the spiritual or sacred moments like Sunday morning worship or prayer time. It reaches into the mundane, the routine, the seemingly insign...  Read More