This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: It's OK to Call Out to Jesus.
Are you walking through a storm today?
Sometimes, when the winds of life blow hard, we can get so overwhelmed, frantic, and confused that we completely forget we can call out to Jesus. We might feel like we have to put together a long, perfect, or highly religious prayer to get His attention.
But look at how the disciples handled a sudden crisis on the Sea of Galilee:
"The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Master, Master, we are perishing!' Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm."
— Luke 8:24 (BSB)
Notice that the disciples didn't offer a polished theological prayer. In their absolute panic, they simply cried out five urgent words: "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And Jesus didn't lecture them for their bluntness. He instantly got up, rebuked the storm, and brought a perfect calm.
If you are in a storm today, a simple, raw cry of, "Jesus, save me!" works perfectly.
In the midst of all your confusion, your Savior can sort things out. He can calm the waters, quiet your heart, and give you the strength to ride out the storm until He guides you to a place of peace.
And when those waves of worry and confusing thoughts try to roll back into your mind later today, you don't have to fight them in your own strength. Simply replace them with thanksgiving. Say quietly: "Thank You, Jesus." Choose to thank Him in advance, trusting His loving Providence to work every single detail out for your ultimate good.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
Richard Templin Hancock
Encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily.
Christian - forgiven - grateful
Welcome. My name is Richard Templin Hancock and I’m here to encourage you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. I'm glad you're here—let's walk this path together.
True Kinship With Christ
This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: True Kinship with Christ.
How do we measure our closeness to God?
In our world today, it is easy to rely on outward things—going to church, carrying a Bible, or wearing a cross. But Jesus reveals that true relationship with Him is not about outward show or empty labels. It is about a heart that hears His Word and actively obeys it.
Consider this defining moment from the life of our Savior:
"And He answered and said unto them, My mother and My brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."
— Luke 8:21
What a stunning statement. Jesus defines His closest family—His spiritual kin—not by bloodlines or religious pedigree, but by active obedience. He repeats this beautiful standard in the Gospel of Luke, pointing us to true spiritual happiness:
"But He said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it."
— Luke 11:28
Why does obedience matter so much? It is because our actions reveal the true posture of our hearts.
As Jesus tells us in the Upper Room:
"If ye love Me, keep My commandments. He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."
— John 14:15, 21
This is why a comfortable, outward-only faith is so dangerous. Jesus warns us plainly that saying the right words is never a substitute for a changed life:
How do we measure our closeness to God?
In our world today, it is easy to rely on outward things—going to church, carrying a Bible, or wearing a cross. But Jesus reveals that true relationship with Him is not about outward show or empty labels. It is about a heart that hears His Word and actively obeys it.
Consider this defining moment from the life of our Savior:
"And He answered and said unto them, My mother and My brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."
— Luke 8:21
What a stunning statement. Jesus defines His closest family—His spiritual kin—not by bloodlines or religious pedigree, but by active obedience. He repeats this beautiful standard in the Gospel of Luke, pointing us to true spiritual happiness:
"But He said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it."
— Luke 11:28
Why does obedience matter so much? It is because our actions reveal the true posture of our hearts.
As Jesus tells us in the Upper Room:
"If ye love Me, keep My commandments. He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him."
— John 14:15, 21
This is why a comfortable, outward-only faith is so dangerous. Jesus warns us plainly that saying the right words is never a substitute for a changed life:
"Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven."
— Matthew 7:21
True blessing is found when we seek Him with our whole heart, letting His Word guide every single step of our busy routines. As the Psalmist writes:
"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart."
— Psalm 119:1-2
If you are listening today and realize you have been settling for an outward religious form while your heart is far from God, you don't have to wait another moment. Stop trying to clean up your own life or perform for His approval. Simply turn from your sin right now and place your complete trust in Jesus Christ alone to save you. His blood will cleanse you, and His Spirit will give you a brand-new heart to follow Him daily.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
— Matthew 7:21
True blessing is found when we seek Him with our whole heart, letting His Word guide every single step of our busy routines. As the Psalmist writes:
"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart."
— Psalm 119:1-2
If you are listening today and realize you have been settling for an outward religious form while your heart is far from God, you don't have to wait another moment. Stop trying to clean up your own life or perform for His approval. Simply turn from your sin right now and place your complete trust in Jesus Christ alone to save you. His blood will cleanse you, and His Spirit will give you a brand-new heart to follow Him daily.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
He Walks with You
This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: He Walks with You.
God sees you. He sees your life, your deepest joys, and your heaviest sorrows. He knows when you obey Him, and He knows when you sin. He knows absolutely everything you do.
The Psalmist David wrote of this intimate reality in Psalm 139:
"You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do."
— Psalm 139:3 (NLT)
Think about the sheer magnitude of that truth. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the sovereign Creator who sent Messiah Jesus to redeem us—is not a distant spectator. The very same God who walked with Noah and warned him of the flood, guided Moses through the wilderness, and stood beside the Apostle Paul in the midst of shipwreck and trial... this exact same God walks with you today.
Because of your faith in Jesus, you are never alone. You do not have to wonder if God has forgotten you, because He has surrounded you. As the Scripture reassures us:
"You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head."
— Psalm 139:5 (NLT)
What a beautiful, secure boundary. God’s presence goes before you to prepare your way, He follows behind you to guard your past, and His sovereign hand of blessing rests gently on your head this very hour.
You can walk through your routine today with absolute, quiet confidence. The One who knows you best is the One who loves you most.
Let's pray: Lord Jesus, thank You that You know me completely and still love me perfectly. Thank You for going before me today, walking beside me, and holding me secure. I rest under Your hand of blessing, trusting Your presence to guide every step of my journey today. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
God sees you. He sees your life, your deepest joys, and your heaviest sorrows. He knows when you obey Him, and He knows when you sin. He knows absolutely everything you do.
The Psalmist David wrote of this intimate reality in Psalm 139:
"You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do."
— Psalm 139:3 (NLT)
Think about the sheer magnitude of that truth. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the sovereign Creator who sent Messiah Jesus to redeem us—is not a distant spectator. The very same God who walked with Noah and warned him of the flood, guided Moses through the wilderness, and stood beside the Apostle Paul in the midst of shipwreck and trial... this exact same God walks with you today.
Because of your faith in Jesus, you are never alone. You do not have to wonder if God has forgotten you, because He has surrounded you. As the Scripture reassures us:
"You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head."
— Psalm 139:5 (NLT)
What a beautiful, secure boundary. God’s presence goes before you to prepare your way, He follows behind you to guard your past, and His sovereign hand of blessing rests gently on your head this very hour.
You can walk through your routine today with absolute, quiet confidence. The One who knows you best is the One who loves you most.
Let's pray: Lord Jesus, thank You that You know me completely and still love me perfectly. Thank You for going before me today, walking beside me, and holding me secure. I rest under Your hand of blessing, trusting Your presence to guide every step of my journey today. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
Loved Before Time Began
This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: Loved Before Time Began.
Have you ever wondered when God first decided to love you? The Bible reveals that His love has no starting point in time.
Look at what the Lord says through the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:3:
"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
His love stretches all the way back into eternity. Long before the universe was created, God already chose you. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 1:4:
"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:"
This is the bedrock of our security. Your salvation rests entirely on His sovereign grace, not your daily performance. Even when we were spiritually dead, His rich mercy stepped in to make us alive in Christ. Ephesians 2:4-5 says:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"
Rest in the absolute peace of His everlasting love today.
Let’s pray: Father, thank You for choosing me in Christ before the foundation of the world. Help me to walk in the quiet confidence in the knowledge of Your love for me today. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
Have you ever wondered when God first decided to love you? The Bible reveals that His love has no starting point in time.
Look at what the Lord says through the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:3:
"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
His love stretches all the way back into eternity. Long before the universe was created, God already chose you. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 1:4:
"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:"
This is the bedrock of our security. Your salvation rests entirely on His sovereign grace, not your daily performance. Even when we were spiritually dead, His rich mercy stepped in to make us alive in Christ. Ephesians 2:4-5 says:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"
Rest in the absolute peace of His everlasting love today.
Let’s pray: Father, thank You for choosing me in Christ before the foundation of the world. Help me to walk in the quiet confidence in the knowledge of Your love for me today. Amen.
That's it for this podcast. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.
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