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READ: GENESIS 2:9; 3:1-7, 22-24; DEUTERONOMY 21:22-23; 1 PETER 2:21-25

The American poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. once wrote, “In fact, there’s nothing that keeps its youth, so far as I know, but a tree and truth.” Truth is eternal, and the long life of trees gives them the appearance of eternality. Perhaps it is not surprising then, that our ultimate source of truth in this world, the Bible, contains the running theme of trees throughout its pages.

In the beginning, God places two trees in the Garden of Eden with the first humans. One tree represents their faith and obedience to God, and it leads to life. The other represents their disobedience and their choice to seize power and knowledge apart from God, and it leads to death. Sadly, they choose the second tree, plunging all of humanity into exile from God’s life-giving presence and under the inescapable curse of death.

As the biblical narrative progresses, people choose to reject God over and over again. Even God’s people, the Israelites, choose their own version of the second tree—doing what is right in their own eyes rather than trusting and obeying God. And every time, it ends in death and destruction. But despite humanity’s faithlessness, God provides a path of repentance and restoration back to Himself (Jeremiah 3:12-15).

Jesus, the eternal Son of God, became human and took upon Himself our curse of death by dying on a cross, fashioned from a tree. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” In His death and resurrection, Jesus destroyed “the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14) and gave us participation in His divine life. So all who trust in Jesus will have restored access to the tree of life in the world to come (Revelation 22:1-4). As we wait for His return, trees are a living testament to Christ’s sacrifice and His victorious resurrection, pointing us forward to the eternal life we have in Him. • Kayla Esguerra

• We all face the temptation to think and act in ways that make sense to us but would be in opposition to trusting and obeying God’s Word. Can you think of a few examples? When you face choices like these, who are trusted Christians you can be honest with about your questions and struggles—people who will help you dig into Scripture, pray with you and for you, and encourage you to confess your sins to Jesus and rest in His great love and forgiveness?

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. “By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (CSB) 

As you walk in the ways of the Lord, be steadfast in the pursuit of His Word. It will lead and guide you to a deeper understanding of your Father’s heart and give you a glimpse into all He desires for your life. - Chelsey DeMatteis

In today’s episode of Your Daily Prayer, Chelsey DeMatteis shares a heartfelt reflection on the power of repentance and the comfort found in God's Word—especially through the Psalms. Drawing from Psalm 91 and Psalm 119, she encourages us to seek God as our refuge, bring our whole selves before Him, and embrace His forgiveness and grace.

Topics covered:

• Why the Psalms are vital for spiritual growth

• How God’s Word leads us to repentance

• Trusting God as our refuge and fortress

• The transforming power of Scripture

• Encouragement to boldly share God’s truth with others

Scripture References

Psalm 91:1–2

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”
Read Psalm 91:1–2 on BibleStudyTools.com

Psalm 119:1–8

“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!... I will praise you with an upright heart when I learn your righteous rules.”
Read Psalm 119:1–8 on BibleStudyTools.com

Prayer Summary

This prayer asks God for a heart of repentance, a deeper love for His Word, and boldness to share His truth and grace with others. It is a beautiful reminder that in God's presence, we find both correction and comfort.

Calls to Action

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READ: EPHESIANS 6:10-20; 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-8; JAMES 5:16

We see bad things happen all the time. We can’t help it; trouble is all around, and people are suffering. Maybe something hard is affecting your family right now, or your friends, or your community. Do you feel helpless when you see the sorrow and pain of those you care about? It often feels like there is nothing we can do. Sometimes people say, “The situation is hopeless. I guess all we can do is pray.” That makes it sound like prayer is the last resort, something we settle for because we can’t do any real work to make things better.

But the exact opposite is true! Prayer is actually a super powerful weapon! And when we pray—behind the scenes, under-cover—it’s like we are God’s Special Forces, called upon to wield the weapons of our warfare for good.

God has placed each of us right where He means for us to be, to affect real change and make real things happen, from a posture of prayer. When we pray, we are joining our Savior, Jesus, who is always interceding before the throne of God the Father (Romans 8:34). It’s not like we’re going in solo. No, we are joining His team—a team that He is working through every day to make a difference in the world.

It’s actually kind of fun. Here’s how it works: Where you see darkness, you pray in the light of Christ. Where you see captivity to sin, you pray for freedom and newness of life. Where you see rebellion, you pray for God’s Holy Spirit to open minds and soften hearts.

This is God’s heart for the world. He loves us, and He is eager to work on our behalf. What a joy it is to join His team! We get to pray for His will to be done, as a part of His Special Forces, under the cover of light. • Kristen Merrill

• Prayer is one of the most powerful things a Christian can do. Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, we get to approach the almighty God of the whole universe and pour out our hearts before Him. We get to join in the work He is doing to bring healing and wholeness to broken places in our world. What are some ways you can spend intentional time in prayer this week, both by yourself and with other believers?

Therefore, he [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 (CSB) 

In today’s episode of Your Daily Prayer, Kyle Norman explores the profound spiritual challenge and invitation of Isaiah 6:8—God’s call to step into His purpose with the words, “Here I am, send me.” This devotion reflects on the fear, self-doubt, and hesitation that often accompany God’s call, using examples from biblical figures like Moses, Sarah, Jeremiah, and Peter to highlight that reluctance is a natural human response.

But God’s call persists, not because of our perfection, but because of His grace. Whether you’re feeling unworthy, unprepared, or unsure, this prayer will encourage you to trust that God equips those He calls and invites you to boldly respond with faith.

Topics covered:

• The meaning and challenge behind Isaiah 6:8

• Biblical examples of hesitation and God's patient call

• Why God’s call is rooted in His grace, not our qualifications

• Encouragement for those discerning their purpose or ministry

• A prayer for boldness and surrender to God’s will

Scripture References

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’”
Read Isaiah 6:8 on BibleStudyTools.com

Additional verses:

• Genesis 18:12 — Sarah’s response

• Jeremiah 1:6 — Jeremiah’s youth

• Exodus 4:13 — Moses’ reluctance

• Luke 5:8 — Peter’s unworthiness

• Isaiah 6:5 — Isaiah’s humility

Prayer Summary

A heartfelt prayer of surrender, asking God for the courage to answer His call. It acknowledges personal doubt, the temptation to remain in control, and the grace that enables us to step into Kingdom work with boldness and humility.

Calls to Action

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Share this episode with someone wrestling with God’s call
Leave a review and let us know how this episode encouraged your faith

Even with our high-tech world of communication and social media, people are desperately lonely. The reason is because God wired us for real human connection. Today, Becky Harling, is going to encourage you with ways to cultivate meaningful relationships with others – and equip you with the practical tools you need to do that.

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READ: JEREMIAH 29:1-14; PSALMS 37:1-6; 139:1-24

Are you or someone you know graduating this year? While a graduation is a momentous occasion, what follows is the question: “What are your next steps?”

When I graduated from high school, it was the general expectation that you went to college. Being an adventurous non-planner, I left for a college that was located over twelve hours from home, not even sure what I wanted to do, but assuming I would figure it out along the way.

You might be like me, or you might be more like my son. He just finished high school with the ultimate plan. He’s interning at a tech company while setting up his own business. His life is well-planned, from his first vehicle to his finances.

Often, I wrestled with being “in God’s will.” What was He trying to tell me? What if I didn’t listen hard enough? What if I missed the grand plan He had for my life? Other people might wrestle with inviting God into their plan. What if He calls me to do something other than what I want? What if He calls me to do something or go somewhere I feel unqualified for? What if God’s five-year plan doesn’t mesh with the plan I have laid out?

If you’re wrestling with questions like these, I have good news. Whatever type of graduate you are or will be, I can tell you the best next steps you can take in your life! Before you think I’m presumptuous, or even nuts, read Jeremiah 29:11-13, emphasis on verse 13. Did you catch what God said? “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Seeking God is your best next step, and the step after that, and the one to follow.

Many people refer to Jeremiah 29:11, and the hope and future God promises us. But then they forget to include the surrounding verses, where God tells His people they are not going to be delivered from exile for a long time, but His people will seek Him and pray to Him, and He will listen and be found. It’s easy to worry about our plans and God’s will. But what is the will of God? For us to have a relationship with Him through trusting in Jesus, to know His love more and more deeply, and to be transformed to become more and more like Jesus. Every plan of our hearts, every question about our future—everything pales in comparison to seeking the one who created us and knows every intimate detail about our past, present, and future. • Savannah Coleman

• Do you tend to be more of a planner, or a non-planner? How could you be intentional about seeking God in His Word, through prayer, and with fellow Christians?

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) 

Have you had an encounter with God that has impacted and changed your life for the better, one or more experiences that have caused spiritual growth in your life? Sharing our personal spiritual experiences with others helps to encourage them that God loves them and is present and interested in our lives, ever willing to help us. - Lynette Kittle

In this episode of Your Daily Prayer, Lynette Kittle invites listeners to reflect on how we can actively prepare our hearts for a deeper relationship with God. Using Acts 17:26–27 as a foundation, she offers four biblical ways to pursue spiritual growth: seeking God, reading Scripture, inviting the Holy Spirit’s teaching, and maintaining a life of prayer.

If you've ever felt distant from God or longed for more personal connection with Him, this prayerful devotion offers practical encouragement and Scriptural truth to draw near and grow in faith.

Topics covered:

• How to cultivate your heart for spiritual growth

• God’s desire for personal connection with us

• The essential role of Scripture and prayer

• Inviting the Holy Spirit’s guidance

• Encouragement for those feeling spiritually dry or distant

Scripture References

Acts 17:26–27 (NIV)

“From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.”
Read Acts 17:26–27 on BibleStudyTools.com

Additional verses:

• Isaiah 55:6

• Psalm 105:4

• 2 Timothy 3:16

• John 14:26

• John 16:13–14

• Isaiah 65:24

• 1 John 5:14

• Matthew 7:7

Prayer Summary

In this day and age of social media, cultural pressures, and searching for purpose, young girls are fighting for their lives. It’s up to us as parents to ground them in an identity in Christ and help them find their worth and value in God’s eyes. The best way to do that? Prayer! Stacey Thacker, mom of four daughters, explains the power of praying for our teen girls. By working through her SOFT method of praying, you’ll learn how to effective lift your daughter before the Lord and entrust her to His care.

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READ: EZEKIEL 36:16-38; PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8

Which is better: a heart of stone, or a heart of flesh? To be honest, some days I want to choose the stone. A heart of stone doesn’t feel pain, and it doesn’t have to bend to anyone else’s will. It seems strong and immovable, impervious to hardship and unchanged by anything it comes up against. But the truth is, a heart of stone is basically useless. Stone can’t pump blood or sustain life. A heart of flesh serves the body, nourishing and strengthening it with freshly oxygenated blood. A heart of stone serves nothing, nourishes nothing, and strengthens nothing.

In Ezekiel 36, God calls out Israel’s sin—their idolatry, injustice, and stubborn refusal to follow His commands. But He also promises to cleanse them of their sin. He says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (verse 25-27). In ancient Hebrew, the word translated here as heart refers to more than one’s feelings. It refers to all of one’s internal life—thoughts, feelings, desires, and decision-making. All of these take place in the heart. So having a heart of flesh doesn’t necessarily mean we have a lot of feelings—though that can certainly happen. It means our thoughts, feelings, desires, and decision-making have been cleansed and forgiven and made alive by the Holy Spirit so we can put our faith in God and place our confidence and hope in Him. Then we can be moldable, humble, teachable, and willing to let ourselves be fully shaped by God and His good ways.

Having a heart of flesh feels risky. It requires opening ourselves up to pain. Jesus knows what that’s like. Jesus, God the Son, allowed all His desires, thoughts, feelings, and decisions to be shaped completely by God the Father, even when it led to the cross. We betrayed Him, and He still kept His heart soft because of His great love for us.

Jesus will never betray me, but other people have. And when Jesus tells me to love them anyway, it helps to watch Him do it first. I can walk forward with a living, soft, obedient, easily bruised heart because I’ve seen Jesus do it. And if we know Jesus, His Spirit lives in us, and He’s given us a heart of flesh so we can respond to His love. And that is way better than any stone. • Taylor Eising

• How can looking at Jesus help us live from the heart of flesh He has given us?

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (NIV) 

You may be walking through a really difficult time or situation. But it is through our struggles—and always—that we need more Jesus. More hope in his goodness. More hope in him. And when we choose hope, we will find more patience. And when we find more patience, we will find so many more reasons to praise, and so much more joy…in him.  - Keri Eichberger

In this episode of Your Daily Prayer, Keri Eichberger opens up about battling chronic back pain and the temptation to slip into a pit of impatience and self-pity. She shares a powerful realization from Romans 8:25 and a timely reminder: we don’t need quick solutions—we need more of Jesus.

Listeners will be encouraged to shift their focus from complaints to Christ, discovering the joy and peace that come from choosing hope in Him, especially during seasons of waiting or suffering.

Topics covered:

• Navigating suffering with spiritual patience

• Why complaining robs us of joy

• Learning to wait with hope and composure (Romans 8:25)

• Choosing Jesus over quick fixes

• Practical encouragement for hard seasons

Scripture Reference

Romans 8:25 (NIV)

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Read Romans 8:25 on BibleStudyTools.com

Prayer Summary

A heartfelt prayer asking God to replace our complaints with praise, deepen our hope in Him, and fill us with patience, peace, and joy—even amid life’s challenges.

Calls to Action

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