Darrell Morey 10/9/26 Darrell Morey 10/9/26

The Applause That Doesn’t Matter

Do you think I speak this strongly in order to manipulate crowds? Or curry favor with God? Or get popular applause? If my goal was popularity, I wouldn't bother being Christ's slave.

Galatians 1:10 - MSG

People pleasers abound in the world. I know. I used to be one, and I knew many others as well. It’s an exhausting way to live, but God offers us something much better.

There comes a moment in every Believer’s life when today's verse confronts us with an important question: Who am I really trying to please? When winning people's approval becomes more important than remaining faithful to Christ, it can cause us to lose sight of what it means to serve Him.

In Paul's day, as in ours, there were voices trying to reshape the gospel into something more acceptable and flattering to human pride. It was a version of Christianity that left little room for grace.

Yes, even in some of today’s churches human expectations and religious demands turn faith into a performance rather than a response to God's love. They seem to be run by what I call the “Rules of Religiosity. ” When we measure our worth by how well we satisfy others or live by the rigidity of rule-keeping to satisfy others, we can easily lose sight of the freedom Christ offers.

Some of us grew up believing that pleasing people was the way to receive the approval and love we needed. When we carry that pattern into adulthood, we can end up trying to keep everyone happy and avoid disappointing anyone.

But this kind of people-pleasing comes at a cost. We may soften the truth to avoid discomfort, compromise our convictions to fit in, or remain silent when faithfulness calls us to speak.

Yet here is the freedom in today's verse: God's approval is a steady anchor in our lives. We don't have to keep changing who we are to satisfy every expectation. We can rest in God's love and find courage to live by His truth.

In today's world, where opinions shift by the hour and popularity is measured in likes and shares, everyone seems to have an expectation or a version of truth they want us to endorse. Yet the gospel doesn't change to accommodate the culture, and Christlikeness doesn't depend on winning applause.

If you belong to Jesus, your life will increasingly reflect Him—not through perfection, but through a heart being changed by His grace. There will be evidence of growing love, humility, integrity, and faithfulness.

Your life will display the courage to stand for what is right, speak truth when it is unpopular, and refuse to let public opinion take the place of God's Word. His grace frees us to live for Him instead of spending our lives chasing the world's approval.

Today it’s important to understand this one truth: You will never satisfy every opinion, meet every expectation, or win everyone's applause. And you don't have to.

What matters most is not whether the crowd approves of you, not whether you’re winning applause that doesn’t matter, but whether you are walking faithfully with the One who loves you. When you know whose you are, you can stop living for the applause of others and start living in the freedom of His grace.

Prayer

Father, silence the voices that pull me toward compromise or the need to be liked. Teach me to value faithfulness to You above the shifting opinions of others.

Give me courage when I feel timid, conviction when I feel pressured, and peace when I feel misunderstood. Help me live in the freedom of serving Christ without fear or a constant need for approval.

Thank You that Your love is not something I must earn through performance. Help me live each day as a grateful response to Your grace. May my choices reflect my devotion to You and point others toward the love and truth of Jesus.

Keep my heart steady, my faith sincere, and my steps faithful to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 10/8/26 Darrell Morey 10/8/26

Live by the Word of God

He put you through hard times. He made you go hungry. Then he fed you with manna, something neither you nor your parents knew anything about, so you would learn that men and women don't live by bread only; we live by every word that comes from God's mouth.

Deuteronomy 8:3 - MSG

I was hungry. There was nothing in the house to eat but a couple slices of bread. So, I fixed myself a ketchup and mustard sandwich. Those were hard times, but somehow, in ways that I will never truly understand, God brought me through them.

It was in the dry, hungry season of my life that I found the Lord. I found Him in a verse of Scripture. Not my whole Bible, no, one verse. It says, “I want to know Him…” That verse came alive to me and in me. It satisfied a hunger I didn’t know existed. It became life in my life and was much more satisfying than that ketchup and mustard sandwich.

God worked miracles for His people as He brought them out of slavery on their journey to the Promised Land. He gave them manna to eat. Some have called it “bread of angels.” But God was trying to let His people know that there is a different kind of bread to live by. We live by every word that “comes from God’s mouth.”

That word “live” speaks. When God speaks to you through His Word, He is giving you so much more than a Bible verse. He is feeding you. He is supplying you with an ongoing sustenance—not just food for your body, but nourishment for your soul. He is reminding us that our lives depend on God—not simply on the food we put in our bodies. We need His provision, His promises, His presence, and His Word.

I was hungry. But when I went looking for food, God introduced me to His food. His Word. The Bread of Life.

Now I feast every day on food so much more glorious than the richest meal ever provided. I feast on His promises, His love, His presence. You can too.

From time to time I tell folks, “Read your Bible.” Not merely because you should, and not as a rote act of discipline, but as a desire, as a delight, as a feast. Read your Bible because there is food there for your soul. There is life there. There is a God who wants to speak to you through His Word.

Today, as you fellowship with Him, thank Him for “giving us this day our daily bread.” Then thank Him for the Bread of Life. We truly live by the Word of God.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being the God who feeds me in every season—both the hungry ones and the full ones. Thank You for the moments when physical lack opened the door for spiritual abundance, when the emptiness in my life made room for the fullness of Your Word.

Teach me to crave what comes from Your mouth more than anything this world can offer. Let Your truth nourish me, Your promises steady me, and Your presence satisfy the deepest places within me. Help me live by Your Word today—receiving it, trusting it, and walking in it with joy.

Thank You for giving me daily bread, and thank You for giving me the Bread of Life.

In Jesus’ name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 10/7/26 Darrell Morey 10/7/26

God’s Immense Love

But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never, never quit.

Psalm 86:15 – MSG

There is a normalcy to everyday Christianity that we often overlook. Not every day is a mountaintop experience in our journey.

For all of us, there are days when our heart needs to be reminded—really reminded—of who God is. Not who our circumstances say He is. Not who fear whispers He might be. But who He has always been, and who He will always be.

David penned today’s verse. He was surrounded by trouble, pressed by enemies, and carrying the weight of real danger. Yet he steadied his soul by turning his eyes toward God’s character. He didn’t deny the storm around him; he simply refused to let the storm define him or the God who stood with him.

And so, he prayed the words that echo through Scripture like a steady heartbeat: “You, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love, and you never quit.”

That is who God is. He was the God of David, and He is our God—He is your God.

God is merciful—He withholds the things we deserve. His compassion is deep, warm, and fiercely protective. He sees your struggles, your missteps, your weariness, and instead of pulling away, He draws near with tenderness.

God is gracious. He pours out kindness upon you that you could never earn and help you could never deserve. His generosity toward you is not measured by your perfection but by His goodness.

And God is slow to anger. He is patient with you as you grow in your walk with Him. He does not flare with irritation or disappointment. He gives you room to breathe, room to learn, room to grow, and room to rise again.

And God is immense in love. His love is a flood—not a trickle, not a portion, but an abundance. A steady, unwavering, dependable love that does not shift with circumstances or fade with time. A love that holds you when life shakes you. A love that keeps you when everything else feels uncertain.

This is the God who met David in his trouble. This is the God who meets you in yours. This is the God who bends low to listen, who stays close in the storm, who wraps you in mercy when you feel undone.

Today, let your heart rest in His immense love. Let it quiet your fears. Let it steady your steps. Let it remind you that the God who never quits is holding you, keeping you, and carrying you with a love that cannot be measured.

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your immense love—steady, patient, and overflowing with mercy. Help me rest in who You are, not in what I fear. Turn my eyes from my troubles and anchor my heart in Your faithful character. Let Your kindness calm me, Your grace lift me, and Your love surround me today.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 10/6/26 Darrell Morey 10/6/26

Embracing the Heart of God

We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

1 John 4:16 - MSG

Earlier today I read a verse in Jeremiah that talked about how the people had God on their lips, but their hearts were far from Him. It caused me to pause and reflect on my own heart.

Have I embraced God, or have I simply embraced thoughts about God? Have I sought after Him, or just what He can do for me? Have I chased after Him heart and soul? Do I love the way He loves?

These are good questions for each of us to answer.

If we are going to live the life God wants us to live, it can only be lived from a position of love—the God-kind of love. The kind of love that seeks another person's highest good without a self-seeking motive of its own.

God is love. God is Light. God is Spirit. And Scripture tells us that “the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts.” His love is not merely something we read about or admire from a distance. He has placed His love within us.

Jesus told us, “You are the light of the world.” The Holy Spirit lives within us as well.

This is who we really are because of the One who lives within us.

This is who you are.

It is a reality you can embrace heart and soul because the One who fills you is alive in you. His love created you. His love embraces you. His love is the reason you can embrace Him in return.

Of course, life’s traumas, trials, and tragedies can sometimes seem to dim the light within us. There are times when the flesh speaks much more loudly than the gentle voice of the Spirit, longing for our undivided attention. And there are certainly times when loving others feels difficult.

But our feelings do not change the reality of who lives within us.

Today’s verse reminds us that God has sent His love to live within us. God lives within us. His Spirit lives within us. His light lives within us.

So, let's remember that today.

Let's not be satisfied with merely knowing about God. Let's embrace God Himself—heart and soul. And as we do, let's allow His love to flow through us so that the hurting world around us can encounter something of His heart through our lives.

Prayer

Father, thank You for placing Your own love within me—real love, steady love, the kind that seeks the good of others and reflects Your heart.

Today I ask You to help me live from that place. Where my thoughts drift toward self-interest, pull me back to Your way. Where my heart grows distracted or distant, draw me close again.

Remind me that You dwell in me, that Your Spirit lights my path, and that Your love is meant to flow through my life into the world around me.

Teach me to embrace You fully—not just ideas about You, but You Yourself. Let Your heart shape mine, Your compassion soften mine, and Your presence steady mine.

And as I walk through this day, let Your love be what others encounter when they meet me.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 10/5/26 Darrell Morey 10/5/26

Under His Wings

His huge, outstretched arms protect you - under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.

Psalm 91:4 – MSG

Watching a special on nature recently, I was amazed by the way an eagle protected her babies. That majestic bird withstood every torrent of wind and rain as she sheltered her little ones from the elements. While the storm raged around them, they were safely tucked beneath her wings.

It was touching to see that caring concern—the protection, the refuge, and the security the mother provided for her young. She didn’t stop the storm from coming, but she positioned herself between the storm and her vulnerable babies. They were protected because they were under her wings.

Jesus expressed a similar picture when He cried over Jerusalem, saying that He longed to gather His people under His wings like a mother hen gathers her chicks. He wanted to protect them, shelter them, and draw them close to Himself, but they didn’t want that protection.

This is the nature of God.

Today’s verse speaks of His huge, outstretched arms providing safety and fending off harm. Another translation says, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

What a beautiful picture of our God. His protection is both tender and fierce. He is gentle enough to comfort us when we are afraid, yet strong enough to stand between us and whatever threatens us. His faithfulness becomes our shield when we don't know what else to hold on to.

The imagery of God as a mother bird protecting her vulnerable chicks speaks of tender comfort, warmth, and close personal care. He is not a distant God watching from far away. He invites us to come close—to find a safe hiding place in His presence when the storms of life become overwhelming.

That refuge can touch every part of our lives. When our hearts are troubled, we can find emotional security in Him. When circumstances seem threatening, we can trust His strength. When our faith is shaken, we can rest in His unchanging character.

But there is an important truth we should remember. This verse does not promise a life completely free from trouble. Storms will still come. Winds will still blow. There will still be moments when we don't understand what God is doing or why He has allowed certain things to happen.

But the promise is something deeper. God will be with us in the storm. His character will not change. His presence will not leave us. His faithfulness will not fail. And when we take refuge in Him, we don't have to face life's storms alone or rely entirely upon our own strength.

Today, whatever you may be facing, remember where your refuge is. You are not left exposed and unprotected. Run to God. Rest beneath His wings. Trust His outstretched arms. The storm may be around you, but you can still be safe in Him under His wings.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being my refuge and my protector. When the storms of life surround me, help me remember that I am never alone. Draw me close to You and teach me to rest beneath Your wings rather than trying to carry everything in my own strength.

Thank You for Your tender care, Your mighty protection, and Your unfailing faithfulness. When I am afraid, give me peace. When I am uncertain, give me faith. When I feel weak, remind me that Your arms are strong enough to hold me.

Help me trust You even when I cannot see what lies ahead. May I find safety, comfort, and strength in Your presence today.

In Jesus' name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 10/3/26 Darrell Morey 10/3/26

You Can Depend on God

Know this: God, your God, is God indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments for a thousand generations.

Deuteronomy 7:9

There was a season in my life when I had a tough time accepting the fact that God loved me in spite of myself. Sure, we all screw up from time to time, but I had this misconception that God simply wasn’t able to love me. I was too unlovable.

Then I began to look deeply into one biblical truth: God is love. He doesn't love because we somehow manage to make ourselves lovable. He loves because that is who He is. His love isn't based on our perfect behavior, our good days, or our ability to get everything right. His love flows from His very character.

That is one of the most dependable things about God. He doesn't change with our circumstances, and His love doesn't disappear when we stumble. We can trust Him every day, in every circumstance, because He is faithful.

But there is an important truth tucked into today's verse. God's covenant love is described in connection with those who love Him and walk in His ways. That doesn't mean our obedience earns His love or somehow convinces Him to be gracious toward us. Grace always comes first. Our obedience is simply the response of a heart that has already experienced His mercy and love.

Think about a healthy marriage. Two people don't continually keep score, asking, “How much have you given me lately?” Instead, each person willingly gives themselves to the other because of the relationship they share. Love produces a desire to give, to serve, and to remain faithful.

Our relationship with God works much the same way. We don't obey Him to make Him love us. We obey because we know He already loves us. His love changes our hearts, and that changed heart begins to change the way we live.

And what does He ask of us?

Jesus made it remarkably simple: love God and love others. All the rest flows from those two great commands.

That's the dependable love of God—a love that doesn't leave us where it found us but continually draws us closer to Him and teaches us how to love as He loves.

So today, let's love. Let's love God. Let's love others. Because the God who loves us is a God we can depend on.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being the God I can depend on—steady in love, faithful in mercy, and unwavering in Your promises. Thank You that Your love for me isn't dependent on my performance but flows from who You are.

Teach me to walk in the simplicity of Your commands: to love You wholeheartedly and to love others generously. Let my obedience be the natural overflow of a heart that knows it is already held, already chosen, and already loved.

Open my eyes today to see Your goodness, open my hands to receive Your grace, and open my life to reflect Your loyal love to everyone I meet. Keep me close to You and let Your dependable love shape every step I take.

In Jesus' Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 10/2/26 Darrell Morey 10/2/26

Our Joyful Inheritance

I inherited your book on living; it's mine forever - what a gift! And how happy it makes me!

Psalm 119:111 - MSG

I love my Bible. There are days when I simply can’t wait to get to it—open it up, settle in, and relish in the wonders tucked inside its pages. God’s presence meets me there. His plans for my life unfold with fresh clarity. His corrections, when I need them, come with a gentleness that steadies me. His encouragement fills my life day after day.

It’s my Bible. It’s my gift from the Lord. It’s mine forever—and what a wonderful gift it is.

The life contained in God’s Word is an eternal, priceless inheritance available to every follower of Jesus. What an extraordinary thought: God has placed His truth in our hands and invited us to treasure it, live by it, and discover its riches again and again.

God’s Word is not a burden. It is not simply a rulebook or a list of spiritual chores. It is a gift from the heart of our Father to His children—a source of wisdom, direction, correction, encouragement, and hope.

And notice the joy in the psalmist’s words: “How happy it makes me!” Scripture was not merely something he knew; it was something he treasured. There is a difference between reading the Bible because we feel we should and opening it because we genuinely love what we find there.

That kind of delight changes the way we approach God’s Word.

And in difficult times—when pressures rise, when fear whispers, when enemies threaten, and when circumstances shake us—God’s Word becomes an anchor for our souls. My Bible, your Bible, our Bible reminds us that God is still on His throne. His promises still stand. His presence still surrounds us. His truth still holds us steady.

We may not always understand what God is doing, but we can know where we stand. We belong to Him. His Word remains true. His presence remains near. And the inheritance He has given us will never fade.

What a gift. What a treasure. What a joyful inheritance.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Thank You for placing in our hands an inheritance that never fades, never weakens, and never loses its power to guide, comfort, and transform us.

Open our eyes to see new wonders each time we read. Give us hearts that not only understand Your Word but delight in it and desire to live according to it.

And for those who long for a Bible but do not have one, we ask for Your provision, protection, and grace.

Keep us anchored in Your truth, filled with Your presence, and confident in Your promises. May Your Word always be our joy, our treasure, and our steady place of rest.

Your Word is our inheritance forever.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 10/1/26 Darrell Morey 10/1/26

Choose Stillness Over Striving

Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.

Psalm 37:7 - MSG

There comes a moment in every believer’s life when God gently but firmly puts His hand on the restless places inside us and says, “Be still.”

For me, that moment came in the middle of my career in corporate America. It was a world built on striving, competition, and constant self-promotion. Titles shifted like sand, and loyalty was often traded for advancement. I learned quickly that if you weren’t climbing, you were falling. And if you weren’t pushing, someone else was pushing past you.

But that environment did something dangerous to my heart. It trained me to measure my worth by my progress and my security by my performance. I was chasing promotion but losing peace. I was climbing ladders but missing the quiet voice of the One who had already promised to establish my steps.

Fortunately, God provided a reset for me—a holy interruption.

The wisdom in today’s verse cuts through the noise of ambition and reminds us that the success of those who seem to prosper apart from God is temporary, but God’s faithfulness is forever. God doesn’t ask us to elbow our way to the top. He asks us to quiet our hearts, trust Him, and let Him lead.

Stillness is not passivity. It is surrender.

It doesn't mean we stop working, pursuing, or doing what God has called us to do. It means we stop allowing anxiety, comparison, and the need to prove ourselves to determine our pace and our direction. Stillness is choosing to believe that God’s timing is better than our striving and that His direction is better than anything we could manufacture on our own.

When I finally stopped striving, I discovered something surprising: God wasn’t trying to keep me from success—He was trying to keep success from becoming my god.

He wanted my heart anchored in Him, not in achievement. He wanted me to learn the freedom of being led rather than driven.

There is tremendous freedom in today’s verse. God reminds us not to fret because He sees what we cannot see. We can trust Him because His faithfulness does not change with our circumstances. As we delight in Him and surrender our desires to Him, we discover that He knows what we truly need and is able to satisfy the deepest places of our hearts.

We don't have to fight for every position, compare ourselves with everyone around us, or constantly prove that we are enough. God knows where He is taking us. He knows what He is doing. And His timing is not threatened by someone else's success.

So, today's message is a simple one: relax and trust God.

He knows your needs. His timing is perfect. His justice is sure. And His faithfulness is greater than anything you could accomplish through striving.

Today, let your soul breathe. Step off the ladder. Quiet down before God. Let go of the need to climb higher, move faster, or prove yourself. Let Him remind you who you are—and, even more importantly, remind you who He is. Choose to be still before Him…

Prayer

Father, quiet my striving and settle my spirit. Teach me to rest in Your presence instead of racing for position. Free me from comparison, competition, and the pressure to prove myself. Help me understand that stillness is not giving up—it is trusting You enough to let You lead.

Align my desires with Yours and teach me to move at Your pace rather than being driven by fear, pressure, or ambition. Help me trust Your timing, Your justice, and Your care.

Today, I choose stillness over striving. I step off the ladder and place my future in Your hands, knowing that You see what I cannot see and that You are faithful to guide my steps.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 9/30/26 Darrell Morey 9/30/26

Live Generously

Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

Matthew 10:8 - MSG

Jesus wants us to do the “supernatural.” Hhhmmm… I’m not sure that very many of us living out our normal Christian lives are going to heal the sick, raise the dead, or kick out demons. But I do think we can “touch the untouchables” and “live generously.”

From time to time in our lives, we encounter folks who seem so different from us, or so difficult, that we really don’t want to have anything to do with them. We scoff and scorn them. We avoid them like the plague. Well, you get the point. And yes, I am talking about God’s people. God’s family members. God’s children. You and me.

When Jesus sent His disciples out on their first mission, He empowered them to do some amazing things. And they did. They were amazed at the power they had been given. But later, Jesus reminded them that their greatest reason for rejoicing wasn't simply what they had been able to do. He told them to rejoice that their names were written in heaven.

There is something important for us in that. Our greatest reason for living generously isn't what we can do for God. It is what God has already done for us.

We have been treated generously.

Think about that for a moment. God has given us grace we didn't earn, forgiveness we didn't deserve, mercy we couldn't manufacture, and new life through Jesus Christ. Everything we have received from Him is an expression of His generosity. And because we have received so much, we can become people who give generously to others.

At first glance, we might think that means giving money. And sometimes it certainly does. But there is so much more to giving than money.

We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring health to the sick. Perhaps that doesn't mean laying hands on someone and seeing an instant miracle. But it can mean walking alongside someone who is sick. It can mean sitting with them, praying with them, making a phone call, offering encouragement, or simply letting them know they aren't alone.

We can help bring life to people who are spiritually dead. We can tell someone about how Jesus gave us life when we were dead in our sins. We can share what He has done for us. We can point someone toward the One who can make all things new.

And what about “kicking out the demons”? There are people carrying tremendous burdens—fear, despair, oppression, loneliness, and hopelessness. Jesus can use us to bring His love, truth, encouragement, and hope into their lives. Sometimes being a healing balm doesn't require us to have all the answers. It simply requires us to be willing to walk alongside someone and point them toward Jesus.

And then there are the “untouchables.” Who are the people you would rather avoid? Who is difficult to love? Who makes you uncomfortable? Who doesn't fit neatly into your circle? Who perhaps has hurt you or simply seems so different from you that you would rather keep your distance? Those may be the very people Jesus is asking you to touch with His love.

Lastly, take some time today to recount all that Jesus has done for you. As the old hymn says, “Count your many blessings.” Be grateful. Remember how generously God has treated you. Then look around you.

You will probably find someone who needs something you can give. Maybe it's money. Maybe it's time. Maybe it's encouragement. Maybe it's forgiveness. Maybe it's a listening ear. Maybe it's simply showing kindness to someone everyone else has chosen to avoid.

You have so much Jesus in you to give to others. You have been treated generously. Now go live generously.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for treating me with a generosity far deeper than I could ever earn. Let the grace You’ve poured into my life spill out of me today in ways that bring healing, hope, and kindness to others. Open my eyes to the ones who feel unseen, overlooked, or difficult to love, and give me the courage to touch them with Your compassion. Make my words gentle, my hands willing, and my heart open. Help me walk alongside the hurting, speak life to the weary, and offer mercy where it’s needed most. I want to live generously because You have been so generous with me.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 9/29/26 Darrell Morey 9/29/26

Bold and Free

And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him.

1John 3:21-22 - MSG

There have been seasons in my life when the man in the mirror seemed to have only one job—to condemn me. To accuse me. To remind me of every failure, every flaw, every moment I didn’t measure up.

And when you live under that kind of inner pressure, it becomes almost impossible to be bold and free before God. You feel like you’re walking into His presence with your head down, your hands tucked behind your back, hoping He won’t notice you.

I knew deep down—or at least I thought I knew—that God couldn’t possibly approve of me. So, I kept my distance. Shame makes you shrink. Condemnation makes you hide.

But here’s what I eventually began to understand: God’s grace, love, and acceptance were there the whole time. Unseen. Unfelt. But present. That changes everything.

For anyone who grew up believing that acceptance had to be earned, today’s verse can almost sound like a formula: Do everything right, ask God for something, and He will give it to you.

But that isn’t the heart of what John is saying.

He begins by calling us “friends”—“beloved” in other translations. He is speaking to people who are already loved. Already welcomed. Already held close.

When we have unconfessed sin weighing on our conscience, we tend to pull away from God. We hide. We hesitate. We lose our confidence in His presence.

But when we bring those things into the light, receive His forgiveness, and walk in fellowship with Him, something changes inside us. We can lift our heads. We can open our hands. We can come to our Father without pretending.

A clear conscience doesn't mean I have lived a perfect day. It means I am not running from God. I am willing to let Him search my heart, correct me, forgive me, and change me.

And obedience isn't a paycheck for good behavior. It is the response of someone who knows they are loved.

The more closely we walk with God, the more our desires begin to change. We become less interested in asking Him to bless everything we want and more interested in wanting what He wants. Our prayers begin to reflect His heart.

And that gives us a different kind of confidence—not confidence that God will give us everything we ask for exactly as we imagine it, but confidence that we can come to Him freely, ask boldly, and trust Him with the answer.

That is what grace does. It doesn't tell us to hide until we've become good enough to approach God. It invites us to come to Him because He already knows us completely—and loves us anyway.

So today, don't let the voice of condemnation keep you at a distance. If there's something between you and God, bring it to Him. If you've failed, confess it. If you've been hiding, come out of hiding. If you've been carrying shame, lay it down.

Then lift your head. Open your hands. And walk boldly into the presence of your Father. Not because you earned your place there. Because you belong there.

Prayer

Father, thank You that I don't have to hide from You. Thank You that Your love isn't based on my performance and that Your grace is greater than my failures. When my own heart condemns me, remind me of Your forgiveness and Your love. Give me the courage to bring everything into Your light and the humility to allow You to change what needs to be changed in me.

Teach me to obey You because I love You—not because I'm trying to earn Your approval. Shape my desires so they become more like Yours. Teach me to pray with confidence, to trust You with the answers, and to walk boldly and freely in Your presence.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 9/28/26 Darrell Morey 9/28/26

Your Real Enemy

This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.

Ephesians 6:12 - MSG

I absolutely love competitive athletics. Over the years, I have played baseball, softball, football, basketball, tennis, and racquetball. I even spent eight years running competitively and another eight years in the martial arts. No, I’m not bragging about my accomplishments. Those days are simply memories now as I enjoy the autumn years of my life. Most of those contests have long been forgotten, but the intensity of the competition at the time was very real.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are in a very different kind of battle. Spiritual warfare is not simply a theological concept. It is a daily reality. Anxiety, insecurity, broken relationships, feelings of unworthiness, and discouragement can all become battlegrounds the enemy uses to weaken our faith and distract us from God's promises.

But here is the good news: our victory has already been won through Jesus Christ.

And no, there isn't a “demon on every doorknob” either. Part of living victoriously in our walk with the Lord is learning to recognize the real enemy without becoming obsessed with him. Sometimes the battle is with the person in the mirror. Sometimes we have our own attitudes, choices, and shortcomings to deal with. And yes, sometimes another person may genuinely hurt or oppose us.

But that person is not our ultimate enemy.

Paul reminds us that our struggle is “not against flesh and blood.” The conflict we experience in our homes, workplaces, churches, and relationships can involve something deeper than what we see on the surface. The enemy wants to use deception, division, discouragement, temptation, and conflict to pull us away from God's truth and the work He is doing in our lives.

That changes how we respond.

Instead of treating people as the enemy, we can pray for them. Instead of allowing conflict to consume us, we can ask God for wisdom. Instead of relying on our own strength, we can stand in His. And instead of living in fear of spiritual warfare, we can remember that Jesus Christ has already secured the victory.

So today, lift your eyes.

Your real enemy is not the person who frustrates you, the circumstance that overwhelms you, or even the weakness you see in yourself. The real enemy is the one who wants to pull you away from God's truth, God's peace, and God's purpose.

He is your real enemy, but he is a defeated foe.

Stand firm. Put on the armor God provides. And walk confidently in the victory Jesus has already won for you.

Prayer

Father, thank You for reminding me that my true battle is not against people, circumstances, or emotions, but against the spiritual forces that seek to pull me away from Your truth. Help me recognize the enemy’s strategies without fear and teach me to stand firm in the strength You provide. Clothe me today with Your armor—Your truth, Your righteousness, Your peace, Your faith, Your salvation, and Your Word. Keep my heart steady, my mind clear, and my spirit anchored in Christ’s victory. I choose to walk in Your power, Your protection, and Your peace.

In Jesus’ name, Amen…

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For Continued Reflection

Continue your journey with God through my collection of Free Devotional Booklets. These booklets are written to help you in your walk with the Lord. They are free, downloadable, Scripture-centered booklets designed to encourage you in your faith and strengthen your walk with Him. I invite you to explore the growing collection. And if you are interested in learning more about spiritual warfare, you might enjoy reading my book Spiritual Warfare; Practical Strategies for a Victorious Christian Life. It is available here.

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Darrell Morey 9/27/26 Darrell Morey 9/27/26

We’re Chosen Too

God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free,

Luke 4:18 - MSG

This was one of the early messages of Jesus. He was in His hometown of Nazareth, announcing that He was the Chosen One—the One Isaiah had spoken about who was to come. But guess what? We’re chosen too.

Peter reminds us that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into His marvelous light. And now that Light lives in us.

God is Light. God is love. And because His Spirit lives in us, we can carry His light and His love to people who desperately need both.

We can bring good news to those who have lost hope. We can announce pardon and freedom to those who feel imprisoned by their past. We can help those who are spiritually blind see that there is light at the end of their tunnel—and that Light is Jesus, the Light of the world.

So yes, the Spirit of the Lord is upon us today. The Spirit of the Lord is upon you.

Remember, there is more to being a Christian than simply joining some “bless-me club.” We are indeed blessed, but we are blessed to be a blessing to others. I once heard a preacher say that we are here for two reasons: to know Him and to make Him known.

No, not all of us will stand behind a pulpit or serve in full-time ministry. But every one of us has been given the ministry of reconciliation. We have the privilege—and the responsibility—of letting others know that through the precious shed blood of Jesus, we can be reconciled to God. We have been reconciled to God and everyone else can as well.

As we share with others, we don't have to do it in our own strength. Jesus began Luke 4:18 with, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” The same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus is at work in us. The Holy Spirit is at work in you.

So today, in your prayers, don't simply ask, “What can God do for me?” Ask, “Who can God reach through me?”

Prayer

Father, thank You for choosing us, calling us, and placing Your Spirit within us. Thank You that the same anointing that rested on Jesus now rests on us, enabling us to carry Your light, Your love, and Your hope into the lives of those who need it most.

Today, open our eyes to the ones You want to reach through us. Give us compassion for the hurting, courage to speak good news, and tenderness to walk beside those who feel trapped in darkness. Let Your Spirit guide our words, shape our actions, and fill our hearts with a desire to make You known.

Use us, Lord. Not in our strength, but in Yours. Let Your light shine through us in ways that lift burdens, open eyes, and point people to Jesus—the true Light of the world.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 9/26/26 Darrell Morey 9/26/26

A Life That Pleases God

Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received!

2 Peter 1:3 - MSG

Hhhmmm… a life pleasing to God. Perhaps that should be the goal of every Christian. And it is certainly an attainable one. After all, today’s verse tells us that everything we need to live this kind of life has been miraculously given to us by God.

But there’s a qualifier, a caveat that we need to consider. It is as we come to know God personally and intimately—by accepting the invitation God has given us—that we can begin to experience the life and godliness He has made available to us.

So, what has been given to us “miraculously?” Let’s start with the fruit of the Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit lives within us, God has made His Spirit’s fruit available to us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As we yield to His Spirit and choose to live out these qualities, we begin to live the kind of life that pleases God.

We could stop there, but let’s talk more about the invitation. Whenever we receive an invitation, we are asked to “RSVP.” That means we need to respond. It means telling the sender of the invitation whether or not we are going to accept.

And yes, we have to accept the invitation God has given us to know Him personally and intimately if we are going to experience the life and godliness He has made available to us.

But accepting His invitation doesn’t mean we suddenly have to figure out how to live this life on our own. It takes strength to live out what God is working in us. And that strength is His strength.

You see, there is a kind of strength you will never find by looking inside yourself. Human effort can carry you for a while, but it eventually runs thin. Willpower wavers. Resolve weakens. Even your best intentions can’t produce the kind of godliness your heart longs for.

Yet God Himself supplies everything we need for both life and godliness. Nothing essential is missing. Nothing depends on our ability to manufacture spiritual power.

His divine power is the source. The strength that enables us to stand firm, love well, endure hardship, resist temptation and grow in holiness comes from Him. And He gives it freely through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

As you know Him more deeply, you begin to experience what He has already made available to you: wisdom for your decisions, courage for your battles, purity when temptation comes, patience for your frustrations, and grace for your weaknesses.

You are not trying to become godly by straining harder. You are becoming godly by receiving from the One who has already supplied what you need. His glory and goodness draw you forward, shaping you into the likeness of the One who called you.

So today, rest in this truth: You are not walking with borrowed strength. You are walking with supplied strength—strength rooted in the very power of God.

Lean into Him. Depend on Him. Trust what He has already given you.

Everything you need to live the life He has called you to live is already yours in Christ.

You can live a life pleasing to God.

Prayer

Father, thank You for giving me everything I need to live the life You’ve called me to live. I confess how often I try to rely on my own strength, my own discipline, and my own resolve.

Today I choose to rest in Your divine power instead. Teach me to draw from what You’ve already provided in Christ. Let Your glory shape my character, Your goodness steady my steps, and Your presence deepen my trust.

Strengthen me where I am weak, guide me where I am unsure, and remind me that I am never without Your help. Help me yield to Your Spirit and allow His fruit to be evident in my life.

I receive Your grace for this day.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

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Darrell Morey 9/25/26 Darrell Morey 9/25/26

Love’s Very Best

Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

1 Corinthians 13:6-7 - MSG

As a husband, I want to be the very best me that I can be for my wife. The same is true in my relationship with the Lord. From time to time I will pray, “Lord, help me to be the best me I can be for Thee.” It may sound trite or quaint, but it is the cry of my heart as I want God, who is Love, to be the greatest and strongest asset in my life. I want love’s best to resound both in my life and through my life.

Let’s revisit love for just a moment. Love, true biblical love, the God kind of love, will always seek the other person’s highest good with no self-seeking motives involved. Today’s verse talks about that. Love will put up with anything. Love will always trust God. Love always looks for the best in others. Love persists. Regardless.

There is also a kind of love the world talks about. It can often be loud, emotional, quick to appear and just as quick to disappear. It’s based on feelings. And then there is God’s love. Steady. Honest. Protective. Hope‑filled. Enduring. Today’s verses show us what love at its very best truly looks like.

Real love has a moral backbone. It refuses to celebrate anything evil. It doesn’t smile when someone falls, doesn’t feel secretly satisfied when a rival stumbles, and doesn’t join the chorus of gossip that tears people down. Love never applauds darkness.

Instead, love rejoices with the truth. It delights in what is good, honest, and right. It celebrates repentance, restoration, and integrity. It wants the best for others—not the worst.

True love, this God-kind of love also has an inherent strength. It becomes a shelter, covering others instead of exposing them. It protects rather than shames. Love chooses trust. It looks for sincerity instead of assuming hidden motives. It gives room for people to grow. Love stays positive. It believes God can change hearts, restore relationships, and write new futures.

Love doesn’t quit either. It doesn’t walk away when things get hard. It keeps showing up, keeps praying, keeps loving. And here is the key; all of this is a choice we make based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

This is love at its very best—love shaped by God Himself. And it is the kind of love the world desperately needs right now. When hatred feels normal and division feels acceptable, Scripture calls us back to a higher way. A truer way. A holier way.

Today, let your heart rest in this truth: The very best love is God’s love—and He invites you to live it out. To choose to love.

Prayer

Father, teach me to love the way You love. Help me reject anything evil and rejoice in what is true. Strengthen me to bear, believe, hope, and endure with a heart shaped by Your grace. Let Your love be seen in how I speak, respond, and care for others today.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 9/24/26 Darrell Morey 9/24/26

Steady as a Rock

For those who love what you reveal, everything fits - no stumbling around in the dark for them.

Psalm 119:165 - MSG

It was dark. I was half asleep and sure enough, those pesky slippers I had left lying on the floor where they didn’t belong tripped me up. Fortunately, nothing bad happened, but it was still a rude awakening that wasn’t necessary had I simply taken the time and effort to put them where they belonged. A bit of due diligence would have remedied the problem.

Life in the Lord can be like that sometimes if we don’t pay attention to what He is trying to tell us through His Word. God shows us things for a reason. It is His way of showering loving guidance upon us so we can live the best life possible. But there are times when we do indeed stumble around in the dark—spiritually speaking.

The answer? Look at today’s verse. God says that if we “love what you reveal,” everything fits. No, that doesn’t mean we will never have problems. What it means is that God promises to be with us through them all, honoring His Word and helping us stand firm in life—steady as a rock.

“Steady as a rock.” It’s the classic expression used to describe someone or something that is firm, dependable, unmoving, and reliable. And that is a wonderful picture of what God wants to develop in us. As we love what He reveals to us through His Word, we become increasingly grounded in His wisdom and His ways. We may not always be able to control what happens around us, but we can become steadier within it.

You see, there is a kind of peace that God gives that doesn’t just calm your surroundings—it steadies you. Another translation of today’s verse puts it this way: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” In Hebrew, the word for “peace”—shalom—carries the idea of wholeness, safety, and inner well-being. It’s not fragile peace. It’s not temporary peace. It’s peace that holds you together.

This peace grows in the heart of someone who loves God’s Word—not as a rulebook to fear, but as a loving guide for life. When you cherish His instruction, you begin to see His heart behind it. You start to trust His wisdom. You lean into His ways. And slowly, quietly, your inner world becomes more grounded.

People who are grounded don’t stumble as easily. Scripture says there is “no stumbling around in the dark for them.” That doesn’t mean nothing difficult will ever happen. It means that when difficulties come, they don't have to cause us to lose our footing. Life may still shake around us, but it doesn't have to shake us.

This is the gift God gives to those who keep turning their hearts toward His truth. When life becomes chaotic, His Word reminds us of what is true. When insults, irritations, or unexpected blows come, we don't have to get bent out of shape. We don't have to crumble or spiral. We can stay steady because our peace isn't built on people or circumstances—it is built on Him.

Loving God's Word doesn't remove the storms, but it can remove the panic. It doesn't silence every insult, but it can silence the inner turmoil those insults once caused. It builds within us a steadiness that allows us to stand firm, breathe deeply, and walk forward with calm confidence.

Great peace. Deep peace. Steady peace. The kind that keeps you from stumbling today. It keeps you steady as a rock.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Word—the Truth that steadies me when life feels unsteady. Teach me to love Your instruction, to lean into it, and to trust the goodness behind every word You speak. Anchor my thoughts in Your wisdom so that nothing causes me to stumble. Make my heart whole, calm, and steady as a rock in You.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 9/23/26 Darrell Morey 9/23/26

Glory and Honor Are His

“Deep honor and bright glory to the King of All Time - One God, Immortal, Invisible, ever and always. Oh, yes!”

1 Timothy 1:17 - MSG

“He Touched Me” is a song that deeply moves me every time I hear it. There was a moment in my life when the power of God transformed me into a new creature. In that moment there was an awesome awakening to the fact that God had done a work in my life that changed me. The old was gone. The new had arrived. In that moment an exclamation of reverent praise spontaneously arose from within–“This is God.”

There are moments in our Christian journeys when truth hits the heart so powerfully that praise rises without effort. That’s exactly what happens to Paul in today’s verse. After remembering who he used to be—Saul, the violent, proud, blind, religious zealot, who was convinced he was serving God while hurting God’s people—suddenly stops and erupts in worship: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul isn’t reciting a formal creed. He’s overwhelmed. Mercy has undone him. Grace has remade him. And the only fitting response is worship.

He calls God the King eternal—the One who rules time itself, who stands before history and after it, who never began and will never end. He calls Him immortal—the God untouched by decay, weakness, or death. He calls Him invisible—not distant, but beyond the limits of human sight, Spirit and fully holy. And he calls Him the only God—the One without rival, peer, or equal.

But notice what triggered this praise: God’s mercy toward a sinner who didn’t deserve it. I didn’t deserve it. You didn’t deserve it. But Paul realizes that if God could save him, God can save anyone. Grace is that strong. Mercy is that wide. Love is that relentless.

So today, let Paul’s doxology become your own. Let worship rise from the place where God has shown you mercy. Honor Him because He rescued you. Glorify Him because He keeps you. Praise Him because He alone is worthy—eternal, immortal, invisible, and forever glorious.

Prayer

Father, You are the King of all time—eternal, immortal, invisible, and the only true God. Thank You for the mercy that reached me, the grace that saved me, and the love that keeps shaping me. Let my life honor You. Let my words glorify You. And let my heart stay amazed at who You are and what You have done.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 9/21/26 Darrell Morey 9/21/26

Enough is Enough

“The one who loves money is never satisfied with money,

Nor the one who loves wealth with big profits. More smoke.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10 - MSG

There’s a quiet warning woven into today’s verse—one that feels as fresh now as it did thousands of years ago. “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.” Scripture isn’t talking about the simple need to earn a living or provide for a family. It’s talking about the love of money—the craving, the chase, the belief that “just a little more” will finally settle the soul and supposedly satisfy the intense craving for more and more.

But it never does.

The pursuit of wealth creates an appetite that grows every time it’s fed. It promises satisfaction but delivers restlessness. It whispers security but produces anxiety. It offers meaning but leaves the heart hollow. Solomon, one of the wealthiest men who ever lived, looked at the endless chase and called it meaningless—a vapor, a breath, something you can reach for but never hold.

And yet, right in the middle of this warning, Scripture points us toward a deeper truth: God is our Provider, and He always has enough for us.

Money runs out. God does not. Money shifts. God does not. Money demands more. God gives freely.

When possessions increase, worries often increase with them. But when trust in God increases, peace grows right alongside it. The laborer sleeps sweetly not because he has much, but because he rests in the One who provides what he needs. True contentment isn’t found in accumulation—it’s found in confidence that our Father sees, knows, and supplies.

The world tells us that “enough” is always just a little further ahead. God tells us that “enough” is found in Him. He has never lacked. He has never been stretched thin. He has never been unable to meet the needs of His children. And He will not start with you.

So, let today’s verse gently turn your heart away from the illusion that wealth can satisfy, that more is what you need, and turn toward God who truly does satisfy and provide. He is your Provider. He is your Portion. He is your Enough.

Prayer

Father, guard my heart from the restless chase for more. Teach me to trust You as my Provider—the One who sees my needs and meets them with perfect wisdom and perfect love. Free me from the illusion that money can give what only You can supply. Help me rest in Your sufficiency, Your goodness, and Your faithfulness. You are enough for me, today and always.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 9/20/26 Darrell Morey 9/20/26

Already Clean

“You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.”

John 15:3 - MSG

My wife is a gardener. She has many different plants that need pruning so they can provide the very best blossoms. If she doesn't prune them, they won't bloom the way they should.

In much the same way, God works in our lives to remove what hinders us so we can become more fruitful. But there is something important we need to understand about that process: God doesn't prune us because we are rejected. He prunes us because we belong to Him.

The work begins with His Word.

Jesus tells His disciples, “You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.” Before the pruning shears ever touch the branch, Jesus declares something about them: they are already clean.

That is important for us to understand as well.

We don't come to God trying to earn our way into being clean. We begin from a place of cleansing, not working toward it. His Word establishes the foundation. His pruning shapes our growth. His life flowing through us produces the fruit.

The Word of God continually speaks truth into our lives. As we read it, meditate on it, and take it seriously enough to obey it, the Holy Spirit uses that truth to correct us, strengthen us, and guide us. James reminds us that we aren't meant to be hearers of the Word only, but doers of what it says.

The Word cleanses us. The Father prunes us. The Holy Spirit helps us respond. And Christ's life in us produces the fruit.

Look again at what Jesus says: you are already clean. Those words change the way we look at God's correction. We are not pruned because we are failing—we are pruned because we are loved. We are not pruned because we are useless—we are pruned because we are fruit-bearing. We are not pruned because God is displeased—we are pruned because He sees what He intends to produce through our lives.

Pruning is not punishment. Pruning is preparation.

Sometimes God removes a habit that is holding us back. Sometimes He exposes an attitude that needs to change. Sometimes He redirects our priorities, challenges our thinking, or asks us to let go of something we have become too attached to. That process may not always feel good, but it is evidence that the Gardener is at work. The Word shows us what needs to change. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to respond. And the Father's pruning makes room for greater fruitfulness.

And what kind of fruit does He want to see? Fruit of character. Fruit of obedience. Fruit of compassion. Fruit of holiness. Fruit of Christlikeness. And you are not striving to become clean. You are living from the cleansing Jesus has already spoken over you. So don't resist the Gardener when He begins to prune. Trust Him.

Let His Word correct you. Let His Spirit guide you. Let the Father remove whatever is keeping you from becoming all He intends you to be. You are already clean. Now let the Gardener shape what He has already declared clean.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking cleansing over my life before I ever tried to earn it. Thank You for the living power of Your Word that teaches me, corrects me, steadies me, and renews me day by day.

Father, prune what needs to be pruned in my life—my habits, my attitudes, my distractions, and my misplaced desires. Holy Spirit, help me recognize Your gentle nudges and respond when You show me something that needs to change. Give me the courage to trust Your shaping work, even when the pruning is uncomfortable.

Keep me connected to Jesus and let His life flow through me so that my life bears fruit—fruit of character, obedience, compassion, holiness, and Christlikeness. Make my life a branch that bears fruit worthy of Your name and let every blossom point back to Your goodness.

In Jesus' Name, Amen…

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Darrell Morey 9/18/26 Darrell Morey 9/18/26

Trust in God’s Insurance Plan

“Get insurance with God and do a good deed, settle down and stick to your last.”

Psalm 37:3 - MSG

There’s a quiet strength in Psalm 37:3—a kind of spiritual insurance policy that doesn’t depend on markets, circumstances, or the behavior of people around you. David, speaking from the vantage point of old age and long experience, tells us that the safest place to stand is in the center of God’s faithfulness. The NLT says it this way: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.”

Safe pasture for us is a place of calm assurance—a confidence that God is good and that His goodness will sustain us. But notice where this begins: trust in the Lord and do good.

Of course, there are times when “safe pasture” may seem like an illusion. Life can be unpredictable. Wicked people sometimes seem to prosper. Our efforts can go unnoticed. Circumstances can change in ways we never expected.

Yet when life feels uncertain, God reminds us where our security is found. Trust Me. Keep doing good. Stay where I have placed you. And whatever comes, know that I am with you.

Trusting God is not passive. It’s an active leaning—choosing to believe that His character is more stable than the chaos around you. “Do good” is your part: stay honest, stay kind, stay faithful, stay steady. “Dwell in the land” means remain where God has placed you without panicking, running, or trying to force outcomes.

And “enjoy safe pasture” points to what God provides through His faithfulness: nourishment for your soul, peace for your heart, and the assurance that you are never facing life alone.

This is the heart of God’s insurance plan: You trust Him. You do good. And whatever comes, you know you are never facing it alone.

When you look at your life and say, “God is all I’ve got,” heaven hears that as an exclamation of victory—not a cry of lack. Because when God is all you have, you actually have more than enough. You have a security that cannot be stolen, a peace that circumstances cannot ultimately destroy, and a source of provision that never runs dry.

But there’s another phrase in today’s verse that deserves our attention: “stick to your last.”

In other words, don't abandon your faith when circumstances change. Don't give up simply because life isn't unfolding the way you expected. Hold tightly to God's Word and His promises. Stay faithful to what you know is true, even when you don't yet see how God is going to work things out.

Sometimes faith means simply staying put—trusting God one more day, doing the next right thing, and refusing to let difficult circumstances convince you that God has forgotten you. God doesn't promise that life will never become uncertain. He promises that our security doesn't have to become uncertain when it does.

So today, rest in the assurance that God Himself is your security, your protection, and your source of peace. You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you can know Who holds you.

You are safe in His hands.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being my security in every season. Teach me to trust You fully and to keep doing good even when life feels unfair or uncertain. Help me remain faithful when I am tempted to give up or run from difficult circumstances. Teach me to hold tightly to Your Word and Your promises, trusting that You are with me even when I cannot see what You are doing. Cover my heart with Your peace today.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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For Continued Reflection

An Invitation

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Darrell Morey 9/9/26 Darrell Morey 9/9/26

What Do You Have Coming?

“Make no mistake: In the end you get what's coming to you”

Romans 2:6 - MSG

Once upon a time, the message of mainstream religion was what we used to call “Hellfire and Brimstone.” It was a season in the church as a whole when “damnation” was preached from pulpits across the land. Religion presented a performance-based standard of acceptance: you had better be good enough, or else.

Then things changed into what I like to call “Sloppy Agape,” where we could do whatever we wanted because God loves us regardless of what we do.

Neither extreme is right.

But there is a truth in today’s verse that should cause every one of us to take an honest look at the person in the mirror.

Romans 2:6 states that God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” This is not, however, a reason to try harder to be good enough for God. No, it means that God judges every person fairly and impartially. He sees beyond our religious labels, our outward appearances, and the things we want others to believe about us. He sees the reality of how we have actually lived our lives.

Hmm... It still sounds a bit critical and judgmental, doesn’t it?

Let’s break it down and take a closer look. After all, we want to live a life pleasing to the Lord, so let’s see what God is really saying to us today.

First of all, God does not show favoritism. He doesn't judge people according to their social status, background, accomplishments, or religious label. Every individual receives a just evaluation based on the reality of their lives. But this does not contradict salvation by grace alone. There is an important distinction we need to understand:

Our works are not the root of our salvation; they are the fruit of our salvation.

As true followers of Jesus Christ, our actions and deeds become the visible evidence of what is truly happening in our hearts. The things we do don't earn God's love or purchase our salvation. Instead, they reveal whether we have truly trusted Him and allowed His grace to change us.

Our lives eventually reveal what is in our hearts.

So where does this leave us in today’s reflection? If God is going to judge us according to what we have done, how should we live? Let’s err on the side of caution, so to speak. Let’s answer the question: How can we please God?

Love.

Love is at the heart of everything God desires for us. Jesus reduced the law to what I like to call “The Big Two” — love God and love others. Love God with all your heart. Love the people He has placed around you. Love when it's easy. Love when it's inconvenient. Love when you receive nothing in return. Love even when it costs you something.

And here's the important part: We don't love God and others so that God will love us. We love God and others because His love has already changed us.

That's the difference between religion and relationship. Religion says, “Do good so God will accept you.” Grace says, “Because God has accepted you through Christ, let His love now become evident in the way you live.”

That's why our actions matter. Not because we are trying to earn our way into God's favor, but because the life we live becomes the fruit of the relationship we have with Him.

So... what do you have coming? That question may sound frightening at first. But for the person who has placed their trust in Christ, it doesn't have to be. We aren't trying to earn God's love. We aren't trying to become good enough. We are simply allowing the grace we've received to become visible in the way we live.

And when that love becomes the fruit of a life surrendered to Christ, what we have coming is not something to fear. It is something to look forward to. One day, we want to hear those words every faithful believer longs to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

So perhaps the question isn't simply, “What do I have coming?” Maybe the better question is: “What am I allowing God to produce in my life today?” Because someday, what is happening in our hearts will be revealed in the life we have lived. And when that day comes, may the fruit of our lives tell the story of a heart that learned to love God and love others.

Prayer

Father, thank You for reminding us that what truly matters is the life we live before You and the love we show to those around us. Thank You that we don't have to earn Your love or work our way into Your favor. Your grace has already been given to us through Christ.

Keep our hearts soft, our motives pure, and our actions aligned with Your truth. Teach us to choose love when it’s easy and when it’s costly. Help us walk humbly, serve willingly, and honor You in the quiet, unseen places of our daily lives.

Let the grace we have received become evident in the way we live. May the fruit of our lives reflect the work You are doing within us and bring You joy.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

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For Continued Reflection

An Invitation

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And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him…”

Acts 5:32 - MSG

The apostles had seen the risen Jesus with their own eyes. Their message wasn’t theory or tradition—it was testimony. And the Holy Spirit Himself stood as the confirming witness, validating every word they spoke about Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension.

We won’t have that privilege, obviously, but let’s take note of something important in today’s verse. Peter is telling us that the most precious gift of the Holy Spirit comes through obedience. No, Peter isn’t teaching that the Holy Spirit is earned by our performance. He’s not saying God hands out His Spirit as a reward for perfect behavior. The Spirit is given to us as a gift from God for “obeying” the message of the gospel—through repentance, faith, and surrender to Jesus.

What Peter is saying is that obedience positions us to experience the fullness of what God has already given. Obedience opens the windows of our lives so the Spirit’s work can flow freely. When we obey God rather than people, when we choose His voice over pressure or fear, we step into the kind of life where His presence is unmistakably active. We have the Holy Spirit within, but there’s a deeper sense here, it’s the coming upon us, the companionship with us, the oneness with God that happens as we obey the Word in our daily lives, when we actually live the gospel.

Obedience doesn’t purchase God’s favor—it simply opens the doors of our hears and welcomes it. Obedience clears away the clutter of ur lives. It quiets the noise. It creates a life where the Holy Spirit’s witness in us and through us is unhindered and God’s blessings can be seen openly.

The apostles obeyed at great cost and they walked in great power. Their courage wasn’t rooted in themselves but in the God who honors obedience with His nearness, His strength, and His unmistakable leading, His presence, His purpose, His power.

Today, let’s ask God to help us show our obedience by an act of love. Let’s trust that every step of surrender to the Lord’s ways, the Word’s ways, makes more room for the Spirit’s voice, the Spirit’s comfort, and the Spirit’s presence in our lives. Let’s honor God through our obedience. Then let’s welcome Him into our hearts.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me obey You with a willing heart. Let my obedience flow from love, not pressure, and open my life to the fullness of Your Holy Spirit’s work. Strengthen me to choose Your voice over every competing voice, and let my life bear witness to Your goodness. Help me to obey.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen…

God’s Grace - His Best is With You

All the best to you from the Master, Jesus Christ!

Philemon 1:25 - MSG

Somone once said that “grace,” in acronym form is “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” That seems to be a pretty accurate theological definition as God sent Jesus so His very best could fill our lives. So it’s no wonder that the Apostle Paul used this word when saying goodbye to Philemon in his letter. But Paul’s final words to Philemon are more than a closing line—they are a blessing spoken with deep intention. He is asking that the grace of Jesus, the very best God gives, would settle into Philemon’s spirit and shape everything that follows. Grace is not simply God’s kindness toward us; it is His empowering presence within us, His best, given freely, working gently in the quiet places of our hearts.

Paul knows Philemon is facing something difficult. He is being asked to forgive, to restore, and to welcome back someone who had wounded him. That kind of reconciliation doesn’t come from human strength. It comes from grace—Christ’s strength, Christ’s patience, Christ’s love flowing through a willing heart. So Paul prays that grace would be with Philemon’s spirit, the innermost place where attitudes form and decisions take root. It spreads, softens, heals, and restores wherever it is welcomed.

Today God wants us to hear this blessing personally. God’s grace—His best—is with you. Not just near you. Not just available if you reach for it. With you. Working in you, in your spirit, strengthening what feels weak, softening what feels guarded, and empowering you to walk in love when it seems difficult to do so. God’s grace, His best, is given freely so you don’t have to face the hard things alone. You face them hand in hand with Him, with His best, with His grace. Remember this today, God’s grace, His very best, given through Christ, is with you. Be sure to thank Him for that.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the grace that meets me in the deepest places of my heart. Let Your best rest upon my spirit today. Shape my attitudes, steady my thoughts, and help me to walk in forgiveness, humility, and love. Help me to shower Your grace upon everyone I meet today. Let Your grace guide my steps and fill my inner life with peace.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen...

Daily Devotionals

“Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”

Mark 6:31 - NLT

May this quiet space become a daily place of rest, renewal, and fellowship with Jesus for your heart.

The Applause That Doesn’t Matter

Live by the Word of God

God’s Immense Love

Embracing the Heart of God

Under His Wings

You Can Depend on God

Our Joyful Inheritance

Choose Stillness Over Striving

Live Generously

Bold and Free

Your Real Enemy

We’re Chosen Too

A Life That Pleases God

Love’s Very Best

Steady as a Rock

Glory and Honor Are His

Enough is Enough

Already Clean

Trust in God’s Insurance Plan

What Do You Have Coming?

God Honors Obedience

God’s Grace - His Best is With You

Daily Devotionals

“Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”

Mark 6:31 - NLT

Living the Victorious Christian Life Today