Resting in His Perfect Righteousness Written By The Life Team He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:25 For years, I was a professional at "getting right" with God. I spent most of my time in a cycle of guilt and recommitment. I’d attend a spiritual gathering, feel the weight of my failures, and promise God that this time would be different. I’d feel "right" on Sunday, but by Wednesday, I was back in the cycle of shame. It was exhausting—a spiritual roller coaster that left me feeling like I was constantly auditioning for a role I had already lost. Maybe you’ve felt that same frenetic energy. We often treat our relationship with God like a performance review that never ends. We think our behavior today dictates our standing with him tomorrow. But that weight was never meant for our shoulders. The doctrine of justification is the antidote to this spiritual exhaustion. Romans 4:25 tells us that Jesus was raised for our justification—a legal term meaning we have been declared "not guilty." There are two life-changing sides to this truth: Complete Pardon: You are forgiven for your past, your present, and even the mistakes you haven't made yet. It is a once-and-for-all verdict. Because Jesus took the punishment we deserved, the gavel has already fallen. Imputed Righteousness: This is the "great exchange." On our own, our moral track record is insufficient to meet the standard of God’s holiness. However, through faith, Jesus credits his perfect record to us. When God looks at you, he sees the perfect life of his son. As Romans 5:1-2 reminds us, because we are justified by faith, we have peace with God. It isn't a fragile peace that breaks when we have a bad day; it is a permanent standing in grace. Imagine how your life would change if you truly believed you were as "right" with God as you will ever be. When we stop trying to earn our standing, we finally have the energy to actually live for him. Living by the Spirit isn't about white-knuckling our way to holiness to keep God happy. It’s about responding to a love that has already secured us. When you stop looking at your own performance and start looking at Jesus’ finished work, the motivation for your "good works" shifts from fear to gratitude. You don’t serve to get right; you serve because you are loved. Lord Jesus, thank you for doing for me what I could never do for myself. I confess that I often try to save myself through my own efforts and "good" behavior. Today, I choose to rest in your finished work. Thank you for wrapping me in your robe of righteousness and for the peace that comes from knowing the verdict is already in. Help me to walk today in the freedom of your grace. Amen. Throughout the Day: Take ten minutes today to sit in silence and meditate on the phrase: "I am already accepted." If a thought of guilt or a past mistake comes to mind, visualize yourself handing it to Jesus and receiving His "report card" in return. You might also find it helpful to listen to a song that focuses on God’s grace, letting the truth of your "not guilty" status sink deep into your heart. #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God

Resting in God’s Control Written By Jacie Conley Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 We all have ways in which we like to get physical rest. Maybe it’s one day a week, not setting the alarm and waking up whenever. Or, maybe it’s taking a day completely to yourself and doing what you enjoy best. But what about spiritual rest? What about a moment of rest for your soul and mind? Over the years, I have found that my mind is at rest the most when I fully rely on God and surrender to him. There is beauty and peace in knowing that our heavenly Father has everything under control. It’s me getting out of the driver’s seat of my life and letting God drive. I can sit back and not worry about how things will turn out. I know God has an itinerary for the road of life I’m traveling. My job is to surrender my will and let God’s will work in my life. Is that an easy task? Not all the time, but it is worth it. It’s a task that requires me to lean in and listen to God’s guidance every day. One way we can rest in his control is by seeking God first whenever a challenge comes up. Maybe it’s an illness or something as small as being inconvenienced. It’s in these moments that we can stop and pray, “God, what do you want me to learn from this challenge?” Listen for his leading and rest in the peace that comes with it. I would encourage each of us to take time each day to deliberately focus on God’s presence, and listen to him. He has rest for our mind, soul, and body. God is waiting for us to allow him to lead our lives. Dear Lord, teach me to let go and let you lead. Quiet my heart and fill me with your peace. Amen. Throughout this Day: Take a moment to bring your needs to Jesus. Give them to him and in return receive rest. #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God

My Unfruitful Garden Written By Gail Rodgers The seeds that fell among the thorn bushes are the people who listen, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries, wealth, and pleasures of life, and their fruit doesn’t mature. But the ones on the good soil are the people who hear the Word but also hold on to it with good and honest hearts, producing a crop through endurance. Luke 8:14-15 I had expected a bountiful garden — but it wasn’t looking too healthy. The rain had come, that wasn’t the problem. It was the soil. The sandy earth needed enriching, and I hadn’t put anything into it. The spruce trees surrounding the garden had pulled much of the moisture to their roots, and their acidic needles created an environment that stunted growth. The seeds I planted had been good, but the soil lacked nutrients. As I looked on my garden, I couldn’t help but see a spiritual parallel. God’s Word is the seed that comes into our lives. We know that He says He loves us unconditionally, that He will be our strength when we are weak. We know His grace and wisdom will be there to draw on when we need it. The seed is good, but we still can find ourselves reacting throughout our day in ways that don’t reflect its goodness. That’s why God tells us to tend the soil of our hearts. If we aren’t careful, the cares and worries of this world can create an acidic environment that stunts the seeds of God’s Word. A closed mind allows the enemy of our souls to steal the seeds that bounce off the hard ground we allow in our hearts. Then there are seeds that sprout but don’t take root and wither away. The appeal of God’s help and activity in our lives is attractive, but when trusting becomes hard, the seed withers. Some seeds are simply choked out by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures; we don’t let God’s truths become part of who we are. It’s easy to read God’s Word or listen to a sermon and think, “That’s really good,” but forget to apply it as soon as we walk away. Let’s allow God’s Word to take root in our lives and change us so that we produce a bountiful crop of love and peace and joy — that feeds others, too. Dear God, sometimes I don’t pay attention to the soil of my heart. I let the seeds of Your Word bounce away. Today I ask that You would help me to keep my heart soft and not let it get hardened by events and people in my life. Keep me from a shallowness that lets go of what You say when the moment is tough. Help me to be careful not to let the worries of the world choke out Your Word and Your work in my life. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, help me think on Your Word, apply it to my life, and keep my heart soft. I know it is only Your crop in my life that truly brings peace and satisfaction. Thank You Jesus. I pray in Your name, amen. Throughout This Day: Consider the soil of your heart for a moment right now. Is it hard? Have you allowed a crusty barrier to exist between you and God? Is it shallow? Do hard circumstances cause your faith to falter easily? Is it choked out by the cares of this world? Does busyness keep God’s Word from taking root in your life? Determine today to give His Word a greater priority in your life. Let it become part of who you are by letting it seep into your very nature by His power. #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God

Ephesians 6 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph. 6:17) Our human minds function as the control center for the rest of our bodies. They help give direction to our physical actions and our emotional well-being. Whether conscious or subconscious, our brain activity directs everything about us. This means that what we allow to take up space in our minds will shape our perspective and decisions, influence our emotions, and affect the way we live. More specifically, our thought life can help us walk in the way of Jesus or lead us away from him. The enemy knows this and will often try to attack our minds by presenting us with opportunities to entertain information that will either discourage or distract us. For example, in seasons of difficulty we can begin to internalize the discouraging belief that our situations will never change. On the other hand, we can be distracted by beliefs that lead us into a rhythm of busyness or an unexpected moment of temptation. In both situations, the enemy has the same goal. He wants our minds to be consumed with thoughts that prevent us from walking in the way of Jesus and fulfilling the spiritual assignment we’ve been given. For this reason, Paul adds a helmet to his list of spiritual armor. He wants us to be aware of how important it is for us to protect our minds from the “schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:11). A Roman soldier wore a helmet to protect against a sword hitting any part of his head, including his face, cheeks, and the back of his neck. He knew that one blow to his head would significantly harm the rest of his body or even be fatal. But while a Roman soldier wore a helmet made of metal, Paul encourages us to wear a helmet of salvation. The helmet Paul speaks of is our understanding of the gospel, the good news that Jesus has saved us from the punishment for our sin, specifically a life eternally disconnected from God. Our salvation not only gives us eternal life, it transforms our lives now. Those who have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus have the Holy Spirit at work in us. So when we put on the helmet of salvation, the Spirit helps us focus on what is true about God, instead of being consumed by the distraction or discouragement that tempts us daily. As we rehearse truth about God’s character, the Spirit reminds us that there is nothing more beautiful, satisfying, or powerful than our triune God. This habit of meditating on the truths of the gospel also helps fill minds with wisdom that leads us to live in light of what is true about God, emulating his character and trusting in his promises. Paul writes about this in several of his letters, mentioning how our salvation should produce a mind that is focused on the things of Christ instead of the things of the world (Col. 3:2). The more our minds are controlled by truth, the easier it will be for us to stand strong against the enemy’s discouragement and distraction. #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God

Wisdom That Transforms Decisions Written By Jenor Aguilar Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5–6 (NLT) We are all wired differently and created with unique purposes—that is why each of us is distinct among God’s creation. Some people are thoughtful and deliberate in their decision-making, needing time to process before acting. Others are more emotionally driven, quick to generate ideas and make decisions with ease. In today’s fast-paced world, however, everything is expected to be quick and efficient. Delays and missed deadlines are often seen as unacceptable. Even as followers of Jesus, our decision-making is frequently shaped by secular leadership principles. These influences do not only affect our workplaces; at times, they even find their way into our homes. In building our lives and families, we may unknowingly apply corporate strategies while overlooking God’s presence and the wisdom found in his Word. Decisions are often driven by professional knowledge and experience rather than by a personal encounter with God. Perhaps especially when we feel pressure to decide quickly. Solomon reminds us of the importance of carefully examining our hearts so that we are not led solely by emotions or human understanding. We are called to seek God’s will in everything we do. This is the foundation of God’s wisdom—to anchor our full trust in him. God promises wisdom and guidance for every direction we take and every decision we face. Yet we must remember that God’s direction is always connected to humility, a good testimony, and submission to his authority—not to our own independent instincts. True wisdom is found when we trust God completely and deliberately allow his guidance to shape both our choices and our character. Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that our understanding is limited and our emotions can easily lead us astray. Teach us to trust you with all our hearts and to seek your wisdom in every decision we make. Help us not to rely on our own knowledge or experience, but to submit fully to your will. Guide our steps, straighten our paths, and shape our character so that our lives reflect your wisdom and bring honor to your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Throughout this day: Ask yourself: In what areas of my life am I most tempted to depend on my own knowledge, experience, or emotions rather than seeking God first? Think about a recent decision you made. Did you invite God into that process? Why or why not? What practical steps can I take to seek God’s guidance before making important choices? #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God

Then Do It Written By Caroline Bellemare Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 My mother used to repeat things to me over and over again. As a teen, I’d often remind her that I had heard her the first time. She’d reply,“Then do it.” It wasn’t that my mother liked repeating herself. She knew I was particularly stubborn and often didn’t obey as I should. The guidance given by parents is usually for the good of their children. This is particularly true when it comes to the loving words that come from God. His instructions, even if sometimes hard to accept, are, according to the Apostle Peter, “words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Faith is not alway displayed by grand miracles. Faith is not achieved by memorizing the Bible. Faith is not even proportional with one’s church attendance. Faith is shown by one’s obedience to God. Simply said, obedience is the key to living a faith-full life. To activate our faith, we must act upon what we hear from God. It is not enough to confess it with our mouths. James states, in the verse above, that we must actively do it. Later on, he states that ”In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). Do you want your faith to be alive and active? Do you want to live the abundant life that Jesus promises you? There is not a million ways to do it. Only one. Obey God’s Word. My Father, Lord, and Savior, your Word is clear and I know what I should do. My flesh desires the opposite, but your Spirit gives me strength. Increase my faith Lord, and help me obey you. I want my faith to be alive, and my actions to be aligned with it. Amen. Throughout this day: What is God requiring of you lately that you find difficult to obey? Trust that what God is asking of you is for your good, and obey Him today. If it feels too hard for you, speak to someone who will help you through prayers and words of encouragement, such as one of our free online mentors. #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God

Habakkuk 3 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. (Hab. 3:17–19) Ever since the fall of mankind in the garden of Eden, life has been marked by struggle and suffering. At times, our struggles can appear so large that they seem to eclipse the God who stands above all of it and can be found in all of it. For many, our difficulties become the lens through which we evaluate our life. And when all we see is the darkness, life quickly becomes an exercise in vanity. But even when our world is falling apart, we must look to the God who is there. He is present and active in every part of our lives (Psalm 139). We cannot make sense of our circumstances until we see and embrace the Lord who saves us. Only then do we find purpose in pain, strength to persevere, and joy that leads to song. This does not mean we should ignore our affliction, or pretend that life isn’t hard. There is no value in simply putting on a happy face. God does not call us to “grin and bear it” when we are scared or hurting. It is true that life is often more than we can handle. And that reality must be met with the presence and purpose of God, who uses our trials to strengthen our faith (James 1:2–4) and causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him (Rom. 8:28). Habakkuk had finally come to the place where he was content to suffer loss without falling into despair. The crops (or our business ventures) may fail. Profit may turn to loss. Prosperity may give way to devastation. But the resolve in Habakkuk’s heart—and, by God’s grace, in ours as well—is that he (and we) “will rejoice in the Lord” (Hab. 3:18). When the God of our salvation is our “joy” (v. 18), instead of wealth and fame and power, we can face the most adverse of circumstances. When our confidence is in God’s “strength” (v. 19) and not our own, no threat or danger or loss can undermine our commitment to his purposes. In our fear, pain, loss, and confusion God remains steadfast in his promises, presence, and purpose. This is the truth that lifts our countenance and leads us to proclaim his excellencies even in the day of trouble. #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God

Find Your Gift Written By Sheyvah Rex God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) “I feel so anxious all the time,” the woman’s eyes were downcast, ashamed of her admission. “That’s hard. What do you do to try to counteract it?” I asked gently. “Oh, I try to keep busy. I try to think about other things.” She had come for prayer after our church service. “Have you tried using the Bible as a weapon?” I went on to encourage her to read aloud verses about God’s peace vs. anxiety. After we prayed together, she looked up. “I feel so much more peaceful! I’m going to try what you suggested. Thank you!” God gave me joy in helping and praying with her. I recently took a short free spiritual gifts test online. It revealed my five spiritual gifts. At the top is exhortation which is the ability to strengthen, comfort or urge others to action through the spoken or written word and Bible truth. I’m delighted to use my writing skill to combine with this gift in the last several years of writing devotions. I can also use it when I pray and advise people. What about you? Do you know your God-given spiritual gifts? Do you use them to serve Christ and others? Dear Lord God, thank you for giving me a spiritual gift and helping me to use it for your glory. Throughout this day: Read about spiritual gifts. Take a free online test. Pray and ask God how he would like you to use your gift. #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God

Psalm 106 I once spoke on the nature of true faith at a retreat, where I tested the attendees’ understanding of this bedrock Christian life concept. As Romans 1:17 tells us, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Faith is the oxygen of the Christian life; you can’t be spiritually alive without it. Consequently, you must understand what true biblical faith is. So I asked the group to define faith for me. One person said, “It means you believe.” So I said, “What does it means to believe?” Someone in the back shouted out, “It means to trust.” So I said, “What does it means to trust?” And from somewhere the answer came: “It means to have faith.” We had ended up where we had begun, without much further illumination. Scripture is clear that faith is something more than mental assent. It is more than agreeing to a theological creed. Faith is not just an exercise of the mind. It is a commitment of the heart that fundamentally changes the way you live your life. Embedded in Psalm 106 is a helpful summary of what true faith looks like: Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make known his mighty power. (Ps. 106:6–8) Three essential elements of a life of faith are laid out in these verses. Confession. Our sins have been forgiven, but they have not yet been completely eradicated. The Christian life, therefore, is a life of humble, heartfelt confession. The closer we walk with the Lord, the clearer our sin becomes. So, the life of faith demonstrates a daily commitment to confession. Remembrance. Faith involves fighting to remember the life-transforming magnitude of God’s steadfast love. We resist the temptation to forget God, and instead strive for ever-increasing gratitude. Biblical faith replaces complaint with praise and demand with worship. Glory. The life of faith acknowledges that we live in the midst of a glory war. We don’t want to be glory thieves. We commit to live for a glory greater than our own. Faith finds joy in praising God’s name and in making his mighty power known. In faith, we humbly acknowledge that God works for the sake of his own glory. Do you have regular habits of confession? Do you meditate on the gift of God’s steadfast love? Do you live for his glory to be displayed? You don’t have to deny the truth or wallow in shame. The Lord meets you in your weakness and failure with his forgiving and empowering grace. Faith is a gift from him. Reach out for that gift once more today. #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God

The Right Kind of Fight Written By Linda McCutcheon If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires. The Spirit and your desires are enemies of each other. They are always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should. Galatians 5:16-17 (CEV) Our legacy as Christians is created one decision at a time. We find ourselves fighting a daily battle between our selfish desires and how the Holy Spirit wants to guide us in our thoughts and actions. Each decision we make can either strengthen our testimony or rob us of experiencing God’s best for our lives. Do I tell a white lie at work to keep from getting in trouble? Do I tell my spouse I messed up even though it will be tough to share? When an amazing tidbit of gossip is just waiting to flow out of my mouth, do I tell it? Blinking across the internet screen is an advertisement that could be questionable. Do I press the button just to take a peek? The Apostle Paul identified with this fight that is within each of us. He wrote to the people in Galatia, encouraging them to be guided by the Holy Spirit. We, too, need to let the Spirit guide us 7 days a week. When we seek the Holy Spirit’s expert discernment moment by moment, the decisions we make become the defining moments of our spiritual journey. Choosing what’s right in life will always be a struggle, but when we surrender to be led by His wisdom, our life will encounter peace and fulfillment. We will shine brighter and brighter to those who don’t yet know Jesus personally. Holy Spirit, we need Your guidance. With our inward fight, we are asking for Your expert wisdom and direction each and every day. Please help us when our earthly desires and wants threaten to overtake us. Our chief desire is obedience. In Your loving name, Amen. Throughout this day Ask the Holy Spirit to mold your every day decisions. Take some time to understand the role of the Holy Spirit and embrace His help. For whatever issue you are facing today, stop and ask thew Holy Spirit for direction. #BibleStudy #VerseByVerse #Gospel #dagoodnews #follow #share #LikeFollowShare #JesusCentered #GodFirst #WordOfGod #PreachTheWord #ChristianLiving #Scripture #Faith #JesusIsLord #DaGoodNews #YouTube #Grow #LordsBook #ChristianLordsbook #ChristianFacebook #DailyDevotional #Jesus #God