I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Let the River Flow Through Me

Have you ever walked through a season where your soul felt dry? Where no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t muster up energy or connection with God? I’ve been there. And in those moments, I’ve often found myself asking: “Lord, do You still see me? Do You still move in places like this?” That’s why I love the imagery of the river of God that flows all throughout Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, the river represents His presence — and what strikes me is that it always moves toward the broken, the weary, and the hurting. It’s not a river you have to chase down. It’s not reserved for the people who “have it all together.” God’s living water flows toward those who need it most. And that means you. When life feels barren, His Spirit is still flowing. When the landscape of your heart looks more like a desert than a garden, His presence hasn’t stopped moving. The river of God brings healing, renewal, and life — and it flows right into your everyday, ordinary moments. And here’s the part that takes my breath away: as followers of Jesus, we’re not just standing beside the river. We’re carriers

Read More »

I Choose Today to Shout My Worship

There’s a kind of worship that doesn’t whisper. It doesn’t politely nod in agreement or sit silently in the pew. It doesn’t wait for the perfect conditions or for everything in life to make sense. This kind of worship rises from the depths of our soul and shouts. In Hebrew, the word Shabach means “to shout, to commend, to triumph in praise.” It’s loud. It’s bold. And it’s rooted in faith—especially the kind that declares God’s goodness before the breakthrough. When I first encountered this concept, I had to ask myself: When was the last time I shouted my worship—not from hype, but from holy hope? Shabach praise isn’t about volume for the sake of noise. It’s about proclaiming truth in defiance of despair. It’s the kind of praise that echoes from prison cells like Paul and Silas. It’s the voice that refuses to stay silent even when the night feels long. God doesn’t need our volume. But sometimes, we do. Sometimes our hearts need to hear the sound of our own voice declaring that He is faithful, He is near, and He is not done. And sometimes, the people around us need to hear it too—because our shout becomes

Read More »

I Choose Today to Rest Under His Hand

Psalm 139 is one of the most breathtaking pictures of God’s intimate love, care, strength, protection, and empowerment toward us—His beloved. David, the psalmist, opens by acknowledging how completely God knows him. Every word, every action, even the not-so-proud moments… and still, God adores him. In verse 5, David says, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head” (Psalm 139:5 NLT). This isn’t a casual tap on the head. This blessing is God personally bestowing His favor, care, and approval. His hand is active—protecting, guiding, comforting, and reminding us that He’s got us surrounded. He goes ahead into our future, shields us from the lies of the past, and walks right beside us in the present. I picture a loving parent with their hand resting gently on their child’s head as they walk together. • Belonging – The gentle touch says, You’re mine. You’re loved. You’re safe with Me. • Comfort – That steady hand reminds the child they won’t lose their way. Every twist and turn is navigated with the Father’s protection. • Grace and Goodness – Even when the child wanders off and regrets their choices, that same hand guides

Read More »

I Choose Today to Be Filled Before I Feed

There’s a sacred call we have—to encourage, to serve, to lead, to disciple, to feed His sheep.But as I was praying today, God gently reminded me: I can’t feed unless I’m being fed. I can’t pour out what I haven’t first received. Just like a mother who breastfeeds must nourish her own body in order to nourish her child, we too must be nourished—by the Word, by time in God’s presence, and most importantly, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We often rush into our vocations, our callings, our ordinary, even our ministries with empty cups, offering stale crumbs instead of living bread. But even Jesus didn’t start His ministry without the filling of the Spirit. He waited until the Spirit descended like a dove at His baptism. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He was filled with the Spirit when He stood up in the temple and declared Isaiah 61 over Himself: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me…” If Jesus needed to be filled with the Spirit before He began to feed others—how much more do we? It’s true—if you are a believer, the Holy Spirit already dwells

Read More »

Even in the Silence, He Is There (As featured on (in)courage)

The world didn’t stop. It kept turning, kept moving forward, as though nothing had changed. But for me, everything had. I remember stepping outside that tragic morning, my heart shattered beyond words. My neighbor stood in his yard, watering his flowers, exclaiming about what a beautiful June day it was. I could barely comprehend his words. How could anything be beautiful in this moment? My voice came out flat, almost detached from the reality crashing around me:“Well, my son just died, so I don’t know how beautiful a day it is.” Grief has a way of making everything around you feel distant, like you’re watching life from behind a thick pane of glass. You see it, but you’re not part of it. You exist in a different space—one that is heavy with sorrow and filled with deafening silence. Had God forgotten me? I had always believed in His presence, but grief has a way of testing even the deepest faith. If God was with me, why did I feel so alone? Why did my prayers seem to go unanswered? And how was I even supposed to pray in this kind of pain? What does one say to the Almighty when

Read More »