Right From The Heart

LEADING AND TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN
Bryant Wright, Founder

“Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

This directive from Proverbs gives us great instruction on rearing our children:

Train up – means to lead and to teach. Teaching your preschooler, child, and teenager who God is. How we are called to trust and obey Him because of His love for us in Christ. Parents, our calling is to lead and to train.

In the way he should go – means being a student of your child. God has created each of them uniquely, and we want them to discover who God has created them to be. Don’t buy into the myth of quality time over quantity of time, for there is no real quality time without a quantity of time to understand our child and their uniqueness.

When he is old, he will not depart from it. “Old” doesn’t mean teenager or young adult, but a full-grown adult. “Old” could be 25 or 75.

Along the way, some kids break their parents’ hearts, but God’s Word offers hope that they will eventually come around. Take time to be a leader and a student of your children when they’re growing up in your home. There’s a far better chance they’ll listen to you when they are teens – if you lead and train them when they are young.

THINK YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH ON YOUR OWN?
Bryant Wright, Founder

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Ever look around at others and think, “Well, I’m not as bad as they are. I’m pretty good most of the time, so I should be able to get into heaven?” Or how about, “You see, me and God, we’ve got an agreement. We’ve got things worked out?”

Let me make this clear – if you feel you can be right with God in your “own” way, you’re going to get to the end of your life, stand before God, and His judgment won’t come out in your favor. All of us are sinners. This separates us from God. Yet amazingly, God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins – to be a substitute in facing the sentence of death we actually deserve. So, if we feel like there is any way we can receive salvation other than through Jesus Christ, we are showing blindness to our own sinful ignorance. It’s absolutely appalling to God. God’s Word says: Continue on that course, and you’re doomed. That is bad news.

Here is the Good News that follows the bad news of our sin. “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). Wow–what could be better news than that?

There is only one way to salvation – Jesus!

In the end, where will you stand? Judgment or salvation – the choice is yours.

TRUTH FOR TROUBLED TIMES
Bryant Wright, Founder

“Then (Elijah) said, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.’” I Kings 19:14

Elijah’s life is marked by bold faith and miraculous answers to prayer, yet he also struggled deeply with fear, depression, and exhaustion. After a dramatic victory over false prophets, Elijah became overwhelmed with fear when Queen Jezebel threatened his life. His focus shifted from God’s power to the size of the problem.

Like Elijah, we can experience emotional and spiritual lows after great highs. Fatigue can make cowards of us all. It makes us vulnerable to discouragement. In his honesty with God, Elijah poured out frustration and self-pity. Left unresolved, these emotions caused him to spiral into deep despair.

At his lowest point, Elijah even lost the desire to live. Yet when a person loses hope, they begin to hope for death. Scripture shows he was not alone. Faithful servants such as Moses, Job, and Jeremiah also wrestled with hopelessness. Their stories remind us that struggling means we are human. We have good company.

If you are battling fear, depression, or discouragement, you are not the only one. Be honest with God in prayer. Seek support from trusted friends or professionals. Learn from Elijah’s story and remember this truth: God was not finished with Elijah—and He is not finished with you. He restored Elijah. He can do it with you. There is hope, healing, and victory in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.

DIG DEEPER
Read "The Story of Elijah's Depression" also by Bryant Wright: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/the-story-of-elijahs-depression/

IS THERE PURPOSE IN SUFFERING?
George Wright, Guest Contributor

“Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:10

Happy are the persecuted.

Wait, that can’t be right...can it?

Well, the Bible makes it very clear. We will face persecution, hardship, suffering, and struggles in life. But our culture doesn’t really know what to do with the idea of persecution. Don’t get me wrong - we are all familiar with suffering. We just don’t know what to do with it.

In fact, we will do almost anything to avoid pain and suffering.

However, I believe with all my heart that suffering is for a reason. In no way do I claim to know all the reasons behind why someone suffers or is persecuted. But I do believe there is a purpose.

Look at the broken state of the world. Things are not as they should be. Challenges impact believers and non-believers alike. How in the world can we find purpose and happiness in all this? But in the midst of brokenness, suffering helps us recognize true happiness and satisfaction. It opens our eyes and helps us see.

So, what do we need to see?

We are not God – We hate suffering because we like to think we are in control. Suffering helps us see that we never had control in the first place.

The beauty of God’s grace – When we become aware that we are not God, we begin to see that we need struggles to help us see the true beauty of God’s grace and our desperate need for Him.

We were created for more – Suffering loosens our grip on this life and opens our eyes to what God has prepared for those who trust in Him. The Bible describes this ‘more’ as so much greater than we could ever imagine, making even our suffering seem light and momentary.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

Now that’s what I call happiness.

How do we find purpose in suffering? It’s all about perspective.

It's about fixing our eyes on Jesus, recognizing the peace that He has made available, and then holding on.

Remember that for followers of Jesus, the best is yet to come.

DIG DEEPER
Read "Facing Impossibilities" by Bryant Wright: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/facing-impossibilities/

ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH DISTRACTIONS?
Bryant Wright, Founder

"Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, 'These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.'” She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!” At that moment, the spirit left her."
Acts 16:16-19

One of the greatest tools the devil uses when it comes to Christians sharing the Gospel is that of distraction.

What is the Gospel?

That Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. It’s the greatest news anyone will ever hear, as it’s the key to salvation from sin and death and the beginning of an eternal relationship with God. The devil will do just about anything to keep that message from being heard.

Think about it: Anyone who’s ever shared the Gospel with a non-believer can attest to how the devil will use any kind of distraction to get that conversation sidetracked. It’s uncanny how often right in the middle of the conversation, a phone will ring, or someone will walk into the room, or a baby will start crying – distractions. Even personal times of prayer and Bible study aren’t immune to these attacks. Distractions like checking our phones, emails, or social media are the greatest tools the enemy uses to keep us from sharing the Gospel and walking with God.

Paul and Silas experienced this early on in their ministry. While traveling and preaching in Philippi, the Macedonia region of Greece, a young fortune teller began to follow them around and cry out, “These men are servants of the Most High God!” Now, you might think Paul and Silas would be happy with this free publicity, but after a while, they became frustrated. Rather than drawing people to listen, this young woman became a distraction that kept the people from hearing the Gospel.

So, what did they do? Paul knew that divination and sorcery come from occult practices, and so he commanded the spirit possessing her to leave in the name of Jesus Christ – and it did. Immediately, she was healed.

Distractions are everywhere, especially when we strive to walk with or talk about God. Are you struggling with distractions when it comes to spending time with God or sharing your faith?

Ask God for an opportunity this week to share the hope of the Gospel with someone in your life, and to help you stay focused on His will as you battle distractions in your life.

DIG DEEPER
Read"Are We Just Focused on Ourselves?" by George Wright: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/are-we-focused-on-ourselves/

HEAVENLY JUSTICE
Bryant Wright, Founder

“He will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice.” Psalm 9:8

There’s a story about General Robert E. Lee, who returned to camp late one evening and noticed a soldier in handcuffs awaiting a hearing. The young man trembled with fear, dreading the trial and the sentence that might follow. Trying to reassure him, Lee said, “Relax, Corporal. You’ll get justice here.” To which the soldier replied, “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of, General!”

That soldier’s words capture a truth we often overlook - real justice can be terrifying. Human courts weigh evidence and testimony, but God’s judgment goes much deeper. He doesn’t need to sift through facts or hear witnesses—He already knows our guilt. All of us have sinned, and nothing is hidden from His sight.

But here’s where God’s justice differs from that of man. He doesn’t simply expose our guilt; He offers mercy through Jesus Christ. God calls us to acknowledge our sin, to grieve the distance it creates between us and Him, and to place our trust in the cross. There, Jesus bore the penalty we deserved, satisfying God’s justice while opening the door for forgiveness.

Unlike human justice, which can be flawed or incomplete, God’s justice is always right, always fair, always perfect. Yet it also carries mercy for those who confess and turn to Him.

Justice without mercy is fearsome.

Justice with mercy through Christ is freedom.

DIG DEEPER
Read "Vengeance is Not Mine" by Jonathan Munson: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/vengeance-is-not-mine/

AN INVITATION TO HOLINESS
George Wright

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance." 1 Peter 1:14

This verse is the call to holiness.

Do you consider yourself to be a holy person?

What does it mean to be holy, anyway?

The Hebrew word for “holy” literally means “separate” or “set apart.” God calls us to be set apart from the rest of the world. This doesn’t mean we are to live separately from the world; rather, we are to live in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Let’s be clear: the call to holiness is not a call to a boring, dull life filled with drudgery. It is an invitation to a full, vibrant life overflowing with the good news of God’s love and grace. Holiness is a call to be a new creation. As a new creation, we are not in bo***ge to the things of this world that constantly bombard us with empty promises while failing to deliver complete contentment and fulfillment. Holiness is the call of a loving Father who knows the deepest desires of our hearts. He knows the only way that we will truly find contentment and satisfaction is when our life is built on His plan.

I love how C.S. Lewis illustrates the same point:

“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and s*x and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

The call to pursue holiness is not from a God who is withholding pleasure and joy from you. This call is from your heavenly Father, who created you, loves you, and knows what will satisfy the deepest longings of your soul.

How can we avoid settling for the passions of our “former ignorance” today? How can we put ourselves on the path of holiness? By not returning to the things we used to seek to find momentary pleasure. Because through the gospel, we have been given something so much greater! We have received an invitation from the One who will truly satisfy!

Will you accept His invitation to holiness?

THE STORY OF PAUL - PART 3: FOLLOWING CHRIST
Bryant Wright, Founder

“At that time, I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus... I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, ‘He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ And they were glorifying God because of me.” Galatians 1:17, 22-24

Today, we look at Part 3 of Paul’s story, his life after meeting Christ.

Following his life-changing encounter with Jesus, Paul was struck blind for three days. As instructed by the Lord, he was led into Damascus where God sent a man by the name of Ananias to come and baptize him as a new follower of Jesus Christ. We also see that immediately, Paul began to testify of his life change. Now this had to be dumbfounding to the followers of Jesus in Damascus – they probably all knew him as a religious terrorist, so they weren’t sure how to take all this new “Paul.”

After a short time in Damascus, Paul was sent to Arabia. A desert. Wilderness. Not surprising when you think about how many great men of the faith in Scripture were sent into the wilderness at the beginning of their callings: Moses, Elijah, and even Jesus Christ. And now we see Paul spending up to three years in the wilderness and then, returning to Damascus.

Interestingly enough, after returning from the wilderness, Paul spent most of his first three years in his hometown of Tarsus just going about the work of ministry. Imagine the people in his hometown who witnessed the change in this man! Look at verse 22 again:

“I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing, 'He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ And they were glorifying God because of me.“ Can you imagine the joy Paul must have felt? To have gone from being someone hated and feared, to being someone who was sharing the joy of the Lord wherever he went?

If God’s grace can be extended to a religious terrorist like Paul, then what’s your excuse?

Do you think the grace of God cannot be extended to you for the things you’ve done in your life?

You bet, it can!

And another thing to realize – Paul’s greatest influence in the lives of his contemporaries and in all of the lives of those who came after him – didn’t happen overnight. It took 14 years of being a follower of Jesus Christ before Paul was seen as a leader in the church.

This is Paul's story. Part 1 - his life before Christ. Part 2 - his encounter with Christ. Part 3 - his life after meeting Christ as his Savior and Lord.

We all have a Part 1 in our life story. What about your Part 2 and your Part 3? No life story is completely fulfilled without all three parts.

What's in your life story?

DIG DEEPER: Read "Paul Earned the Right to be Heard" also by Bryant Wright: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/earning-the-right-to-be-heard/

THE STORY OF PAUL - PART 2: THE TURNING POINT
Bryant Wright, Founder

“But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'" Acts 22:6-8

Continuing from yesterday, this is Part 2 of Paul's (formerly Saul’s) story.

Up until this point, Saul has communicated what his life looked like before he met Christ. Now, he's describing the turning point when Christ interrupted his life in a powerful way.

In Jerusalem, Saul had decided to take his persecution on the road. So, he headed north to Damascus, modern-day Syria, to find and imprison more Jewish followers of Jesus.

Pause here and take a minute to re-read today’s Scripture.

What happened? Here was Saul, upholding traditional Judaism, on his way to persecute followers of the Way, when all of a sudden, Jesus Himself appeared and confronted him!

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Christ asked.

Believe me, at that moment, Saul had zero doubt that the Lord was speaking to him. Imagine the conviction of sin that washed over Saul as he realized the weight of his actions in the eyes of God.

“And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.’ But since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and came into Damascus.” Acts 22:9-11

Here was this zealot who had been charging to Damascus with a very clear mission, now pitifully and humbly being led by the hand because he had been literally struck blind by the Light of Christ. Imagine the turmoil he was wrestling with as he realized just how wrong he had been about everything!

This is where the beginning of repentant faith takes place.

Until a person is convicted of their sinfulness compared to Jesus Christ, they never truly understand the second part of the life story. This was the turning point in Paul's life. By the grace of God, he had been called to follow Jesus, who gave him this second chance. God’s plan was about to be fulfilled in Paul’s life.

He wants to fulfill His plan in your life, too.

The question is: Will you let Him?

DIG DEEPER
Read "When and Why Was Saul's Name Changed to Paul?" at GotQuestions.org: https://gotquestions.org/Saul-Paul.html

THE STORY OF PAUL – PART 1: THE BACKGROUND
Bryant Wright, Founder

“For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.”
Galatians 1:13-14

Everyone has a story, but the majority of people have mostly a one-part story.

At that time, Saul (who would later become Paul) actively sought to destroy the followers of Jesus. He saw Jesus as a misguided, blasphemous heretic. In Acts 22:4, Paul said, “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons.”

But Paul begins his story by talking about his former life in Judaism – and he was very serious about practicing Judaism.

Christianity, at that time, was known as the Way.

Why?

Because Jesus Christ said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14:6). So, Saul was doing all he could to eradicate what he felt to be heresy. He was a classic, religious terrorist.

Our modern society, unfortunately, is still filled with religious terrorists who believe passionately and zealously that what they are doing is right and is pleasing in the eyes of God. Their actions aren’t only motivated by hate but are efforts to eradicate what they believe is false teaching about God. And yes, their actions are diabolically evil, but the religious terrorist is often blinded by their own self-righteousness. They naively think that what they are doing is right.

Saul had that same kind of mindset.

This background in Paul’s life, what we call “Part 1,” is the time in his life before he met Christ. Everybody in the history of the world has a Part 1 of his/her life story. Now, some of you might be thinking, “There’s never been a time in my life when I wasn’t a Christian.” Well, the Bible is very clear—no one inherits Christianity. All of us, at some point, must decide in our lives whether or not we will trust Christ and follow Him.

Saul represents the majority of mankind in Part 1 of his story. Most never get to Part 2.

But Saul did.

And it was triggered by an amazing, miraculous event.

DIG DEEPER
Read “Paul, the Worst Kind of Terrorist” also by Bryant Wright: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/paul-the-worst-kind-of-terrorist/