Circuit Riders Cowboy Church Alexandria Al

10/11/2026

10/07/2026

October 7
Can Fear Be Good?

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

Are you one who enjoys giving gifts? How about receiving them? As a follower of Jesus Christ, you are given numerous gifts. Among those is the gift of power, which is courage that fortifies you. You have also been given the gift of love. This love is from God to you and roots your identity in Him. Then, there is the gift of a sound mind—a calm, quiet, and sober mind. God’s gift of a sound mind acts like a shield to protect you from the fiery darts of fear, catapulted at you from the enemy. It guards your mind against the downward spiral of “What if’s?”, “Where are you, God?”, and “How is this all going to work out?”. Whenever you feel that barrage from the enemy, your job is to immediately take those thoughts captive and submit them to what you know is true—that you are God’s and God is in complete control over whatever is causing you to fear (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Did you know, however, that there is a form of godly fear? Proverbs 1:7 explains, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge . . .” Fear in this verse is translated as “reverence for” or “obedience to.” Do you want to know how to overcome your fear—the one keeping you up at night, creating stress and anxiety, and prohibiting you from living free? It starts with fearing the Lord. The bigger God becomes in your life, the more your fears must shrink down to size. As you spend time with God, learning to revere and worship Him, His power and authority give you the clarity to view circumstances, people, and problems the way He sees them. And nothing—absolutely nothing—is too difficult for God (Jeremiah 32:27)!

Pause to Ponder: Do you take God for granted, causing you to think of Him as less than who He is? Are your fears larger and more potent than your Savior? If so, take a few moments to sit in God’s presence and reflect on His majesty and authority. Then, ask God to renew within you a heart of reverence and godly fear towards Him.

10/06/2026

October 6
Loneliness Offers an Invitation

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
Psalm 42:5 (NLT)

Loneliness is a nuanced emotion brought on by various challenges such as abandonment, rejection, grief, and adversity. David, the author of many of the psalms, was all too familiar with these shades of loneliness. He endured loneliness because of his profession as a shepherd and experienced loneliness as he alone battled the behemoth Goliath while the nation of Israel stood watching. David experienced loneliness while on the run, hunted by King Saul, who desired to terminate his life. He was overwhelmed with loneliness at the news of his best friend Jonathan's death. David underwent the familiar loneliness that accompanies being a leader. He even experienced temporary loneliness in his relationship with God following massive flaws in judgment when it came to Bathsheba. But through it all, David learned to communicate his deepest emotions to the Lord through prayer. Many of those prayers are recorded for us in this poetic book of the Bible.

In the dark seasons and most painful moments of loneliness, God revealed to David the true condition of his heart. But here is the critical part: David chose to press into God's presence in his lonely and discouraged state. And as a result, a deeper companionship with His Lord was forged. David understood the secret that when all hope seems lost, God is a God of hope. And He is a God who helps! If you are lonely today, know that with God, your story is never over.

Pause to Ponder: Are you lonely today because of abandonment, rejection, relocation, or simply from walking a long and challenging road? If so, declare to God out loud that your hope is in Him alone. Today, invite the God of hope to utilize your loneliness to bring you into a deeper level of friendship with Him.

10/05/2026

October 5
Again!?

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord . . .
Judges 4:1 (NIV)

Do you ever feel like you repeat the same mistake over and over? If we are honest with ourselves, most of us struggle with a recurring blunder that plays on a loop throughout our life. Again and again, and then again. The reality is we all have hurdles that pop up more often than we would like to admit. But there is another recurring theme we can count on: God is always faithful.

It is easy to read a verse like this one and question how God’s chosen people could have made the same mistakes over and over again. It can be quite exasperating! God’s faithfulness to His people was continually on display throughout the entire Old Testament, yet they frequently responded in disobedience and pridefully went about things their own way. But then, if I turn the spotlight back on my own life, I realize I, too, return to behaviors and habits that are not pleasing to God.

Fortunately, God’s perfection shines brighter than our imperfections. As you work through repeat struggles in life, remember that God is always faithful. You can count on Him to forgive, redeem, and restore even your most terrible repeat offenses. But be cautious; God’s grace is not a pass for you to permit sinful behavior or remain stuck in your faith. His grace and mercy should drive your desire to live according to His fantastic plan for your life. So yes, you may struggle again. But AGAIN, God is faithful!

Pause to Ponder: Are you stuck in the AGAIN loop? What do you need to leave at the feet of Jesus right now? Take time to confess that to Him and then thank Him for His unending grace.

10/04/2026

October 4
Forever

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NIV)

Change is inevitable, whether it’s how the cells in our bodies die and are replaced or the way unforeseen circumstances sometimes blindside us. Many of us long for stability and wrestle with discouragement when it feels out of reach. Navigating life’s many transitions is not for the faint of heart, but there is comfort in knowing God never changes. In an ever-shifting landscape, His character, promises, and Word remain steadfast.

We can fix our eyes on God despite life’s twists and turns in the same way a ballerina focuses on a single point to keep from getting dizzy as she spins. God longs to be our refuge and security today and for eternity. When God whispers a promise to our hearts in the dead of night or begins a new work of transformation in someone we love, we can trust His enduring power and persistence.

He has promised to guide you through every situation until He ushers you into His presence for all eternity. The beloved hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” eloquently captures this truth, highlighting the hope and security we have in Christ, even during devastating loss. The writer, Horatio Gates Spafford, penned the words after losing his four daughters at sea. Whether you are experiencing a minor transition or wondering how to make it through another day, God sees you. He wants to bless you, and that will never change.

Pause to Ponder: What changes are you navigating today and in the upcoming months? Take time to reflect on God’s steadfast love for you and ask Him to guide you every step of the way. He wants to walk with you through every transition.

10/02/2026

October 2
Keep It Simple

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)

These verses contain what has come to be known as the Great Commission: Jesus’ directive to His followers to continue His ministry. When we read them, it’s easy to think it only applies to missionaries, people who dedicate their lives to proclaiming the gospel. But these verses are actually for every Christian. What’s interesting about the original language in the book of Matthew—Greek—is that the only direct command is “make disciples,” while the other instructions of “go,” “baptize,” and “teach” are indirect.

The clear priority of Jesus’ words is on making disciples: people who learn and follow the teaching of another. This is something we can do wherever we are, whether at home or work, on vacation, or even in the hospital. We don’t need special tools or training to share Jesus with those around us.

One of my favorite ways to summarize the Great Commission is in these two phrases: knowing God and making Him known. We cannot give what we have not received. To share God’s love with others, we must first spend time in His presence. Then, and only then, can we share from the overflow of His love in our lives. We can do this in conversations or even on social media. So if you ever feel hesitant about how to fulfill the Great Commission, remember to keep it simple by knowing Jesus and making Him known. That’s it!

Pause to Ponder: How can you draw closer to Jesus today? Ask Him to give you opportunities to share with others what He has been teaching you.

10/01/2026

October 1
God's Relentless Love

Psalm 139 (NIV)

Consider the friendships and relationships from which you draw love. You will probably agree you tend to feel loved when circumstances are going well, secure when you are communicating and on the same page with those around you, and connected as long as you share mutual things in common. God's love is different. His love is based on who you are and not what you do for Him or what you share in common with Him.

Take a few moments to slowly savor a few beautiful phrases found in Psalm 139 that depict God's intimate love for and friendship with you.
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. (v.1)
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. (v.2)
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. (v.3)
Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. (v.4)
You surround me, front and back, you put your hand upon me. (v.5)
You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. (v.13)
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (v.16)
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. (v.17-18)
God's love goes past outward appearances, it cuts through the need for common interests to maintain intimacy, and it plunges deep into an unwavering commitment to you. And guess what? Even on days you forget all about His love or question His goodness, He remains committed to you. Now, that's love!

Pause to Ponder: From the list of verses above, which resonates with you the most today? Spend 3-5 minutes recounting to God how grateful you are for that aspect of His unconditional and steadfast love for you.

09/30/2026

September 30
Ministry of Reconciliation

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18 (NIV)

God has blessed you with specific skills and talents. Do you know what they are? Perhaps you exercise your gifting to serve in a ministry at your church, on a community service team, in a youth sports league, at a school, or in your family. There are many ways for you to serve the people around you. No matter what your talents are or where you put them into practice, there is one ministry you need to look for opportunities to implement: the ministry of reconciliation.

God demonstrated what this ministry looks like when He issued you forgiveness for your sins and a restored relationship with Him. Jesus chose forgiveness when He was wronged. He chose unity even after His followers abandoned Him. He chose love though He had every right to leave humanity dead in our sin. Now, as a Christ-follower, you, too, have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Because you have first-hand experience of being reconciled with God, you know how to pursue reconciliation with one another. And what is even more powerful is you can now help others find reconciliation—salvation—with God! If you are about your Father's business and looking to be more like Him every day, you need to stay on the lookout for opportunities to both reconcile and be reconciled.

Pause to Ponder: Does someone need your forgiveness today? Do you need to ask someone for their forgiveness? Do not delay! You are called to this ministry of reconciliation.

09/29/2026

September 29
A Little Help from My Friends

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)

Do you love sweet-smelling aromas? Whether it be perfume, a fragrant rose, a newborn baby, or the smell of the salty ocean breeze, it is invigorating. Inviting. It has a way of making you smile from the inside out—a picture of heart-gladness.

Loving, earnest, and wise counsel from a friend is a sweet and valuable contribution that beckons this same heart-gladness. Truly wise counsel is not characterized by flighty words, aimed at telling you only what you want to hear. Wise counsel, equipped with equal parts truth and love, prayerfully intends to impart guidance underneath the influence of the Holy Spirit. Often, counsel weighs heavily on one end of the spectrum or the other. Too much truth and advice cannot be received for the sake of the packaging. Too much love and guidance will become impotent, falling short of its objective to guide, correct, or enlighten.

Does wise counsel, offered in truth and love, depict the relationships and people you permit to speak into your life? If so, you possess a priceless treasure. And in the end, even if the message is hard to hear, it will ultimately give rise to a glad heart.

Pause to Ponder: Today, think of a friend who blesses you with the truth you need to hear and thank them for the loving gift they offer to you through their friendship. Ask God if you are the kind of friend who speaks the truth in love, extending true friendship to those around you.