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Walking with Jesus 31 Days to a Closer Walk Day 13 — Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:2Distraction often creeps in suddenly and silently.The moment we shift our gaze away from Jesus, the storms of life can appear larger, darker, and more overwhelming than they truly are. Fear rises. Doubt speaks louder. The waves seem higher. And before long, our hearts begin to sink beneath the weight of what we see around us.But Hebrews 12:2 calls us back to where our eyes belong: looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.Jesus endured the agony of the cross because His focus was set on the joy before Him — our salvation and our reconciliation with God. He did not ignore the suffering, but He looked beyond it to the Father’s purpose.In our own moments of trial, uncertainty, and weariness, we also find strength by keeping our eyes fixed on Him. We are not called to stare at the storm until fear consumes us. We are called to look to the One who walks upon the waves.When life feels unsteady, Jesus remains steady. When the road is unclear, He remains faithful. When fear rises, His presence reminds us that we are not alone.So keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the author of your faith, the finisher of your journey, and the Savior who will lead you safely through every storm.Let us pray.Dear Heavenly Father, help us keep our eyes on Jesus. When fear rises and distractions pull at our hearts, draw our gaze back to Your steady and saving face. Strengthen our faith, quiet our fears, and remind us that no storm is greater than the Savior who walks with us.In Jesus’ name, Amen. Bonus Non-Published ContentRay’s Reflection — Keeping Our Eyes on JesusOne thing I have learned, both in my own walk and in ministry, is that we can spend far too much time staring at the storm.We study the waves. We talk about the wind. We rehearse the problem over and over in our minds. We measure how high the water is getting, how hard the rain is falling, and how long we think we can hold on. Before long, the storm becomes larger in our eyes than the Savior standing right in front of us.But Jesus never called us to focus on the storm. He called us to look to Him.That does not mean we pretend the storm is not real. Some storms are painful. Some are frightening. Some leave marks. But the storm does not get the final word. The One who walks on water, speaks peace to the wind, and calms the sea is still Lord over every wave.Too often, we exhaust ourselves trying to figure out the storm instead of fixing our eyes on the One who can bring us through it.Faith does not deny the wind. Faith chooses where to look while the wind is blowing.So when fear rises, look to Jesus. When the waves seem high, look to Jesus. When your heart begins to sink, look to Jesus.The storm may be loud, but the Savior is still greater.The Lord be with you.

Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

My church is not perfect. There, I said it.It is made up of imperfect people, including me. People who are still growing, still learning, still stumbling, still healing, and still in need of the grace of God.There are no perfect churches this side of heaven. Not mine. Not yours. Not the one down the road. Every church has people who will sometimes say the wrong thing, miss the mark, misunderstand, disappoint, or fail to love as well as they should.But that does not mean we give up on the church.The Bible tells us not to forsake the fellowship of believers because God knows we were never meant to walk this road alone. We need one another. We need prayer, encouragement, correction, accountability, compassion, and community.Yes, church wounds are real. I will never make light of that. But isolation is not healing. Walking away from fellowship often gives the enemy exactly what he wants — a believer alone, discouraged, and disconnected from the body.Fellowship is not about finding a perfect church.It is about walking with imperfect believers who serve a perfect Savior.My church is not perfect, but Jesus is still working in it.And He is still working in me.If you do not have a church home, I would love to invite you to join me at Christ Community Church, 473 W. Harrison Road, Murphysboro, IL 62966.We have services at 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM.Come as you are. Walk in with your questions, your burdens, your scars, and your story. You will not find a perfect church, but you will find people who love Jesus and are learning to walk with Him together.I would be honored to see you there.The Lord be with you.

My Church is Not Perfect - There I Said It

Walking with Jesus 31 Days to a Closer Walk Day 12 — Companions on the Road“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10Two are indeed better than one.Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 reminds us of the blessing and importance of companionship along the road of life. Faith is not meant to be lived in isolation. It is a shared journey that is strengthened through fellowship, encouragement, wisdom, accountability, and love.Even Jesus, during His earthly ministry, surrounded Himself with disciples. He walked with them, taught them, corrected them, prayed with them, and sent them out together. In doing so, He showed us the value of companionship in spiritual growth.We all need people who will walk beside us. Friends and fellow believers help carry burdens when the road is heavy. They offer encouragement when our hearts grow weary. They speak truth when we lose perspective. And when we stumble, they help lift us back up and remind us that the journey is not over.The enemy often seeks to isolate us, because isolation can lead to discouragement, doubt, and despair. When we are alone too long, our thoughts can become louder than God’s truth. But fellowship strengthens faith. It reminds us that we are part of the body of Christ, called to love, support, and encourage one another.If you feel alone on the journey, pray and ask God to provide godly companionship. Be open to those He places in your life. And just as important, be willing to become that faithful companion for someone else.Walking with Jesus was never meant to be a lonely road. Let us pray.Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of fellow believers. Help us walk together in love, lifting one another up as we follow You. Give us hearts that encourage, hands that help, and faith that strengthens those around us.In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen. Bonus Non-Published Content Ray’s Reflection — Companions on the RoadThe Bible tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and there is a reason for that. We were never meant to walk this road alone.Now, let me say this plainly: there are no perfect churches. Not yours. Not mine. Not any church this side of heaven. Every church is made up of imperfect people who are still growing, still learning, still stumbling, and still in need of grace.But that does not mean we give up on fellowship.Too many people walk away from church because someone disappointed them, offended them, failed them, or did not meet their expectations. I understand that hurt. Church wounds are real. But isolation is not the answer. The enemy would love nothing more than to get believers separated from the body, walking alone, carrying burdens alone, and fighting battles alone.Fellowship is not about finding a perfect church. It is about walking with imperfect believers who serve a perfect Savior.We need people who will pray with us, encourage us, correct us when needed, and help lift us when we fall. And just as important, someone else may need us to do the same for them.Don’t give up on the church because it is imperfect. Jesus has not given up on us.Stay connected. Stay humble. Keep walking together. The Lord be with you.

Companions on the Road

Walking with Jesus 31 Days to a Closer Walk Day 11 — Faith Over Feelings“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7This profound truth from 2 Corinthians 5:7 reminds us that our journey through life is guided by our trust in God, not by our immediate perceptions, emotions, or circumstances.Faith is not dependent upon how we feel in the moment. It is grounded in the unchanging character of God. Feelings can shift quickly. Like sand beneath our feet, they can change with every storm, disappointment, fear, or season of uncertainty.But God’s truth is solid and unwavering. His Word gives us a firm foundation that endures through every storm of life.True faith perseveres even when our emotional reserves are depleted. It holds fast to the truth that God remains good, even when our circumstances feel overwhelming or bleak. When our hearts are weary and the road ahead is unclear, faith reminds us that His promises are still valid, reliable, and true.Jesus never asks us to count on our feelings, our strength, or our confidence in our own abilities. He calls us to trust Him. He calls us to walk by faith, even when we cannot see the way.In moments of uncertainty, faith leads us forward. It steadies our steps, anchors our hearts, and reminds us that the One we follow is faithful. Let us pray.Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we are able to walk by faith when our feelings falter. Anchor us in Your Word, so truth, not emotion, directs our steps. Help us trust You when we cannot see the way and follow You with steady hearts.In Jesus’ name, Amen. Bonus Non-Published Content Ray’s Reflection — Faith Over FeelingsOne of the great mistakes we make in our walk with Christ is allowing our feelings to sit in judgment over the Word of God.We feel afraid, so we wonder if God is still faithful. We feel alone, so we question whether He is still near. We feel discouraged, so we begin to doubt His promises. But feelings, while real, are not always reliable.Here is the truth: We do not judge the Word of God by our emotions, experiences, or feelings. We judge our emotions, experiences, and feelings by the Word of God.That does not mean we pretend our feelings do not matter. God knows our hearts. He knows when we are weary, wounded, afraid, or confused. But our feelings must never become the final authority in our lives.The Word of God is the anchor. Feelings shift. Circumstances change. Experiences can leave scars. But Scripture stands.When my emotions tell me God has forgotten me, His Word says He will never leave me nor forsake me. When my feelings tell me I cannot go on, His Word reminds me that His grace is sufficient.Faith does not deny our feelings. Faith puts them in their proper place — under the truth of God’s Word.The Lord be with you.

Faith over Feelings

Walking with Jesus 31 Days to a Closer Walk Day 10 — When We Stumble“Though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” — Psalm 37:24Falling is not the same as failing.There will be times in our walk with Jesus when we stumble. We may lose our footing, grow weary, make the wrong choice, speak too quickly, doubt too easily, or take our eyes off the Lord. But a stumble does not mean the journey is over.God does not demand perfection from us. He desires persistence, humility, repentance, and a willingness to keep walking by faith. Each stumble can become an opportunity to grow, reminding us that His grace is greater than our weakness and His strength is steady when ours is not.Just as Jesus reached out to Peter when he began sinking beneath the waves, He reaches for us in our moments of fear, failure, and weakness. His hand is not withdrawn because we fall. His hand is there to lift us, steady us, and guide us forward.So when you stumble, do not stay down. Rise again by His grace. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. His mercy has not run out, His love has not changed, and His hand is still holding yours. Let us pray.Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for holding us when we fall. Help us rise again by Your grace and keep walking with our eyes fixed on You. Teach us not to give up when we stumble, but to trust Your mercy, receive Your strength, and continue following Jesus one step at a time.In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. Bonus Non-Published ContentRay’s Reflection — When We StumbleOne thing I have learned in ministry is that many Christians want to run and hide when they stumble. They fall short, make a mistake, say the wrong thing, give in to weakness, or fail in some area of life, and then they pull away from church, from fellowship, and sometimes even from prayer.What surprises them is that I am not shocked.I expect people to stumble. I expect people to fall. Not because I think poorly of them, but because I know the human heart — and I know my own. My own scabby knees are bruised, battered, and marked with scars from where I have fallen along the way. I know what it is to need grace. I know what it is to be lifted by the Father’s mercy when I did not deserve it.So when someone comes to me broken, ashamed, or afraid of being judged, I do not meet them with condemnation. I meet them with the same love and grace the Father has shown me.That does not mean we excuse sin or pretend failure does not matter. It means we remember that falling is not the same as being finished.When you stumble, do not run from the Father. Run to Him. He already knows, and His hand is still extended, as is mine, in His name.In His loveray

When We Stumble

Walking with Jesus 31 Days to a Closer Walk Day 9 — The Narrow Way“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” — Matthew 7:14The narrow path may not be crowded or comfortable, but it leads to life — true life, abundant life, and eternal life in Christ.Walking with Jesus requires both surrender and courage. The road is often steep, and the journey may bring challenges that test our faith, our patience, and our commitment. But the narrowness of the way is not punishment. It is protection.God, in His wisdom, guides us away from the distractions, dangers, and wide roads that can so easily lead us astray. The world offers many paths that appear easy, popular, and pleasing for the moment, but not every road leads to life.As you walk this narrow way, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. The path may feel difficult at times. It may even feel lonely. But you are not walking it alone. Christ walks beside you, giving strength in weakness, light in darkness, and courage when the road ahead seems hard.Trust His presence. Follow His lead. Keep walking the narrow way, because the road that leads to life is always worth the journey.Let us pray.Dear Heavenly Father, give us courage to walk the narrow way, even when it feels lonely. Keep our hearts fixed on You and our eyes focused on Jesus. Protect us from the distractions and temptations that would lead us away from You. Strengthen us to follow faithfully, trusting that the road You lead us on is the road that leads to life.In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen. Bonus Non-Published ContentRay’s Reflection — The Narrow WayIn the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” That is a powerful prayer, but it also raises a serious question: How can we expect the Lord to lead us if we are not walking with Him?Too often, we want God to rescue us from the ditch after we ignored His direction on the road. We want deliverance from evil, but we keep wandering close to the places, habits, and voices that pull us away from Him.The narrow way is not just about avoiding sin. It is about staying close enough to Jesus to follow where He leads. A shepherd can guide the sheep that stay near him. But when sheep wander, they become easy prey.When we pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” we are asking God to guide our steps before we fall. When we pray, “Deliver us from evil,” we are admitting we cannot defeat darkness in our own strength.Walking with Jesus means daily surrender. It means letting Him choose the path, even when it is narrow, unpopular, or hard. The safest place in the world is not the easiest road — it is the road where Jesus is leading.Stay close to Him. The narrow way is where His voice is clearest.