Loneliness, worry, fear and disorientation show up in crisis. We’ve all been there. Even in the small trials, life seems out of control. Thankfully, we pray and God comforts. But we all need someone to come alongside us in times like this.

The Apostle Paul had one of those friends, Onesimus, who ministered to him in his imprisonment. An escaped Philippian slave, Paul led this young man to Christ. Onesimus became such an important part of Paul’s life that he didn’t want to send him back to the Philippians.

Let's explore that drama, and maybe yours, too, in our audio devotional today.

KEY PASSAGE:

(Philippians 2:1-8 ESV)

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

American Dehydrated Onion & Garlic Association? It exists! So does the Dill Pickle Club.

What if you pulled together a small group of believers who would make it a priority to be generous? Meet regularly. Tell stories. Not bragging about your generosity, but to inspire everyone in the group. What a great way to fulfill this verse: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV).

It's the Generosity Club.

Today, we'll start in on our theme of 'Generosity."

KEY PASSAGES:

“But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV).

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV).

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

God the Father and God the Son are patient with us. God doesn’t send lighting down to fry us or sweep us away with the Red Sea. He endures. He waits. Jesus prays for us. God is patient because he does not wish “that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b ESV).

Our love relationship with Christ should move us to be patient with every person around us, whether they’re our spouse or a stranger. Patience is merely evidence of our love for God and the people around us. Centering ourselves on the wonderful, intimate love of Jesus will inspire and empower us to be patient.

KEY PASSAGE:

Romans 5:6-8

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NIV)

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

What’s more important? The task or the person? When someone’s incompetence rears its head, think twice how you respond.

Jesus shows us how to do patience over and over again in the gospels. People were more important to him than tasks and rituals. That’s why he healed on the Sabbath.

If Jesus scorned us every time we demonstrated incompetence, we’d be a sorry soul. But Jesus does just the opposite. He’s patient. He loves us when we succeed and when we fail. He’s faithful to stick with us. Speed isn’t a big deal to him. He waits.

Let's talk about it in today's audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

2 Pet 5:8-9 (NIV)

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

When you have a choice between panic and patience, it's hard to choose patience. But remember that God is bigger than your crisis. He wants to use you and your situation to glorify himself, as well as build the golden habit of patience in you. It's a tough lesson, so let me lighten it up with my real-life, comical story.

It all started when a strange number popped up on my phone on an early Sunday morning. For some reason, I answered it. Maybe I really wanted that free 5-night all-expenses-paid vacation in Las Vegas.

“Jon, I think I left my phone in the Uber car on my way to the airport,” my wife said on a borrowed phone. And so began our Sabbath Day lesson in patience.

Listen in for "the rest of the story."

KEY PASSAGE:

Gal 5:22-23 (ESV)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Peace of heart involves choices. Will you let the world tell you what to do with every minute of your day, or will you respond to God? No matter how busy your schedule is, you must find time to feed your soul.

The urgent isn’t always the best.

Jesus found time, even in his busy schedule, for peace. He went away with God time after time. He needed the Father. He craved solitude. It refreshed him so he could face the crowds and the constant demands on his life.

Today, we'll explore this further in our interactive devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Mt 14:22-23 (NIV)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

You've been wronged, attacked, ridiculed, ignored, rejected, or slighted. It hurts. How can you recapture God’s soul peace when you have a wounded heart? There’s no step-by-step solution. It’s deeper than some textbook answer. You’re in pain and that requires healing.

Can I point you to Jesus? Not as a pat spiritual answer, but as a way to experience the personal healing love of the Savior. Isn’t that what you really need?

Let's go to Jesus together today.

KEY PASSAGE:

Ps 34:8-10, 17-18 (NIV)

Taste and see that the Lord is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;

he delivers them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3 ESV).

Is there such thing as perfect peace?

Our hearts long for perfect peace, which we will only fully experience when we are in the presence of Jesus. We live in a fallen world, in which nothing is perfect. Even peace. Or so it seems. Let's go deeper in this today.

KEY PASSAGE:

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)

You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

RESOURCES:

Download the 21-DAY FRESH FAITH EXPERIENCE at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com