I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Train for the Race

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” When I was raising my daughter, this verse was foundational for me. Like so many parents, I was intentional about training her in the things of God: integrity, respect, love, kindness, honor, and work ethic. But as I think back now, I realize Scripture doesn’t just call us to train our children, it calls us to train ourselves as well. The Bible speaks in more than fifty places about training, discipline, and instruction. Training takes intentionality. It takes work. When I was training to walk half marathons — 13.1 miles — it was sixteen weeks of methodical preparation, starting small and slowly building endurance. To cross that finish line, I logged nearly 300 miles of walking. It took discipline, long and lonely roads, sore muscles, and many moments when I wanted to quit. But every time I crossed that finish line, it was worth it. Lately, I’ve been thinking about my spiritual training the same way. It takes discipline, showing up, studying God’s Word, letting Him teach, correct, and strengthen me. It’s breaking down bad habits

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I Choose Today to See the Seed in My Hand

Have you ever looked at something small and thought, What could this possibly amount to?A dream, a step of faith, a prayer whispered when you don’t feel strong enough to believe it out loud. It feels so small, almost insignificant. But what if God sees it differently? Seeds don’t look like much. They’re tiny, fragile, forgettable. But inside a seed is an entire future, roots, branches, fruit, even shade for generations to come. The extraordinary is already written into the ordinary. It just hasn’t had its season to grow yet. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…” (Matthew 13:31–32). Small at the start, but when planted, it grows into something so much larger than we could imagine. The same is true for you. The seed in your hand, your willingness, your obedience, your faith, may not look like much. But God is the One who makes it grow. Your part is to plant, to trust, to release it into His hands. Don’t despise what feels small today. That prayer matters. That step of faith matters. That “yes” matters. You don’t have to see the full picture yet. You just need to believe the seed has a

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I Choose Today to Fix My Eyes on Jesus

I’ve always loved Peter. He was bold, outspoken, and quick to jump in with both feet. He was the first to put himself out there for God—to take a stand, to speak up, to lead with passion. But even Peter lost his footing when his eyes shifted off Jesus. Matthew tells us: “But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. ‘You have so little faith,’ Jesus said. ‘Why did you doubt me?’” (Matthew 14:30–31 NLT) I think Jesus was teaching Peter—and us—that the only way to walk in boldness is to keep our eyes fixed on Him. Jesus knew Peter’s destiny would require courage. He was preparing him for the day he’d stand and proclaim the Good News, unshaken by fear. It’s no different for us. When we take our focus off Jesus, our circumstances feel bigger than our faith. The “what-ifs” swirl, and suddenly we’re sinking under the weight of doubt, fear, and distraction. And isn’t that exactly what the enemy wants? To shift our gaze from the One who steadies us. It reminds me of driving—our car

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I Choose Today to Be Unburdened

Not too long ago, I hosted an event at my home. As I greeted my guests at the door, I asked to take their bags, coats, and anything else that might weigh them down. That small gesture helped them relax and feel unburdened. When we’re unburdened, we can breathe deeper, be more present, and actually enjoy the people we’re with. That’s exactly what Jesus wants for us too. When we come into His presence, He invites us to hand Him our baggage—the worries, the shame, the endless to-do list, the heaviness of disappointment or grief. He wants to unburden us, teach us, and give us rest for our souls. Listen to His words in Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Even as you read that verse, do you feel something stir inside of you? For me, I can almost feel my shoulders drop. It’s like a deep exhale, a release of what I didn’t even realize I was holding. When I’m awake in the middle of the night, replaying the same problem over and over, I’ll pray and ask

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I Choose Today to Trust Over Understanding

Not long ago, I was at an event when a woman nearby had a medical emergency. She needed immediate attention, and the emergency responders had just arrived. As they were setting up their equipment, a young boy stepped in—curious and concerned—wanting to understand what was happening. He began asking questions of the people around her, even speaking to the woman herself, who was barely responsive. His questions weren’t mean-spirited; he was simply trying to make sense of what he saw. But without realizing it, he was standing in the way of those who could actually help. Finally, a family member gently led him aside so the professionals could do their job. That moment instantly brought Proverbs 3:5 to mind: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Sometimes, we’re just like that boy. We step into a situation, asking endless questions of God and everyone around us, desperate to understand why something is happening or how He’s going to fix it. But in our effort to make sense of things, we end up crowding the space where God is working. Trusting God doesn’t mean we shut off our minds—it means we stop letting

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