Short, Scripture-rooted reflections to sit with each day.
Today's Devotion
Discipline vs. Punishment
Hebrews 12:11
"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (NKJV)
As a football coach and a dad, this verse speaks directly to my heart. Both dads and coaches, use discipline to draw out the good behaviors (righteousness as the Bible puts it). There are many verses throughout the Bible that point us toward the loving discipline and instruction of God as well as Godly authority in our lives. I was just telling our athletes yesterday about doing things God's way versus my own way. Our mascot is the "Fighting Lancers" and our coaching staff often repeats that we do things "The Lancer Way." I told the team that in my life I view my options as doing things my own way or God's way. Similar to football, when I choose to do life my way, I end up in a bad position or in trouble. When the athletes choose to do things their own way, they end up in the wrong position on the field and we end up losing that play.
The discipline of "The Lancer Way" or doing things God's way is not to ruin your fun or your creativity. It is to put you in the best position for your success or that of your team, family, church, workplace etc.
Isn't so true that we hate discipline in the moment because it is painful. Whether it is self-discipline or discipline from an authority figure, it is uncomfortable and sometimes agonizing. However, the fruit of it is so very rewarding! Hebrews says this fruit is "peaceable." I know in my life I'm always looking for peace. The Bible makes it clear in this verse that we can attain this peace through discipline. Obviously, self-discipline helps us create healthy habits and patterns that keep us from mindless wandering through each day. In my experience, this mindless wandering leads me into behaviors and situations that require discipline from God the Father. So, we have the choice to be disciplined in our daily walk with Him and to set forth our plan for each day. In doing so, we are telling ourselves and the day, how to be instead of allowing the day and our circumstances telling us how we will be or act.
Self-discipline can be hard or being disciplined by God can be hard. Choose your hard!
Where in your daily life, can you be more disciplined?
Where in your life, can you submit more fully to God's discipline for you?
Prayer
Father God,
Thank you for this beautiful day! Thank you for healthy bodies and minds. I pray that I and my friends reading along will choose the hard of being self-disciplined and when we do need correction that we would be humble enough to accept it knowing that you want what's best for each of us. Draw near to us and help us to love you more and to love your Word! Please speak clearly to our hearts and minds as we search your scriptures.
We love you!
In Jesus' name, Amen!
"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (NKJV)
As a football coach and a dad, this verse speaks directly to my heart. Both dads and coaches, use discipline to draw out the good behaviors (righteousness as the Bible puts it). There are many verses throughout the Bible that point us toward the loving discipline and instruction of God as well as Godly authority in our lives. I was just telling our athletes yesterday about doing things God's way versus my own way. Our mascot is the "Fighting Lancers" and our coaching staff often repeats that we do things "The Lancer Way." I told the team that in my life I view my options as doing things my own way or God's way. Similar to football, when I choose to do life my way, I end up in a bad position or in trouble. When the athletes choose to do things their own way, they end up in the wrong position on the field and we end up losing that play.
The discipline of "The Lancer Way" or doing things God's way is not to ruin your fun or your creativity. It is to put you in the best position for your success or that of your team, family, church, workplace etc.
Isn't so true that we hate discipline in the moment because it is painful. Whether it is self-discipline or discipline from an authority figure, it is uncomfortable and sometimes agonizing. However, the fruit of it is so very rewarding! Hebrews says this fruit is "peaceable." I know in my life I'm always looking for peace. The Bible makes it clear in this verse that we can attain this peace through discipline. Obviously, self-discipline helps us create healthy habits and patterns that keep us from mindless wandering through each day. In my experience, this mindless wandering leads me into behaviors and situations that require discipline from God the Father. So, we have the choice to be disciplined in our daily walk with Him and to set forth our plan for each day. In doing so, we are telling ourselves and the day, how to be instead of allowing the day and our circumstances telling us how we will be or act.
Self-discipline can be hard or being disciplined by God can be hard. Choose your hard!
1) Where in your daily life, can you be more disciplined?
2) Where in your life, can you submit more fully to God's discipline for you?
The Philippians were one of the first, if not the first group, of Jesus followers living under Roman rule. They were dedicated to Christ and his mission yet still living under persecution. This persecution caused them some concern about where they stood with God. In this letter, Paul is encouraging them to continue in faithfulness. One of the main points shows up in today's verse.
"being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" (NKJV)
Paul is reminding them that despite the current troubles, God will absolutely finish the work that he has begun. All this is coming from a prison cell. This book is known as one of the most joyful books in Scripture yet while Paul is imprisoned. He is living out his exhortations to stay the course despite temporary situations. Later in the chapter, he discusses how his imprisonment has proven to be a blessing because he had more opportunity to share the Gospel with unbelievers.
It's easy to get wrapped up in the things that are going on around us and lose sight of the bigger picture of what God is doing in and through us. I can look back at different times in my life when I questioned God's plan, His goodness, His faithfulness, etc. Every time, He showed up and I got to see how he makes a way out of my messes and dark times.
In my life it has helped me face current and future difficulties with a brighter outlook, knowing that He will finish His work in me. However, it doesn't remove the difficulties altogether. I've also walked with brothers and sisters in Christ through some dark times recently and it still breaks my heart to see the pain they deal with and the uncertainty before them. All we can try to do is share the good news that God will complete the work he started in them.
What area(s) of your life do you need to trust God with the outcome, understanding that He has a plan and He will complete that plan in you and your life?
Are you able to walk alongside someone else today and be the encouragement to them like Paul was to the Philippians?
"Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell."
This verse always hits home for me. For many years, I struggled with using foul language. Once I was working for myself and publicly sharing my faith as a foundation of how I do business, I was convicted to really take a look at how I speak. Almost instantly, the desire to use that language was gone from me. However, there are other ways that I speak that can still use some work.
The extent of this verse does not just stop at using offensive or foul language that our culture deems that way. I believe that the way we speak about others, and ourselves, matters as well. If we consistently put others down without using four letter words, is that now acceptable? Of course not! If we speak poorly about ourselves, in thought or aloud, is that acceptable? No! These words matter as well!
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." - Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)
We can choose to speak life into others, ourselves, our loved ones or we can choose to speak death. I think this looks like putting others down both in front of them and behind their backs. The person this most effects is you, the speaker. Because the Word of God says that "those who love it will eat of its fruit." Those who love speaking either way will eat of its fruit.
Today, choose to speak life over others and eat of its fruit for your own well-being!
"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." (NKJV)
This short passage comes directly after Moses gets the 10 Commandments from Yahweh and delivers them to the people of Israel. He is instructing the people to live out the commandments in such a way that the children are constantly reminded of them.
So many parents nowadays will spend their time, energy, and money teaching their children different skills whether it be business skills, academic skills, athletic skills etc. How many of us are truly pouring the living word of God into our children and those around us. I believe this passage is very direct toward parents however, I can also read this as a coach and a supervisor at work. It is my responsibility to ensure that I live and talk in a way that first honors God and then sets the example to those around me of what is right before the Lord.
In whatever arena or season God has you, ensure that you are pointing people back to Him and His ways because in these commandments are life!
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (NKJV)
Romans Chapter 8 is wrapping up a section of the book where Paul’s focus is on the Holy Spirit’s redemptive work in the life of the Christian.
Chapter 5 focuses on our justification and the fact that we are no longer under condemnation because of our relationship with Jesus. He discusses that we will still have trials and tribulations. The difference for the Christian is that these difficulties are not meaningless any longer. They help build our perseverance, character and hope. Paul ends the chapter reiterating our justification by describing our death because of Adam and our new life in Christ Jesus.
Chapter 6 describes the newfound freedom from sin and encourages the Christian to live in this freedom by submitting to God instead of sin.
Chapter 7 tells the Christian how to rightly interpret the law. Because we are now freed from the yoke of the law, we must look back and understand more fully its purpose. God used the law to show us our sin and our need for a savior because we have never been able to fulfill the entire law on our own power.
Chapter 8 discusses the fact that we are now free from our sin when we choose to allow The Holy Spirit to dwell inside of us and help us to choose righteousness instead of sin. Verses 12-17 discuss our adoption by God the Father. In this culture, adoption was huge. An adopted son is treated 100% the same as a bloodborne son under the eyes of Roman law and the adopted son receives all the same rights as a natural son. Therefore, we are sons and daughters of God because He chose us! Prior to today’s verse, Paul says “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (v18 NKJV). Despite all we’ve just discussed, there will still be trials and tribulations in the life of the Christian. However, we can look at these differently than the world does because we have an eternal mindset and worldview.
“ALL things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (v 28 NKJV) There is nothing ambiguous about this statement. ALL things, the painful things, the hurtful things, the uncomfortable things, will work to our good. We must start viewing the more difficult things through this lens in our lives because they are part of a bigger picture.
**Questions for Reflection**
1) In what area of your life right now is it hardest to trust that God is working behind the scenes for a purpose?
2)How does shifting your definition of "good" from personal comfort to spiritual growth change the way you view your current difficulties?
"You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." - James 4:3 (NKJV)
During our last devotional, we talked about what we do when we feel like God is silent. Today we will be addressing unanswered prayer.
As James says, we may be asking with wrong motives and we do not receive. If we truly are asking with wrong motives, imagine if God allowed it. This could and probably would be to our detriment. Like we discussed, God is seeing the entire picture where we cannot. In my life, I can look back and see where God did not give me what I asked for and I see now how those things would not have been beneficial to my growth as a Man of God.
Another thing we can consider is that sometimes we ask for great things with good motives however our timing is off. For instance, I've always wanted to be a husband and father from a very early age. I've asked God through much of my adolescence for a girlfriend or a wife. Looking back at the different girls and women in my life at those times, He was making me wait for the woman I am now married to and I am a much better person because of her! I can also say that this path was also the Lord showing me mercy in keeping me from what would have been very unhealthy and unholy relationships.
I'm sure there are other examples in my life and yours as well. The key is to continue trusting Him through difficult times as well as times we feel like he's silent or just not answering our prayers. There is also a piece where we need to ask for the discernment because He may be saying "no" and we just feel like He's not answering. When we look into it from this angle we will probably see that our motives are incorrect.
Key takeaways: Read your Bible, Spend time listening to the Lord, and Trust Him always!
There are several things to consider when it comes to this Psalm. First being that this Psalm is a prophecy of sorts first and foremost. The entire chapter describes the last couple hours of Jesus' life here on earth before resurrection. Secondly, the Psalmist starts by asking why God has forsaken him and finishes describing God's faithfulness and how God's people will praise Him forevermore.
When Jesus was hanging on the Cross and cried out "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" He was referencing Psalm 22. In the times of Jesus, there were no chapter and verse reference points. Jews at His time, would reference the Old Testament scriptures by their beginning phrases or passages. In essence, Jesus was crying out for those present to remember Psalm 22 as a way that they would understand his death and all that day entailed was a fulfillment to prophecy.
In his addressing God as "Eloi," Jesus is declaring God's lordship. Despite his situation, Jesus was not going to cease his submission to God as Lord. As many Christians have been taught over the years, this moment is likely when Jesus took on the sins of the entire world, past, present, and future. In His earthly life, this would be the first and only time that He was separated from God the Father. Hence, the question as to why God has forsaken Him.
The second piece is much more encouraging and answers the "What do we do when God feels silent." We MUST read the entire chapter and then also remember what happens after the Cross. The evidence is that our feelings of God's distance and/or silence are incorrect. God is forever faithful and His plan will come to fruition and He will be praised by His people forever! Despite the surmounting despair in both Psalm 22:1-2 and in the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion, the full story is full of hope due to the entirety of God's plan. We must trust in the Lord and that HIs ways are higher than our ways. He can and will use the darkest of times for His glory every time!
Yesterday's devotion may have left you feeling discouraged about the state of your heart. However, I want to share what the Word of God says about this. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26 NKJV)
It is God's plan to replace the wicked and cold heart of stone that we have naturally and give us a heart like His. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."
When you submit to His lordship and delight yourself in Him he gives you the desires of your heart because your heart has been changed. It has been replaced with a heart that aligns with His. This has been a constant prayer of mine for many years. I want to have that heart of flesh! I want to love others the way that God loves them and the way He loves me!
Continue to search your own heart and study the Word daily with a humble heart and mind. Putting Him as the Lord of your life will be the best decision you make!
Today's devotion comes from a concept we talk a lot about on the football field. We live in a world that will continuously tell us that our feelings are always valid and that we need to follow our hearts (feelings). The Bible says otherwise!
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?" -Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV
Your feelings and your "heart" are going to point you to what is comfortable and safe, dare I include that your heart will guide you toward sin. I know mine does. Feelings and desires on their own will lead to your destruction. On the football field it's like this: Human nature is to avoid danger and conflict. Football is full of both so, we must train ourselves not to listen to our feelings or allow our feelings to dictate our next action. We teach our athletes to be strong and courageous.(Joshua 1:9)
Off the field it is like this: As a husband and father, I have responsibilities to provide and protect my family. There are days, even seasons, where I'd rather focus on myself. The world often tells us to do this very things. The Bible contradicts this in 1 Timothy 5:8 saying "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Above and beyond just the basic necessities of life, I believe we are called to much more and given this encouragement by the Apostle Paul. "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him [Christ Jesus] who loved us." (Romans 8:37 NKJV). We should be conquering each day instead of just surviving or just getting through it.
When faced with worldly "wisdom" to follow your heart, pause and reflect on these verses. We'll continue this discussion tomorrow with some more practical steps and verses to guide us despite our wicked hearts.
In this passage, Jesus commands us not to worry about tomorrow. I don't know about you but that's a difficult task for me. I've always found it easier said than done. However, I believe this command relieves me of any duty to perform. He is saying to keep things simple and seek first His Kingdom, His Righteousness, and that HE will take care of the rest of our NEEDS.
Jesus understands that we have physically needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. He does a fantastic job of taking care of the needs of the birds and creatures outside and how much more does he love us. In our Daily Bible reading, we see in Genesis 1 that God said mankind is very good. So good, in fact, that He was willing to die for us to save us and keep us with Him for all of eternity.
I encourage you today to take small steps to remind yourself in the little things as well as the big things that we are to seek first HIS kingdom, and HIS righteousness and that He wants to provide those needs for us. God Bless!
9/1/2026
Get Travis's Weekly Devotions by Email
One short devotion in your inbox each week — pick the topics you care about.
Your privacy choices
We use cookies and similar technologies to keep this site working and, with your permission, to measure how it is used and to embed third-party content such as videos. You can accept all, reject optional ones, or customize your choices. See our Privacy Policy.
