When your heart feels tired, guarded, or numb, God hasn’t given up on you. In this episode, discover how He softens the hard places and restores a tender, responsive heart.

Ever notice how easy it is for your heart to drift toward bitterness, cynicism, or quiet numbness?

Life has a way of hardening us, disappointments, stress, unanswered prayers, and even spiritual fatigue.

In this episode, Bart shares the story of Dr. Francis Collins, the world-renowned scientist who once called himself an atheist. A simple question from a hospital patient, “Doctor, what do you believe?” sent him on a journey that softened his heart and ultimately led him to Christ.

Through Collins’s story and the truth of Ezekiel 36:26, you’ll see that God specializes in heart work. He takes what’s stony and unresponsive and makes it tender again.

Main Scripture:

Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT) – “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• How God softens your heart through honesty and surrender
• Why bitterness slowly hardens your spiritual life
• Simple daily habits that keep your heart tender
• How Scripture and prayer reshape your inner life
• Why staying open to God protects you from spiritual numbness

Today’s Challenge:

Take a moment and ask God:

“Lord, is any part of my heart getting hard?”

Write down whatever He brings to mind and invite Him to soften that area.

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who may feel spiritually dry or discouraged.

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When you feel spiritually empty or overwhelmed, God’s Word is where strength returns. In this episode, discover how daily Scripture reading can transform the way you think, feel, and live, one day at a time.

Ever feel like you should read your Bible more, but life keeps getting in the way?

Or maybe you’ve been reading it, but you’re not sure it’s actually doing anything?

In this episode, Bart shares the incredible story of how the Word of God transformed one of the hardest places in America, Louisiana’s Angola prison. Through inmate-led churches, Bible studies in the dorms, and decades of steady Scripture engagement, even researchers began noticing real change: identity transformation, peace replacing violence, and hope taking root.

If God’s Word can renew lives in a maximum-security prison, imagine what it can do in your home, your car, your break room, your commute.

This devotion will remind you that Scripture isn’t just information, it’s nourishment. It shapes you when your emotions pull you off center, anchors you when fear shows up, and strengthens a faith that’s learning to stand.

Main Scripture

Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT) – “When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why Scripture is essential for a resilient faith
• How daily Bible reading quietly transforms your thoughts and responses
• Why God often works through slow, steady rhythms, not big moments
• How God’s Word brings comfort, correction, clarity, and confidence

Today’s Challenge

Pick a time today, even five minutes, to open your Bible.

Ask God to speak to you, guide you, and shape your thoughts.

Let Jeremiah’s words become your prayer: “Your words are my joy and my heart’s delight.”

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who needs fresh encouragement in their walk with God.

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And if this podcast has helped you, please follow and leave a review. It helps more people find hope through God’s Word.

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Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylives

Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

You don’t have to wait for perfect conditions to follow God’s leading. In this episode, discover how faith grows when you start where you are, not where you wish you were.

Ever feel stuck because you’re waiting for everything to be “just right”?

We convince ourselves that once life settles down… once we feel ready… once the path is clearer… then we’ll take that step of faith.

But Ecclesiastes reminds us that if we wait for perfect conditions, we may never start at all.

In this episode, Bart shares the story of how YouVersion, now used by millions worldwide, began with a small idea in an airport line and a simple question: “Can we get something working… now?” It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t planned out. But it was a step. And God honored it.

Through this story and the truth of Ecclesiastes 11:4, you’ll discover how God often works through humble beginnings and imperfect conditions. He’s not asking you to be ready; He’s asking you to be willing.

Main Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT) – “Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why waiting for perfect conditions can keep you stuck
• How God honors small, imperfect steps of obedience
• A simple mindset shift that will help you move forward in faith today

Today’s Challenge:

Write down one thing you’ve been postponing because the timing doesn’t feel right.

Next to it, write: “Start where you are.”

Then take one small step today, even if it doesn’t feel perfect.

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who needs a nudge to begin again.

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And if this podcast has helped you, please follow and leave a review. It helps others find the same encouragement.

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Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

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Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

What if your ordinary routines are exactly where God is shaping you? In this episode, discover how God meets you in the everyday moments you often overlook, and why your repetitive days matter more than you think.

Do you ever feel like your life is too ordinary to matter spiritually?

You’re not alone. Many of us assume God shows up in the “big moments”, the breakthroughs, the mountaintops, the radical steps of faith. But what about the laundry, the board meetings, the emails, the school runs, the grocery lists… does God meet us there?

In this episode, Bart shares the story of author Julie Canlis, whose book A Theology of the Ordinary reminds us that routine, daily life is not a detour from discipleship, it’s the workshop of discipleship. Jesus Himself spent thirty quiet years in ordinary life before His public ministry. What does that tell us about where God works?

Through Ecclesiastes 3:11, you’ll see that God makes everything beautiful in its time, not just the big moments, but the ordinary ones too.

Main Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) – “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why ordinary days matter in your spiritual formation
• How Jesus dignified everyday life through His incarnation
• Where to look for God’s presence in your routines
• How small acts of faithfulness shape your heart over time

Today’s Challenge:

Choose one ordinary task you do today, washing dishes, commuting, emailing, or cleaning, and intentionally offer it to God. Pray, “Lord, meet me here and shape me as I show up.” Then pay attention to His presence in that moment.

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who feels like their life is “just ordinary.”

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And if this podcast has blessed you, please follow and leave a review. It helps more people find the same encouragement.

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Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylives

Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

When faith feels shaky and life hits hard, you don’t have to fall apart. In this episode, discover how to stay strong in your faith by leaning on God’s truth, God’s presence, and God’s promises, even when your emotions waver.

Ever hit a season where your faith feels thin?

Where you believe God intellectually, but fear still knocks at your heart?

You’re not alone.

In this episode, Bart shares the story of pastor and author Tim Keller, who faced pancreatic cancer in 2020 after spending decades teaching others how to suffer well. Suddenly, he had to learn how to keep his own faith strong in the dark.

Keller’s journey reminds us that strong faith isn’t loud or effortless; it’s rooted, honest, and strengthened one day at a time. Through his story and the truth of 1 Corinthians 16:13, you’ll see how God helps you stand firm even when life feels unstable.

Main Scripture:

1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT) – “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why strong faith isn’t about feelings, it’s about foundation
• How honest prayer can strengthen your walk with God
• Five practical ways to stay faithful when life is hard
• How Tim Keller’s suffering reshaped his intimacy with God, and how yours can too

Today’s Challenge:

Choose one of the five practices from today’s episode: Scripture, honest prayer, Christian community, remembering God’s past faithfulness, or taking just one small step of obedience, and intentionally do it today. Ask God to strengthen your faith right where you are.

Send Me Your Prayer Request

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/voicemail/

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who’s walking through a tough season.

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/112

And if this podcast has encouraged you, please follow and leave a review. It helps others find hope and strength in Christ.

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Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

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Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

Are you tired of trying to earn God’s approval through religious effort? Discover the rest Jesus offers when you stop striving and trust His finished work instead of carrying the heavy yoke of religion.

Ever feel like you’re trying so hard to be “good enough” for God?

You pray, you serve, you follow the rules, and somehow it still feels like you’re dragging a heavy load behind you. Like the harder you try, the more exhausted you become.

In this episode, Bart shares the story of his grandfather’s old farm mules, straining under wooden yokes as they pulled a plow, and how that picture mirrors the way many of us try to relate to God. We pile on religious pressure, rituals, and performance, hoping God might finally accept us.

But Jesus offers a different way.

Through the lens of Matthew 11:28-30, you’ll see that being right with God isn’t a heavy yoke. It’s rest. Jesus didn’t come to load you down with more rules; He came to lift the burden completely through His finished work on the cross.

Main Scripture:

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) – “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why man-made religion leads to exhaustion, not life
• What Jesus meant when He offered an “easy yoke”
• How resting in His finished work leads to real peace with God
• Why salvation isn’t earned—it’s received

Today’s Challenge:

Write down one area where you feel like you’re still “performing” for God.

Then write this truth beside it: “Jesus already finished the work.”

Ask Him to help you trade performance for trust.

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who’s tired of religion and needs the hope of God’s grace.

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And if this podcast has helped you, please follow and leave a review. It helps others find the same encouragement.

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Leave me a Voicemail

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Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

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Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

When life feels confusing and you can’t see how the pieces fit, remember, God can. In this episode, discover how to trust the One who sees the full picture even when you only see a part.

Ever hit a moment when life just doesn’t make sense?

You pray, you serve, you do the right things, and suddenly, something breaks. The plan you thought God was blessing seems to fall apart.

In this episode, Bart shares the story of worship leader Phil Wickham, who lost his singing voice in 2014 and faced the possibility of never leading worship again. What do you do when your calling feels over?

Through Wickham’s story and the truth of Isaiah 46:10, you’ll see that God’s perspective is bigger than our pain. The same God who saw the end from the beginning in Phil’s life sees what He’s doing in yours, even when you don’t understand it.

Main Scriptures:

Isaiah 46:10 (NLT) – “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.”

Romans 8:28 (NLT) – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• How God’s view extends far beyond what you can see
• Why seasons of silence can be seasons of shaping
• How to trust that His plan is still unfolding in your life

Today’s Challenge:

Write down one situation that doesn’t make sense right now. Then next to it, write Isaiah 46:10 as a reminder: “God sees the full picture.”

Ask Him for peace to trust His timing and perspective.

Need Prayer?

Leave me a voicemail at https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/voicemail/ and let me know how I can pray for you.

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who feels stuck in uncertainty. 

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And if this podcast has helped you, please follow and leave a review. It helps others find the same encouragement.

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Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylives

Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

You don’t have to change the world to make a difference. In this episode, discover how to shine the light of Christ through small, faithful actions that show God’s love in practical ways.

Ever wonder what it really means to be “the light of the world”?

It’s not about perfection, it’s about presence. When we show kindness, generosity, and compassion, we bring God’s light into dark places.

In today’s devotion, you’ll hear the story of CarePortal, a network connecting local churches with real-time needs from families in crisis. From a simple bed delivery to a word of prayer, you’ll see how small acts of faith can shine with eternal impact.

Main Scriptures:

Ephesians 5:8–9 (NLT) – “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!”

Philippians 2:15 (NLT) – “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• What it means to “live as people of light”
• How to make your faith visible in ordinary moments
• Why small, faithful actions can change lives

Today’s Challenge:

Ask God to show you one small way to be light today.

Maybe it’s helping a neighbor, encouraging someone at work, or praying for a person in need.

Then act on it. Shine where you are.

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who could use a reminder that they can make a difference right where they are. 

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And if this podcast has blessed you, please follow and leave a review. It helps others find encouragement, too.

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Links Mentioned in This Episode

CarePortal: https://www.careportal.org/

Sleep in Heavenly Peace: https://shpbeds.org/

Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylives

Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

Even when life feels unfinished or uncertain, God hasn’t stopped working. In this episode, discover how the Potter’s hands are still shaping your story for His glory.

Ever feel like your story’s stuck halfway through?

You started strong in faith, but now the middle feels messy, unfinished, unclear, or even painful. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that God never abandons His work. The Potter’s hands haven’t left the clay.

In today’s devotion, you’ll hear the story of Morteza “Calvin”, a Christian convert in Iran who was imprisoned for his faith. His life reminds us that even behind prison walls, God’s purposes keep unfolding. What God begins, He completes, patiently, perfectly, even when we can’t see it.

Main Scriptures:

Philippians 1:6 (NLT) – “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Isaiah 64:8 (NLT) – “And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why God never leaves His work half-done
• How waiting seasons can still be working seasons
• What it means to trust the Potter’s process in your own life

Today’s Challenge:

Identify one area that feels unfinished, something you’ve prayed about but haven’t seen resolved. Instead of asking when, thank God that He’s still working. Write Philippians 1:6 somewhere you’ll see it this week as a daily reminder that His work in you is ongoing.

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with someone who feels like God has forgotten them. 

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/108

And if this podcast has blessed you, please follow and leave a review. It helps more people find encouragement.

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Other Links Mentioned in This Episode:

The Voice of the Martyrs: https://www.persecution.com/

Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylives

Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

You’re not holding your faith together alone; Jesus is praying for you right now. In this episode, discover how His intercession gives strength when yours runs out.

Have you ever felt like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling?

Maybe you’ve tried to stay faithful, but your strength is gone, and your heart feels far from God. Here’s the truth: even when you can’t find the words, Jesus is praying for you.

In today’s devotion, you’ll hear the story behind Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s powerful quote about hearing Christ pray in the next room, and what Scripture says about the Savior who actually does. When your faith feels fragile, remember: your confidence isn’t in how tightly you hold to Him, but in how firmly He’s holding on to you.

Main Scriptures:

Luke 22:32 – “But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.”

Romans 8:34 – “Christ Jesus… is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

By the end of this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why Jesus’ prayers never fail, even when ours do
• How His intercession keeps your faith from collapsing
• The hope that comes from knowing you are never forgotten before God

Today’s Challenge:

Take one quiet minute and thank Jesus for praying for you. Then reach out to someone who’s struggling and tell them, “Jesus is praying for you, and I’m joining Him.”

Encouraged by today’s devotion?

Share this episode with a friend who feels unseen or weary. 

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/107

And if this podcast has blessed you, please follow and leave a review, it helps more people find encouragement.

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Support the show

If this podcast encourages you, consider becoming a monthly supporter; your gift helps me keep sharing God’s Word and bringing these devotions to life each weekday. Become a supporter today.

Connect with Bart

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylives

Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.