Episodes

  • A request

    A request
    Nov 17 2025
    Hi everyone, Matthew here with a quick reminder that The Up Daily Devotional is on pause this week. I'm having some dedicated study and prayer time. It will return this coming Monday. Until then, here's a short message and request for those who listen to the podcast version:
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    2 mins
  • The Lord of the Rings and encouragement

    The Lord of the Rings and encouragement
    Nov 14 2025
    “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).I was recently surprised to learn that JRR Tolkien could get discouraged about his work. He wrote the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy, perhaps one of the greatest movie epics of all time. It chronicles the battle between … Continue reading The Lord of the Rings and encouragement
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    2 mins
  • Faithfulness is a team sport

    Faithfulness is a team sport
    Nov 13 2025
    My colleague Paul Carter says: “Faithfulness is a team sport.”*That’s an important reminder, especially for Christians in the modern west. Our society is highly individualistic. We can get sucked into the thinking that faith is only about “me and Jesus.”Don’t get me wrong. It is definitely about you and Jesus. But it is also more … Continue reading Faithfulness is a team sport
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    2 mins
  • The heart enlargement business

    The heart enlargement business
    Nov 12 2025
    Look at the word ‘encouragement.’ In the middle of it there is the word ‘courage.’ It’s based on an old French word for heart: ‘corage.’ Encouragement is about enlarging or fortifying someone’s heart—who they are within—so that they can face the battles of life. As Jesus’ people, encouragement isn’t just something we receive, but something we share … Continue reading The heart enlargement business
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    1 min
  • Help of the helpless, oh abide with me

    Help of the helpless, oh abide with me
    Nov 11 2025
    Today is Remembrance Day, also called Veterans Day or Armistice Day in other countries.We remember and give thanks for those who lost their lives in the miseries of war.We wear poppies. We read In Flanders Fields. We thank veterans. We pray for peace. We consider the value of our freedoms. We attend Remembrance Sunday services … Continue reading Help of the helpless, oh abide with me
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    2 mins
  • Abide, abide, abide. Then abide some more.

    Abide, abide, abide. Then abide some more.
    Nov 10 2025
    Some of the biblical authors use repetition to drive home a point. It is an effective way to keep focusing our attention on something critical.The apostle John does this very well. He uses the word “abide” a lot. This refers to “a close, intimate (and permanent) relationship between the believer and God.”*I’m going to give … Continue reading Abide, abide, abide. Then abide some more.
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    2 mins
  • The Spirit helps us in our weakness

    The Spirit helps us in our weakness
    Nov 7 2025
    Let me share one of the most comforting verses in the Bible.There are times when we feel as if our prayer life is deflated. In fact, there are times when we feel deflated, generally speaking. Things are not as they should be. We feel as though we can barely do the basics let alone follow … Continue reading The Spirit helps us in our weakness
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    2 mins
  • What’s happening in your heart matters

    What’s happening in your heart matters
    Nov 6 2025
    We’ve been talking about prayer.Did you know that when it comes to effective prayer, what is happening in your heart matters?Recently I was struck by Psalm 66:18. The psalmist says: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”When someone “cherishes” something they are adoring it; they are protecting it. … Continue reading What’s happening in your heart matters
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    2 mins