Jesus warns us about building our lives on the sand.

“And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:26-27 ESV).

I picture a sandy foundation made up of things that dissolve or have no substance. Ouch. I don’t want that. What are those things I have to watch out for? Today, we consider three of them in our audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

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

Several years ago (even though it seems like yesterday), my wife and I were at a crossroads that defined our faith. She was diagnosed with cancer. The word itself can send chills up and down your spine. It stops you in your tracks. It puts life on hold. Fear tried to show up, as it often does when cancer strikes. If you’ve been there, you know what I mean. Join me on today's audio devotional to hear the rest of our story.

KEY PASSAGE:

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NIV)

God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to 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

Some people have compared faith to a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.

If you read Hebrews 11, you’ll be inspired by the great men and women of great faith. It’s the Hall of Faith, as some have called it. We learn that they didn’t acquire their strong faith instantly, but that their faith muscles were developed over time. God put them through a training program. Today, we'll look at three things God used to build our faith muscle, just as God did for his people in Hebrews 11.

KEY PASSAGE:

Hebrews 11:8-12 (NIV)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

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

Jesus was the most courageous man I know. He wasn’t forced to go to the cross. He went willingly. He was God and could have vanished from sight. But he was on a mission to save the world.

Jesus went to the cross to forgive. He extended forgiveness to you, me and all of mankind. We didn’t deserve this priceless treasure.

Are you struggling with the courage to forgive someone? Today's audio devotional can help you overcome.

KEY PASSAGE:

Romans 5:6-10 (NIV)

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

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

In our spiritual life, doubts can shred our courage in the Lord. Look what happened to that guy known as “Doubting Thomas.” He struggled with his faith. He wouldn’t step out courageously for the crucified Savior until he absolutely knew Jesus rose from the dead.

“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

You can’t blame Thomas. Rising from the dead wasn’t normal back then, just as it isn’t now. So a little doubt is allowed, right?

If you're dealing with doubts right now, today's audio devotional is for you.

KEY PASSAGE:

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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.

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

A boxer calls it getting up off the mat. In basketball, it’s rebounding from a tough loss. In baseball, a struggling hitter climbs out of a slump.

Even for the pros, defeat has a way of sapping their courage. They’re human. And just like them, we cower instead of conquer. We shake instead of shine.

How can we have courage when we feel defeated? Let's look at a Bible great, Elijah. God showed up for him when he needed him most.

KEY PASSAGE:

1 Kings 19:11-12 NIV

A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

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

Jesus turned over the money-changers’ tables in the temple. He was outraged. Broken. Intensely angry. His very Father’s house was being used illegitimately. A disgrace to God.

Sometimes we need to stand up for what is right. We recognize an injustice and do something about it. We don’t need to turn tables over, but we might need to turn things upside down. In today's audio devotional, I share my passion about something close to my heart--and God's

KEY PASSAGE:

Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

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

The more I know Jesus, the more I want to know him. I discover that he is the Good Shepherd and I get lost in that aspect of my relationship with him. What is it like to have the Good Shepherd lead me into life, like he says he will in John 10:4 and 10:10? “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. I have come that they may have life.” (NIV)

This life that Jesus gives me is full, abundant, meaningful. I want it. I want more of it. It comes as a byproduct of knowing him. There is nothing more rich than knowing Jesus, the Lord of the Universe, the giver of life, the sacrificial Savior. Need I go on with the superlatives describing this amazing Jesus?

Let's dive in deeper in today's audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

John 10:7-14 NIV

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep."

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