Regret can be a crushing burden that keeps you tethered to our past. Maybe you’re still dealing with the consequences of mistakes made by you or others in your life. Even though the past is irreversible, Christ offers you healing from your hurt and shame! Dr. Erwin Lutzer shares how to confront your past, discard the weight of any false or real guilt, and move forward in God’s grace and forgiveness.

Receive a copy of Putting Your Past Behind You and an audio download of "How to Break Free from the Pain of Past Experiences" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Paul wrote, “Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking” (Colossians 3:15 NCV). How does this happen? The answer appears in the next verse: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another” (Colossians 3:16 NKJV).

Don’t treat Scripture like a guest, an occasional visitor, or temporary roommate. His truth sits at the dinner table, lingers in the living room, and is welcome in the bedroom. And it occupies its place richly. It pays dividends. It brings benefits. Ingested Scripture is vitamin C for the inner person.

Satan is allergic to God’s truth. When you speak Scripture, he skedaddles. He hopes you never hear these words spoken by Jesus: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV).

Read more Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Day 266: Jeremiah's Messages and Israel's Fate

On Day 266 of the Immerse Bible Reading Experience, the script captures the messages of the Lord conveyed by Jeremiah while he was confined in the courtyard of the guard. The passage includes a series of communications from God about the fate of Israel and Judah due to their sins and rebellion. Despite their faithlessness, God promises future restoration and forgiveness for His people. The content further explores the prophecy of destruction through the Babylonian siege, the message to King Zedekiah, the covenant regarding slaves, and the instructions given to the Recabites. Stories of Ishmael's betrayal, the people’s stubbornness in going to Egypt, and the continual disobedience to God serve as a stern reminder of the consequences of forsaking divine command. Through Jeremiah’s steadfast dedication, God's unwavering plans and mercy for His people are revealed amidst the backdrop of war, exile, and eventual hope for redemption.

00:00 Introduction and Context
00:04 Jeremiah's Prophecies and Warnings
00:54 Promises of Restoration
01:30 Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem
03:24 Jeremiah's Imprisonment and Messages
06:06 The Covenant and Its Breach
08:22 The Siege of Jerusalem
12:09 Jeremiah's Scroll and the King's Reaction
16:54 Final Days of Jerusalem
27:57 Aftermath and Jeremiah's Fate
40:34 Warnings to the Remnant in Egypt
46:45 Conclusion and Final Messages

Buy Immerse: Prophets Now!

Volume 4 

Immerse: Prophets is the fourth of six volumes of the Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience program. Prophets presents the First Testament prophets in groupings that represent four historical periods, beginning with the prophets who spoke before the fall of Israel’s northern kingdom (Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah), then before the fall of the southern kingdom (Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk), around the time of Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel), and after the return from exile (Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Malachi).

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

Regret can be a crushing burden that keeps you tethered to our past. Maybe you’re still dealing with the consequences of mistakes made by you or others in your life. Even though the past is irreversible, Christ offers you healing from your hurt and shame! Dr. Erwin Lutzer shares how to confront your past, discard the weight of any false or real guilt, and move forward in God’s grace and forgiveness.

Receive a copy of Putting Your Past Behind You and an audio download of "How to Break Free from the Pain of Past Experiences" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, gave this admonition: “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21 ESV). What a grand invitation! It’s not enough to uproot, we must also replant.

Jesus described a demon who had been cast out of a person. It roams about, looking for a new home. Not finding one, it returns to its former place of residence and finds it “spotlessly clean, but vacant” (Matthew 12:43 MSG). The demon sees no barrier, alerts its buddies, and they show up with a keg of chaos.

To clean out the old is wonderful, but to usher in the new—that’s essential. Uprooting weeds of lies is necessary. Replacing them with truth is vital.

Read more Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Day 265: Messages of Prophecy and Hope from Jeremiah

In today's episode of Immerse, we explore the prophecies given to Jeremiah by the Lord during the reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, kings of Judah. The passages cover divine messages warning of Jerusalem's impending destruction due to the people's sins and idolatry, as well as their refusal to heed the words of prophets. However, amidst the prophecies of judgment, there are also promises of future restoration and hope for Israel—foretelling a time when God will bring His people back from exile, establish a new covenant, and restore prosperity. Key figures and events include the confrontations between Jeremiah and false prophets like Hananiah, the symbolic actions ordered by God, and Jeremiah's prison purchase of a field as a sign of future restoration.

00:00 Introduction and Context
00:04 Jeremiah's Prophecy and the People's Reaction
01:55 Jeremiah's Defense and the Officials' Response
02:57 Historical Reference and Warnings
04:28 Prophecies Against Nations and False Prophets
11:14 Letters to the Exiles in Babylon
16:33 Promises of Restoration and New Covenant
28:10 Jeremiah's Imprisonment and Property Purchase
32:22 God's Assurance and Future Promises
35:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Buy Immerse: Prophets Now!

Volume 4 

Immerse: Prophets is the fourth of six volumes of the Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience program. Prophets presents the First Testament prophets in groupings that represent four historical periods, beginning with the prophets who spoke before the fall of Israel’s northern kingdom (Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah), then before the fall of the southern kingdom (Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk), around the time of Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel), and after the return from exile (Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Malachi).

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

Communication impacts the way relationships are built and nurtured. Heather Holleman and her husband, Ashley, to share advice on how to teach your kids the best ways to care deeply for others through intentional conversation. Their wisdom provides several tools you can use to raise up your child to be emotionally intelligent, open to meaningful human connection.

Receive a copy of The Six Conversations and an audio download of "Teach Your Child How to Have Meaningful Conversations" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Ephesians 4:23-24 (CEV) reads, “Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person.” How? I have a three-word answer to that question: Uproot and Replant.

Your mind is like a lawn. Your toxic thoughts are like grass burrs. They prompt a predictable chain reaction. These are untruths that lead to false narratives that result in overreactions. They stick and they hurt. They sour your mood and embitter your heart. You might mow them down. Give yourself pep talks. Read a book on positive mental attitude. And, for a day or two or ten, the weeds will disappear. But eventually they return.

God has a better plan: Yank ‘em out by the roots. Your Father gives you his Word, and he invites you to treat the lies of hell with the words of heaven.

Read more Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Day 264: Jeremiah's Call to Repentance and Prophetic Warnings

In today's daily Bible reading from Immerse, we explore Day 264, focusing on God’s words to the prophet Jeremiah. God instructs Jeremiah, using the metaphor of a potter and clay, to illustrate His power to reshape nations based on their adherence to His commands. The text involves vivid imagery of impending disaster for Judah and Jerusalem due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry. God’s messages through Jeremiah include dire warnings for the people, leaders, and false prophets, emphasizing their need for repentance while also highlighting the Lord's plan for a righteous future descendant from David’s line. The reading concludes with a vision concerning good and bad figs, symbolizing different fates for those exiled to Babylon versus those remaining.

00:00 Introduction and Jeremiah's Message from the Lord
00:07 The Potter's Lesson and Israel's Stubbornness
01:02 Warnings of Disaster and People's Rebellion
02:30 Jeremiah's Persecution and Lament
03:37 Prophecies Against Judah and Jerusalem
20:23 Judgment on False Prophets
25:55 The Vision of the Figs
27:37 Jeremiah's Final Warnings
30:08 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Buy Immerse: Prophets Now!

Volume 4 

Immerse: Prophets is the fourth of six volumes of the Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience program. Prophets presents the First Testament prophets in groupings that represent four historical periods, beginning with the prophets who spoke before the fall of Israel’s northern kingdom (Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah), then before the fall of the southern kingdom (Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk), around the time of Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel), and after the return from exile (Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Malachi).

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”