The Teachable Heart

06/19/2026

Those who serve Christ greatly may be greatly tested in ways those on the sidelines are not.

The Teachable Heart · Episode

06/18/2026

“Go to the ant, you coward; consider its ways and be wise!” (Proverbs 6:6)

Ok, the verse doesn’t say “coward,” it says “sluggard.” Just as the ant is active and industrious, we’re to not be lazy. But there is another lesson I think we can learn from the ant – and that lesson is to be courageous.

While I don’t have a PhD in ant Psychology, I do (unfortunately) have ants in my kitchen which I’m able to observe most days. And here’s what I notice about them. In addition to their ceaseless activity, they appear to be fearless. When I set down any item on the countertop, they will almost immediately start marching toward it.

It doesn’t matter if that item is a spoon which might have food on it, or a huge (to them) coffee can. Once it’s on the counter, they will come check it out. Again, I don’t pretend to understand what goes through their minds (presuming they have them), but it appears to me that they see every item as a potential prize of some sort. They may not know what they’re in store for, but they’re going to take a look!

Honestly, I wish two things as I watch these courageous little critters. First, I wish they would leave my house. But second, I wish I had a bit more of their curiosity and courage. Far too often, I back away from things that are new. Instead of seeing new things as potential opportunities to learn something about God and His creation, I tend to shy away. Instead of seeing strangers as potential new friends, or chances to share my faith, I often keep a safe distance.

I’d never ask you to throw all caution to the wind. God gave us brains and He expects us to use them! We’re to be wise and discerning. If we see danger, we’re to take cover (Proverbs 22:3). But through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, God has given us the ability to be bold and courageous (2 Timothy 1:7). We’re to live by faith, not by sight and common sense only (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Ants are bold and courageous; are you? –Dave

(You may listen to The Teachable Heart Podcast on Spotify, Pocket Casts, Podchaser, or Audible. For more information about the ministry, to order devotional books, or to sign up for free daily devotions, visit: https://theteachableheart.com.)

06/18/2026

In addition to their ceaseless activity, ants appear to be fearless. Let’s be like the ants!

The Teachable Heart · Episode

06/17/2026

It’s a reminder I need frequently – I suspect you might as well. Psalm 31 was written by David during a time of great difficulty. We’re not entirely certain of the historical events which led to this outpouring to God, but many Bible scholars believe David was fleeing from Absalom at the time. What we do know is that Psalm 31 is a declaration of trust in God during a time of great trouble.

Trusting God in times of trouble – that’s the challenge. It’s somewhat easy to trust in the Lord when things are going well, or when we can see how things will turn out. But trusting in Him when things stink, or when we can’t see how things will ever get better, that’s much more difficult. But if King David could do it, we can too!

I’ve never had a nation’s leader try to pin me to a wall with a spear as David did. I’ve never faced a literal giant on a battlefield. I’ve never led armies into war. I’ve never had a child rise up against me to the point of hunting me down. David did. And during one such time, Israel’s king declared, “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hand…” (vv. 14-15).

Despite all David faced, he made the conscious decision to trust God through it all. He could look back and see that God had brought him through each trial. In stating God to be his God, David further declared he would stand with God in the present. Lastly, with the words, “my times are in Your hand,” David surrendered his future to the Lord. If David lived, it would be because the Lord’s hand surrounded him. If David died, it would be because the Lord’s hand released him to death. Either way, the Lord’s hand directed David’s life, and David trusted that hand.

Your times, whether they be happy or sad, easy or difficult, short or long, are in God’s capable hands. He has been faithful in the past; He is faithful today; and He’ll be faithful tomorrow, and forevermore. –Dave

(You may listen to The Teachable Heart Podcast on Spotify, Pocket Casts, Podchaser, or Audible. For more information about the ministry, to order devotional books, or to sign up for free daily devotions, visit: https://theteachableheart.com.)

06/17/2026

God has been faithful in the past; He is faithful today; and He’ll be faithful tomorrow, and forevermore.

The Teachable Heart · Episode

06/16/2026

It’s an eye-opening and sobering passage. In Jeremiah 23, the Lord laid out some of the grievances He had against His people. Beginning in v. 11, we read, “For both prophet and priest are polluted.”

To better grasp what God would say next, we need to recognize that the prophets and the priests were supposed to be those who spoke for God and led the people toward God. That was their mission. If they did it well, the people would know the Lord better and walk with Him more closely. But as the verse indicates, they were failing – miserably!

So what had they done which God saw as polluted? Verse 13 says they prophesied by Baal, thus leading the people astray. But it’s the charge against them in v. 14 that I want to focus upon today. For while I’ve never known anyone to speak for Baal, I frequently see this in our culture today, “they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one has turned back from his wickedness.”

“Strengthening the hands of evildoers” meant the priests and prophets were encouraging people to continue in their sin. While they should have encouraged others to repent of their sin and return to God, they instead told the people they were doing no wrong. They misled the people into believing they were at peace with God even though they were grossly disobeying Him (v. 17).

How did God see the actions of those who encourage people to continue in their sin? Well, the text is full of adjectives that tell us. The Lord called the practice “polluted, offensive, horrible, and poisonous” (vv. 11-15). Yet we see eerily similar things occurring in our culture today as well.

Instead of God’s people calling sin, “sin” and telling others to turn away from it, some of us have chosen to go along with a culture that has removed the “sin label” from those things God has clearly called wrong. In doing so, we’re giving those caught up in those sins a false sense of security – telling them they’re doing nothing wrong and have peace with God.

My friends, making people comfortable in their sin is not loving or compassionate. God says that’s horrible, because it leaves sinners on a road which leads to hell. Lovingly calling sinners to repent is true compassion. Are you doing it? –Dave

(You may listen to The Teachable Heart Podcast on Spotify, Pocket Casts, Podchaser, or Audible. For more information about the ministry, to order devotional books, or to sign up for free daily devotions, visit: https://theteachableheart.com.)

06/16/2026

Making people comfortable in their sin is not loving or compassionate.

The Teachable Heart · Episode