📖 Faithful Friday — The Greatest Invitation

Something happened in our Five More Minutes devotions this week that I didn't plan.

Different passages.

Different people.

Different circumstances.

But the Lord kept drawing our attention back to the same place:

Himself.

And today in Jeremiah 9:23–24, God tells us what really matters:

"...let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me..."

What an invitation!

The greatest treasure of the Christian life isn't merely knowing more "about" God.

It's "knowing God."

💭 Today's Truth

God's greatest invitation isn't simply to receive His blessings... it's to know His heart.

And when I talk about knowing God's heart, I mean knowing His revealed character—knowing Him well enough that when life doesn't make sense, we still know what kind of God He is.

This week we've watched God change Asaph's perspective.

We've met "El Roi", the God who saw Hagar in the wilderness.

We've asked God to open our eyes with Elisha's servant.

We've learned with David that God made His ways known to Moses, not merely His acts.

And today.... We are reminded we have been invited to know Him.

🙏 Today's Prayer

Lord, more than simply knowing about You, I want to know You! Teach me Your ways and reveal Your character through Your Word. Help me know You so deeply that when I don't understand what You are doing, I can still trust who You are. Give me a greater hunger for Your presence and a deeper desire to know Your heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If that prayer expresses your heart, I invite you to pray it with me—or find your own words—but spend some time talking with the Lord today.

📖 And I really want to encourage you to read ahead this weekend!

Next week we're going to camp for a while in Exodus 33–34

Moses makes one unforgettable request: "Show me Your glory."

And we're going to slow down together and discover how God answers.

So sometime this weekend, open Exodus chapters 33 and 34

Read them slowly.

And read them with one question:

"Lord, what are You showing me about Yourself?"

We're not just reading through the Bible together. We're learning to behold the God of the Bible together.

I cannot wait for next week.

🎙️ Today's Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

📖 Thankful Thursday — Know His Ways

Psalm 103 is one of the most loved chapters in the Bible.

Many of us know its beautiful reminders of God's forgiveness, compassion, and love.

But this week, one verse stopped me in my tracks.

"He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel." (Psalm 103:7)

Israel witnessed God's mighty acts.

They saw the Red Sea part.

They ate manna in the wilderness.

They watched miracle after miracle.

But David says something different about Moses.

Moses came to know God's ways.

He came to know God's heart.

💭 Today's Truth

Thankfulness grows deeper when we remember who God is—not just what He has done.

It's easy to spend our prayers thanking God for His blessings.

And we should.

But there is an even deeper place of worship.

When we begin to thank Him for His character...

for His compassion...

His grace...

His patience...

His faithful love...

our gratitude becomes rooted in something that never changes.

🙏 Today's Prayer

Lord, thank You not only for all You have done for me, but for who You are. Thank You that You are compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness. Help me move beyond simply celebrating Your gifts to delighting in Your heart. Teach me Your ways, not just Your works, and let knowing You become my greatest joy. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If these words express your heart today, make them your prayer. Or find your own words and spend a few moments honestly talking with the Lord.

🎙️ Today's Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

📖 And one more thing...

This weekend, if you'd like to read ahead, spend a little time in Exodus 33 and 34

Moses asks God one unforgettable request: "Show me Your glory."

God's answer has been stirring my heart all week, and I can't wait to explore it together.

I think you're going to love where we're headed next.

📖 Wisdom Wednesday — Open My Eyes

Some mornings it feels like the problems surrounding us are all we can see.

The bills.

The diagnosis.

The uncertainty.

The difficult conversation.

That's exactly how Elisha's servant felt when he stepped outside and found an enemy army surrounding the city.

His response was understandable:

"Alas, my master! What shall we do?" 2 Kings 6:15

But Elisha prayed a very different prayer than we might expect.

He didn't ask God to remove the army.

He didn't ask God to change the circumstances.

He prayed:

"O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." 2 Kings 6:17

The army was still there.

But the servant finally saw something greater.

God had been with them all along.

💭 Today's Wisdom

The greatest need in fearful moments isn't always changed circumstances... it's opened eyes.

Faith doesn't pretend our problems aren't real.

It reminds us that our problems are never the whole story.

God is always at work in ways we cannot yet see.

🙏 Today's Prayer

Lord, when fear begins to shape my thinking, open my eyes to see You more clearly. Help me remember that Your presence is greater than anything that surrounds me. When I can't understand what You're doing, remind me that You have never stopped working. Give me faith to trust You, even when I cannot yet see what You see. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If these words express your heart today, make them your prayer. Or find your own words and spend a few moments honestly talking with the Lord.

🎙️ Today's Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Before asking God to change your circumstances... ask Him to open your eyes.