Struggling to forgive someone who deeply wounded you? In this episode, discover how releasing bitterness frees you, not them, and why forgiveness is possible because Christ first forgave you.

Have you ever held onto a grudge so long it started to feel like part of you?

The hurt was real. The offense was unjust. And the idea of forgiving feels like letting them off the hook. So you replay it, rehearse it, and carry the bitterness day after day. But over time, that unforgiveness doesn't punish them; it poisons you. It steals your peace, strains your relationships, and keeps you chained to a moment you can't change.

In this episode, we look at the stunning story of Eva Mozes Kor, a Holocaust survivor who endured unimaginable horror at Auschwitz as a child. For decades, she carried the weight of trauma, rage, and bitterness toward the Nazis who murdered her family and tortured her in medical experiments. Then in 1995, she did something that shocked the world: she publicly forgave them. Not because they deserved it, but because she refused to let hatred own her soul any longer. She said, "Anger and hatred are seeds that eat the soul of the person who carries them."

Through her story and Colossians 3:13, you'll see that forgiveness isn't about excusing sin or pretending it didn't happen. It's about releasing the debt and handing the offender to God. It's about your freedom, not their exoneration. And it's possible because Christ forgave you first.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. Why holding onto unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to get sick
2. How Colossians 3:13 roots our ability to forgive in the forgiveness we've already received from Christ
3. Practical steps to begin releasing someone when forgiveness feels impossible

Forgiveness won't erase what happened, but it will set you free from carrying it for the rest of your life.

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Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

Feel like there's never enough time and wonder where the days keep going? In this episode, discover how wise living means making the most of your time, saying "no" to good things so you can say "yes" to the best.

Have you ever reached the end of a week and wondered where all the time went?

You were busy every day, emails, meetings, tasks, demands, but the things that matter most got pushed aside again. Time with God. Time with family. Rest. Reflection. The urgent kept winning, and the important kept losing. Everyone is busy, but few people feel like they're actually spending their time wisely.

In this episode, we look at the work of Charles Hummel, a college administrator who noticed the same troubling pattern in the mid-20th century. In his classic booklet Tyranny of the Urgent, Hummel argued that the key to wise time stewardship is learning to distinguish between what's urgent and what's truly important, because they're often not the same thing. He pointed to Jesus as the model. Jesus never seemed rushed. He said no to crowds when it was time to pray. He walked away from demands when it was time to rest. He finished His mission without doing everything people wanted Him to do.

Through Hummel's insight and Ephesians 5:15–16, you'll see that making the most of your time doesn't mean doing more; it means doing what matters most and letting the rest wait.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. Why being busy and being wise are not the same thing, and how to tell the difference
2. How the "tyranny of the urgent" quietly steals time from your deepest priorities
3. Practical ways to protect time for what matters most before the urgent demands take over

You cannot do everything, not even all the good things. But you can do the right things. That's what wise living looks like.

Share This Episode:

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/166

Need Prayer? Leave me a voicemail:

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/voicemail

Want to keep these devotions coming? Please consider supporting this podcast.

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Connect with Bart

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Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

Struggling to stay connected to church because of hurt, busyness, or disappointment with people? In this episode, discover why God designed you for community, imperfect Christ-followers sharpening and encouraging one another, and why disconnection isn't the solution.

Have you ever felt like going to church was more of an obligation than a joy?

Maybe you've been hurt by someone in leadership. Maybe you've experienced gossip, judgment, or hypocrisy in a congregation. Maybe you've shown up week after week and felt invisible. Or maybe life just got busy and you drifted without even realizing it. Whatever the reason, church started feeling like a chore instead of a community.

In this episode, we look at Jefferson Bethke, whose viral video "Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus" gave voice to millions who felt disillusioned with institutional Christianity. He was frustrated with a church culture that seemed more about appearance than authenticity. But in the years that followed, Bethke shifted his message. He realized that rejecting the church entirely wasn't the answer. In his book It's Not What You Think, he describes learning to love the messy, imperfect community of Christ-followers because that's exactly what Jesus designed.

Through his story and Hebrews 10:24–25, you'll see that the command to "not neglect our meeting together" wasn't written for people who loved every Sunday, it was written for people tempted to quit. God designed you for community. Disillusionment is common, but disconnection isn't the solution. Finding your place in messy, grace-filled community is.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU'LL DISCOVER:

1. Why the answer to disappointment with the church isn't to abandon the church
2. How Hebrews 10:24–25 calls us to motivate and encourage one another, not just attend a service
3. Practical ways to reconnect with community if you've drifted or been hurt

The church isn't a museum for saints, it's a hospital for the broken. And you can't heal alone.

Share This Episode:

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/165

Need Prayer? Leave me a voicemail:

https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com/voicemail

Want to keep these devotions coming? Please consider supporting this podcast.

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Connect with Bart

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dailydevotionsforbusylives

Website: https://www.dailydevotionsforbusylives.com

Feeling spiritually drained? Start here. Download your free copy of my eBook Making Time for Jesus here.

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