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'The Better Thing' ends with 'Part III: The Accessible, Sustaining Beauty.' What could possibly enthrall, invite, entice, and captivate you "all the days" of your life? The best news is this: it's not just that David prioritized the pursuit of the Better Beautiful all the days of his life—it's that God sanctified his prayer in the Scriptures. Meaning this: David's prayer is actually God's invitation and intention for you and your life—all the days of your life. Seek Him, and you'll find Him. And you'll never "taste and see" anything less than satisfaction. No matter the cost, no matter the path of pursuit, He will always be better than you ever could've dreamed. He is enough, and He is worth it.

NOTE: 'The Better Beautiful' will return with Season 4: 'The Better Freedom: A Very Long Journey through Galatians' in November

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Our pit stop in Psalm 27:4 en route to next season's journey through Galatians sets us this week in Part II of 'The Better Thing.' David set a vision to pursue, behold, and prioritize the beauty of the Lord 'all the days' of his life—his bad days, his good days, his wretched days, his battle days, his bored-out-his-mind days. We have to do the same.

Good things take time. The best thing is worth all our time—all our days.

Listen to this week's THE BETTER BEAUTIFUL now in the FAI App

The human heart obeys that which it desires. This is why David's lifelong commitment and calibration to the "one thing" of Psalm 27:4 kept him from wandering onto the wide road that leads to destruction. If you want to walk the "narrow way" that leads to life, if you want to "finish the race set before you," then you need to lock your eyes on this ONE THING.

What is it?

Join Jeff & Steph for the first of three episodes in another mini season (we're up to Season 3.5 now) before we get to the long-awaited Season 4: The Better Freedom— we're finally getting to Galatians. You can probably see Stephanie's excited face from where you're standing.

But to mine out the "better freedom" properly, we need to first build our house on the "better thing"—the One Thing.

Listen now // 39 minutes

Season 3's meditation on Philippians 2:5-11 comes to an end with "Part XIV: Death, Joy, and Final Words from a Father." We extend our conversation into verses 12-18, and consider Paul's "therefore" words for his beloved Philippian family, knowing well these words could've been his last. What were they, and how should we hear them today?

Gabe reflects on the events leading up to the 9/11 attacks, their consequences in the following decades, and the path forward for the churches in the days ahead.

In this season's second-to-last episode, we approach the end of Philippians 2:5-11's incredible hymn. As Paul testifies to the super-exaltation (i.e. reward) of Jesus' all-in obedience, he closes with these words: "to the glory of God the Father." Jeff & Steph discuss the implications of these words, and weave corresponding passages from the biblical testimony throughout the conversation. Listen to Part XIII of 'The Better Surrender': "How Our Father Glories in Obedience & Reward" now

NOTE // Last week's episode (Part XII) glitched in its initial publication, but the issue has been resolved. If you missed Part XII, we encourage you to catch up on it before listening to Part XIII.

The Day of the LORD is coming, when Jesus is exalted above everything and everyone everywhere—in word, and deed. Every knee will bend and every mouth will declare His glory—even the most vile blasphemers among us still. This is the Day when injustices cease, and we want it to come. But as the prophets tell us, this Day is both "great" and "terrible."

Jeff and Steph discuss the less popular, less shiny sides of Jesus' return, and their implications for us today. Listen to Part XII of 'The Better Surrender: The Great & Terrible of Jesus' Return' now

In this Special Edition of 'The Better Beautiful,' Jeff & Steph discuss recent events in Afghanistan. How do we continue to care for and carry burdensome grief and advocacy? What is God doing in Afghanistan, and how do we pray and partner with Him strategically and effectively?

PLEASE NOTE // This episode was recorded before the devastating attacks at the Kabul airport

SUPPORT THE AFGHAN UNDERGROUND // catalyticministries.com

GET TO KNOW THE GCM FAMILY // Watch 'SHEEP AMONG WOLVES' Vols. I & II right here in the FAI App

'The Better Beautiful' returns with Part 11 of 'The Better Surrender: The Name Above All Names.' Join Jeff and Steph for an extended conversation on Philippians 2:5-11, zeroing in this week on verses 9-10a, to meditate on the only Name that saves—the only Name that matters.

This week, we hit verse 9 in the Christological Everest that is Philippians 2:5-11. Likely an early church hymn, this text arrests us and puts us right where we belong: beneath the super-exalted King. Our surest freedom comes only on the terms of this sure truth: He is and will be preeminent in all things.

Listen to Part X of The Better Surrender now: The Super-Theology of the Super-Exalted