NEWS, ARTICLES, DEVOTIONS AND MORE FROM BttB...

Forgiveness is not easy, but do you fully understand the alternative? Coach Donna Amidon shows us the reality of hanging on to sin and anger compared to the ultimate blessing of forgiving others. Find out how, with God’s help, you CAN forgive. Think of that person you may be harboring anger toward and ask God to help you let go of your anger and walk in the freedom that forgiveness brings.

“Why?” It’s the shortest yet most often asked question about discouragement. Coach Justus goes to the Book of Psalms for a training session on making it through discouragement. Remember that God is with you, He has poured out His love on you, and He will see you through this season, even if it is hard.

Do your thoughts take you captive, imprisoning you from living fully? Mark helps you reverse this destructive pattern with a powerful strategy to help you take your thoughts captive and live the life you were designed to live! Today, commit to renewing your mind with God’s Word, prayer, and positive practices, trusting that He will transform our thoughts and lead us into a life of victory and abundance!

We shouldn’t be easily angered. Right? But we all have our boiling points, so what happens when things start heating up? Spiritual Fitness Coach Jon Winkelman introduces you to the true source of self-control. When you feel your anger raging and your control slipping, let that be the trigger to Pause. Pray. Yield.

How well are you seeing others? Yourself? Coach Justus helps us dial in the focus so we won’t miss the opportunities Jesus offers to heal the brokenness in our own lives as well as in the lives of others. Remember that others are just like you - human, and instead of focusing on what you can be critical of, focus on how you can show kindness and love to them!

Have you ever watched a little boy who wants to be just like his daddy? He studies his father’s every move and mimics him. Coach Shannon reminds us that our Heavenly Father invites us to do the same! Spend some quality time with your Heavenly Father through prayer and studying your Bible. Then, follow in His footsteps and do what He does. For starters, you can dress like Him. Take off the lying and deceit like the filthy old jacket that it is and clothe yourself in honesty an

When we look at God’s faithfulness, we see a truly perfect example of how we too can be faithful! Lydia Robertson points out the very real and powerful aspects of how getting to know God in any season leads you into a deeper faith. Pray out loud today: “O Lord, how many times have you graciously led me through doubt into a deeper faith? Do so again, my Lord and my God! Even now. Do so again!” (Prayer by Douglas McKelvey from the Liturgy for Nights & Days of Doubt.)

No way around it, the way you develop perseverance is through trial! Alejandro Duran opens the Bible to the book of James, an expert on perseverance, to discover how God grows this trait in our character and how to receive it with joy. Are you ready to embrace the trials that God may allow to mold you and shape you? Count it all joy when you meet them because your spiritual muscles are being worked on so that you can persevere and win today!

If you want to grow in faith, you must remember that you are always in training! Coach Mark gives you a workout plan for strengthening your spiritual muscles and allowing God to challenge and assist you one step at a time! When it comes to growing in faith, remember that you are always in training. Your faith is being strengthened with each step you take. So, be consistent with daily Bible reading, keep trusting, keep praying, and watch as your faith grows stronger.

Jesus knows the frenzy of your life. He cares and He wants you to be prepared for the future. But He also tells you to “stay on today”. Spiritual Fitness Coach Donna Amidon shares His comforting words to help you focus on today and not worry about tomorrow. Don’t fret over the future, but ask yourself, what needs to be done today? Then, stay on today!

Are you haunted by your past? By things you’ve done or said? Today, Caleb White coaches you through what it takes to forgive yourself and move forward in the freedom Christ offers. Reflect on something you haven’t forgiven yourself for and take it to the Lord in prayer. Tell Him you’ve had a hard time forgiving yourself and then by faith trust that He has already forgiven you for it. Then, choose to forgive yourself and move forward in freedom, one step at a time.

One day at a time. One step at a time. One prayer at a time. That’s what it takes to persevere. Coach Mark gives biblical tips to help you persevere through your unique spiritual fitness journey. Start every day by praying to God and asking Him to reveal the next step you need to take today. One day at a time. One step at a time.

Imagine a horse who wastes away longing to eat grass on the other side of the fence while ignoring the abundant grazing on his side! Coach Caleb takes us back to the Bible and the lines of an old hymn to help us recognize the antidote for jealousy. Make a list of the blessings God has given you. Include as many things as possible. How many can you list before you go to bed? Can you get to 1000 in a month? This also presents a great opportunity to tell others about your blessi

Growing in faith requires patience. Patience requires faith. Donna Amidon takes us through this important cycle of spiritual life and urges us to never give up! Keep doing what is good, trusting that the roots you're nurturing now will grow into a harvest in the future.

Want your faith to grow? Start by learning about the faithfulness of Jesus! Alejandro Duran talks about the journey of following Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Spend time with Jesus today. Learn from Him, imitate Him and He will, by the power of His Spirit, grow your character and faithfulness.

“How am I glorifying God in what I’m doing?” That’s the question Coach Alex Leyva encourages you to ask to overcome laziness and live on purpose, for a purpose! Ask yourself “How am I glorifying God in what I’m doing?” Pray to God for the endurance to continue working hard to glorify Him! In all you do, remember your purpose to glorify God!

There will always be things in life that make us angry, and in some situations, that is the proper response. However, what we do with our anger matters. Coach Jon Winkelman explains this with a tale about a trumpet, a violin, and self-control. Self-control is possible and you can win today over anger. How? By living at peace with others and trusting God to take care of any vengeance.

Do you feel like you’re spinning your wheels on your spiritual journey? Get some traction with a powerful message from Donna Amidon that will help you break out of the rut! Be a Doer of the Word. The next time you hear a message or sermon that speaks to your heart -- DO something about it. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to bring change. When you are a DOER of the word, you will be blessed!

Jealousy is referred to as the green-eyed monster for good reason – it destroys relationships. But, as Justus Coppinger explains, jealousy also corrupts our own hearts. Find out how God's wisdom replaces "the monster” with peace and love! When you feel yourself starting to get jealous, focus instead on how you can love the person you are jealous of better.

Spiritual Fitness Coach Nick Orduna shares the principles of faithfulness. Discover what faithfulness is, how it grows in your life, and the ultimate example of this much-needed attribute! Spend some time meditating on words of Psalm 36:5, write them down and remember them today: "Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds."

How do you grow in goodness? How do you even describe goodness, especially the goodness of God? Spiritual Fitness Coach Sherri Kreps explains, encourages, and challenges you to a specific, prolific growth pattern for goodness found in God’s Word! Read and/or memorize John 15:4-5. Remain in Christ. Intentionally take steps this week to “stay with Him by committing some time each day for prayer and reading God’s Word. Finally, remember that apart from Christ you can do nothing!

Today, fitness coach Mark Geist takes you through Scripture and a thought exercise to help you focus on God’s blessings and pray for his strength over worry and anxiety. When you start to worry, close your eyes and focus on the good things in your life. Then, ask God for His strength over worry and anxiety. Finally, consider memorizing a few key verses to ground you and help you refocus on God’s blessings.

What’s it like to know me? Donna Amidon challenges you to ask yourself this simple, but important question as she shares Scriptural wisdom about how to win today with compassion and kindness. Ask yourself: “What is it like to know me? What is it like to LIVE with me or be around me? Then, remember to “put on” kindness!

Regardless of where you keep your money – your pocketbook, your bank, or stashed in a hole in your closet – you hold on to it with your heart! Jon Winkelman helps you loosen that hold today as he coaches us on overcoming the love of $$$! To win today over greed, learn to love Jesus more by getting into His Word, fellowshipping with God in prayer, and spending time with His people. What small steps, “pivots” will you take to any or all of this today?