Become New with John Ortberg

85. The Surprising Connection Between Therapy and the Psalms (w/Dr. Rick)

What can a therapist teach us about prayer? John Ortberg sits down with his longtime friend and therapist Dr. Rick to explore the Psalms as a kind of “divine therapy with God.” The Psalms are messy. Angry. Afraid. Contradictory. Unfiltered. And according to Rick, that's exactly where healing begins: ruthless honesty inside a relationship where we know we're accepted. So what would happen if we approached God that way? Can we tell Him what we actually think and feel, not merely what we believe we're supposed to say? Can God become our fully disclosing friend? Maybe the path toward becoming who God made us to be begins by bringing Him who we actually are. In this episode: prayer • therapy • Psalms • emotional honesty • healing • friendship with God #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Therapy #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #MentalHealth 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Salvation, Healing & the Psalms 00:27 The Psalms as Divine Therapy 00:48 What Can Therapy Teach Us About Prayer? 01:13 The Psalms Are Messy 01:36 How Raw Are Our Actual Thoughts? 01:56 Psalm 88: Darkness and Despair 02:19 Psalm 83: Angry, Contradictory Prayers 02:39 Psalm 89: From Anguish to Praise 03:24 What Therapy Is Trying to Do 03:58 Your Ideal Life vs. Your Actual Life 04:35 The Me I Want to Be 04:54 Ruthless Honesty 05:18 “I Don't Talk Like This Anywhere Else” 05:51 The Psalms as an Emotional Handbook 06:18 Do You Actually Understand Yourself? 07:03 Why We Resist the Truth About Ourselves 07:20 We Need Feedback 07:49 Getting Under Our Defenses 08:06 Rick Blackmon, Sneaky Psychologist 😂 08:31 Pain Drives Personal Growth 09:22 What Is a Therapeutic Alliance? 09:48 Why the Relationship Matters 10:21 No Secrets. Tell the Truth. 10:52 Acceptance Creates the Place for Change 11:35 Why Rick Reads the Psalms 11:56 Do You Have a Therapeutic Alliance With God? 12:22 Do You Feel Safe With God? 13:04 The Power of a Fully Disclosing Friend 13:35 Can God Be That Friend? 14:04 Why Honesty Feels Risky 14:30 “I Feel a Little More Whole” 14:57 A Healing Relationship With God

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84. How Hope Changes Suffering

Suffering can do one of two things: break us or break us open. Beginning with Frederick Buechner's unforgettable image, John Ortberg explores Psalm 110 and one of the deepest ways Christians have read the Psalms: seeing the story of Jesus in their suffering, longing, and hope. Drawing from C.S. Lewis, Plato, and the mysterious biblical figure Melchizedek, John looks at how Jesus brings together two ancient hopes: the victorious king and the suffering servant. Jesus doesn't overcome suffering by avoiding it. He enters it. And because the story ends in resurrection, suffering doesn't have to get the final word. The difference between being broken and broken open is hope. In this episode: Psalm 110 • suffering • hope • Jesus • C.S. Lewis • Melchizedek • resurrection #Psalm110 #JohnOrtberg #Suffering #Hope #Jesus #CSLewis #Psalms 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Broken or Broken Open? 00:10 What Will Suffering Do to You? 00:37 The Danger of Armoring Yourself 00:54 Seeing Jesus in the Psalms 01:20 Is Biblical Prophecy a Crystal Ball? 01:55 How the New Testament Reads the Old 02:15 C.S. Lewis and “Second Meanings” 02:41 Plato's Remarkable Picture of a Righteous Man 03:32 Written Hundreds of Years Before Jesus 04:02 The Great Story Behind the Story 04:28 The Most Quoted Psalm in the New Testament 04:50 The Difference Is Hope 05:06 “The LORD Says to My Lord” 05:27 Who Is David Talking About? 06:10 Our Longing for a Good King 06:30 What If God Himself Comes? 06:54 The Mystery of Melchizedek 07:16 A Priest Before Israel Had Priests 07:39 God Is Bigger Than Our Tribe 08:13 God Is Way Bigger Than That 08:34 A Priest Who Is Also a King 08:59 Israel Expected a King Who Would Crush Enemies 09:18 The Other Story: The Suffering Servant 09:41 Jesus Brings the Two Together 09:50 The King Who Gets Crushed 10:13 Suffering Doesn't Get the Last Word 10:35 The Heavens Are Broken Open

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83. Why Happiness Never Seems to Last

Are you actually experiencing joy, or are you mostly experiencing relief when problems finally go away? In Psalm 68, John Ortberg explores the biblical idea of exultation: deep, expressive joy that can exist even when life isn't going perfectly. Drawing from C.S. Lewis and Dallas Willard, John looks at why we can spend our lives clearing one hurdle after another and mistaking the resulting relief for genuine joy. Lewis called the Psalmists' delight an “appetite for God.” So how's your appetite? Maybe we've filled ourselves with so much achievement, entertainment, information, and distraction that there's little room left for something better. Today, try getting hungry again. In this episode: Psalm 68 • joy • relief • C.S. Lewis • Dallas Willard • fasting • appetite for God #Psalm68 #JohnOrtberg #Joy #CSLewis #DallasWillard #SpiritualFormation 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Do You Exult Enough? 00:10 What's Your Exultation Quotient? 00:35 What Does “Exult” Mean? 01:02 Exultation in Psalm 68 01:25 God's Not Worried About How Things Are Going 01:49 Paul and Psalm 68 02:12 God Daily Bears Our Burdens 02:35 There He Is! 02:57 Let the Celebration Begin 03:18 David Danced Before God 03:43 Why We Exult at Baseball Games 04:10 Where Did Our Sacred Joy Go? 04:34 What's Your Exultation Threshold? 04:54 C.S. Lewis on Delight in God 05:32 Do You Have an Appetite for God? 05:57 Their Fingers Itch for the Harp 06:19 Rowdy Worship 06:48 Our Terrible Concern With Good Taste 😂 06:57 What Spoils Your Appetite? 07:22 Filling Up on the Cheap Stuff 07:39 Why Spend Money on What Isn't Bread? 08:04 We Have So Much to Fill Ourselves With 08:23 The Problem With Achievement 08:45 Clear the Bar. Move the Bar. Repeat. 09:08 Are You Mistaking Relief for Joy? 09:38 What Real Joy Feels Like 10:01 How's Your Appetite for God? 10:24 Try a Little Fast 10:47 Fast From Self-Promotion 11:16 Is Another Day Enough to Celebrate? 11:42 What's Your Threshold for Joy? 11:54 It's Your Day for Exultation

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82. There Are 3 Kinds of Friends. Here’s the One You Need.

There are three kinds of friends. Two can be valuable, but the third can actually help you become the person God created you to be. Beginning with Psalm 122 and the simple words “Let us go,” John Ortberg explores why friendship is so essential to human flourishing and why it seems increasingly difficult to find. Drawing on Aristotle's three kinds of friendship, John looks at useful friends, pleasant friends, and spiritual friends: people with whom we can be honest, vulnerable, challenged, encouraged, and pointed toward God. So take inventory today: Do you have that kind of friend? And perhaps more importantly: Are you becoming one? In this episode: Psalm 122 • friendship • loneliness • Aristotle • spiritual friendship • community #Psalm122 #JohnOrtberg #Friendship #Loneliness #Community #SpiritualFormation 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 I Rejoiced When They Said “Let Us Go” 00:44 The Joy of Doing Life Together 01:04 “Let Us Go” 01:23 I'm Always the One Reaching Out 01:49 The Three Kinds of Friends 02:09 Jesus's Greatest Miracle? 😂 02:38 Why Friendship Gets Harder With Age 03:00 America's Friendship Paradox 03:34 The Anti-Social Century 03:59 Even College Students Are Lonely 04:27 We're Spending Less Time Together 04:59 An MIT Student Who Eats Alone 05:22 Thou Shalt Goof Off 😂 05:31 When Clubs Become Jobs 06:02 Aristotle's Three Kinds of Friendship 06:32 #1: Useful Friends 07:25 #2: Pleasant Friends 07:54 #3: Spiritual Friends 08:14 Flatterers vs. True Friends 08:38 Who Helps You Become Your Best Self? 09:25 A City Closely Connected 09:56 Who's in Your Tribe? 10:24 What Shalom Really Means 10:56 People Have Always Been Lonely 11:31 Value Your Friends 11:58 Call Someone. Thank Someone. 12:20 Let Your Loneliness Lead You to God

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81. Two Kinds of Commitment. Only One Transforms You.

There are two kinds of commitments: contracts and covenants. We need both. But John Ortberg explains why one can enhance your life while the other can actually transform it. Beginning with Psalm 35, John explores the difference between transactional relationships and covenant relationships, from Casablanca to a remarkable moment in American history when Psalm 35 was read before the Continental Congress. A contract protects individual rights. A covenant creates a “we.” And Scripture doesn't describe God as the God of contract. He is the God of covenant, inviting us into relationships built on something deeper than what we can get from one another. So where might you be treating a covenant like a contract? In this episode: Psalm 35 • covenant • commitment • relationships • American history • spiritual formation #Psalm35 #JohnOrtberg #Covenant #Relationships #SpiritualFormation #Psalms 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Let's Try This Again 😂 00:22 Two Kinds of Commitment 00:54 One of Them Will Transform Your Life 01:09 Psalm 35 01:31 A Psalm That Changed American History 01:50 Rabbi Soloveichik's Discovery 02:14 Contract vs. Covenant 02:41 What a Covenant Does 03:08 When Relationships Become Transactions 03:21 God Is Not the God of Contract 03:54 What Casablanca Teaches About Covenant 04:40 Covenant Can Enrich Your Life 05:16 Covenant at Sinai 05:25 The Declaration vs. the Constitution 06:19 Benjamin Franklin Calls for Prayer 07:07 A Divided Continental Congress 08:02 Psalm 35 Is Read 08:28 John Adams's Stunning Reaction 08:53 A Psalm Prepared for That Moment 09:28 A Common Destiny 09:45 Three Lines That United a Room 10:10 Humble and Inspired 10:36 From Quarreling Delegates to “We” 10:58 The Psalms Belong to Humanity 11:24 It's Time to Cut a Covenant 11:45 A Contract Is Transactional. A Covenant Is Transformational

80. How to Get "Unstuck" in Praise

Why does God want us to praise Him? And what if praising God sometimes feels awkward, artificial, or forced? In this reflection on Psalm 67, John Ortberg explores the same question that once troubled C. S. Lewis. Lewis eventually discovered that God doesn't need praise like an insecure person needs compliments. Praise is actually part of our enjoyment of what's good. We naturally praise the things we love, and we want other people to enjoy them too. That's why Lewis concluded that praise doesn't merely express joy: Praise completes joy. And when praise still feels like duty? Keep tuning the instrument. The duty exists for the delight. In this episode: Psalm 67 • C.S. Lewis • praise • worship • doubt • awe • joy #Psalm67 #CSLewis #JohnOrtberg #Praise #Worship #SpiritualFormation 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Today We're Going to Praise God 00:08 Does Praising God Feel Awkward? 00:28 When Praise Feels Artificial 00:48 Psalm 67: May All the Peoples Praise You 01:21 C.S. Lewis Had a Problem With Praise 01:42 Why Does God Want Compliments? 02:12 Is God Egotistical? 02:34 The Problem With the Psalms 02:56 Does God Need Our Praise? 03:23 Bargaining With God for Praise 03:48 Lewis Could Understand Everything Except This 03:58 Are There Questions God Doesn't Want You to Ask? 04:39 Follow the Truth 04:49 What Does It Mean to Deserve Praise? 05:25 The Psychology of Awe 06:02 Awe Can Reset Your Mind 06:20 What We Miss When We Don't Praise 06:44 God Doesn't Need Your Compliments 07:31 The Thing Lewis Had Missed 07:56 We Praise Everything We Love 08:33 “Isn't She Lovely?” 08:56 Why the Psalms Tell Everyone to Praise 09:25 Praise Completes Joy 09:57 Why We Have to Share What We Love 10:07 What Will Heaven Really Be Like? 10:39 Worship Isn't an Endless Church Service 😂 10:56 Tuning the Instrument 11:25 The Duty Exists for the Delight 11:48 Digging Channels for the Water 12:01 Let All the Earth Praise 12:25 Look for What's Good 12:46 Praise God Today

79. What to Do When You’re Afraid

What do you do when you're afraid? In this reflection on Psalm 62, John Ortberg shares a memorable Dallas Willard story about a terrified cat clinging to a tree, and asks a surprisingly revealing question: What's your branch? When we're afraid, we clutch. We grasp for control over relationships, money, health, reputation, work, or whatever makes us feel secure. But Psalm 62 offers another way. Let go. Lean on God. And stand firm. John explains how these two seemingly contradictory postures belong together: “I'm standing on the outside and leaning on the inside.” You don't have to hold everything together today. Open your hands. Lean on the everlasting arms. Then stand firm and do the next right thing. In this episode: Psalm 62 • fear • control • Dallas Willard • letting go • trusting God #Psalm62 #JohnOrtberg #Fear #TrustGod #SpiritualFormation #Psalms 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 This Is for Anyone Who's Ever Been Afraid 00:34 Two Ways to Deal With Fear 00:49 Psalm 62: A Leaning Wall 01:29 Where Do You Feel Unsteady? 01:54 What Fear Really Is 02:20 Dallas Willard's Cat 02:34 He Needed a Crowbar 😂 02:45 What's Your Branch? 03:01 What Are You Trusting In? 03:40 We Cling When We're Afraid 03:59 What Won't You Let Go Of? 04:20 You Can Let Go 04:45 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms 05:10 Stop Clutching. Start Leaning. 05:36 You Don't Face Life Alone 06:06 The Second Posture: Stand Firm 06:28 Leaning vs. Standing 06:53 Stand Outside, Lean Inside 07:20 How Leaning Helps You Stand 07:46 Little Cat, Let Go 08:00 Open Your Hands 08:14 A Lawyer's Unusual Advice 08:33 Lean on God. Stand Firm.

78. How to Not Waste Your Most Valuable Asset

Who has your attention? In a world where screens, money, health, worries, ambitions, and countless other forces compete for our focus, John Ortberg asks a deeper question: Who is my master? Psalm 143 teaches us how to pay attention to God through two important practices: focused attention and open attention. John explores why attention is so powerful, how what we consistently attend to can actually change us, and how we can learn to notice God's presence throughout an ordinary day. The invitation is simple: Pay attention to the God who is already paying attention to you. In this episode: Psalm 143 • attention • distraction • spiritual formation • neuroscience • noticing God #Psalm143 #JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #Attention #Psalms #ChristianFaith 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Pay Very Careful Attention 00:12 Are You Still With Me? 00:31 Attention Is Something We Pay 00:55 Who Is Your Master? 01:18 God Is Paying Attention to You 01:39 Two Kinds of Attention 02:01 How Attention Changes Your World 02:28 How Do You Attend to Other People? 02:49 Attention Changes You 03:15 You Become More Like What You Attend To 03:45 Focused Attention 04:14 How a Bird Pays Attention 04:42 Open Attention 05:09 Two Very Different Ways of Seeing 05:33 Seeing Yourself as Part of Something Bigger 05:56 The Fellowship of Toads 😂 06:22 Why We Need Both Kinds of Attention 06:41 Psalm 143: God, Hear Me 06:53 Paying Attention to What's Wrong in Me 07:17 Taking an Honest Inventory 07:35 Who Is the Enemy? 08:02 When the Enemy Is Inside Me 08:30 Remember, Meditate, Consider 09:24 Learning to Pay Attention to God 09:48 God Is Paying Attention to Me 10:06 Let the Morning Bring Me Word 10:27 Show Me, Rescue Me, Teach Me, Lead Me 10:51 Open Your Attention to God 11:16 Focus on What's in Front of You 11:39 God, How Are You Here? 11:57 Who Is My Master?

77. Finding Perspective Changes Everything

Sometimes you need to stop moving long enough to notice where you actually are. In this reflection on Psalm 100, John Ortberg pulls over at a vista point and invites us to create a “vista point” in our own day: pause, look around, notice the beauty and goodness of God, and make a joyful noise. John also shares the remarkable story of a $3 thrift-store jersey that turned out to be worth $90,000. It looked discarded, but it was a treasure. Maybe you need that reminder too. You are not self-made. You are the work of a master craftsman. So pause today. Look around. Say “Wow.” Say “Thank You.” And don't miss the view. In this episode: Psalm 100 • gratitude • joy • identity • God's creation • serving with gladness #Psalm100 #JohnOrtberg #Gratitude #Joy #SpiritualFormation #Psalms 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 You Need a Vista Point Today 00:26 Pull Over & Look Around 00:43 Seeing Your Life From God's Perspective 01:10 Psalm 100: Make a Joyful Noise 01:32 All the Earth Is Invited 01:51 John's Dad Makes a Joyful Noise 02:14 “Why Don't You Just Say It, John?” 😂 02:41 You Don't Need a Beautiful Voice 03:01 How Can You Make a Joyful Noise Today? 03:35 Notice What's Good 03:48 Know That the Lord Is God 04:14 There Is a God. It Is Not Me. 04:44 God Is Pleased That You Exist 05:07 The $3 Lakers Jersey 05:32 Was It Really Wilt Chamberlain's? 05:57 $3 Becomes $90,000 06:23 You Are Not Self-Made 06:50 You Are the Work of a Master Craftsman 07:10 You Live in God's Pasture Today 07:29 Serve the Lord With Gladness 07:46 The Dog Situation Gets Worse 😂 08:06 Pause. Look. Say Wow. 08:21 You Are a Treasure

76. What Dallas Willard Taught Us About Psalm 23 (w/Keith Matthews)

What do people experience when they're around you? In this conversation on Psalm 23, John Ortberg is joined by Keith Matthews, who spent 18 years teaching alongside Dallas Willard. Keith shares what Dallas was really like, why he loved Psalm 23, and a remarkable story about a young woman whose life changed after simply watching Dallas interact with someone on the USC campus. Dallas often prayed that people would have “a radiant life and a radiant death.” His life embodied a deep confidence in the sufficiency of God: The Lord is my shepherd. I have what I need. Keith leaves us with a powerful thought: “Our presence goes before us.” What might your presence communicate to the people you encounter today? In this episode: Psalm 23 • Dallas Willard • God's sufficiency • spiritual formation • becoming a radiant person #Psalm23 #DallasWillard #JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 John & Keith Matthews 00:28 An Undisclosed Location of Spiritual Formation 😂 00:47 Spontaneity vs. Actually Preparing 01:11 Why Psalm 23? 01:38 Dallas Willard's Favorite Psalm 01:57 Memorizing Scripture 02:19 Teaching With Dallas for 18 Years 02:38 Dallas the Person 03:03 A Radiant Life & a Radiant Death 03:20 What Does a Person Radiate? 03:46 “The Lord Is My Shepherd” 04:06 God Is Sufficient 04:27 But What If I Really Need Something? 04:48 Are You Happy With the Person You're Becoming? 05:18 Living From a Full Cup 05:38 “I Need ___ in Order to ___” 05:55 Even a Radiant Death 06:14 The Human Spirit as Personal Energy 06:36 Why We Call It “Glo-ry” 07:05 The Presence of Dallas Willard 07:22 A Stranger Starts Crying 07:39 “Who Is That Guy?” 08:00 A Life Changed by an Encounter 08:28 Your Presence Goes Before You 08:52 What Must Jesus Have Been Like? 09:10 You Have Everything You Need 09:27 Leave Someone With a Little Smile

75. Life-Maxing? No, No, No...Try This Instead

We're surrounded by voices telling us to maximize ourselves: our looks, productivity, wealth, health, status, experiences, and potential. But Jesus offers a radically different path to maximum life. In this episode, John Ortberg explores the “self-maximizer” inside us and contrasts it with John the Baptist's famous words: “He must increase; I must decrease.” The paradox of God's kingdom is that abundant life doesn't come from making ourselves bigger. It comes as we loosen our grip on ego, reputation, and self-promotion and give ourselves to love and service. Want to live life to the max? Try a little less of yourself. In this episode: life-maxing • John the Baptist • Philippians 2 • the self-maximizer • Psalm 146 • abundant life #JohnOrtberg #SpiritualFormation #Psalm146 #AbundantLife #Jesus #ChristianFaith 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 How to Maximize Your Life 00:29 Welcome to the Age of Life-Maxing 00:50 Looks, Status & Productivity Maxing 01:08 What's Wrong With Self-Maxing? 01:34 God Is Actually Into Abundance 02:04 Biblical Maxers 02:26 Absalom: The Looks-Maxer 02:42 Five Pounds of Hair?! 03:04 He Maxed Himself to Death 03:26 The Wealth-Maxer & Bigger Barns 03:47 Solomon Maxes Pleasure 04:19 The Original God-Maxing Temptation 04:30 The Self-Maximizer Inside You 04:54 “My First Job Is to Realize My Potential” 05:22 Is Commitment Keeping a Sucker's Game? 05:48 The Self-Maximizer vs. Commitment 06:02 What's in It for Me? 06:25 When Self Becomes the Center 06:53 The Ego-Driven Pastor 07:14 The New Org Chart: Bigger Me 07:38 There Is Another Way 08:02 John the Baptist Starts Losing Followers 08:24 You Need to Max! 08:45 The Friend of the Bridegroom 09:04 “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease” 09:33 Jesus Minimizes Himself 10:10 Meaning Is the New Maxing 10:38 How to Min to Max Today 11:05 Give, Encourage, Listen & Serve 11:26 Less Ego, More Life 11:54 Life to the Max 12:03 John Forgot the Psalm 😂 12:22 Psalm 146: God's Kind of Greatness 12:43 Bonus Material

74. The Number One Self-Care Solution

What does your soul actually need for self-care? Psalm 19 gives a surprising answer: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” In this episode, John Ortberg explores why God's instruction isn't meant to burden us, but to help make us whole. Our souls become divided when our thoughts, desires, values, words, and actions pull in different directions. God's Word shows us what is good and helps bring our lives back into alignment. John also shares how memorizing 1 Corinthians 13 helped him confront anger and resentment in his own life. Sometimes soul care is as simple as taking one piece of God's Word and asking Him to help us actually live it. Go ahead and take the walk, light the candle, or get the massage. But don't miss the deeper invitation: Let God revive your soul. In this episode: Psalm 19 • wholeheartedness • internal integration • 1 Corinthians 13 • Dallas Willard • becoming whole #Psalm19 #JohnOrtberg #SoulCare #SpiritualFormation #Psalms #BibleStudy #ChristianFaith 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 What Does Your Soul Really Need? 00:32 Self-Care Isn't Just Candles & Massages 00:49 Psalm 19 & the Surprising Answer 01:10 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God 01:42 The Sun Is Not God 02:27 Creation Is Good, But It's Not #1 02:52 The Law Revives the Soul 03:21 What Is the Soul? 03:52 Seriously...the Law? 04:12 Sweeter Than Honey, More Precious Than Gold 04:31 Why Your Soul Needs God's Instruction 04:56 What Does Wholeheartedness Mean? 05:29 Internal Integration 05:58 Becoming a Whole Person 06:23 The Kind of Person You're Called to Be 06:49 When Your Desires Pull in Opposite Directions 07:20 How We Become Divided 07:43 Can a Bad Person Be Wholehearted? 08:08 Why a Disordered Soul Hurts 08:32 Aristotle: The Soul in Strife 09:00 Why Divided People Can't Be Fully Known 09:16 “I Never Knew You” 09:41 The Soul Needs the Good 10:12 Choose One Thing to Practice Today 10:42 Memorizing 1 Corinthians 13 11:02 When John Wanted to Withdraw 11:17 Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind 12:01 Why God's Words Are Precious 12:26 The Reward Is Becoming Whole 12:50 The Real Meaning of Soul Care 13:19 The Law of the Lord Revives the Soul

73. Two Questions You Should Ask Yourself Every Day

We're surrounded by surveys. Rate your phone call. Rate your church experience. Rate your doctor's visit. John even got asked to rate his experience giving a urine sample. 😂 But what about the things that actually matter? In this reflection on Psalm 36, John Ortberg gives us two surveys worth taking every day. Survey #1: Is there anything in me that needs correcting? Instead of reading about “the wicked” and immediately thinking about someone else, Psalm 36 invites us to look honestly at ourselves. What am I seeing? How am I speaking? Where am I shading the truth? What good am I failing to do? Where are my thoughts taking me? John compares this to surfing. His instructor repeatedly tells him: “Look at the wave.” If you don't pay attention to the wave, you won't know where it's taking you. Our thoughts work the same way. Then comes: Survey #2: How good is God? His love reaches to the heavens. His faithfulness reaches to the skies. His righteousness is like the highest mountains. His justice is like the great deep. How high do you rate God's goodness? The numbers don't go high enough. And if you want one final survey, John offers a little extra credit: “When I survey the wondrous cross...” Look honestly at yourself. Look carefully at God. Then look at the cross, where the fullness of His love and goodness is on display. In this episode: Why we're living in “survey palooza” What the Psalms teach us about honest self-examination Psalm 36 and the human heart How to recognize what needs correcting Sins of omission Why our words become subtly deceitful The importance of listening John's surfing lesson: “Look at the wave” How to pay attention to your thoughts Measuring the goodness of God God's immeasurable love and faithfulness “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” Scripture: Psalm 36 #Psalm36 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #SelfExamination #Prayer #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #GodsLove #Faith 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 The Only Surveys You Need Today 00:33 Welcome to Survey Palooza 00:54 John Gets Surveyed About a Urine Test 01:31 Are We Measuring What Really Matters? 01:54 The Psalms: Your Soul Book 02:24 Your Real Self Talking to the Real God 02:53 Psalm 36 & the Human Heart 03:26 Survey #1: What Needs Correcting? 03:39 What Does It Mean to Fear God? 04:27 Do You Flatter Yourself? 04:50 What Are Your Eyes Looking At? 05:12 Can You Detect Your Own Sin? 05:37 Are Your Words Completely Honest? 05:53 Sins of Omission 06:21 Happiness, Connection & Listening 06:43 Are You Rejecting What Is Wrong? 07:12 John's Surfing Lesson 07:38 Look at the Wave 07:52 Why You Have to Watch Your Thoughts 08:20 Survey #2: How Good Is God? 08:49 God's Love Is Off the Charts 09:10 God's Faithfulness, Righteousness & Justice 09:35 The Great Lake Tahoe Debate 10:03 God Cares for Every Living Creature 10:27 God's River of Delights 10:47 In Your Light We See Light 11:07 The Two Surveys 11:27 Extra Credit: Survey the Wondrous Cross 11:48 Nice Work

72. Psalm 139, Gollum, and Finding Our Identity

Remember where you come from. According to John Ortberg, remembering where you truly come from gives you two remarkable gifts: Identity and hope. In this reflection on Psalm 139, John explores what it means to be “fearfully and wonderfully made.” In this episode: Psalm 139 and where we truly come from Why remembering your origin gives you identity What it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made Your body as your “little kingdom” The biblical word golem Gollum and the Ring “What's your ring?” William Wordsworth and “trailing clouds of glory” Why we lose our sense of wonder The danger of “peaking too soon” Jesus and the lilies of the field Why remembering where you come from gives you hope The more important question: Where are you headed? Scriptures: Psalm 139:13–16 • Genesis 2:7 • Matthew 6:28–30 #Psalm139 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #Identity #Hope #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Purpose #FearfullyAndWonderfullyMade 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Remember Where You Come From 00:34 Where Do I Come From? 00:57 The Birds & the Bees Mix-Up 01:17 A Deeper Question About Your Origin 01:44 Remembering Gives You Identity 02:02 John Is a Rockford Guy 02:25 Humility & Knowing Who You Are 02:49 Psalm 139: Fearfully & Wonderfully Made 03:15 Your Body Is Your Little Kingdom 03:49 Your Body Will Be Redeemed 04:15 Your Unformed Body & the Golem 04:40 The Jewish Legend of the Golem 05:03 Gollum, Sméagol & the Ring 05:30 What's Your Ring? 05:50 What Are You Tempted to Worship? 06:16 Wordsworth & Intimations of Immortality 06:30 Trailing Clouds of Glory 07:00 You Come From God 07:24 Why We Lose Our Sense of Wonder 07:46 Where You Come From Tells You Where You're Going 08:06 Don't Peak Too Soon 08:29 Gollum Peaked Too Soon 08:44 The Second Gift: Hope 09:06 Splendor in the Grass 09:15 Jesus & the Lilies of the Field 09:42 God Will Clothe You 09:53 Find Strength in What Remains 10:00 Faith That Looks Through Death 10:20 You're Headed Toward Splendor 10:30 You Can't Go Back 10:46 Where Are You Headed?

71. Becoming Defensive Doesn't Help. Here's Why

What happens when God shows you something about yourself you don't want to see? Our instinct is often to defend. Explain. Distract ourselves. Push it away. But what if the uncomfortable truth is actually an invitation to transformation? In this reflection on Psalm 32, John Ortberg explores the relationship between pain, honesty, forgiveness, and genuine change. John begins personally, describing a conversation in which a longtime friend helped him recognize uncomfortable patterns of comparison, envy, and competition in himself. Instead of defending himself, John is learning to say: “Yep. That's me. God, I need Your help.” Psalm 32 describes the blessed person as someone “in whose spirit is no deceit.” Then John tells the extraordinary story of Tom Tarrants, a violent white supremacist and KKK terrorist who was imprisoned in Mississippi. In prison, Tarrants encountered the words of Jesus: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” His life began to change. The man who once participated in racist terrorism eventually devoted himself to forgiveness, racial reconciliation, and serving the very people he once hated. How far can somebody fall and still be changed by God? Maybe much further than we imagine. So when your conscience shows you something today, don't immediately run. Don't defend. Don't hide. Ask: God, help me see the truth about myself. And then: Would You change me? In this episode: - Psalm 32 and honest confession - What happens when we become defensive - Dallas Willard on pain and reality - Why hiding the truth fragments us internally - David, Psalm 51, and forgiveness - The story of Tom Tarrants - Radical transformation from hatred to reconciliation - What it means to have “no deceit” in your spirit - How to respond to conviction - Why God's grace can change anyone Scriptures: Psalm 32 • Psalm 51 • Psalm 1 • Matthew 16:26 • 2 Samuel 11–12 #Psalm32 #JohnOrtberg #Forgiveness #Psalms #Transformation #SpiritualFormation #Confession #ChristianFaith #Grace #BibleStudy 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 The Power God Has to Change You 00:36 When Someone Tells You the Truth About Yourself 01:00 Stop Defending Yourself 01:26 What Do You Do With the Pain? 01:49 Psalm 32 & David's Repentance 02:20 Blessed After Going Down the Wrong Path 02:27 Forgiven and Changed 02:50 In Whose Spirit Is No Deceit 03:13 Pain Is Running Into Reality 03:34 When I Kept Silent 04:00 Why Sin Divides Us Inside 04:20 Confession & Forgiveness 04:36 How Far Down Can Someone Fall? 04:52 The Story of Tom Tarrants 05:26 A Violent KKK Terrorist 06:00 A Bible in a Mississippi Prison 06:29 Jesus Changes a Life 06:55 Enemies Praying Together 07:14 A Fraternity That Transcends All Others 07:37 The FBI Investigates His Conversion 08:10 From Hatred to Reconciliation 08:41 Forgiven People Can Help Others 09:03 The Truth About Me 09:21 The Lord's Unfailing Love Surrounds You 09:43 Don't Push the Truth Away 10:05 God, Help Me See Myself 10:23 Can God Change a Heart of Hatred? 10:33 Only God

70. How to Keep Your Soul Healthy

How is it with your soul? It's probably not a question anyone else will ask you today. But it may be one of the most important questions you can ask yourself. In this reflection on the Psalms, John Ortberg draws from Renovation of the Heart to explore what the soul actually is and why its health affects everything else in our lives. Dallas Willard describes the soul as an inner stream of water that brings strength, direction, and harmony to the rest of our being. That's why the Psalms repeatedly use the language of water: “My soul thirsts for You.” “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You.” “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.” John then tells the story of a beautiful village whose life depended upon a crystal-clear stream. When the unseen keeper of that stream was dismissed, everything seemed fine...for a while. Then the water began to change. Eventually, the entire village felt the effects. Our souls can work the same way. We can neglect what's happening beneath the surface while remaining busy with everything that seems more urgent. But eventually, everything flows downstream. So ask yourself today: How is it with my soul? The stream is your soul. And you are its keeper. In this episode: What is the soul? Why the Psalms are the great “soul book” Dallas Willard on the inner life Why the Psalms repeatedly use water imagery The soul as an inner stream How the health of your soul affects everything else Why unseen spiritual work matters The parable of the keeper of the stream What happens when we neglect our souls How to begin tending your inner life Scriptures: Psalm 121:7 • Psalm 63:1 • Psalm 42:1–2 • Psalm 46:4 #JohnOrtberg #Soul #Psalms #DallasWillard #SpiritualFormation #Prayer #ChristianFaith #InnerLife #BibleStudy #SpiritualHealth Suggested YouTube Chapters 00:00 How Is It With Your Soul? 00:33 What Is the Soul? 00:59 The Psalms: The Great Soul Book 01:16 Who Is the Keeper of Your Soul? 01:34 My Soul Thirsts for God 01:51 As the Deer Pants for Water 02:20 The Soul Is an Inner Stream 02:43 How Healthy Is Your Soul Today? 03:07 What a Healthy Soul Looks Like 03:34 Where Does Your Soul Get Its Life? 03:48 The Keeper of the Stream 04:11 A Beautiful Village in the Alps 04:35 The Old Man Nobody Noticed 04:59 The Unseen Work of Tending the Stream 05:25 What Happens When the Stream Is Neglected 05:39 At First, Nobody Noticed 06:02 The Whole Village Begins to Suffer 06:11 The Life of the Village Depends on the Stream 06:35 The Stream Is Restored 06:41 You Are the Keeper of Your Soul

69. The Glory and Burden of Potential

What if you haven't lived up to your potential? In this reflection on Psalm 8, John Ortberg explores one of the great wonders of God's creation: human potential. You can count the seeds in an apple. But you cannot count the apples in a seed. Human beings possess an extraordinary capacity to grow, create, love, serve and become. Psalm 8 looks at the vastness of the heavens and then marvels that God is mindful of us. But there's another side to potential. It can become a burden. I should be further along. I should have accomplished more. I should have made better decisions. I should be more successful, disciplined, attractive, productive or fulfilled. What happens when the possibility of what we could become turns into disappointment over what we haven't become? John offers two truths to carry with us: “I am but dust and ashes.” And: “The whole world was created on my account.” One reminds us that we are limited creatures. The other reminds us that we are deeply loved. And if you're worried that too much of your life has already passed or that you've wasted your potential, remember: God never gets trapped in the past. Today is still here. And who knows what God may yet have in store? In this episode: Psalm 8 and human potential Recovering awe and wonder Why we become blasé about extraordinary things Abraham Joshua Heschel on human possibility What it means to participate in the divine nature How potential becomes a burden The pressure to constantly optimize our lives “I am but dust and ashes” “The whole world was created on my account” What to do when you feel insignificant What to do when you feel too important Letting go of regret about wasted potential Why God isn't trapped in your past Scriptures: Psalm 8 • 2 Peter 1:4 • Genesis 18:27 • Luke 23:39–43 #Psalm8 #JohnOrtberg #Potential #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #Purpose #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Identity #Hope 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 The Burden of Potential 00:11 You Can't Count the Apples in a Seed 00:34 Psalm 8 & Human Potential 00:55 Have You Considered the Heavens Lately? 01:15 How We Lose Our Sense of Wonder 01:33 What Is Mankind That You Are Mindful of Us? 02:05 The Potential of the Human Soul 02:22 What Could This Child Become? 02:54 Apples in a Seed 03:05 Made to Participate With God 03:22 Participate in the Divine Nature 04:19 Do You Remember What It Was Like With God? 05:31 The Legend of the Child and the Torah 06:44 E. E. Cummings & the Wonder of Creation 07:12 When Potential Becomes a Burden 07:32 What Am I Going to Do With All This Potential? 08:00 The Pressure to Optimize Your Life 08:59 Two Truths You Need to Carry 09:27 I Am But Dust and Ashes 09:33 The Whole World Was Created on My Account 09:45 When You Feel Too Important 10:04 When You Feel Insignificant 10:25 What If You've Wasted Your Potential? 10:47 The Thief on the Cross 11:08 God Isn't Trapped in Your Past 11:18 You Still Can't Count the Apples in a Seed

68. This Question Will Guide Your Life

What do you really want? According to the Gospel of John, that's the first question Jesus asks His would-be disciples: “What do you want?” In this reflection on Psalm 1, John Ortberg explores why that may be one of the most important questions we ever answer. Our lives have a way of organizing themselves around our deepest desires. How do you spend your time? Your money? What makes you angry? What are you willing to sacrifice for? Those things often reveal what we want more accurately than our words do. Psalm 1 gives us a picture of a different kind of life: a flourishing person, like a tree planted beside streams of water, with roots sunk deeply into God. And John closes with the remarkable story of Natan Sharansky, who spent years imprisoned in the Soviet Union and memorized the entire Book of Psalms. When he was finally released, Sharansky refused to cross the bridge to freedom until his captors returned his copy of the Psalms. What we fill our minds with matters. Because what fills our minds helps shape what we desire. So today, ask yourself: What do I really want? And: What am I filling my mind with? In this episode: The first question Jesus asks in John's Gospel How our lives reveal what we actually want Psalm 1 and the meaning of “blessed” What biblical flourishing looks like The tree planted beside streams of water Why invisible roots matter The progression of walking, standing and sitting Why Psalm 1 isn't a formula for easy circumstances How inner goodness crowds out envy and greed Natan Sharansky's remarkable story How the Psalms sustained him through Soviet imprisonment Why what we fill our minds with shapes our lives Scriptures: John 1:35–38 • Psalm 1 • Acts 20:35 • Matthew 7:12 #Psalm1 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #Jesus #SpiritualFormation #Flourishing #BibleStudy #ChristianFaith #Prayer #NatanSharansky 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 What Do You Want? 00:27 The First Question Jesus Asked 00:39 What Your Life Reveals About You 01:06 What Do You REALLY Want? 01:31 What Kind of Person Do You Want to Be? 01:53 Living With Blinders On 02:10 When Nothing Feels Worth Wanting 02:40 Psalm 1 & the Blessed Life 03:05 What Does “Blessed” Mean? 03:32 A Tree Planted by Streams of Water 03:54 Two Ways to Live 04:14 The Roots Nobody Sees 04:40 Rooted and Nourished by God 05:03 The Challenge of Translating Hebrew 05:49 “Let's Eat, Kids” 06:18 Psalm 1 Guides Us Toward Happiness 06:43 Walk, Stand, Sit 07:14 Why Goodness Is Easy to Mock 07:37 Psalm 1 Isn't a Formula 07:59 What Inner Goodness Does 08:23 What Do You Want? 08:33 What Will You Fill Your Mind With? 08:38 Natan Sharansky's Story 09:15 A Book of Psalms in a Soviet Prison 09:40 Three Ways He Survived Solitary Confinement 10:01 Memorizing the Entire Book of Psalms 10:31 He Refused Freedom Without His Psalms 10:54 Zigzagging Across the Bridge to Freedom 11:17 Carrying the Psalms to Jerusalem 11:34 What Will You Carry in Your Mind?

67. Why Today is a Good Day to Die

Today is a good day to die. Which means it's a good day to come alive. In this reflection on Psalm 51, John Ortberg explores an old Christian word that doesn't get used much anymore: mortification. It sounds miserable. But properly understood, mortification isn't about becoming miserable. It's about becoming free. John describes two selves within us: the impulsive self, driven by whatever we happen to want right now, and the valuing self, shaped by what we most deeply believe matters: love, joy, peace, patience and generosity. The goal of the spiritual life isn't to spend every day desperately resisting everything we want. It's to increasingly become the kind of person who is no longer controlled by destructive desires. Drawing from Psalm 51, Romans 8, and Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find, John explores Jesus' strange invitation to die in order to truly live. To mortify is to liberate. And it can begin with one very small act today. In this episode: What “mortification” actually means Jesus' paradox of dying in order to live Samuel Johnson on how death clarifies life Flannery O'Connor's A Good Man Is Hard to Find Psalm 51 and David's prayer of repentance The impulsive self vs. the valuing self Why following Jesus isn't endless miserable resistance How destructive desires lose their power Mortification as liberation A simple practice for becoming more free today Scriptures: Psalm 51 • Romans 8:13 • 2 Samuel 11–12 • Matthew 16:25 #Psalm51 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #SpiritualFormation #Freedom #DyingToSelf #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Jesus #Transformation 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 Today Is a Good Day to Die 00:32 Why Mortification Is a Good Thing 01:01 Which of Your Two Selves Needs to Die? 01:29 Death Concentrates the Mind 01:56 Flannery O'Connor & A Good Man Is Hard to Find 02:52 Meet the Grandmother 03:37 The Misfit 04:08 A Strange Moment of Grace 04:37 “You're One of My Children” 04:59 What Facing Death Did to Her 05:23 What Needs to Die in Me? 05:58 Romans 8: Put It to Death and Live 06:21 Psalm 51 & David's Sin 06:54 Our Sin Isn't Always Before Us 07:17 Create in Me a Pure Heart 07:43 Mortification Isn't Misery 08:05 The Life of the Spirit 08:31 Your Two Selves 08:51 The Valuing Self 09:17 To Mortify Is to Liberate 09:25 Freedom From Destructive Desires 10:10 Addiction, Resentment & Approval 10:44 What Real Freedom Looks Like 11:15 A Good Day to Die 11:38 Practice One Small Act of Mortification 11:58 Don't Do One Thing You Want to Do 12:24 He Will Make You Free

66. You Were Made for GREAT Joy

You were made for great joy...but what do you do when you don't feel particularly joyful? In this reflection on Psalm 47, John Ortberg explores a surprisingly practical answer: Do something joyful. Sing. Clap. Dance. Go outside. Listen to birds. Look into the face of someone you love. Maybe even skip. The Psalms weren't merely written to be read. They were meant to be sung. Drawing from William Law and the James-Lange theory of emotion, John explores the fascinating relationship between our bodies and our inner lives. We can't simply command ourselves to feel happy. Our emotions don't work that way. But we can choose our actions. And because our bodies and souls are deeply connected, the things we choose to do can help shape what's happening inside our hearts. So don't wait until you feel joyful to sing. Sometimes, singing helps lead us toward joy. This is your day. You can make this day a song. In this episode: Psalm 47 and the command to sing Why the Psalms were meant to be sung William Law on singing the Psalms The relationship between body and emotion Why “just choose to be happy” doesn't work The James-Lange theory of emotion Why the Psalms include dancing and other physical practices How our outward actions can shape our inward lives Practical ways to move toward joy Making your day a song Scriptures: Psalm 47 • Psalm 113:3 #Psalm47 #JohnOrtberg #Joy #Psalms #Worship #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Prayer #Happiness 🙌 New episodes every weekday. 📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time. Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time. TEXT us at 51504 EMAIL US at connect@becomenew.com GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504 SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our team DOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides 😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/ 🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/ Music Credits: Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF 00:00 You Were Made for Great Joy 00:25 How Your Life Becomes a Song 00:48 Psalm 47: Sing Praises 01:20 Sing, Sing, Sing 01:46 Why Were the Psalms Meant to Be Sung? 02:09 William Law on Singing the Psalms 02:32 Don't Just Read the Psalm 02:57 How Singing Changes the Heart 03:21 The James-Lange Theory of Emotion 03:51 Your Body Can Affect Your Feelings 04:11 It's Hard to Be Depressed While You Skip 04:27 From the Rising of the Sun 04:45 How the Body Influences Emotion 05:09 John's Blind Date Advice 05:24 The Union of Soul and Body 06:14 You Can't Just Choose to Be Happy 06:41 How Much Power Do We Have Over Ourselves? 07:05 Choose the Outward Action 07:41 Why Singing the Psalms Matters 08:03 Do Something That Leads to Joy 08:33 Sing, Skip, Dance 08:55 Make This Day a Song