Even when life brings unexpected pain or brokenness, God is able to take the shattered pieces and create something beautiful and meaningful from them. He does not always cause our suffering, but He promises to work in and through it, displaying His power and bringing about good in ways we may not expect. Trusting in this truth allows us to hold on to hope, even when circumstances seem unfair or out of control. [01:21:53]
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Reflection: Think of a difficult or painful situation in your life that felt out of your control—how might God be inviting you to trust Him to bring good from it, even if you can’t see it yet?
When we face affliction or hardship, it is not always a result of our own wrongdoing. Instead, these moments can become opportunities for God’s grace and power to be revealed in our lives. Rather than focusing on blame, we are invited to rely on God’s sufficiency, knowing that His strength is most evident when we are weak and in need. [01:18:09]
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
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.
Reflection: Where do you feel weak or inadequate right now, and how can you invite God’s grace to meet you in that very place today?
Spiritual growth does not happen by accident; it is the result of intentional routines, habits, and disciplines that keep us connected to God and moving forward in faith. Just as God is orderly and strategic in creation, and as Jesus and Daniel modeled daily spiritual practices, we too are called to structure our lives in ways that foster spiritual health and maturity. [01:26:19]
Daniel 6:10 (ESV)
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Reflection: What is one spiritual habit or routine you can commit to this week to intentionally nurture your relationship with God?
Just as a small leak can cause significant damage over time, little compromises or neglects in our spiritual lives can accumulate and lead to greater problems. Signs like irritability, negativity, or withdrawing from spiritual practices may indicate deeper issues that need attention. Regular self-examination and prompt action are necessary to repair what is broken and prevent further harm. [01:43:53]
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Reflection: Take a moment to honestly inspect your spiritual life—what small “leaks” or warning signs do you notice, and what step can you take today to address them?
A life of discipline—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—enables us to thrive and fulfill God’s purposes. Structure and self-control are not restrictive, but rather provide the foundation for growth, fruitfulness, and well-being. By developing systems and routines that support our health and faith, we position ourselves to experience God’s best and to prosper in every area of life. [01:37:13]
3 John 2 (ESV)
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
Reflection: In which area—physical, emotional, or spiritual—do you most need to develop greater discipline, and what is one practical change you can make this week to move toward health and growth?
Spiritual growth is not accidental; it is intentional and requires us to make choices that move us closer to the likeness of Christ. Life is filled with both God-appointed moments and unexpected, sometimes painful, circumstances that are not part of God’s original plan. Yet, even in those moments, God’s grace, love, and wisdom are at work, shaping us and bringing good out of brokenness. The story of the blind man in John 9 reminds us that not every hardship is a result of personal failure or sin; sometimes, these are opportunities for God’s power to be displayed. Similarly, Paul’s thorn in the flesh was not from God, but God’s response was to provide sufficient grace, showing that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
We are called to recognize that while we cannot control every event, we can control our response and the habits we cultivate. Just as a coin in the pocket serves as a daily reminder that we choose how to spend our time, so too must we be intentional about the routines and disciplines that shape our spiritual lives. The Bible is full of examples—God’s orderly creation, Moses’ new system for leading Israel, Daniel’s daily prayers, and Jesus’ own disciplined life—all pointing to the necessity of structure and routine for growth.
Without healthy routines, our spiritual lives can become vulnerable, much like a trailer with a hidden leak that slowly causes damage. Small, seemingly insignificant choices can accumulate, leading to spiritual decay if left unchecked. Regular self-examination is essential: Are there cracks in our spiritual foundation? Are we producing fruit? Do we have systems in place that foster growth?
Establishing spiritual disciplines—regular Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, and learning—are not optional extras but the very framework that supports our growth. Discipline in all areas—physical, emotional, and spiritual—is vital. These habits reduce stress, stabilize us in trials, increase productivity, and help us reach new spiritual heights. Ultimately, the invitation is to examine our lives, repair what is broken, and intentionally build routines that allow us to become all God intends us to be.
John 9:1-3 (ESV) — > As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
2. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)
> So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
3. Daniel 6:10 (ESV)
> When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Within the bookends of clock time, God appoints times for our growth and development, and this is always done with grace, love, and wisdom. Nothing ever happens to us where God's work is not a work of grace and love and wisdom, always. That's comforting. [01:10:48] (28 seconds) #GraceInGodsTiming
When clock time and God's appointed time merge, what is the life lesson we're to learn? Every once in a while, stop and say, God, what are you trying to teach me here? [01:11:26] (16 seconds) #PauseAndReflect
Although God did not will it into existence, his will was involved in that God had an expectation of Paul in how Paul would respond to the situation. Listen to what he said to Paul after he said no to Paul's request to remove it. 2 Corinthians 12, 9 says, Paul, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. That, my friends, helps. [01:17:51] (41 seconds) #StrengthInWeakness
Discipline, capital D. Be disciplined physically. Have a routine to eat well, sleep well, exercise well. Discipline emotionally. You must properly process the joys and sorrows of life and ministry. Discipline spiritually. You must study the Bible, learn to pray, obey God, and self-protect, I said to him. That summarizes my philosophy of everything I do. That there's three aspects of my life and your life that we need to be very disciplined about. What takes place with our bodies, what takes place emotionally, and what takes place spiritually. [01:35:44] (67 seconds) #DisciplineInBodyMindSpirit
``Without routine, no one can live well. To be successful, it takes structure and systems and habits and disciplines. Spiritual growth takes regular Bible reading and Bible study. Habitual prayer, consistent church attendance, and constant learning. And friends, honestly, there's no other way. There's no other way to spiritually grow than to do what I'm saying that we should be doing right now. This is how it works. [01:37:07] (44 seconds) #RoutineIsSpiritualFoundation
Like our trailer harmful things can seep into our lives. Amen? There are often exterior signs that something's wrong. On the trailer it was little bits of corrosion on the siding that you wouldn't really see if you didn't take time to look at it. For us it could be negativity, irritability, a bad attitude, a change of behavior or spiritually it could be pulling back from church, not worshipping, not reading the Bible, not spending time in prayer. Just little things that add up over time. These are signs, signs that something's wrong and there's a problem that needs attention and corrected. [01:42:35] (63 seconds) #SignsOfSpiritualDecay
Upon inspection what would we find? A crack in your spiritual home? Something harmful to your overall good? Something causing or would cause damage to your spirituality? In all honesty, on all honesty do you need repair? If you don't, great, but if you do you need to take the initiative like I did to call the repairman, call God, call upon him, there's something going wrong here I need your help or in addition call someone who can help you or if you can in some ways take the initiative and help yourself. The reason is if you don't get it fixed destruction lies ahead guaranteed trust me I've been around the block a few times I've seen it and what I'm saying is true. [01:43:43] (87 seconds) #RepairYourSpiritualHome
If you have a structure in your life to help yourself grow spiritually it will reduce your stress, it will stabilize you in difficult times, it will improve your productivity and efficiency, enhance your mental health and increase your sense of control and empowerment in life. Habits, routines and disciplines will increase your ability to get things done, foster good habits, promote meaningful social relationships and for children it will support their development and best of all it will help us each of us reach new heights spiritually and friend that's a good deal that's a good deal. [01:45:22] (61 seconds) #StructureBringsStability
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