What defines your worth? Is it your achievements, your social circle, or something deeper? This question sits at the heart of our conversation with Lena Johannson, a remarkable young athlete whose journey challenges conventional wisdom about success.

With five state wrestling championships to her name and heading to Alabama A&M on a soccer scholarship, Lena could easily let her athletic prowess define her. Instead, she offers listeners a raw, unfiltered look behind the medals and trophies. Despite never losing a high school wrestling match against female competitors in Alabama, Lena confesses wrestling isn't even her favorite sport. She candidly discusses how cutting weight affected her body image and mental health, revealing the constant battle to remember her true worth comes from Christ, not competition results.

The conversation takes unexpected turns as Lena shares her transition from homeschooling to public school, where social rejection became another crucible for her faith. "When you are trying, you're desperate for anything," she reflects, describing how her breakthrough came paradoxically when she stopped striving for acceptance. This counter-intuitive wisdom permeates her story, culminating in the revelation that her Princeton-educated mother chose to be a stay-at-home mom rather than pursue prestigious career opportunities—a decision that modeled putting divine calling above societal expectations.

Perhaps most striking is Lena's perspective on her upcoming college experience. Rather than viewing it merely as an athletic or academic opportunity, she sees Alabama A&M as her mission field: "We think the mission field is all the way in a foreign country, but really it's in our families, it's on our teams." Her commitment to living authentically for Christ rather than performing religion offers a refreshing alternative to superficial spirituality.

Whether you're a student athlete, parent, coach, or someone simply trying to navigate life's pressures without losing your identity, Lena's parting wisdom resonates: "Your worth is not defined by anything other than what Christ has revealed." Listen now and discover what it truly means to find your value beyond your victories.

You've made it to the weekend, but the spiritual battle rages on. Satan isn't confined to hell yet—he's actively roaming the earth, orchestrating attacks against your faith, family, and future. This powerful examination of Ephesians 6:10-18 unpacks the complete spiritual armor God provides for withstanding these invisible yet devastating assaults.

The spiritual conflicts you face aren't primarily against the people who hurt you. Behind those visible opponents stand spiritual forces of darkness—the real enemies orchestrating chaos and destruction in your life. Without proper spiritual protection, you're vulnerable to schemes designed to undermine your faith and effectiveness.

Each piece of God's armor serves a crucial protective function. The belt of truth demands authentic living—consistency between your Sunday self and everyday actions. The breastplate isn't your own righteousness but Christ living through you. The gospel of peace guides your steps, providing internal confirmation you're moving in God's direction. Your shield of faith activates when you trust God's Word despite circumstances, while the helmet of salvation guards your thought life—the genesis of all actions, habits, and character. Finally, Scripture itself becomes your sword—the only offensive weapon effective against spiritual darkness.

What thoughts are you allowing into your mind today? Which media influences are shaping your spiritual perspective? Remember that every action begins as a thought, and those thoughts ultimately form your life's trajectory. Which piece of armor are you neglecting? Take time now to examine your spiritual readiness and commit to fully equipping yourself for the battles ahead.

What would happen if God allowed Satan to test your faith to the breaking point? Would you still praise Him?

The remarkable story of Job gives us a front-row seat to perhaps the most severe faith test ever documented. Following our series on wilderness experiences, we dive into Job chapter 1, where we witness a man whose relationship with God transcended his circumstances in ways that challenge and inspire us today.

I'm struck by God's extraordinary confidence in Job's character—initiating the conversation with Satan by asking, "Have you considered my servant Job?" When Satan argues that Job's faith depends entirely on his blessed circumstances, God permits the ultimate test. In devastating succession, Job loses his livestock, servants, and all his children without a moment to recover between tragedies. Yet Scripture records Job's astonishing response: "Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God."

This narrative confronts us with difficult questions: Why does a good God allow suffering? While I don't claim complete understanding, I've witnessed how God consistently uses trials in my own life to strengthen me for future challenges. Nothing happens without passing through His sovereign hand, and authentic faith demonstrates its power precisely when circumstances suggest we should abandon it. As I shared with our students, "If your faith cannot be tested, then it cannot be trusted." True faith isn't conditional on comfort—it stands firm in life's harshest storms.

Whatever you're facing today, I encourage you to cultivate Job-like faith. Get into God's Word, pray boldly, and take each step He reveals. Remember, "It's easy to praise God when all things are beautiful, but the true breakthrough comes when you praise Him in the dark." Your faithful response during trials can reach people who might never otherwise encounter God's transforming power.

What happens when churches set aside their individual agendas and work together for God's kingdom? The Engage Mission Conference gave us a powerful glimpse of this unity in action, and the results were nothing short of transformative.

Following the Acts 1:8 framework, we explored what it means for every believer to identify their Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and ends of the earth. This isn't about checking boxes—it's about recognizing that mission work begins right where you are. As we shared with our students while doing local outreach: "The only difference between here and the foreign mission field is you're walking up to brick houses instead of mud huts."

The weekend delivered an unexpected revelation when, before we even knocked on our first door during outreach, God orchestrated a salvation moment that wasn't on our agenda. While practicing our gospel presentation with two young ladies, one realized she needed to make her faith decision—proving that sometimes when we think we're reaching others, God is actually working on those right beside us.

Brother Mack Brunson closed the conference with a challenging reminder to "stick to the basics." If we're honest, many of us want the advanced spiritual content while neglecting the fundamentals. But mission work, kingdom building, and spiritual growth all begin with the simple disciplines of Bible reading and prayer. As he pointedly asked, "If it's so easy, then why haven't we perfected it?"

The Engage Mission Conference wasn't just about strategies and methods—it was about breaking down walls between congregations, combining resources, and recognizing that we're stronger together. When we shift from "our church" to "the Church," we create spaces where God can move beyond our expectations. The question remains: where is God calling you to serve in your Jerusalem before reaching the ends of the earth?

Braxton Salster, a high school football player, shares his journey of finding faith and using his influence to lead friends to Christ despite his fears and doubts.

• Saved in July 2023, Braxton experienced spiritual highs followed by questioning periods
• After attending D-NOW, his faith reignited with a permanent fire
• Reached out to friends offering support and prayer, creating opportunities for deeper conversations 
• Boldly asked direct questions about their relationship with God rather than using shortcuts
• Led two friends to Christ by helping them understand salvation comes through genuine belief
• Now focusing on deepening his own biblical knowledge by reading through John and Proverbs
• Inviting people to church and sharing his faith even with strangers in Oxford
• Living by the principle that obeying God means you can never fail

Quit sitting back, quit holding it for yourself. Get fired up and take that fire to others.

What keeps us from returning to our old ways when life gets challenging? This question forms the heart of today's deeply moving conversation about spiritual growth and family transformation.

The journey begins with an exploration of our personal "Egypts" – those aspects of our former lives that tempt us when we face obstacles. Just as the Israelites longed for Egypt when confronted by Pharaoh's army, we often look backward rather than forward during difficult times. One teenage girl's powerful insight reveals that consistent time in Scripture prevents this backward glance by continually showing us who to invest in next, creating new relationships that replace what we've left behind.

The conversation takes a profound turn when Tommy shares his family's transformation story. Recently baptized alongside his wife, Tommy describes how his surrender to Christ led directly to his son's salvation just days later. His testimony demolishes the common myth that parents need biblical expertise to influence their children spiritually. Instead, Tommy's authentic faith journey – complete with questions, struggles, and imperfections – created space for God to work powerfully across generations.

This episode offers hope to every parent who feels inadequate as a spiritual leader. You don't need all the answers. You don't need to be perfect. You simply need to demonstrate where your joy comes from and lead your family to a place where God can speak directly to them. The genuine smile on Tommy's face as he describes studying Scripture with his wife and witnessing his son's salvation speaks volumes about the true source of lasting joy.

Ready to experience the ripple effect of authentic faith in your own family? Listen now, and discover how your testimony – not your theological expertise – might become the catalyst for transformation in the lives of those you love most.

Have you ever found yourself looking back at what you left behind when facing new challenges? That's exactly what the Israelites did when trapped between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea. Despite witnessing God's miraculous deliverance from slavery, their immediate response was fear, complaint, and a bizarre longing for their former bondage.

This powerful devotional draws a compelling parallel between Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness and our own tendency to retreat to familiar territory when challenges arise. The wilderness isn't a one-time experience—it's a recurring journey we all face throughout our spiritual lives. The crucial difference between victory and defeat lies not in our strength, but in recognizing that Jesus has already overcome every temptation Satan could throw at Him.

When standing at our personal Red Seas, we often create elaborate explanations for our circumstances rather than trusting God's proven faithfulness. We forget the slavery we've been rescued from and romanticize our past. The devotional offers practical guidance through reflective questions to identify our personal "Egypts"—those comfortable but destructive patterns, relationships, and priorities that once dominated our pre-Christ lives. What draws you back when God is calling you forward? What distractions have replaced your quiet time with Him? Which relationships pull you away rather than strengthen your faith?

God already has the escape route planned for whatever wilderness you're facing. The battle has already been won. Will you trust Him enough to keep walking forward, refusing to look back at what He's delivered you from? Take time today to honestly assess what's pulling you backward, then recommit to moving forward with Christ, knowing His plan is always better than returning to your Egypt.

What happens when we clearly hear God's direction but choose to go the opposite way? The story of Jonah provides a powerful mirror for our own spiritual journeys.

Most of us know about Jonah's dramatic encounter with the great fish, but today's reflection digs deeper into what it means to run from God's calling. Unlike Daniel who suffered despite his faithful obedience, Jonah created his own mess through deliberate disobedience. Yet in both scenarios, God remains faithful to those who ultimately turn to Him.

The most challenging insight from Jonah's story may be that "it's possible to run when your feet aren't moving." While we often focus on eliminating visible sins (sins of commission), we frequently overlook the things God has specifically called us to do that we're quietly avoiding (sins of omission). These silent rebellions remain hidden from others because only you know what God has personally asked of you.

Surprisingly, the belly of the fish wasn't just Jonah's punishment—it was God's classroom. Scripture says God specifically "appointed" that fish. Your lowest moments, those times when you feel trapped by circumstances of your own making, might actually be divinely appointed opportunities for transformation. The question is whether you'll see these difficult seasons as dead ends or as preparation for renewed purpose.

Wherever you find yourself today—whether faithfully following God's lead or running in the opposite direction—know that His redemptive plan is still at work. The path forward begins with honest prayer, continues through sincere repentance, and culminates in fresh commitment to follow wherever God leads. What is He calling you to do today that you've been avoiding?