Soul Tips from PB

DAY 3: FAITH IN THE WAITINGScriptureHebrews 11:8–10“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”ReflectionIf there is one experience almost every Filipino can relate to, it is being stuck in brutal EDSA traffic. We hate sitting in that gridlock because every ticking minute feels like completely wasted time—a frustrating delay holding us back from where we actually want to be. If we are honest, we often view seasons of waiting in life the exact same way, leaving us to wonder: how do we keep moving forward when God calls us to step out into the unknown, or when His promises seem stuck in traffic?The answer is found in the life of Abraham, who stepped out into the unknown and embraced a posture of unwavering waiting. When God called Abraham to leave his homeland, he obeyed immediately, even though he had no map, no timeline, and no visible guarantee of how things would unfold. Even after arriving in the Promised Land, Abraham didn't immediately receive full possession; instead, he lived in temporary tents as a foreigner, waiting actively on God's fulfillment for decades.Faith is essential in seasons of waiting and uncertainty because true faith anchors itself in the Promiser rather than the immediate realization of the promise. Abraham was able to endure living in temporary tents because he had his eyes fixed on something permanent—he was looking forward to the eternal city whose architect and builder is God.Here is the central truth we must focus on: Living by faith is focusing on the Promiser than the promise itself. Abraham lived his entire earthly life and died without ever seeing the full physical fulfillment of God's promise with his own eyes. He never saw the vast nation or the fully possessed land in his lifetime. Yet, he never stopped walking by faith. His faith did not collapse when he reached the end of his life without seeing the full outcome, because his trust was never anchored in seeing the promise checked off his to-do list—it was grounded entirely in the unshakeable character of the Promiser.Are you currently in a season of waiting, feeling stuck in a spiritual traffic jam while waiting for God to move in your family, career, or personal life? Abraham’s journey reminds us that waiting on God is never wasted time. God is not asking you to figure out every step of the future or even demand to see the final result today; He is inviting you to trust the One who holds the blueprint. Even when you cannot yet see the final outcome, you can keep walking forward because the God who promised is always faithful.PrayerLord, thank You for the example of Abraham, who kept walking in faith even when he did not see the full promise fulfilled in his lifetime. Forgive me for the times I get impatient, demand immediate results, and treat Your seasons of waiting as wasted time. Anchor my heart today not in what my eyes can see, but in Your unshakeable character as the Promiser. Help me to trust You completely with my timeline and participate in what You are doing right now. In Jesus' name, Amen.Today's PracticeReflect on what you are currently waiting on God for, and reach out to an accountability partner, mentor, or trusted friend today. Share with them what you are waiting for and name one specific action you can take to actively participate with God in what He is doing in this season of waiting.

DAY 1: FOUNDATION OF FAITHScriptureHebrews 11:1“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”​ReflectionWe live in a culture that often measures faith by emotional intensity, leading us to say, “We will do this by faith,” or “I have faith, so I can handle this.” But if we are honest, we often rely on the fleeting feeling of having faith rather than its true biblical reality, leaving us questioning ourselves when emotions fade: what is faith really, and why is it crucial for us to understand it properly?​The passage tells us that faith gives us confidence in what we hope for and assurance about things we cannot yet see. Theologian Dallas Willard offered a definition that illuminates this deeply: “Faith is commitment to action, often beyond our natural abilities, based upon knowledge of God and God's ways.” Now Hebrews 11:1 makes complete sense. We have confidence and assurance—even when what we hope for hasn't materialized yet—because faith is acting upon who God is and how He works.​The heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 lived by faith even before God’s ultimate promise in Christ was physically fulfilled in their lifetime, because they knew the character of the One who promised. The substance of our faith isn't our own willpower or an emotional feeling; it is our knowledge of God—and He is always faithful to His Word.​Is there anything God promised you that you are doubting right now because your circumstances look completely opposite? The Lord remains faithful. He sees your pain, and He knows your questions. He doesn't condemn you for your doubts; instead, He invites you to keep holding on because He who promised is faithful. He is working right now, even when you feel like He isn't, and He is nearer than you think, fulfilling His purpose even through your present trial.​PrayerLord, thank You that my faith does not have to rest on my fluctuating feelings, but on Your solid, unshakeable character. Forgive me for the times I rely on my own willpower rather than who You are and how You work. Give me the grace to commit to action today based on Your truth, believing that You are working behind the scenes even when I cannot see it. Help me to keep holding on, confident in Your unending faithfulness. In Jesus' name, Amen.​Today's PracticeIdentify one small decision or step you need to take today. Instead of waiting until you feel confident or fearless, take that step as an intentional act of obedience, trusting in who God is and how He works.

DAY 5: KEEP FOCUSING ON JESUSScriptureHebrews 12:1–2“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”ReflectionThere will be seasons when we don't understand what God is doing. There will be prayers that seem unanswered, circumstances we cannot control, and moments when we simply feel tired. In those moments, what we focus on matters.If we focus only on our circumstances, we can easily become overwhelmed. If we focus only on our struggles, we can lose sight of hope. But Hebrews reminds us to fix our eyes on Jesus.Jesus is the One who made a way for us to draw near. He is the reason we can trust God's faithfulness. He is the One who has given us a community to journey with.We don't keep going because life is easy. We don't keep going because our faith is always strong. We keep going because Jesus is worthy of our trust and He has already gone before us.So whatever season you are in today, keep focusing on Jesus and keep going.PrayerJesus, help me fix my eyes on You. When life becomes difficult and I am tempted to give up, remind me of who You are and what You have done. Help me keep going, one step at a time, with my eyes fixed on You. Amen.Today's PracticeTake a few minutes today to listen to the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” and make the conscious choice to look to Jesus as you listen to or sing this worship song. Spend some time in prayer and declared, “Jesus, I choose to focus on You today. Help me take the next faithful step.”

DAY 4: WE ARE BETTER TOGETHERScriptureHebrews 10:24-25“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”ReflectionDifficult seasons can make us want to isolate ourselves. Sometimes we think, “I'll just deal with this on my own.” But Hebrews reminds us that the Christian life was never meant to be lived alone. We need people who will encourage us when we are tired, pray with us when we are hurting, remind us of God's truth when we are struggling to believe it, and help us keep going when we feel like giving up. And it works both ways. We are not only called to receive encouragement. We are also called to encourage one another.The church is imperfect. People can disappoint us, and community can sometimes be difficult. But God's design is still for His people to journey together. If we will keep going, we need to keep going together.So don't disappear when life gets hard. Stay connected. Let people walk with you. And look for someone who may need you to walk with them too.PrayerLord, thank You for giving me people to journey with. Help me resist isolation when life gets hard. Give me the humility to receive help and the compassion to encourage others. Use our community to help us keep going. Amen.Today's PracticeReach out to one person today. Ask them, “How are you really doing?” Then take time to listen and pray for them.

DAY 3: HOLD ON, GOD IS FAITHFULScriptureHebrews 10:23“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”ReflectionIt is easy to hold on to hope when everything is going well. The real challenge comes when our circumstances give us reasons to doubt. When prayers seem unanswered, when the future feels uncertain, or when suffering lasts longer than we expected, we can begin to wonder: Can I really trust God?Hebrews reminds us to hold unswervingly to our hope. Why? Not because we are always strong enough to hold on, but because the One who promised is faithful.Our hope is not simply positive thinking. It is confidence in God and His promises, grounded in His character and secured through Jesus. There may be things you cannot understand about your current season. You may not know what God is doing. But you can still know who God is.Remember, the foundation of our perseverance isn't the strength of our grip; it's the faithfulness of the One we're holding onto. So today, cling to Him.PrayerFather, when my circumstances shake me, remind me that You remain faithful. Help me hold on to the hope I have in You, even when I cannot see what You are doing. Strengthen my faith and teach me to trust Your character. Amen.Today's PracticeWrite down one promise or truth about God that you need to remember today. Keep it somewhere visible and return to it whenever doubt comes.

DAY 2: WHEN YOUR HEART WANTS TO RUNScriptureHebrews 10:22“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.”ReflectionWe all go through different seasons in life. Some are joyful and easy, while others are marked by hardship, disappointment, unanswered prayers, or suffering. And when life gets hard, we often face a choice: Will we run toward God or run away from Him?Sometimes, especially when we have tried our best to follow and serve God, suffering can make us question His love. We may think, “Lord, after everything I've done, why is this happening to me?” We may wonder if God still cares, if He is listening, or if following Him is still worth it.But it is in those moments that God reminds us that it is better to go through suffering with Him. Not because suffering is easy, but because He understands us, cares for us, and loves us. And we know that He loves us because He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, for us. Jesus is proof of God's love. Because of Him, the way to God has been opened, and we can draw near.So when you don't feel okay, you don't have to pretend that everything is fine before coming to God. Bring your not-okay heart to Him. Bring your fears, questions, worries, and disappointments. Faith means choosing to draw near even when your feelings tell you to run away.When suffering makes your heart want to pull away from God, remember Jesus. Remember His love. Remember what God has already done in your life. And by faith, choose to draw near.PrayerLord, sometimes my heart wants to run away from You when life gets hard. I don't always understand why You allow me to suffer, and sometimes I struggle to believe that You still care. But today, I choose to remember Jesus and what He has done for me. Thank You for loving me and making a way for me to draw near. Help me bring my honest, not-okay heart to You and trust You by faith. Amen.Today's PracticeChoose to draw near. Take a few quiet moments today and tell God honestly what you are feeling. Don't try to make your prayer sound spiritual. Simply bring Him your worries, questions, fears, or disappointments.Visit our website at https://www.rlcc.ph

DAY 1: JESUS MADE A WAYScriptureHebrews 10:19-21“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God…”ReflectionOur confidence to approach God is not based on how good we have been, how strong our faith feels, or how well we have handled our circumstances. It is based on Jesus—on what He has already done and on who He is.Hebrews reminds us that we can enter God's presence because of what Jesus has done. His sacrifice opened a new and living way for us to come to God. Not only that, He is also our Great High Priest who understands us and who gives us grace and mercy. This matters especially when we are suffering. Sometimes difficult seasons can make us question whether God will still accept us or if God is still near. But our access to God is not determined by our circumstances. Because of Jesus, we do not need to try our best to measure up or be worthy enough to approach God because He already opened the way for us when the veil was torn.When you don't know what to pray for, you can still come. When your faith feels weak, you can still come. When you have more questions than answers, you can still come. You don't have to earn your way into God's presence. You can simply receive the invitation and come.PrayerJesus, thank You for making a way for me to come to the Father. When I feel distant, remind me that Your finished work has already opened the way. Help me approach God with confidence, not because of what I can do, but because of what You have done. Amen.Today's PracticeWhenever you feel anxious, discouraged, or overwhelmed today, pause and simply help your soul to remember: “Jesus already made a way for me. I am not alone in my suffering for He is with me. ”

When life leaves us exhausted and uncertain, where can we find the strength to keep going when our own grip begins to fail? Join us as we reflect on a hope that invites us to stop striving, rest securely, and trust the One who has already gone before us.Visit our website at https://www.rlcc.ph