Hey everybody, welcome to the podcast, I’m Nick and it’s great to be here with you today.
Today is July 16.
Each day, we follow a simple rhythm: Slow Down, Read, Notice, Reread, Meditate, Respond, and Exercise.
Let’s begin.

Slow Down

You are stepping into a sacred space with the intent of meeting Jesus.
He wants to meet with you and spend time with you.
Take this moment to slow down, quiet your mind, and prepare your heart to connect with Him.
Close your eyes. Take a deep breath in, then slowly release it.
As you inhale, whisper: “Jesus, I prepare for your arrival.”
As you exhale, pray: “You can work in my heart.”
Do this three times, then rest in His presence.

Read

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. So they went on to another village.
(Luke 9:51–56, NLT)

Notice

What stands out to you in this passage?
Is there a word or phrase that catches your attention?
Hold it in your heart for a moment.

Reread

Hear this passage again and notice what the disciples' reaction reveals about their understanding of Jesus's mission.

Meditate

Rejection reveals what we truly value.
In this passage, Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem—to the cross, to His death, to the completion of His mission to save the world. He sends messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for His arrival.
But the Samaritans reject Him. They don't welcome Him. Why? Because He's headed to Jerusalem, and there was ancient hostility between Jews and Samaritans.
It's a small rejection. A village saying no. But watch how James and John respond: "Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?" They want to punish the village for the slight. They want to use their power to retaliate.
And Jesus rebukes them. "You don't know what kind of spirit you are of," He says (in other translations). He's not just correcting their behavior—He's correcting their hearts. They're thinking like the world thinks. They're responding to rejection with retaliation. They're letting a small offense derail them from the mission.
But Jesus doesn't stop. He doesn't call down fire. He doesn't punish the village. He simply moves on to another village. He stays focused on His purpose.
Here's what's true for you: You will be rejected. You will be slighted. You will encounter people who don't welcome you or your message. And in those moments, you have a choice. You can react with harshness, with retaliation, with fire. Or you can respond with Jesus's measured grace—acknowledge the rejection, but don't let it define your mission.
The disciples wanted to punish the village for rejecting Jesus. But Jesus's mission wasn't about forcing acceptance. It was about offering salvation to those who would receive it, and moving on to those who would.
Take a few moments to reflect on this question:
What would it look like to respond to rejection the way Jesus did—with grace and focus?

Respond

Jesus, when I'm tempted to react with harshness or retaliation, help me to respond with Your grace. Keep me focused on my mission. And help me to remember that not everyone will welcome me—and that's okay.

Exercise

The rush of life will meet you again when you leave this sacred place—but you can carry this moment into your day by forming new habits.
Habit: The Measured Response
Today's habit is a practice of intentional response: identify one situation where you're tempted to react harshly—where someone has slighted you, rejected you, or hurt you, and you want to retaliate or punish them.
Write it down. Be honest about what happened and how it made you feel.
Then, before you respond, pause. Take a breath. Create space between the offense and your reaction. This is where transformation happens—in that space between what happened and how you choose to respond.
Ask yourself: What is my true mission here? Is retaliation going to serve that mission, or distract from it? What would Jesus do?
Now, respond. It might be to let it go entirely. It might be to address it with honesty but without harshness. It might be to simply move on to the next village, as Jesus did.
Then pray: "Jesus, I was tempted to call down fire. I was tempted to punish. But You showed me a better way. Help me to stay focused on what matters. Help me to respond with grace, not reaction. And help me to remember that my mission is bigger than any single rejection."
A measured response often accomplishes far more than a reactive one. It shows strength, not weakness. It shows that you're secure in your purpose, not threatened by rejection.
Practice this today. And watch what happens when you respond like Jesus instead of reacting like the world.

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That’s your two minutes with Jesus for today.
Now, take what you’ve heard…share it and live it.
Until next time, keep slowing down, keep listening, and keep walking with Jesus.