Loved Without Earning

Posted on July 19, 2026 by Don Merritt
Close-up of sunlit fern frond symbolizing growth and divine love

There’s a quiet pressure many of us carry — the sense that we need to “measure up” before God can really love us. We may not say it out loud, but it sits there beneath the surface: If I were more disciplined… if I prayed more… if I were stronger… if I didn’t struggle so much… then maybe I’d feel closer to Him.

That means His love isn’t a reward for good behavior. It isn’t a response to spiritual progress. It isn’t something we unlock by being faithful enough or strong enough. God’s love is not earned. It’s given.

But Scripture tells a very different story:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

While we were still sinners. While we were still wandering. While we were still trying to figure out who we were and what we believed. God loved us — and acted on that love — long before we ever took a step toward Him.

And that changes everything.

Because if God’s love is earned, then it can be lost. But if God’s love is given freely, then it is secure.

Think about how freeing that is. You don’t have to impress God. You don’t have to perform for Him. You don’t have to pretend you’re doing better than you are. You don’t have to hide your weaknesses or your questions. God’s love is not fragile, and it’s not conditional. It doesn’t rise and fall with your spiritual temperature.

Maybe you’ve had seasons where you felt like you were doing everything “right” — praying consistently, reading Scripture, serving faithfully — and you felt close to God. And maybe you’ve had seasons where life felt heavy, where prayer felt difficult, where Scripture felt distant, and you wondered if God’s love had dimmed.

It hasn’t.

God’s love is not tied to your performance. It’s tied to His character.

And His character does not change.

So today, instead of asking, “Am I doing enough for God to love me?” maybe ask a gentler, truer question: “Where have I seen God loving me even when I wasn’t at my best?”

Maybe it was in the strength He gave you on a day you didn’t feel strong. Maybe it was in the comfort that arrived when you didn’t have words for prayer. Maybe it was in the forgiveness that met you before you even knew how to ask for it.

God’s love is not something you earn. It’s something you receive. And it’s already yours.

May you rest in that today — not because you’ve done everything right, but because God has already done everything necessary.

This is part 2 in a 5 part devotional series on God’s Love for Us. If you missed it, Part 1 is HERE

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When Love Finds You

Posted on July 18, 2026 by Don Merritt

Sometimes God’s love finds us in the quiet moments we weren’t even looking for it. A sunrise that catches us off guard. A conversation that warms something inside we didn’t know had grown cold. A memory that surfaces at just the right time. God has a way of slipping His love into the ordinary places of our lives, and often it arrives before we realize how much we needed it.

Scripture tells us something about this surprising, pursuing love:

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” — 1 John 4:10

Not that we loved Him. Not that we reached for Him. Not that we earned His attention. But that He loved us — first, fully, freely — and then took extreme action on our behalf. Before we ever lifted our eyes toward Him, He had already given His Son. Before we ever prayed a prayer, He had already made a way. Before we ever understood our need, He had already met it.

That means God’s love doesn’t wait for us to be ready. It doesn’t wait for us to be strong. It doesn’t wait for us to be spiritual enough, disciplined enough, or faithful enough. His love arrives in the middle of our unfinished stories, our half-formed prayers, our weary days, and our distracted hearts.

Maybe you’ve had moments like that — when love found you before you even knew you were searching. A verse that spoke directly to your situation. A friend who reached out at just the right moment. A sense of peace that settled in when everything around you felt unsettled. These aren’t coincidences. They are reminders that God’s love is not passive. It is active. It moves toward us.

And sometimes, God’s love finds us in ways we don’t immediately recognize. It may come through a closed door that protects us from something we didn’t see. It may come through a delay that keeps us from rushing ahead too quickly. It may come through a challenge that strengthens something inside us we didn’t know needed strengthening. God’s love is not always loud, but it is always present.

The truth is, God’s love is often more patient than we are. We want answers now. We want clarity now. We want direction now. But God’s love works in the quiet, steady places — shaping us, guiding us, holding us, even when we don’t feel it.

So maybe today is a good day to pause and ask a gentle question: Where has God’s love been finding me lately?

Not in dramatic ways. Not in miraculous signs. But in the small mercies that have carried you through the week. In the strength you didn’t know you had. In the comfort that arrived unexpectedly. In the reminder that you are not walking alone.

God’s love is not something we chase. It’s something we receive. And often, it’s something we notice only after it has already done its quiet work.

May you see His love today — not because you went searching for it, but because it has already been searching for you.

Note: This is the first installment of a 5 part devotional series on God’s Love for Us.

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Blog Update for July

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Don Merritt

Happy Friday to Everyone!

I thought I would let you know a couple of things that are new as of today. First, I have uploaded my re-written study on Proverbs. You might recall that when I finished blogging through Proverbs, I was not happy with the product. I also said that I would go back through and re-write it because I thought I had finally figured out how to handle a book like Proverbs that has vast open spaces filled with random appearing lists of one and two liners.

I think I have it now; I’ll let you be the judge. I’ll leave the link below if you’d like to have a read. In this edition, I also added some thought-provoking questions at the end of each Chapter for those who enjoy thinking more deeply when they study God’s Word.

I have also created a new blog Page called “Resources” where I will be linking in all downloadable content as I re-work all of my collections on the books of the New Testament and the ones I have posted previously on the Old Testament. I may also include other things as time goes on, so check it out when you have a moment, just click on “Resources” in the toolbar at the top of my Home page.

Nephilim Series Will Begin on July 28

My new topical series Tracking the Nephilim will begin on Tuesday the 28th and will continue Tuesdays and Thursdays after that. This should be quite interesting; I hope to see you there.

Have You Tried AI on Your Blogsite?

Some of you may have noticed that I have been experimenting with it. I’ve found that it can be a lot of fun, but you need to keep reminding it who’s running the site.

I’ve found that Copilot (free version) is good generating featured images for blog posts and images for series and individual posts, but you have to be patient; “he” is a real talker. Gemini (free version) is good at researching if you use the Notebook feature, and both can research, edit, proof and draft first drafts very well. Both also like to change what I’ve written without permission, and I don’t much like that.

Jetpack (free version) is best for drafting devotional content if you give the right instructions, which I tend to mess up and end up drafting myself as always…

When I was very young and just out of Grad School, I got my first writing job in Washington, DC. It was quite an exciting time for a kid from the West Coast. At the time, I was a junior staff writer and spent my days and nights coming up with language on whatever the bosses needed double quick. They took that and finished things up. I was very quick and improved as I went and moved up the food chain quickly. Eventually, I was doing the main drafting, using language and research from the “juniors”, and then I went into the higher management of communication.

The reason I’m telling you this, is that if you experiment with Ai, be sure that the AI is the “Junior staff writer” and you are the Big Boss, or they’ll run away with your content, and that wouldn’t be much fun, would it? If you do use AI as an assistant, with practice, it can be very handy, and in my case, being legally blind, it sure helps in the proofing and editing, as long as it follows my rules.

Well, I could go on and on about this, but I don’t want to use up all of the fun in one sitting, so I’ll save some more for another time.

I sure would like to hear your thoughts on AI, please leave them in the comments! With that, I’ll say thanks for reading, see you next time…

Don

The Book of Proverbs is HERE

The Book of ProverbsDownload
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Trusting God When You Can’t See the Way

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Don Merritt

Trusting God with an Open Heart

“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.”

Psalm 25:1-2

Many translations of this psalm begin, “To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.” It’s a picture of David coming to God with his whole inner life held out in open hands. Not polished. Not certain. Just honest.

What It Means to Lift Your Soul to God

To “lift your soul” to God is to bring the real you into God’s presence. Your thoughts, your fears, your longings, your disappointments — all of it. It’s choosing to turn toward God instead of away from him with whatever is happening inside.

Lifting your soul is not about feeling spiritual or strong. It’s about saying, in your own way, “Here I am, God. This is what’s really going on in me. I’m not hiding it from you.” It’s an act of trust, but it can be a trembling kind of trust.

When David lifts his soul to God, he is not pretending that everything is fine. He is surrounded by enemies. He feels the risk of putting his hope in God and then being disappointed. And yet, instead of shutting down or closing off, he brings his raw, unfiltered self to the One who already sees it all.

The Vulnerability of Trusting God

Trusting God is deeply vulnerable. David’s words, “Do not let me be put to shame,” reveal something we don’t often say out loud: we’re afraid that if we lean our weight on God, we might fall. We fear looking foolish for hoping, for praying, for waiting.

Trust does not mean you feel calm all the time. It does not mean you never doubt or question. Trust looks more like coming back to God again and again with your worries, instead of carrying them alone. It looks like saying, “God, I want to trust you here, but I am scared. Help me.”

David shows us that real faith is not the absence of fear; it’s what you do with your fear. He brings it into conversation with God. He names his concerns. He asks for protection. He admits how much he cares about the outcome. That is vulnerable. And yet, that is exactly where trust grows.

For the Weary: When Trust Feels Like Too Much

Maybe you are in a season where trusting God feels like a stretch. You have prayed and waited, and the answers have been slow or different from what you hoped. You might feel tired of risking your heart again. The words, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust,” might feel more like aspiration than reality.

If that’s where you are, know this: God is not asking you for polished, confident trust. He is inviting you to bring him the trust you actually have today — even if it is small, shaky or mixed with doubt. A whisper of trust still counts as trust.

It is okay to say, “God, I want to trust you, but I feel worn out.” It is okay to admit that you are afraid of being disappointed again. David’s prayer about not being put to shame reminds us that God understands how much this matters to us. He knows that trusting him feels risky from our side.

In seasons of weariness, lifting your soul to God might look very simple: sitting in silence with him for a few minutes, breathing out your worries, or praying a short, honest prayer like, “Hold me together today.” The goal is not to feel strong. The goal is to stay open to God, even when you feel weak.

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Born Again, Part 10

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Don Merritt

The Final Renewal — All Things Made New

Every story of new birth points toward a greater renewal. The Spirit’s work in our hearts is the first sign of what God intends for the whole creation. The new birth is not only personal transformation; it is the beginning of cosmic restoration. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will one day make all things new.

In this final post, we look toward the horizon — the promised renewal of heaven and earth, where the rebirth we now live reaches its glorious completion.

1. The Promise of Renewal

Scripture ends where it began: with creation restored. The vision of Revelation 21 is the fulfillment of every longing awakened by the new birth.

  • Revelation 21:1–5: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’”

What began in the heart of the believer will one day fill the universe. The Spirit’s renewing work in us is the down payment of that coming glory.

2. The Resurrection Hope

Our rebirth is grounded in resurrection. The same Spirit who raised Jesus will raise us — body and soul — into the life of the new creation.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:51–52: “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.”
  • Romans 8:11: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ will also give life to your mortal bodies.”

Resurrection is the completion of new birth. What God began in our hearts He will finish in glory.

3. Creation Set Free

The new birth in humanity is the beginning of liberation for all creation. The world itself groans for renewal.

  • Romans 8:19–21: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed… that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay.”

Every healed heart is a promise to the earth — a sign that the curse will not last forever. The Spirit’s renewal in us is the first light of a restored world.

4. The Glory of the Lamb

At the center of the new creation stands the Lamb who was slain. The reborn life finds its fulfillment in worship.

  • Revelation 21:23: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

All renewal flows from Christ. The light that first entered our hearts will one day illuminate all things. The Lamb is both Redeemer and Radiance.

5. Living in Anticipation

Those who are born again live between the “already” and the “not yet.” We taste the new creation now, but we await its fullness.

  • Philippians 3:20–21: “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior… who will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

Hope is the posture of the reborn. We live faithfully in the present because we know the future belongs to God.

6. The Mission Continues

Until that day, the reborn church carries the light of renewal into the world. Every act of love, every word of truth, every moment of grace is a foretaste of the kingdom to come.

  • 2 Peter 3:13: “In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

Our mission is not to escape the world but to prepare it — to live as signs of the coming renewal.

Conclusion: All Things Made New

The story of new birth ends with the renewal of all things. The Spirit who began the work will complete it. The reborn will stand in a world reborn, and the light that once shone in the heart will fill the heavens.

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’” (Revelation 21:5). That is the promise of the gospel — the final renewal, the everlasting dawn.

Series Conclusion: The journey of being “born from above” begins in the heart, grows in the church, moves into the world, and ends in glory. The Spirit’s renewal is both now and not yet — a present miracle and a future hope. Until that day, we live as those who have already tasted eternity.

The Series starts HERE: Born Again Part 1

Part 9 is HERE

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Tracing the Nephilim: Scripture, History, and the Unseen Realm

Posted on July 15, 2026 by Don Merritt

A New Teaching Series Begins

Introduction

There are moments in biblical study when a subject refuses to stay quiet. It lingers, it raises questions; it invites deeper reflection. For many readers, the Nephilim are one of those subjects — appearing briefly in Scripture, yet echoing across the biblical story in ways that are anything but small.

Over the next several weeks, I’ll be releasing a new teaching series titled Tracing the Nephilim: Scripture, History, and the Unseen Realm. This series will explore one of the most mysterious threads in the biblical narrative, following it from Genesis to the prophets, from the ancient world to the New Testament, and from the visible realm to the unseen.

Why This Series Matters

The Nephilim are not the center of Scripture — but they are part of its architecture. They appear at moments of transition, judgment, rebellion, and divine intervention. They stand at the intersection of:

  • human pride
  • spiritual rebellion
  • ancient memory
  • the biblical worldview of the unseen realm

Understanding them does not distract from the gospel; it clarifies the story the gospel fulfills.

This series will not sensationalize the subject. It will not chase myths or modern speculation. Instead, it will follow the biblical text closely, listening carefully to what Scripture actually says — and what it does not say.

What You Can Expect

Each installment will explore a specific dimension of the topic:

  • Genesis 6 and the Days of Noah
  • The Ancient Near Eastern context
  • The connection to Babel and human rebellion
  • The giants of Canaan and the theological landscape of conquest
  • The echoes in the prophets
  • The New Testament’s perspective on the unseen realm
  • How these themes shape our understanding of spiritual conflict today

The goal is clarity, not confusion. Biblical grounding, not speculation. A faithful exploration of a difficult subject — handled with care.

A Final Word Before We Begin

My hope is simple: that this series strengthens your confidence in Scripture, deepens your understanding of the biblical worldview, and helps you see the unity of the biblical story with greater clarity.

The Nephilim are not the center of the Bible — but they are part of the story the Bible is telling. And sometimes, exploring the edges helps us see the center more clearly.

I hope to see you when our Investigation begins,

Don

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Unshaken Refuge

Posted on July 15, 2026 by Don Merritt

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever‑present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Psalm 46:1–3 

The psalmist doesn’t promise a world without upheaval — he promises a God who stands firm when everything else trembles. Refuge and strength are not found in stability, but in His presence.

When the earth gives way, when the waters roar, when the mountains fall — He remains. The imagery is fierce, yet the tone is fearless. Faith doesn’t deny chaos; it declares confidence in the midst of it.

God’s help is not delayed or distant. He is ever‑present — not waiting for calm, but working within the storm.

So today, if the ground beneath you feels uncertain, remember: you are not alone in the quake. The Refuge stands, and His strength holds.

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Born Again, Part 9

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Don Merritt

The New Creation and Everyday Life — Living the Rebirth in Ordinary Rhythms

Spiritual rebirth is not confined to the moment of conversion or the walls of the church. It reaches into the ordinary — the daily patterns of work, family, creativity, and rest. The same Spirit who renews the heart also reshapes the way we live. The new birth is not an escape from the world but a transformation within it.

In this post, we explore how the life of the new creation unfolds in everyday life — how being “born from above” changes the way we think, speak, and act in the world around us.

1. New Creation in the Ordinary

Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:17 remind us that new birth is not a private spiritual category but a cosmic reality: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Every believer carries the life of the new creation into the ordinary. The Spirit’s renewal touches how we work, how we speak, how we treat others, and how we see the world. The mundane becomes sacred because God dwells within it.

2. Work as Worship

For the reborn, work is no longer merely survival or success — it becomes service. The Spirit transforms our labor into worship.

  • Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

Whether teaching, building, writing, or caring, every task can reflect the character of Christ. The reborn life turns ordinary work into holy offering.

3. Relationships Renewed

New birth reshapes how we relate to others. The Spirit teaches us to forgive, to listen, and to love with patience and grace.

  • Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

In a world fractured by pride and resentment, reborn hearts become agents of reconciliation. Every relationship becomes an opportunity to reflect the mercy we have received.

4. Creativity and Stewardship

Those who are born from above see creation differently. The Spirit awakens imagination and responsibility — creativity becomes a form of stewardship.

  • Genesis 2:15: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

Art, innovation, and care for the earth are not distractions from faith but expressions of it. The reborn life honors the Creator by cultivating beauty and goodness in the world He made.

5. Speech and Conduct

New birth changes our words. The Spirit renews the tongue as well as the heart.

  • Colossians 4:6: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.”

Speech becomes ministry — encouragement replaces complaint, truth replaces gossip, blessing replaces bitterness. The reborn life speaks life.

6. Rest and Renewal

Even rest becomes sacred. The Spirit teaches us to cease striving and to trust God’s sustaining grace.

  • Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Rest is not laziness; it is worship. It reminds us that the new creation is God’s work, not ours. We rest because He reigns.

7. Everyday Witness

When the reborn live faithfully in ordinary life, the world sees the extraordinary. The Spirit’s quiet work in daily rhythms becomes a visible testimony of grace.

  • Romans 12:1–2: “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice… Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Everyday holiness is the most persuasive witness. The new creation shines through ordinary lives lived with extraordinary love.

Conclusion: The Sacred Ordinary

To be born again is to see the world anew — to find God in the ordinary and holiness in the daily. The Spirit’s renewal is not confined to moments of worship but woven through every breath and task.

In Post 10, we will look toward the horizon — the final renewal when all creation is made new, and the rebirth we now live reaches its glorious completion.

The Series starts HERE: Born Again Part 1

Part 8 is HERE

Part 10 is HERE

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The Voice That Guides

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Don Merritt

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

Isaiah 30:21 

God’s guidance is not always loud — it’s often a whisper that follows obedience. Isaiah’s image is tender: a voice behind you, not ahead, reminding you that the Shepherd walks with you, not merely before you.

We often want direction before we move, but the Lord speaks most clearly as we walk. His voice is not a map but a companion — steady, faithful, and near.

When confusion rises or choices blur, this verse calls us to listen, not rush. The way becomes clear when we trust the One who speaks.

So today, walk with quiet confidence. You may not see every turn, but you will hear His voice — gentle, certain, and close enough to guide your next step, and on this Monday morning, it is a very good thing to hear.

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The Shepherd’s Path

Posted on July 12, 2026 by Don Merritt

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.”

Psalm 23:1–3

David’s words are a portrait of divine care — not hurried, not harsh, but deeply personal. The Shepherd doesn’t drive His sheep; He leads them. He knows where rest is found, where water runs clear, and where the soul can breathe again.

To say “I lack nothing” is not to claim abundance in possessions, but sufficiency in presence. When the Lord is near, the heart is full even when the hands are empty.

The quiet waters and green pastures are more than scenery — they’re symbols of restoration. God’s guidance is not only directional; it’s healing. He leads us not just to the right place, but to the right peace.

So today, walk the path He sets before you. The Shepherd’s steps are steady, and His care is constant.

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