Have you ever felt like life was simply too much?

In this final episode of the Best Of I Choose Today series, we revisit a message born out of a season of overwhelm—too many responsibilities, too many decisions, and the sense that God was leading somewhere new without showing how everything would come together.

Then Joshua 3 changed the picture.

The Israelites reached the Jordan River at flood stage. God didn’t wait for the river to calm. He asked the priests to step into the water while it was still rushing—and Scripture tells us the water had already been stopped upstream.

The miracle was in motion before they could see it.

Maybe you’re standing at the edge of your own Jordan today. This episode is a reminder that just because you cannot see what God is doing does not mean He is not already at work.

• What to do when life feels bigger than your capacity
• Why God doesn’t always wait for circumstances to become manageable before asking us to move
• The significance of the Jordan being at flood stage
• Trusting God when His provision is not yet visible
• Releasing what we were never meant to carry alone
• Believing God may already be working “upstream” in places we cannot see

Joshua 3 — The Israelites cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

Isaiah 54:2 — “Enlarge the place of your tent…”

Name one thing that feels too heavy for you right now.

Write it down or say it aloud, then pray:

Lord, I release this into Your hands. I choose to trust You. I believe You are already at work, even in places I cannot see.

You don’t have to know how the entire river will part. You only need to trust God with the next step.

Flood stage is God’s stage.

The provision, help, clarity, or breakthrough you’ve been praying for may already be in motion upstream.

I choose today—and every day—to trust the One who goes upstream for us.

While I'm taking a summer sabbatical to rest, reconnect with the Lord, and spend time with family, I'm sharing a few episodes that continue to encourage and challenge me. My prayer is that this message meets you right where you are today and helps you take one more step in your faith journey.

Have you ever found yourself in a wilderness season—dry, uncertain, lonely, or wondering where God is in the middle of it all?

The wilderness can feel like a place we've somehow wandered into by mistake. But throughout Scripture, we discover something very different: the wilderness isn't where God abandons His people. It's often where He meets them.

In this Best Of episode of I Choose Today, we're looking at Hagar, Moses, and Jesus—each of whom encountered God in the wilderness. We'll also explore the Hebrew word midbar and the beautiful connection between wilderness and speaking.

Sometimes when the noise is stripped away and we can no longer depend on our own strength, we begin to recognize that God has been present all along.

Just as He opened Hagar's eyes to see the well that was already there, He can open ours to recognize His provision and presence in places that once seemed barren.

I'll also share part of my own wilderness story—a season when I felt alone, unwanted, and uncertain about my future, yet God was quietly leading me toward an encounter with Jesus that would change the trajectory of my life.

Maybe the wilderness isn't the detour we think it is.

Maybe it's where God prepares us, speaks to us, reminds us who we are, and teaches us deeper dependence on Him.

• Why the wilderness doesn't mean God has abandoned you
• Hagar's encounter with El Roi—the God who sees
• The significance of God opening Hagar's eyes to the well
• How God met me during one of my own wilderness seasons
• Why the wilderness often becomes a place of preparation
• What Moses' and Jesus' wilderness experiences teach us about calling and identity
• How God works even when it feels like nothing is happening
• Why transformation often happens in deserts rather than on mountaintops

Take ten quiet minutes today.

No music. No noise. No distractions.

Simply sit with God and ask Him to meet you in your own midbar.

Then pray:

"Lord, meet me in the wilderness. Strip away the noise so I can hear Your voice again. Open my eyes to see where You're already providing. Remind me that You see me, You hear me, and You're here with me—even here."

Keep a notebook nearby and write down whatever He brings to your heart.

Because when God speaks in the wilderness, it's worth remembering.

• Genesis 16
• Genesis 21
• Exodus 3
• Matthew 4:1–11

The wilderness is not where God loses you.

It's where He finds you.

So if this is your season to wait, listen, or simply breathe, trust that He's working.

Even when it's quiet.

Even when it feels barren.

Even here.

Website: ichoosetoday.org

Instagram: @i.choose.today

Hey! I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God's Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here: https://www.bible.com/app

While I’m taking a summer sabbatical to rest, reconnect with the Lord, and spend time with family, I’m sharing a few episodes that continue to encourage and challenge me. My prayer is that this message meets you right where you are today and helps you take one more step in your faith journey.

What if the chaos in your life isn’t the end of the story?

From the very first pages of Scripture, we see a God who enters what is formless and unfinished and brings forth order, goodness, and beauty. His Spirit hovered over the waters in Genesis, actively present before anything had taken shape—and that same Spirit is still at work today.

In this Best Of episode of I Choose Today, we’re looking at God’s pattern of transformation: chaos → order → beauty.

We’ll follow that thread from creation to the Garden of Eden, to Bezalel—the first person Scripture describes as being filled with the Spirit of God—to Paul’s beautiful description of us as God’s poiēma, His handiwork.

And we’ll discover that creativity isn’t limited to painting, music, or things we traditionally call “art.” As image-bearers of the Creator, we participate in His creative work whenever we bring restoration, goodness, peace, hope, and beauty into the places He has given us.

Even the messy ones.

• How God’s Spirit was present and active in the chaos of Genesis 1
• God’s pattern of bringing chaos into order and order into beauty
• Why beauty matters to God
• What the Garden of Eden reveals about our invitation to participate in God’s creative work
• Why rest is part of God’s beautiful creative rhythm
• What Bezalel teaches us about the Holy Spirit and creativity
• What it means to be God’s poiēma—His handiwork, artwork, and masterpiece
• How our unique gifts can become places where God’s presence and beauty are experienced
• The thread of beauty that runs from Genesis all the way to Revelation

Take a few quiet minutes today and ask the Holy Spirit:

“Where are You bringing beauty out of chaos in my life?”

Maybe it’s in a relationship being restored, a new dream beginning to form, a part of your story He’s redeeming, or even a place of rest He’s inviting you into.

Wherever it is, thank Him for being the Master Artist.

Then ask Him to help you see your life the way He does:

a work of beauty still in progress.

• Genesis 1:1–31
• Genesis 2:9
• Exodus 31:1–11
• Ecclesiastes 3:11
• Ephesians 2:10
• Revelation 21

The same Spirit who hovered over creation now lives in you.

He’s still creating.

Still transforming.

Still bringing beauty from chaos.

Let’s keep choosing today—and every day—to trust His process, reflect His beauty, and join Him in His great design of transformation, one step at a time.

Website: ichoosetoday.org

Instagram: @i.choose.today

Facebook: I Choose Today with Mo

Hey! I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God’s Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here: https://www.bible.com/app

We often focus on what we don’t have while overlooking what God has already placed in our hands. This episode encourages listeners to recognize and steward the gifts, opportunities, and resources God has already provided.

• Why God often starts with what we already have
• Biblical examples of ordinary things used for extraordinary purposes
• Stewardship and faithfulness
• The power of small beginnings

Make a list of three things God has already placed in your hands and ask Him how He wants you to use them.

• John 6:1–13
• Exodus 4:2
• Matthew 25:14–30
• 2 Corinthians 9:10

Hey! I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God’s Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here: https://www.bible.com/app

Transformation is more than behavior modification. It’s the ongoing work of God changing us from the inside out. In this episode, Mo explores what true transformation looks like and why the process often takes longer than we’d like.

• The difference between transformation and self-improvement
• The cocoon process of spiritual growth
• Why God often works beneath the surface first
• Learning to trust the process

Ask the Lord what area of your life He is currently transforming and partner with Him through surrender and obedience.

• Romans 12:2
• 2 Corinthians 3:18
• Philippians 1:6
• Galatians 5:22–23

Hey! I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God’s Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here: https://www.bible.com/app

God never intended His presence to stop with us. He desires to flow through us and bring life to the people around us. Drawing from the imagery of rivers throughout Scripture, this episode explores what it means to live as a conduit of God’s presence.

• The river imagery from Genesis to Revelation
• God’s presence as a source of life and healing
• How believers become carriers of living water
• Practical ways to let God’s love flow through us

Ask God to show you one person who needs encouragement today and intentionally share His love with them.

• Genesis 2:10
• Ezekiel 47:1–12
• John 7:37–39
• Revelation 22:1–2

Hey! I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God’s Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here: https://www.bible.com/app

Sometimes life presents questions we can’t answer and circumstances we wouldn’t choose. In this encouraging episode, Mo shares how faith isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting the character of God when the path ahead doesn’t make sense.

• Why trust is often forged in uncertainty
• The difference between understanding and faith
• Biblical examples of trusting God through difficult circumstances
• How to choose faith when emotions and circumstances conflict

Identify one area where you’re struggling to trust God and intentionally surrender it to Him in prayer today.

• Proverbs 3:5–6
• Isaiah 55:8–9
• Habakkuk 3:17–19
• Romans 8:28

Hey! I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God’s Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here: https://www.bible.com/app

Have you ever wondered why some areas of your spiritual life seem stuck, even though you genuinely love God and want to grow?

In this Best Of episode of I Choose Today, we’re revisiting one of the most impactful messages from the podcast. Using Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and a unique artichoke analogy, Mo explores how the weeds in our lives can quietly choke out the growth God desires for us.

Sometimes the obstacles aren’t obvious sins. They can be fears, wounds, distractions, unhealthy thought patterns, misplaced priorities, or beliefs we’ve carried for years. Left unattended, these weeds compete for the nutrients God intends for healthy spiritual growth.

The good news is that God doesn’t expose weeds to condemn us. He reveals them so He can heal, restore, and transform us.

If you’ve been feeling spiritually crowded, distracted, overwhelmed, or stuck, this episode offers encouragement and a practical reminder that transformation begins when we invite God to tend the soil of our hearts.

• Jesus’ Parable of the Sower and what it teaches about spiritual growth
• How the artichoke illustrates hidden obstacles in our lives
• Why weeds often grow unnoticed
• The difference between behavior modification and heart transformation
• How God lovingly uproots what is hindering growth
• Practical steps to partner with God in the transformation process

Ask the Lord:

“Is there anything growing in my heart that is competing with You?”

Spend a few quiet moments listening. If He reveals something, don’t respond with shame. Respond with surrender. Invite Him to begin the process of uprooting and healing whatever is standing in the way of deeper growth.

• Luke 8:4–15
• Psalm 139:23–24
• John 15:1–2
• Galatians 5:22–23

Website: ichoosetoday.org

Instagram: @i.choose.today

Facebook: I Choose Today with Mo

Hey! I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God’s Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here: https://www.bible.com/app

How well does your soul really know that you are wonderfully made?

In this deeply personal episode, Mo reflects on Psalm 139 and the powerful truth that God didn’t create us randomly or carelessly. He formed us intentionally, intimately, and with purpose. But many of us struggle to truly believe that about ourselves.

Using the imagery of knitting and craftsmanship, this episode explores the difference between intellectually knowing Scripture and allowing our souls to fully rest in it. Together, we’ll talk about identity, value, comparison, striving, and what it means to finally see ourselves through the eyes of our Creator.

This episode also serves as a gentle doorway into Mo’s upcoming sabbatical season—a season of slowing down, reconnecting with God, and remembering that our worth was never rooted in productivity, but in belonging to Him.

If you’ve ever questioned your value, compared yourself to others, or struggled to believe God intentionally created you, this conversation is for you.

• Psalm 139:13–16
• Ephesians 2:10
• Genesis 1:26–27

• What it means to be “fearfully and wonderfully made”
• The difference between knowing Scripture intellectually vs. knowing it in your soul
• The intentionality behind God’s design
• Why comparison disconnects us from our God-given identity
• How resting in God’s workmanship changes the way we live
• A personal reflection on slowing down and reconnecting with God during sabbatical

Take five quiet minutes today and ask the Lord:

“Where have I believed lies about my value, identity, or purpose?”

Then slowly read Psalm 139:13–16 aloud—not as a passage about humanity in general, but as God’s intentional truth spoken over you.

Pay attention to any words or phrases that stand out, and write them down.

• Podcast & Blog:  I Choose Today
• Listen to more episodes:  I Choose Today Podcast
• Instagram:  @i.choose.today

Hey! I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God’s Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here: https://www.bible.com/app

Sometimes we expect God’s comfort to arrive in dramatic ways, but often, His presence meets us through ordinary people willing to show up in love.

In this episode, I share reflections from recent opportunities to walk alongside people facing fear, grief, uncertainty, and loss, and how it reminded me of the comfort God brought into my own valley after losing my son Bobby.

From phone calls and prayers to meals, lawn mowing, and even a giant box of toilet paper, this conversation explores the practical and spiritual ways God cares for His people through the body of Christ.

If you are walking through a difficult season right now, I pray this episode reminds you that:

• God has not abandoned you in the valley.
• His comfort often comes in forms we may not immediately recognize.
• And even in deep suffering, His goodness is still present and at work.

We also talk about:

• How suffering changes the way we see and care for others
• Why presence matters more than perfect words
• The difference between minimizing pain and holding onto hope
• How God can bring redemption and beauty from even the deepest heartbreak
• Comfort as both practical and spiritual

• 2 Corinthians 1:3–4
• Psalm 23:4
• Romans 8:28
• John 11:33–36

Ask God two simple questions today:

“Where are You comforting me right now?”

And:

“Who around me may need comfort today?”

Then respond to whatever He brings to mind.

Website:  I Choose Today

Instagram:  @i.choose.today

Hey! I love using YouVersion, and I think you will, too. You can study God’s Word, read and watch daily devotionals, pray with friends, and more! Get it here: https://www.bible.com/app