January 12th, 25: Living Free From Religious Gloom: A Daily Walk With God cover art

January 12th, 25: Living Free From Religious Gloom: A Daily Walk With God

January 12th, 25: Living Free From Religious Gloom: A Daily Walk With God

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 Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Genesis 12-14; Luke 5Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode, Hunter invites us into the fifth day of our journey through the scriptures, exploring Genesis 12–14 and Luke 5. As we travel with Abram through moments of faith and challenge, witness God's promises unfold, and encounter Jesus calling his disciples, healing the outcast, and challenging the religious status quo, we're reminded that these stories point us towards transformation in Christ's love. Hunter reflects on what it means to walk with the Bridegroom—to live joyfully in Jesus's presence, embracing an abundant, childlike faith even in times of hardship or grief. As always, the episode weaves in meaningful prayer and encouragement for your journey, offering hope, comfort, and a reminder that you are deeply loved. Settle in and let God's word nurture your heart today—let's continue this journey together! TODAY'S DEVOTION: Is the bridegroom with us or not? That's the question that comes to the surface as we listen to Jesus respond to the religious leaders in Luke 5. They were disturbed, unsettled by Jesus and his disciples, and how different they seemed from the expected religious norm. Why all the eating and drinking, the lightness and celebration? Shouldn't holy people look more somber, more weighed down by the gravity of spiritual things? But Jesus invites us into a startling possibility—when the bridegroom is with us, it's not a time for gloom. It's not the season for heavy restriction or ritual sadness. It's time to live, to eat and drink, to walk in the abundant life and the joyful celebration of his presence. There certainly is a time for mourning, for fasting, Jesus says. There are seasons of loss and waiting and longing. And yet, even then—for those who belong to Jesus—those seasons are now carried out in the presence and company of the One who is our comforter, our wisdom, our light. He walks with us even through the valley of the shadow of death. He prepares a table for us, a banquet of grace, even when we are surrounded by difficulty, sorrow, or even our enemies. This is the new wine that Jesus brings, the unexpected freedom and fullness of life that flows from walking with the bridegroom. It is a new thing—and sometimes, we may struggle to accept the joy, the lightness, the new way Jesus calls us into. The religious self in us may want to revert back to old patterns, the requisite religious gloom. But Jesus calls us forward, into a childlike, unselfconscious, abundant life, alive to his joyous presence. He's making all things new, and that includes you and me. The prayer of my own heart is that I will live today awake to the bridegroom's presence. That I might even surprise myself with the freedom, joy, and love that spring up when I remember who is with me—the bright and morning star, my joy, my life. In sorrow or in celebration, in fasting or in feasting, may I choose to live as a loved child of God who walks in the newness Christ has made. That's my prayer for my soul, for my family, and for you today. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen. Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. And now Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. And where there is sadness, Joy. Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life. Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive ...
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