A Brand New Way to Live – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #213 for April 1, 2026

Wednesday, April 01, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


“A Brand New Way to Live”

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Message from Sunday, March 22
Blessing in the Secret Place, Bounty in God's Plan




Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.










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Blessing in the Secret Place, Bounty in God’s Plan

Sunday, March 29, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments




“Blessing in the Secret Place, Bounty in God’s Plan” by Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min

Delivered at the Hope of Glory Church, Indianapolis  – L. Irving Robb, Pastor

Psalm 91:1, He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 

Leviticus 25:18, If you want to live securely in the land, follow my decrees and obey my regulations. 19 Then the land will yield large crops, and you will eat your fill and live securely in it. 20 But you might ask, ‘What will we eat during the seventh year, since we are not allowed to plant or harvest crops that year?’ 21 Be assured that I will send my blessing for you in the sixth year, so the land will produce a crop large enough for three years. 22 When you plant your fields in the eighth year, you will still be eating from the large crop of the sixth year. In fact, you will still be eating from that large crop when the new crop is harvested in the ninth year.

Pastor Bryan Hudson’s sermon centers on the theme that living close to God and trusting His plan leads to provision, protection, and completion of what He has started. Drawing from Psalm 91:1–2 and Leviticus 25:22, he connects the church’s anniversary theme, “Faith Alive,” to the truth that faith is alive because Jesus is alive, and because God is not finished with His people yet.

A major emphasis of the message is that believers must learn to walk by faith and not by sight. Dr. Hudson illustrates this with testimonies about churches paying off mortgages and leaders who acted in faith before they saw the final outcome. His point is that because Jesus finished His work, believers can trust God to help them finish theirs. What looks unfinished in the natural is already complete in God’s purpose.

From Psalm 91, he identifies two mandates and two affirmations: believers are called to dwell in the secret place of God’s presence and abide under His shadow, meaning they must live near God and trust His protection. They must also confess that the Lord is their refuge and fortress and declare their trust in Him. In a shaky world, God remains the believer’s secure foundation.

From Leviticus 25, Dr. Hudson explains the principle of preserved provision. God commanded Israel to let the land rest in the seventh year, but He also promised such an abundant harvest in the sixth year that it would sustain them until new crops came in. This becomes a lesson in obedience, trust, rest, and preparation: God provides in advance for seasons when visible increase is not happening. The preacher applies this practically to financial stewardship, saving, tithing, and breaking cycles of lack through obedience to God’s order.

He then applies the message directly to Hope of Glory Church, saying that their eighth year is a transition year. As they approach paying off their mortgage, they are nearing a new season of freedom, provision, and possibility. Being debt free is not just about relief from bills, but about having more seed to sow and entering greater fruitfulness. He reinforces this with Amos 9:13, describing a season of such abundance that one harvest overlaps with the next.

The sermon closes with three main principles: God honors His own order, God provides for obedience, and God’s provision can be stored. Dr. Hudson urges the congregation to activate faith by believing, speaking, and acting. He ends with corporate affirmations declaring that their faith is active, they will obey God without hesitation, dwell in His presence, trust His covering, sow in this season, retire the mortgage, and enter a new season of abundance.

In one sentence: this sermon teaches that faithful obedience in God’s presence positions believers to receive His preserved provision, finish what He started, and step into a new season of abundance.



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Ready & Well-Positioned – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #212 for March 18, 2026

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


“Ready & Well-Positioned”

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Message from Sunday, March 15
Unstuck & Fit for God’s Kingdom

Luke 9:1, Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 62, But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

“Fit” means suitable, ready, or well-positioned for kingdom service.

Hand to the plow and not looking back











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Unstuck & Fit For God's Kingdom – Part Three of FORWARD: The Only Direction God is Moving

Sunday, March 15, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments





Luke 9:1, Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. 62, But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Pastor Bryan Hudson, DMin reviews the earlier themes of the series: the peril of the past, seen in Lot’s wife looking back; the peril of the present, seen in Israel facing the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army; and the promise of the future, which requires faith to see beyond present obstacles. He stresses that before people can move forward outwardly, they must first move forward inwardly—in heart and mind.

Using Luke 9:62, Pastor Hudson explains that Jesus’ words about putting one’s hand to the plow and not looking back speak to focus, commitment, and Kingdom readiness. To be “fit for the kingdom” means being suitable, ready, and well-positioned for God’s service. Looking back, carrying too many distractions, or losing focus makes a person ineffective in their calling.

He then connects this to the story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda in John 5. The man had been disabled for 38 years and was trapped in a system of false hope, waiting for healing in the water but never experiencing change. Pastor Hudson says the man’s real problem was not just his condition, but the system he was stuck in. Bethesda represents the kinds of systems people rely on that actually keep them stuck—socially, emotionally, spiritually, financially, or relationally.

A key insight of the message is this: you are not the stuck thing; the system is stuck. People are not defined by their trauma, environment, or condition. God did not create anyone to live in bondage. Pastor Hudson uses the illustration of boots stuck in mud: the person is not stuck—the boots are. The answer is to step out of them. In the same way, believers must step out of mindsets, habits, environments, and patterns that keep them bound.

He emphasizes that the miracle for the man at Bethesda was not in the water, but in leaving the water when Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Becoming unstuck is not always dramatic; often it happens through simple but important steps like changing your environment, setting boundaries, changing your mindset, ending destructive relationships, refusing gossip, or breaking unhealthy cycles.

The message closes with the acrostic 
FORWARD: Faithful, Obedient, Resilient, Wise, Aligned, Redemptive, Destined.

These qualities describe the kind of life that moves with God. Pastor Hudson’s final encouragement is that believers should remain focused, avoid rigged systems and false hope, and keep moving forward because forward is the only direction God is moving.




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Systems That Help or Hurt – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #211 for March 11, 2026

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


“Systems That Help or Hurt”


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Message from Sunday, March 8
The Promise & Peril of Systems
 

John 5:5, Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.6, When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

A system is a structure of interacting parts that produces outcomes, good and bad.
Navigating systems requires: 
Knowledge,  patience, perseverance, willingness to adapt, and courage to challenge when necessary.

In this text, we see the convergence and collision of different systems:
1. The system of the man and the people at Bethesda.
2. The system of false hope
3. The system of how disabled people were treated
4. Religious systems
5. The system of Jesus & the Kingdom of God








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The Peril & Promise of Systems - FORWARD: The Only Direction God is Moving, Part Two

Monday, March 09, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



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STATEMENTS OF GOOD & BAD SYSTEMS


"The Peril & Promise of Systems" is the second message in the series “Forward: The Only Direction God Is Moving,” Pastor Bryan Hudson, explores how systems influence human life—both positively and negatively—and how believers must understand, navigate, and sometimes challenge those systems while remaining anchored in the system of the Kingdom of God.

Three Levels of Forward Action
Heavenly Perspective
Psalm 103:19, The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

The Church’s Role
1 Corinthians 3:9, For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

Society and Justice
Jeremiah 22:3, Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.”

Together these passages show that believers must be “heavenly minded and earthly good.” Our faith must translate into real-world service.

The sermon challenges a shallow form of Christianity focused only on religious activity. The church exists not merely to “have church” but to serve people and influence society.

True Christianity involves action:
Not only loving in word, but loving in deed
Not only praying, but acting
Not only preaching, but serving

Christ followers must move beyond simply attending church and instead become agents of transformation, helping people navigate and improve the systems that shape society.

Central Message:
While the world is governed by many systems, believers are called to navigate and/or challenge those systems while anchoring themselves in the system of the Kingdom of God. From that foundation, we can discern the peril of destructive systems and the promise of systems aligned with God’s justice, compassion, and truth, enabling them to move forward with wisdom and purpose.







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Moving Forward – Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #210 for March 4, 2026

Tuesday, March 03, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


“Moving Forward”

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Message from Sunday, March 1
FORWARD: The Only Direction God is Moving

Hebrews 12:1-2, Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The greatest challenge to moving forward is the past and the present

Three perspectives:

THE PERIL OF THE PAST
THE PERIL OF THE PRESENT
THE PROMISE OF THE FUTURE

THE PERIL OF THE PAST
Successes, failures, mistakes, and even people who keep us looking back.

THE PERIL OF THE PRESENT
Allowing circumstances alone to define your reality.

The perils of the past and present can conspire to ruin your perception of the future
The most significant difference between you, your lived experience, and a crisis is what you think about it.

THE PROMISE OF THE FUTURE
The Promise of the future is your character in Christ and God’s promises.








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FORWARD: The Only Direction God Is Moving

Monday, March 02, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



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“FORWARD: The Only Direction God Is Moving” teaches that God’s movement is always forward, and believers must align their mindset, perception, and faith with that reality. Drawing from Hebrews 12:1–2, the message presents forward progress as a disciplined, enduring race that requires laying aside burdens and sin, focusing on one’s unique calling, and fixing one’s eyes on Jesus as the author and finisher of faith. 

We want to guard against the peril of the past through regret or looking back and. We also want to avoid the peril of the present, when circumstances attempt to define our reality.

We move forward by focusing on the promise of the future which is grounded in God’s character and promises. True repentance is described as a change of mind that corrects distorted perception and repositions believers for growth. Ultimately, moving forward requires intentional alignment, resilience, obedience, and faith, trusting that God is leading toward redemptive purpose and destiny.




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Day 21: Salvation Belongs to the Lord (with audio) | Learning to Trust God More, 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional from Psalm 37

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



Day 21 — Salvation Belongs to the Lord


Timely Message by Patricia Hudson from February 22


Psalm 37:39–40, “But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.”

Key Thought: God is always our refuge and deliverer.

Prayer: I trust You, Lord.

As we conclude this 21-day devotional through Psalm 37, let us remember this is a wisdom psalm, not a lament. David is not “venting” or expressing frustrations. He contrasts the temporary flourishing of the wicked with God’s plan and provision for the righteous. Verses 39–40 serve as a summary of the entire psalm.

Some key themes we learned from Psalm 37:
•  Do not fret because of evildoers (vv. 1–2)
•  Trust in the Lord (v. 3)
•  Delight in Him (v. 4)
•  Commit your way to Him (v. 5)
•  Wait patiently with expectation (v. 7)
•  Meekness is not weakness (v. 11)
•  The wicked will perish (vv. 9–22)
•  God knows our days (vv. 18-19)
•  Generosity Reveals the Heart (vv. 21-22)
•  Our steps are ordered by the Lord (vv. 23–24)
•  The righteous are upheld (vv. 23–24)
•  God’s justice prevails (vv. 27-29)

David closes this psalm by reminding us who is in charge, what God will change, and where we are headed. Our identity and security are rooted in Christ. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord”
David emphasizes the true source of salvation: It is “from the Lord.” Salvation does not originate:
•  From personal strategy
•  From retaliation
•  From political advantage
•  From accumulated power

Systems, people, politicians, programs, and religions all promise some form of salvation—power to lift people to a better place in life. All of these may help in one way or another, but enduring salvation only comes from the Lord.

The Hebrew word for “salvation” means deliverance, rescue, victory. God’s salvation is both temporal and eternal, with benefits now and the blessing of a new reality after this life. We are not limited to only longing for the “sweet by and by.” God can grant some earthly heaven before heaven in the afterlife.

Do not underestimate God’s ability to empower victorious living while we are still living among all the perils of the wicked. Consider the words of the Apostle Peter: Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10–11)

The “entrance” is experiencing heaven on earth while on the way to God's heaven. Note the responsibility to “make your calling and election sure,” which simply means to lean into God and His kingdom.

We read in Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”

New Testament Scriptures confirm God’s delivering nature:
Romans 8:31,  “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
2 Timothy 4:18, “The Lord will deliver me from every evil work…”

“He is their strength in the time of trouble”
The Hebrew word for “strength” מmeans fortress, stronghold, and a place of protection. We don’t only focus on what God does, but who God is. He is not merely a rescuer; He is a refuge. We don’t have a transactional relationship with God by seeking “a blessing” when we need it. We live in a covenantal relationship with God, day by day.

“He shall deliver them from the wicked, And save them, Because they trust in Him.”

Remember:
•  Salvation originates from God alone.
•  God Himself is the refuge of the righteous.
•  Trouble does not cancel covenant protection.
•  Deliverance is certain, though timing may vary.
•  Trust is the foundation of divine rescue and progress going forward.

Psalm 37 ends where it started: “Trust in the Lord.”

I trust that you were inspired, encouraged, and educated through this 21-day journey through Psalm 37! It was a joy preparing these lessons and having contributions from Patricia Hudson, Stacy Williams, and Pastor Lee Robb.

“Every good thing happens on a Firm Foundation!”

Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.
New Covenant Church


Reflection question: What are some takeaways from this devotional that have become foundational to your life going forward?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:






RESET: Practical Tools for Mental Health










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Day 20: God Loves Justice | Learning to Trust God More, 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional from Psalm 37

Monday, February 23, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



Day 20 — God Loves Justice

Written by Contributor: Pastor Lee Robb

Psalm 37:27-29, Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore. 28 For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. 29 The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell in it forever.

Key Thought: Justice flows from God’s character.

Prayer: Establish my life in Your justice.

Psalm 37 is written to steady believers whose faith is being tested by what they see.
• The wicked are flourishing.
• Corruption looks comfortable.
• Righteousness looks slow.

David’s answer is not political strategy; it is theological clarity. We must understand that justice is not something God occasionally does. Justice flows from who God is.

David calls for righteous living before he explains divine justice. Why? Because righteousness is alignment with God’s nature. If justice flows from God’s character, then evil is ultimately unstable because it contradicts the moral structure of the universe.
• God’s ways are not outdated.
• God’s standards are not negotiable.
• God’s moral order is not temporary.

You turn from evil not because evil isn’t profitable, but because it is incompatible with God’s character.

“For the Lord loves justice…” (v.28)
This is the hinge of the passage. David does not say, “The Lord tolerates justice,” nor, “The Lord occasionally enforces justice.” He says, “The Lord loves justice.”

That means justice is not a reaction but an expression.
• It flows from His holiness.
• It flows from His righteousness.
• It flows from His covenant faithfulness.

If justice flows from God’s character, then:
• Injustice cannot have the final word.
• Wickedness cannot have permanent footing.
• Righteousness cannot be eternally ignored.

Even when courts fail, when systems falter, when culture shifts, God’s character does not change. We can learn to trust God more when we realize that God’s character is eternal, but circumstances are seasonal.

Possession is opportunistic, but inheritance is covenantal. This means measuring your life by covenant promises, not by cultural trends.

At Calvary, it looked like injustice would triumph. It looked like righteousness was crushed. But justice was not ignored; it was satisfied. Mercy was not sentimental; it was secured. At the Cross, we see clearly that justice flows from God’s character. Romans describes God as “just and the justifier.”

The resurrection is the public declaration that God’s character cannot be defeated. The Righteous One was not forsaken. And because He lives, the righteous will inherit.

Reflection question: What is your response to God when you see the world reward evil and sideline righteousness?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:

_____________________________________

Learning to Trust God with the Desires of My Heart | Patricia A. Hudson, M.S.

Sunday, February 22, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



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LISTEN TO PODCAST


When we delight in the Lord, He bends and reshapes our hearts so our deepest desires become God-formed petitions—fulfilled in His timing for His purpose and for the blessing of others.



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Day 19: A Living Testimony | Learning to Trust God More, 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional from Psalm 37

Sunday, February 22, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



Day 19 — A Living Testimony

Written by Contributor: Patricia Hudson

Psalm 37:25, I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.

Key Thought:  Faithfulness leaves a legacy

Prayer: Let my life testify to Your goodness. Lord, grant me the wisdom to convey these truths to the next generation in a way that connects them to You.

David gave a testimony from his own experience. He declares that he has witnessed and has been a recipient of the faithfulness of God. In biblical culture, age was associated with wisdom and authority, and elders were respected for their life experience. This was David’s conclusion after many years of observing and experiencing that God cares for those who trust in Him and walk in righteousness.

The assurance that the righteous are never abandoned aligns with God’s covenant promises throughout the Old Testament, where He pledges to be with His people. We can be confident of God’s faithfulness and His commitment to those who are devoted to Him. They were not forsaken, and their descendants were also blessed. The blessings of the righteous extend to their children, emphasizing the importance of a godly legacy. This part of the verse highlights the generational blessings that come from living a righteous life.

He states, “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.”

Seeing God’s faithfulness to His people, David wanted a younger generation to also trust in Him, learning from his wisdom. The transition from youth to old age is a common biblical theme, highlighting the faithfulness of God throughout the different stages of life. The blessings of the righteous extend to their children, emphasizing the importance of a godly legacy. This part of the verse highlights the generational blessings that come from living a righteous life.

“He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed.”
He is ever merciful and lends: the righteous one not only receives God’s provision, but with a generous and merciful heart, he lends to others in need. Psalm 37:26 celebrates the righteous as people who continually give, eagerly lend, and see their children flourish. God is faithful to provide for the righteous, and He responds by extending blessing to the next generation. This verse invites us to trust God’s provision, practice active generosity, and rejoice that this same grace will touch our descendants.

Reflection question: How is my life, what I do, more than what I say, a testimony of your goodness and faithfulness?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:

Day 18: Ordered Steps, Part Two | Learning to Trust God More, 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional from Psalm 37 - February 21

Friday, February 20, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



Day 18 — Ordered Steps, Part Two

Psalm 37:23–24, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

Key Thought: God preserves the faithful

Prayer: Thank you for preserving me when I come short

If you have not done so, you would benefit from reading “Ordered Steps,” Part One.

We will focus on verse 24: “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.”

Those who seek to be “good” and live righteously are not above mistakes and missteps. The Hebrew word for “fall” does not imply moral collapse. People actively seeking to serve the Lord and live righteously do not become sinful and wicked. The word “fall” speaks to stumbling, temporary setbacks, and circumstantial failure.

“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:9

“He cannot sin” means wrongdoing does not come from his new creation nature in Christ. As faithful Christ followers, our “sins” (“miss the mark”) have more to do with engaging in lesser standards, such as failing to pray, serve, give, etc. Faithfulness to God does not impart perfection or eliminate vulnerability to mistakes or oversights.

Speaking to Christ followers, the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 1:7–9:
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John wrote to people already walking in the light and living by higher standards. Failing to acknowledge that we all come short at times is saying, “I have no sin” or “I never come short.” Living by higher standards is much different than living without concern for the higher standards of God’s kingdom, where people routinely ignore God's directives to pray, serve, give, etc. Failing in these areas does not put a person at risk of losing their salvation; they simply live in the reality of not pleasing God.

“He shall not be utterly cast down”
Because we are faithful and steadfast toward God, and as much as His grace empowers us to do so, when we come short, we are not “utterly cast down.” This phrase means hurled headlong, destroyed, and ruined beyond recovery.

We may fall, but we are not abandoned to ruin because we do not fall away from God. People who are good and whose steps are ordered by the Lord quickly acknowledge errors and make correction. Getting drunk, lying, or doing something ridiculous are not patterns in our lives.

This is in direct contrast to the wicked cited earlier in Psalm 37, who are “cut off” and whose “arms shall be broken” (vv. 9, 17). The wicked collapse permanently; the righteous always recover.

“For the Lord upholds him with His hand”
The Hebrew word for “upholds” means to grasp, sustain, hold firmly. The beautiful picture is of the Lord holding on to us like a parent holds his child to keep him safe, even when he stumbles.

Christ is fully engaged with His people day by day. This is why we delight in the Lord. He preserves His people; we live in covenant care and experience God’s faithfulness, which is always stronger than human weakness.

Reflection question: How do the sins of the righteous differ from the sins of the wicked?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:


Day 17: Ordered Steps, Part One | Learning to Trust God More, 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional from Psalm 37

Friday, February 20, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments




Day 17 — Ordered Steps, Part One

Psalm 37:23–24, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

Key Thought: God celebrates guiding His people

Prayer: Help me to stay aligned with Your purposes

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord”
• “Good man” is the righteous person, one who is aligned with covenant faithfulness (see Psalm 37:18, 21).

• The Hebrew word for “steps” refers to individual movements, daily decisions, progress, and life direction.

• The Hebrew word for “ordered” means established, made firm, secured, and prepared.

This verse does not suggest that God directs people apart from their choices. It is stating that one of the blessings of being “good” is that we can expect God’s guidance. He will not force His decisions upon us, but the Lord will give us enough insight and wisdom to make good choices. In the end, we are accountable for our choices, not God.

We learn from this text that God is actively involved in our progression through life. As Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33). Living aligned with God’s Word and purposes positions a person for divine establishment. Direction and stability are relational, something that comes through our relationship with God, not merely by religious deeds.

“And He delights in his way”
We talk a lot about our need to delight in the Lord, but we should also consider that the Lord wants to delight in us. “Delight” means to take pleasure in, desire, favor, and be bent toward.

God does not force guidance upon us; He takes pleasure in our path. He does not simply “tolerate” us—God celebrates His people. This reflects covenant intimacy. The believer’s obedience aligns with God’s purposes, and that alignment brings divine pleasure.

For Part Two, we will address “Though he fall.”

Reflection question: What does it mean to be "good" and how does that impact upon God's covenant faithfulness?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:



Day 16: Generosity Reveals the Heart | Learning to Trust God More, 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional from Psalm 37

Thursday, February 19, 2026 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments



Day 16 — Generosity Reveals the Heart

Written by Contributor: Patricia Hudson 

Psalm 37:21–22, “The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.”

Key Thought: Giving reflects trust.

Prayer: Because I have been made righteous, help me to be generous and faithful.

In Psalm 37, David contrasts the way God protects and saves His people with the ruin which awaits the wicked. He describes not only the blessings of the righteous but also their character and conduct. The Lord blesses the righteous with the promise of an inheritance, protection, provision, and His presence.

“Evil men borrow but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.” (Psalm 37:21).

The contrasting actions of the wicked and the righteous reveal their purpose of heart in relation to generosity.

“The wicked borrows and does not repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.”

David concluded that the difference between the wicked and the righteous was not only found in what they believed and in whom they trusted. The difference was also often seen in their conduct. The wicked are takers, borrowing and not repaying. The righteous are givers, full of mercy.

One of the marks of a wicked person is his lack of trustworthiness. The idea is that he lives in a condition of lack that leads to borrowing but will not have the means of repaying what he has borrowed; that he will be “reckless” about borrowing and careless about paying.

In contrast, a righteous person not only meets his obligations, he practices generosity. The righteous have what they need because God blesses them, and therefore they can give to others. The righteous will not only have enough for himself, but will have the means of showing mercy to others, giving to them what they need. It is a characteristic of a righteous man that he will not borrow when he can avoid it and that he will be punctual in paying what he has borrowed.

“Surely those favored by the Lord will possess the land, but those rejected by Him will be wiped out” (Psalm 37:22).

This verse emphasizes that the righteous will receive favor, blessing, stability, and inheritance from God, while those who reject Him face destruction. The consequence of rejecting God and His ways brings all forms of despair on earth and eternal separation from God.

Reflection question: In what ways does the heart of the righteous demonstrate generosity to others?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:

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