FAITHFUL FRIDAY — STAY WITH HIM

Before Andrew brought Peter to Jesus, something important happened:

Andrew spent time with Jesus himself.

In John 1, Jesus gives Andrew and another disciple a simple invitation:

“Come, and you will see.” — John 1:39

They went—and Scripture says:

“…they stayed with Him that day…”

Then Andrew does something beautiful.

He finds his brother Simon and tells him:

“We have found the Messiah…”

And John 1:42 simply says:

“He brought him to Jesus.”

Don't miss the order.

Andrew stayed with Jesus before Andrew brought someone to Jesus.

💭 Today's Truth:

The more we stay close to Jesus, the more naturally we have something to share about Jesus.

We can become so busy doing things for Jesus that we neglect simply spending time with Jesus.

So this Faithful Friday, do both.

Stay with Him.

Open His Word. Talk with Him. Listen. Obey. Stay close.

Then look around and ask:

Who can I help bring closer to Jesus?

Maybe you pray for them. Maybe you share what Christ has been teaching you. Maybe this weekend you simply say, “Come with me.”

🙏 Today's Prayer:

Jesus, help me stay close to You and abide with You!   Keep my relationship with You from becoming merely activity done for You.  As I spend time with You, give me eyes to see the people around me who need You, and show me how I can help bring them closer to You. Amen.

If you're in the area, we'd love to have you at Pleasant View Baptist Church in Waynesburg this Sunday. Small Groups begin at 9:30 AM, and Morning Worship begins at 10:45 AM as we continue our ABIDE series.

Stay with Jesus. Then help somebody else move a little closer to Him.

Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

THANKFUL THURSDAY — LOOK AGAIN

The sun came up this morning.

Birds are outside.

Grass is growing.

There's food to eat, people to love, another day to live.

Ordinary stuff, right?

Maybe not.

Psalm 104 looks at many of those same everyday things and sees the extraordinary work and generosity of God.

“You give to them, they gather it up;

You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.”

— Psalm 104:28

Here's what struck me:

Creation hasn't become ordinary. We've just become accustomed to the extraordinary!

Sometimes we experience God's gifts so often that we stop noticing them.

But James 1:17 reminds us:

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above…”

💭 Today's Truth:

Familiar gifts are still gifts.

So here's your challenge for this Thankful Thursday:

Look again.

Notice something today that you've gotten used to—the view outside your window, the food on your table, someone you love, a cup of coffee, a sunset you've seen a thousand times.

Don't just see the thing.

See the gift. And then see the Giver.

🙏 Today's Prayer:

Father, thank You for the countless gifts You've placed around me. Forgive me when familiarity causes me to overlook Your goodness. Give me fresh eyes today to see Your hand in the things I've gotten used to, and let those gifts turn my heart toward You. In Jesus name. Amen.

What familiar gift from God can you look at with fresh eyes today?

Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

WISDOM WEDNESDAY — STAY INTERRUPTIBLE

David had just trusted God in a huge moment.

In 1 Samuel 24, he refused to kill Saul—the king who was literally trying to kill him.

Then in 1 Samuel 25, one foolish man named Nabal insults him, and David straps on his sword and heads out ready to take revenge.

Isn't that something?

David had been obedient in the bigger thing—and nearly stumbled over the smaller thing.

But God put Abigail in his path.

She challenged David to look beyond his anger and consider where this road was taking him. And David listened.

He told her:

“Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me…” — 1 Samuel 25:32

David recognized something important:

God was in the interruption.

💭 Today's Truth:

Stay interruptible.

Part of abiding in Christ is remaining sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He corrects us. Sometimes that happens through God's Word. Sometimes through conviction. And sometimes God uses someone who loves us enough to say, “Don't go any farther down this road.”

Correction isn't always rejection.

Correction can be one of God's gracious ways of keeping us close.

🙏 Today's Prayer:

Lord, keep my heart humble and teachable. Help me avoid spiritual arrogance. Help me remain sensitive to Your Spirit and willing to receive correction. If I'm headed down a road I shouldn't travel, give me the wisdom to listen and the humility to turn around. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Is there an area of your life where God may be trying to interrupt you?

Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

TRUTH TUESDAY — FAITH KNOWS WHO

I've always tended to picture Abraham walking up the mountain in Genesis 22 thinking something like, “I don't know how this is going to work out. I just hope somehow it does.”

But Hebrews 11 gives us an incredible glimpse into what Abraham was actually thinking.

Before going up the mountain, Abraham said:

“I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”

— Genesis 22:5

We will return.

How could Abraham say that?

Hebrews 11:17–19 tells us that Abraham had actually reasoned that God was able even to raise Isaac from the dead.

Abraham didn't know what God was going to do. In fact, God didn't raise Isaac from the dead—He provided a ram instead.

But Abraham knew what God was able to do, and he knew God would remain faithful to His promise.

💭 Today's Truth:

Faith doesn't always know HOW. Faith knows WHO.

Faith isn't correctly predicting how God will work. Faith is trusting God when you cannot predict how He will work.

There will be moments when you don't understand what God is doing. Go back to what you know about the One you're walking with.

God is good. God is faithful. God keeps His Word.

🙏 Today's Prayer:

Lord, I don't know how everything in front of me is going to work out. I don't always understand what You are doing, and I cannot see what comes next. But I know You. Help me trust Your character and Your faithfulness when I cannot see Your plan. In Jesus Name.  Amen.

What are you facing today where you need to trust Who God is—even though you don't know how He will work?

Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

📖 MOTIVATION MONDAY — YOUR CORNER OF THE MAT

If you grew up in Sunday School, you may remember this one from the flannelgraph days! 😄

Four men have a paralyzed friend who needs Jesus. The house is packed, they can't get through the door, so they climb onto the roof, make an opening, and lower their friend down to Jesus.

But today I want you to notice one simple detail from Mark 2:3:

“And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men.”

These men couldn't heal their friend.

They couldn't make him walk.

But they could carry him to Jesus.

Sometimes we get discouraged because we're trying to do something in another person's life that only Jesus can do.

We can't change someone's heart.

We can't control their decisions.

We can't fix every problem.

You don't have to do Jesus' part. But you do need to be faithful with your part.

Picture those four men carrying that mat.

Each one had a corner.

So here's your Motivation Monday question:

What's your corner of the mat?

Maybe it's praying for someone.

Making the phone call.

Listening to somebody who's hurting.

Meeting a practical need.

Sharing what Jesus has done for you.

Inviting someone to church.

Galatians 6:2 says:

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”

💭 Today’s Truth

You don't have to carry the whole mat. Just faithfully carry your corner.

Part of ABIDING with Jesus is allowing His heart for people to shape the way we walk alongside them.

So this week, keep your eyes open.

Ask God: “Lord, show me where I can pick up a corner.”

Then when He gives you the opportunity—pray, encourage, show up, listen, serve, invite.

Do what God has given you to do, and trust Jesus to do what only Jesus can do.

🙏 Today’s Prayer

Jesus, open my eyes to the people You have placed around me. Show me where I can help carry someone's burden this week. Keep me from trying to do what only You can do, but give me the compassion and obedience to faithfully do my part. Help me carry my corner and point people toward You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Whose corner of the mat can you pick up this week?

🎧 Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

📖 FAITHFUL FRIDAY — DAILY

What does it really look like to faithfully follow Jesus?

Sometimes we think about the big moments—the difficult stand, the enormous sacrifice, the life-changing decision.

But listen to one little word Jesus uses in Luke 9:23:

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

DAILY.

Most of the Christian life is not lived in one enormous moment.

It's lived one ordinary day at a time.

You don't have to follow Jesus tomorrow today.

Follow Him today.

And here's the beautiful part.

Lamentations 3:22–23 says:

“The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.”

Jesus says “daily.”

Lamentations says “new every morning.”

Every morning Jesus calls us to another day of following Him, we wake up to fresh mercy for that day.

💭 Today’s Truth

My daily faithfulness rests on God's daily faithfulness.

That's what ABIDE looks like in ordinary life.

Stay close today.

Open His Word today.

Talk with Him today.

Obey Him today.

And if yesterday wasn't your best day, don't let yesterday's failure keep you from today's faithfulness.

His mercies were new again this morning.

Faithfulness is built one faithful day at a time.

🙏 Today’s Prayer

Jesus, thank You for calling me to follow You today. Help me not to carry tomorrow before it gets here or allow yesterday's failures to keep me from walking faithfully with You today. Thank You for mercy that is new every morning. Help me stay close, obey what You show me, and faithfully take the next step with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

⛪ As we head into the weekend, make plans to gather with God's people this Sunday.

If you're in our area, we'd love to have you at Pleasant View Baptist Church. Small Groups begin at 9:30 AM, and Morning Worship begins at 10:45 AM as we continue our ABIDE series.

If you're somewhere else, find a Bible-teaching church in your area and worship with God's people this weekend.

🎧 Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

📖 THANKFUL THURSDAY — THE LORD IS YOUR KEEPER

Where does your help come from when you're facing something you can't control?

Psalm 121 begins with that question:

Then in verse 5, the psalmist gives us a wonderful truth about God:

“The LORD is your keeper.”

That's our reason to be thankful today.

God never promised that following Him would mean a life without difficulty. We will face disappointment, grief, uncertainty, and circumstances we simply cannot control.

But God has promised something better:

We will never face those things without Him.

Hebrews 13:5–6 reminds us:

💭 Today’s Truth

Psalm 121 says our Keeper “will neither slumber nor sleep.”

There are things you cannot control.

There are people you cannot watch over every moment.

Eventually, you have to close your eyes and rest.

But God doesn't.

Your Keeper never clocks out.

Psalm 121 ends by reminding us that the Lord guards our going out and our coming in “from this time forth and forever.”

Whatever the journey holds, nothing can take you beyond the keeping presence of God.

🙏 Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank You for being my Helper and my Keeper. When I face things I cannot control or understand, remind me that I am never facing them alone. Help me trust Your presence and rest in Your faithful care. Thank You that You never leave me or forsake me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Maybe that's the truth you need to carry today:

The LORD is your Keeper.

You are not walking alone.

🎧 Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

📖 WISDOM WEDNESDAY — HOW YOU STAND MATTERS

How do you stand for what you believe without becoming combative about it?

Yesterday, Daniel showed us the importance of settling Who we belong to before the pressure comes.

But today, notice what happens next.

Daniel 1:8 says that after Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself:

“…he sought permission from the commander of the officials…”

Daniel's conviction was firm.

But the way he carried that conviction was filled with wisdom and respect.

He didn't compromise.

He didn't go looking for a fight.

He held conviction with grace.

And the New Testament gives us the same wisdom in Colossians 4:5–6:

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders… Let your speech always be with grace…”

That's a word we need today.

💭 Today’s Truth

You don't have to compromise truth to communicate it with grace.

There may be a boundary you need to hold.

A difficult conversation you need to have.

Someone you love may see things very differently than you do.

Faithfulness doesn't require us to change what God's Word says.

But walking closely with Jesus should shape how we say it.

Daniel's manner was flexible.

His allegiance wasn't.

And maybe that's part of what it means to ABIDE with Jesus in everyday life.

It's not only asking:

“Am I standing for what is right?”

It's also asking:

“Does the way I carry what I believe look like Jesus?”

🙏 Today’s Prayer

Jesus, help me to be faithful to Your truth without becoming harsh toward the people around me. Give me wisdom in the way I respond, grace in the way I speak, and courage when I need to stand. May the way I carry my convictions reflect the One I am walking with. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Conviction determines where I stand. Wisdom shapes how I stand there.

How you stand matters.

🎧 Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

📖 TRUTH TUESDAY — MAKE UP YOUR MIND

Yesterday we talked about Enoch and this simple description of his life:

“Enoch walked with God.”

He showed us that we can live among people without letting their direction determine ours.

But that leaves an important question:

How?

How do we keep walking with God when the people around us are walking another direction?

Daniel gives us a powerful example.

Daniel had been taken from Jerusalem into Babylon. His home changed. His surroundings changed. His education changed. Even his name was changed.

But then we read Daniel 1:8:

“But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself…”

Don't miss those words:

“Daniel made up his mind.”

Daniel didn't wait until the pressure was at its greatest to decide who he was going to be.

He had already settled something deeper.

He knew Who he belonged to.

💭 Today’s Truth

Some decisions about your walk with Jesus need to be made before the pressure comes.

If I wait until everyone around me is compromising to decide what I believe…

If I wait until the temptation is right in front of me…

If I wait until everybody says, “Come on, there's nothing wrong with it…”

I'm trying to make the decision when the pressure is already on.

Daniel had settled his allegiance first.

And that's where ABIDE becomes practical.

Abiding with Jesus means living so rooted in our relationship with Him that our relationship with Jesus begins determining our decisions.

Before I walk into work—

I belong to Jesus.

Before I get around those friends—

I belong to Jesus.

Before the temptation comes—

I belong to Jesus.

Settle your direction before the pressure chooses it for you.

Your environment may change.

Your allegiance doesn't have to.

🙏 Today’s Prayer

Jesus, I belong to You. Help me stay close to You and let my relationship with You shape the decisions I make. Give me wisdom to recognize the places where compromise may come and courage to choose what honors You. When pressure comes, remind me that I have already decided Who I am walking with. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Maybe that's the question to carry into today:

Have I settled Who I belong to?

Stay close to Jesus.

Make up your mind.

🎧 Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.

📖 MOTIVATION MONDAY — WHO ARE YOU WALKING WITH?

Genesis gives us only a few verses about a man named Enoch, but twice it gives us this remarkable description:

“Enoch walked with God…” — Genesis 5:24

What makes that even more significant is the world Enoch was living in.

He wasn't walking with God in Eden. Sin had entered the world, and humanity was moving farther and farther away from God.

And yet—

Enoch walked with God in a world increasingly moving away from God.

Maybe you need that encouragement this Monday.

You may be walking into a workplace where following Jesus isn't popular.

You may be trying to honor God in a difficult relationship.

You may be surrounded by people who have become comfortable with things God's Word calls sin.

But notice this:

Scripture doesn't primarily define Enoch by telling us who he didn't walk with.

It tells us who he did walk with.

💭 Today’s Truth

You can live among people without letting their direction determine yours.

That's a practical picture of what it means to ABIDE.

Abiding isn't something we leave at church on Sunday. It's walking with God into Monday.

Into the workplace.

Into the difficult conversation.

Into temptation.

Into ordinary life.

Hebrews 11 tells us that Enoch's walk was a walk of faith. He trusted God, sought God, and kept walking with Him.

Genesis says he did it for three hundred years.

That's a lot of Mondays! 😂

So maybe the question today isn't simply:

“Who am I going to be around?”

You may not get to choose that.

Ask instead:

“Who am I walking with?”

The goal isn't merely to avoid walking with the world.

The goal is to keep walking with God.

🙏 Today’s Prayer

Father, thank You that I can walk with You wherever this day takes me. Help me stay close to You when the people around me are moving another direction. Keep my heart from becoming judgmental or self-righteous, but give me courage to remain faithful. Let Your Word determine my direction, and teach me what it means to abide with You in the ordinary moments of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Whatever this Monday holds—

walk with God.

One step at a time.

Stay close.

🎧 Today’s Five More Minutes is also available wherever you listen to podcasts.