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

You can’t sustain a daily sprint through life. It’s distance that counts! Today fitness coach Mark Geist introduces you to spiritual marathon training for the race that is set before you. Whatever step you take in today’s spiritual race, be sure to share it with someone so they can hold you accountable and encourage you!

You can climb the ladder of self-promotion, but you’ll never reach the top! Thankfully, there is a better way – learning how to walk in the humility of Christ. Today, Coach Caleb White gives us a foothold for revealing pride and growing in humility. Let’s set aside our pride today, seek God's grace, walk in humility, and allow Christ to shine through us as the real hero. Think about this. Pray about it. Do it!

Some of our most important lessons from God are learned while ... waiting. Shannon explains that having patience for the big things requires our attention for the little things as well! When you have to wait—for your food, for the elevator, or when you get stuck in traffic -- take a deep breath, pray, and ask God to help you develop patience in the little things, so you can learn to be patient in the big, important things

It’s always something! Even if you’re not experiencing a catastrophe, there are constant interruptions to your life and fires you’re always busy putting out. So, where’s the peace? Coach Gary Dunker points you to the source of true peace and eternal certainty. Today, seek to grow in peace by spending time in God’s Word where the Holy Spirit can be found.

Need some inspiration? Spiritual Fitness Coach Sherri Kreps encourages you to face life, not halfheartedly, but with ALL your heart by giving yourself to God’s plan and His power. Discover motivation that will change your work life, your relationships, and your faith! Think of an area in your life where you are just getting by and commit to work at that one area as though the Lord is your boss or supervisor. Think of a relationship in your life that could use some nurturing.

Your generosity isn’t measured by what you give but how you give. Spiritual Fitness Coach Seth Walker shares Jesus’ perspective for seeing and filling the needs of those around you. Earnestly look for the needs of others and ask God to point out how you can help them. Then … DO IT! That is how you can win today!

Jealousy, envy, and discontentment—the Bible warns us about these feelings, but they’re hard to overcome unless you understand the cause. Coach Donna Amidon helps us get to the root of the problem with Scripture. The next time you feel yourself getting a little ruffled by someone else’s promotion, success, or possession—take a step back, pause, and pray, “Father, thank you for all the blessings in my life. Help me learn to be content. With you, I have everything I need.”

Do things that used to bring you joy now seem stale? Do you constantly need more or crave something different? Spiritual Fitness Coach Zane Sherrer addresses this common snag in our lives and gives us a new way to see, celebrate, and appreciate God’s blessings! Write a list of things you are thankful for! Think of fond memories and experiences. Consider how God has changed your perspective or healed you of certain sin patterns. What about the earthly blessings He has provided

Coach Shannon Lenz is no stranger to pain and pity-parties. But she also knows the reality of renewal and all that Jesus has planned for His family now, and in the future! Enjoy this encouraging message and share it with someone you know! When you’re tempted to pity yourself, praise God instead. Thank Him for His promise that one day, our pain and suffering will cease. Tell Him that it hurts and it’s hard but that you trust Him and know eternal glory awaits. Ask Him to help y

Spiritual Fitness Coach Jon Winkelman reminds us that living life with others is like holding an egg -- it requires gentleness and self-control! Discover how to exercise these two key characteristics of a Christ Follower! When we feel our control slipping, when we feel an ungentle response rising, we can choose to take a deep breath, and ask Jesus to help us respond with gentleness.

Win today with a spiritual lifeline that will hold your head and heart above the tough waters of discouragement. Coach Kate Dreesen shares words of wisdom to help you remember God will take care of you every day! Kate picked a favorite old hymn “God Will Take Care of You” to help remind her of the Lord’s promises in tough times. Do you have an encouraging song or hymn to remember? Keep it in mind to help you remember that God will always be with you!

In today’s spiritual fitness workout, Coach Caleb White explains the biblical plan for how to grow in the fruit of the Spirit with a look at grapes and the goodness of God! To grow in goodness, remain connected to Jesus. Perhaps that includes confessing some sin that is holding you back. Trust His promise that you will produce much fruit and grow in goodness when you abide with Him!

Imagine being a teenage girl, engaged, and pregnant – with the Son of God! Through this difficult situation, Mary demonstrated a very important part of spiritual fitness – perseverance. Sherri Kreps talks about the importance and the blessings of humbly and continually pursuing God in all things! Today, give up control and trust God instead. Continue to persevere by believing in His promises, giving thanks, and praying for your needs, with thanksgiving!

Today, Coach Ricky Kennedy introduces you to “quick, slow, slow” – an important spiritual fitness principle that sets the pace for patience and understanding rather than anger! Today, memorize James 1:19 and start being quick to listen to God in His word and slow to speak.

We’re used to fast food, one-minute rice, and same-day shipping. We’re NOT used to waiting. Coach Caleb White shows us the importance of patience and the role it plays in our spiritual maturity. If you’re feeling impatient, admit this to God and invite Him to help you trust and wait patiently for Him to act. Ask another person to pray for you in this matter as well.

Have you ever been spiritually stuck; feeling like you’re going through the motions without getting anywhere? Coach Lydia Robertson addresses this common problem with an exercise to help you look behind, around, and ahead at God’s faithfulness in your life. Identify what God has done in your life, what He is doing in your life, and what you know He will do in your life. Write these things down or share them with a friend. Then, be prayerfully expectant of His faithfulness!

Are you honest with yourself? With God? With others? Today Mark Geist shares a personal story of how Scripture helped him break free from the lies that controlled how he lived. Today’s honesty challenge: 1) Be honest with yourself. Is there some part of your life that you have been lying to others about to the point that even you believe it? 2) Be honest with God. Ask for His forgiveness and guidance to free yourself from the snare of deceit. 3) Be honest with other people. I

Self-control is a valuable gift, so don’t let it sit around gathering dust! Coach Kate Dreesen shares real-life examples and wise words from the Bible to give you plenty of reasons and ways to live a life of self-control. As you encounter problems and sudden unexpected changes to plans, remember 1 Timothy 1:7: 7 God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Self-control is a gift from God, and you can use it today!

What are you saying about yourself when you criticize others? Today Spiritual Fitness Coach Jon Winkelman looks at what often hides inside a critical heart, and what Jesus said was the cure. This is the cure for a critical heart: Stop looking at everyone else and follow Jesus!  How will you follow Jesus today?

Where does your anger come from? Spiritual Fitness Coach Sherri Kreps shares her personal story of discovering the source of her anger and how the Lord helped her. The next time you feel your anger rising, stop and take a close look at your thoughts. What's prompting these feelings? Do they rise from a problem you can solve? Seek a way to calmly address that issue. Is it because of something you have no control over? Then don't let it control you either!

You weren’t made to be alone. Or lonely. So, what can you do about loneliness? What do you need to know about it? Who do you need to reach out to? In today’s episode, John Comstock invites you to be known and accepted into a deep fellowship with Jesus. For yourself, use John’s questions to consider how Jesus truly loves you. For someone else, ask God to point out someone you can take notice of and rejoice in knowing that this can become an invitation for them to experience th

How do you get past your past? How do you forgive yourself? Spiritual Fitness Coach Seth Walker leads today’s training session on one of the mainstays of spiritual health – receiving God’s forgiveness. Go to the Lord. Confess your sin. Receive His forgiveness. And remember: You are forgiven. You ARE forgiven!

No one is immune to discouragement. In fact, discouragement existed in the lives of many biblical heroes! Join Donna Amidon for a look at how God led Elijah through deep discouragement and back into a life of hope and service. He’ll do the same for you! If you’ve been going at a fast pace and your heart is discouraged, take time to refresh your soul. Maybe that means reaching out for help, committing to less at work, taking more time to rest, or spending time with friends who

Sometimes we confuse criticizing others with being truthful. And the line between the two can get pretty grey. So what are we to do? Caleb helps us understand. Think of a person in your life you recently criticized. Confess that to the Lord and to that person. It will probably feel uncomfortable, but what an opportunity to share what Jesus has done in your life. It might even lead to an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus for their life!