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

Have you ever had one of those days where you felt out of step? Things just weren’t quite right. You were a little “off,” reacting instead of taking the initiative on things. Overall, you were “blah.” Today, we're going to look at getting back in step.

KEY PASSAGE:

Luke 6:47-49 (NIV)

As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.

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

Our salvation should have a radical impact on our generosity. If the reality of Christ's generous sacrifice makes an imprint on our heart, we will respond with extreme generosity. Today, we'll meet a man who experienced this transformation.

I’m referring to Zacchaeus, the short tax collector who was transformed by Jesus. The Bible tells us in Luke 19 this man was very wealthy. Happily going about his highly profitable business, Zacchaeus enjoyed the luxuries of his two-chariot garage, slave service, country club membership and his luxury box at Gladiator Stadium. Life was good.

But not good enough.

KEY PASSAGE:

2 Corinthians 9:11-13 NIV

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

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

Everywhere I turn, all sorts of things shout at me, beckoning me to invite them into my life. I didn’t think I needed a second home in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains until a full-color brochure landed in my mailbox yesterday. The price was right. The views were beautiful. They said the climate was perfect. I have to admit that I was starting to take the bait.

You get the same invitations, I’m sure. Cars, homes, vacation deals in exotic places. How are we to handle these temptations? We'll explore it together in today's audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

I John 2:15-17 NIV

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

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