Joe Barnett

Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.       —Hebrews 4:16 NLT Join me in this brief prayer. Lord God, Today, deliver me from self-centeredness and worldly distractions. I want to think what you want me to think. I want to say what you want me to say. I want

Do not be afraid.   —Genesis 15:1 “Do not be afraid,” God said to Abraham. He said the same thing to Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, Mary, Paul, and John. He knew their names and their fears. Add your name to that list, because he also knows your name and your fears. “When I am afraid,

By the grace of God I am what I am.               —1 Corinthians 15:10 Two words define your days: circumstance and identity. Circumstance: “It is what it is.” An infirmity, adversity, heartache, or relationship gone wrong. “It is what it is” is the statement of acceptance of a circumstance

[God’s] grace to me was not wasted.            —1 Corinthians 15:10 NCV You messed up. It may have just been a minor gaffe in a moment of weakness. Or it may have been a major blunder or even a total tumble into a life of sin. Compare your flub to Paul’s

Encourage one another and build each other up.  —1 Thessalonians 5:11 Every person you encounter today will be different as a result of crossing paths with you. She will leave up in the clouds or down in the dumps; he will leave pumped up or pulled down; they will leave encouraged or discouraged, blessed or

Go and sin no more.       —John 8:11 Two fiendish tools that can derail your spiritual journey are temptation and condemnation. Temptation minimizes sin. It messes with your mind and writes it off as not so bad: “It’s no big deal! Everybody does it!” Condemnation maximizes sin. It messes with your mind and

Your life is shaped by your thoughts.                  —Proverbs 4:23 TEV During your last physical, the doctor probably asked about your eating habits because your physical health is related to what you eat. Some dietary changes may be called for. Likewise, your spiritual health is related to your

You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.                                 —Isaiah 26:3 TEV Do you know why you do what you do? There are two qualities within your control that are

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.                    —Romans 4:3 On America’s 250th birthday (July 4, 2026), several descendants of the nation’s founders were asked how they thought their forebears would view where America is today. Consensus was that they would be disappointed.

Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.      —Proverbs 4:23 Today won’t leave you as it found you. It will leave you better or worse: more congenial or more cantankerous, more caring or more insensitive, more judgmental or more tolerant. It will leave you with faith, hope, and love enlarged or