Some people love to stay in their comfort zone, while others yearn for adventure and the many benefits that come when you step out of that zone into uncertainty.

I've never been particularly fond of exercise, and yet I know, particularly as I age, that it's incredibly good for me. So, each morning I'm faced with a choice – do I remain in my nice, warm, soft, cosy bed or do I get up and hit the road for the power walk that gets my heart pumping?

The bed is so tempting, but the sense of accomplishment, the physical and emotional highs that come from strenuous exercise, are very real. What to do? And that's the question we each have to ask ourselves because inevitably the best things in life lie outside our comfort zone.

The boat on the Sea of Galilee was pitching, the waves were swamping it, the disciples were in fear for their lives. To make matters worse, they saw Jesus walking across the water towards them – they thought they were seeing a ghost! And yet …

Matthew 14:28-29 Peter said, "Lord, if that is really you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus said, "Come, Peter." Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus.

Peter stepped out of his comfort zone to discover the power of Jesus in his life. It's a story that's repeated over and over again: Abram leaving everything familiar in search of the Promised Land, Moses confronting the all-powerful Pharaoh, Esther risking her life … over and over again.

Listen to me: get out of the boat and walk on water. God's best for your life is ready and waiting … outside your comfort zone.

That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Truth: You can't keep running on empty. Yet so many are trying to do just that. It's no way to live your life. We need physical and emotional rest and, whether we realise it or not, spiritual restoration. So, question: Are you running on empty?

In 1867, John Muir was physically and emotionally drained. After an accident that temporarily blinded him, he was shaken, lost, and unsure of his future. Doctors told him to rest, but instead of following the conventional path, he walked a thousand miles from Indiana to Florida, reconnecting with nature at every step.

On that epic journey, something shifted. In the quiet of the forests and the rhythm of walking, his spirit was renewed. It was the turning point of his life. He emerged with a profound sense of purpose—to protect the wilderness. His advocacy eventually led to the founding of the U.S. National Parks.

Mark 6:30-31 The apostles Jesus had sent out came back to him. They gathered around him and told him about all they had done and taught. Jesus and his followers were in a very busy place. There were so many people that he and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, "Come with me. We will go to a quiet place to be alone. There we will get some rest."

Jesus recognised their need for physical rest and spiritual renewal, so He invited them into solitude and recovery. You can't do, you can't love, you can't live while you're running on empty

Looking after yourself isn't selfishness – it's good stewardship. God designed you, yes, for work … but also for rest, solitude, nourishment, and spiritual refreshment. So … rest!

That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

There's no stronger bridge that we can build into someone's life than the one called "empathy". When we listen, when we feel what they're feeling, be they right or wrong, they feel seen, they feel heard, they feel understood. It's like letting oxygen into the room. Finally, they can breathe.

Václav Havel was a Czech writer, dissident, and statesman who became a symbol of peaceful resistance against communist oppression. As President, he once visited a prison where his political enemies had been held—some of them jailed during his own years of suffering.

But instead of seeking revenge, he listened. He empathised. And he insisted on a peaceful transition, even inviting former opponents into dialogue. One stunned guard said later, "He treated us like human beings when no one else would."

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

How easy is it, amidst our busyness, to neglect celebrating the successes, the victories, of those around us? A word of encouragement for a job well done costs nothing. A smile and sparkle in your eye when they've had a win is pure gold.

It's even easier to neglect someone else's suffering because it's raw, it's difficult, it's inconvenient. Yet the tears in your eyes as you feel their pain will build a bond that'll likely never be broken.

Who, in your life, needs your empathy? To whom could you draw close, by feeling what they feel?

Empathy doesn't shout. It simply opens the door, transforming anything from a nation to a single soul in the process.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

When someone treats you badly, as people do, how do you feel toward them? Angry, bitter, vengeful? Sure, you know that you're far better forgiving them … but that ain't easy.

Elizabeth Elliot was a missionary, author, and speaker who inspired millions. In 1956, her husband Jim was speared to death by the very tribe in Ecuador that he was trying to reach with the Gospel.

Most would've turned away in grief or anger. But Elizabeth, with her young daughter, returned to live among that tribe. She forgave them, loved them, and shared Christ with them. Many came to faith, including the very men who'd killed her husband.

Reflecting on her response to that tragedy, she said, "Leave it all in the hands that were wounded for you." In other words, Jesus. That just takes my breath away. And yet, that's exactly the sort of response that God calls us to, toward people who treat us badly.

Romans 12:14 Wish only good for those who treat you badly. Ask God to bless them, not curse them.

Just let that sink in. God's calling us here not merely to forgive those who treat us badly, but to wish only good for them. Not merely to give up our desire, even our right, to curse them, to punish them, to exact our revenge, but to pray that God would bless them.

Who is it that's treated you badly of late? Will you take God's powerful word to heart here? Will you start hoping only good for them? Will you pray for God to bless them? Hey, will you step up to the plate to bless them yourself?

Wish only good for those who treat you badly. Ask God to bless them, not curse them.

That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

So, today's one of those days when I'm going to get in your face with a tough question (you're welcome!). Here it is: how do you treat strangers? If you see someone you don't know who's in need, are you the sort of person to step up and help, or do you cross to the other side of the road to avoid them?

Showing kindness or hospitality to a friend is great. And I'm sure that when you do that, they feel blessed. They may not always say thank you. They may not always appear grateful, but it makes them feel valued.

But what about when a virtual stranger goes out of their way to help someone? What if you cook a meal or open your home even, to someone you hardly know? Without doubt, such an unexpected act from a stranger multiplies the blessing ten times, a hundred times, in the recipient's heart, doesn't it?

Romans 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. (NRSV)

The original Greek word translated here as "hospitality" literally means "to love strangers." Back in a time without hotels, inns were rare, and those that did exist were often unsafe or immoral. So travelling Christians, missionaries, or displaced believers depended on the hospitality of fellow Christians.

And the word "extend" is intense. It means to pursue eagerly, even to chase down. So through His Word, God isn't merely suggesting that we be hospitable. He's telling us to pursue it with zeal; to go out of our way to welcome others, including those we don't know personally.

Extend hospitality to strangers.

That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Generosity is such a wonderful thing, isn't it? When someone's generous toward us, be it with their time, talents or treasures, we feel incredibly valued, incredibly blessed. Yet in truth, most people's default position is to hoard what they have, keeping it all to themselves.

Just recently, in my conversations with some incredibly generous people, I've been struck by that truth as they've recounted stories of wealthy people they know, who live with an attitude of "Well, I've worked hard. It's mine. Why would I give it away?" Why indeed.

Well, let's hear God's take on this whole generosity thing.

Romans 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. (NRSV)

In the brutal first-century Roman world when that was written, this verse carried deep practical and spiritual weight, especially amongst the persecuted, scattered, and often extremely poor Christian communities.

The original Greek word for "contribute" carries the meaning of fellowship or sharing. "The saints" refers to fellow believers, those suffering persecution, famine, imprisonment, or displacement. In many cases, they lost jobs, homes, or even family connections because of their faith.

So this isn't about paying lip service by tossing over some loose change. It implies an active, personal participation by entering into the burdens of others. Make no mistake. This is a call to radical generosity.

Look, God knows nothing of stinginess. No, He exhorts us here to treat each other as family, meeting material needs as a natural outflow of our shared life in Christ. I know this is challenging. I get that. But God's calling us here not merely to generosity, but to radical generosity.

That's His Word. Fresh … for you … today.

I think you'd agree that perseverance is a tremendous quality for someone to have. If you think of your favourite movie, the plot almost certainly involves a hero persevering against impossible odds to win the day. And yet perseverance is a muscle that we hope we never to have to exercise, because we only need it when we're faced with adversity.

In 19th-century England, George Müller cared for over 10,000 orphans—yet he never once asked for money. Instead, he brought every need to God in prayer. At times, there was no food for the children, yet he'd pray calmly, thanking God in advance.

One morning, as they sat at the table with empty plates, a baker knocked on the door with fresh bread, saying he'd felt led by God to bake during the night. Müller once said, "The great point is never to give up until the answer comes." And he never did.

There have been times in our ministry when we haven't had the funds to keep going. At one stage, the unpaid bills amounted to 40% of our annual donations. We prayed and prayed. At the last minute, my phone rang. It was a man who wanted to donate exactly that amount on that day.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. (NRSV)

Why can we rejoice in hope? Because God gives us a certain hope of an eternity with Him through faith in Jesus. Why can we be patient in suffering? Because there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still.

And why should we persevere in prayer? Because God is faithful. His answer may not be what we'd expected or hoped for. But it will be the perfect answer at the perfect time. Persevere in prayer.

That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Have you noticed how slowly time seems to pass when you're suffering? The rest of the universe is still ticking along as usual, but your little patch is running in slow motion – extreme slow motion. And in that place, patience wears thin very quickly. Can't we just get on with this? Can't we just get through this, to the other side?

Dutch watchmaker, Corrie ten Boom, helped Jews escape the Nazis during WWII. She was eventually arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Surrounded by death, disease, and unimaginable cruelty, she endured horrific conditions with a calm and quiet spirit.

She and her sister Betsie, who died there, would pray, share secret Bible studies, and minister to the other women. Corrie later wrote, "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still."

She didn't escape the suffering; she bore it with patience, trusting in God's eternal timing.

Doubtless, you can't imagine going through what she went through with the same countenance. And yet amidst our suffering here and now, that calmness, that stillness, that incredibly faith is entirely possible. Not because I say so, but because God does.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. (NRSV)

Friend, there is such power in God's Word and my prayer is that right here, right now, that power would be unleashed in you so that as you rejoice in the certain hope you have in God through Jesus Christ, you too will lay hold God's patience in your suffering; you too will discover in your experience that there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still.

Be patient in suffering.

That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

Almost by definition, hope is most beneficial when things today appear hopeless, wouldn't you agree? The problem is, though, that when the going's tough, that sense of hope inevitably seems to elude us.

Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand was arrested in 1948 and imprisoned for fourteen years under the brutal Communist regime. He was tortured, kept in solitary confinement for three years in an underground cell without light or sound, and forbidden even to pray aloud.

Yet in his memoir Tortured for Christ, he wrote of singing hymns in his cell, composing sermons in his mind, and rejoicing in the presence of Jesus even as his body wasted away. "Alone in my cell, cold, hungry, and in rags," he recalled, "I danced for joy every night."

Was he crazy? Not at all. You see, just like the Apostle Paul (who wrote many of the books of the New Testament while in prison), his hope wasn't rooted in his dark and desperate circumstances but in the living Christ. Two thousand years ago, in one of those letters, Paul writes this:

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. (NRSV)

The problem with hoping that our circumstances will one day (soon!) get better is that they may not. Those financial troubles could go from bad to worse. That cancer diagnosis could be the end – we all die sometime. That happens.

But when your hope is in Christ, you can be absolutely certain that one day you will find yourself in His Presence – without sickness, without pain, without tears – for all eternity.

That's why you can rejoice in hope. So, dance for joy in your rags … when you're cold, when you're hungry, when it's dark. Dance!

That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.

There's nothing better than the joy, the energy, the zeal that comes from taking on something that's right in your wheelhouse; something that lets you exercise your unique gifts and abilities for the benefit of others.

Of course, zeal is a double-edged sword. Focused on the wrong thing, it's terribly destructive. But focused on the right thing – something that fits with your abilities and does good in this world – it's fantastic.

You may never have thought of this, but I write 365 of these daily Fresh devotional messages each year. That's around 140,000 words, more than a PhD thesis. I'm currently in my 10th year – today's is the 3,255th devotion. Each one is recorded in a radio studio. Each one is shot in a TV studio. So, not surprisingly, I'm often asked, how do you do that? How do you come up with the ideas? How do you keep going day after day after day, year after year?

I'll tell you how. It's what God created me to do. When I sit down in the morning in front of my computer to write the next message, the excitement in my heart is palpable. I absolutely love it. And that's how it's meant to be.

Romans 12:11 As you serve the Lord, work hard and don't be lazy. Be excited about serving him!

The original Greek word translated here as "excited" paints the picture of boiling water. Be hot, be passionate, be bubbling, be putting off steam. And friend, that's what happens when you lay hold of what God made you to do – whatever that happens to be.

Be excited about serving him!

That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.