The City Church Lubbock

The City Church Lubbock The City is a Spirit-filled, Bible teaching church with powerful worship. Weâ€™d love for you to join us this Sunday! https://city.family Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/31/friday-devo Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/31/friday-devo

Scripture:

Psalm 36
For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.

1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.[a]
They have no fear of God at all.
2 In their blind conceit,
they cannot see how wicked they really are.
3 Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
They refuse to act wisely or do good.
4 They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
Their actions are never good.
They make no attempt to turn from evil.
5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
the light by which we see.
10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;
give justice to those with honest hearts.
11 Don’t let the proud trample me
or the wicked push me around.
12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen!
They are thrown down, never to rise again.

Commentary:

36:10–12 Show Your Steadfast Love by Protecting Us from the Wicked. The final stanza is a prayer in response to the reflections of the first two stanzas. It follows the topics in reverse order: God’s steadfast love (v. 10), and the wicked (v. 11). It is an appeal to God’s reliable love for his faithful ones (those who know you, i.e., the upright of heart, v. 10), in the face of the scheming of those who would harm them.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 982.

Questions:

Psalm 36 begins by showing us the danger of sin, but it ends by reminding us that sin does not have the final word. After describing the greatness of God's love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice, David ends with a prayer: "Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you." Even after all David has seen about God, he knows he still needs God's grace to keep him.

We don't overcome sin by becoming strong enough on our own. We overcome sin by staying close to the God who is stronger than sin. David also asks God to protect him from "the foot of pride." Pride is at the center of every rebellion against God. It says, "I know better. I can run my own life. I don't need God." But Psalm 36 reminds us that pride always leads to a fall because it puts us in opposition to the One who truly sits on the throne.

The good news of the gospel is that Jesus did what prideful humanity could never do. He humbled Himself, obeyed the Father perfectly, and defeated sin through His death and resurrection. The King we resisted is also the Savior we need. One day, every false kingdom will fall. Every attempt to live apart from God will come to an end. But those who belong to Christ can have confidence that His love will hold them firm.

The answer to sin is not simply trying harder. The answer is surrendering to the King who has already won.

Where are you most tempted to take control instead of trusting God? What does that struggle reveal about what you believe God can or cannot be trusted to do?
Why is pride such a serious problem in Scripture, and why does God oppose it so strongly? How does Jesus' humility and obedience become the answer to humanity's pride and rebellion?
What area of your life have you been trying to rule instead of surrendering to King Jesus? What would surrender in that area require you to believe, release, or change?

Prayer Topics:

Confess the ways pride has caused you to trust yourself more than God.
Thank Jesus for humbling Himself to save sinners and for His promise to hold His people secure.
Praise Jesus as the true King whose victory over sin and death will never be undone.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.

(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/31/friday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/30/thursday-devo Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/30/thursday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

36:5–9 God’s Precious Steadfast Love. This stanza has two descriptions of God’s steadfast love: it extends to the heavens, so that God can save man and beast; and it is precious to those who know it from the children of mankind. The pairing of steadfast love and faithfulness evokes Ex. 34:6, describing God’s benevolence; this helps readers to see that the other terms, righteousness and judgments, also express God’s enduring commitment to act kindly toward his creatures and to save them. In view of this, people can take refuge under his wings and find themselves welcome guests at his table. Although the psalm is a hymn for Israel, it looks beyond Israel to the rest of mankind (Ps. 36:6, 7); Israel’s calling was to live in their land in a way that displayed the true image of God, with a view toward bringing its blessing to the whole world.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 982.

Questions:

After describing the darkness of sin, David now describes the goodness of God. He pictures God as a place of refuge, a generous host, and the source of everything we truly need. Under God's wings there is safety. In God's house there is abundance. From God's river there is joy. And from God Himself comes life.

Sin promises satisfaction but always leaves us empty. We chase success, comfort, approval, entertainment, or control, believing they'll finally satisfy us. For a moment they seem to deliver, but they can never fill the deepest needs of our hearts. Only God can do that.

David says God is the fountain of life. Every good thing flows from Him. Jesus echoed these words when He invited the thirsty to come to Him and drink. He also declared, "I am the light of the world." In Christ, we find the life, joy, and hope our souls have been searching for all along.

What has been capturing your heart's attention more than God lately? How has that pursuit shaped your thoughts, priorities, or emotions?
Why do you think the Bible describes God as a fountain instead of a container or a reservoir? How do Jesus' invitations to the thirsty (John 4; John 7) reveal that He is the fulfillment of Psalm 36?
David describes God as the fountain of life and a river of delight. What "dry wells" have you been returning to that cannot truly satisfy? How does repentance in this area involve not only turning away from something, but turning toward the better satisfaction found in Jesus?

Prayer Topics:

Confess the ways you've looked to other people or temporary things to satisfy needs that only God can meet.
Ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your desire for Christ and help you find your satisfaction in Him alone.
Praise God because He is the fountain of life, the source of every good gift, and the light that leads His people.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/30/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/29/wednesday-devo Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/29/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

Questions:

After describing the darkness of sin, David suddenly lifts his eyes to God. Instead of staring at human brokenness, David begins to meditate on God's character. He says God's love stretches as high as the heavens. His faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. His righteousness stands firm like the mountains. His justice is deeper than the oceans.

The problems haven't disappeared, but David has shifted his focus. This is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves when we're overwhelmed by sin, fear, or failure. We stop looking inward and start looking upward. Our hope isn't found in our ability to overcome sin. It's found in the God whose love never fails.

The Hebrew word hesed describes God's steadfast, covenantal love. It's the faithful love He has chosen to show His people, not because they've earned it, but because of who He is. God doesn't wake up one day loving you and the next day deciding He's done with you. His love is steady because His character never changes. We see that love most clearly in Jesus. At the cross, God didn't ignore our sin; He dealt with it completely. Through Christ, we are welcomed into a relationship built not on our faithfulness, but on His.

When you're struggling with guilt, fear, or failure, where do you usually look for hope? Which attribute of God from this passage do you most need to remember today?
David says God is both perfectly loving and perfectly just. Why do we need both of those truths to understand the gospel? How did Jesus satisfy God's justice on the cross while at the same time displaying the full depth of God's steadfast love?
Where are you tempted to find confidence in yourself instead of God's faithfulness?

Prayer Topics:

Confess the times you've looked to yourself instead of trusting God's unchanging character.
Thank God that His steadfast love never changes, even when your obedience does.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you fix your eyes on God's faithfulness.
Praise God for His steadfast love, perfect righteousness and unwavering faithfulness.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/29/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/28/tuesday-devo Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/28/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

36:1–4 The Wicked Act without Fear of God. This stanza describes the wicked person, who has no fear of God before his eyes and who pursues evil courses, as one who particularly schemes to bring trouble to others (esp. to the godly). “Wicked” here, as generally in the Psalms, does not describe faithful people who have moral flaws; it describes those given over to doing evil (even if they are nominally within the covenant people), as these verses make clear. Paul uses v. 1b in Rom. 3:18 as part of his charge that both Jews and Gentiles are under sin.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 981.

Questions:

Sin never stays where it starts. David shows us a dangerous progression in these verses. What began as quiet deception in the heart eventually shows up in a person's words, choices, and way of life. The more someone listens to sin, the less they recognize it for what it really is. That's how we begin to drift. We don't usually wake up one morning and decide to walk away from God. Instead, we excuse one compromise, then another. We ignore conviction, make peace with sin, and slowly begin calling good what God calls evil.

David says the wicked person lies awake planning evil. The place that should have been used for rest and reflection became a place where sin took root. When we allow sin to rule our hearts, it eventually shapes our thoughts, our words, and our actions. We've all experienced this. The sin we once fought becomes the sin we tolerate. The conviction we once felt becomes easier to ignore. Left unchecked, our hearts slowly grow numb.

We need more than willpower, we need a changed heart. Jesus didn't come to help us manage our sin. He came to rescue us from its power. Through His death and resurrection, He gives us forgiveness for our failures and the Holy Spirit to help us walk in new obedience.

Can you identify a pattern of sin that started small but has become harder to resist over time? What warning signs did you ignore along the way?
Psalm 36 describes a person who no longer rejects evil. What does that teach us about what sin is trying to accomplish in every human heart? How does the gospel give us both forgiveness for our sin and the power to fight against it every day?
What is one pattern, habit, or relationship that could be leading you farther from Christ? Who is one mature believer you can ask to pray for you and lovingly hold you accountable this week?

Prayer Topics:

Ask God to forgive you for the compromises you've excused and the ways you've allowed your heart to drift.
Thank Jesus for His grace, which pursues you even when you've wandered.
Ask the Holy Spirit to make you sensitive to sin again and give you the strength to turn from it.
Praise Jesus because He is perfectly holy, perfectly true, and able to keep His people from drifting.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/28/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/27/monday-devo Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/27/monday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

Questions:

Most of us expect temptation to be loud and obvious. But David shows us that sin usually works in a much quieter way. It whispers. It convinces us that what we're doing isn't really that bad. It tells us we're doing better than most people, or that God surely understands our situation. That's exactly what Psalm 36 describes.

Sin flatters us. Instead of leading us to hate our sin, it convinces us to excuse it. Before long, we stop seeing our need for God's grace because we've become comfortable with ourselves. Instead of listening to God's truth, we start believing the stories we tell ourselves. "I'm a good person." "At least I'm not like them." "This isn't a big deal." Those lies slowly pull us farther from God.

The problem isn't just that we occasionally make bad choices. The Bible teaches that sin runs much deeper than our actions, it affects every part of who we are. That's why we don't just need better habits. We need a Savior. The good news is that Jesus came for people who know they need Him. The first step toward freedom is refusing to listen to sin's flattering voice and listening instead to the truth of God's Word.

What lie are you most tempted to believe about yourself or your sin? How has believing your better than you actually are affected your relationship with God?
Why is admitting the depth of our sin essential to truly understanding and appreciating the gospel? How did Jesus perfectly model both God's holiness toward sin and His mercy toward sinners?
Is there an area of sin you've been excusing instead of confessing? Who could you reach out to this week and share where you've been falling short?

Prayer Topics:

Ask God to forgive you for believing the lies of sin instead of His truth.
Thank Jesus for doing what you could never do; living a perfect life and paying for your sin on the cross.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you recognize sin quickly and give you the courage to turn from it.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/27/monday-devo#comments 0 Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/24/friday-devo Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/24/friday-devo

Scripture:

Psalm 42
For the choir director: A psalm[a] of the descendants of Korah.

1 As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food,
while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
“Where is this God of yours?”
4 My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration!
5 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and 6 my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
from the land of Mount Mizar.
7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas
as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through each night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life.
9 “O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
10 Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
11 Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!

Commentary:

Psalm 42–43. While each of these psalms can be taken separately, Psalms 42–43 go well together as a song with three stanzas: they share a refrain (42:5, 11; 43:5); 43:2 is almost the same as 42:9; and they both express the longing to return to God’s presence in the sanctuary (42:2; 43:3–4). In these psalms the singer laments his circumstances (connected with enemies who despise God and oppress his faithful servants), which keep him from attending worship at the central sanctuary. Singing this in corporate worship would especially foster a sense of yearning and expectation in the faithful, so that they would learn to attend worship looking for God’s presence, to mourn any circumstances that prevent them from attendance, and to count their attendance at worship as a great gift from God (certainly not a burdensome duty!). Other psalms that express yearning for God include Psalms 63 and 84.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 989.

Questions:

Psalm 42 ends in a surprising way. The psalmist declares that God is his Rock, but in the very next breath he asks, "Why have you forgotten me?" We know God is faithful, but there are seasons when He seems silent. We believe He is near, yet we still wrestle with loneliness, grief, and unanswered prayers.

Only someone who truly trusts God can pray with this kind of honesty. The psalmist isn't walking away from God, he's bringing his deepest questions directly to Him. Even as his enemies mock his faith, he refuses to let go of the One he knows is his only hope.

Reread verse 11.

Nothing in his circumstances has changed. The questions remain and the pain lingers, but he speaks to his soul once more. Biblical hope is not pretending everything is fine. It is choosing to trust God's character when your circumstances haven't changed. Like Jeremiah in Lamentations 3, we remember that God's mercies are new every morning. We don't wait until life feels better before we hope, we hope because God is faithful, even while we are still walking through the darkness!

Where do you feel the tension between what you know about God and what you currently feel? How does Psalm 42 encourage you to bring your honest questions to God instead of hiding them?
Why do you think God inspired Psalm 42 to end without resolving the psalmist's circumstances?
How can the psalmist confidently call God his Rock while honestly asking, "Why have you forgotten me?" What does this teach us about biblical faith? Why does Psalm 42 end with the psalmist still waiting instead of receiving immediate relief? What does this reveal about the nature of hope in the Christian life?

Prayer Topics:

Confess the times you have allowed discouragement or doubt to become louder than God's promises.
Thank God that He welcomes your honest prayers and remains faithful even when you cannot see what He is doing.
Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen your faith, help you hope in God while your circumstances remain difficult, and teach you to speak His truth to your heart each day.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.

(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/24/friday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/23/thursday-devo Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/23/thursday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

42:7 This verse uses two images of unruly water, perhaps to contrast with the “flowing streams” of v. 1: the first portrays two waterfalls plunging into a valley, calling to one another with a roar, while the second portrays the raging sea, in which one might drown (Jonah 2:3).

42:7 The waters of suffering threaten death (see Jonah 2:3). Such suffering according to God’s will anticipates the suffering and death of Christ, and the hope for deliverance anticipates his resurrection.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 990.

Questions:

The psalmist describes his suffering with vivid imagery: "I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me." He feels as though he is being overwhelmed by wave after wave of sorrow. Sometimes life doesn't overwhelm us with one tragedy but with a steady stream of burdens: work, family struggles, financial pressure, unanswered prayers, or grief that seems to come in endless waves.

The psalmist calls them "your waves" and "your surging tides." The very waters threatening to overwhelm him were still under God's authority. Nothing had escaped God's sovereign hand. The storm was real, but it was never outside the Father's control.

That truth doesn't minimize our pain, but it can change how we endure it. Verse 8 says, "But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life." God does not always remove us from the storm immediately, but He never stops surrounding His children with His covenant love. His hesed is not absent in suffering, it is often most clearly experienced there.

What "waves" are crashing over your life right now? How does remembering that your circumstances are never outside of God's control change the way you face them?
Why is it significant that the psalmist calls them God's waves rather than random circumstances? What does Psalm 42 teach us about God's sovereignty and His steadfast love existing together?
Where have you allowed your circumstances to become louder than God's promises?What is holding you back from clinging to God's steadfast love and where do you need to stop giving in to fear or discouragement?

Prayer Topics:

Confess the ways you have doubted God's goodness or questioned His care when life has felt overwhelming.
Ask God to strengthen your faith, to help you recognize His steadfast love each day, and to give you endurance to trust Him until the storm has passed.
Thank God that His steadfast, covenant love never leaves you, even in the middle of life's fiercest storms.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/23/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/22/wednesday-devo Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/22/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

42:1–5 My Soul Pants for God. The song begins with a poignant expression of longing for God himself, using the image of thirst: As a deer pants for flowing streams. For the pious, the answer to this longing comes in public worship; this is clear from the phrase appear before God (i.e., at the sanctuary; cf. Ex. 23:17), and from Ps. 42:4, which recollects the former participation in sanctuary worship. The singer represents himself as separated from this worship and subject to taunts from those who despise his faith. The singer closes the stanza by encouraging himself that God will return him to worship. (Observe that the first words of v. 6, “and my God,” belong with the refrain.)

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 989.

Questions:

Midway through his struggle, the psalmist does something radical by turning inward and boldly questioning his own heavy heart: "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?" He had reasons to be broken, yet he refused to let his discouragement sit unopposed or sweep him away without a fight.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones famously noted that most of our unhappiness stems from the fact that we listen to ourselves instead of talking to ourselves. When our broken emotions try to dictate our reality, they can bring back yesterday's problems and whisper that hope is gone.

Preaching to your soul isn't a magic trick that instantly erases deep pain; it is a conscious decision to choose objective truth over ever-changing feelings. Even while writing from exile at Mount Hermon and Mount Mizar, far from the comfort of the sanctuary, the psalmist chooses to remember God anyway. True faith comes through you declaring what is true about God until your heart catches up.

When you experience deep discouragement, do you tend to passively listen to your emotions or actively challenge them with truth? What negative thoughts or lies has your soul been whispering to you lately, and how can you begin talking back to them with Scripture?
Where have you thrown up the white flag of defeat and allowed discouragement to rule your life, and how can you turn to God to fight back?
What specific scriptural truths do you need to start preaching to yourself daily to repent of the unbelief fueled by your feelings?

Prayer Topics:

Confess the times you have passively listened to the negative, fearful lies of your downcast soul instead of talking back to them with the truth of Scripture.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the courage and clarity to call out your discouragement. Pray for the strength to actively preach God's promises to your heart day after day until your feelings catch up.
Praise Him as your Savior and your God, whose truth stands completely unshakeable regardless of your emotions.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/22/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/21/tuesday-devo Tue, 21 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/21/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

Questions:

In Psalm 42:4, the psalmist shifts his gaze backward, remembering when he walked among the crowds and led great processions of worship to the house of God. He recalls the uncontainable joy and the loud sounds of celebration, but these beautiful memories only cause his heart to break in the present.
Dwelling on the past is a dangerous trap that will either fuel hope or feed despair. The gap between what used to be, and what is, can create a paralyzing grief. Instead of seeing what God did as a promise of what He can do, we begin to treat our memories as evidence of what we have lost. A soul dissolved like water is often the result of focusing entirely on our losses rather than God's unchanging character. If you are grieved by the memory of a time when faith felt effortless, remember that the God of your past is still standing in your present.

What past experience with God do you find yourself longing to relive? Was there something specific about that experience that you are clinging to or wanting to happen again? How might that longing be affecting your relationship with Him in the present?
Why is it dangerous to measure God's love by our emotions instead of His promises? How does Psalm 42 challenge us to evaluate our relationship with God differently?
What habit or mindset is keeping you stuck in disappointment instead of moving forward in hope? How can you intentionally place your hope in God again?

Prayer Topics:

Thank God for the ways He has faithfully met you in the past. Praise Him for every season where He strengthened your faith.
Confess any ways you've allowed disappointment, nostalgia, or discouragement to shape your view of God. Ask Him to forgive you for looking backward with bitterness instead of trusting Him in the present.
Ask God to help you recognize His presence and faithfulness right now instead of longing only for what He has done in the past. Pray for the faith to trust Him in this season and the hope to believe that He is still at work, even when you cannot yet see it.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/21/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/20/monday-devo Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/20/monday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

Questions:

Psalm 42 begins with one of the most familiar images in all of Scripture: "As the deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for You, God." It's a picture of utter desperation, where a deer isn't casually looking for a drink, but actively needs it to survive the blistering heat of a drought. In the same way, the psalmist is dealing with spiritual depression; a condition marked by sadness, anxiety, and the perceived absence of God. He isn't asking for an easier life or a few superficial blessings; he is thirsting for the living God Himself.

A spiritually dead heart never experiences this kind of thirst, that deep longing for God is actually proof that your soul is alive. Yet, when days and nights are filled with tears for food, the enemy loves to exploit the silence by whispering, "Where is this God of yours?" This cruel taunt can make our faith feel like a distant memory, tempting us to believe that God has permanently abandoned us in the desert. But we must stop pretending everything is fine and instead bring our raw thirst directly to the Lord. God hasn't disappeared; He is simply inviting you to look beyond your feelings and find your ultimate satisfaction in Him alone.

When you look at your current season, what specific signs of a spiritual desert or drought do you recognize in your daily life? When God feels distant to you, do you tend to isolate yourself from others, or do you bring it to community?
How does Psalm 42 challenge the idea that a strong Christian should always feel close to God? What does this passage teach us about genuine faith?
The psalmist thirsted for God the way a deer thirsts for water. Does your pursuit of God reflect that kind of longing? If not, what has been competing for your heart?

Prayer Topics:

Thank God for giving you a heart that still longs for Him. Praise Him that even your spiritual thirst is evidence of His work in your life.
Confess the ways you've looked to other people, possessions, entertainment, or achievements to satisfy your soul instead of seeking God. Ask Him to forgive you for trying to fill your heart with things that can never truly satisfy.
Ask God to draw you close during seasons when He feels distant. Pray for the faith to keep seeking Him, the courage to be honest with Him about your struggles, and the hope to trust that He has not abandoned you.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/20/monday-devo#comments 0 Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/17/friday-devo Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/17/friday-devo

Scripture:

Psalm 107
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
3 For he has gathered the exiles from many lands,
from east and west,
from north and south.[a]
4 Some wandered in the wilderness,
lost and homeless.
5 Hungry and thirsty,
they nearly died.
6 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he rescued them from their distress.
7 He led them straight to safety,
to a city where they could live.
8 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
9 For he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
10 Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom,
imprisoned in iron chains of misery.
11 They rebelled against the words of God,
scorning the counsel of the Most High.
12 That is why he broke them with hard labor;
they fell, and no one was there to help them.
13 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
14 He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom;
he snapped their chains.
15 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
16 For he broke down their prison gates of bronze;
he cut apart their bars of iron.
17 Some were fools; they rebelled
and suffered for their sins.
18 They couldn’t stand the thought of food,
and they were knocking on death’s door.
19 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
snatching them from the door of death.
21 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
22 Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving
and sing joyfully about his glorious acts.
23 Some went off to sea in ships,
plying the trade routes of the world.
24 They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
25 He spoke, and the winds rose,
stirring up the waves.
26 Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits’ end.
28 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
29 He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.
30 What a blessing was that stillness
as he brought them safely into harbor!
31 Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
32 Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation
and before the leaders of the nation.
33 He changes rivers into deserts,
and springs of water into dry, thirsty land.
34 He turns the fruitful land into salty wastelands,
because of the wickedness of those who live there.
35 But he also turns deserts into pools of water,
the dry land into springs of water.
36 He brings the hungry to settle there
and to build their cities.
37 They sow their fields, plant their vineyards,
and harvest their bumper crops.
38 How he blesses them!
They raise large families there,
and their herds of livestock increase.
39 When they decrease in number and become impoverished
through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,
40 the Lord pours contempt on their princes,
causing them to wander in trackless wastelands.
41 But he rescues the poor from trouble
and increases their families like flocks of sheep.
42 The godly will see these things and be glad,
while the wicked are struck silent.
43 Those who are wise will take all this to heart;
they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

Commentary:

107:1–3 Let the Redeemed of the Lord Give Him Thanks. The opening section states the purpose of the psalm (to call the congregation to give thanks to the LORD, v. 1) and the theme (his steadfast love endures forever). The specific occasion is that God has redeemed his people (i.e., rescued them from their trouble) and gathered them in from the lands (i.e., from exile, cf. 106:47; Deut. 30:3).

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1078.

107:43 Let the Wise Attend to These Things. The final verse closes by inviting whoever is wise (i.e., those who genuinely seek to be skillful in godly living; see Introduction to Proverbs: Character Types in Proverbs) to attend to these things, specifically, to the many ways in which God has displayed his steadfast love. Such a meditation will increase one’s wisdom.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1081.

Questions:

Psalm 107 presents us with a spiritual paradigm: God can use misery to lead us to mercy. We all wish we could skip past the hard, painful, and miserable chapters of our lives. However, the difficult places are where we most clearly encounter the living God. This truth is perfectly illustrated in John 11, where Mary and Martha cried out for Jesus to heal their dying brother, Lazarus, but Jesus chose to delay His arrival for two days. When Lazarus died, the grieving sisters wept, "Lord, if only You had been here," believing that the misery had won and that Jesus was simply too late. Yet, Jesus delayed because He wanted them to see something greater: He wasn't merely the Lord over sickness, but the absolute Resurrection and the Life.

God will never stop short of what His mercy requires, and He will never go beyond what His love allows. He will pry our fingers off our plans, pride, and illusions of control so that our empty, broken hands are finally free to reach out for Him. If you have been rescued from the desert, if your heavy chains have been broken, or if you have been carried safely through the storm, you cannot remain silent. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" because it is ungrateful to hide the wonderful things He has done for us.

When you look back over your life, can you see a difficult season that God used to draw you closer to Him? How has that experience changed the way you trust Him today?
Mary and Martha thought Jesus had arrived too late, but He was working toward something greater than they could imagine. Is there an area of your life where you're struggling to trust God's timing? What does this story teach you about His love, even when He doesn't answer the way or when you expect?
Psalm 107 says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." Who is someone you can encourage this week by sharing a story of God's faithfulness in your own life? How could your testimony point them to the hope you've found in Christ?

Prayer Topics:

Ask God to help you trust His timing, even when you don't understand what He's doing. Pray for the faith to believe that He is still working for your good, even in seasons of waiting or suffering.
Thank God for the ways He has been faithful throughout your life. Praise Him for the times He rescued you, carried you through hardship, and showed His mercy when you needed it most.
Ask God to give you the courage to share your story with others. Pray that your life and your words would point people to Jesus, so they too can experience His rescue, mercy, and unfailing love.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.

(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/17/friday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/16/thursday-devo Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/16/thursday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

107:23–32 Fourth Group: Those Who Went Down to the Sea in Ships. The fourth group consists of sailors caught in a storm; if these are exiles, they are sailing in the service of a foreign king (Israelites rarely went to sea on their own). As the storm increased in its fury, threatening them with shipwreck and drowning, they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and God made the storm be still. These people should thank the LORD for his steadfast love; they have returned to the Promised Land, where they can extol God in the congregation.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1080.

Questions:

Unlike the first three groups in Psalm 107, "The Sinking" did not land in misery because of foolishness, wayward wandering, or blatant rebellion. These were ordinary merchants plying the trade routes of the world, simply going to work. Yet, as they ventured out into the sea, God spoke, and a violent storm rose up anyway. Their ships were tossed violently to the heavens and plunged into the deep, leaving these experienced, strong sailors cringing in absolute terror. They quickly reached a point where they were completely at their wits' end, a Hebrew phrase meaning all their worldly wisdom was entirely swallowed up.

We have all experienced these sudden, blindsiding storms: a devastating medical diagnosis, a sudden job loss, or a tragic conversation that turns our world upside down. In those moments, we quickly realize that our human strategies, financial savings, and professional skills are completely powerless to calm the crashing waves. We cannot solve a deeply spiritual problem using mere worldly wisdom or human effort. When our illusion of control is stripped away, we are left flat on our faces with only two words left to say: "Lord, help!"

What situation in your life right now feels completely outside of your control? When you find yourself at the end of your own wisdom and strength, what's your first instinct; panic, to try harder, or do you bring it to God?
Why do you think God sometimes allows storms into the lives of people who are faithfully following Him? What does this passage teach you about God's character, even when He doesn't prevent the storm?
In what ways have you been trying to solve a spiritual crisis with worldly wisdom or self-sufficiency, and how can you actively stop striving and surrender control to God today?

Prayer Topics:

Confess the ways you've relied on your own strength, wisdom, or plans instead of depending on God. Surrender the burden you've been trying to carry, and ask Him to help you trust Him one day at a time.
Ask God to help you trust Him in the areas of your life that feel uncertain or out of your control. Pray for the faith to believe that He is with you in the storm, even when you can't see how He's working.
Thank God that He is greater than every storm you face. Praise Him for His power, His faithfulness, and His promise to never leave or forsake His people.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/16/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/15/wednesday-devo Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/15/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

107:17–22 Third Group: Those Who Suffered for Their Own Folly. Some of the exiles were fools through their sinful ways: their own folly (the stupidity that results from turning away from God) brought on their affliction, so that they loathed any kind of food. Nevertheless God heard and relieved them when they cried to the LORD in their trouble. In context, healed them is not simply the relief of bodily ailments (v. 18) but also their return to the Promised Land. These people should thank the LORD, specifically with sacrifices of thanksgiving (see note on 50:7–15; cf. 116:17), using songs of joy in their worship to tell of God’s deeds.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1079.

Questions:

In Psalm 107:17-22, the Psalmist introduces us to "The Sinful," flatly calling them fools who suffered deep affliction because of their perversions and iniquities. This group represents a severe level of rebellion where individuals actively chase after things that are wicked, making sinful habits their primary focus. As Paul warns in Romans 1, a foolish heart refuses to acknowledge God, leading to a life completely unraveled by greed, malice, and deception. Tragically, the hallmark of foolishness is hitting rock bottom, watching everything fall apart, and still desperately clinging to the very choices that caused the destruction. These individuals press even harder into their rebellion, walking all the way to the very gates of death before they are willing to wake up.

The sinful need the rescue of God to the exact same degree as the stranded and the shackled. No group is fundamentally better or further off, because any separation from God results in total spiritual helplessness. This passage is explicitly designed to bring deep conviction to our hearts, but never ultimate condemnation. When the sinful finally reached the door of death and cried, "Lord, help!", God did not turn them away in disgust. Instead, He sent out His Word, Jesus Christ, to heal them, snatching them from the grave.

It's easy to spot foolish choices in someone else's life, but much harder to recognize them in our own. Is there an area where you know your choices are pulling you away from God, yet you keep convincing yourself it's "not that bad" or "just one more time"? Why do you think it's so hard to let go?
All four groups in Psalm 107 ended up in desperate need of God's rescue. How does that challenge the way you think about your own sin and the sins of others? Why is it important to remember that every one of us is completely dependent on God's grace?
God didn't wait for the sinful to clean themselves up before responding to their cry for help. Is there something you've been hiding from God or from other believers because of shame? What's one step you can take to bring it into the light and begin walking toward healing?

Prayer Topics:

Ask God to give you an honest view of your own heart. Pray that He would reveal any patterns of sin you've grown comfortable with and give you the courage to turn back to Him.
Thank Jesus that He came to rescue sinners, not people who have it all together. Praise Him that His grace is greater than your failures and that He welcomes everyone who cries out to Him.
Confess any sin you've been excusing, hiding, or refusing to let go of. Ask God to replace your shame with His forgiveness and to help you walk in the freedom and healing that only He can give.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/15/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/14/tuesday-devo Tue, 14 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/14/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

107:10–16 Second Group: Those Who Sat in Darkness. The next group of exiles sat in darkness and in the shadow of death. The second line (prisoners) indicates that these people suffered as captives and forced laborers (v. 12, hard labor) because they had rebelled against the words of God. But even though they rejected God’s covenant by their rebellion, God still heard them when they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death (v. 14; cf. v. 10). They too should thank the LORD for his steadfast love.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1079.

Questions:

Not all chains are made of iron. Some are built one small compromise at a time.

Psalm 107 describes people sitting in darkness, weighed down by chains because they had rejected God's wisdom and chosen their own way instead. We've all had moments where we knew what God wanted us to do... and still wanted something else.

The amazing thing about this passage is that God doesn't abandon His people in their rebellion. He allows them to feel the weight of their choices until they realize they can't free themselves. Then, when they cry out to Him, He responds with mercy. He breaks their chains, brings them out of the darkness, and gives them a fresh start.

God's discipline isn't meant to push us away. It's meant to bring us home. If there's an area of your life where you've been resisting God's direction, remember this: He's inviting you into freedom.

Finish this sentence honestly: "I know God wants me to __________, but..." What comes after the "but"? Fear? Comfort? Control? Approval? What does that reveal about what your heart is trusting most right now?
Jonah loved the blessings of belonging to God, but resisted God's direction when it became uncomfortable. Where do you see that same temptation in your own life? Why is Jesus worthy of both your worship and your obedience?
Obedience usually begins with one small "yes." What's one thing God has already been asking you to do? Instead of waiting until it feels easier, how can you respond?

Prayer Topics:

Thank God for His mercy. Praise Him that He doesn't leave you in your chains but lovingly calls you back to Himself and offers freedom through Christ.
Ask God to reveal any areas where you've been resisting His leadership or making excuses instead of trusting His Word.
Praise God that His love never runs out.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/14/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/13/monday-devo Mon, 13 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/13/monday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

107:4–9 First Group: Those Who Wandered in Barren Places. This is the first group of those who were banished from the land as a result of the exile: some of the exiles wandered in desert wastes, such as the Sinai Desert (cf. 106:14; Deut. 32:10). finding no way to a city to dwell in. Their proper home was the Promised Land, but God had sent them away. When they cried to the LORD, God delivered them, bringing them to a city to dwell in (Ps. 107:7, which answers v. 4). The proper response is for them to thank the LORD for his steadfast love. The Lord has done wondrous works for his people in the past (cf. 105:2, 5; 106:7, 22), and the restoration of Judah to Jerusalem after exile is a crowning achievement. Even as this applies to the whole community, God also satisfies the longing soul, i.e., the particular members of the restored community who recognize God’s grace in their own lives.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1079.

Questions:

Psalm 107 opens with a foundational truth that dictates how we navigate every season of life: "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever."
Understanding God’s constant, everlasting goodness is essential, because without it, we will throw a fit or abandon our faith when misery strikes.

The first group the Psalmist identifies is "The Stranded", those who wander in desert wastes, lost, hungry, thirsty, and nearly dying. We often find ourselves stranded not in physical deserts, but in the digital wasteland of mindless social media scrolling, searching for a connection that never satisfies. Our flesh falsely promises fulfillment in these spaces, yet the longer we linger, the more disconnected, empty, and spiritually starved we actually become. We try to fill our deep, soul-level hunger with lesser things, only to find our spirits entirely dry and devoid of joy. Yet, it is precisely in this place of painful helplessness that God invites us to drop our self-sufficiency.

When the stranded finally reached the end of themselves and cried out, "Lord, help!", God met them right in the middle of their misery. He did not leave them to die, instead, He led them straight to safety and filled their hungry souls with good things. Sometimes, experiencing spiritual hunger is actually a severe mercy designed to drive us back to God.

Where do you feel empty right now? Maybe you're tired, discouraged, lonely, or just going through the motions. When you feel that emptiness, what do you usually reach for to make yourself feel better?
Psalm 107 says God satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. What does that teach you about God's heart toward people who are weary, wandering, or running on empty?
What would it look like to replace one habit of distraction with one habit of dependence this week? Whether it's five minutes in God's Word, an honest prayer, or simply sitting quietly with Him, what's one step you can take?

Prayer Topics:

Thank God that His love never ends. Praise Him for being the One who welcomes wandering people home and satisfies the deepest needs of your soul.
Confess the ways you've tried to fill your heart with things that could never truly satisfy.
Ask God to show you where you've been looking for satisfaction apart from Him. Pray that He would give you a deeper hunger for His presence than for the temporary things of this world.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/13/monday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/09/thursday-devo Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/09/thursday-devo

Scripture:

Psalm 46
For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

Commentary:

46:8–11 God Will Be Exalted Among All Nations. God’s goal for his choosing of Zion is that out of it the word might go forth to the peoples of the whole world, bringing them all to live in godly peace with one another (Isa. 2:1–5). This will be the means by which he makes wars cease (Ps. 46:9). Since the address in v. 10, be still, and know, is plural, readers should imagine God speaking these words to the nations, among whom he will eventually be exalted. This is the meaning of the LORD of hosts being with his people (v. 11; cf. Matt. 28:20): he will indeed see to it that the mission of Gen. 12:1–3 is accomplished.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 994.

Questions:

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to remember what's going wrong and how hard it is to remember what God has already done? When a new challenge comes, our minds naturally focus on what's in front of us. We forget the prayers God has answered, the doors He has opened, and the ways He's faithfully carried us through difficult seasons before.

That's why God repeatedly told His people to remember. After He led Israel across the Jordan River, He instructed them to stack twelve stones as a memorial. One day, when their children asked, "Why are these stones here?" they would have an opportunity to tell the story of God's faithfulness. Psalm 46 gives a similar invitation: "Come and see the works of the Lord." Before we focus on what's making us anxious, we're invited to look back and remember what God has already done. Remembering doesn't erase today's problems, but it does strengthen today's faith. The same God who was faithful then is faithful now.

When you face a new challenge, do you spend more time thinking about your current problem or remembering God's past faithfulness? Why do you think it's so easy to forget what He's already done?
Throughout Scripture, God often told His people to remember His works. Why do you think remembering is such an important part of growing in faith?
Take a few minutes today to write down three specific ways God has been faithful in your life. The next time you're tempted to worry, come back to that list and let it remind you of His unchanging character.

Prayer Topics:

Ask God to help you remember His faithfulness instead of becoming consumed by your circumstances.
Thank Him for the specific ways He has provided, guided, forgiven, and sustained you throughout your life.
Confess the times you've forgotten God's goodness or taken His blessings for granted. Ask Him to help you trust His faithfulness again.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

5. Why do I follow Jesus?
I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.

(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/09/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/08/wednesday-devo Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/08/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

Questions:

One of the most helpful truths in Psalm 46 is that God protects us in more than one way.
The psalm calls Him our refuge, a shelter you run to when the storm suddenly hits. Think of getting caught in a hailstorm and finding cover just in time. That's the idea behind the Hebrew word Machaseh. God is our immediate help when life feels like it's falling apart.
But later the psalm calls Him our fortress. The Hebrew word Misgav describes a high, secure stronghold that enemies can't easily reach. It's not just a quick hiding place; it's a place of long-term safety.

Many of us treat God like an emergency umbrella. We run to Him when things go wrong, then go back to relying on ourselves when life settles down. Psalm 46 invites us into something deeper. God doesn't want to be only the shelter we visit during a crisis, He wants to be the fortress we live in every day. That doesn't mean followers of Jesus will avoid suffering. The storms still come. The diagnosis still happens. The hard conversations still arrive. But when God is our fortress, we don't face those things alone. True peace grows when we stop trying to build our own version of an invincible life and start resting in the protection of the God who is both our shield and our fortress.

Do you tend to run to God only when you're in trouble, or are you spending time with Him consistently even when life feels stable? What does your daily routine reveal about that?
How does it encourage you to know that God is both the mighty Commander of Heaven's armies and the loving Father who is near to His children? Which side of His character do you need to remember most when you're searching peace?
Is there an area where you've been relying on your own planning, control, or self-sufficiency more than you've been relying on God? What would it look like to place that area in His hands?

Prayer Topics:

Ask God to help you seek Him daily, not just when you're in a crisis.
Thank Him for being both your immediate refuge in times of trouble and your long-term fortress through every season of life.
Confess the ways you've been trying to create your own security through control, planning, or self-reliance, and ask God to help you trust Him more fully.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

5. Why do I follow Jesus?
I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.

(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/08/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/07/tuesday-devo Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/07/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

46:1–7 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. The people of God are secure, even in times of tumult and upheaval, because God is their refuge and strength (v. 1). God is present in his city (an emblem of his people as a whole) to protect it in all circumstances. Verses 2–3 use earthquakes, landslides, and the raging sea as images of raging nations and tottering kingdoms (v. 6). There is also a contrast: though the mountains be moved (v. 2), Zion shall not be moved (v. 5). The reason is that God has chosen Zion to be his holy habitation, i.e., the place of his sanctuary, where his people meet him in worship (v. 4). a river. In contrast to the roaring seas (vv. 2–3), the streams of this river (perhaps an image of the grace found in worshiping the true God; cf. Ezek. 47:1–12) make glad the city of God.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 994.

Questions:

One of the hardest parts of following Jesus is realizing that you can love Him deeply and still wrestle with anxiety. You can trust God, pray faithfully, and still wake up in the middle of the night with your mind racing. Cameron shared that there are mornings when he wakes up feeling anxious, like life is being held together with duct tape. Maybe you've felt that way too.

The world says peace comes when your circumstances improve. God says peace comes when your heart is anchored in His presence. Instead of carrying our worries alone, we're invited to bring them to the Lord in prayer. As we do, God's peace guards our hearts and minds, because we know the One who is in control. Our emotions will change from day to day. Our God never does.

How have you been letting your daily emotions dictate your view of God's faithfulness? When you wake up feeling overwhelmed before your feet even hit the floor, do you treat that anxiety as proof that God has distanced Himself, or as an invitation to lean into His presence?
Psalm 46 reminds us that peace isn't found in a life without problems but in the presence of God. How does that truth change the way you think about the situations you're facing?
Is there a burden you've prayed about but continue carrying on your own? How can you practically stop picking that worry back up?

Prayer Topics:

Ask God to remind you that His presence doesn't depend on how you feel. Pray that He would help you trust His promises even when your emotions don't feel like it.
Thank God that He is constant and unchanging. Praise Him that His peace is available to you, even in the middle of life's storms.
Confess the ways you've been holding on to worry instead of surrendering it to God. Ask Him to help you release your need for control and rest in His presence.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

5. Why do I follow Jesus?
I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.

(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/07/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/06/monday-devo Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/06/monday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

Questions:

We all run somewhere when life gets hard. Maybe it's staying busy, distracting yourself, trying to fix everything, or simply pretending you're okay. Without even realizing it, we look for something that will make us feel safe again. Psalm 46 reminds us that God is our refuge and strength. Our God doesn't watch from a distance. He welcomes us into His protection when the storm is already happening.

The psalmist doesn't pretend life is easy. He talks about mountains falling into the sea and the earth giving way beneath our feet. Those are images of life completely unraveling. The good news is that God's faithfulness isn't determined by our circumstances. He's still our refuge when the diagnosis comes. He's still our refuge when the relationship falls apart. He's still our refuge when anxiety keeps us awake at night. The question isn't whether trouble will come. The question is where we'll run when it does.

What's the biggest burden or worry you're carrying right now? When the pressure rises, where do you naturally turn for comfort? Maybe it's staying busy, distracting yourself, trying to fix the problem, or pretending everything is okay. Is that "refuge" actually bringing you peace, or is it keeping you from trusting God?
Psalm 46 doesn't promise a life without storms. It promises that God is with us in the middle of them. How does that change the way you think about the hard season you're walking through? What does it look like to trust God even before your circumstances change?
Are there places where you've been trying to handle everything on your own before bringing it to God? What's one practical way you can choose to trust Him first today instead of making Him your last resort?

Prayer Topics:

Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of the false, temporary shelters you run to when you are overwhelmed.
Repent of any areas of self-reliance or pride, where you've tried to take control and fix your own life or circumstance.
Praise God for being Immanuel, the God who steps into the roaring waters with you.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

5. Why do I follow Jesus?
I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.

(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/06/monday-devo#comments 0 Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/03/friday-devo Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/03/friday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 4:5-11
5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.

7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.

9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”

“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”

10 Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness,[a] not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”

Commentary:

The ironic question raised by these words is: If Jonah will not allow God to have compassion on Nineveh for the sake of the 120,000 people whom God created and cares for, will Jonah not allow God to have compassion on Nineveh for the sake of the animals, since after all, Jonah was willing to have compassion on a plant? The question is left unanswered so that the readers of the book may answer it for themselves.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1691.

Questions:

The book of Jonah ends in a way that feels unfinished. God asks Jonah one final question, but Jonah's response is never recorded. That abrupt ending is intentional because the final question is not only for Jonah, it is for us.

Throughout the book, Jonah struggled to trust God's sovereignty, extend God's compassion, and surrender his own will. The invitation is for us to choose a different ending. Will we continue running from God's direction, or will we trust His wisdom and obey His Word? Jonah's story points us to Jesus, who perfectly submitted to the Father's will, loved His enemies, and gave His life so that all people could receive salvation.

Now the question becomes: Will you choose Jonah's way or God's way?

As you reflect on the book of Jonah, what has God been revealing about your own heart? Which lesson has challenged or encouraged you the most?
How does Jesus fulfill everything Jonah could not? In what ways does Christ's life, death, and resurrection reveal the perfect obedience, compassion, and mercy that Jonah consistently lacked?
What is one specific step of obedience God is calling you to take because of what you have learned through Jonah? Is there someone to forgive, someone to love, someone to share the gospel with, or an area where you need to surrender your will to His?

Prayer Topics:

Thank God for His patience and faithfulness throughout your life.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you respond to God's Word with humility and obedience rather than resistance.
Commit yourself to living differently because of what God has taught you through Jonah. Ask Him to make your life a reflection of His mercy, compassion, holiness, and love as you point others to Jesus.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/03/friday-devo#comments 0 Thursday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/02/thursday-devo Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/02/thursday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

4:10–11 perished. Finally Jonah expresses concern over something perishing (see note on 3:9), but ironically it is a plant, not the 120,000 people who do not know their right hand from their left, an idiom for being morally and spiritually unaware, that probably refers to the entire population. Jonah’s compassion for the plant explains the rather odd expression that translates the final words in the Hebrew text, and also much cattle. The ironic question raised by these words is: If Jonah will not allow God to have compassion on Nineveh for the sake of the 120,000 people whom God created and cares for, will Jonah not allow God to have compassion on Nineveh for the sake of the animals, since after all, Jonah was willing to have compassion on a plant? The question is left unanswered so that the readers of the book may answer it for themselves.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1691.

Questions:

One of the greatest tensions throughout the book of Jonah is understanding how God can be perfectly merciful while also being perfectly just. Jonah loved God's mercy when it benefited him but struggled to accept that same mercy being extended to Nineveh. Yet God never compromises either His holiness or His love. T

hroughout the story, we see both His compassion and His justice on display, pointing us to the place where these two realities perfectly meet: the cross of Jesus Christ. At the cross, God's justice was fully satisfied because sin was punished, and God's mercy was fully displayed because Jesus took that punishment in our place. The book of Jonah ultimately points beyond Jonah to Jesus, the only One who perfectly reveals the goodness of God.

When you look into the mirror of your own life, which side of God's character do you tend to emphasize: His mercy or His justice? Does your answer change when you're thinking about your own sins versus the sins of someone who has deeply hurt or offended you? What does that reveal?
How does the cross of Jesus perfectly satisfy both God's holy justice and His unfailing mercy? Why is it essential that we hold both truths together instead of emphasizing one while neglecting the other, as Jonah did?
Where have you been excusing your own sin while holding someone else to a higher standard? Is there a grudge to release, an attitude of self-righteousness to confess, or an area of compromise to surrender at the foot of the cross?

Prayer Topics:

Thank Jesus for willingly taking your place on the cross so that God's justice could be satisfied and His mercy could be freely extended to you. Ask God to help you live in humble gratitude for the gospel.
Praise God for His perfect character. Thank Him that He is completely holy, completely just, completely loving, and completely faithful.
Pray that His mercy would lead you to greater obedience, deeper worship, and a growing desire to reflect Christ in every area of your life.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/02/thursday-devo#comments 0 Wednesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/07/01/wednesday-devo Wed, 01 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/07/01/wednesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

Questions:

The book of Jonah ends with a surprising question from God: "Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" Jonah mourned the loss of a plant that had brought him comfort, yet he had no compassion for the people of Nineveh who were living in spiritual darkness. God lovingly exposed Jonah's distorted priorities by reminding him that people matter infinitely more than possessions, comfort, or personal preferences.

Every person is created in the image of God and deeply loved by our Creator. God's heart has always been for all nations, all peoples, and every person who is far from Him. As followers of Christ, God calls us to allow His compassion to reshape our own hearts until we begin to love people the way He does.

Who is someone you find difficult to love, forgive, or even care about? What attitudes or assumptions might be keeping you from seeing that person the way God sees them?
What does God's compassion for Nineveh reveal about His character? How should knowing that God desires all people to come to Him shape the way we view those who are far from Christ?
Have you become more concerned with your own comfort, preferences, or frustrations than with the spiritual condition of the people around you? Through our study in Jonah has God been calling you to pray for, to serve, or to share the gospel with someone?

Prayer Topics:

Praise God that while you were still far from Him, He pursued you with mercy, grace, and love.
Ask God to replace any bitterness, prejudice, indifference, or self-centeredness in your heart with His compassion.
Pray for someone in your life who does not know Jesus. Ask God to soften their heart, open opportunities for you to show Christ's love, and give you the courage to faithfully share the gospel.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/07/01/wednesday-devo#comments 0 Tuesday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/30/tuesday-devo Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/30/tuesday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

4:6 the LORD God appointed. This is the second use of the verb “appoint” (see 1:17). The kind of plant appointed is not known; the term (Hb. qiqayon) occurs nowhere else in the Bible, but a castor oil plant or a gourd plant, both of which have large leaves, are the most common suggestions. Discomfort (or “evil,” Hb. ra‘ah; see ESV footnote and note on 1:2), refers both to Jonah’s outer “discomfort” and to his inner “evil.” Jonah was exceedingly glad. The grammar of this phrase is identical to that at the beginning of 4:1 (“It displeased Jonah exceedingly”) and underscores the contrast between Jonah’s anger at the salvation of the Ninevites and his joy at his own salvation.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690–1691.

Questions:

When God provided Jonah with a leafy plant to shade him from the scorching sun, Jonah was finally happy. But as quickly as the plant appeared, God appointed a worm to destroy it, exposing just how attached Jonah had become to his comfort.

Jonah grieved the loss of a temporary plant more than he grieved the spiritual condition of more than 120,000 people in Nineveh. Through this, God was revealing the misplaced priorities of Jonah's heart.

The things we depend on for security, identity, comfort, or happiness can quickly become idols when they take God's rightful place. God lovingly exposes those idols, not to harm us, but to free us so that our hope rests in the only One who never changes.

What temporary thing do you find yourself relying on most for your happiness, security, or identity? If God were to remove it, how do you think your heart would respond?
Why is God unwilling to allow anything or anyone to take His place in our hearts? How does His unchanging nature make Him a better foundation than anything this world can offer?
Has God recently exposed an area where your trust has shifted from Him to something temporary: a relationship, career, finances, success, comfort, or approval from others? What step of surrender is He asking you to take?

Prayer Topics:

Thank God for being your unchanging source of hope, security, and identity.
Pray for discernment to recognize where your affections have drifted and ask God to reveal any idols that have taken His place in your heart.
Ask God to help you treasure Him above every comfort, achievement, possession, or relationship.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/30/tuesday-devo#comments 0 Monday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/29/monday-devo Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/29/monday-devo

Scripture:

Commentary:

4:5 Jonah went out … till he should see. Apparently, Jonah hopes that God still will not relent but will destroy the city after all. sat under it in the shade. Jonah is hot—both emotionally (i.e., angry) and physically.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

One of the clearest truths throughout the book of Jonah is that God never stopped pursuing Jonah. Whether it was the storm, the fish, the plant, the worm, or the scorching wind, every circumstance was ultimately meant to draw Jonah back to the heart of God. Jonah kept running, but God kept pursuing; not because He wanted to punish Jonah, but because He loved him too much to leave him unchanged.

Sometimes the discomfort we experience is simply the natural consequence of our choices, and sometimes God lovingly uses hardship to expose what is happening inside our hearts. God's goal is not our happiness, His goal is our holiness. Even His discipline is an expression of His grace because He refuses to let His children settle for less than His best.

When you look back over your life, can you identify a difficult season that God may have used to draw you closer to Him or reveal something that needed to change in your heart? How did that season shape your faith?
Why do you think God's discipline is actually an expression of His love? How does understanding God's character help us trust Him even when His work in our lives feels uncomfortable?
Is there an area of your life where you know you are resisting God's direction or holding tightly to your own plans instead of trusting His? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him?

Prayer Topics:

Thank God for pursuing you even during seasons when you wandered or resisted Him. Praise Him for His patience and steadfast love.
Ask God to give you wisdom to recognize His work in both the blessings and the hardships of life. Pray for a heart that trusts His purposes even when they are difficult to understand.
Confess any area where you have been running from God's will, clinging to comfort, or resisting His correction. Ask Him to soften your heart and help you joyfully follow wherever He leads.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/29/monday-devo#comments 0 Friday Devo https://city.family/blog/2026/06/26/friday-devo Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://city.family/blog/2026/06/26/friday-devo

Scripture:

Jonah 4:1-4
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Commentary:

4:2 This is Jonah’s second prayer; the repetition of prayed to the LORD (see 2:1) invites the reader to compare the two. gracious God … relenting from disaster. These same words occur in Joel 2:13 as the basis for hope (see Ex. 34:6–7; Neh. 9:17; Ps. 145:8). Ironically, this standard confession of the compassionate character of God is the root of Jonah’s anger. Steadfast love, when extended to Jonah, filled him with thanksgiving (Jonah 2:8), but when extended to the Ninevites, filled him with anger.

Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1690.

Questions:

The final attribute highlighted in Jonah 4 is God's steadfast love; His faithful, covenant-keeping love. This love is the foundation for grace, mercy, patience, and forgiveness. God loved us while we were still sinners and even while we were His enemies. Because we have received that kind of love, we are called to show it to others. Jesus taught that love for God and love for people are the two greatest commandments. The true measure of spiritual maturity is not simply knowing biblical truth but living it out through sacrificial love. Jonah knew the right theology but failed to reflect God's heart. As followers of Jesus, we are called to follow His lead and become conductors of His love.

Think through your closest relationships: family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even difficult people in your life. Which relationship currently requires the most intentional, Christlike love from you? What makes loving that person difficult, and what might God be teaching you through that challenge?
The sermon described love as the foundation for grace, mercy, patience, and forgiveness. Why do you think all of those qualities ultimately flow from love? How does understanding God's steadfast, covenant-keeping love for you change the way you treat others?
The sermon ended with the question, "What does love require?" As you consider your relationships, where might God be asking you to sacrifice your comfort, pride, preferences, or desire to be right for the good of someone else? What step of obedience is He inviting you to take today?

Prayer Topics:

Thank God for His unchanging, steadfast love toward you.
Ask Him to help you love others the way Christ has loved you.
Pray for the willingness to put others before yourself and follow Jesus' example of sacrificial love.

This Week's City 7:

Try to commit to memory!

3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.

(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)

]]> https://city.family/blog/2026/06/26/friday-devo#comments 0