East Arlington Baptist Church, 40040 48th Street, Lawrence, MI (2026)

09/08/2026

I Am a New Creation

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul tells us that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away, and the new has come. This isn't just about behavior modification or trying harder to be good. It's about receiving a completely new identity from God.

When you feel stuck in old patterns or defined by past mistakes, remember: your transformation isn't based on what you've done, but on what Christ has already done for you.

Negative Thought:
"I'm stuck in my old ways. I'll never really change."

Truth to Replace It:
I am a new creation in Christ—the old has passed away. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Think About It:
What "old" thing are you still letting define you—even though God says you're new?

Devotion - Jackie Bledsoe
Photo - Roger Coles

09/07/2026

Transformation Starts With Your Thoughts

Have you ever noticed how much time you spend thinking? From the moment you wake up to the moment you fall asleep, your mind is always on. It replays conversations, plans your day, worries about what could go wrong, and imagines what could go right.

Your thoughts are constant. And whether you realize it or not, they’re shaping everything about you.

The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote to the church in Rome: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, NASB)

Notice he doesn’t say, “Try harder” or “Be better.” He says, be transformed. And that transformation doesn’t start with what you do. It starts with how you think.

The world around you is constantly pressuring you to think a certain way. Culture, social media, your past, and even your fears are all quietly shaping your mind.

Without even noticing, you can slip into patterns of anxious thinking, negative self-talk, comparison, or doubt.

But Paul gives us a different path: renew your mind. Replace those old patterns with God’s truth. And when you do, transformation follows.

That’s what this plan is all about: building a rhythm of renewal.

Each day, you’ll walk through a simple process:

One verse and insight to anchor your mind in truth
One common lie or distorted thought
One biblical truth to replace it
One prompt to help you reflect and respond
It’ll look like this:

Negative Thought:
"I'll never change. I'm stuck in the same patterns."

Truth to Replace It:
"Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16, ESV)

That's where it starts: exchange lies for truth. And be transformed.

⸻

Prepare Your Mind

You don’t need to have everything figured out. God already knows what’s on your mind, and He meets you right where you are. As you walk through these next 21 days, stay open to what He wants to renew in you.

Devotion - Jackie Bledsoe
Photo - YouVersion

09/06/2026

For those of you who missed the livestream today (09/06/2026) we have posted the sermon on our website under the sermon section. Sorry for the technical difficulties.

09/06/2026

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09/06/2026

The Livestream will not be LIVE this morning but the recording will be posted here later.

09/06/2026

Currently working
on this morning’s Livestream.
Stay tuned.

09/04/2026

Top Priority

As much as we try to stick to a specific morning routine, our mornings can be unpredictable sometimes. If you’re a parent you're probably shouting “amen” right now.

Let’s be real and very clear: sometimes stuff happens and that divine time we have set up to spend with God gets upended by something unexpected.

What do you do?

If you’re reading this, then it means you’ve completed four days of this Bible plan, and thus you’re committed to waking early in the morning to spend time with God.

You may even feel He has been speaking to you about doing this for a while now.

This is where we can learn from Abraham’s example.

He chose to seek God first no matter what happened or what was requested of him. He was even willing to follow God’s instructions to sacrifice his son.

In the past, anything that didn't go according to plan with my morning routine would lead me to sacrifice my time with God first.

In my mind, I reasoned that my work, the car needing gas, my wife's and my kids' schedules, or my workout all had to be done as they had an immediate impact, so for that particular day they needed to be a priority.

But over time, I realized there was nothing more important than my time with God.

I then began to find a way, any way, to spend the time with Him, even if it was condensed, or as a very last option, postponed until I accomplished whatever was in the way.

Things changed when I decided my time with God is too important.

By putting God first, He was able to bring such a transformation into my life that the other things seemed to be taken care of.

Just like it did with Abraham, where God provided the sacrifice since he was willing to put God above everything else.

The last thing I want to encourage you with is to follow Abraham’s model.

Wake up early in the morning and put God first, make Him your top priority.

Then trust Him to show you what to do, to provide what is needed in order to do it, and to be with you while you do it.

Today's Prayer
Lord, I wake up early each morning seeking You first and Your righteousness. Thank You, for as I do this, You open my eyes to Your provision. I trust You will meet all of my needs and more. And I praise You for Your presence and Your many blessings.

Devotion and photo - Jackie Bledsoe

09/03/2026

Great Expectations

After years of struggling to be consistent in spending quality time with God first thing in the morning, I recently realized this practice is something I don’t even have to think about anymore.

The streak counter in my Bible app shows I have a streak of almost 200 days. There have only been five days this year I haven’t used my Bible app to read God’s Word.

Even though this is now a permanent part of my morning routine, every day doesn’t “feel” the same.

Some days I feel like I didn’t hear from God at all, or what I heard seemed very insignificant.

I’d imagine David was thinking this one particular day when he received instructions from his father. On this day, David won his most well-known victory, his defeat of Goliath.

David got up early in the morning to do what his father had directed him to -- he was to take lunch to his brothers and see how they were doing.

Maybe after receiving these instructions he was thinking, “Really dad? Surely there is something more significant you can tell me to do?”

I’ve had similar conversations with my heavenly Father after getting up early in the morning only to hear nothing that seemed significant.

That might be you right now.

Maybe on day four of this plan, the luster, newness, or excitement of getting up early in the morning to spend time with God isn’t producing anything as significant as you had hoped.

Well, as you read the events in 1 Samuel 17, you’ll see that David’s insignificant instructions from his father put him smack in the middle of the battle lines and gave him an opportunity that changed his life.

Whether you feel like every morning is a mountaintop experience with God or not, I encourage you to wake up early with eager anticipation to follow God's directions, no matter how insignificant they seem.

Be alert for opportunities to serve God in the least expected ways.

And boldly take action, having great expectations for Him to produce significant victories in your life and those around you.

Today's Prayer
Father, in the morning, You hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly for you to open my eyes to Your will, to Your direction, and for the giant-sized victories You have in store for me.

Devotion and photo - Jackie Bledsoe

09/02/2026

God Awaits

One of the biggest barriers for me consistently waking up early in the morning is what awaits me the next day.

There have been times I wished I could’ve slept longer because I wasn’t excited about the work awaiting me.

Other times I knew I had to face something the next day that I really didn’t want to face.

Whether that be my wife after an ugly argument the night before, or maybe a major problem at work.

Then there are those times when I’ve been excited for the next day as I knew something great was waiting for me.

All three of these things happened to Joshua and the Israelites in a series of events detailed in the book of Joshua, chapters 6-8.

It all resulted in one of their greatest triumphs, followed by a crushing defeat, and culminated in redemption from that defeat.

No matter what he was facing the next day, Joshua got up early in the morning to carry out what he believed God wanted. And it set him and the Israelites on the path to something great.

First, Joshua and the Israelites got up early in the morning to do the same thing day after day for six straight days. They walked in circles around Jericho.

Ever feel like you’re repeating the same cycles each day? Or you are getting nowhere?

Well on the seventh day one of the greatest victories in the history of Israel happened -- the impenetrable walls of Jericho collapsed and they took the city.

Soon after conquering Jericho, Joshua woke up early to address all the tribes of Israel to find out who sinned against God by keeping things from Jericho that were to be set apart.

This sin led to God’s anger burning against them and their inability to defeat their enemies. They lost their next battle which was a battle they should have easily won.

God then instructed Joshua to confront this sin and remove the things taken, as well as the person who took them.

This was a major problem Joshua had to face the next day, yet he still rose early in the morning to face it.

After he did, God was no longer angry with Israel.

Finally, God assured Joshua that they would defeat the enemy who had just beaten them.

Once again Joshua started early the next morning, and Israel captured the city of their enemy.

Each morning, no matter if something good or bad awaits you, like Joshua, you must know God is there for you.

His presence is greater than any problem you’ll face and time spent with Him to start your day is better than any other use of your time.

Be encouraged knowing that when you get up early to seek God, you can trust that His hand, His mercies, and His blessings will be with you throughout the day.

Today's Prayer
Lord, because of your great love I am not consumed, for Your compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. You are my portion, so I will wait for You.

Although we may feel differently about our experience each morning with God, nothing should change our expectations of what God will do.

Devotion and photo - Jackie Bledsoe

09/01/2026

Your Response

When God wants to do something through you, He doesn’t leave it up to chance. He will not only give you the instructions, but He’ll give you the provisions and even more.

He’ll remove, block, unblock, and come against anything that will get in the way of making it happen. He’ll even set up a personal meeting with you to talk about it.

When you put it all in perspective, it seems unfathomable. But that’s exactly what happened with Moses in Exodus 24 and 34.

In these passages, Moses was given a set of instructions as God was confirming His covenant with the Israelites. Moses was to deliver God’s words and laws to the people of Israel.

Both times God invited Moses to meet with him, even telling him to “be ready in the morning” and to come alone.

Moses’ response was exactly what your response should be when God is choosing to do something through you.

First, you want to act with eager obedience ready to receive.

Moses was told to be ready in the morning and he made sure he did not miss this divine appointment as verse 34:4 says he went up “early in the morning.”

He even came with a pen and pad as the verse also says “Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones.” Moses was prepared, eager, obedient, and ready to receive.

In addition to responding with eager obedience and a receptive heart like Moses, you should respond by being ready to give something to God.

Moses built an altar and pillars, offered sacrifices, bowed to the ground to worship God, and gave God all the glory He deserves.

God responded by doing exactly what He said He would do.

He confirmed His covenant, made sure nothing stopped the promises from being fulfilled, and showed everyone how amazing it is to be used to do the will of God.

I believe similar experiences will happen in your life as you consistently have personal meetings with God early in the morning.

As you do, be ready to give and receive, then be ready to be amazed.

Today's Prayer
Lord, satisfy me each morning with your unfailing love, that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days.

Devotion and photo - Jackie Bledsoe

East Arlington Baptist Church

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