Fear has a way of playing with our emotions. It can rattle us, paralyze us.

Fear has a way of amplifying small, negative thoughts that creep into our minds. We even project things that aren’t likely to happen. Most of our fears never come true.

In the Old Testament, God sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan, which he was going to give Israel. He stated it so clearly to Moses, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel" (Numbers 13:1 ESV). And that's where we'll start our audio devotional today.

KEY PASSAGE:

1 John 4:17-19

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us.

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

We’re all familiar with the parable of the prodigal son. As a refresher, this was the rebellious kid who decided he had just about enough of his father and marched off with his share of the inheritance. I’m not sure if his mother was still living, but I can imagine the hurt she felt with her son leaving.

After a season of prodigal living (prodigal means “wasteful”), the son was out of money, out of bounds, out of friends and certainly out of his mind. But it's not the prodigal we'll be looking at today. We'll take a look at his brother, who had an envy problem. Join me on today's audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

James 3:13-17 NIV

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

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

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

When we pray, we release our concerns to God. We praise him for who he is. We confess sin. We thank him. We turn our hearts to him. Instead of our tasks becoming our focus, prayer is at the center. The thought of this is restful.

Rest is more than a physical thing. It’s spiritual, too.When you rest with God in prayer, worries and anxieties diminish. Being in the presence of God chases away those feelings. If they don’t fade away, then you need more time with God. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 NIV).

Join me today as we take a look at where prayer and rest intersect.

KEY PASSAGE:

Matthew 6:6-8 NIV

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask 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

Can you imagine what our relationship with God would be like if we closed our mouths and listened? Not for 60 seconds. Or five minutes. How about 15 minutes of silence before God? It’s one of the most refreshing practices you can develop.

Wayne Cordeiro, a pastor in Hawaii, tells the story of how he burned out after 30 years in the pulpit. You might wonder how someone can burn out in Hawaii. Yes, it happens even there.

To get his life back, Wayne forced himself to be silent before God in a peaceful, quiet setting. For days. Even weeks. He went to a monastery! It wasn’t easy at first. He snuck out a couple times to use his cell phone. Eventually, Wayne did get his life back, but it took a long season of listening to God.

Join me today as we center in on listening to God.

KEY PASSAGE:

Psalm 130:5-7 (NIV)

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen wait for the morning,

more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

for with the Lord is unfailing love

and with him is full redemption.

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

“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done” (Genesis 2:2 ESV).

God must have been exhausted after creating the universe, because he took a whole day off. I know that’s an absurd thought, but we can’t ignore the fact that God did rest. And he did it for a reason.

More on that in today's audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Psalm 42:1-2, 8 (NIV)

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, my God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When can I go and meet with God?

By day the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is with me—

a prayer to the God of my 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