Pursuing God with Gene Appel

Most of us know we should spend more time reading the Bible, so why don't we? We tell ourselves we're too busy or that Scripture is too difficult to understand. But what if the real issue isn't time or knowledge, but motivation? Today we'll explore what's keeping us from opening God's Word and why understanding its value can change the way we approach it. What might h...

Sometimes the odds really are stacked against us. We feel outnumbered, overwhelmed, and completely unqualified for what's ahead. Gideon felt the same way when God asked him to lead an army of just 300 men against an enemy of 135,000. But his story reminds us that overcoming impossible odds isn't about having enough strength on our own. It's about trusting God's strength. As we...

When life gets difficult, it's easy to become so focused on what's going wrong that we forget everything God has already brought us through. Gideon struggled with that same perspective, questioning where God was while God was right there with him. Today we'll explore how remembering God's faithfulness in the past and recognizing His presence in the present can change our attitu...

It's easy to feel invisible in a world that constantly measures our worth by what we accomplish, how we look, or what others think of us. But Scripture tells a very different story. Through the story of Gideon and powerful promises from John 3, Ephesians 3, and John 15, we'll discover three truths God wants us to know: we are valuable, important, and chosen. When the world tells you that...

Have you ever felt overlooked, unqualified, or convinced you just don't have what it takes? Gideon knew that feeling. When God called him a mighty warrior, he was hiding from his enemies, afraid and unsure of himself. Today we'll discover why God's view of us matters more than the labels we've been given or the mistakes we've made. You may see your limitations, but God see...

Ever feel like everyone else has life figured out while you're just trying to keep up? Whether it's criticism from our past or constantly comparing ourselves to others, it's easy to believe we don't measure up. As we begin a week about overcoming feelings of inadequacy, we'll explore how those negative messages take root and why they don't have to define us. What voic...

What do you do when you've tried to repair a relationship and nothing seems to be working? Sometimes reconciliation requires asking for help. Sometimes it means changing yourself even when the other person won't change. And in the most difficult situations, it may mean letting go of our attempts to control the outcome. As we close our week on family conflict, we'll look at what it t...

Some family conflicts won't disappear on their own, but there are practical steps we can take toward healing. Today we'll explore three ways to begin: pray before reacting, intentionally make time for a real conversation, and seek wisdom from someone you trust. Resolving conflict takes humility, courage, and sometimes more than one conversation. Which step could you take toward peace in...

When a family relationship is broken, our first instinct is often to focus on what the other person needs to change. But lasting reconciliation begins somewhere much closer to home. Today we'll explore why getting our relationship right with God changes the way we approach conflict with a spouse, child, sibling, parent, or anyone else we love. Before trying to fix someone else, what might God...

Most of us learned how to handle conflict by watching the people who raised us, whether their example was healthy or not. We may shut down, lash out, run away, or repeat destructive behaviors without ever consciously choosing them. Today we'll take an honest look at the patterns we inherited and why recognizing them is an important first step toward change. What did your family teach you abou...

Conflict is inevitable in every family. The real question is what we do when it shows up. Some of us shut down and go silent. Others come out swinging. And often, those reactions are patterns we learned long before we realized we were learning them. Today we'll begin looking at how the way we handle conflict can either strengthen our closest relationships or slowly pull them apart. When tensi...

Realizing you're headed in the wrong direction doesn't mean you have to keep going. You can make a U-turn. As we wrap up our week of Life Hacks from Proverbs, we'll discover how to recognize when we've drifted off course and take a real step toward the life God is calling us to live. Whether it's your marriage, parenting, finances, character, or relationship with God, it&a...

It's possible to say we want one thing while consistently making choices that lead somewhere completely different. We want stronger families but give them less of our attention. We want financial security but keep spending. We want a deeper faith but never make time for God. Today we'll return to Proverbs 7 and confront the gap between what we say we want and the direction we're act...

Most of our biggest regrets don't begin with one huge decision. They begin with small choices that don't seem all that important in the moment. In Proverbs 7, Solomon watches a young man make his way down a path without realizing where it's ultimately leading. Today we'll discover why wisdom looks beyond the next step to where that step will eventually take us. If you keep maki...

We can sincerely want a strong marriage, healthy relationships, financial stability, or a deeper relationship with God and still be moving in the opposite direction. That's because direction, not intention, determines destination. Today we'll explore a simple principle from Proverbs that can help us recognize when we're drifting before we end up somewhere we never intended to go. In...

Nobody plans to get lost. It usually happens one turn at a time, and the same can be true in our relationships, habits, finances, and faith. As we begin a week of practical Life Hacks from Proverbs, we'll discover why wise people are willing to ask for directions and what Proverbs 3 teaches us about trusting God with the path ahead. You may know where you want to end up, but is the direction...

Money can disappear. Careers can change. Popularity fades. Even the people we love most can't promise they'll always be there. So what can actually hold us steady when life falls apart? As we conclude our week on being anchored, we'll look at powerful stories of faith through grief and loss and return to the promise of Hebrews 6:19. Storms will come, but we don't have to face t...

It's easier to trust God when we can see things getting better. But what happens when the storm keeps going? Joseph spent years waiting without knowing how his story would end, and Job chose to trust God while still sitting in the middle of unimaginable loss. Today we'll discover why our hope isn't anchored in a quick resolution or a particular outcome. It's anchored in the pre...

Have you ever felt overlooked, passed over, or forgotten by someone you were counting on? Joseph finally saw what looked like a way out of prison, only to be forgotten for years by the very person who could have helped him. Today we'll explore what Joseph's story teaches us about remaining faithful when hope is delayed and nothing seems to be changing. Feeling forgotten doesn't mean...

What happens when you choose integrity and things still don't work out? Joseph was betrayed by his own family, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit, even after choosing to do what was right. Today we'll look at how Joseph remained faithful when life seemed deeply unfair and why trusting God doesn't always mean understanding what He&apo...

Sometimes life brings storms we never planned for and aren't sure we can handle. A relationship falls apart. A career changes unexpectedly. A diagnosis comes out of nowhere. In Hebrews 6:19, we're given a powerful picture of hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Today we'll explore what it means to make God our anchor when circumstances feel anything but steady. When the...

We can put so much pressure on ourselves to say the perfect thing that we end up saying nothing at all. When Nathanael questioned Philip about Jesus, Philip didn't launch into an argument. He simply said, "Come and see." Today we'll discover how God can use ordinary conversations, simple invitations, and small opportunities to make a difference in someone's life. You don&a...

What if your family, neighborhood, and workplace aren't just parts of your routine, but places where God has uniquely positioned you to make a difference? Andrew wasn't the most famous disciple, but he was Peter's brother, and he used that relationship to bring Peter to Jesus. Today we'll discover how God can use the relationships already around us and a simple BLESS rhythm to...

Church hurt is real, and for some people, it becomes a reason to walk away from faith altogether. But the failures of imperfect people don't change who Jesus is. Today we'll look at the difference between introducing someone to a church and introducing them to Jesus. We can acknowledge the ways Christians and churches sometimes get it wrong while still pointing people toward the One who...

We often think we need more knowledge, better answers, or stronger faith before we can talk to someone about Jesus. Andrew didn't wait. After meeting Jesus, the first thing he did was find his brother and tell him what he'd discovered. Today we'll see why sharing our faith doesn't require having everything figured out. Sometimes it simply means telling someone what you already...