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

When it comes to growth, the right diet is crucial. Today Coach Gary Dunker prescribes the spiritual nourishment you need to grow goodness in your life and share it with others! Seek to “grow in goodness” by spending time in God’s Word where the Holy Spirit can be found. Then find ways to exercise goodness in your neighborhood, with family, in church, a local college, or elsewhere.

Jesus left His followers with a gift to take with them through every single day: peace of mind and heart. Lydia Robertson coaches us to connect, live, and grow in this important spiritual fitness ingredient. Ask Jesus for the peace that He offers. This can be a simple prayer - “Jesus, please give me your peace today.” Also, pray for an opportunity to share the peace you experience from Jesus with someone else!

Learn how to send jealousy’s ugly passions packing as Coach Jon Winkelman shares the truth of how God provides what you need when you need it! When we feel jealousy begin to take root in our lives, we must remember that God has given us everything we need. How will you remember that today?

What do you do when you feel discouraged because of discouragement? Shannon shares about who you can count on to keep you from going under, even when you’re flooded with despair. Memorize 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Write it down on a notecard and post it in a prominent place. Then remember, His grace is sufficient for you. He’s the one who makes you strong!

What makes you apathetic or lazy? What slows you down to the point of bringing your life to a halt? Today Coach Zane Sherrer helps you identify and shed the lies of laziness so you can get up and give glory to God! Think of one practical step you can take to reject laziness and do something for the glory of God!

There’s a healthy satisfaction that goes along with a do-it-yourself project.  But when DIY means excluding God from all your decisions and deadlines, it means pride has taken over and it's time to learn to lean on God’s strength!  Donna Amidon shows that there’s no harm in admitting you can’t do it all yourself! Think of ONE thing you need God’s help to do in your life. Then humble yourself and pray, “God, You are the Most High God. I need you. I can't do this alone. I humbl

Sometimes, the most dishonest things we wrestle with are our thoughts about our identity. Coach Alex shares how he knows this kind of struggle first-hand, and how God reminds him of the honest truth and helps him live accordingly!  Meditate on the good news that God made you His masterpiece for His good works. Reflect on how He has changed you and used you for his good purposes to impact other people's lives! Your identity is not given to you by people's definitions or assump

Would you be more patient if you knew that today is the day Jesus comes back? That’s the challenge Coach Kate poses as she helps you reprioritize life and reset your heart with a little more patience. Say out loud right now, “Maybe today is the day.” And tomorrow, when you open your curtain in the morning, say it again. Make a habit of turning your mind to the coming of the Lord and patience will come with it!

Commandment doesn’t sound like a word you’d find in a Valentine's poem, but Spiritual Fitness Coach Justus explains that loving each other as Christ commanded us to do is a high privilege that brings us to our knees and raises us and the people we love to new spiritual heights! Show those around you what it means to love like Jesus. Search for opportunities to humble yourself, serve others, show kindness, and be a friend to someone who needs one! Pray for God to open your eye

We wish for willpower. We sometimes exhibit restraint. But how do you become a person known for self-control? Coach Sherri Kreps points us to the person, the power and the perfect example of self-control! First, commit to knowing God and the truths of His Word so that you will know and grow in self-control. Next, pray continually for God’s strength to respond and act in His grace!

There are over 8 billion people on earth, yet it’s quite common to feel lonely! Coach Justus leads today’s spiritual fitness workout to help you understand that even when you feel isolated, you are not alone. You may feel lonely, but you’re not alone! Jesus is with you and He wants you to turn to Him, follow where He goes, do what He does, and love who He loves!

Destructive thoughts come from a dark dangerous place. The Good News is that Jesus transfers you AND your thoughts to a new place. Coach Faith Sherrer explains how to access the freedom you’ll find there. As you take in God’s Word today, consider how you will replace old thoughts with new, scriptural thoughts. Write them down, go over them, pray about them and remember that Jesus has set you free.

Does Jesus leave you behind in your sin addiction?  Is He angry with you, or is He angry FOR you?  Spiritual Fitness Coach John Comstock shares the good news of Jesus’ presence, His love, and His willingness to heal your heart as well as your addiction!  Ask Jesus to show you where He is when you succumb to temptation. In the light of today’s message and Scripture, write down the emotions you believe He experiences about you in those moments and ask Him to show you the truth

Ever wondered if prayer really makes a difference? Today Donna Amidon takes us into the life of a great prayer warrior to discover the importance and impact of asking others to pray for you. Think of ONE thing you can be praying for. Whatever it is, pray with fervency and anticipation, and like Paul, you can ask us to join you in the comments below!

Anger itself isn’t a sin. It’s what you do with anger that matters. But what if you’re angry ... at God? Is that ok? Jon Winkelman helps you see the balance between anger and honoring God. Today, if you find yourself feeling angry with God, cry out to Him. When we cry out to God, and seek Him in His Word, He always answers!

When people encountered Jesus, there was something irresistible about His gentle nature. There still is! Faith Sherrer encourages you to get to know “Jesus the Gentle” and let His peaceful spirit instill gentleness in you! Read about Jesus from the Bible. (The Book of John is a good source.) As you read, picture His gentle and quiet spirit. Allow yourself time to take this in and be in awe!

Today, Spiritual Fitness Coach Mark Geist uses two characters in the Bible – Peter and Judas – to show the importance of forgiving yourself; how to accept that forgiveness and how to live afterward. When we admit that something we did is wrong, it’s the first step toward forgiveness. That next critical choice is to take the road of forgiving ourselves (remember, God forgives you) and see what God can do in our lives.

We are generally quick to want forgiveness. But giving forgiveness? Yes, it’s hard. However, as Coach Shannon explains, with Christ, we have every reason and the ability to forgive. Spend some time in prayer about someone you need to forgive. Ask God to soften your heart towards that person. Remember: Forgive the way you want to be forgiven, the way the Lord has forgiven you. Let go of all the hurt that you’ve been holding on to and forgive them in your heart. Then, reach out

If you’ve ever been shot down by someone’s criticism, then you know the pain it causes. Today Coach Jonathan helps you take aim at your pride instead of other people’s flaws! Think about the people you feel most critical toward. Write down three things you are thankful for about each of them. Then pray for them. Thank God for putting them in your life and making them the way they are with the unique gifts that you just wrote down. Ask God to give you a spirit of humility towa

It’s hard to move forward in life when you’re stuck in guilt! Coach Donna Amidon shows you how to break ties with your past so you can be released to walk in freedom and forgiveness. Focus Forward. If there’s something from your past that’s weighing you down, bring it to God and ask for his forgiveness. Then like Paul, focus on the purpose and assignment God has for you.

When you face seasons of uncertainty, failure, or fatigue, you don't need to let discouragement define you! Coach Nat Crawford shares God’s plan for strengthening you when your hopes are down. Embrace God’s power! Today, affirm God’s strength in your life. Pray for His power to fill you, remembering that His strength is made perfect in your weakness!

Are there days when you feel paralyzed by fear or worry? Spiritual Growth Coach Alejandro Duran shares three powerful reasons for you to have hope and courage in God! Today, take these words from Joshua with you: “for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!” Say this and think about this as you go through your day ... then let us know how the Lord has helped you be strong and courageous!

Why should you fear God? And how does this idea fit with growing in the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord? Coach Faith Sherrer explains this powerful spiritual connection for you in today’s episode! To grow in the knowledge of the Lord, start reading through the Book of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters in it, so a chapter a day can be your goal for a month! Also, remember to ask God to give you wisdom. That’s a request He has promised to answer!

Moses, a model of leadership and faith, shows us that no one is immune to the pitfalls of anger. Nat Crawford talks about what we can learn from Moses to help control our anger and reflect God’s good name instead. Today, before reacting to a situation with anger, take a moment to pause and pray. Strive to respond in a way that reflect God’s patience, love, and mercy. Let us know how you do!