I Choose Today

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

In this episode, I’m sharing some of what God has been stirring in my heart as I prepare for a sabbatical season this summer.

This isn’t about walking away from ministry or stepping back from faith. It’s about intentionally slowing down to reconnect with my first love and return to deeper communion with God.

Together, we talk about:

• contemplative prayer and what it actually means,
• David being formed in hidden places before becoming king,
• how God uses wilderness and waiting seasons to shape us,
• why intimacy with God cannot survive indefinitely on leftovers,
• and how transformation happens through abiding in God’s presence, not striving harder.

This episode is ultimately an invitation:

to slow down,

to listen,

to be still,

and to respond when God says,

“Come and talk with Me.”

Maybe your response today can simply be:

“Lord… I’m coming.”

• Psalm 27:8
• 1 Samuel 13:14
• 1 Samuel 16:11–13
• Psalm 19
• Psalm 23
• Psalm 139:23–24
• Psalm 51:10
• Psalm 46:10
• Luke 2:19
• 2 Corinthians 3:18

• The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas

Set aside a few quiet minutes this week to simply be with God. No agenda. No performance. Just presence.

Read Psalm 27 slowly and honestly pray:

“Lord… I’m coming.”

Thank you for listening to the I Choose Today podcast.

If this episode encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a rating or review and share it with someone who may need this reminder today?

You can listen to past episodes, read blog posts, and find additional resources at:

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: YouVersion Bible App

Have you ever found yourself doing all the right things—showing up, serving, praying—and yet still feeling distant from God?

In this honest and gentle episode, Mo shares from her own recent experience of feeling disconnected, even in the middle of a powerful conference surrounded by worship and truth. Instead of pushing through or pretending everything was fine, she recognized something deeper: an invitation.

This episode is not about striving harder—it’s about returning.

If you’ve been feeling spiritually dry, distant, or out of rhythm, this conversation will remind you that God hasn’t moved—and He’s still inviting you back into relationship.

Scripture References:

• Revelation 2:4-5
• James 4:8
• Mark 1:35

Key Takeaway:

Feeling distant doesn’t always mean God is far. Sometimes it’s an invitation to return to relationship.

Today’s Step:

Don’t try to fix the feeling or create the perfect quiet time.

Just sit with Him honestly and say, “Lord, I miss You.”

Connect with Mo:

Website: https://ichoosetoday.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/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 perseverance isn’t hard because of suffering…

Sometimes it’s hard because things just feel… slow.

In this final episode of the Perseverance Series (Part 4), Mo talks about what it looks like to keep going when growth feels delayed, progress feels invisible, and results don’t come quickly.

Through Scripture, real-life reflection, and the powerful picture of unseen growth, this episode reminds us that slow does not mean stagnant, and just because we don’t see it, doesn’t mean God isn’t working.

If you’ve been feeling discouraged by slow progress…

If you’re wondering if anything is really happening…

If you’re tempted to give up because you don’t see change…

This episode will encourage you to keep going.

Because perseverance isn’t about visible progress,

It’s about trusting that God is working beneath the surface.

Philippians 1:6

Hebrews 10:36

(Plus biblical examples referenced: Joseph, David, Jesus’ early life)

Slow does not mean stagnant

God often works beneath the surface before we see results

Deep growth takes time and produces lasting strength

Perseverance means continuing even when progress isn’t visible

God is more concerned with who we are becoming than how fast we grow

If you’re in a slow season right now…

Take a moment to thank God for the work He is doing, even if you can’t see it yet.

Ask Him to help you trust the process.

And choose to keep going… one step at a time.

Because slow growth is still growth.

Website: https://ichoosetoday.org

Instagram: https://instagram.com/i.choose.today

If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who may feel discouraged by slow progress. You never know who needs this reminder 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

Weariness has a way of quietly settling in.

Not always through crisis…

But through the weight of showing up day after day.

In this episode, Mo speaks to the moments when perseverance feels hardest—when you’re tired, discouraged, and wondering how to keep going.

Through Scripture, personal reflection, and honest encouragement, this episode reminds us that weariness doesn’t disqualify us from faith—it invites us to depend more deeply on God’s strength.

If you feel like you’re running on empty…

If you’re showing up, but it’s getting harder…

If you need strength for today…

This episode will meet you right where you are.

Because perseverance isn’t about having endless energy—

It’s about continuing to stand, even when you feel weary.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18

Isaiah 41:10

Psalm 23

Weariness is a normal part of the faith journey

God’s strength meets us in our weakness

Perseverance doesn’t require perfection—just presence

We don’t stand in our own strength, but in His

God sustains us even when we feel depleted

If you’re feeling weary today… pause.

Take a moment to acknowledge where you are.

You don’t need to push through in your own strength.

You don’t need to pretend you’re okay.

Instead, bring your weariness to God.

Let Him meet you there.

Let Him strengthen you.

Today, your step isn’t to do more…

It’s to lean on Him.

Website: https://ichoosetoday.org

Instagram: https://instagram.com/i.choose.today

If this episode met you in a weary place, consider sharing it with someone who may need encouragement today. You never know who is quietly carrying more than they can hold.

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

Waiting can feel like one of the hardest parts of our faith journey.

In this episode, Mo explores what it looks like to persevere in seasons where nothing seems to be happening — when prayers feel unanswered, direction feels unclear, and progress feels slow.

Through Scripture and honest reflection, this episode encourages listeners to trust that God is still working in the waiting, even when we cannot see it.

If you find yourself in a season of waiting…

If you’re struggling with uncertainty…

If you’re wondering what God is doing…

This episode will remind you that waiting is not wasted — it is often where God does some of His deepest work.

Isaiah 40:31

Psalm 27:14

Romans 5:3–5

Lamentations 3:25–26 (optional if you included it)

Waiting is not inactivity — God is still working

Perseverance in waiting builds trust and dependence on God

God’s timing often looks different than our expectations

Strength is renewed as we wait on the Lord

Waiting seasons are often where deep spiritual growth happens

Instead of resisting the waiting… lean into it.

Take a moment today to pause and acknowledge where you are waiting.

Then choose to trust God in that space.

You don’t need to have all the answers.

You don’t need to see the full picture.

Just choose to trust Him… right where you are.

Website: https://ichoosetoday.org

Instagram: https://instagram.com/i.choose.today

If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who may be in a waiting season. Your share may be exactly what they need to hear 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 perseverance doesn’t look dramatic.

Sometimes it simply looks like showing up one more day.

In this first episode of a new mini-series on perseverance, Mo shares how faithfulness often means taking the next step while waiting for clarity. Through personal reflection, Scripture, and encouragement, this episode explores how God uses trials, waiting, and weariness to build perseverance and mature our faith.

If you find yourself in a quiet season…

If you’re feeling weary…

If you’re waiting for direction…

This episode is for you.

Because perseverance isn’t about striving harder — it’s about staying anchored in Christ and continuing to walk one step at a time.

Galatians 6:9

Hebrews 12:1–2

Micah 6:8

James 1:2–4

Philippians 1:6

Perseverance often looks quiet and ordinary

Faithfulness sometimes means taking the next step while waiting

Trials test our faith and develop perseverance

Perseverance produces maturity and spiritual growth

God is working even when we don’t see it

Take one small step of faith today.

Not a big step.

Not a dramatic step.

Just one small step.

Maybe that’s praying.

Maybe that’s opening Scripture.

Maybe that’s choosing trust instead of fear.

Whatever it is… take one step.

Because perseverance isn’t about running ahead.

It’s about continuing to walk with God… one step at a time.

Website: https://ichoosetoday.org

Instagram: https://instagram.com/i.choose.today

If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who may need it today. Your share helps reach hearts who may be walking through similar seasons.

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

This week marks one full year of the I Choose Today Podcast.

In this special anniversary episode, Mo reflects on God’s faithfulness over the past year and answers listener-submitted questions about identity, staying grounded, ministry, encouragement, and what’s ahead for Year Two.

Mo also shares how meaningful it was to receive encouragement from listeners and how God continues to work through simple obedience — one heart at a time.

Whether you’ve been listening from the beginning or just recently discovered the podcast, this episode is a reflection on God’s goodness and a look ahead to what He may do next.

• One-year reflection and gratitude
• The people on the other side of obedience
• Navigating identity shifts and staying rooted in Christ
• Favorite verses for overwhelm and joy
• Staying grounded in uncertain times
• The call into ministry
• What Mo did before ministry
• Vision for Year Two of I Choose Today
• Where boldness and confidence come from
• Encouraging others with the comfort we’ve received
• Advice for those considering ministry

Pam

How do you stay rooted in Christ during identity shifts?

Karen

What is your favorite verse when you’re overwhelmed?

What about when you’re feeling joyful?

Mike

There is a lot going on in the world right now. How do you stay grounded?

Lyn

What do you see yourself doing in the second year?

Lee Dame

Where does your boldness come from?

What scripture inspires you and the ministry?

What advice do you have for those entering ministry?

Philippians 4:6–8

Ephesians 3:20

2 Corinthians 1:3–4

Thank you for being part of the I Choose Today journey this past year. Your encouragement, support, and stories have meant more than you know.

As we step into Year Two, Mo looks forward to what God will continue to do — one heart at a time.

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