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

In today’s episode, Spiritual Fitness Coach Donna Amidon shares one word that will change your focus and ultimately, your world! Let OTHERS be your focus today and watch how this simple shift in focus can change not only the lives of those around you, but your life as well.

What do you do when the unfairness of life starts to stack up? Coach Gary Dunker points to the life of Paul to help you find the biblical recipe for making lemonade from life’s lemons. When discontentment weighs you down, pray aloud these words—“God help me be content. For I have learned I can do all things through You who strengthens me.”

What does baseball have to do with forgiving yourself? Quite a bit if you listen to this message about the time Peter thought he had “struck out” with Jesus. Spiritual Fitness Coach Paula Lube encourages you not to bench yourself, but to get back in the game! Be honest with Jesus about your sins and shortcomings. Take them to Him so He can forgive, renew and reinstate you just like He did for Peter!

Have you ever done something foolish because you were angry? Probably. Right? Spiritual Fitness Coach Jon Winkelman shares wisdom from the Scriptures to help you slow things down and consider the outcome of your actions before anger makes you foolish! Before you act out in anger, stop and consider if that action is something foolish. Slow down. Remember your anger does not produce the righteousness of God!

If wrong thinking leads to wrong feeling, then where might right thinking lead you?  Spiritual Fitness Coach Shannon Lenz gives you a reset for discouragement with a look at how mindset matters! Rather than focus on your problems, turn to God’s Word and focus on a passage that is encouraging, wise, right, pure, clean, true, and righteous. Write it down. Think about it throughout the day.

What do you do when you feel adrift on the sea of loneliness with nowhere to land? Today, Coach Caleb White helps you navigate your way through loneliness with some helpful tools to bring you into community with God and His people. When feeling lonely, turn to God in prayer. Pour out your heart to Him and trust that He listens and cares for you. When you see others who are lonely, reach out and encourage them! Who can you encourage today?

Today you’re going to be faced with lots of choices and decisions. What will you base those decisions on? Coach Justus’ spiritual workout plan for the day is all about recognizing and exercising God’s peace in all you do! How do you plan to share the peace and love of Christ everywhere you go today? We’d love to hear your plan in the comments below!

Spiritual Fitness Coach Lydia Robertson explains the difference between thoughts that ruin your life and thoughts that run your life based on the hope we have in Jesus! Write some or all of these words from Philippians 4:8 on a sticky note: true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise. Put your note in a familiar place to help you refocus your thoughts on Jesus and the hope you have in Him.

Daily stress turns many of us into emotional bombs. Who knows when we’ll blow up unless we can be effectively diffused! Today, Coach Kelsey Coppinger helps us reflect on the spiritual practices of Jesus and what they teach us about self-control. Take time to truly reflect on the habits of your days. Write them down. Then, see where and in what ways you can cut out the world and fill it with what is truly life-giving. What changes might you make?

Since you use your imagination to worry about things that haven’t happened yet, what would happen if you imagined Jesus showing up in your worst-case scenario? John Comstock challenges you to look at worry in a new way. Give yourself 15 minutes to write down what you’re worried about. When you finish imagining the worst-case scenario, place Jesus in the scene and ask Him, “Jesus, what is it I need to know about You to trust You more and worry less?”

Jesus was kind first so you can be kind today! Coach Faith points to the love, compassion, and kindness demonstrated by Jesus, and given to you to share with others! Jesus was kind first so that we can be kind today. Pray that He would fill your heart with kindness. Then ask Him to lead you to someone to share His kindness with!

You can’t build one another up while simultaneously tearing each other down. Yet, that’s what criticizing does. Coach Jon Winkelman gives us a spiritual change of perspective today so we can reverse this damaging pattern! Pray that God would help you see yourself clearly … just as clear as the people you see who need God’s mercy. When you see yourself clearly, you’ll be able to build others up as God commands.

It’s not hard to express joy and devotion to God when our prayers are answered the way we expect. But what about the other times, those occasions when God answers in unexpected, even uncomfortable ways? Coach Shannon Lenz challenges us with this question today. Write out a prayer of praise to God, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. Remember that God is sovereign. He is in control. One day, He will right all wrongs. So, rejoice in the LORD always and let the jo

Where is God when you’re discouraged? Coach Ricky Kennedy helps you recognize the encouragement of God’s voice in the everyday parts of life! Today, if you’re discouraged, listen for God’s voice through prayer and Scripture. Remember that God is at work in the small, everyday things of your life.

There are things to do and things not to do when you’re angry! Spiritual Fitness Coach Sherri Kreps reveals the Bible’s wisdom and practicality for helping you control your anger. In keeping with Ephesians 4:26-27, First, make sure that when you’re angry you are careful about avoiding sin. Then, do not go to bed angry. Be determined to settle your differences to avoid giving the devil an opportunity in your life.

A central mark of a growing Christian is one who is increasingly obedient, steadfast, and loyal to God. Spiritual Fitness Coach Caleb White explains the key to this growth along with some baby steps for achieving it. Be faithful today. Ask God what He wants you to do, then do it!

Greed whispers that a little more, a little newer, a little nicer will bring happiness. Coach Donna Amidon shows you how to break free from the insidious grip of greed and live for what matters most! What has you in the grip of greed? Pray about it and take a step to break this grip on your life. Then, live for what matters most!

To recognize a lie, you must first know the truth! Today Coach Seth Walker emphasizes the importance of knowing God and His plan of grace so you won’t fall for the schemes of the evil one. Stick with our 4-step spiritual workout plan each day! We’ll be here to cheer you on and pray. Once you make getting into God’s Word a regular practice, the more you’ll be able to recognize and understand the things of God!

What’s the wait time? That’s our question for many things in life, but as Kate Dreesen points out, while the wait time with God is unpredictable, He is faithful, and patience pays off! Today, as you wait for the big and small things, focus on Romans 8:25 and Psalm 37:6-7 to help you remember that God is faithful, and patience pays off! And if you know someone struggling to be patient, share what you’ve learned and encourage them as they wait on God.

Feeling stuck in complacency or longing for more? Join Coach Alex as he explores the difference between complacency and true contentment. Discover through Philippians 4 how trusting God brings lasting joy and satisfaction. If you’re struggling with contentment, evaluate why you desire more. Then, pray and confess your desire to be filled up and satisfied in things of the world. Ask God to help you be content and joyful with what He has given you, how He has provided for you,

Where you look makes a difference! Coach Lydia Robertson explains that looking up at God rather than down at others gives you the humility you need to see the Lord’s plans and designs, not your own! Practice “looking up” and identifying what God is doing. When we see the goodness of God, we are quickly humbled!

Does self-control seem out of reach? It is, unless you have the power of Christ to depend on. Today, Coach Zane helps you choose Jesus rather than your own desires. Identify one area in your life where you can “die” to your own desires and choose Christ instead.

Striving to be honest and not lie is commendable, but Coach Jenny Hietbrink says there is a better way! Learn about the beautiful reality of being set free to live honestly through Christ. Identify one area in your life where dishonesty has taken root. Pray to God in asking for His forgiveness and help to change. Then, take a concrete step towards honesty, whether it’s confessing your dishonesty, correcting a lie, or choosing to speak the truth even when it’s hard. Live freel

Do your doubts and fears shut you down spiritually? Coach Justus Coppinger talks about this problem and gives you encouragement to take one step, then the next, then ... Examine your life, remember your gifts, and remember the God who gave them to you. Where in your life are you particularly gifted, and how can you use that as an opportunity for Jesus to shine his love and grace through you?