Xtend Youth Ministries

09/08/2026

Here’s What Humility Looks Like…

When you think of humility, what comes to mind?

In our world, humility is often seen as a self-degrading concept that reveals our insecurities and keeps us from becoming our best selves.

But true humility never leads to insecurity, because insecurity is a form of pride. Pride either puffs us up or tears us down. Pride is self-sufficient, but also self-destructive. If we’re doing great, pride makes our confidence soar. But if we’re going through a rough season, pride makes us sensitive to our failures. Pride links our worth to our accomplishments, and it prevents us from seeing who we truly are.

Pride makes us think that if we try hard enough, we can become good enough. Humility helps us realize that we are not enough—but God is enough for us.

Humility will often ask us to risk something. It might mean laying down our social standing, our reputation, our financial security, our sense of authority, or our expertise.

But surrendering our self-sufficiency lets us embrace God’s authority. And our God did miracles through Moses, established David as king of Israel, worked through Isaiah in the midst of chaos, publicly honored Mary, abundantly provided for Peter, and glorified Jesus by raising Him from the dead.

When we surrender ourselves to God, we allow Him to be glorified through us. Humility might cost us something—but it leads to abundant life.

So today, how can you humble yourself before God? Take a few moments and process what you need to lay down in order to draw closer to God within the upcoming weeks.

09/07/2026

The Truth of God

What is truth? Various generations have had different ways of answering that question. It's a popular belief in today’s culture that truth can be whatever you want it to be. This is the idea that truth is relative and unique to every individual person.

But if everyone lives their own truth, then nobody can truly know which one is right. And if one person’s truth contradicts another person’s truth, one of them must be wrong.

Scripture tells us that there is an objective truth available; a truth that we can live by. Rather than truth being grounded in the individual, it is grounded in something much bigger than ourselves.

Truth is sourced from God.

God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe and everything that exists, and the one from whom truth and beauty come. God’s Word contains the truths that He has spoken to us—so that we might live according to His truth and His ways.

Jesus says that His teachings are true because they come from God. He goes on to say that anyone who knows the truth of God will be set free in their life.

When we know the truth, we are no longer living according to a lie. God’s Word tells us the truth and leads us to life. This is why Jesus says that the truth will set us free. That's when we become truly free to live according to how God designed us to live.

An important part of learning what's true and what isn’t is reading God’s Word. He has spoken to us through His Word, and all that He has spoken is true. When we read and memorize God’s Word, we learn more and more about God.

Take some time today to thank God for revealing Himself to us through His Word, and for illuminating our lives with His truth.

09/06/2026

Above Every Name
Over the next seven days, we will explore Philippians 2 and specifically verse 10: “…that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow.” We will reflect upon different titles given to Jesus, proclaiming his name over ourselves, our communities, and our nations.

As we pray boldly in the name of Jesus, these passages lead us, his global royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), from adoration and into action. From the place of prayer, we are invited to imitate our royal priest Jesus through humble service and self-giving love.

Lord Jesus, you are exalted to the highest place. Your name is above every other name – every ruler and principality and power, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

So today we pray in the name of Jesus—that every knee would bow and every tongue confess that you are Lord. Not because we have the strength to make it happen, but because you do. Not because our plans are sufficient, but because your power is limitless.

Read: Psalm 103:13–14
Pause and pray
Today I am reflecting on probably the greatest passage Paul wrote about Jesus, pointing us towards his example of humility, self-denial and obedience that is to shape our way of relating to one another…

Read: Philippians 2:5–11 (NIVUK)
I am drawn to the phrase “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus”. This word mindset can also be translated as attitude. Christ wants me to move beyond mere understanding and mental assent to an actual way of life. Here I read that unity, harmony and humility appear to be how he wants me to live.

In this life, I’m never going to be fully like Jesus, but I can choose to adopt the same attitude as him. My attitude should begin in humility, and my humility should be seen in my relationships with others.

Lord Jesus Christ, I long to be like you. Rather than humbling others, bringing them down to earth, or exerting my own perception of superiority over them, may my attitude today be one of humility.

Pause and pray
In a world where winning seems to be the order of the day, I pray that I would choose to lose. I ask that winning wouldn’t be the driver of my life, but that I would stop striving to use people for my own advantage, instead preferring others over myself.

Humble Jesus, I bring someone I often overlook to you now in prayer, asking you to bless them with your goodness.

Pause and pray
As I return to today’s passage, I pay particular attention to my feelings as I read these words…

Read again: Philippians 2:5–11
I take a moment now to reflect on any particular feeling stirred within me by this passage.

Pause and pray
I feel inspired and awestruck at the countercultural nature of the life of Jesus. His incarnation led to a life of self-emptying obedience. I am stirred by Jesus’ life, and excited by the opportunity to be obedient to whatever God is asking of me today.

Lord, I choose to lose today, not seeking to win at the expense of others but to be humble and to serve. I yield to you, longing to obey you, and do whatever you ask of me.

Amen.

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

The Place to Start

There are many places we can go to learn about something new, or to grow in wisdom and knowledge. Books are full of access to insightful information. The internet is overloaded with both helpful and unhelpful content about any subject imaginable.

While those are great places to start, Scripture tells us that the foundation of all knowledge is a healthy fear of the Lord. This means that while we can learn things from anyone, the beginning of true wisdom always begins with God.

The fear of the Lord doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be afraid of God. It means that we should live our lives in awe of Him. We do this by recognizing who He is—the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is all-powerful and all-knowledgeable. God’s Word says He holds the power of life and death in His hands. These attributes should cause us to live in awe of God.

Scripture also tells us that God is loving, gracious, and merciful. Even though we—His own creation—previously rebelled against Him, God graciously gave us access back to Himself through His Son, Jesus. The God who created the universe loves each and every one of us. He loves you.

Living in awe of who God is and what He has done is the beginning of all wisdom and knowledge. We would be foolish to turn away from such a powerful and gracious God.

While we can learn a lot about many different things through books, people, and the internet, the most essential and important piece of knowledge about God comes from His Word.

Today, spend some time with God in His Word and in prayer—thanking Him for who He is and what He has done for you. Begin a habit of reading Scripture regularly so that you can know, respect, and trust Him in a deeper way.

09/04/2026

When Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit, he begins with love. That matters. Love is not one fruit among many in the sense that it is just another nice quality to add to our character. Love is the soil where the rest of the fruit grows. Joy without love becomes shallow. Peace without love becomes self-protection. Patience without love becomes tolerance without tenderness. But when love is present, everything else has a place to grow.

Biblical love is not simply affection. It is not just liking someone, being sentimental, or feeling warm in the moment. Biblical love is a decision to seek another person's good because God first loved us. It is a love that sees people through the lens of redemption, not through the lens of their worst moment. That is why blessing matters so much. A biblical blessing is love put into words. It is love that refuses to stay silent.

Many children, grandchildren, athletes, students, and adults are starving for words that tell them they are seen, known, valued, and called. Correction has its place. Discipline has its place. But if correction is louder than blessing, people can begin to believe they are only noticed when they fail. That is not the heart of the Father.

When you bless someone with love, you are not flattering them. You are speaking truth over them. You are saying, 'You are not an accident. You are not a burden. You are not defined by your behavior alone. You are deeply loved by God, and I want you to know that love through the way I speak to you.'

Love is often remembered through words. Someone may forget the exact gift you gave them, but they may never forget the moment you looked them in the eyes and said, 'I love you, I believe in you, and I see God at work in your life.' Those words can settle deep into the soul. They can become a refuge when the world gets loud.

Today, ask God to make your love more than assumed. Make it spoken. Make it intentional. Make it a blessing.

Reflection Question

Who in your life needs to hear words of love, not just see acts of love?

Spoken Blessing

May you know that you are deeply loved by God. May His love shape your identity, steady your heart, and overflow through your words and actions.

09/03/2026

God Our Rock

There are hundreds of different names and titles for God throughout Scripture. And since the Psalms are written from various seasons of life, there are many different perspectives of how God acts within those seasons.

Psalm 18 is written at a time when the author, King David, was delivered from his enemies by God. In this Psalm, David almost immediately calls God his rock, because God was dependable and stable. There was nothing that could overtake God or move Him. And this truth wasn't just for David, but for anyone who relies on God.

When we belong to God, He is a rock and a fortress for us as well. Everything in the world is constantly shifting, but we belong to a God who never changes. He is our protection from things that might seek to harm us.

We belong to a God who can protect us throughout our lives. Even if we don’t have physical enemies, we can run to God when life gets difficult. That’s why, like David, our response to God should be filled with praise. We need to remember what God has done—so we can praise Him for who He is.

Take some time today to thank God for how He has led and protected you so far in your life. And if you’re currently in a difficult season, run to God and ask Him for help. He is able and willing to be your rock.

09/02/2026

Compassion Over Criticism: Viewing Your Anxiety Through a New Lens

By: Alyssa Chandler and Chrissie Steyn

We are Wonderhunt, and we aim to help you notice the deep and hidden things of God. Sometimes, those things are actually parts of us God wants us to consider… like anxiety.

If you experience anxiety (many people do!), two things can be true: God doesn’t want you to feel desperate about your anxiousness. And yet, maybe you still do anyway.

Maybe you’re following Him with all your heart, and yet you’re still struggling. Maybe you want to be free from anxiety, and at the same time you can’t simply will it away.

So often, we talk about anxiety like it’s something bad. Something to be avoided. Something we shouldn’t be experiencing, that we should rid our lives of at all costs. But maybe the truth is more nuanced than that.

Throughout this Plan, we’re going to challenge you to choose compassion over criticism. What if instead of judging our anxiety, we were curious about it? What if we asked questions about where it was coming from? What if we believed that God knew what he was doing when He created our bodies, our nervous systems, and when He made us, it was good?

At the same time, we’ve experienced anxiety firsthand and we know how it can feel. All consuming. Debilitating. Watch our original film, White Knuckle, and see if you relate.

09/01/2026

The word trauma literally means wound. It is an unplanned identity hijack where the enemy tries to rewrite your name. Whether it is the deep-seated scar from the abuse of a biological father or the sudden shock of a recent betrayal, trauma creates a "blue-faced" season where you feel like you are gasping for air. In these moments, the enemy’s greatest weapon is isolation—the infection that keeps a wound from healing. Just as Moses needed Aaron and Hur to hold up his weary hands, you were never meant to carry the weight of your trauma alone. We acknowledge the event not to wallow in it, but to strip the thief of his power. When you name the trauma, you stop it from naming you.

Mobilization Step: Identify your "Aaron and Hur"—the people you can trust with your true story. Reach out to one person today and say, "I’m in a season where I need help holding my arms up. Would you