9 Days Until Easter

Luke 22:42

“saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.””

‭‭In Luke’s account of Gethsemane, we are given a focused glimpse into the heart of Jesus. As He prays, He says, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.

This is one of the clearest pictures of surrender in all of Scripture.

Jesus is not disconnected from what He is about to face. He fully understands the weight of the cross. The suffering is real. The cost is real. And in His humanity, He expresses that honestly before the Father. If there is another way, let this pass.

But He does not stop there.

Nevertheless.

That word marks the turning point.

Jesus does not allow His desire to override His obedience. He brings the full reality of what He feels into the presence of the Father and then willingly submits to the will of God. This is not forced surrender. It is willing surrender.

And that tension is something we all experience.

The reality is that all of us walk through seasons that last longer than we wish they would and feel heavier than we expected. Even when we recognize something as a season, there is still a part of us that hopes it will pass quickly. In those moments, our prayers often sound very similar to Jesus in the garden. We ask if it could be taken away. We ask if there might be another way.

But there is something powerful about what happens next.

When we remain faithful in those moments, when we continue to trust God even while desiring for the situation to change, those are some of the clearest expressions of obedience and dedication to Him. Not when everything is easy, but when it is not. Not when the path is clear, but when it feels uncertain and we still choose to trust.

That is where surrender becomes real.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage reminds us that Jesus did not avoid the difficult path. He stepped into it with trust. And in doing so, He shows us what it looks like to remain faithful, even when we wish the season would pass.

Prayer

Lord, help me trust You in the seasons that feel long and difficult. Give me the strength to remain faithful even when I desire for things to change. Teach me to say not my will, but Yours, and to trust that You are working in every moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

10 Days Until Easter

Matthew 26:41

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.””

In the garden of Gethsemane, just moments after Jesus has poured out His heart before the Father, He returns to find His disciples asleep. The weight of the moment is immense, yet they are unable to stay awake. Jesus responds with a simple but powerful instruction. Watch and pray so that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

That statement reveals something deeply true about the human condition.

There is often a genuine desire within us to follow God. We want to live rightly. We want to be faithful. We want to say yes to what God is calling us to do. But alongside that desire is a very real weakness. Left to ourselves, we drift. We get tired. We become distracted. The flesh pulls us in directions that do not align with what we know to be true.

Jesus does not ignore that tension. He addresses it directly.

Watch and pray.

To watch means to be spiritually alert. It is the awareness that what is happening beneath the surface matters. It is recognizing that there is more going on than what we can see in the moment. To pray is to stay connected to the source of strength. It is bringing our weakness before God and depending on Him rather than relying on our own ability.

And part of that awareness is knowing when we are most vulnerable.

I think it is incredibly important to recognize the areas and moments when we are most likely to drift. For many people, those moments happen in isolation. When we are alone, disconnected, and not anchored in community, it becomes easier for our thoughts to wander and for temptation to take root. Even in the garden, we see Jesus stepping into one of the most intense moments of His life while the disciples around Him fall asleep. There is a sense of isolation in that moment that heightens the weight of what He is facing.

It also often happens when we are tired.

Late at night, when our guard is down and our energy is low, can be some of the most vulnerable moments we experience. That is often when the darkest thoughts begin to surface and when we are most prone to drift.

That is why the words of Jesus matter so much.

Watch and pray.

Be aware of those moments. Do not ignore them. Bring them before God. Stay connected to Him in the very places where you know your strength is limited.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage reminds us that following Jesus requires more than good intentions. It requires awareness. It requires dependence. And it requires a life that continually turns toward God, especially in the moments we know we are weakest.

Prayer

Lord, help me recognize the moments where I am most vulnerable. Teach me to stay spiritually alert and to depend on You through prayer. When my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak, remind me that You are the source of the strength I need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

11 Days Until Easter

Matthew 26:36–39

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.””

In this passage, we are brought into one of the most intimate and weighty moments in the life of Jesus. The garden of Gethsemane is not a place of public teaching or visible miracles. It is a place of prayer, surrender, and deep anguish.

Jesus brings His disciples with Him, but then He steps a little farther away. This is something He must face in a deeply personal way. Scripture tells us that He began to be sorrowful and troubled. The weight of what is ahead is pressing in. The cross is no longer distant. It is right in front of Him.

And Jesus does something incredibly important.

He prays.

He falls on His face before the Father and says that if it is possible, let this cup pass from Him. That statement reveals the depth of His humanity. The suffering He is about to endure is real. The weight of sin, the separation, the cost, it is all before Him.

But He does not stop there.

Not my will, but Yours.

That is surrender.

And when we read this moment, it is easy to think of surrender as something reserved for massive, life-defining decisions. We picture these Gethsemane moments as rare, overwhelming turning points where everything hangs in the balance. And while those moments do exist, that is not the full picture of how surrender actually works in the Christian life.

Most of the time, surrender is much smaller.

It shows up in the daily moments where our desires do not naturally align with what God has called us to. The decision to respond with patience instead of frustration. The choice to step into obedience instead of comfort. The willingness to align our thoughts, actions, and words with Scripture when it would be easier not to.

On any given day, there are countless opportunities to say not my will, but Yours.

The reality is that genuine sanctification is not built on a few large moments of surrender. It is formed through the continual pattern of small acts of obedience. Those repeated decisions shape the direction of our lives over time. The daily denial of self and the daily choice to follow Christ is where transformation truly takes place.

At the same time, those daily steps do not eliminate the reality of larger moments of surrender. There may be significant decisions in front of you right now. Moments where God is asking you to trust Him in a way that feels weighty or costly. The daily practice of surrender is what prepares your heart for those moments. The small yes builds the strength for the bigger yes.

Gethsemane was a defining moment, but it was not an isolated one.

It was the culmination of a life that was already fully surrendered to the Father.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage reminds us that surrender is not just something we step into once. It is something we live out every day. Not my will, but Yours, again and again.

Prayer

Lord, teach me what it means to surrender to You in both the small and significant moments of life. Help me not overlook the daily opportunities for obedience, and give me the courage to say yes when larger steps of faith are in front of me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

13 Days Until Easter

Mark 14:3–9

“And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.””

In Mark 14, we are given a powerful and personal moment in the life of Jesus. He is in Bethany, sitting at the table, when a woman enters with an alabaster flask of very expensive perfume. Without hesitation, she breaks the flask and pours it over Jesus.

What she does is immediate and costly.

The perfume was worth a significant amount, something that could have been saved, used gradually, or even sold for financial gain. Those around her quickly point that out. They criticize her, saying the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. From a practical standpoint, their argument makes sense.

But Jesus responds in a completely different way.

He tells them to leave her alone. He calls what she has done a beautiful thing.

That phrase stands out.

What others saw as wasteful, Jesus saw as worship. What others viewed through the lens of practicality, Jesus viewed through the lens of devotion. The woman was not calculating value the way everyone else in the room was. She was responding out of love, giving something costly in a moment that mattered.

And that is where this begins to hit home.

I think there are a lot of things in our lives that can begin to take a higher place than our worship of Jesus. It can be a social agenda, a business opportunity, or even a personal ambition. None of those things are necessarily bad on their own, but they can slowly become more important than simple devotion to Christ. When that happens, worship becomes something we fit in rather than something we build our lives around.

This moment challenges that.

The woman was not distracted by what others might think or by what else could have been done with what she had. She recognized who Jesus was, and she responded accordingly. Her devotion was not competing with other priorities. It was central.

And Jesus honors that.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage invites us to take an honest look at our own lives. Not just what we say we value, but what actually holds first place. Because in the kingdom of God, a life that prioritizes Jesus above everything else is never wasted.

Prayer

Lord, help me place You at the center of my life. Reveal anything that has taken a higher place than my devotion to You. Give me the courage to respond with wholehearted worship and to value what You value above everything else. In Jesus’ name, amen.

13 Days Until Easter

Mark 14:3–9

“And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.””

In Mark 14, we are given a powerful and personal moment in the life of Jesus. He is in Bethany, sitting at the table, when a woman enters with an alabaster flask of very expensive perfume. Without hesitation, she breaks the flask and pours it over Jesus.

What she does is immediate and costly.

The perfume was worth a significant amount, something that could have been saved, used gradually, or even sold for financial gain. Those around her quickly point that out. They criticize her, saying the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. From a practical standpoint, their argument makes sense.

But Jesus responds in a completely different way.

He tells them to leave her alone. He calls what she has done a beautiful thing.

That phrase stands out.

What others saw as wasteful, Jesus saw as worship. What others viewed through the lens of practicality, Jesus viewed through the lens of devotion. The woman was not calculating value the way everyone else in the room was. She was responding out of love, giving something costly in a moment that mattered.

And that is where this begins to hit home.

I think there are a lot of things in our lives that can begin to take a higher place than our worship of Jesus. It can be a social agenda, a business opportunity, or even a personal ambition. None of those things are necessarily bad on their own, but they can slowly become more important than simple devotion to Christ. When that happens, worship becomes something we fit in rather than something we build our lives around.

This moment challenges that.

The woman was not distracted by what others might think or by what else could have been done with what she had. She recognized who Jesus was, and she responded accordingly. Her devotion was not competing with other priorities. It was central.

And Jesus honors that.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage invites us to take an honest look at our own lives. Not just what we say we value, but what actually holds first place. Because in the kingdom of God, a life that prioritizes Jesus above everything else is never wasted.

Prayer

Lord, help me place You at the center of my life. Reveal anything that has taken a higher place than my devotion to You. Give me the courage to respond with wholehearted worship and to value what You value above everything else. In Jesus’ name, amen.

15 Days Until Easter

Luke 22:31–32

““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.””

In this passage, Jesus speaks directly to Peter in a moment that is both sobering and deeply encouraging. He tells him that Satan has asked to sift him like wheat. It is a picture of pressure, testing, and shaking. Jesus is making it clear that Peter is about to walk through a difficult season, one that will expose weakness and challenge his faith.

But what Jesus says next changes everything.

He tells Peter that He has prayed for him.

Jesus does not say the trial will be removed. He does not say Peter will avoid failure. In fact, He tells him that he will stumble. But He also makes it clear that the story will not end there. He has prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail completely. There is a difference between stumbling and being finished.

And then Jesus points forward.

When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

In other words, the very place of testing will become a place of impact.

That is how God often works.

There are many moments in life where our faith is tested and we feel prompted to take a step in a particular direction. I can think of several times where that has happened. One that stands out is when I was sharing a vision with our church that included a significant financial goal. I knew where God was leading, but I was honestly terrified to say it out loud. I had every intention of softening it, maybe even avoiding it altogether.

But in that moment, something shifted.

There was a boldness that came forward, and I stepped out and declared it clearly. What followed was something only God could do. Our church responded in a massive way, and we were able to move forward into what God had put in front of us.

I have seen the same thing happen in other moments. Times where I felt led to have a difficult conversation or stand for something that mattered. There was always some level of hesitation, some level of fear. But in those moments where faith required a step forward, God showed up in ways that made it clear He was in it.

When I look at Scripture, I see the same pattern.

Abraham stepping into a land he had never seen. The disciples casting nets when it did not make sense. David running for his life while still holding onto the promise of God. None of those moments were absolute. If they were, they would not have required faith.

Faith always carries a measure of uncertainty.

And instead of seeing that as something discouraging, it can actually become the very place where faith is tested and strengthened. That small window of doubt is not a sign that God is absent. It is often the space where trust becomes real.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage reminds us that even when we are sifted, even when we feel the pressure of the moment, Jesus is not distant. He is interceding. He is sustaining. And He is not finished with our story.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that You are with me in every season of testing. Thank You that even when my faith feels stretched, You are sustaining me. Give me boldness to step forward in faith and trust that You will meet me in those moments. In Jesus’ name, amen.

16 Days Until Easter

Hebrews 4:15–16

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

One of the most powerful truths in Scripture is not just that Jesus saves us, but that He understands us.

We live in a world that is more digitally connected than ever before, yet in many ways more disconnected than ever. It is easy to look around and assume that we are the only ones going through what we are facing. We can begin to believe that no one truly understands, that we are isolated in our struggles while everyone else seems to have it together. Even though we are surrounded by people, it can still feel like we are alone.

Hebrews speaks directly into that feeling.

We are told that we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses. Jesus is not distant from our experience. He stepped into it. He walked through life in a fallen world. He felt pressure, temptation, exhaustion, sorrow, and pain. He understands what it means to live in the tension we feel.

And yet, He did so without sin.

That is what makes Him both relatable and powerful.

The beauty of the gospel is that God did not try to rescue the world from a distance. He did not remain in heaven and simply send instruction. He sent Himself. The solution came from heaven and stepped into the middle of our reality. Jesus entered into the human experience so that He could meet us in ours.

That changes the way we approach God.

Because of who Jesus is, we are told to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace. Not cautiously. Not hesitantly. Confidently. We are not coming to someone who is unaware of what we are facing. We are coming to a Savior who fully understands and invites us in.

And when we come, we receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

That means in the exact moment you need it, grace is available. Not theoretical grace. Not distant grace. Present help. Strength when you feel weak. Clarity when you feel unsure. Peace when life feels overwhelming.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage reminds us that the cross was not just about forgiveness. It was about access. Because Jesus stepped into our world and overcame what we could not, we now have direct access to God.

You are not alone.

You are understood.

And you are invited to come near.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that You understand my struggles and my weaknesses. Thank You that You stepped into this world so that I would never have to face life alone. Help me come to You with confidence and trust that Your grace is present in every moment of need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

17 Days Until Easter

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

In John 14, Jesus is speaking to His disciples in a moment of deep uncertainty. He is preparing them for what is coming. The cross is near. Everything they have built their lives around is about to be shaken. And in the middle of that moment, Jesus gives them a promise. He says that He is leaving them with peace, and not just any peace, but His peace.

That distinction matters.

The world offers a kind of peace that is dependent on circumstances. It shows up when things are going well, when plans are working out, when there is clarity and stability. But that kind of peace is fragile. The moment circumstances shift, it disappears.

Jesus offers something different.

His peace is not tied to what is happening around us. It is rooted in who He is. That means it can remain even when life feels uncertain or unsettled, even when we are walking through seasons we do not fully understand.

The reality is that throughout life, we are going to experience those kinds of seasons. Living in a fallen world means there will be moments where things feel unclear, where challenges arise, and where we do not have all the answers. But when I look back on the consistency of Scripture, both in the Old and New Testament, I am reminded of something that goes beyond those unsettled moments.

I am reminded of the track record of Jesus.

He has never missed the mark. Not once. Every promise, every word, every action reveals His faithfulness and His authority. When challenges come, when uncertainty begins to rise, looking back on who Jesus is and what He has done brings everything back into focus. The Word Himself has proven over and over again that He is trustworthy.

And if He is trustworthy, then even in the moments that feel unstable, He is still in control.

That is where peace begins to take root.

Not because everything around us has settled, but because we are anchored in something that has never failed. Jesus does not promise a life without difficulty. He promises a peace that remains in the middle of it.

As we move closer to Easter, this becomes even more significant. The disciples were about to walk through one of the most confusing and painful moments of their lives. But the peace Jesus gave them was not taken away. Even in the darkest moment, His presence remained.

And that same peace is available today.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the peace that only You can give. When life feels uncertain, help me remember who You are and what You have done. Anchor my heart in Your faithfulness and teach me to trust You in every season. In Jesus’ name, amen.

18 Days Until Easter

Philippians 2:5–8

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

In this passage Paul invites believers to adopt a completely different way of thinking about life and leadership. He says that we should have the same mindset that was found in Christ Jesus. The Christian life is not only about outward behavior. It begins with the transformation of the mind and heart.

Paul then describes the posture of Jesus.

Although Christ existed in the form of God, He did not treat His equality with God as something to be grasped or exploited. Instead He willingly humbled Himself. He took on the form of a servant and entered into human life. The Creator stepped into His own creation.

This is one of the most remarkable truths in all of Scripture.

Jesus did not simply appear human. He fully stepped into the limitations of humanity. He experienced hunger, exhaustion, sorrow, and rejection. The One who possessed all authority chose the path of humility.

I think the reality is that the higher someone climbs in leadership and influence, the easier it becomes to double down on the idea that they are skilled and qualified. The more responsibility a person carries, the more natural it can feel to lean into personal ability and reputation. Yet Jesus gives the ultimate example that even though He was the living embodiment of perfection, He still chose the path of humility.

And that humility did not stop with His incarnation.

Paul explains that Jesus humbled Himself even further by becoming obedient to the point of death. Not just any death, but death on a cross. In the ancient world the cross was the most humiliating form of execution imaginable. It was designed not only to end a life but to publicly shame the person being crucified.

Yet Jesus willingly walked that path.

This passage reminds us that the story of Easter is not only about the victory of the resurrection. It is also about the humility that led Jesus to the cross in the first place. The Son of God willingly lowered Himself so that humanity could be lifted up.

Paul begins this passage by telling believers to have the same mindset as Christ. That means the Christian life is shaped by humility, service, and obedience to God. The path of Jesus was not one of self-exaltation but one of surrender.

And through that surrender came redemption.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the humility of Jesus. Thank You that He willingly stepped into our world and humbled Himself for our sake. Help me grow in the same mindset of humility, service, and obedience in my own life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

19 Days Until Easter

Matthew 5:44 ESV

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

St. Patrick’s Day is widely associated with green clothing, parades, and Irish celebration, but the real story behind the day is far more meaningful.

Patrick was not originally Irish. He was born in Britain in the late fourth century. As a teenager, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. For six years he worked as a shepherd, isolated and far from home. During that time something unexpected happened. Patrick began to pray constantly. What had once been a casual faith from childhood became a deeply personal dependence on God.

Eventually Patrick escaped slavery and returned home to Britain. Most people would assume that chapter of his life was finished. But years later Patrick sensed God calling him back to Ireland. Instead of returning with anger or bitterness, he returned with the message of Jesus.

Patrick spent the rest of his life traveling throughout Ireland teaching people about Christ, planting churches, and helping establish Christian communities. The most remarkable part of his story is not simply that he preached the gospel. It is that he returned to the very place where he had once been enslaved in order to bring the hope of Christ to the people who had once held him captive.

Patrick’s life reflects something at the very center of the gospel. The grace of Jesus changes the way we respond to people. Patrick did not go back to Ireland seeking revenge. He returned to serve and to share the message of Christ.

That kind of response only happens when someone truly understands the mercy they have received from God. When we recognize the grace Christ has shown us, it begins to reshape the way we see others, even those who have hurt us.

Patrick’s story reminds us that the gospel is powerful enough to turn bitterness into mission and pain into purpose.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the example of faithful believers who carried the gospel into difficult places. Help me live with the same heart of grace and courage. Teach me to respond to others the way You have responded to me with mercy, truth, and love. Amen.

20 Days Until Easter

Mark 10:45

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In this verse, Jesus gives one of the clearest summaries of His mission. He says that the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

That statement is remarkable when you consider who Jesus is. The Son of God, the one through whom all things were created, entered the world not to demand recognition or to gather followers who would serve His every need. Instead, He came with the posture of a servant.

This completely reverses the way people normally think about power and leadership.

In most areas of life, authority is associated with status. The higher someone rises, the more people are expected to serve them. Influence often comes with privilege, recognition, and the expectation that others will meet the needs of the person in charge.

But Jesus presents an entirely different model.

The King of kings steps into the world and begins washing feet, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and caring for people who had been overlooked. His authority was not expressed through control, but through service. The ultimate expression of that service would come at the cross, where He gave His life as a ransom.

The word ransom carries the idea of a price being paid to set someone free. Humanity was trapped in the consequences of sin, unable to rescue itself. Jesus willingly stepped into that place and paid the cost that we could not pay. His life became the payment that opened the door for redemption.

This is why the message of Easter is so powerful.

The cross was not simply an act of sacrifice. It was an act of rescue. The Servant King laid down His life so that others could experience freedom and life with God.

And the example Jesus sets also shapes how His followers live. If the King Himself came to serve, then the life of a believer is not centered on being served by others. It is centered on reflecting the heart of Christ through humility and service.

As we continue moving toward Easter, this verse reminds us that the path of Jesus is not built on status or recognition. It is built on love that serves others and gives itself for the sake of redemption.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to serve and to give His life for us. Help me follow His example by living with humility and a heart that looks for ways to serve others. Shape my life so that it reflects the love and sacrifice of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

21 Days Until Easter

John 6:35

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

In John 6, Jesus makes a statement that reveals something essential about who He is and what He offers. He says that He is the bread of life. Whoever comes to Him will not hunger, and whoever believes in Him will never thirst.

To understand the weight of that statement, it helps to remember how central bread was in the ancient world. Bread was not just a side item on the table. For many people it was the primary source of daily nourishment. When Jesus calls Himself the bread of life, He is saying that the deepest need of the human soul is ultimately satisfied in Him.

Every person carries a kind of hunger inside.

People spend their lives trying to satisfy that hunger with different things. Sometimes it is success. Sometimes it is possessions. Sometimes it is relationships, experiences, or achievements. We often convince ourselves that the next thing will finally bring the satisfaction we have been looking for.

I can think back through my own life and see how this has played out. There were different moments when I thought something was going to be the answer to what I really wanted. I remember as a kid believing that having a bicycle with gears would absolutely change my life. Later it became the idea that having a car would change everything. Then it was the next goal, the next opportunity, the next milestone. Each time it felt like the thing I was chasing would finally bring the satisfaction I was looking for.

But over time something became clear.

The things of this world will never truly satisfy the soul.

They can be good gifts. They can bring enjoyment for a season. But they were never designed to carry the weight of our deepest needs. Eventually the excitement fades and the hunger returns.

Jesus steps directly into that reality and offers something different. He does not simply offer another temporary solution. He offers Himself. The life He gives reaches deeper than anything this world can provide. When someone comes to Christ, they are not just receiving a new set of beliefs. They are finding the source of life itself.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage reminds us that the cross and the resurrection reveal God’s ultimate provision for humanity. The deepest hunger of the human soul is not satisfied by what we accumulate or accomplish. It is satisfied in a relationship with the One who is the bread of life.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for being the bread of life. Help me recognize the difference between the temporary things of this world and the lasting life that is found in You. Teach me to come to You daily for the nourishment my soul truly needs. In Jesus’ name, amen.

22 Days Until Easter

Psalm 23:1–3

“1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.”

Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture, yet its depth can easily be overlooked because of how often we hear it. David begins with a simple but powerful statement. The Lord is my shepherd. In those few words, David is describing the nature of his relationship with God.

A shepherd is responsible for the care, protection, and guidance of the flock. Sheep are not known for their ability to navigate life on their own. They depend entirely on the shepherd to lead them, to provide for them, and to bring them to places where they can rest and be sustained. When David says the Lord is his shepherd, he is acknowledging that his life is not self-directed. His well-being depends on the guidance and care of God.

One of the things I have noticed about this picture of the shepherd is that the shepherd often shows up most clearly when the sheep are in need. There have been different seasons in my life that were difficult to walk through, seasons where the path ahead was not clear and the weight of the moment felt heavy. And yet when I look back on those days, I realize I walked through them in a way I never could have imagined on my own. I have talked with many other people who describe the exact same experience. They say that when they look back at the hardest moments, they recognize that God gave them the grace they needed for those specific days.

That is often how the shepherd works.

He does not always remove the valley before we walk through it, but He meets us in the valley with the grace we need for that moment. The strength comes when it is needed. The peace comes when the situation feels overwhelming. The guidance appears when the path seems uncertain.

David goes on to describe the shepherd leading his sheep to green pastures and still waters. These images speak of provision and rest. A good shepherd knows exactly where the flock needs to go. He leads them to places where they can be nourished, refreshed, and restored. And David says that the Lord restores his soul.

Life has a way of draining us. There are seasons that leave us tired, discouraged, or uncertain. But the shepherd does not simply push the flock forward. He restores them. He renews their strength so they can keep moving.

As we move closer to Easter, Psalm 23 reminds us that we are not navigating life alone. The same God who leads is the God who provides and restores. The shepherd walks with His sheep through every season, and when the moment of need arrives, His grace is already there.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for being the shepherd who leads and cares for me. Thank You for meeting me with the grace I need in every season. Help me trust Your guidance and rest in Your provision as You lead me each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

23 Days Until Easter

John 15:4–5

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

In John 15, Jesus gives one of the clearest pictures of what the Christian life is meant to look like. He describes Himself as the vine and His followers as the branches. A branch has no life in itself. Its ability to grow and produce fruit depends entirely on its connection to the vine. The life of the vine flows into the branch.

Jesus uses that picture to explain our relationship with Him.

He calls His followers to abide in Him. Abiding simply means remaining connected. It is the ongoing, dependent relationship where we stay closely connected to Christ so that His life continues to flow into ours.

Sometimes when we think about our spiritual life, we imagine it happening in certain moments at certain times in certain places. Maybe it is a Sunday morning gathering, a small group meeting, or a quiet time with a Bible and a cup of coffee. Those moments are important, but they are not the full picture of what Jesus is describing here.

Jesus is inviting us into something ongoing.

Abiding is not just a moment of connection. It is a continual posture of dependence. It is the kind of relationship where we remain aware of His presence throughout the rhythm of everyday life. In many ways it connects with the idea Paul later describes when he says to pray without ceasing. It is a life lived in constant communion with God.

That means abiding does not only happen in quiet spiritual moments. It happens when we wake up in the morning and begin the day. It happens during meals. It happens while we are at work, while we are driving, while we are making decisions, and while we are navigating the challenges of life. It happens in the moments when we feel strong in our faith and in the moments when we feel weak. It happens when life feels peaceful and when life feels chaotic.

Abiding is simply learning to lean on Christ in every moment.

And when that connection is real, something begins to grow in our lives. Jesus says that when a branch remains in the vine, it bears fruit. The fruit of the Christian life is not something we force into existence. It grows naturally when we stay connected to the source of life.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage reminds us that the Christian life is not built on occasional spiritual moments. It is built on an ongoing relationship with Jesus. A life that continually leans on Him, trusts Him, and remains connected to Him in every season.

Prayer

Lord, teach me what it truly means to abide in You. Help me remain connected to You throughout the rhythms of everyday life. Let Your life flow through me so that my thoughts, actions, and words reflect Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

24 Days Until Easter

Isaiah 53:4–6

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53 is one of the most remarkable passages in the entire Old Testament. Written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, it describes a suffering servant who would carry the weight of humanity’s brokenness. When you read it with the cross in mind, it becomes clear that Isaiah was pointing forward to what Christ would accomplish.

What stands out most in this passage is the language of substitution.

Isaiah describes the servant as someone who carries our griefs and bears our sorrows. The suffering described here is not random. It is not simply an unfortunate circumstance. The servant is wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. In other words, the suffering that falls upon Him is suffering that belonged to us.

That is the heart of the gospel.

Humanity had wandered away from God. Isaiah describes it like sheep going astray, each one turning to his own way. That picture is incredibly accurate when you think about the human condition. We naturally drift toward our own direction, our own desires, and our own understanding of what is right. But the consequence of that wandering is separation from God.

And instead of leaving humanity in that state, God did something extraordinary.

The weight of that rebellion was placed upon the servant. Jesus stepped into the place that belonged to us. The punishment that brought peace fell on Him. Through His wounds, healing became possible. What we could never repair on our own, Christ carried for us.

That truth is why Isaiah 53 is so important as we move toward Easter. The cross was not simply a tragic moment in history. It was the moment where the burden of sin was dealt with. The suffering of Jesus was not just an example of sacrifice. It was the means through which reconciliation became possible.

The more you reflect on this passage, the more you begin to see the depth of God’s love. The wandering of humanity was real. But so was the mercy that stepped into our place.

And because of that mercy, the story does not end at the cross.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus. Thank You that He carried the burden that I could never carry on my own. Help me never lose sight of the depth of Your love and the grace that was displayed at the cross. In Jesus’ name, amen.

25 Days Until Easter

Matthew 7:7–8

““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives an invitation that is both simple and deeply encouraging. He tells His followers to ask, seek, and knock. At first it sounds straightforward, but the structure of what Jesus says reveals something important about how prayer works in the life of a believer.

Each word describes persistence.

Asking is bringing your request before God. Seeking goes a step further. It involves actively pursuing God’s direction and presence. Knocking carries the image of someone standing at a door and continuing to knock until it is opened. Together these words paint a picture of ongoing engagement with God rather than a single moment of prayer.

That matters because many people approach prayer expecting immediate results. When the answer does not come quickly, it can create uncertainty. People begin to wonder whether God is listening or whether they are doing something wrong. But Jesus is preparing His followers for something different. Prayer is not just about presenting a request once and moving on. It is about continually coming back to the Father with trust.

Jesus reinforces this by repeating the promise. Everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. The one who knocks will have the door opened. The emphasis here is not on human persistence forcing God’s hand. It is on the confidence that comes from knowing who we are approaching.

God is not distant or indifferent. He is a Father who invites His children to come to Him.

This means prayer is not meant to be a last resort when everything else fails. It is meant to be a daily rhythm of relationship. As we ask, seek, and knock, we are reminded that we are not navigating life on our own. We are bringing our needs, our questions, and our hopes before a Father who hears us.

And often, something important happens in the process. The more we seek Him, the more our hearts begin to align with His. The more we knock, the more we grow in trust that the door will open in the right time and in the right way.

As we continue moving toward Easter, this passage reminds us that prayer is not about getting the exact outcome we imagined. It is about learning to walk closely with the Father who invites us to come to Him again and again.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for inviting me to come to You in prayer. Help me continue asking, seeking, and knocking with confidence in Your goodness. Teach me to trust that You hear me and that You are working even when the answer takes time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

26 Days Until Easter

Matthew 6:19–21

““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses something that reaches into every part of our lives. He talks about treasure. At first glance it might sound like He is speaking only about money, but the idea is much bigger than that. Treasure represents whatever we value most. It reflects what we invest our time in, where our energy goes, and what we give our attention to.

Jesus contrasts two kinds of treasure. One belongs to this world, where things wear out, break down, and eventually disappear. The other belongs to the kingdom of God, where what we invest has lasting significance. Then Jesus makes a statement that is incredibly revealing. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

That line shows us something important about how our hearts work. We often assume our treasure simply follows our heart. We think we invest in what we already care about. But Jesus flips the idea. Our hearts often follow our treasure. The things we consistently invest in begin shaping what we care about most.

When I think about that, I cannot help but come back to the local church. It may sound like the stereotypical answer coming from a pastor, but I genuinely believe there is no better place to invest your time and your finances than in the local church. The things we build here on earth will eventually fade. The things we buy here on earth cannot come with us. Houses, possessions, achievements, all of it stays here.

But the work of God in people’s lives carries eternal weight.

The only thing we ultimately take with us is our soul. And the mission of the church is centered on that reality. It is a place where people encounter the gospel, where lives are transformed, where families are strengthened, and where the message of Jesus continues to reach the next person who needs to hear it. Investing in that kind of work is not just investing in something temporary. It is participating in something eternal.

As we move toward Easter, this passage invites us to take an honest look at where our treasure is going. Not out of guilt, but out of clarity. Because wherever we invest, our hearts will eventually follow.

And when we invest in what God is doing, we are placing our treasure in something that will outlast this life.

Prayer

Lord, help me place my treasure in what truly matters. Give me wisdom to invest my time, energy, and resources in things that carry eternal value. Align my heart with Your kingdom and the work You are doing in the world. In Jesus’ name, amen.

27 Days Until Easter

Luke 9:23

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Jesus says something in this verse that is both incredibly simple and incredibly demanding. He explains what it actually looks like to follow Him. Anyone who wants to come after Him must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow.

That word daily matters more than we often realize.

We live in a world that is becoming increasingly desensitized to long term commitments. There was a time when people would stay in the same job for decades, remain rooted in the same town, and pursue marriage with the expectation that it would last a lifetime. While those things still exist, culturally there has been a shift. Stability and steadfastness are not as common as they once were. Many things in life have become temporary, flexible, and easily replaceable.

Because of that, the idea of something happening daily and indefinitely can feel overwhelming.

When Jesus calls His followers to take up their cross daily, He is not describing a short season of enthusiasm. He is describing a lifelong rhythm of surrender. And for people who have not been shaped by long term commitments, that can initially feel daunting. The idea that following Jesus is not just a decision made once but a path walked every day can feel like a heavy expectation.

But the beauty of what Jesus says is that He does not ask us to carry the entire future at once. He simply calls us to today.

Daily discipleship means that every morning we wake up with the opportunity to choose Him again. It means that our faith is not built on a single moment of inspiration but on the steady rhythm of obedience. Over time those daily decisions shape a life. One day becomes another, and another, and another, until what once felt daunting becomes the normal pattern of walking with Christ.

This is how real transformation happens.

Not through one dramatic moment, but through consistent faithfulness. The daily surrender of our plans, our priorities, and our direction into the hands of Jesus. And the good news is that we do not walk that road alone. The same Savior who calls us to follow Him is the one who walks with us each step of the way.

So today, do not focus on the weight of forever. Focus on the invitation of today. Take up your cross today. Trust Him today. Follow Him today.

Prayer

Lord, help me follow You in the everyday rhythm of life. Teach me what it means to take up my cross daily and trust You with each step. Give me the strength to remain faithful today and the confidence that You will lead me tomorrow. In Jesus’ name, amen.

28 Days Until Easter

John 10:27–28

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

When Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd, He uses a picture that would have been very familiar to the people listening. A shepherd did not simply manage animals from a distance. He lived among the flock. He knew them, and they learned to recognize his voice. That relationship is what Jesus points to when He says His sheep hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him.

For many people, the idea of recognizing God’s voice can feel mysterious or even intimidating. We sometimes wonder how we can tell the difference between God’s leading and all the other voices competing for our attention. But the picture Jesus gives is not built on a formula. It is built on familiarity.

I remember a moment that helped me understand this better. I was talking with a group of people when a baby started crying somewhere in the room. The dad I was speaking with immediately noticed it but calmly continued the conversation because he knew it was not his child. A little later another baby started crying, and to me it sounded identical to the first one. But this time the dad instantly turned his head and said, “That’s mine.” I remember thinking that was strange. From where I was standing, both cries sounded exactly the same. It was not until I had children of my own that I understood it. When you spend enough time with someone, you begin to recognize their voice immediately. In a room full of noise, you can still pick it out without hesitation.

The same principle applies to our relationship with Christ. Learning to recognize His voice is not primarily about developing a technique. It comes from spending time with Him. As we stay rooted in His Word, as we pray, as we walk with Him over time, we become familiar with His character and His ways. His voice begins to stand out from the noise.

Jesus also gives a powerful promise in this passage. He says that He gives His sheep eternal life and that no one can snatch them out of His hand. That means the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is not fragile. It is not dependent on our ability to hold onto Him perfectly. It is secured by His ability to hold onto us.

As we move closer to Easter, this passage reminds us that following Jesus is not about trying to decipher distant instructions. It is about walking closely with the One who knows us and calls us by name. The more time we spend with Him, the clearer His voice becomes.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for being a shepherd who knows me personally. Help me grow in my ability to recognize Your voice as I spend time with You. Quiet the other voices around me and teach me to follow where You lead. In Jesus’ name, amen.

29 Days Until Easter

2 Corinthians 12:9

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

In this passage Paul shares something deeply personal. He speaks about a “thorn in the flesh,” something that caused him ongoing difficulty, something he asked God multiple times to remove. Paul believed that if this burden were taken away he could serve more freely and more effectively. But instead of removing the thorn, God responded in a different way. The answer Paul received was that God’s grace was sufficient and that His power is made perfect in weakness.

That response challenges the way we often think.

Most of us naturally view our weaknesses and limitations as barriers in life. We see them as walls or ceilings that keep us from stepping into what we believe God has for us. If only this were different. If only this obstacle were removed. If only this limitation did not exist. It is easy to assume that those things restrict what God can do through us.

But Paul’s experience reveals a different reality.

Sometimes the very things we believe limit us are the places where God’s grace shows up the strongest. The areas where we feel least capable can become the very spaces where God’s power becomes most visible. When we come to the end of what we can accomplish on our own, we finally find ourselves in the place where His strength begins to take center stage.

I have often been surprised by how that works. The moments where I look at a situation and see very little hope, where I feel like I do not have the capacity to carry it, those are often the moments where God does something unexpected. The places where I see limitation are the places where He brings life. The places where I feel like the path has reached a dead end are often where God begins to do something that could only be described as His work.

This is why weakness is not the enemy of the Christian life.

Self-sufficiency is.

When everything depends on our own ability, we can easily begin to believe that the outcome came from us. But when we reach a place where we know we cannot do it on our own, God’s grace becomes unmistakable. His strength stands out because it is clear that it did not originate from us.

As we continue moving toward Easter, this passage reminds us that the Christian life is not about presenting strength to God. It is about bringing our weakness to Him and trusting that His grace is enough. The very areas where you feel limited may be the places where God intends to display His power most clearly.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that Your grace is sufficient for me. In the moments where I feel weak or limited, remind me that those are often the very places where Your strength is at work. Help me depend on You more deeply and trust that You can bring hope even in the places where I struggle to see it. In Jesus’ name, amen.