As part of our new habit this week (slowing down and meditating on Scripture), and motivated by Matt's post yesterday, I want to share a theme has been pressing on me over and over again: God places real value on testing. Most of us spend our lives asking God for comfort, clarity, or breakthrough. That has been me recently. I want answers and I ask for clear guidance, especially during this time in my life where I'm changing careers. But Scripture consistently shows us something deeper: God often gives us testing first. “Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.” — Psalm 26:2 David didn’t avoid testing. He invited it. Why? Because testing exposes what’s real, not just what’s claimed. James pushes this even further: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” — James 1:2–3 Trials aren’t punishment. They’re training. Testing produces steadfastness. Steadfastness produces maturity. And maturity produces a man who is hard to move and steady under pressure. Paul ties it all together: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern the will of God…” — Romans 12:2 💭Discernment comes through testing. God is trying to get that through my hard head. I'm not going to discover God’s will in comfort alone. I will discover it when my beliefs are pressed, refined, and proven. 🔨 God tests His sons not to break them, but to form them. A faith that has never been tested is a faith that has not yet been forged. This is how enduring men are made. ❓Question for the group: What do you sense God is testing in you right now—patience, obedience, humility, trust, something else?

Trying something here from what we learned in "Prayer" last week, about meditating on scripture and praying about it. These verse hit me: Scripture on How Christians Should Deal with Fear 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." For me, sometimes what looks like resentment on the surface is really entitlement and fear underneath. “I’m done with that guy. He should've had my back.” “I don’t need them, I gave more to the friendship than they did anyway.” “I pay every single bill around here. How about a little gratitude?” Those can all be a defense. It’s often easier to feel angry than to admit, “I’m afraid of being found out… again,” or “I’m scared I don’t measure up,” or “I’m terrified of losing control.” Resentment becomes a mask that keeps me from naming the real issues: Entitlement &Fear. And as long as fear hides behind irritation, sarcasm, or cold distance, it's a little easier to not have to surrendered it to Jesus. For me at least, resentment became a well worn path & dopamine hit. I actually felt better after getting a little angry about something. As men who want to be forged in Christ, I think we’re not called to stay numb and guarded. We’re called to courage, to bring our fear into the light, confess it honestly, and let the Lord meet us there instead of hiding behind a hard edge. I’ll share a personal story below, and I’d like to hear your thoughts: One of my bosses came into town and wanted to go paint the town that night. We did, and while she was lit up she said something that really ticked me off, and I called her a name that makes me cringe even thinking about it. 4 months later the head attorney of the very large Pharma company I worked for at the time, called me and said "Show's over, buddy." (I'm paraphrasing). This was in January 2020 two weeks before a little bug out of China hit the world stage. I was seething with resentment for months and the entire time I didn't even consider my part in it, ultimately I was responsible for what happened and my deepest fears had come true.

Brothers, Over the last several weeks, a handful of us (5–7 men at any given time) have been walking through a structured, eight-week journey into prayer, built around Scripture, spiritual habits, reflection, and the simple desire to truly know God, not just know about Him. I need to share this with all of you because what has happened in my life and inside this circle of men has been nothing short of transformative. 🔥 What Changed For Me Personally For the first time in my life, I feel like I actually understand what it means to converse with the Creator of the Universe. Not recite words. Not send up quick requests when life gets messy. But actually speak, and listen, to the God who made me (isn’t it CRAZY that we can do this?) It feels like a doorway that used to be cracked open has now been blown off the hinges. I learned that prayer isn’t an add-on to faith, it is the relationship. Once that clicked, everything changed. It gave purpose, direction, and intimacy to my time with God. I no longer pray only “when I feel like it.” I’m learning to build a relationship through rhythm and discipline focused on Scripture, silence, confession, and praise. I’ve been overwhelmed by a new desire to praise. I never realized how central adoration is to understanding God’s nature. And, in one of those moments only God can orchestrate, I recently met a Christian law professor who actually teaches about praise in the vocation of law. Our conversation showed me the deep connection between praising God and understanding His will for your life. Connecting those dots flipped a switch in me. My relationship with God feels… real now. And because prayer has begun to shape me from the inside, I can finally start leading my family spiritually in the way I never understood before. My conversations with God now spill over into my conversations with my wife, my kids, and even my work. Prayer is changing the way I carry myself. Not perfectly, but honestly. 🔥 What Changed Within Our Group

Hi Team, My Mother-In-Law passed away this morning. So things will be a little crazy for us the next couple weeks to months. That being said I will see you all Saturday morning!