Matthew 5:10 | Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
The final beatitude takes a turn away from the positive qualities of a believer and presents a final description of life in Jesus' kingdom: persecution. Notice this isn't persecution for doing wrong. And it's not even persecution for doing what we think is right. But Jesus says persecution will happen when we live according to true biblical principles. In our fallen world, people won't like it when we live like Jesus did. When we show extravagant grace, they'll say we are weak. When we love those far from Jesus, they'll say we are compromising our principles. When we give too much, they'll say we are foolish. But what would Jesus do? Who would He hang out with? What would He give away?

Being a faithful man of God will likely include persecution. That's if we do it right. It will involve being misunderstood, criticized, belittled, and falsely accused. But it's in that very situation that Jesus says you are blessed. It's because you will walk with the remnant at that point, and God will see, He will know, and He will reward His faithful ones.
 
So, don’t give up pursuing the right kind of righteousness. You’ll be in very good company.
 
Journal Prompt: As we end these 30 days, take some time to write down some of the insights God has shown you, some of the directions He’s given you, or truths you’ve discovered in His Word. Keep this list where you can review it regularly.

Hebrews 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
 
Everyone faces temptation at some point in life, and at times it can be easier to give into temptation than to stand firm on the truth of God's Word. It's hard to resist temptation, but it's not impossible because we have the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. In addition, we serve a High Priest who faced every type of temptation and sinned not. So, that means when we face temptation, and we will, we can overcome it.
 
Prayer: Lord, help me to be strong in the face of temptation. Your world says that You provide a means of escape when I am faced with temptation. Help me to take the escape You offer so that I will not sin against You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Mark 1:41 | Moved by compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him.
 
Jesus was a man moved by compassion for God's people, and as His disciples, we should strive to reflect that same level of compassion. Romans 8:29 says, "God knew His people in advance, and chose [us] to become like His Son." So, when the opportunity arises, let's commit to being like Jesus and help those in need.
 
Prayer: Father, Your Word says that people will know I am a follower of Christ by the way that I love. Help me, Lord, to love how you do so that others will be drawn to you. In Jesus' name, amen.

Matthew 23:25 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
 
We all can put on a good Christian front with each other. If we've been a Christian for a while, we know the right things to say and how to act. The danger is if we think we're doing okay spiritually if we abide by a standard of behavior, but on the inside, our hearts are dark. In fact, Jesus called out the religious people, specifically because their insides didn't look anything like their outsides.

When we neglect the conditions of our hearts, we allow things like selfishness, insecurity, jealousy, and bitterness to grow. And under pressure, those things will surface. The alternative is letting God deal with what's inside us, which can be painful and embarrassing. But the more our insides match our outsides, the more we become authentic followers of Jesus. And that's what matters.
 
Prayer: Lord, I ask You to search my heart and reveal any place that isn’t of You. Help me uncover any hidden sin in my heart so I can turn it over to You. I ask Your forgiveness for letting my heart be cluttered with self-focused thoughts. Help me be more like Jesus and an authentic ambassador for You in this world. In Jesus' name, amen.

James 1:22 | Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
 
How do you know that you are growing as a believer? How do you know when you are leveling up? The answer is simple when you read the Word of God and actually apply what it says. Wisdom without application is just good information. When we receive a word from God, through His logos, written Word, or rhema, a spoken word specifically for us, we must be obedient to follow His instructions. 1 Samuel 1:22 says, "to obey is better than a sacrifice, and to pay attention is better than the fat of rams." So let's remember this the next time we receive a word from The Lord.
 
Journal Prompt: Some of us give ourselves credit for knowing what to do. But that's not good enough. We have to do what the word says. Ask yourself, are you a hearer or a doer of the Word? Know where you stand and commit to being a doer because Jesus tells us that a person who does the Word is like a house built on a stable foundation.

Matthew 5:5 | Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  
 
When reading the Beatitudes, we often confuse "meek" with "weak." But meekness is actually controlled strength. It is choosing to be gentle when we could overpower. Or choosing a kind response when a harsh one would be easier. Meekness has the right or power to do something but refrains for the benefit of someone else. Jesus modeled meekness. He had the power to destroy all His enemies, but instead, He chose to love and honor even to the point of death for our benefit. Plenty of people claim to follow Christ but relesh their power and authority over others. But what draws people to God? Is it His anger and control? Or His loving kindness? If we want to model Christ to a hurting world, meekness is a characteristic to pursue.
 
Prayer: Father, help me show meekness in all I do. Please soften the hard places of my heart, and make me a more gentle and loving person. Forgive those times when I've acted out of my flesh and hurt people. Help me have the self-control to be like Jesus and show others what You are truly like by how I act. In Jesus' name, amen.

John 6:61 | Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?
 
“One of the greatest downfalls of the church is we have replaced “That convicts me” with “That offends me.” Pastor Sean

The Word of God is full of hard truths about our sins, the consequences of our sins, and His ability to save. During His ministry, Jesus fervently testifies that without Him, our sin separated us from God. But through Him, we may find salvation and eternal life. This can be a difficult truth to hear, and many, like the Pharisees, rejected His warning and gift of salvation. After His ascension into Heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, whose job is to "convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment." The Holy Spirit convicts us of the truth, but it is up to us to determine how we respond to that truth.
 
The disciples and the Pharisees heard the same message from Jesus, but what separated them was how they responded to the truth when it was presented to them. The disciples chose conviction and left their lives to follow Jesus. The Pharisees choose to be offended and walk away from their only hope for salvation. Brothers, we are faced with the same choice today: conviction or offense. What will you choose?
 
Journal Prompt: During ManCamp, you might be faced with some difficult truths. How will you respond?

Matthew 5:7 | Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
 
How wonderful would it be if we all lived by the golden rule Jesus gave us to initiate good regardless of the actions of others? (Matt. 7:12) Instead, we often live by the world's rule to respond in kind. Here in Matthew 5:7, Jesus calls us to bring goodness to others, and He presents the idea of mercy. Mercy is hard because it means withholding punishment when we think someone deserves it. This can feel so wrong - especially when we are the offended party.

Jesus isn't talking about abandoning all consequences for wrongdoing. That would be anarchy and bad parenting. Instead, He's inviting us to check our hearts and to care more about the person than making them pay for their offense. After all, that's what He did for us. In the greatest act of mercy, Jesus forgave our sin and offense and took our punishment for it. In light of that, we can certainly show mercy to others.
 
Prayer: Father, thank You for showing me mercy and for sending Jesus to sacrifice His life for mine. I deserved punishment for my sins, but you show me lovingkindness instead. Help me to check the hard places in my heart that want others to suffer for their wrongdoing. Instead, through Your Spirit, help me to care more about people than punishment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Joshua 1:8 | Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
 
The world has plenty of tips and tricks and 10-step programs that promise to lead to success, but as men of God, we know that the only path to lasting success is through Jesus. In Joshua chapter 1, the Lord speaks to Joshua as he prepares to lead the children of Isreal across the Jordan and into the promised land and tells him the keys to success. Luckily for Joshua and us, it's simple: meditate on the Word and carefully obey all He instructs us to do. When we do this, not only will we see success in the traditional sense, but here is what God promises:

● Ever place our foot touches, He will give us
● He will expand our territory
● No one will be able to stand against us all the days of our lives
● As God was with Moses, He will be with us. He will never leave us or forsake us
 
Prayer: Father God, Your Word says that if I meditate on Your Word and if I obey all that You command, I will be prosperous and successful. Help me, Lord, to find my success in You and not the things of this world. Thank You, Lord! I love You and honor You. Amen.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 
 
We have all spent more time than we care to admit putting together a piece of furniture, getting to a new destination, or learning a new skill because we didn't take the time to read the instructions or follow directions. Doing this makes things more difficult than they have to be and wastes time that we'll never get back. Unfortunately, some of us address life the same way. We stubbornly and unnecessarily walk through life blindly because we refuse to learn and adhere to God's instruction. The Bible says that all scripture is "useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," so when we apply it to our lives, we will be "equipped for every good work."
 
Journal Prompt: Everybody lives according to somebody's word. Is there an area of your life where you listen to someone else's word instead of God's Word?

John 5:8 | Then Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.
 
"Do you want to get well?" That is the question that Jesus asked the paralyzed man in John chapter 5, and that is the question we must ask ourselves. It can be hard to ask for help, especially when we are struggling emotionally or mentally. But admitting that we aren't well but want to be better is the first step to healing. If we want to get better, we must take responsibility for our healing. We must "Get up! Pick up [our] mat and walk" out the steps Jesus says are necessary to achieve that healing.
 
Prayer: Lord, help me! I am not okay. I am hurting spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Father, I want to get well. Give me the strength and guidance necessary to pick up my mat and walk out my healing. You are my Jehovah Rapha, and I know it is possible with You. Amen.

Matthew 5:8 | Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
 
There once was a Pharisee named Simon, who was sure that if God had a list of favorites, he would be near the top. There once was a woman who was just as certain. However, she was certain to be on no one's list. Then there was Jesus in the middle of it all. These three individuals are the key players in a story found in Luke 7, verses 36-50. Simon had invited Jesus to dinner, then disrespected Him, showing not even the basic common courtesies like washing His feet. As the dinner progressed, a woman crossed the courtyard and knelt beside Jesus, tears coursing down her cheeks. She took her unbound hair and wiped the muddy spots from Jesus' feet. She then anointed them with perfume.

Simon had been waiting all his life to see the Messiah. Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise to all of Simon’s ancestors. And yet, when the Messiah – God incarnate - walked into Simon’s home, Simon didn’t recognize Him. But the woman? Her heart was stripped of pride and was overflowing with love. She saw her need for a Savior.

Now consider which one saw God.
 
Journal Prompt: Take some time to read Luke 7:36-50. Do you see yourself in the story? Ask God to help you uncover anything that might hinder you from seeing Him fully.

Galatians 6:9 | Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
 
Sometimes, doing the right thing is hard when we don't see the blessings. When we treat others fairly, then get betrayed, we can ask, "Why bother?" It can feel especially unfair as a Christian when it seems like God is withholding judgment on those who do us wrong. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reminds believers not to be deceived by what they see. God doesn't ignore our good work, nor does He ignore wrong. Instead, He allows the natural law of sowing and reaping to take its course.

It can help us to remember some seeds take longer to grow, so harvest times differ. And if we give up too soon, we’ll disrupt the growth process. So don’t despair when your harvest seems delayed. God hasn’t forgotten. There’s still growth that needs to happen.
 
Prayer: Lord, You know I'm discouraged about something that's not changing. But today, I declare that You are working even though I may not see it. You are sovereign, and I can trust You. Help me not to walk in defeat but with confidence that You are in complete control and are working things out for my good. My hope is in You, not circumstances or people. In Jesus' name, amen.

Psalm 44: 21 | Would not God have discovered it, since He knows the secret of the heart?
 
As men, it can be easy to get caught up in doing the right thing, having all the right answers, and appearing to have it all figured out. This masquerade might work with others, but it doesn't work with The Lord, our Heavenly Father. God is omniscient, meaning He knows all, sees all, and He has all power. We deceive ourselves when we think we are deceiving the Lord. Scripture tells us that God "[already] knows the secrets of [our] heart." So, what would happen if we stopped putting on acts with God and started getting real? Well, our guess is that we would start to experience true freedom, joy, and peace because we have decided to be our true selves with God.
 
Journal Prompt: Have you been putting on an act with God? If so, why? What do you think would happen if you stopped putting on an act and started getting real?

Matthew 5:6 | Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
 
God designed us to need food and water to live and gave us the physical signs of hunger and thirst so we would meet those needs. If we were never thirsty, we'd die of dehydration. God also created us with a need for Him. The problem is we fill that need with lesser things. We stay at arm's length attempting to meet our own needs. This might be why we feel dissatisfied with our faith and like we're missing something others seem to have.

God designed us with needs that only He can meet. And to meet those needs, we must be in right standing with Him, or in other words, we need righteousness. We'll never achieve righteousness by believing or acting the right way. Instead, through Jesus, we are invited into a relationship with our Heavenly Father, where He tends to our spiritual needs. If your faith feels lacking, perhaps it's time to return to the basics and pursue a relationship with Him first. His door is always open.
 
Journal Prompt: Consider the best human relationship you know. What are some of the characteristics of a good relationship? Now consider how you can have that relationship with God but with supernatural results.

Psalm 19:13 | Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
 
Becoming more like Christ is a process. Some sins are easier to give up, but some are persistent. Despite our best intentions, there can be deep-rooted sins that feel like constant companions. These types of sins require a different approach. One way to deal with habitual sin is to share your struggle with someone else. James 5:16 say, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed."
Habitual sin is often linked to pride because we want others to think the best of us. But confession requires humility, which opens the door for God to work in our hearts. Plus, by sharing your sin with a brother, you're now not alone.
 
Prayer: Father, I confess that I have sinned against You willingly. Rather than deal with my sin by bringing it into the light, I have kept it hidden. I can see how my pride has kept me from getting help or letting others know. Lord, for too long, I have assumed the leadership of my life, and right now, I give You Your rightful place in my heart. I want to walk in the freedom You bought for me by the blood of Your Son. In His name, I pray, amen.

Matthew 7: 24-25 | Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 
 
If we are honest, we can all think of moments throughout this year that have tested our faith. Whether that be problems in our marriage or relationships, struggles with our health, or frustrations at work, the waves of life have surely blown. But if we put our faith in Jesus and if He is our firm foundation, then brothers, we can be sure that the storms of life will not overtake us. God is with us, and He is for us, so if we hold steadfast in our faith, we will see His mercy, provision, and victory.
 
Prayer: Lord, help me to stand firm in my faith when the storms of life blow. When things get difficult, I will lean on you. I will build myself up on Your Word, knowing that You will not let me fall. I bless You, Lord, and I praise Your name, amen.

Proverbs 18:21 | The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 
 
As men, God has given us the power to shape our destiny and the world around us. In Genesis chapter one, God shapes the universe through His words. As the Spirit hovered over the deep, God spoke a word, and there was light. God made us in His image, and Romans 4: 17 reminds us that the God we serve "calls those things which do not exist as though they did." That means that by the power of The Holy Spirit, we can do the same thing. We can use our words to shape the world. If we want peace in our homes, we must speak words of peace. If we want to see our children do greater things than we did, we must speak to them in a way that builds confidence. Suppose we want to experience joy and fulfillment in our marriages and relationships. In that case, we must speak words of gratitude and affirmation to our spouses and significant others. As men, our words have incredible power. When we use them responsibly, as God intended, we will level up in every area of our lives.
 
Prayer: Father God, the Bible says that my words have power. Lord, there have been times when I have used them to tear down instead of build up. Forgive me. Help me use my words in a way that glorifies you and positively impacts the world around me. Thank you, Lord, amen.

Matthew 5:4 | Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
 
We mourn so much in this world: death, loss, pain, injustice. The list goes on. And Jesus offers comfort for every kind of mourning. But how often do we mourn over our sins? It's easier to ask for quick forgiveness and move on rather than sit in the discomfort of mourning. However, In Matthew 5:4, Jesus says there is a blessing to be had when we truly repent and mourn over the sin in our lives. As we experience God's forgiveness as a result of that repentance, we experience comfort as He heals us from the pain of sin. Plus, we realize what a gift it is to be loved just as we are by God and the new creation He is making us to be.
 
Prayer: Lord, I confess that I haven't looked at my sin the same way You have. You know the true cost of my sin better than I will ever understand. I don't want to be a person who glosses over sin or makes it less than it is. It cost You Your Son, so I grieve and ask Your forgiveness. Help me to see my sin as You do and to mourn it. But I also accept Your comfort and thank You for it! In Jesus' name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 | Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
 
We usually emphasize our minds and heart when we think about spiritual growth. But when the Apostle Paul talks about our "bodies" in 1 Corinthians 6, he's not just talking about our physical frames, but our whole person, which is a "member of Christ" (2 Cor. 6:15). Then, in verses 19-20 Paul makes it clear that we are just stewards of our bodies because Jesus bought us. This means how we care for our bodies is a spiritual issue. What we put in them, what we do with them, and what we don't do all matter to God. With the Holy Spirit in us, we are walking representations of our Heavenly Father, and caring for the body He gave us is an act of obedience.
 
Journal Prompt: How well are you caring for your body these days? Is there something you know you should stop or start? Do you need help to make these changes? List one or two changes you want to make and the first step you need to make.

2 Corinthians 10:5 | We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

In his New York Times Bestseller, Winning The War In Your Mind, Pastor Craig Groschel argues that "God has something in better for [our] lives than [our] old ways of thinking" and "when we change [our] minds God can change [our] lives." And he's right! Scripture tells us we must "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." What does that look like? It looks like intentionally responding to EVERY negative, anxious, fearful, and bitter thought with the truth of God's Word. Can that be difficult? Yes! But it's not impossible because we have the Holy Spirit within us. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says we have the mind of Christ, and 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 says that "the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses." So be encouraged, brothers! God has given us every weapon needed to win the war in our minds and to see His victory in EVERY area of our lives.
 
Journal Prompt: Take a moment to access your current thought patterns. Are they positive, or are there areas in which you need God to come in and renew?

Matthew 5:9 | Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

We tend to define peace as the absence of conflict. But being a peacemaker in the Bible means more than avoiding a fight. It's a person who actively works towards reconciliation, addressing what's broken and pursuing healing. First with God, then with others. Jesus told a parable in Matthew 5:23 about a person who brought a gift to the altar but remembered their brother had something against them. Jesus' direction was to reconcile with the brother before offering the gift to God. Our heavenly Father wants His children to live in loving relationships with each other. So rather than avoiding conflict, we should be peacemakers and move towards it with the goal of reconciliation.
 
Prayer: Father, You are the Prince of Peace. Forgive me when I allow resentment and bitterness to divide relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s easier to ignore people than to be a peacemaker and pursue reconciliation. Help me, as far as it’s up to me, to be a person who reaches out to others and builds bridges rather than walls. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1 John 2:15-16 | Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

The Bible warns us that the world will always compete with our love for and worship of God. This doesn't mean creation. The Apostle Paul uses the word "world" to mean that which opposes God. And anything that sets itself against God is considered an idol. God intentionally designed us to worship, but the problem comes when our worship turns to idolatry as we direct it to things of the world. In verse 16, John identifies three areas of potential idolatry: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride.
If we want to grow in love with God, we must identify areas where we love the world. John tells us that love for God and the world can't coexist in our hearts. Can we be honest enough today to admit our love has been divided? And then, are we ready to do something about it?
 
Journal Prompt: Consider the three areas of idolatry John describes. Is there a particular area of struggle for you? Have you fully confessed a sin, or is there one you are still holding on to with fondness? Use today’s journal time to write a prayer about this.

1 Corinthians 15:33 | Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.

Our circle matters. Who we surround ourselves with and who we allow to pour into us matters! That is especially true if we are working to live a life that is pleasing to God. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that "iron sharpens iron," and 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, "bad company corrupts good character." That means our friends could be helping us run the race God has set before us, or they could be placing hurdles in our path. So, let's make it our mission to surround ourselves with people who want to see us become the men God has called us to be.
 
Journal Prompt: Take stock of the people you interact with consistently and consider a friend. Do they encourage you to pursue God's will for you? Do they push you to be a better husband, father, son, brother, or friend? Think about this: if the answer is no, it's time to get a new group of friends.

Matthew 5:3 | Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Jesus starts the Beatitudes with a basic definition of citizenship in the Kingdom of God, and that is poverty in Spirit. At first, reading this sounds like the opposite of what we should want. Don't we want rich or abundant spirits? But being poor in Spirit doesn't mean lacking; it means being humble or dependent. If we come to God thinking we are a good catch, our pride will stand in the way of being blessed. But if we come to God realizing we are in desperate need of a Savior, we will find true contentment. Plus, it's from this position of humility that God can actually use us. Consider these words of Jesus in Matthew 23:12: "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
 
Journal Prompt: Are there areas of your life where you are self-sufficient and don’t think you need God’s help? List some of those areas and prayerfully submit your will to God.