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SPIRITUALLY FIT | TODAY In this episode of Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole and guest Gary Dunker reflect on living a purposeful life at any age. Drawing inspiration from Joshua 14:10-12 and the story of Caleb, Gary shares how every season of life prepares us for God's calling. Discover four key takeaways for staying spiritually strong, embracing new challenges, and making a lasting impact, no matter your stage in life. BACK TO THE BIBLE DAILY In this episode of Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen explores Peter’s restoration by Jesus in John 21:15–19. Discover how Jesus meets Peter at the scene of his greatest failure, offers forgiveness, and recommissions him for ministry. Learn how God specializes in restoration and how your past failures do not disqualify you from His purpose. ADDITIONAL STEPS: STEP 1 - RECEIVE (Receive God's Word and Grow in Bible Knowledge) Peter is one whose story could easily have ended in tragedy. On the night before Jesus died, Peter denied even knowing the man he had come to recognize as Savior and Lord. But his story doesn't end there and here in the beginning of Acts he preaches a powerful sermon that struck the hearts of many. We'll consider God's forgiveness and the power of His Word. STEP 2 - REFLECT (How does this Scripture Apply to your life?) Granted, there are types of deceptions that can be kind of fun. Like a surprise birthday party, or making a cake that looks like a tennis shoe. But more often than not, deceptions hurt not just others, but ourselves as well. Join Karmin today as she shares some wisdom from Jesus in the Bible that will help you stay honest. STEP 3 - RESPOND (How will you Win Today?) 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. It might hurt, but that pain will allow you to live in truth! STEP 4 - REVEAL (How will you reveal Jesus to others today through praying and sharing?) In the face of unimaginable suffering, Jesus prayed. Arnie leads our prayer time today as we follow Jesus' example and turn to Him in prayer for the strength to face our own difficulties. BONUS STEP Click HERE for your DAILY FORWARD DEVOTIONAL

There is a particular kind of exhaustion that settles into our bones when life unexpectedly falls apart. We face a real, grinding tension in everyday life: the sudden loss of a job, a devastating health diagnosis, the painful fracturing of a close relationship, or the quiet ache of unfulfilled hope. In those heavy moments, well-meaning people often try to comfort us by tossing out familiar phrases like greeting card slogans. The most common one you will hear is a casual summary of Scripture: "Don't worry, God is going to work everything out for good". While intended to heal, this reduction can leave us feeling isolated, confused, or guilty if our circumstances do not suddenly resolve into a happy ending. We look at the broken pieces of our lives and wonder if we lack the faith to unlock God's blessing, or if He has simply forgotten us in our pain. But the truth found in God’s Word is far more honest, grounded, and deeply comforting than any superficial sentiment. When we slow down and examine what Scripture actually promises, we find an immovable anchor for our souls in the middle of life's fiercest storms. Moving Past the Misunderstandings of a Familiar Verse Romans 8:28 is arguably one of the most frequently quoted verses in the entire Bible, yet it is simultaneously one of the most misunderstood. The version many of us carry around in our memories acts as a blanket promise that everything will turn out comfortably if we just wait long enough. We instinctively define "good" as a positive earthly outcome: the problem getting resolved, financial lacks being filled, or our plans coming together exactly as we envisioned. The Apostle Paul is not offering empty, optimistic speculation or a superficial band-aid for deep human suffering. He is making a bold, clear statement of confident faith that is firmly anchored in salvific theology. This famous verse does not exist in a vacuum; it stands as the triumphant summary of a long, brilliant explanation of God’s absolute love, our permanent adoption as His children, the active ministry of the Holy Spirit, and our unbreakable security in Christ. Take a slow, deep breath and remember: your security in God’s family is entirely unbreakable, no matter how chaotic your present circumstances feel. The opening words of this verse declare a settled certainty: "And we know". This is not a fragile wish or a desperate hope. It is the solid, immovable ground upon which a believer can safely stand when the world completely shakes around them. Knowing What Is Included in All Things To fully wrap our hearts around this truth, we must pay close attention to the sweeping scope of Paul's language. The text specifies that "all things" work together. The Apostle is incredibly deliberate here, choosing not to carve out a single exception to this rule. This means the phrase encompasses far more than just your seasons of spiritual fruitfulness, your answered prayers, or your joyful mountaintop experiences. "All things" boldly includes the agonizing seasons, the deep losses, the unfair treatments, and the heavy failures. It encompasses the painful sins that have been committed against you by others, and even the heartbreaking collateral damage of the sins you have committed against people you love. Every chapter of your story that feels entirely wasted, empty, or ruined is fully grouped into those two massive words: all things. God does not look at your broken pieces and declare them outside of His reach. There is no dark valley, no past regret, and no current crisis so severe that it falls outside the boundary of His sovereign management. The Blueprint of the Master Weaver A crucial distinction we must make is that the Bible does not say every individual thing that happens to you is inherently good. To claim that every event is good would be a terrible lie. Evil is genuinely evil. Suffering is deeply painful and tragic. Many experiences we endure in this fallen, broken world are entirely contrary to God’s perfect design. Scripture never demands that you practice a form of toxic positivity where you are forced to call bad things good. You are allowed to look at a loss, a betrayal, or a tragedy and say with absolute honesty that it is completely terrible. Think of it like a beautiful master tapestry. If you look at the underside of a tapestry, it appears messy, filled with dark threads, tangled knots, and random lines that seem to make no sense at all. But the Weaver is orchestrating, combining, and weaving those dark, painful threads together with the light ones into a larger, intentional pattern. God takes the very things life throws at you, or what the enemy intended for your ultimate destruction, and He masterfully overrides them to accomplish a beautiful design. Lord, give me the eyes of faith to trust Your hidden hands when all I can see are the tangled, messy threads of life. Redefining the True Meaning of Good This forces us to confront the foundational question that changes everything: What is the actual "good" that God is working toward? If it is not a guarantee of financial comfort, a smooth career path, or a life completely free of hardship, then what is it? Paul does not leave us to guess or wander in theological confusion. He defines this in the very next sentence: "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son". This is the ultimate prize. The supreme good that the Father is relentlessly pursuing in your life is your deep spiritual transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ. God's primary focus is not necessarily making your life comfortable or resolving every dilemma according to your personal timeline. His focus is making you holy, resilient, full of grace, and deeply rooted in Him. He is using every single circumstance to chip away at your pride, your self-reliance, and your fears, gradually shaping you to reflect the heart, character, and love of Jesus. The Real Classroom of Spiritual Formation If you look back honestly at your journey with the Lord, you will likely realize a profound spiritual reality: the seasons God used most powerfully to build your endurance, deepen your faith, and form your character were rarely the easy, comfortable ones. Real, authentic spiritual formation happens in the trenches of life. It takes place in the middle of unexpected disappointments, when your carefully constructed five-year plans fall completely apart. It happens in the waiting rooms of life, the quiet nights of grief, and the challenging relationships that test your capacity to extend grace. God does not author evil or cause tragedy to teach you a lesson. But because He is completely sovereign, He refuses to let your pain be meaningless. He takes the raw, heavy realities of your life and transforms them into a sacred space where you learn to rely on His strength alone. A Specific Promise for God's Family It is vital to recognize that this passage contains a clear boundary line. This is not an automated, generic guarantee that the universe will naturally arrange itself beautifully for everyone, regardless of their heart posture. The text specifies that this promise belongs "for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose". If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ and are actively pursuing a relationship with Him, you are a vital part of His family. And because you belong to Him, you can carry an absolute, unshakable confidence that absolutely nothing in your life will ever be wasted. No tear you cry is ignored, no season of waiting is empty, and no setback is a dead end. How to Live Grounded in This Truth What does this mean for you when you wake up tomorrow morning to face real-world responsibilities and pressures? It means you can look at the hardest, most painful chapters of your life story and courageously refuse to let them have the final word. You do not have to put on a fake smile, pretend everything is fine, or minimize your genuine pain. You have full permission from Scripture to grieve what deserves to be grieved, to speak with transparent honesty about your hardships, and to cry out to the Lord in your confusion. But even while tears are streaming down your face, you can simultaneously hold onto a deep, steady conviction that God is actively working behind the scenes. He is not distant, absent, or indifferent to your plight. He is right there with you in the middle of the mess, utilizing the current pressure to weave a masterpiece that will ultimately cause you to reflect the beauty of His Son more fully. You can safely take off the heavy burden of trying to fix everything yourself, quiet your anxious thoughts, and completely rest in the protective hands of the Master Weaver today. Father, I surrender the broken pieces of my current situation to You, trusting that You are making me more like Jesus through it all. Amen. Frequently Asked Questions Does Romans 8:28 mean that everything that happens to me is directly caused by God? No, God does not cause evil, nor does He create tragedy or sin. We live in a fallen world where brokenness exists. However, God is so sovereign and powerful that He takes the bad things that happen and weaves them together to create a good, purposeful outcome for His children. What should I do if my circumstances do not seem to be improving? Remember that the "good" promised in this text is not a fast change in your immediate earthly comfort or situation. The ultimate good is your inner transformation to look more like Jesus Christ. Even when your situation remains difficult, God is actively using it to build your endurance, faith, and spiritual character. Is this biblical promise applicable to everyone? Scripture notes that this particular promise is given specifically to believers—those who love God and are called according to His divine purpose. It provides total assurance to members of God's family that no experience in their lives will ever be wasted. If you want to deepen your daily walk and stay anchored in the truth of God’s Word, we invite you to explore more resources at https://backtothebible.org. You can also listen to the Back To The Bible Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube for regular biblical encouragement in the midst of everyday life.

Every word we say and action we take will send a message to those around us--and not always the message we want. And while it may sound like an impossible task to be mindful of everything we say or do, Laura found some advice in the Bible that she would like to share with you.

What are you facing today that you'll need strength for? Mark leads us in prayer today asking God for His strength in meeting the day's challenges.

Read John 4:35-38 “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” Reflect How is evangelizing, or sharing your faith, like gardening? I planted my first big vegetable garden this season. In the spring, I borrowed a tiller from a friend and plowed up a big patch in the backyard. Then, I invested in some good garden soil and several packets of seeds. The kids helped me spread the soil and dig rows for the seeds and cover them up. We planted sweet corn, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, green beans, and pumpkins. Well, this year ended up being a good learning year. I learned that I didn’t do enough to prevent the weeds from springing up and they quickly got out of control! Because of this, while we had some success, we didn’t have nearly the harvest we could have had. Especially the pumpkins. Some of the weeds grew so tall they blocked the sun and stole a lot of water and nutrients from the pumpkins. Next year, if I want a better harvest, I’m going to have to be a better gardener. In today’s passage, Jesus compared evangelism to agriculture. Spiritually speaking, harvesting means winning lost souls for Christ. When we share our faith, this is, of course, what we are all hoping for. I want to tell someone about Jesus and have them place their faith in Him immediately right on the spot. And sometimes, the field of someone’s heart is ripe for the harvest. They are ready to accept Christ right away. In this instance, Jesus had been speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus’ disciples had been in town to buy food and when they returned, they found Him speaking with her. After her encounter with Jesus, she put her faith in Him and immediately went back into town to evangelize! That’s when Jesus told His disciples to lift up their eyes! The fields were ready to harvest. Many Samaritans who had heard the woman’s testimony came out to meet Him to hear for themselves and many placed their faith in Him right then and there (John 4:39). Dr. Wiersbe commented on this passage: “The disciples were learning a valuable lesson that would encourage them in the years to come. They were not alone in the work of the Lord, and they must never look on any opportunity for witness as wasted time and energy. It takes faith to plow the soil and plant the seed, but God has promised a harvest (Ps. 126:5-6); Gal. 6:9). In a few years, Peter and John would participate in another harvest among the Samaritans (Acts 8:5-25). Those who sow may not see the harvest, but those who reap will see it and give thanks for the faithful labors of the sowers” (The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, New Testament). You see, sometimes, the fields are ripe for the harvest. We share our faith and someone accepts Christ right away! Praise God! But other times, we are just planting the first initial seeds in someone’s heart and mind. Or, we are watering the seeds that someone else planted or pulling out the weeds threatening to choke them out. But, we are all called to participate in evangelism. Not all of us can be reapers all the time. In his book Tactics, Greg Koukl wrote: “Jesus himself talked about seasons of sowing that precede seasons of reaping. Before someone ever comes to Christ, there is always a period of time—a season, if you will—when they are thinking about the gospel, mulling it over, wondering whether it might be true…When I talk with people about spiritual matters, I’m not looking to close the deal with them. I’m just looking to do a little gardening in their lives. That’s all. I want to get them thinking. If I can do that, then I’m satisfied, since I know they are ultimately in God’s hands.” God is the “Lord of the harvest” (Matthew 9:38) so the success of our gardening ultimately belongs to Him. Still, we are called to be faithful workers. Sometimes we till the dirt, sometimes we sow seeds, sometimes we water or weed, and sometimes we have the honor of reaping. But whenever a lost soul comes to Christ, all of us rejoice together! Respond Lord, thank You for the honor and privilege of participating in Your work. Help me to be a better gardener. Remind me that no opportunity for witness is ever wasted time or energy even if I never see the fruit of my labor. Use me however you see fit to grow Your kingdom. Amen. Reveal This week, spend some time in conversation with someone who isn’t a Christian. Ask friendly questions about what they do believe. Remember, you don’t have to worry about closing the deal, just try to form a better relationship with them and get them thinking about spiritual matters. Show them that you have an interest in them and in talking about these things with them.

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!

Physical fitness doesn’t happen by accident. It requires showing up every day and doing the work. Spiritual fitness works the same way, and this simple, four-step daily framework gives you a repeatable rhythm for engaging God’s Word and letting it shape who you're becoming. YOU CAN START YOUR DAY ANCHORED IN GOD'S WORD. Most of us want a deeper walk with God. What we need is a simple, daily rhythm that actually fits our life. Back to the Bible Daily with Braden Pedersen is a short, practical podcast built around one goal: helping you engage Scripture every single day and letting it shape who you’re becoming. Each episode walks you through God’s Word with warmth, clarity, and purpose. No complicated framework to learn. Just a trusted voice, the Bible, and a few unhurried minutes each morning. Start listening today. Search “Back to the Bible Daily” on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. If you haven't already done so, check out the daily Spiritual Fitness plan here

Jesus promised His disciples that even after He returned to heaven, they would not be alone. Jesus would send the Helper, the Holy Spirit to guide and teach believers in this new age. In Acts chapter 2 we see the dramatic entrance of the Holy Spirit. And we'll consider what this amazing gift means for us today.

SPIRITUALLY FIT | TODAY In this episode of Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole welcomes Gary Dunker, who shares how purpose doesn’t retire at 75. Gary discusses his journey from pastoring to writing Christian-themed Western novels, drawing on his love of history and faith. Together, they explore Philippians 1:6 and challenge the idea that your best years are behind you, encouraging listeners to keep pursuing their calling at any age. BACK TO THE BIBLE DAILY In this episode of Back to the Bible Daily, Braden Pedersen explores the true meaning and purpose of prayer, drawing from Matthew 6:5–13. Discover why prayer matters, how Jesus taught us to pray, and how authentic communication with God shapes our relationship with Him. Learn why prayer is not a performance or formula, but a vital part of the Christian life. ADDITIONAL STEPS: STEP 1 - RECEIVE (Receive God's Word and Grow in Bible Knowledge) Jesus promised His disciples that even after He returned to heaven, they would not be alone. Jesus would send the Helper, the Holy Spirit to guide and teach believers in this new age. In Acts chapter 2 we see the dramatic entrance of the Holy Spirit. And we'll consider what this amazing gift means for us today. STEP 2 - REFLECT (How does this Scripture Apply to your life?) Every word we say and action we take will send a message to those around us--and not always the message we want. And while it may sound like an impossible task to be mindful of everything we say or do, Laura found some advice in the Bible that she would like to share with you. STEP 3 - RESPOND (How will you Win Today?) 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! STEP 4 - REVEAL (How will you reveal Jesus to others today through praying and sharing?) What are you facing today that you'll need strength for? Mark leads us in prayer today asking God for His strength in meeting the day's challenges. BONUS STEP Click HERE for your DAILY FORWARD DEVOTIONAL

Getting Started… From the opening genealogy, Matthew right away cements Jesus’ place within history. As the Son of David, Jesus’ ministry to Israel is on full display in these chapters. Whether healing the sick, or confronting the religious establishment, get to know Jesus like never before. In this verse-by-verse study, we’ll follow Jesus’ journey from birth, to death, to resurrection to ascension. As we follow Jesus’ ministry, we’ll see the calling of the first disciples and learn of Jesus’ heart for the lost. And in His confrontations with the religious leaders, we’ll learn what true faith looks like. In this study of Matthew, we'll cover in detail all 28 chapters of Paul’s letter. Dr. Harold J. Berry is a former professor of Bible and Greek at Grace University of Omaha. He served for many years as personal assistant to Theodore H. Epp, founder of Back to the Bible. Dr. Berry holds a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Divinity from Grace University. This study was adapted from Harold Berry, “Study in Matthew” (Lincoln, Neb.: Back to the Bible, 2020).