I’ve never heard anyone say they thrive on conflict. Unfortunately, life greets us with this unwanted visitor all the time. It takes a well-conditioned courage muscle to face interpersonal conflict and handle it right.

To psyche myself up and prepare to deal with a present conflict in my life, I decided to scour the Scriptures for help. Could I find one powerful example to follow? Join me today in my search.

KEY PASSAGE:

1 Peter 2:23-25 NIV

When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE 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

Change is hard. We get comfortable with the familiar and become fearful when change shows up. Lifestyle changes are hard to grapple with. We can learn from Peter, who went through a change that rocked him to the core of his being. Join me in today's audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Ps 46:1-7 NIV

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging. c

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE 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

How do you start your day?

Eyes open slowly. You reach for your phone to see if you’ve missed anything. Scroll through your Facebook feed to get your perspective on the day. Once that’s settled, you climb out of bed, shower, get dressed and head into the kitchen to see out your day-starting meal. While you’re eating, there’s another social media check, news and of course, the weather.

Now you’re really ready for the day. Or are you? Let me suggest a different way to start your day. We'll take a look in today's audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Psalm 63:1-8 NIV

You, God, are my God,

earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land

where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;

I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help,

I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you;

your right hand upholds me.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

What is the Holy Spirit's purpose in our life? He has many purposes, and today we'll reflect on a couple of them. We'll take a look at the words of Jesus in John 7. You'll be encouraged.

KEY PASSAGE:

John 7:37-39 (NIV)

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE 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

There’s something extremely comforting to know that I have peace with God. I might struggle with a lot of things – relationships, tension at work, family differences, anxiety about finances, problem kids, lack of purpose – but one thing I do have is peace with God. That overarching truth comforts me.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1-2 NIV)

Join me for today's audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Romans 8:35, 37-39

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE 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

“Stop giving! Keep your money in your pocket! The church doesn’t need it anymore! We’re shutting down the giving page on our website!”

Can you imagine your pastor shouting that proclamation from the pulpit? It might sound absurd, but that’s exactly what Moses said to Israel in Exodus 36 (NIV). Let's look at that and other passages and see some powerful examples of extreme genrosity.

KEY PASSAGE:

2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (NIV)

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE 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

Loneliness, worry, fear and disorientation show up in crisis. We’ve all been there. Even in the small trials, life seems out of control. Thankfully, we pray and God comforts. But we all need someone to come alongside us in times like this.

The Apostle Paul had one of those friends, Onesimus, who ministered to him in his imprisonment. An escaped Philippian slave, Paul led this young man to Christ. Onesimus became such an important part of Paul’s life that he didn’t want to send him back to the Philippians.

Let's explore that drama, and maybe yours, too, in our audio devotional today.

KEY PASSAGE:

(Philippians 2:1-8 ESV)

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 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.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

What if you pulled together a small group of believers who would make it a priority to be generous? Meet regularly. Tell stories. Not bragging about your generosity, but to inspire everyone in the group. What a great way to fulfill this verse: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV). Today, we'll start in on our theme of 'Generosity."

KEY PASSAGES:

“But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV).

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV).

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE 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