A husband had a habit of grumbling about the food his wife prepared for meals. He would grumble, then offer a prayer of thanksgiving. His pattern of grumbling then thanking was the same every day.
One day his young daughter asked, “Dad, does God hear our prayers?”
“Why yes,” the father replied.
The daughter continued, “Does God hear everything else we say?”
“Of course,” the dad said. He was bubbling with pride because he had inspired his child to ask spiritual questions.
His pride quickly turned to embarrassment and humility when the daughter asked, “Well, which one does he believe: your grumbling or thanksgiving?”
Blessings can come in all shapes and sizes, and Psalm 136 encourages us to give thanks to the Lord for all that he has done for us.
Verses 1-3 say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever.”
The Psalmist gives us some reasons to give thanks.
Give thanks for the mighty miracles God performs.
Give thanks for the beautiful creation surrounding us.
Give thanks to him for the freedom he brings.
Give thanks to him for the provisions he provides.
Give thanks to him for his past actions.
Give thanks to him for his present grace.
Give thanks to him for his grace and love. We are reminded 26 times the Lord’s faithful love endures forever.
With current events, it is easy to forget how many times we have been blessed, yet there is much for which we can be thankful.
Helen Keller said, “So much has been given to me that I have no time to ponder that which I don’t have.” There are many reasons we have to be grateful. Take time today to thank God for 10 of your blessings.
The battle between hate and love has existed since Adam and Eve were in the garden. The disgusting work of hate ensnares us, but love has the power to conquer everything. Love conquers the divides between people, love heals the wounds inflicted by hate, and love mends the broken heart. Love has the power to overcome anything hate throws our way.
1 Corinthians 13:6-8 says, “Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
The Bible gives us a glimpse into the end of the battle between hate and love. Love conquers all. God is love and nothing has the power to stand in his way. His grace and mercy will win.
Meanwhile, as the battle rages, you and I have the challenge to be messengers of love. You can practically live this out in small, intentional ways every day. Love is not only a feeling; it is a decision we make in how we respond to people, especially when it would be easier to respond with frustration, bitterness, or indifference.
Practical Ways to Show Love
Choose patience instead of anger. When someone irritates you, pause before reacting. A calm response can stop hate from spreading further.
Speak words that heal rather than wound. Encourage someone who is discouraged. Thank someone who feels unnoticed. Apologize when you are wrong. Words can either deepen hurt or bring healing.
Refuse to participate in gossip or division. Love “rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Instead of spreading negativity, be someone who protects the reputation and dignity of others.
Show kindness to people who may never repay you. Hold the door open, send a message to check on someone, help a neighbor, or listen to someone who needs to talk. Small acts of love often make a bigger impact than we realize.
Pray for people you struggle with. It is difficult to hate someone while consistently praying for them. Ask God to help you see others through His eyes.
Persevere in loving difficult people. 1 Corinthians 13 says love “always perseveres.” Some relationships are exhausting, but love keeps showing grace, setting healthy examples, and refusing to let bitterness take root.
Remember how God has loved you. The more we reflect on God’s grace, mercy, and patience toward us, the easier it becomes to extend love to others.
Try meeting this challenge today. before the day ends, intentionally encourage one person, forgive one offense, and perform one act of kindness without expecting anything in return. Those small moments are powerful ways love pushes back against hate.
He didn’t yell or shout at others. He didn’t stir up hatred with His words. He didn’t approach life with an “I’m better than you” attitude. His approach was different.
When a man suffering from leprosy came to Him, Jesus was moved with compassion and reached out His hand to touch him (Mark 1:41), while others ignored and avoided the man. When He saw a hungry crowd, He made sure they were fed (Mark 6:34) rather than sending them home empty. Jesus was compelled by love and moved by compassion. As His followers, we are called to live the same way.
Philippians 2:5 challenges us to adopt the same attitude as Christ Jesus.
Jesus’ attitude brought refreshment to the people He encountered, and that same attitude can still bring refreshment today. In a world filled with finger-pointing and chaotic shouting, our neighbors are hungry for compassion, kindness, and hope.
Are we compelled by love? Are we moved by compassion?
Henry Ford once said failure was the opportunity to begin again more intelligently, and Thomas Edison was no stranger to failure. As Edison worked on his various inventions, he failed many times.
In 1914, a fire destroyed Edison’s factory, equipment, and much of the record of his work. Edison surveyed the damage the next day and concluded, “We can start over anew. All of our mistakes are burned up.” His failures did not stop Edison from moving on.
As a part of life, you and I will experience failures. We will be overlooked by the Hiring Manager. Our plans may unravel rather than work. Those whom we think to be loyal friends may walk away. Failures come, and amid these moments, it may seem everything is crumbling around us; however, there is one promise which will never fail us.
Whether we are succeeding or failing, the Lord is with us.
Deuteronomy 31 promises the Lord will personally go ahead of us.
Solomon writes in Proverbs 12 the Godly are deeply rooted.
Jesus says in Matthew 28:20, “and be sure of this, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.”
The writer of Hebrews quotes the Lord as saying, “I will never leave you. I will never abandon you.”
Failure may cause everything else to crumble, but the Lord will stick around.
Failure can leave us feeling discouraged, embarrassed, or even tempted to quit. Yet the promises in these passages remind us that our stability is not found in success, but in God’s presence.
If you face failure today, remember…
When something goes wrong, pray before panicking. Instead of immediately assuming the worst, pause and remind yourself, “The Lord is still with me.” Talk honestly with God about the disappointment and ask Him for wisdom for the next step.
Refuse to let failure define your identity. A missed opportunity, mistake, or rejection does not determine your worth. Proverbs 12 reminds us that the godly are deeply rooted. Trees may bend in storms, but deep roots keep them standing.
Take one faithful step forward. Edison chose to rebuild instead of giving up. In the same way, ask yourself, “What is one thing I can do today to move forward?” It may be making a phone call, applying again, apologizing, trying again, or simply trusting God for another day.
Remember God goes ahead of you. Deuteronomy 31 teaches that God is already present in tomorrow before we arrive there. Nothing surprises Him, including our setbacks. The future may feel uncertain to us, but it is not uncertain to God.
Encourage someone else who feels defeated. One of the best ways to strengthen your own faith is to remind another person they are not abandoned. A simple text, prayer, or conversation can point someone back to hope.
Failure may shake our confidence, but it does not remove God’s presence. Even when plans fall apart, the Lord remains faithful, walks beside us, and gives us strength to begin again.
Four priests got together for a friendly conversation. One of them said, “People come to us confessing many things, and confession is good for the soul. While we are together, we should take some time to confess to one another.”
The others were reluctant for a few minutes, but came around to the idea confession time would be good. The priest who had the idea started the confessing. He enjoyed going to movies, and he would frequently sneak away from church to go to the movies.
The second confessed to smoking cigars, and the third confessed to playing cards. When it was the fourth priest’s turn, he remained silent. The others pressed him until he opened up.
“Mine is gossip, and I cannot hardly wait to get out of here,” he said.
Gossip causes much difficulty. It can create strife in families, friends, and on the job. It can bring good people down and rise up fools. Sharp tongues can erode one’s confidence and ruin reputations in a matter of minutes. Gossip has the power to cause much devastation.
While you and I cannot control our neighbor’s tongue, we can control our own. If we do not repeat gossip, we will not be spreading the wildfire it lights. If we do not intently listen to gossip, perhaps the conversation will be changed. Without our participation, the devastation caused by gossip may not be as severe.
Proverbs 26:20-21 says, “Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.”
During World War II, the American government became concerned enemy spies were passing along information about the location of troops and ships. The military adopted the slogan, “Loose lips sink ships.”
Gossip can cause much devastation, but kind words can build others up and minimize the damage. Please join me in saying something kind today.
There seems to be no shortage of storms in the world right now. Glance at the headlines, and you will soon discover storms coming at us from all directions. Inflation, personal safety being at risk, and the like are causing storms. While it may be a particularly stormy time, storms are nothing new to life.
Proverbs suggests we build our lives on a firm foundation to survive these storms. Solomon writes in 10:25, “When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the Godly have a lasting foundation.”
How do we build this foundation?
Develop a relationship with the Lord by spending time in the Bible.
Seek wisdom through prayer.
Search the Scriptures for answers to life’s questions.
Always strive to do what is right.
Building on this foundation is not easy, but it is worth the effort involved. Jesus tells a parable of two builders. The first builder did not take the time to dig through the sand to place his home on a rock foundation, while the second builder dug through the sand to rest his home on a rock foundation. A storm came, and flood waters rose. The first house was swept away, but the second house stood, unmoved by the tumultuous waters.
As we are weathering a stormy time, how firm is your foundation? Do you need to allow the Lord to add stability?
Have you ever wished you could go back and change something in your past? Maybe it was a decision you regret, words you wish you could take back, or an opportunity you let slip away. Many of us spend far too much time replaying yesterday’s failures and wondering what could have been. While reflection can help us grow, living in the past can leave us discouraged and stuck. Thankfully, God does not call us to live looking backward. In Philippians 3, Paul reminds us to let go of what is behind and press forward toward the future God has prepared for us.
In Philippians 3, Paul writes, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection, but I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing – forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the Heavenly prize for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us.”
We are encouraged to narrow our focus in two ways.
Forgetting what is behind.
This may be hard for us to do. We cannot allow the past to absorb and control our present and future.
We cannot get hung up on what we have already achieved. There’s still more work for us to do.
We cannot allow mistakes we have made to beat us down. In his grace, the Lord will help us move beyond mistakes.
Looking ahead.
We should look ahead to what is coming; our concentration should be on the Heavenly prize awaiting us.
Keeping our focus on the future rather than the past will give us the motivation to press on. Our Heavenly prize awaits us at the finish line.
How can we press on today?
Start the day with gratitude instead of regret. Before thinking about yesterday’s failures, thank God for a new day and fresh mercy. A grateful heart helps shift our attention from the past to the opportunities in front of us.
Learn from mistakes without living in them. Ask yourself, “What can this teach me?” instead of repeatedly replaying what happened. Reflection can help us grow, but dwelling on failure can keep us stuck.
Refuse to define yourself by past successes or failures. Some people live in shame over past mistakes, while others cling to former accomplishments. Both can keep us from growing. Ask God, “What do You want me to do today?” instead of living in yesterday.
Take one small step forward. Moving ahead often happens through small acts of obedience. Make the phone call, apologize, begin the project, serve someone, pray, or spend time in God’s Word. Progress usually comes one step at a time.
Fill your mind with God’s truth. When regrets begin to dominate your thoughts, replace them with Scripture. Passages like Philippians 3 remind us that God calls us forward, not backward.
Keep eternity in view. Paul compared life to a race with a Heavenly reward waiting at the finish line. Remembering that our ultimate hope is in Christ helps us endure temporary disappointments and setbacks.
Give yourself grace while continuing to grow. Paul admitted he had not “already achieved” perfection. Growth is a process. God is still working in us, even when we feel unfinished.
Today, we have a choice. We can keep replaying the disappointments, failures, and regrets of yesterday, or we can move forward in the grace and purpose God has given us. Paul reminds us that the Christian life is not about being perfect; it is about pressing on. God is not finished with us yet. The past may explain where we have been, but it does not have to determine where we are going. Because of Christ, there is still hope to embrace, growth ahead, and a Heavenly prize waiting at the finish line. So don’t stay stuck looking behind you. Fix your eyes on Jesus, take the next faithful step forward, and keep pressing on.
“I’m between a rock and a hard spot” is a phrase I’ve heard often. It is said amid challenges when there is no easy answer. Have you ever been there?
Challenges come in all sizes. Job losses, financial hardships, illnesses, and family struggles are just a few. Whether big or small, challenges find us on a recurring basis. The Bible offers encouragement for these moments.
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
In Batteries Included, I was recently reminded of this by David’s Daily Dose. He writes, “God’s provision isn’t just about personal convenience; it’s uniquely functional–down to the smallest detail. He provides the strength, resources, and peace necessary so that you and I can focus entirely on our heaven-sent mission.” Thanks, David, for this reminder the Lord doesn’t leave us on our own to figure out life.
As we face challenges today, remember, the Lord will guide us. He will ensure we have all that is needed.
Pip: Get Encouraged is a site that does exactly what it says on the label — which, in a media landscape built on outrage, is either quaint or quietly radical.
Mara: Chris Miller has been writing this week about some genuinely old questions: how we live alongside people who are different from us, what we do when we fail, and whether Scripture can actually hold up as a guide through all of it.
Pip: Let's start with harmony and what it actually costs to pursue it.
Living Together on Purpose
Mara: The tension here is real: harmony sounds like a nice idea, but the posts push on what it actually requires — not agreement, but a deliberate choice to pursue unity across difference.
Pip: David puts it in Psalm 133, and the image is striking. The quote reads: "How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony. For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head."
Mara: So harmony isn't passive — it's described as something precious, even sacred. The practical upshot is that it requires effort: listening first, seeking understanding over winning, choosing to forgive.
Pip: The Power of a Servant's Heart lands in the same territory — Jesus redefining greatness as service, which is basically harmony's operating system. Both posts are asking the same uncomfortable question: are you contributing to unity or quietly working against it?
Mara: And that question about what we're building toward connects directly to failure — because pursuing harmony or servant leadership means you will stumble.
When Stumbling Is Part the Story
Mara: The posts here sit with a question most of us avoid: what do failure and fulfillment actually have to do with each other?
Pip: Overcoming Failure: Lessons from History's Successes opens the answer with a list — Babe Ruth, Robert Frost, Winston Churchill, Oprah — and then lands on Max Lucado: "Though you've failed, God does not. Face your failures with faith and God's goodness."
Mara: That's the turn. Failure is not the end of the story; it's a data point inside a longer one. The Psalmist in 37:23-24 puts it plainly: "Though they stumble, they never fall for the Lord holds them by the hand."
Pip: What I find useful about that framing is it doesn't minimize the stumble. It just refuses to let the stumble write the conclusion.
Mara: Finding True Fulfillment: Lessons from Solomon takes the other side of that coin. Solomon had everything — wisdom, wealth, influence — and still ran the experiment on every path life could offer.
Pip: And the experiment came back negative. Pleasure, accomplishment, possessions — meaningless, he says, unless the Lord remained central. That's not a small conclusion from someone who actually had the resources to test the premise.
Mara: Ecclesiastes 12:13 is where he lands: "Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty." What the post draws out is that this is actually freeing — you don't have to keep chasing things that were never designed to satisfy.
Pip: Which is a more useful reframe than it sounds. If Solomon already ran the trial, you don't have to replicate it.
Mara: Both posts are making the same underlying argument: the thing you're afraid of — failure, or the emptiness after success — doesn't have to be the final word.
Pip: And if the conclusion is that Scripture anchors you through both, that's exactly where the next set of posts picks up.
Scripture as a Compass, Not a Relic
Mara: The question these posts press on is whether God's Word is actually functional — not just historically significant, but useful today, in real decisions.
Pip: Unlocking Wisdom: The Benefits of God's Word from Psalm 119 makes the case directly. Verse 105: "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
Mara: The practical point is that a lamp only helps if it's on. Navigating Life's Storms with God's Word makes that concrete through Shackleton's Antarctic expedition — a crew navigating 800 miles of open ocean using only a compass and a sextant, and Scripture functioning the same way through uncertainty. Building Life on a Foundation You Can Trust grounds all of it in Psalm 111: fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom, and that wisdom is expressed through obedience, not just knowledge.
Pip: Three posts, one consistent claim — the Word isn't decorative. It's load-bearing.
Mara: Harmony, failure, fulfillment, wisdom — these posts keep returning to the same underlying question: what are you actually building on?
Pip: And whether the foundation holds. More on that next time.
They came from a variety of backgrounds and places. Some were of Jewish descent while others shared a different heritage. Some were poor and could barely make ends meet while others had plenty of wealth. They lived in different locations and celebrated different cultures. They were a diverse people, but they received the same promise.
They received the promise presented by Christ. That is, forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God through grace. This was the same promise for everyone.
Paul writes to the Galatians in chapter 3, “So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ than you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs, according to the promise.”
The promise was offered to everyone and the only deciding factor was acceptance. The Lord only looked at the heart and nothing else.
The Lord has not changed. He still only looks at the heart and nothing else. You and I may be part of a diverse group of people, but the promise made to us is the same. We come from a wide variety of backgrounds and places, but we can share in the Lord’s grace.
The Bible challenges us to look at one another’s heart rather than outward appearance.
How can we do this today?
Intentionally speak to someone different from you. Start a conversation with someone you might not normally approach. Differences in age, culture, income, education, or background do not diminish a person’s value before God.
Examine your first impressions. When meeting someone new, ask yourself, “Am I making assumptions based on appearance, clothing, accent, occupation, or social status?” Challenge yourself to see people the way God sees them.
Remember your own need for grace. It is easier to show grace to others when we remember how much grace we have received. None of us earned God’s promise; it was given through Christ. Keeping this in mind helps us avoid pride and favoritism.
Welcome others into your circle. Invite someone to join you for coffee, lunch, a church activity, or a conversation. Many people feel isolated or overlooked. A simple invitation can communicate the love of Christ.
Focus on spiritual identity first. When you encounter fellow believers, remember that your deepest connection is not politics, nationality, race, income level, or personal preferences. Your shared identity in Christ is what unites you.
Look for opportunities to serve. Serve someone without expecting anything in return. Acts of kindness remind us that every person is valuable to God and worthy of love and respect.
Today’s Challenge
Choose one person today whom you might normally overlook. Learn their name, hear part of their story, or encourage them in some way. As you do, remember that the same grace that reached you is available to them. God looks at the heart, and He calls us to do the same.
Get Encouraged 