What would be the hardest thing for you to surrender to Jesus?

Is it your media consumption? MLB TV, NFL Sunday Ticket, Hallmark Channel, Netflix, HGTV, news channels, You Tube or any other favorite can steal your heart. Is there any time and energy left for Jesus and the Word?

How about your device? My iPhone reminds me each week how many hours I’ve staring at it. The number is always higher than I had expected.

Hobbies can be painful to surrender. Video games, too. We can go overboard with working out. And yes, we can’t forget about food. Let's have an honest discussion (with God) today in our audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Do you remember a time when you knew you had to ask God for forgiveness, but you were hard-hearted?

That angry outburst towards your spouse or child. The moral misstep that you deeply regret. The lie that slipped out of your mouth.

You went about your business for days, waiting for the guilt to disappear. You covered your sinful tracks by sweeping dirt over them. Good works, fake joy, kind acts and whatever came to mind. You tried to remove the guilt, but the weight of your sin crushed your spirit.

Let's come together today and seek God about this in our audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Psalm 51:1-10 NIV

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;

you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

You and I are all set in life. Comfortable homes, nice cars and padded bank accounts.

“Hey, that’s not me!” you say. You push back on me. You rent, your car needs repairs and you’re living paycheck to paycheck.

Still, if you live in North America, you’re in the top 1% of the world’s population when it comes to wealth.

Why do I bring this up? Because our comfort is a buffer to surrender. Let's explore that further today.

KEY PASSAGE:

Matthew 6:10-13 NIV

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com