Podcasts about Your Son

August 24, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 22:24-30 or John 1:43-51Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 5:1-18; 1 Kings 6:1-7:50; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17“A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.'” (Luke 22:24–28)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Is it greater to serve or to be served? Throughout the world, the answer is obvious: it is better to be served. Kings exercise lordship, and it's good to be the king. But the King of Kings has a different answer. He is the King who says, “the first shall be last” and “Blessed are the Poor.” He is the one who came down from the heavens to serve. The eternal Son took on flesh and dwelt among us, not as a conqueror but as a servant. This continues to be a comfort to us because our God is the one who gave his life on the cross to cleanse us from our sins and did not stop there. Our God continues to sanctify his people, and He has created Good Works for us to do as fellow servants and Children of God. However, God has not stopped serving us. He continues to serve us every Sunday when the saints on earth gather together to receive the Word and Sacrament from our pastors. God's work began for us and continues to be for us as our generous King gives freely to his people for all eternity. Jesus shows that the greater one is the one who serves. If God Himself serves us, we, as His people, continue to serve our neighbor.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, chose Bartholomew to be an apostle to preach the blessed Gospel. Grant that Your Church may love what he believed and preach what he taught; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Jonah Clausen, seminary student at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

One of the most helpful insights for pushing through low motivation is surprisingly simple: just begin. Not with a plan for the whole task, not with a burst of enthusiasm that has to appear first, but with one small starting point. Motivation often follows action rather than preceding it — and that first step, however reluctant, is frequently all that is needed to get moving. Ephesians 4:19 reminds us that God will meet all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus — and that includes the need for motivation. He is not dismissive of the struggle. He is the Creator of all things and the One to whom our souls belong, and He knows the difference between a lack of motivation rooted in complicated emotions and the kind of laziness Scripture cautions against. Bringing our low motivation to Him in prayer, asking Him to fill our hearts with desire and energy, and leaning on His strength when our own runs short is not weakness. It is wisdom. Do all you can to help yourself, and then trust Him with the rest. Today's Bible Verse "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."— Philippians 4:19, NIV Ponder Today Low motivation and laziness are not the same thing. A lack of motivation can arise from depression, stress, exhaustion, or being overwhelmed — all complicated and real experiences. God knows the difference, and He meets us with compassion rather than condemnation. Motivation often follows action rather than preceding it. Waiting to feel motivated before starting is a trap. Taking the first small step — even reluctantly — is frequently what generates the energy and momentum to continue. Building habits reduces the energy required to begin. When tasks become part of a regular routine, the decision-making overhead that drains motivation is removed. Starting something daily makes it easier to keep doing it. God can meet the need for motivation just as He meets every other need. Bringing our low energy and lack of desire to Him in prayer is not trivial. He richly blesses His people with all things, and asking Him to fill our hearts with the desire to be productive is a legitimate and worthwhile prayer. Do all you can to help yourself and lean on Him for the rest. Practical steps and spiritual dependence are not in competition. Both belong together in the life of a believer navigating the real and complicated challenge of low motivation. A Prayer for You Today Dear God, I am often lacking in motivation for a variety of reasons — too tired, too stressed, or too overwhelmed to get started on the tasks in front of me. Important aspects of my career and life have taken a hit because of this struggle. I ask You to help me and to fill my heart with the motivation I need. Bring calmness, serenity, and joy into my heart. These things will help balance out my lack of motivation and give my life purpose again. I praise You for meeting all my needs and richly blessing me in Your Son. Continue to cultivate a productive heart within me and guide me to follow You. I trust You with all things, God. In Your Son's name, Amen. Want More? Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

August 23, 2026Today's Reading: Mark 7:31-37Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 3:1-15; 1 Kings 3:16-4:34; 2 Corinthians 1:1-22“And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,' that is, ‘Be opened.' And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.” (Mark 7:33-36)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Our God works through means. Jesus could have only said “Ephphatha,” and the blind and deaf man would have been healed. But our God puts His holy spit into the mouth of the man before He commands him to be opened. God is not afraid to get down and dirty with His creation. He not only commands this man's ears to be opened and his tongue to be released, but this man was spiritually opened and released. While only his ears were opened and his tongue was loosed, Jesus also opened this man's eyes to see his savior. On his own, he was spiritually blind, but through God's working, he confesses the goodness of Jesus. In a similar way, we too were spiritually deaf and mute. We could not hear the Word or confess our Lord until the Holy Spirit opened our ears to the Word of God and loosed our tongues to confess with saints all over the world. We can join the proclamation of the healed man and zealously proclaim what God has done for us. We are opened by Christ's salvific work to proclaim His life, death, and resurrection. God puts His words into our mouths when we proclaim the truths of the Bible. Just as the healed man spreads the Word, God uses you as one of His means to bring more people into His kingdom. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty and merciful God, by Your Gift alone, Your faithful people render true and laudable service. Help us steadfastly to live in this life according to Your promises and finally attain Your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Jonah Clausen, seminary student at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

Gospel instalment: 08-23-2026 Sermon Titles: 1. You are the man, 2. The Lord has put away your sin, 3. You shall not die, 4. Your Son shall surely die Text: 2Sam 12 1. We continue with our 4th gospel installment /testimony from the story of David, Bathsheba and Uriah. 2. This is the pinnacle of this gospel story And it is a Berean Gospel message and IT IS FREE!

A Course in MiraclesLesson 234Father, today I am Your Son again.

August 15, 2026. Today's Reading: Luke 1:(39-45) 46-55Daily Lectionary: 2 Samuel 5:1-25; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lutherans honor Mary—not because she rules in heaven or manages our prayers—but because of what God did through her. Jesus' humanity is real—He took flesh from Mary. Second, all but two recorded humans die. If Mary had been taken bodily, assumed into heaven, Scripture would clearly say that — as it does about Enoch in Genesis 5:24 and Elijah in 2 Kings 2:11. Scripture is silent on what happened with Mary later in her life; what we do know is that the Bible never implies that Mary was sinless or deserving of our worship. Instead, Holy Scripture presents her as a faithful servant, uniquely chosen, and consistently points to God's saving work in Christ.We honor Mary because she herself said, and Scripture records, “All generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). She's the Mother of our Lord, the one who heard the word of God from Gabriel and believed it. We honor Mary because God honored her—but we do so in the way she teaches us: not by magnifying her, but by magnifying the Lord.God chose an ordinary, humble woman to bear His Son. Jesus grew like we do, lived in the world we live in, suffered in all the ways we do, was tempted as we are, yet without sin, and He did so as a man. This perfect and sinless body He offered on the cross for our salvation. This is the “great thing” God did to Mary—and the great thing He did to and for us. Mary's greatness is not in or of herself. Her greatness is that she received everything from her Savior. She says she's “lowly,” not special or powerful, and so, her humility is part of the miracle. (Luke 1:29)This is our story. God has done great things to and for us. In Baptism, He claimed us as His children. In the Lord's Supper, He feeds us with His Body and Blood, giving forgiveness, life, and salvation. He puts Himself into us—just as He once put Himself into Mary (Luke 1:35). Our response, like Mary's, is awe: “He has done great things to me.” (v.49)We rejoice with Mary—not in Mary. We rejoice in the Lord who became flesh for us, who poured out His blood to forgive us, who keeps His promises, and who loves us by His death that gives us life.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We pray: Almighty God, You chose the Virgin Mary to be the mother of Your only Son. Grant that we, who are redeemed by His blood, may share with her in the glory of Your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Adam DeGroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM.

Not all dangerous predators can be seen. One of the most dangerous predators in a drop of pond water is Amoeba proteus. This amoeba literally terrorizes its one-celled pond-mates, who can smell the amoeba coming to engulf them. Among the amoeba's favorite snacks are creatures of the genus Euplotes. But Euplotes can defend themselves. When some members of this genus smell the amoeba coming, they dart away to safety. Others can grow pikes to defend themselves. Some can even grow hard shells to protect themselves.This scenario leaves a problem for evolution. What benefit to a predator is there in warning its prey? Evolution should have selected against the amoeba's ability to produce its unique scent, called the A-factor. Now a new discovery has revealed the amoeba's scent is really a clever design, pointing to a Designer. These amoebas reproduce by splitting, so they are surrounded by clones. The A-factor is just strong enough to allow the proteus to identify clone-mates so that they don't eat each other, but not so strong that it prevents proteus from getting enough to eat.God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from another unseen predator, the devil. The evil in the world is the warning scent of the devil's presence. God has placed many evidences within the creation that He is the Creator so that as our relatively few days on this earth flee by, we will be drawn to His Son, and, believing in Him, receive forgiveness and salvation from sin, death and the devil.Job 9:25-26"Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.”Prayer: We thank You, dear Father, that in Your love, You sent Your Son to save me from sin, death and the devil. Amen.Ref: S. Milius, “Amoeba betrayed by anticannibal defense,” Science News. Image: Amoeba proteus, SmallRex, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Good morning! On today’s show, Matt Swaim and Anna Mitchell welcome Mike Aquilina to discuss what the Church Fathers had to say about the Assumption of Mary headed into this weekend’s feast. Other guests include Dr. John Bergsma on the idea of Mary as Queen in light of Jewish tradition, and pastoral counselor Kevin Prendergast with hope for those dealing with persistent depression. Plus news, weather, sports, and more… ***** A Prayer for Grace and Guidance O Lord God almighty, who has brought to us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same by Your power; that we may not this day fall into any sin, but that all our thoughts, words, and works may be directed to the fulfillment of Your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen. ***** Charlie Bathon is online at catholic.center. Full list of guestsSupport the show: https://www.sacredheartradio.com/donate-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When God's People Hurt YouPsalm 55:12-14 "Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me, or else I could bear it; it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me, or else I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man like me, my close friend, in whom I confided. 14. We would share personal thoughts with each other; in God's temple we would walk together among the crowd."Some of the deepest wounds people carry were not caused by strangers—they were caused by people they trusted.Join Life's Word Academy: https://tinyurl.com/lifeswordacademyAccept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

LESSON 223God Is My Life. I Have No Life But His.I was mistaken when I thought I lived apart from God, a separate entity that moved in isolation, unattached, and housed within a body. Now I know my life is God's, I have no other home, and I do not exist apart from Him. He has no Thoughts that are not part of me, and I have none but those which are of Him.Our Father, let us see the face of Christ instead of our mistakes. For we who are Your holy Son are sinless. We would look upon our sinlessness, for guilt proclaims that we are not Your Son. And we would not forget You longer. We are lonely here, and long for Heaven, where we are at home. Today we would return. Our Name is Yours, and we acknowledge that we are Your Son.- Jesus Christ in ACIM

Returning Before You Drift FurtherJames 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.”Today, one of the enemy's greatest lies is convincing people they've drifted too far to come back.Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

Send us your feedback — we're listeningColossians 3:15 (NIV) — Let the Peace of Christ Guide Your Next Step Live from London, England — where faith meets the world in daily prayer and global hope. Today's Nations: Germany • Kenya • Austria • Belgium • Spain • Ghana Theme: Peace • Direction • Confidence The morning has begun to gather its pace now. There may be decisions waiting for you, conversations you have been thinking about or responsibilities that seem to have arrived all at once. Before you take the next step, remember that you don't have to rush ahead on your own. Christ offers a different way. His peace is not something we discover at the end of the day; it is something He offers to walk with us through every moment. Let's pause together and bring this part of the day before Him. Scripture (NIV) “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” — Colossians 3:15 Heavenly Father, thank You for the peace that comes through Your Son, Jesus Christ. As this day continues, help us not to be driven by pressure or hurried by fear. Let the peace of Christ guide our hearts, shape our decisions and influence the words we speak. Give us wisdom where choices need to be made, patience when things take longer than we expected and kindness in every person we meet. Help us to notice Your hand at work throughout this day and to walk forward with quiet confidence, knowing that You are leading us with faithful love. Fear will not win, because the peace of Christ gently leads those who place their trust in Him. May the Lord guide every step you take today, fill your heart with His peace and remind you that His faithful presence goes with you wherever you are. Que la paz de Cristo guíe hoy tu corazón, fortalezca cada decisión y te acompañe con Su amor fiel en todo momento. Que a paz de Cristo conduza hoje o seu coração, fortaleça cada decisão e acompanhe você com a Sua presença fiel durante todo o dia. Nawa'y gabayan ng kapayapaan ni Cristo ang iyong puso ngayon, bigyan ka ng karunungan sa bawat pasya at samahan ka ng Kanyang tapat na pag-ibig buong araw. Daily Prayer, Colossians 3, Peace of Christ, Morning Prayer, Christian Podcast, DailyPrayer.uk Colossians 3:15 prayer, prayer for peace and guidance, Christian prayer for decision making, peace of Christ today, DailyPrayer.uk Hidden Treasures: Discover more Bible-centred prayers in the Hidden Treasures library, inspired by Isaiah 45:3 (NIV).Support the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 185 countries and 3,012 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network.This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month?Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it.You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.comTogether, we can keep prayer moving across the world.To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.ukBuy me a Coffee 

August 10, 2026 Today's Reading: Jeremiah 8:4-12 or Jeremiah 7:1-11Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 25:23-44; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21“I have paid attention and listened…” (Jeremiah 8:6a)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.When I was little, I learned to hammer nails into boards. Part of that process, unfortunately, included smashing my thumb with the hammer. The wise counsel of adults was to: “Stop hitting your thumb with the hammer, and it won't hurt.” It was true! I hit my thumb less nowadays, but there's more to the story. Admitting that I needed help, taking direction, following direction, and being comforted WHEN I hit my thumb was the path of greatest comfort. It was the same in Jeremiah's day. God asks, “When men fall, do they not rise again?” (Jeremiah 8:4). We expect people to get up when they fall. Judah didn't. They fell into great sin. They tried to hide their sin and struggle until eventually, it was easier to pretend everything was fine. They convinced themselves that piety and positive feelings covered their sin. People around them kept saying, “Peace, peace,” when there was no peace (v. 11). They spoke lies until they believed them. Even worse, the prophets and priests — those who were supposed to speak God's truth — twisted His Word to excuse sin rather than lead people to repentance. They followed the wisdom of the world, believing it would heal the wounds their sin had caused. It didn't heal anything; it never does… it only kept them trapped in their deception and misery.Yahweh sent Jeremiah to assure the people that God wasn't angry because they were sinners: “I have paid attention and listened…”— Yahweh knew what they were up to, AND He was heartbroken because they believed their sin wasn't that bad, that “God doesn't really mean what He said.” Like Judah — we pretend we're healthy when we're actually dead. God pays attention and listens. His word, through Jeremiah, crushed them, roused them; the word was sent to wake the dead in sin from their sleep. We're all fallen; we cannot rise by our own strength. Jeremiah points them to the promise of Christ — Who, for our sake, willingly took our sin and death and rose again. Christ bore our shame, took our judgment, and still reaches out His nail-pierced hands to forgive and restore you. Being a Christian isn't about keeping the stiff upper lip or exercising stoicism; Adam and Eve tried this with fig leaves, and it didn't work. We rest assured that God knows everything about us, He pays attention and listens — and still wants you, seeks you, and loves you. He clothes you in Christ's righteousness that covers every sin in Baptism, He gives you what you've neither earned nor deserved, and He's overjoyed to do so.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Let us pray: Almighty God, we have sinned against You in what we know and what we do not know. For the sake of Your Son, forgive us all our sin and grant us to serve You and our neighbor. Amen. Rev. Adam DeGroot, pastor of Calvary Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM.

Staying Anchored for the Long HaulColossians 2:6–7 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”The goal of the Christian life is not simply to start well—it's to finish well.Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

The Cost of CompromiseGalatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows,”One of the greatest lies the enemy ever tells believers is this: "It's only a small compromise."Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

Losing Your Hunger for GodMatthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”One of the clearest signs that spiritual drift is taking place is not necessarily what you're doing—it's what you're no longer hungry for.Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

When Conviction Becomes Easier to IgnoreHebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin's deception.”Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

The Slow Danger of NeglectSong of Solomon 2:15 "Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyard is in bloom.”Most spiritual damage doesn't begin with a major failure—it begins with small neglect. That's what makes neglect so dangerous. Nobody notices it at first. It's not dramatic. It's not obvious. It's subtle. And because it's subtle, many believers underestimate its power. Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

In the fourth installment of our church security series, Lloyd discusses the importance of training and the different kinds of training your church security team should partake of and how to role-play emergency situations inside your church worship space. Support the Show  Armed Lutheran Radio is a listener-supported podcast. If you value the information and entertainment we provide, consider supporting the show by joining our membership site, The Reformation Gun Club! http://www.ReformationGunClub.com  Links of Interest American Red Cross - https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/cpr-training American Heart Association- https://cpr.heart.org/ SABRE Personal Safety Training - https://www.sabrered.com/personal-safety-training AVADE Pepper Spray Training - https://avadetraining.com/product/avade-pepper-spray-defense-e-learning-course/ USCCA Free Guide - https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/uscca-info/guide/protecting-house-of-worship-guide/ Sheepdog Church Security - https://sheepdogchurchsecurity.net/ Gatekeepers - https://gatekeeperstx.com/ NOCSSM 2026 Conference - https://gatekeeperstx.com/nocssm-conference/ Buy Duty to Defend, Volume 2 on Amazon – https://amzn.to/3D3frE5 Prayer of the Week Grant, O Lord, we implore You, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by Your governance, that Your Church may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen. Get in Touch Visit our Feedback Page - https://armedlutheranradio.libsyn.com/contact Please tell your friends about us, leave an iTunes review, and like us on Facebook Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/fansofarmedlutheranradio Subscribe to us and follow us on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/armedlutheran Check Out More at our Website- http://www.armedlutheran.us Original Music by Reformer  https://www.youtube.com/ReformerBand   

August 2, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 16:1-9 (10-13)Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 17:20-47; Acts 26:24-27:8“[Jesus said,] ‘The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness.'” (Luke 16:8a)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.We want to make this parable about us— about us being the actor, about us being the active player; we want the Law to be the lens through which we view it. But, goodness, that is what we want to do with every parable. The problem is that that is the worst way to go about reading the parables. And this one is no exception…For when the Law is the lens, then we have an almost impossible task of figuring out what to do in this parable. The man isn't very ethical; he isn't very upright. Go ahead and live your life according to the rules that this man was following, and I dare say that you would be left out on the street with no friends in sight.The strange thing is, after the manager found out that he was going to get canned, he went out and started rewriting the ledgers. Now, some might want to argue that this man was being magnanimous, but you can only be magnanimous when you are giving away your own money. But that isn't what the dishonest manager was doing; he was giving away his boss's money.Well, the time for the books to be reviewed arrives, and wouldn't you know it, surprise of surprise, the rich man is happy! So much so that he commends the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. This makes absolutely no sense at all because it would appear as if at the beginning of the parable this man had been cooking the books, and here at the end he was doing the same…But what if we have that wrong? What if the man wasn't cooking the books at the beginning, but was playing fair, was making everyone pay exactly what they owed by the letter of the Law? And what if the rich man hated that? Could it be, could it maybe just be that the rich guy wanted to pay for the debts of his debtors all along? Could it be that in this parable, as in all parables, the Gospel must prevail, and where you find someone forgiving/canceling/rewriting ledgers from red to black, then you have finally found Jesus?Could it be that this whole strange and crazy parable and everything that Jesus says surrounding it is said for the purpose of turning us to the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins, no matter how strange and confusing it might be, so that we can rest assured that at the end of the day, Jesus has turned our dead debts to live ones once again? Yeah, let's go with that…In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Let Your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of Your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions, make them to ask such things as shall please You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Eli Lietzau, pastor of Wheat Ridge Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wheat Ridge, CO.

The tassels have turned, the extra-long twin bed sheets have been purchased, and the warm summer nights are running out. College move-in day is coming, and no matter how ready, eager, or excited a young person appears, there is almost always a mind quietly running through doubts, what-ifs, and questions about what the future actually holds. Even good change can spark anxiety. And in that uncertainty, one of the most irreplaceable gifts a parent, mentor, or advocate can offer is simply the assurance that their hand is extended — that there is a safe place to return to when the road ahead gets complicated. First Samuel 16 captures the beginning of a bond between Samuel and David that would prove to be exactly that kind of gift years later. Samuel anointed the young shepherd boy who would one day be king, seeing not outward appearance but what God saw — a heart fully devoted to Him. And when David's life unraveled, when Saul's jealousy became a death threat and David had nowhere to turn, he went to Samuel. Not because he had to, but because Samuel was someone he could trust when he did not know what to do next. That is the role God calls us to play in the lives of young people — not hand-holders, but steady, available, trustworthy presences who offer guidance and shelter when the world grows complicated. Whether it is a care package, a timely text, or a vulnerably shared testimony, God uses the small faithful acts of those who show up to shape the hearts of the young people He has entrusted to our care. Today's Bible Verse "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."— 1 Samuel 16:7, ESV Ponder Today Even confident, eager young people carry hidden doubts and fears. No matter how ready a college student appears on the outside, they are still navigating insecurity and uncertainty within. Knowing a trusted person is available makes all the difference. The most powerful thing you can offer is a steady, available presence. Samuel did not micromanage David's journey. He was simply someone David could call on and trust when things fell apart. That kind of availability is a profound gift to any young person. Small, Spirit-prompted acts carry more weight than we realize. A care package, a text, a shared testimony offered at the right moment — when God nudges you toward a young person in your life, trust that He has an intentional purpose for that nudge. Our greatest prayer for the young people we love is that they would call God their Father. More than academic success, professional achievement, or personal happiness, we want to see them surrender their lives to Jesus Christ and become the men and women of God He crafted them to be. A Prayer for You Today Father God, thank You for the young people in our lives. We recognize what an accomplishment it is as they venture into the next stage of life. We recall our own days of feeling nervous, curious, and hopeful all at once, and we lift up these young hearts before You. Make us keenly aware of how we can be the hands and feet of Jesus to them, not only today but in the weeks and years ahead. Move us to share our testimonies vulnerably so that no young person ever feels that no one understands or that they are completely alone. And more than anything else, move in their lives, hearts, and minds that they may call You their Father and surrender to Your Son, Jesus Christ, as their Savior. We do not take lightly the calling to be present in their lives. In Jesus' holy name, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer stirred your heart for a young person God has placed in your life, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to equip you to love and encourage the people God has entrusted to your care. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Drifting Happens GraduallyHebrews 2:1 "Therefore, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.“Most people don't realize they're drifting until they've already moved farther away than they intended.Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

Looking Back and Seeing God's FaithfulnessLamentations 3:22–23 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

Peace in the Middle of UncertaintyPhilippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

Trusting God Through Unexpected DetoursJeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

When Closed Doors Are Actually ProtectionPsalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

Stand-Up On The Spot featuring completely improvised sets from Josh Wolf, John Goblikon, Luenell & Jeremiah Watkins. No material. Comedians create Stand-Up On The Spot off audience suggestions. Everything is covered from Dolly Parton to Shrooms, Elves, Your Son's Ex and more! Jeremiah Watkins you know from Trailer Tales, Dr. Phil Live, his special DADDY, and as the host and creator of Stand-Up On The Spot. Josh Wolf has a new special you can watch on YouTube called The Campfire Special, directed by Jeremiah Watkins! Josh Wolf is also known for his mushroom shows, epic stories, and has multiple other specials you can check out on his page! John Goblikon is host of the Right Now Podcast and you can see him as the frontman of the band Nekrogoblikon. Luenell is host of the Hey Luenell Comedy Podcast and her Netflix Special was produced by Dave Chappelle. She has also appeared in the movies Borat, Dolemite is My Name, and Coming 2 America. Follow the Comedians! Jeremiah Watkins  @jeremiahwatkins   @TrailerTalesPod   @standupots  https://www.instagram.com/jeremiahstandup Josh Wolf  @JoshWolfComedy  https://www.instagram.com/joshwolfcomedy John Goblikon  @Nekrogoblikon  https://www.instagram.com/realjohngoblikon Luenell  @HeyLuenell  https://www.instagram.com/luenell Stand-Up On The Spot https://www.instagram.com/standupots  @standupots  #1HourSpecial #StandupComedy #JoshWolf #JeremiahWatkins #StandUpOnTheSpot #SOTS #killtony #JohnGoblikon #Luenell Sponsored by: Blue Chew Buy 2 months of BlueChew Gold & get your 3rd month FREE when you use promo code SPOT @ http://BlueChew.com/ Interested in sponsoring the show? Email standupots@gmail.com for inquiries SOTS: Josh Wolf, John Goblikon, Luenell & Jeremiah Watkins | Ep 101

In part three of our series on the topic of church security, Lloyd discusses how to create a security team for your church. Support the Show  Armed Lutheran Radio is a listener-supported podcast. If you value the information and entertainment we provide, consider supporting the show by joining our membership site, The Reformation Gun Club! http://www.ReformationGunClub.com  Links of Interest  Buy Duty to Defend, Volume 2 on Amazon – https://amzn.to/3D3frE5 Prayer of the Week Grant, O Lord, we implore You, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by Your governance, that Your Church may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen. Get in Touch Visit our Feedback Page - https://armedlutheranradio.libsyn.com/contact Please tell your friends about us, leave an iTunes review, and like us on Facebook Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/fansofarmedlutheranradio Subscribe to us and follow us on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/armedlutheran Check Out More at our Website- http://www.armedlutheran.us Original Music by Reformer  https://www.youtube.com/ReformerBand

July 26, 2026Today's Reading: Matthew 7:15-23Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 10:1-27; Acts 22:17-29“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.A wolf that looks like a sheep is deceitful. He passes himself off as if he were just like everyone else in the flock. Yet beneath that woolly coat lies a predator. A wolf dressed like a sheep is expecting a big lunch. He can get in unnoticed and do great harm. But there is a way to detect a wolf even if it dresses like a sheep. Observant sheep can flee to their real Shepherd.When Jesus says this, He is referring to false prophets. False prophets cling to what is false and reject what is true. God's Word alone is truth (John 17:17), so false prophets teach an anti-Word against what Scripture says. They hammer these anti-Word words over and over against the truth and purity of Holy Scripture. And this is how wolves destroy the sheep. They call evil good and good evil. They justify wickedness and destroy those grieved in heart. Proclaiming Law as if you can do it and Gospel as a gift that's yours if you try hard enough, false prophets cannot do anything but put sheep to death. Since sheep cannot always tell a faithful preacher by how Christian of a man he looks, since even sheep's clothing makes one look like a faithful sheep, the sheep need another way to recognize a true shepherd from a wolf. Fortunately, that way is given to you. Read Scripture. Grow in learning it. See how it proclaims Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. See how everything that is needed for your salvation is already done, taken away by a bloody Lamb dying on a cross. See how death itself has been defeated by a slain Lamb who came back to life. See how the Word of this Lamb's gospel is proclaimed so that all who hear it and believe it will be saved. And learn from the Word of truth how sheep are to live, how we demonstrate that we are the people of the Lamb and not companions of wolves. Learn from the Word how our lives outwardly are to be modeled after the Ten Commandments, even while our souls are set free from the curse of the Law through faith in Christ. The more you learn the Word, the easier you can tell a faithful shepherd from a wolf dressed like a sheep.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Grant to us, Lord, the Spirit to think and do always such things as are right, that we, who cannot do anything that is good without You, may be enabled by You to live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.Rev. Robert Mayes, pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Beemer and Wisner, NE.

Faith Between the Promise and the FulfillmentHebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

God's Silence Does Not Mean God's AbsenceScripture Isaiah 41:10Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

When You Don't Know What's NextProverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

July 22, 2026Today's Reading: John 20:1-2, 10-18Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 5:1-6:3, 10-16; Acts 18:1-11, 23-28“They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.'” (John 20:13)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Folks have spilled a lot of ink over Mary Magdalene's chastity. Especially since the scriptures don't ever name the prostitute who anoints the Lord's feet with her tears. I think it's on purpose. The blessed evangelists name and leave nameless according to the Spirit. It's on purpose when someone is named. It's on purpose when someone is not. I don't believe the woman who anoints Jesus' feet is left nameless so that we can assume the worst in someone Jesus calls a saint. I believe it's because if Jesus takes away your sin, your sin isn't tied to your name anymore. To be known by your sin is the opposite of Christianity. You are known by your Christ. He bled and died for you. They become His, and your sins are forgiven. You become His, and you are known by your name, washed clean even as you wear His in your Baptism. Your name is redeemed with the rest of you. Your name is sanctified with the rest of you. Jesus insists. It is the same Jesus who pursues Mary. Throughout her sins, her confusion, her disbelief, and her despair. He greets her by name. Mary. And here, she sees who He is. He is the one who gives us clean names again. This is who she is. Mary. Chaste. Faithful. Pure. But most of all, met by a risen Lord. She is witness to the victory over death, the forgiveness, and all the hope that it brings. I don't know if Mary was at one point a prostitute. I do know that her tears are wiped away in any case, and names tied to old sins are forgiven and penned in the book of life. Like yours. You are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Your identity is tied to this, not your sin. Jesus insists. When He pens your name into the book of life, it is through this Baptism, this redemption. Your name doesn't have an asterisk (*) by it, with all your sins listed out. Those are left at the cross. Jesus meets you in the resurrection and calls you by name. Rejoice with Mary. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, restored Mary Magdalene to health and called her to be the first witness of His resurrection. Heal us from all our infirmities, and call us to know You in the power of Your Son's unending life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Rev. Harrison Goodman, Executive Director of Mission and Theology for Higher Things.

Walking In Victory Instead of Constant DefeatScripture: Romans 8:37 — No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

Standing Strong When the Battle Feels HeavyScripture: Isaiah 40:31 — but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Accept Jesus today. https://youtube.com/shorts/bIwAUlz7Kg4?si=BNOhv44iLWIR4eVJIf you would like to accept Jesus into your heart today, pray this simple prayer:****God, I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus is Your Son, who died and rose for my sake. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. I place my trust in You for salvation. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I am forgiven! Amen!****Congratulations! You are now a child of the Most High. John 1:12 says, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."****If you just prayed this prayer to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, I welcome you to the family of God. Subscribe to my channel and type in the comments right now, “I just prayed that prayer.”****Click here for FREE eBook download: https://tinyurl.com/ISAIDTHEPRAYERShow your love and support the channel:*PayPal: PayPal.me/malachimitchellministry*Cash App: https://cash.app/$MalachiMitchNote Journals and Puzzles:https://tinyurl.com/WalkinFaithPublishingAuthored Books: https://tinyurl.com/PastorMalachiBooksHNO Crypto Coin Investing Opportunity: https://tinyurl.com/HNOCoin-ReferralFREE Ways to Support Me:

Read OnlineFamilial Kinship in the KingdomSomeone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him,“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew 12:47–50Those unfamiliar with Catholic teaching and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary might misinterpret this passage as diminishing Jesus' love for His mother or the singular role she holds in salvation history. Such an interpretation is gravely mistaken.The purpose of Jesus' words is to highlight the eternal reality of spiritual kinship in the Kingdom of Heaven that begins here on earth. In God's Kingdom, our communion is not based on earthly bloodlines. While biological relationships—between parents, children, and siblings—may retain a unique bond in Heaven, the deepest and most enduring union is forged through shared obedience to the will of the Father.This spiritual kinship does not begin in Heaven; it begins now. Through the grace of Baptism, we become sons and daughters of the Father and members of Christ's Body. From that moment, we are united not by flesh, but by adoption—through faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Church, as God's family on earth, is already a foretaste of the eternal communion we hope to enjoy in glory.This truth is clearly expressed in the Lord's Prayer. When Jesus taught us to address God as “Our Father,” the “our” does not refer to earthly relatives, but to all who live as God's children, united by grace and fidelity to His will. On earth and in Heaven, it is filial obedience that binds us to the Eternal Son and forms the Mystical Body of Christ. In that union, we cry out together, “Father!”Among those who have conformed themselves well to the will of God, none has equaled the perfection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the moment of her Immaculate Conception, she listened attentively to the Father's voice and responded with unwavering fidelity. Her cooperation with grace was complete, so that the Angel Gabriel rightly called her “full of grace.” To be full is to lack nothing—to be wholly receptive to God's will.Therefore, when Jesus said, “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother,” His words applied supremely to His own mother. Far from diminishing her, they reveal the depth of her sanctity. She was not only His mother according to the flesh, but also His most perfect spiritual kin. In her, the ideal of divine sonship and discipleship is fulfilled to the highest degree.Alongside the Blessed Mother—who is uniquely and perfectly united to her Son in spiritual kinship—we, too, are invited to share in God's family. In Christ, we become kin to Jesus, to His mother, to the angels and saints, and to one another as children of the Father. Though we remain pilgrims on earth, we share in these bonds to the extent that we conform ourselves to the Father's will. In Heaven, those bonds will be perfected, and we will forever rejoice in the reward of belonging to God's household. Nothing could be greater.Reflect today on your deep longing to belong. We often seek acceptance from family, friends, and those around us, but that longing is ultimately fulfilled only by grace, in the spiritual communion that flows from obedience to the Father's will. Obeying God is a blessing, not a burden. It makes us who we are meant to be. The fruit of that obedience is the deepest peace and joy the heart can know: the joy of belonging to God's eternal family.Heavenly Father, You have called me not only to follow You, but to belong to You. May Your will be my delight. Form me in the image of Your Son, that I may live in the communion of love that unites all Your children. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, draw me deeper into the mystery of divine kinship. Father, I love You. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Holy Family, by GiovanniSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

This is part two in our series on the topic of church security. Today's topic: access points and how to police them to prevent unauthorized access to your sanctuary. Support the Show  Armed Lutheran Radio is a listener-supported podcast. If you value the information and entertainment we provide, consider supporting the show by joining our membership site, The Reformation Gun Club! http://www.ReformationGunClub.com  Links of Interest  Buy Duty to Defend, Volume 2 on Amazon – https://amzn.to/3D3frE5 Prayer of the Week Grant, O Lord, we implore You, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by Your governance, that Your Church may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen. Get in Touch Visit our Feedback Page - https://armedlutheranradio.libsyn.com/contact Please tell your friends about us, leave an iTunes review, and like us on Facebook Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/fansofarmedlutheranradio Subscribe to us and follow us on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/armedlutheran Check Out More at our Website- http://www.armedlutheran.us Original Music by Reformer  https://www.youtube.com/ReformerBand

If man is the result of billions of years of evolution from the simplest of creatures, evolution predicts that man should have retained most, if not all, of the best abilities of those other creatures in his heritage.According to evolution, our ape-like ancestors had opposing toes, just as we have opposing thumbs. If we had retained those opposing toes, we could pick things up without bending over. The female chimp can pull 1,260 pounds with one arm. That would be a pretty handy facility. And then, there is the hero shrew of Uganda, just six inches long, but it can support the weight of a one hundred and sixty-pound man on its back!Even the lowly snail can pull up to 200 times its own weight, and lift ten times its weight. Then what about the trilobite, right at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder and supposedly extinct for 300 million years? This little fellow had the most sophisticated eye lenses, actually double lenses, ever found in nature!Since all of these abilities would be greatly beneficial for us, why didn't evolution let us keep or develop these abilities as we evolved? The answer is simple. We have not evolved. Rather, we have been made by a Creator Who made us for the purpose of a relationship with Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ.Deuteronomy 18:22"When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him."Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I thank You that while I cannot leap tall buildings or lift them, You have made me for the higher purpose of a relationship with You. Increase my trust in the atoning work of Your Son for me so that I may grow closer to You. In His Name. Amen.Ref: R.L. Wysong, D.V.M., The Creation - Evolution Controversy, (Inquiry Press, Midland Michigan). Image: Scutisorex somereni (hero shrew), Peter Spelt, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Read OnlineGratitude For Divine Wisdom“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”  Matthew 11:25–27Jesus' praise of the Father, as recorded in today's Gospel, is highly significant. Being both human and divine, His praise originated in His divinity and was expressed through His human nature as a perfect act of divine gratitude. This is significant not only for Jesus, but also for us.As human beings, we are incapable of performing divine acts or attaining the perfection of divine gratitude unless God Himself acts in and through us. Since Jesus' divinity and humanity are perfectly united in the one Person of the Son of God, He not only offered the perfection of praise to the Father, He also elevated human nature itself, enabling us to do the same in Him.When we pray with Jesus as He says, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,” we join in His perfect praise of the Father for His divine wisdom and action in our lives. Our praise, in union with Christ's, is raised beyond mere emotional thanksgiving. It becomes an all-consuming adoration of the Father and a divinely inspired confession of Who He is and what He has accomplished in us. This praise glorifies God and transforms us. No prayer is more perfect or more consequential in our lives than to give praise to the Father in union with the Son.The cause for Jesus' praise is also significant. His thanksgiving is directed at the Father's wisdom in both hiding and revealing “these things.” In the Greek, the verbs for hiding and revealing are strong and deliberate, emphasizing the dramatic contrast between these two actions. From the “wise and learned,” the Father hides these mysteries. The wise and learned, in this context, are not necessarily those who possess education or intelligence, but those who are self-reliant, proud in their intellectual strength, and closed to divine mystery.To the “childlike,” however, the Father reveals these things. The word translated as “childlike” is literally “infants” or “babes” in Greek, referring to those who are humble, open, and trusting—those who recognize their absolute dependence on God. To be childlike is not to be unintelligent; in fact, it implies a higher wisdom. True intelligence is found in the comprehension of divine Wisdom, not merely in worldly knowledge or human learning.This divine wisdom stems from the gift of faith, which opens the soul to deeper understanding. Saint Augustine captures this beautifully when he says, “Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.” Humble, open, and trusting faith comes first. From there, the gifts of Wisdom and Understanding are granted.This, then, is what Jesus refers to as “these things”: the sacred mysteries of Divine Wisdom and Understanding. They are not accessible to the proud or the self-sufficient, but are freely given to those who approach the Father with the simplicity and trust of spiritual childhood. And when they are granted, this is the cause for Jesus to praise the Father and for us to join in that praise.Reflect today on your own disposition before God. Are you tempted to approach Him with self-reliance, pride in your accomplishments, or a desire to understand everything before believing? Or do you come as a child—humble, trusting, and open to receive the mysteries of grace? Seek the Wisdom and Understanding given to the childlike. When they are bestowed, unite your voice to Jesus' in offering perfect praise to the Father. In that united praise, you will not only glorify God but also be transformed by the very Wisdom you adore. Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, make me humble, simple, and open to all that You wish to reveal. With Jesus, Your Son, help me to recognize the bestowal of Your blessings—in my life and in the lives of others. United with the one voice of Your beloved Son, may I forever give You praise and thanksgiving. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Jesus Goes Up Alone onto a Mountain to Pray, by James TissotSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

This week be begin a new series of episodes on the topic of church security. As a follow-up to our lengthy discussion in episode 488, we will discuss practical ways you can enhance the security of your place of worship today, with little or no cost. Today's topic: prioritizing threats. Support the Show  Armed Lutheran Radio is a listener-supported podcast. If you value the information and entertainment we provide, consider supporting the show by joining our membership site, The Reformation Gun Club! http://www.ReformationGunClub.com  Links of Interest  Buy Duty to Defend, Volume 2 on Amazon – https://amzn.to/3D3frE5 Grant Cunningham: Prepping for Life - https://www.amazon.com/Prepping-Life-balanced-approach-personal/dp/1947404008 Prayer of the Week Grant, O Lord, we implore You, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by Your governance, that Your Church may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.   Get in Touch Visit our Feedback Page - https://armedlutheranradio.libsyn.com/contact Please tell your friends about us, leave an iTunes review, and like us on Facebook Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/fansofarmedlutheranradio Subscribe to us and follow us on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/armedlutheran Check Out More at our Website- http://www.armedlutheran.us Original Music by Reformer  https://www.youtube.com/ReformerBand

John 17:1-2 “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.” First, today, let's give thanks to God! He has glorified His Son Jesus by giving Him authority to give eternal life. If we or anyone has eternal life, then it is a gift from God. Glory to God! Second, if we have eternal life, we were given as a gift to Jesus by the Father. We are not our own. We have belonged to God from before the foundation of the world. That's hard to imagine, isn't it? We are Jesus' inheritance. Be in awe! The Father has glorified His Son by creating a people for Himself in Christ that He might save them from their sins, make a place for them in Himself, that He might bring them to God, and unite them as one even as the Father and Son are united as one in love. That's why we live to love with Jesus. Glory to God! Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

Today's Bible Verse: "The Lord was with the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country, but they were unable to drive the people from the plains because they had chariots fitted with iron." — Judges 1:19 Judges 1:19 reminds us that even when God is with us, we may still encounter obstacles that feel overwhelming. The tribe of Judah experienced victory because the Lord was with them, yet they struggled to overcome the people living in the plains because they had powerful iron chariots. This passage reveals the tension between God’s presence and the challenges we face. Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ Looking for a peaceful way to end your day? Listen to "Your Nightly Scripture" to end your day with God's word Meet Today’s Host: Jennifer Slattery Discover more devotions with Jennifer at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio Jennifer Slattery is a national speaker and multi-published author, She’s passionate about helping believers live with bold faith, rooted in surrender to Christ’s purpose. Jennifer co-hosts both Your Daily Bible Verse and Faith Over Fear, encouraging listeners to step into their God-given identity. Her teachings blend Scripture with personal insight to help others embrace God’s power over fear and move forward with confidence.

Your Son's Phone Is Not His Friend — It's Not About Trust, It's About Protection When I was a kid, seeing pornography took real effort — you had to go looking for it. Today, your son doesn't have to look for anything. It's already in his pocket.In this episode, I talk directly to parents about the generation being raised on smartphones — and why "I trust my kid" is the wrong starting point. This isn't about whether your son is trustworthy. It's about knowing what he's up against.In this episode:✅ Why "trust" is the wrong lens for parenting in the smartphone era✅ Warning signs something may be going on✅ Tools like Covenant Eyes and the unannounced phone check✅ What to do — and what not to do — if you catch your son✅ Why parents have to be just as informed as we're asking our kids to be honestThis is a call to every parent listening: protection isn't paranoia. It's love with its eyes open.If this episode challenged you, share it with another parent who needs to hear it.

Hydraulics are part of our everyday lives. Fluids, such as the brake fluid used in your car, cannot be compressed so when you step on the brake pedal that fluid can be forced from a cylinder into the braking mechanisms attached to your wheels. All hydraulic machines work in a similar way because the fluid used will flow easily to areas where there is less pressure.Our Creator made great use of hydraulic principles in many of His creations. We have rigid bones and use fluid to expand and contract our muscles to bend and the stretch our legs. But the spider, for example, does not have a rigid skeleton so it uses muscles to bend its legs then pumps fluid into his leg to straighten it out.The North American Dwarf mistletoe builds up hydraulic pressure equal to that found in a truck tire in order to catapult its seeds out to a distance of almost 50 feet at a speed close to 60 miles per hour. The squirting cucumber found in the Mediterranean area uses the same principle to propel its seeds up to forty feet.Unless you think that the brake system in your car came together by chance and natural forces, it doesn't make any sense to believe that spiders and other plants and animals came about without a Designer and Creator.Job 15:8"Hast thou heard the secret of God? And dost thou withhold wisdom for thyself?"Prayer: Dear Lord, I am constantly amazed at the technical excellence of Your creation. I ask that more scientists would also be amazed, and draw the natural conclusion that You are God. From this realization, help them to be open to hearing what You have done for them and all of us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. In His Name. Amen.Image: Squirting Cucumber, Katja Schulz, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

James Talarico, the Democrat nominee running to replace Senator John Cornyn, claims to be a Christian and a seminary grad, but he makes pathetic arguments about social issues using the Bible and bad logic. His worst? Claiming that the Bible is "silent" on the subject of abortion. Is it really? What else might the Bible be "silent" about? Armed Lutheran Radio is a listener-supported podcast. If you value the information and entertainment we provide, consider supporting the show by joining our membership site, The Reformation Gun Club! http://www.ReformationGunClub.com  Links of Interest  Buy Duty to Defend, Volume 2 on Amazon – https://amzn.to/3D3frE5*  Prayer of the Week Grant, O Lord, we implore You, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by Your governance, that Your Church may joyfully serve You in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen. Get in Touch Visit our Feedback Page - https://armedlutheranradio.libsyn.com/contact Please tell your friends about us, leave an iTunes review, and like us on Facebook Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/fansofarmedlutheranradio Subscribe to us and follow us on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/armedlutheran Check Out More at our Website- http://www.armedlutheran.us Original Music by Reformer  https://www.youtube.com/ReformerBand

Read OnlinePraying to the Father in the SonAt that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Matthew 11:25–27This passage beautifully summarizes the entire Christian life—the life to which we are called and in which we find our purpose, meaning, and ultimate fulfillment. Jesus begins by offering praise to the “Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” Though Jesus Himself is fully God, “one in being with the Father”—co-eternal and consubstantial—He nevertheless offers praise to the Father.In the original Greek, the phrase “I give praise to you…” (exomologoumai) indicates an open, public, and full acknowledgment by the Son of the Father's sovereignty and gracious will. The Father is the All-Powerful Lord of all that exists—everything in the heavens and on earth. Jesus expresses this fundamental stance toward the Father for two reasons: first, because it is eternally true; and second, so that we might humble ourselves and join Him in praying the same prayer—through, with, and in Jesus.This prayer closely parallels the opening of the Lord's Prayer (the “Our Father”), because both begin with a direct acknowledgment and praise of the Father's holiness and sovereignty. The Lord's Prayer is the perfect prayer precisely because it was given to us by Jesus Himself. After addressing the Father, it presents seven petitions. According to Saints Thomas Aquinas and Augustine, the first two petitions—“hallowed be Thy name” and “Thy Kingdom come”—reveal the central purpose of our lives: to glorify God eternally and to be caught up in, and actively participate in that glory by becoming full members of His Kingdom. In today's prayer, Jesus says “these things” have been revealed “to little ones” and that the Son can choose to reveal the Father to whom He wishes.We are drawn into Jesus' prayer and intimate relationship with the Father precisely when Jesus reveals the Father to us: “No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Because Jesus deeply desires that we come to know and love the Father with the same love He has for Him, His prayer continues by gently inviting us—especially when burdened by weariness, weakness, or sin—to lay our burdens down before His merciful power and glory: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).This tender invitation reveals Jesus' deepest desire for us: that we would enter into His love for the Father, share intimately in the union between Father and Son, and thus magnify and glorify the Most Holy Trinity—not only in our earthly journey but eternally in Heaven. Indeed, what a sublime and glorious calling we have received!Reflect today upon this beautiful prayer, knowing in your heart that Jesus Himself invites you to pray it with Him, through Him, and in Him. He longs for His voice to resonate within your voice, His love to beat within your heart, and His holy desires to shape your own. Turn your gaze toward the Father—He who is both the Source and ultimate goal of your existence—and strive lovingly and humbly to accomplish all things according to His gracious and holy will.Our Father, You who dwell in the heavens and within the souls of Your sanctified ones, may Your eternal essence, Your holy Name—the One who was, who is, and who is to come, the Great I AM—be honored, praised, and glorified forever. May this glorification shine forth in my life and in the lives of all Your faithful, as we await with joyful hope the return in glory of Your Son, Jesus our Savior, when You, together with Him and the Holy Spirit, will establish the New Heavens and the New Earth. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Christ with Children by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

A common and quietly damaging misconception in the Christian life is that holiness means being voiceless, that servanthood means accepting mistreatment, and that Jesus modeled silence in every situation. He did not. Yes, there were moments Jesus chose not to defend Himself. But He also corrected the Pharisees, stood up for Himself when criticized, and questioned those who treated Him wrongfully. The cross was not the story of a doormat — it was the story of the Son of God who laid down His life of His own accord, by His own authority, according to His Father's will. John 10:18 makes that unmistakably clear. There is a straight line from Jesus' example to our own: we are not bad Christians for having a voice. We are not unloving for saying "you hurt me," or "I will speak with you again when you can be respectful," or simply "no." God entrusted us with decision-making. Wisdom, dignity, and worth are not the enemies of humility. They are part of bearing the image of the One who was powerful, purposeful, and deeply worthy. Today's Bible Verse "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."— John 10:18, NIV Ponder Today Jesus was not a doormat — and His example does not call us to be one either. He corrected, questioned, and spoke up when it was right to do so. Holiness is not the same as silence, and servanthood is not the same as accepting abuse. The cross was an act of sovereign power, not passive suffering. Jesus laid down His life of His own accord, by His own authority. That is not weakness — it is the most powerful act in human history, chosen freely out of love. Ask God for discernment about when to speak and when to be still. Jesus operated according to the Father's will, not the pressure of those around Him. That same Spirit is available to guide us in knowing when to speak a brave word and when to remain quiet. A Prayer for You Today Father, I want to thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ — the perfect example He is to me, and for the cross, which is not an endorsement of abuse but a picture of One freely laying down His life for us. It is the ultimate gateway to salvation, and we thank You for it. Teach us when to speak up and when to stay silent. Show us when to act and when to be still. Give us discernment in our knowing and going. In Jesus' name, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer helped you remember that your voice matters and your worth is real, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to strengthen your identity in Christ every day. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Red-faced, tie askew, and ready to sound the alarm at a moment's notice — Disney Pixar's "Anger" from Inside Out is a surprisingly accurate picture of what it feels like when that emotion takes the wheel. In this practical and grace-filled episode, Vivian Bricker uses that familiar character as a jumping-off point for an honest conversation about one of the most common struggles in the Christian life. Anger is not wrong in itself. It is a God-given emotion. But when we act on it without pause, without prayer, and without the Spirit's help, it leads us somewhere we never intended to go. James 1:19-20 offers a deceptively simple prescription: be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. The Greek word used here, orgēn, carries the weight of wrath and indignation, and James knew exactly how destructive it could become in the life of a believer. Vivian reminds us that the antidote is not suppression but surrender, bringing our anger before God, giving ourselves time and space to let the wave pass, and asking the Holy Spirit to replace inner stirrings of wrath with serenity, kindness, and hope. Nothing is impossible for God, and that includes transforming even our most impulsive, red-faced moments into something that glorifies Him. Bible Verse "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires." — James 1:19-20, NIV Ponder Today Anger is an emotion, not automatically a sin. It only becomes sin when we act on it without restraint (Ephesians 4:26). The goal is not to never feel angry but to pause, pray, and respond in a way that reflects Christ rather than our impulses. Being slow to speak is a spiritual discipline. James calls us to stop, slow down, and think before we respond. Talking with God before we reply to an anger-provoking situation is one of the most practical acts of faith we can practice. Give yourself time and space when anger rises. A walk around the block, a call to a trusted friend, a few songs, a moment of prayer. Creating distance between the provocation and your response is not avoidance; it is wisdom. Human anger cannot produce God's righteousness. No matter how justified our anger feels, acting from a place of unmanaged wrath will not bring about the righteous outcomes we desire. We must invite God into the situation before we respond. Ask God to weed anger out by His work in you. This is not a battle you fight alone or win by sheer willpower. As you study Scripture and invite the Holy Spirit to do His work, He will equip your heart to release anger and receive peace in its place. A Prayer for You Today Dear God, anger tries to control me at times, but I am choosing to give control over to You. Help me to be slow to speak and slow to become angry. When anger rises like a tidal wave, help me ride it out and allow it to pass. In every situation that provokes anger in my heart, give me space to think and remind me through Your Spirit to turn to You first. Remove any inner stirrings of wrath and replace them with serenity, kindness, contentment, and hope. Thank You for molding me to be more like Your Son. All glory belongs to You. Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer helped you surrender your anger to the One who can truly transform it, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to help you live a life that reflects the peace and righteousness of God every day. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Parenting in today's world has never felt more overwhelming. Between rising anxiety, social media, and the pressure to get it all right, many Christian parents are wondering: How do I raise resilient, emotionally healthy kids?In this episode, featuring counselors Sissy Goff and David Thomas, you'll learn:Common parenting mistakes that unintentionally undermine a child's confidence, capability, and emotional growth.How to discern the difference between healthy struggle and situations that require intervention and support.Practical scripts to use when your child experiences failure and disappointment.Tools for overcoming parental shame and trusting God with your child's story.Links and Resources We Mention in This Episode:Stay connected with Sissy Goff and David Thomas by visiting their website, getting a copy of their new book Capable, and following them on social media.Fight for your family by downloading 15 Prayers for Your Husband and 15 Prayers for Your Son or Daughter.We're grateful to the American Association of Christian Counselors for being a yearlong sponsor of Therapy & Theology. Click here to apply for their Youth Mental Health Coach program — a biblically grounded, clinically excellent training to help you support youth facing today's most common mental health challenges. Go to Compassion.com/Lysa to join us in sponsoring a child through Compassion International today.Subscribe here to receive new Therapy & Theology episodes straight to your inbox.Want a chance to be featured on Listener Mail? Leave Lysa, Jim, or Joel a message or a question right here.Download a transcript of this episode. 

Scrolling through old birthday photos, watching her boys grow from newborns into the children they are today, Emily Rose Massey noticed something she hadn't expected to see in those pictures — her own transformation. Because while she was busy raising four boys, God was quietly, faithfully doing a deep work in her too. That process has a name: sanctification. And in this tender and theologically rich episode, Emily unpacks what it means, why it matters, and why the God who began this work in you is the same God who promises to complete it. Sanctification — being set apart, made holy, conformed to the image of Christ — is not a self-improvement project. It is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer, and 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 makes the most encouraging promise imaginable: the One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. Emily reminds us that our position in Christ is forever fixed — nothing can snatch us from His hand. But while we rest in the finished work of the cross, we are also called to partner with the Spirit through Scripture, prayer, service, and discipleship, allowing Him to renew our minds and gradually loosen the grip of worldly thinking and fleshly desire. The goal is not perfection this side of heaven — it is a life that, day by day and year by year, looks a little more like Jesus. Today's Bible Verse "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it." — 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, NIV Ponder Today Sanctification is God's work, not yours alone. You partner with the Holy Spirit in the process — but the deep, transforming work of making you holy belongs to the faithful God who called you. Rest in that. Your position in Christ is forever fixed. No failure, no stumble, and no season of spiritual dryness can change what Christ has already secured for you. Sanctification flows from that settled foundation — it does not establish it. Holiness grows gradually, not overnight. The goal is not perfection this side of heaven but a life that, day by day, looks increasingly like Jesus. Small, steady steps of obedience matter more than dramatic overnight transformations. Spiritual disciplines are how we partner with the Spirit. Bible study, prayer, serving others, discipleship, and evangelism are not how we earn God's favor — they are how we open ourselves to the mind-renewing, desire-transforming work of the Holy Spirit. The longer you walk with God, the less the world's pull satisfies. As your mind is renewed through His Word, worldly thinking and fleshly desires gradually lose their grip. That shift in desire is itself evidence of God's sanctifying work in you. A Prayer for You Today Father God, thank You for saving me, setting me free, and continually sanctifying me. I know that I fail every day, but I lean into Your grace all the more. Your grace is sufficient for each day and is such a gift in my life. You are a God who transforms and purifies — so help me renew my mind with Your Word, that I may know Your good, acceptable, and perfect will and see my life conformed more and more to the image of Your Son. In Jesus' name, Amen. Don't Miss an Episode If today's prayer stirred a fresh gratitude for how far God has already brought you, we'd love to stay connected. Subscribe to the LifeAudio newsletter at LifeAudio.com for daily prayers, devotionals, and more content to walk alongside you in your journey of faith and growth every day. If you like this podcast, be sure to check out our sister podcast, Your Nightly Prayer - an evening Christian prayer podcast to help you end your day in conversation with God. https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.