Freedom Church - KS

Silent Saturday - Pastor Jenna Whitehead

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Silent Saturday

Pastor Jenna Whitehead

Silent Saturday is the quiet day between the agony of Good Friday and the triumph of Easter morning. Jesus’ body lay in a sealed tomb, guarded and hidden away. Scripture gives us very few details about that day, and perhaps that silence is intentional. It was a day filled with tension & grief—an uneasy pause between what had happened and what God had promised would come.

For the disciples, the weight of that silence must have been overwhelming. The One they believed was the Messiah had been crucified. The miracles, the teachings, the hope of a kingdom—it all seemed to collapse at the cross. The tomb was sealed, and with it, it must have felt as though their future was sealed too.

Yet Jesus had spoken about this before. He had told them He would suffer. He had said He would be killed. And more than once, He promised that on the third day He would rise again. But on that Saturday, those words likely felt distant and hard to grasp. They were living in the space between the promise and the fulfillment—waiting for the things Jesus had said to come to pass.

That waiting is part of the story. Because if the tomb had remained closed, everything would have been different. Without the resurrection, the cross would only be a tragedy, not a victory. But Silent Saturday reminds us that God often works in the silence, in the darkness, in the moments when it seems like nothing is happening. Imagine life if the story ended in the tomb. Without the resurrection, there would be no victory over sin, no promise of new life, and no living Savior. But Easter proves that darkness and death never have the final word. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

And in many ways, we know this feeling too. There are seasons in life when God has spoken promises into our hearts through His Word, but we find ourselves waiting—between what He said and what we see. Holy Saturday reminds us that the waiting is not wasted. Even when the world feels silent, God is still moving, still faithful, still bringing His promises to life.
Because the silence of Saturday was never the end of the story.

Resurrection morning was coming.

Let's Pray.

Lord God, I thank you so much that even in the midst of Silent Saturday, you were working and you were moving. And Lord I thank you that we don't need details of what happened on that day because we know the end of the story and the end of the story is that Sunday is coming. And Lord I thank you that the story did not end with a sealed tomb and God that no plan of the enemy could prosper over what you had planned. Jesus we just praise you for giving up your life. Lord God, I thank you that our hopes did not collapse at the cross. Lord God, that O death where is your victory, O death where is your sting, that that is our story. And so I pray that even on this Silent Saturday that we would spend time remembering what life is like because of the resurrection. That we take a moment to pause and remember what it would be like or reflect on what it would be like without the resurrection. That we would just take time today to thank you and praise you that death is not the end of the story. In Jesus name, Amen

Good Friday - Pastor Brad Reynolds

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Good Friday

Pastor Brad Reynolds

I'm really honored to bring you this devotion today on Good Friday. And you know, I have to admit, for the longest time, I'm like, Good Friday? Why do they call it Good Friday when it's on the day that Jesus was crucified? One thing I found out was the word good was kind of interchangeable with the word holy back in biblical times. So that's one possible explanation. And another one is what Christ did on the cross was a good thing. And that's kind of a more modern way to look at why they consider it Good Friday, even though the crucifixion may not be viewed as a good thing, but what came out of it was such a good thing. So I'm honored to bring you the devotion today for Good Friday. I want to talk about, even though Jesus is obviously the main part of Good Friday and of what we're celebrating this weekend. But I want to talk to you a little bit about the men who are hanging on the left and the right of Jesus.

Now, it would have been real easy to just have Jesus be the only one, well, maybe not easy, but to have Jesus be the only one up there on the cross. But I think there's a reason there was a thief hanging on the right and hanging on the left of him. In Luke chapter 23, we read that one of the criminals, he says to Jesus, so you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself and saving us while you're at it. See, he wanted proof that Jesus was the Messiah. But on the other side, we had the thief that says, Jesus, remember me today when you come into your kingdom. And in that moment, the other thief was clearly recognizing Jesus for who he was, the Son of God. And it was faith, not proof that the thief, the other thief on the cross was using, was finding that faith requires much more from us and out of us than just proof, I think. And Jesus replies to him when he says that. He says, I assure you today you will be with me in paradise. And in that short interaction between Jesus and the thief that said, remember me, we see everything that Jesus came for and everything that Jesus stood for.

There's forgiveness, there's redemption, there's righteousness, there's grace, there's mercy, and there's salvation. The thief on the cross was just asking to be remembered, but Jesus gave him so much more than that. And in that small interaction, we learn that Jesus came for everyone. He came for the least of these. And it shows us that under this new covenant that was created by Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, that believing in him as Lord and Savior is more than enough. You know, there are many amazing people and lessons that are taught in the Bible, but none more short or simple or important as the thief on the cross saying, remember me.

Let's pray. Father God, we thank you for this good Friday. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for what you endured on the cross so that we can be remembered by you that we might have salvation through you. So again, Lord, we just thank you and we honor you
this weekend for all that you've done for us in Jesus name. Amen.

Holy Thursday - Pastor Paul Andrews

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Holy Thursday

Pastor Paul Andrews

Welcome to our Thursday devotional. I want to talk to you a little bit about one of the most fascinating characters in the scriptures, and that is Judas. In Luke, the 22nd chapter, the scriptures talk about Judas, and it says in verse 3, then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the 12 disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them.

It's fascinating, isn't it, that Judas was actually around Jesus all this time with the rest of his disciples. He saw miracles. He saw Jesus do amazing things. Yet, at this point, he was willing to betray Jesus. This should be a sobering reminder to all of us that we can actually be in church, in the presence of Jesus, in the presence of people's lives actually being changed and transformed. If you're in a good, healthy church, you'll see that. You'll see all kinds of evidences of the power of God, but here's the thought. You can actually be in the vicinity of Jesus, but not really know him, not really embrace who he is.

So I want to encourage all of us, please don't have a shallow relationship with Jesus, because it's really our choice. I want to encourage you to dive in, even in your struggles and your disappointments. Wrestle with God. Discover his goodness in his grace and his grace and discover that you can actually trust him, even when you don't understand. And understand there is such a sober warning here. We can be in the presence of God, be around him, but not really know him. Today, this Easter, I want to encourage you to contemplate deeply on the goodness of God and who Jesus is, and make sure that you're not just around Jesus, but you embrace him. You love him, and you get that close personal connection with him. And if you do that, Easter will mean a lot to you. You'll be blessed, and you're going to put your priorities in the thing that matters most.

Let's close with a prayer. Father, I thank you for this day, this Thursday. I pray, Lord God, that you would strengthen us and help us to get into a deep, connected relationship with you, not something shallow. I pray that we wouldn't tolerate shallow when we can have something that's deep and beautiful. And I thank you for that, Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Holy Wednesday - Pastor Paul Andrews

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Holy Wednesday

Pastor Paul Andrews

Welcome to our Wednesday devotional. I want to reference a passage of scripture. It's in Mark the 14th chapter, and this is where Jesus is anointed by a woman at Bethany. He's actually over the house of Simon the leper, and it is presumed that this person actually got healed by Jesus. And in this passage of scripture, Jesus is at a table eating. A woman comes up to him with an alabaster jar of perfume. That's a very expensive portion of perfume. And she takes it and anoints his head with oil. And here's what happened. I'll read this starting in verse four. Some of those at the table were indignant. Why waste such expensive perfume, they asked. It could have been sold for a year's wages and the money given to the poor. So they scolded her sharply. But here's what Jesus did. He said, leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could, the scripture says, and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, whenever the good news is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed.

And here's what I want you to think about. She was over the house, or Jesus was over the house of a person that had been healed by him. And the people at the table rebuked her sharply. And here this woman came with an expensive jar of perfume. And they scolded her, criticizing her extravagant worship to Jesus. Is it possible that the person who had leprosy had lost sight and gratefulness towards God? Because they scolded her for her extravagant worship? But this newcomer came in, this woman came in with this alabaster jar of perfume, and she gave an expensive offering to Jesus. Here's the application for us. What is Jesus worth to you? Are you willing to give extravagant worship to the God who loves you, who saved your soul? Or have we, like Simon the leper, actually forgotten the grace and the goodness of God? Have we ceased to be grateful for what he's done? This Easter, I want you to focus on the goodness of Jesus. Revisit what he's done for you and how he's transformed your life. And continue to be grateful and understand that Jesus is worth it. Don't give him a cheap offering. Give him all that you are this Easter season.

Let's pray.

Father, I thank you. I thank you for this day. I pray that today, we wouldn't give a portion of ourselves to you. We wouldn't give cheap worship to you. But instead, we would be extravagant, giving all of who we are to you. And we give you praise for this beautiful day.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Holy Tuesday - Pastor Josh Jordan

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Holy Tuesday

Pastor Josh Jordan

Today is Holy Tuesday. Today we’re looking at Matthew 21:23–46, where Jesus is teaching in the temple and facing opposition. Be sure to read that passage as part of today’s devotion.

In this text, we see that the religious elite have lost their way and have no faith in their true savior. They were part of a dead religion. Jesus was cleansing the temple of that self righteous religion that was a curse for many. We read that the religious leaders were asking Jesus whether His authority came from God, or from man. Did you know that people still ask that question about Christianity today? Sadly people sometimes miss the mark and discount a relationship with Christ because of that very thought.

After this, we see Jesus telling story after story, revealing the corruption of the current religious system. This passage ends with the leaders wanting to arrest Jesus, though the crowd views Him as a prophet. Now, here’s the Good News from all of this. Jesus is the Way, The Truth, and The Life. Even the religious elite had the opportunity to turn to Jesus as a savior, just as we can look to Him as our savior today. We can find freedom in the arms of our savior. Because if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Let's Pray.

Father God, we thank you for sending your son Jesus to save us all. We ask Father God, that you would purify our bodies that are the temple of the Holy Spirit, Lord God, today. Purify us of the religious beliefs, the self righteous beliefs that we have in our hearts and in our minds. We thank you for your grace and your mercy in that. We love you and we praise you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Holy Monday - Pastor Laurie Andrews

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Holy Monday

Pastor Laurie Andrews

We are on day two of our Holy Week devotions, and today is Holy Monday, the day Jesus drove the money changers from the temple.

Let's read in Luke chapter 19, verse 45 through 46. Then Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, the scriptures declare my temple will be a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.

Why exactly was Jesus angry? Was it because they were selling animals at the temple? After all, didn't the people need them for sacrifice? No, I don't think Jesus was offended because of this, but in that day, the temple system had become so corrupt that money changers made a great profit from exorbitant exchange rates for foreign currency, and also overcharged for the very animals needed for sacrifice.This was often overlooked by temple leadership because they were given a cut of the profits.

God is never a fan when we cheat one another and then call it holy. This messy practice also took place in the court of the Gentiles, the only area non-Jews were allowed to pray. Can you imagine the chaos and the smell, the sound of sheep and goats and people haggling over prices? All of this was going on in a place God designated for foreigners to pray. It was a sacred space, but the leaders didn't care because of their prejudice. When God makes a way for people to come to him, are we welcoming or do we dismiss people who are a bit different than us?

John 3.16 says, For God so loved the world, every nation, tribe, and tongue, the neurodivergent as well as the neurotypical, those who speak our language and those who don't. During this holy season, let's share the love of God with all and remove every stumbling block that tries to keep people from God's presence.

Let's pray. Father, we just thank you so much that you sent Jesus and that Jesus, you work through us to reach the world. I pray, Lord God, that during this holy season, our hearts would be more open than ever, Lord, to reach people with the truth of your love for them.

We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen

Palm Sunday - Pastor Laurie Andrews

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Palm Sunday

Pastor Laurie Andrews

Welcome to day one of our Holy Week devotions, and today we're starting at the triumphal entry of Jesus, what we know as Palm Sunday, which took place the Sunday before Jesus was crucified. Let's read the text together from Luke chapter 19, verses 36 through 40.As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him.

When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna!
Peace in heaven and glory in highest heaven.

This was directly from a prophecy found in Zechariah chapter 9. But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that. They knew that the crowd was declaring him king. And Jesus replied, If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers.

The people of Jerusalem were greeting their Messiah. They laid palm fronds and their robes on the ground for his donkey to walk on, symbolizing their acceptance of him as Savior. This was only something that people did when they recognized royalty and submitted to it.

How can we, during this holy season, submit ourselves and lay down our facades and welcome Jesus into our lives as king? What can we give him? What can we lay down before him? Let's think about that and let's pray.

Father, we just thank you so much, Jesus, that you came as our Messiah, as our Savior. We welcome you into our hearts. We say, Hosanna in the highest, Lord God. And we pray, Father, whatever it is that we would hold as a barrier between us and you, Lord God, we just lay it down right now. And we welcome you. Have your way in us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Day 21 - Pastor Paul Andrews

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 21

It’s the last day. Sadly, it’s the last day of our 21 days of prayer and fasting. I want to read to you a passage of Scripture that’s meant so much to me. It’s very short, but it’s meant the world to me. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalm 23:1. The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

And here’s what I’ve discovered: that if the Lord really is my shepherd—like I’m letting Him actually lead my life and I’m following Him—then I have everything that I need. It’s a lie from the enemy to think that if we follow God, we won’t have everything that we need; that if we follow God, we won’t be satisfied; if we follow God, He wants to keep us from things that are truly enjoyable in life. That is a lie from the pit of hell.

Because here’s the thing: the deepest needs of our heart can only be met in Christ. And I want to give you four areas real quick—the deepest needs we have. We have a need for unfailing love, and only God can give us unfailing love. We have a need to discover our identity. You know, only God can help you discover your identity—who you were created to be. We have a need for security. You know, the ultimate security is in Christ. There were people who thought they were secure and had all the money in the world, and then all of a sudden it was taken away from them, and their security blanket got yanked from them, and they discovered that the things they thought were secure weren’t. Only God can give us ultimate security.

And only God can actually reveal to you and I what our purpose is. You see, He’s the one who created us. He’s the one who designed us in a very specific way to find out our calling and purpose. And our soul will not be satisfied until we actually discover what that calling and purpose is. When the Lord is our shepherd, we have everything we need. It’s found in Him.
And when God meets our deepest needs—the deepest needs that only He can meet—we’re going to walk around strong. And we’re going to discover what the Apostle Paul discovered in Colossians 2:10, that we are complete in Christ. That’s a powerful truth. And I hope that during these 21 days of prayer and fasting, you’ve discovered a level in your relationship with God where you’ve discovered He really is the one to meet your deepest needs. And you can walk around secure and confident, emotionally healthy, because you’re not depending on other people—a spouse, a girlfriend, a boyfriend—to meet your needs. Instead, you’re depending on the One who is actually capable of meeting your deepest needs.

Let’s pray.

Father, I thank You in the name of Jesus. I just pray for this revelation that You’re the one that can meet our deepest needs, and that the temptations that are out there in our life will actually not be as strong because we know where to turn. It’s to You. You’re the one who loves us with an unfailing love, and we give You praise for that in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless you.

Day 20 - Pastor Paul Andrews

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 20

Well, we’re closing in on the end of our 21 days of prayer and fasting. I know many of you are grieving that because you just enjoy not eating food or whatever you’re fasting. But I do hope that you’ve gotten a lot out of this. And I want to take a look at a passage of Scripture where Jesus was actually talking about food.

The context of this is right after He was ministering to the woman at the well, and He was giving her great ministry. Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, “Rabbi, eat something.” Here’s what He said. But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about.” And then someone said, “Did someone bring Him some food while we were gone?” The disciples asked each other. And here’s what Jesus said: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent Me and from finishing His work.”

What a statement by Jesus. His nourishment came from doing the will of God and finishing His work. And so I hope during these 21 days of prayer and fasting that you’ve discovered a satisfaction, a nourishment of the soul, that only comes from the presence of God and doing the will of God. That’s my huge hope for all of us. I hope that during this time you’ve discovered a different level in your walk with God that you’re capable of seeing and discovering.

And oddly enough, hopefully you’ve discovered this, but by saying no to food or whatever you said no to, hopefully you’ve discovered that in the process of doing that, you’ve discovered a deeper level of satisfaction in Him. Only Jesus can satisfy our souls. And I want you guys to discover that, to know that, because you can spend a lifetime searching for stuff in the world to satisfy you, but only He satisfies your soul. And we can rejoice in the fact that by discovering Him, it reaches a need in our hearts in the deepest of ways.

So my hope is that you discover that. My hope is that you don’t go on a lifetime search of some things that will never satisfy you, and that you discover that the deepest needs that you can have in your heart can only be satisfied with Christ.

Let’s pray.

Father, I thank You. I pray that as these 21 days of prayer and fasting come to a close, Lord, that we will discover something that will actually last. We will discover that we can actually live a life in such a way where we are able to say no to the junk food of the world so that we can accept the true nourishment that comes from You. I give You praise for that, Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God bless.

Day 19 - Pastor Josh Humig

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 19

Today I want to share with you a profound encounter I had was Christ. It was a few years ago, and I was on the mission field. I was having a particularly rough time. We were backpacking through the jungles of a Southeast Asia country. I had tweaked my back and I was feeling it. As we hike from Village to Village, we are often offered gracious accommodations to sleep on a concrete floor or a dirt porch or perhaps, even in an animal stall that is covered and out of the weather a bit. That evening was a true blessing to be able to sleep inside of a building with windows and doors that closed and a roof that didn’t leak. Many times sleep is evasive in the places we find ourselves.

As nice as the accommodations were, I did not sleep well that night. I woke up feeling miserable and honestly in a bit of a funk. In my mind, I was questioning why I was there. Was I doing anyone any good? I could hear the roosters crowing and knew that daybreak had come as I saw the light beginning to stream through the cracks in the door and windows. Within a few minutes, one of our brothers had opened the door and come in to bring us each a fresh cup of chai. As I set up in my sleeping bag to take the cup from this brother, still in my head, and in my funk, a ray of light shone through and lit up the tip of my finger as I grasped the tiny metal cup. It was as if time stood still in that moment. Every ridge of my fingerprint was highlighted by the beam of light streaming in. The Lord spoke to my heart in that instant. He said to me,” do you see this? Do you see the uniqueness of my creation? I created you on purpose and for purpose. You are exactly where you are meant to be. I have sent you here to share my love with these people.” I was wrecked! I began weeping. In that moment, I once again felt that indescribable peace and satisfaction in God, my creator and Savior. It was a humbling experience that I will never forget.

My encouragement to you today is that no matter what life throws at you, whatever place you find yourself in or even the Funk of your mental attitude, you can find satisfaction in Jesus. He willingly gave his life to cover our sins and have a relationship with us. We can have complete confidence and satisfaction in the knowledge that Christ died for us, has a plan and a purpose for us and that we have an eternal destiny in heaven because of Christ’s sacrifice for every individual who would call upon his name and believe in him.

Father, thank you for the sacrifice of your son that gives us complete confidence and satisfaction, knowing that our relationship with Christ secures our eternity in heaven worshiping you for all of eternity.

Day 18 - Pastor Josh Humig

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 18

Today I want to share with you a second circumstance where I found complete satisfaction in Jesus.

Several years ago, I was overseas on a mission trip. We were in a very remote region of the country. In fact, we were right on the border of a very hostile state. Just a few weeks prior to leaving for this trip, I had read an article about several Christians in this region who were literally burned alive because they would not deny their faith in Christ. Upon learning of this, our team began to pray for the believers in that state, that the Lord would strengthen their faith and their resolve to serve him. We also prayed that somehow, someway we might be able to share the love of Jesus with them. However, we knew full well that it would not be possible for us to enter that state to share the gospel without risking our own lives.

We had been in the jungle for several days, hiking from Village to Village, sharing the gospel in each village, we came to. We had made our way into a small village, and it was my turn to share the message. Through a translator, I shared the message of the gospel. At the end, I gave an invitation to receive Jesus. One young man and woman raised their hand and wanted to pray to receive Christ. We prayed together with them, believing that they were laying down the religion of their family and community to have an eternal relationship with the one true God. In their culture, the very act of taking such a step could very much isolate, ostracized and or potentially cost them their lives. However, they stood there, and the joy radiated from their faces. They expressed great gratitude!

In that moment, I sensed a great peace, and my soul was completely satisfied. In my mind, if I drew my last breath at that moment, nothing better could’ve happened. I felt the father’s satisfaction in me. I was truly fulfilling the purpose of my life! I was carrying out the command he has given to each one of his followers, to go into all the world and make disciples. When you know why God has created, you and live your highest and best purpose, there is complete satisfaction in Christ.

And in true Paul Harvey fashion, the rest of the story… Whenever anyone would step out in Faith and receive Jesus, we would gather all of the pertinent information to have pastors follow up after we were gone. As this was taking place, the location of the village was revealed, and we quickly realized we had unintentionally found ourselves across the border into the state where persecution was at it’s highest. We were in the place where the Christians had been burned alive just weeks earlier. We were encouraged to grab our packs and go from this place quickly.

The point that I want to share with you today is that you can have complete satisfaction in Jesus when you know why you were created and you live out the purpose that God intended for your life. Your purpose is not meant to be a mystery. If you seek the Lord and ask him to reveal his plan, his purpose for your life, he will show you. There is no greater joy or satisfaction than to be about your father‘s business in this life.

Oh father, please reveal to your servants who earnestly seek to know there design, and purpose to live for you. May they find a deep and intimate satisfaction in living the life you created to live.

Be blessed and live on purpose today!

Day 17 - Pastor Josh Humig

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 17

Our topic for this year‘s devotion is satisfied, as you already know since we are over two weeks into this. But can I be straight with you? I struggled with this topic. One of the first things I did was look up the definition of satisfied. Here is what it said, “feeling pleased, content or fulfilled because a need, desire or expectation has been met.” There was a second part to the definition that said,” in other words when you are satisfied you believe that something is good enough or has achieved what you wanted.”

I began to think about all the different aspects of my life to figure out which of them I was truly satisfied in. The question I asked myself was this, "if this area of my life never changed from this point forward would I be satisfied?” I could not list a single aspect of my life where I could say I am truly satisfied if nothing else ever changes. My marriage, my relationship with God, my role as a father, my career, my finances, my health and on and on and on. I am not satisfied in any of these areas because I want a better marriage. I want a better relationship with Jesus. I want to be a better father to my children. I want my career to continue to grow. I want to be at a better place with my finances.

After several weeks of contemplating these things and driving myself crazy, I reached out to our pastoral staff to see if I could get perspective. Surely I wasn’t the only one struggling? Thank the Lord for those who surround me and I can seek council from. Here is the challenge… I was looking at it through my selfish, me centered lenses. I’ve told you all this because I am positive that it is a challenge many of us face often. We are so quick to make it about us, about our inadequacies, about our inability to do things. I was reminded again that it is not about me. So I want to caution you, it’s not about you either. As I delve into the next few days of devotions, I want to encourage each of you to find true satisfaction in Jesus.

So, with a new perspective, I began to think about how and when I have found that satisfaction in Jesus. Very quickly, there were three areas that came to mind almost immediately. Today, the first, is in the area of worship. I cannot play an instrument. And you don’t want to hear me sing, however, I LOVE to worship. There have been many times in my faith walk that I have found myself “lost” in worship. But what I want to say instead is there are many times I have found myself profoundly satisfied in the practice and experience of worshiping Jesus. I was able to come to a place in worship, where, if nothing else ever changed, I was completely satisfied in Jesus by worshiping who he is and what he has done for me. When I think about eternity and our eternal occupation I can once again know, not just feel, the satisfaction of worshiping Jesus.

Today, I want to encourage you to spend time in worship and find satisfaction in your personal relationship with Jesus. Lord, I pray that each one of your children reading or hearing this would find this same place of satisfaction in true worship to you, our creator and the eternal lover of our souls.

Have a worshipful, blessed day my friends.

Day 16 - Sarah Owen

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 16

I hope you had a satisfying meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—or whenever you’re watching this. I hope that you also remembered a moment when your meal was truly satisfying. I hope you remembered to be just as satisfied in the Lord and to praise Him in those moments. Or I hope that your quiet time with the Lord today satisfies your soul and fills you up.

Psalm 63:5 says, “I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”

Today I want to focus on the phrase “with singing lips.” Now, for me—I’m not a singer. I can worship, but don’t give me the microphone! I know the Lord loves it, but He’s about the only one.

David says to sing it with our lips. That’s powerful because it’s something you have to actually say—speak it out loud. This was a practice David regularly had in his worship. He chose to worship the Lord and sing praise with his mouth.

There’s power in saying things out loud! Reading silently uses only your eyes, but speaking out loud engages your voice, your ears, and your body. If you’re just thinking something in your mind, it can be hard to stop a thought—especially negative or intrusive ones. Many professionals say that one of the best ways to interrupt those thoughts is to start speaking the opposite out loud—saying what you know to be true, what the Lord says in His Word, and what He says about you. This practice interrupts your thoughts and allows you to shift your focus to the truths you are speaking out loud.

This is a practice we see in David’s worship. He understood that there is power in praise—power in saying out loud to God how good He is.

So today, I want to encourage you: have a personal worship time with the Lord. Speak to Him about how good He is. Tell Him the things you feel in the pit, in the hard times. He already knows, but He wants you to confide in Him and share your heart. Choose to praise Him.

Command your soul to praise Him.

Command your soul today: I WILL be satisfied!

Day 15 - Sarah Owen

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 15

I hope you found ways to COMMAND your soul to be satisfied in the Lord yesterday. And if you didn’t, guess what—you can still do that today, and tomorrow, and the next day. Just like David had many opportunities to turn his attention to the Lord and praise, we do too.
Psalm 63:5 says, “I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”

I think it’s important to note that David wrote this psalm while he was in the Judean Desert. Earlier in the chapter, in verse 1, he says, “I thirst for you.” I find it interesting that he wrote this psalm in the desert. I imagine he was physically thirsty—possibly in the heat of summer. It was harsh, dry, and he was probably on the verge of dehydration. YET—the thing he longed for more than anything was God. Even in a dire circumstance where water could have meant the difference between life and death, David proclaimed that he desired the Lord over any earthly need.

Today I want to focus on the part of the verse that says, “as with the richest of foods.” I wonder what that would have been for David—warm bread, grapes, figs, mutton, venison? Just like he was probably thirsty in the desert, I like to think he was also experiencing real hunger. Maybe he was dreaming about the richest foods, or a home-cooked meal he didn’t have access to. I imagine him picturing a warm meal from home and thinking about how satisfied he would feel eating it.

Then I imagine that as he was thinking about that meal, he began to turn his thoughts toward the Lord. Even the meal he longed for couldn’t compare to the goodness of God. He was thirsty, probably hungry, and yet he wanted to be satisfied with God in the same way he longed to be satisfied with that rich food.

David knew the rich meal he was imagining would satisfy him. He would feel full. Nourished. Thankful. And David is saying that he will be satisfied with the Lord just as much as he would be satisfied with that meal he was longing for.

For your own meditation, think about a meal that truly satisfied you. Maybe it was a dessert you had on vacation six years ago, and you’ve been chasing that same experience ever since. Take that desire, that yearning for satisfaction, and point it toward your relationship with the Lord.

Command your soul today: I WILL be satisfied!

Day 14 - Sarah Owen

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 14

One time I heard someone share that they didn’t like spending time in the Psalms because it felt like David was always being negative and complaining about everything. I kind of agreed, but then I started thinking about it more. Don’t we all get like that? Life is a rollercoaster of ups and downs until we get to heaven. We have hard times, okay times, and great times when it feels like everything is going just the way we hoped.

Honestly, if I were a worship leader like David, I’d probably be writing songs about how hard things were too. Imagine this song: Jeesuuussss, my tire light just came onnnnnn…and I need to get gasssss, but it’s coooollld and I don’t want toooo!! Right? That’s so relatable. Even if everything is mostly fine in life, we all have moments throughout the day when we don’t want to do something because it’s hard.

I think we can easily get stuck in a routine of focusing on the hard things—everything that’s going wrong—thinking, “Of course this would happen to me.” But we actually have a perfect example of how to get out of that cycle, and it’s a biblical one: King David. He often told the Lord exactly how he was feeling—how hard his life was, how he felt forsaken or forgotten.
BUT—David always chose to turn himself toward praise. I don’t think this was easy for him. I doubt he went from grumpy to “Okay, time to praise God now!” in an instant. I imagine he had to will his soul to do it. He had to choose to wake up, put on his positive pants—probably a little snug some days—and praise the Lord in the midst of his mess.

One thing I love about David’s Psalms is how he writes as if he’s commanding his own soul to praise. In Psalm 63:5, I love the “I will” portion. I imagine David saying it even when he didn’t feel it: I WILL be fully satisfied. I don’t think he instantly felt satisfied—just like our problems rarely get fixed in a moment. I believe he was commanding, even prophesying: I WILL be satisfied, even if I’m not there right now. I WILL be satisfied in You, Lord. I will fix my gaze on You and choose to worship the Creator of the world instead of sitting in the pit I’m in or the hard thing I have to face.

If it were me, I’d have to force myself to sing a praise song about my circumstances. It might sound like: My tire lighhhht turnnned onn—good to know that it worksssss! Thank you, Lord, that I have money for gassss, and a coat and gloves for the colllllld!

Maybe you relate to this. Maybe you tend to focus on the negative, or feel like people are always out to get you. I want to encourage you today: command your soul to be satisfied in the Lord—even in the middle of the hard thing. Eventually, a super cool miracle may happen where you experience the Lord pulling you out of a pit.

Command your soul today: I WILL be satisfied!

Day 13 - Pastor Josh Jordan

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 13

Remember, on day 1 I talked about identifying false satisfaction. Next up was hunger for true satisfaction. So today, let’s talk about resting in lasting satisfaction.

When is the last time you felt rested? Rejuvenated? Revitalized? If those words feel foreign to you in this season of life, it’s not too late to join in or pick right up where you left off and experience rest in God’s lasting satisfaction.

[Psa 37:7 says, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.” So we are commanded to rest in the Lord! Hallelujah—but don’t try that one on your spouse.

“Honey, I know you asked me to do the dishes, but we’re commanded to rest in the Lord!”
Ok, so let’s get practical. I know that when I hear a sermon, or an exhortation, or a devotion, I want to respond with action! So here’s what we do with this…

First, I want to challenge you to look into this Biblical rest so we can have a strong idea of what it means and be familiar enough with it for it to last. So start off by using Google, using your Bible app, or even flipping to the index in the back of your Bible and search for these things: rest, comfort, trust. You can Google this: “Biblical examples of rest in the Lord,” or something similar. Just make sure you are laying the foundation WITH SCRIPTURE! You might end up in the Psalms or with an encouraging scripture, and that’s the point!

Once we get a better understanding of what Biblical rest, what satisfaction in the Lord looks like, we can get to that place more often. I’ll encourage you to start your day there! As much as I love praying before bed… I’m gonna go there!! If you aren’t starting your day with Jesus, your priorities might be in the wrong place! Ouch! But I’m not going to apologize for that one. The Lord blesses the first fruits, so we can choose to give Him the first of our day, amen?

Ok, so now that we are getting more familiar with this Biblical rest as we enjoy being satisfied by the Lord, how do we make it lasting? Well, the truth is, life is hard! There are going to be ups and downs. What is important here is that we accept God’s grace for us while we deal with the curveballs of life and that we prioritize getting back to that place of rest. We might start our day right, fly off the hinges before lunch, but we need to realize that we can get back under the shadow of His wings before the day is over! Thank the Lord for His grace!

Let’s make sure that we actively choose to shame the devil, seek God’s forgiveness, and walk as we are called to walk. Let’s close with this scripture: [Mat 11:28–29]

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Will you pray with me?

Day 12 - Pastor Josh Jordan

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 12

Yesterday we talked about identifying false satisfaction. Today, we'll discuss hunger for true satisfaction and tomorrow we'll look into resting and lasting satisfaction.

Hunger for true satisfaction, what does that even mean? Let's look at some key scriptures first to get on the same page. Our theme scripture for this year's devotion is Psalm 63:5, which says, "You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy." If we look back a few chapters at another verse written by David, Psalm 34:8, the Bible says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him." What a beautiful verse.

As we are looking into what it means to hunger for true satisfaction, where do we turn? You guessed it. We can turn to God to be truly satisfied. In Deuteronomy 8:3, the Bible says, "Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with mana of food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone. Rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

The Bible is full of examples where time and time again, God's children were hungry for true satisfaction and could only find it in the Lord. Let's make the decision here and now to also be hungry for only what the Lord can provide. Let's decide to seek him as though our lives depend on it.

Let me take you back to a place for a second. Do you remember where you were when God first called out to you? When you accepted him as your Lord and Savior? Where were you? Were you in a church? Were you in a high school? At youth camp? What room were you standing in? What did you feel at that exact moment? I can't help but to think that at that same moment, we were all truly satisfied with God's presence. What is so important in our lives that we don't hunger to get back to that place not physically but spiritually and emotionally and mentally where we are running after God's presence like only he can satisfy us.

Will you pray with me? Heavenly Father, we just thank you that you are the true source of satisfaction in our lives. We thank you, Lord God, that we can run after you like we did when we first met you. Father God, I pray that you would bless everyone with an opportunity, just a chance to relive that moment. Give us the encouragement that we need, the diligence that we need to run after you so that ultimately that would bless you. Father God, we worship you and we love you in Jesus name. Amen.

Day 11 - Pastor Josh Jordan

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 11

Over the next 3 days, we will discuss 3 things.

First, identifying false satisfaction.

Next up, hunger for true satisfaction.

Finally, resting in lasting satisfaction.

So first, we must identify false satisfaction so we can learn to avoid it!

What is satisfaction by the way? It is defined as the fulfillment of one's needs or wants. So, when you are satisfied you are content or pleased. Now, what does the Bible say about satisfaction? Our theme scripture for this year's devotions is Psalm 63:5 which says “You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.” So we see this psalm of David explain satisfaction as coming from the Lord, and being complete! Now, where do you suppose we can find false satisfaction?

Let’s start with an obvious one.. Satisfaction with the world!

Here at Freedom Church we are currently in the middle of 21 days of prayer and fasting. There’s a good chance that the very thing you are fasting is something that you find satisfaction in! Now, some worldly things that we find satisfaction in can be good when we not only invite God into them, but make him CENTER of those things. But we’re talking about things though that we are leaving him out of! Sorry not sorry, but this includes Netflix binges and scrolling TikTok late into the night! Here is the key when we look at identifying false satisfaction: we have to focus on where our heart is! We need to ask ourselves, are we so busy with things of this world that we forget to make time for God? What false satisfaction do we find comfort in each and every day when we could be turning to the Lord as our source of fulfillment? Remember, Psalm 63 says “you satisfy me MORE than the richest feast”.

Let’s live that out today by turning to the Lord as our provider, and walking hand in hand with Him always.

Would you pray with me?

Day 10 - Pastor Jenna Whitehead

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 10

For the last two days, we’ve been talking about obedience, and don’t miss this:

Obeying God leads to a deeper level of satisfaction than doing your own thing ever will.
I know this not because I read it in a book, but because I’ve lived both sides. I’ve been obedient… and I’ve been disobedient.

There was a time when God was clearly trying to strengthen my obedience muscles. I was at a gas station, and He told me to give a $100 bill to a family there. It was obvious they could use the money—but here’s the catch—we could use it too.

My husband was about a month out from his bone marrow transplant. He had already been off work for three months and would be off for nine more. And that $100 bill? It was birthday money my uncle had mailed me. I wrestled with God right there at the gas pump—like full-on internal debate. And by the time I finally decided to do what He told me to do… they drove off.

The heartbreak I felt in that moment was a gut punch. I did NOT ‘obey without delay’ and I thought it cost me. I remember telling God, “If they pull back into this parking lot, I will obey so fast I won’t even have time to think about it.”

About ten seconds later… they pulled back in.

I did exactly what He told me to do. I gave them the cash—and I RAN. Obedience doesn’t always wait around for conversation.

Moments like that were God strengthening my obedience muscles—so that later, when He asked me to do something even harder, I’d be ready. Like last year, when He led me through a major career change.

When the opportunity came for me to go back into the classroom after being out of education for 10 years, I hesitated. A lot. I wasn’t sure it was right for me or my family—and if I’m being honest—I didn’t want to do it.

As Jesus followers, aren’t we supposed to follow our hearts and do what our hearts desire?
(No. That is terrible advice. Please don’t do that. It’s also the opposite of what Scripture teaches.)

Don’t misunderstand me—it wasn’t an overnight decision. It was a long process filled with praying, wrestling, asking questions, more praying, more wrestling, and eventually saying, “Okay God. I trust You. I’ll do it.”

My feelings weren’t in it. Not yet.

I took the job, and it opened many doors—but it also closed some. For several months, it was a pure act of obedience. I wasn’t miserable, but I felt overwhelmed and exhausted—those were my top two emotions. But then something incredible happened.

Slowly, my heart caught up with my obedience.

Now I can honestly tell you that I love my career—both of them, because God has graciously allowed me to remain part of Freedom Church while also returning to education. He rekindled my love for teaching and paired it with the opportunity to help raise up a generation of disciples for the Kingdom. And the blessings didn’t stop there—He’s used it to bless my daughters and our entire family.

I often wonder—what if I hadn’t followed Him fully? I’ve made that mistake before. And if we’re being honest… so have you.

This kind of satisfaction—the kind that settles deep in your soul—only comes from wholehearted obedience. Nothing this world offers even comes close.

And I think that’s exactly what David meant when he wrote, “You satisfy me more than the richest feast.”

Because when we choose obedience, the blessing ends up being ours.

Father God,
We come before You with humble hearts, grateful for Your Word and for the way You lovingly lead us—even when obedience feels hard. Thank You for being a God who speaks clearly, who calls us higher, and who always works for our good.
Lord, we confess that there are times when we know what You are asking of us, and yet we hesitate. We wrestle. We delay. We choose partial obedience instead of full surrender. Forgive us for the moments when we trust our own understanding more than we trust You.
Today, we choose to reset.

We declare that You are not just Savior, but Lord of our lives.

Strengthen our obedience muscles, God. Train our hearts to respond quickly when You speak. Help us obey without delay, without excuses, and without fear—knowing that every command You give flows from Your love for us.

When our feelings resist obedience, anchor us in truth.

When our flesh wants control, remind us that surrender brings freedom.

When obedience costs us something, help us remember that You are our greatest reward.
Lord, let our hearts fall in line with our obedience. May we find deep satisfaction—not in comfort, approval, or provision—but in walking faithfully with You. Teach us to trust that when we obey You fully, the blessing always follows, even if we can’t see it yet.

As we continue this fast, refine us. Quiet every competing voice. Sharpen our spiritual ears so that we may recognize Your leading and respond with joy. May our lives be living offerings that honor You.

We love You, we trust You, and we choose to follow You—fully and faithfully.

In Jesus’ powerful name,
Amen.

Day 9 - Pastor Jenna Whitehead

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 9

Yesterday we talked about King Saul and his mistake of partial obedience—and how easy it is for us to find ourselves in the same boat. Sometimes we fully obey God. Sometimes we partially obey. And sometimes… if we’re being honest… we flat-out disobey.

Have you ever felt that disappointment that comes after being disobedient to God? It’s a feeling I can only describe as a specific kind of heartbreak—one I would prefer to keep very unfamiliar. Saul didn’t just feel that heartbreak emotionally; his disobedience came with immediate consequences. God rejected Saul as king.

Yikes. That’ll get your attention.

As I mentioned yesterday, the Bible has a lot to say about obedience. Just listen to a few of these:

James 1:22 tells us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.”

And 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands.”

And that’s really just scratching the surface—but I think you get the picture.

So let’s come back to the question we’re wrestling with today:

Why is it such a struggle to obey God fully?

My first answer might seem obvious: we’re sinful people. Our natural tendency is rebellion. Even after we’re redeemed, there’s still a battle going on inside us—our sinful nature fighting against our redeemed nature. Or, to put it more simply… we don’t like being told what to do.

That’s why I like to say obedience is something we have to practice. It doesn’t just happen automatically. It takes intentionality, humility, and repetition—kind of like a spiritual workout. (And just like real workouts, sometimes we really don’t feel like doing it.)

But I believe there’s another factor at play here—one that might be even bigger than the battle between our carnal and redeemed natures. I think obedience is hard because, sometimes, we haven’t actually made God the Lord of our lives… at least not fully.
We’ve convinced ourselves that we have. We sing the songs, say the prayers, read the verses—but when it comes time to obey, that familiar feeling of rebellion pops up again. And suddenly obedience feels optional.

Listen, I’m not speaking as someone who has this all figured out. (Come back tomorrow—I’ll prove it.) But here’s what I’ve learned: when I truly trust God, trust His Word, and have genuinely set Him as Lord of my life, obedience shouldn’t feel like a constant fight.
Now, I’ll be real with you for a moment. When God says things like, “Wives, submit to your husbands…”—that’s not exactly my natural approach to life. I’m an independent woman with strong opinions and a strong personality. Don’t believe me? Ask my husband.

But I’ve learned that when God commands something, it’s always for my good. When He tells us not to let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only words that build others up—I have to practice that one. Because my B.C. self—you know, the one from Before Christ—likes to make surprise appearances every now and then.

And here’s the key: when God is truly Lord of my life, His Word and His commands aren’t suggestions. They’re the standard.

There is so much more we could say about obedience, but I want to leave you with this thought today:

When we practice obeying the commands God has already written in His Word, we are strengthening the muscles we’ll need to respond when He speaks directly to our hearts.
More on that tomorrow.

But for today, remember this simple truth:

Obey without delay.

Day 8 - Pastor Jenna Whitehead

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 8

Obey Without Delay!

By now, you might be feeling very different things. Maybe you’re hungry—like thinking-about-food-while-you-pray hungry. Maybe you’re tired and wondering why the days suddenly feel longer than they did before fasting. Or maybe—just maybe—you’re feeling energized, detoxed, spiritually focused, and thinking, “I could totally do this forever.” (If that’s you, please pray for the rest of us.)

No matter how your body is feeling today, my prayer is that your spirit is alive, refreshed, and aware of God’s presence in a deeper way.

By now, you’ve probably become very familiar with our theme Scripture for these 21 days, especially where King David says, “You satisfy me more than the richest feast.” Now, let’s be honest—when our bodies are being deprived of some things we really enjoy, that verse can sound a little… unrealistic. But those who have truly tasted and seen that the Lord is good know exactly what David meant. God satisfies us in ways food, comfort, and convenience never could.

For the next three days, I want to talk about something God has really been placing on my heart lately. It’s something I teach often in my first-grade Bible curriculum, and it’s also something I believe we will spend our entire lives refining. I’m not sure we’ll ever completely master it this side of heaven.

The topic is… obedience.

I know—just hearing that word might make you feel like you’re about to get sent to your room or have something taken away. Obedience tends to sound like a kid word. But it’s actually a God word, and it matters deeply to Him.

There are countless scriptures about obedience, and honestly, it should be standard operating procedure for anyone who follows Jesus. Today, I just want to set the table—no pun intended during a fast—with this verse from 1 Samuel 15:22:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

For the sake of time, I won’t tell you the whole story, but here are the cliff notes. King Saul was… not obedient. He disobeyed God, and then—bold move—tried to convince the prophet Samuel that he had done exactly what God asked. The problem? God had already told Samuel the truth. In fact, the Lord went so far as to say He regretted making Saul king. That should get our attention.

Saul’s issue was this: he thought he knew better OR he thought God was merely making a suggestion, not a command. He didn’t completely ignore God—he just mostly obeyed. And as we know, mostly obedient is still disobedient.

It’s easy to point fingers at Saul and think, “I would never do that.” But how many times have we done the same thing? God clearly tells us what to do, either through His Word or His prompting—and we obey… partially. On our timeline. In our way.

Here’s the bottom line: if we know God has told us to do something, or if His Word is clear about how we’re to live, then our response should be to obey without delay.

If God truly is Adonai, Jehovah, Yahweh—if Jesus is King of our lives—then obedience isn’t something we should resist. It’s something we should joyfully choose. And when we choose to obey him FULLY, it leads to being fully satisfied in Him, because His ways are so much higher than our ways.

So why is it still such a struggle to obey Him fully? That question, my friends, we’ll wrestle with tomorrow.

Let me pray for you…

Day 7 - Pastor Brad Reynolds

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 7

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart."

The fifth graders at the grade school I teach know that Mr. Reynolds likes a good game of reverse hide and seek. Yes, they pay me for this. When you find the person hiding, you hide with them until there's just one or two people left walking around in the gym wondering where everybody went to and they realize that they're all alone. So on many Fridays during the school year, especially during the winter months when I'm not coaching, I'll round up some fifth graders at the end of the day and tell them that we're coming to clean the gym when in fact we're going there to play a good game of hide and seek. Now, it's an old gym. There's plenty of good hiding places underneath the bleachers and the old locker rooms and up on the stage. And of course, we turn the lights off to make it even better. And me being the teacher, I always get to hide first. Sometimes when someone finds me, I'll send them back out into the mix and have them grab one person and bring them back and then go back out and gradually bring their friends back with me until there's only one person left. And it amazes me how many times kids have walked by a whole group of seven or eight of us hiding in a in a dark corner somewhere simply because they don't take the time to push aside a tumbling mat or maybe open a door up and look a little closer.

In yesterday's devotion, we talked about delighting ourselves in the Lord and he'll give you the desires of your heart. Today's scripture talks about God knowing the plans that he has for you. And I think the desires of our heart and the plans God has for us for us are probably very similar. But for those things to happen, we need to know God. And to know God, we need to seek and find God. And we do that, as the scripture says, with all of our heart. Too often I fail to seek with all of my heart. Sometimes it might be during worship when I get too focused on the chords that I'm playing or the sound that's in my in-ear monitors. And sometimes it's when I wake up in the middle of the night, I can't be get back to sleep and I feel God nudging me or the Holy Spirit nudging me to get up around and walk around the house and anoint the doorways and pray, but I lay there under the warm covers and I don't move. Other times it's when someone crosses my path and maybe I have the the the opportunity to share the gospel and I fail to speak up. And of course there's the times I delight myself in social media when that time could have been spent delighting myself in the word or maybe in some personal worship. It doesn't mean that I don't critique myself when I worship. And it doesn't mean that I have to get out of bed every time I wake up in the middle of the night. It doesn't mean I have to give up social media, although that might not hurt. But if I truly want to be satisfied in the Lord, then I need to know the plans that he has for me because I know they give me hope and they give me a future. And if I want to know the plans that he has for me in my future, I need to delight myself in him. It's not a one and done kind of thing.

It's really more of a lifestyle. And it's a choice we make and it does involve some sacrifice, but I know there's nothing greater than the satisfaction of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior and walking out the plans that he has for you in your life. It'd be crazy if I was hiding in the gym, but I was shouting out, "Hey, here I am. I'm in the top row of bleachers. Come and find me." And the kids would walk around like I wasn't there. But I know that's exactly what I've done at times in my life. Jesus is standing there and he's saying, "Hey, here here I am. Come and spend time with me. Come and spend time with me." And I wander around aimlessly. No condemnation there. We've probably all done that. But let's find time not just to hang out with the Lord, but to honestly and fervently seek him.

Let's pray.

Father, I thank you that you know the plans that you have for us. I pray that you give us the desire to seek you with all our heart that we might discover those plans and give us the wisdom to know when our plans are not your plans. Help us to seek and to walk out daily the plan that you have for our lives. And when challenges are presented, give us the strength and the courage to not see them so much as challenges but as opportunities to see you work in and through our lives in Jesus name. Amen.

Day 6 - Pastor Brad Reynolds

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 6

Psalm 37:4. We hear this Scripture a lot, and we quote this Scripture a lot: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

You know, as I was preparing for devotions about being satisfied in the Lord over these 21 days of prayer and fasting, I thought back to 2019. I was still six years away at that time from retiring as a teacher, and I had this feeling inside of me back then. And it really wasn’t a God thing—I think it was just me. I was struggling with thinking, Is there more in store for me vocationally than being an elementary PE teacher? I’d spent half of my life in one building teaching, and I was really growing restless. I was even on the internet looking around to see if there was something else out there for me.

And I received a call toward the end of 2018. It was from an administrator at my old alma mater, Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. Now, I love Bethany College, and I love Lindsborg. The years I spent there were amazing, and I feel like I received an excellent education while I was there. But I wasn’t looking for a job there. I didn’t even think about it. But my name had come up in a conversation for a new position that they were creating—the Director of Institutional Advancement. Basically rubbing elbows with alumni—basically rubbing elbows with alumni who made a lot more money than this elementary teacher could ever make.

And so, I agreed to do an interview, and Connie and I went in early February of 2019. Now, this job would have meant trading in my sweats and my T-shirt for dress pants and a tie every day. My office would have been next to the president of the college instead of in an old gymnasium. The pay would have been way more than I’d ever imagined I would make as a teacher. And after the interview, the job was mine for the taking.

And as we drove away, I asked Connie what she thought, and she was on board with it. She was open to it. So I asked them to give me the rest of the week to think about it. God had dropped this opportunity right in my lap. I didn’t go looking for it—it came looking for me. And it was better than anything I could have dreamed up for myself.

And a few days later, it was a Friday morning. I was driving to school, and as clear as the hand in front of my face, I heard God say, “You’re right where I need you.” And instantly, I knew that I had to turn that job down—the opportunity down. I called that morning, thanked them, and told them I respectfully could not take that position.

And looking back on that whole situation, I believe with all my heart that God dropped that opportunity in my lap just so I could turn it down and devote all of my attention to where He had placed me. It really was as if God was saying, “I can put you anywhere I want, doing anything you want, making all the money that you want—everything you’ve ever dreamed of, and maybe even more. But you’re where I need you, and that’s where I want you.”

And when I surrendered to that and I listened, I was totally satisfied with the answer. And the last six years have been great. I’ve never looked back like I made a mistake. I didn’t. I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m content. I’m satisfied. It instantly satisfied my desire to look elsewhere, and I settled into finishing my career at Douglas at the grade school. I’ll retire this May after 31 years in the same building.

Psalm 37:4 again tells us to delight ourselves in the Lord, and He will give us the desires of our heart. In my case—and probably in many cases—the desires of our hearts and the desires that God has for our hearts may not be the same. But it’s not until we seek Him, not until we trust Him, that those true desires are eventually revealed. I was so fixated on my desires that I couldn’t see what God’s real plan was for me all along.

If we want to be satisfied in the Lord, we simply need to delight ourselves in Him. So tomorrow, we’re going to talk about what delighting ourselves in the Lord looks like.

Let’s pray.

Father God, I thank You that where I am in my journey is exactly where You’ve called me to be. And I pray for those who aren’t sure where they are or what it is they are to be doing. I pray for a desire in their hearts to delight themselves in You. And as they do that, You begin to open up—or even close—doors along the way. I thank You for clarity, peace, guidance, and direction, that they might walk out the plan that You have for them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Day 5 - Pastor Brad Reynolds

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 5

In Philippians 4:11–13, the Apostle Paul says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I’ve learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

A pretty familiar verse to all of us, I think. You know, I don’t think the Apostle Paul is saying, “I’m content or I’m satisfied just sitting here in prison, and I don’t need anything else, so I’ll just stay put here.” I think by content, maybe he meant, “I can and will endure this situation because Christ is going to give me the strength to go through whatever it is that I’m going through.” Being satisfied or content doesn’t mean that we stay put or that we don’t continue to improve our situation.

So, I’m in my second stint of being the head coach for Douglas High School baseball. And nine years ago, when I came back, I inherited a team that hadn’t won a game. They were 0–20 in the previous season. And my first year, we didn’t do much better. We won three and lost seventeen, I believe.

But, you know, part of being a baseball coach is taking care of your field—unless, of course, you’re lucky to have artificial turf, in which case it’s a little bit easier for you. But we don’t have artificial turf. And of course, it’s your goal every year to make it to the show, which obviously is the state tournament.

So, I had been to the state tournament three times previously in my coaching career, but I’m honest when I say that I didn’t think it was going to happen again before I retire. Over these past eight seasons, there have been many times where I’m on the field in November, December, January, and February. I’d be raking leaves. I’d be pulling dead weeds. I’d just be working—putting some carpet down and just doing general field maintenance kinds of things—in anticipation of the season starting in late February.

And quite often during those times, I’d find myself kind of making a deal as I was raking or pulling leaves. I’d be like, “Okay, God, if I could just make it to the state tournament one more time, all this hard work and weed pulling—surely it’s going to pay off. If I can just get there one more time.”

Well, last year it actually happened, and everything came together. We went on a run. We won five of our last six postseason games—five of them all by blowouts. The one game we lost was by one run to the eventual state champion. And I had done it. And I thought, “Wow, all this hard work.” I was just so satisfied in finally getting to do that again. I got all this hard work on this field. I’d sure like to make it. I’m going to go back there.

So quite often during those times, I’d find myself saying or trying to make a deal with God: “Man, if all this hard work on the field—if I could just make it back to the state tournament one more time because of all this hard work that I’m putting in.”

Well, last year it finally happened. Everything came together. We went on a run. We won five of our last six postseason games, all five of them by blowouts. But the one loss that we had was by one run to the team that ended up winning the state tournament. But, you know, it was probably the most satisfying season that I’ve had in all the years that I’ve coached. All that hard work had finally paid off, and I was so satisfied.

And then about two weeks ago, as I was raking, pulling weeds, just working away—and we’d put in some new sod, so I was watering, I was weeding—and I did it. I literally said, “You know, Lord, this is hard work. Boy, I’d love to make it back to the state tournament one more time.” And the words had no sooner come out of my mouth when I realized, “Wait a minute. I just made it six months ago, and here I am.” Obviously, I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted more. I wanted to get back there again.

You know, being satisfied in the Lord doesn’t mean that we just quit. I’ve been satisfied plenty after a large meal, but the next day I’m eating again. And I’ve been satisfied with a good season or a job well done. I’m satisfied in my marriage, but I want it to be even better. And our walk with Jesus shouldn’t be any different. We can be satisfied. We can be content. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t continue to strive for more.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 9, it tells us to run the race in such a way as to win the prize. So no matter where we find ourselves—whether we’re content or in the middle of a struggle—we continue to press in. We continue to seek more of Him and more from Him. And if you’re running the race in such a way as to win the prize, you don’t stop along the way and take a long break. You press in. When your legs get heavy, you keep going. And when you’re headed downhill to the finish line with a big lead, you don’t just stop and walk.
Like Philippians 4 says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.” Regardless of where we find ourselves, we continue to press on in Christ.

Let’s go to the Lord in prayer.

Father God, we thank You for Your promises. Help us, Lord, not to just seek You in the hard times, but in the good times as well. And wherever we find ourselves in this race that we call life, help us to run it and to be in it to win it. Help us to represent You well, that we might bring others into Your kingdom. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Day 4 - Pastor Laurie Andrews

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Satisfied - Day 4

Greetings, my friend! This is day four of our 2026 devotions centered around the theme of being satisfied. It’s my last day of sharing so I wanna leave you with something I think is one of the most important keys to satisfaction in life and as a Christ-follower- our identity. Everything flows from knowing God as our heavenly Father. Not overlord, not boss, not employer, Not supreme being – but our FATHER.

We all want to be happy, fulfilled, and deeply satisfied with our lives. But satisfaction often seems just out of reach. We think, “I’ll be happy when things settle down”, or “I’ll feel good once I reach that next goal”.

The problem isn’t the desire to be satisfied—it’s where we’re looking for it.
In truth we go about seeking satisfaction all wrong. Instead of seeking happiness itself, our fulfillment comes when we seek the author of joy and who we are to Him! Satisfaction is a byproduct of knowing him and knowing our identity. And scripture is very clear on this point. In 1 John 3:1, we read:

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.”

Not someday.
Not once we get it all together.
Right now.

When we forget this, we quietly start treating life like a performance. We work harder, strive more, and hope eventually we’ll feel secure and fulfilled. But God never intended satisfaction to be earned—He intended it to be received.
Jesus says in John 1:12:

“To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

That means our deepest happiness doesn’t begin with effort, but with acceptance. Your identity as a child of God’s is the foundation for a satisfied life, not the reward at the end of it.

Paul speaks directly to this in Romans 8:15:

“You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.”

Fear and striving drain our joy, but sonship restores it. When we live as God’s children rather than spiritual employees, fulfillment grows. We stop chasing approval and start resting in love. We stop trying to earn happiness and start discovering it in relationship.
Here are a few steps to keep us reminded of the truth of our identity- the truth which frees us to live satisfied—not anxious; and happy—not hurried.

Begin each day grounded in who you are. Before thinking about what you need to do, remind yourself: “I am a child of God, and I am already loved.” A satisfied life starts there. Listen to Hillsong’s ‘Who You Say I Am’ a thousand times on repeat; quote 1 John 3:1 to yourself until it sticks. The God of the universe is your father!
Examine what’s shaping your sense of identity.
When happiness feels distant or fulfillment feels thin, ask what you’re allowing to define you instead of God. Are relationships or work taking the focus and importance that is due God alone? Regularly examining our priorities help us stay on track.
Live FROM identity, not FOR it. Trust God like a child who knows they belong. A fulfilled life is built on a secure identity. A child who knows they are loved and valued, is a child who lives fearlessly and doesn’t feel the need to perform for approval, but at the same time LOVES to be with their parent.

True satisfaction doesn’t come from striving but in accepting, believing, and living out who we are in Christ—it comes from resting in our true identity.

Father God, we thank you right now that we are your children. We believe in your son Jesus, and have received the gift of eternal life from you. We know that your word says we are your children, not slaves or employees, but your spiritual offspring. Thank you, Lord God for the gift of Sonship. We know that it’s not something we earn by doing all the right things, but it’s something we receive by GRACE and through FAITH in you. Thank you for this beautiful gift. Help us to see ourselves the way you do, and live like we know it, in Jesus’ name, Amen.