Author: S. Tory Teller

Stan and I were again having breakfast together at the Twelve Baskets Cafe one morning when he mentioned that one of his neighbors got a new car that drives itself. Since I was not familiar with whether they can actually do that, I was interested in what he had to say.

“Did you actually see it drive itself?” I asked.

“I did,” Stan replied. “My neighbor gave me a ride and I witnessed that the car actually does drive itself. You have to pay attention, but you can ride from one place to another while the car does the driving.”

“That sounds kind of scary,” I ventured. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

“I felt the same way before I actually experienced it,” Stan responded, “but the car actually seems to do a better job at driving than my neighbor!”

“But,” he continued, “my neighbor did mention something about his new car that affirms a truth about his faith walk.”

“His faith walk? In what way?”

“That rather than being self-driven,” Stan replied with a smile, “we’re to deny self and let God do the driving! From the standpoint of actually being and living as Christian, self driving is not the way it’s supposed to be!”

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Bible verses to consider:

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever looses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?” Luke 9:23-25.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity, rather than denying myself, I am self-driven. Please forgive that foolish approach to living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead in truly denying myself, truly taking up every day what you have for me to take up, and truly following wherever you want to lead. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name ofJesus. Amen.

Think on this: Are you no longer self-driven in the sense you have surrendered to and accepted what Jesus accomplished on the cross, namely, the way to life with God? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with denying self and giving up being self-driven? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to truly deny self and give up being self-driven? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

Stan and I were again together for breakfast at the Twelve Baskets Cafe. As we were waiting for Ricky to bring the breakfasts we had ordered, Stan again brought up the subject of how important he thinks it is for Christians to have a personal testimony about how they not only came to faith, but about how and when they became serious about their faith. He told me he and a neighbor had been talking about that one day last week. “What’d you talk about?” I asked.

“My neighbor told me that he’d grown up in the church,” Stan replied. “His parents were pretty much nominal Christians.”

“Nominal Christians?” I said. “In what way?”

“They went to Church regularly,” Stan replied, “but they rarely read or studied the Bible. Their prayer lives were pretty shallow, but they did have their children baptized as infants. Those kinds of things.”

“Oh,” I said, that’s probably pretty common.”

Unfortunately, yes,” Stan agreed, “but my neighbor’s testimony is that, although he grew up in the church and was pretty much following in his parents’ shallow-faith footsteps, there came a day when he realized something very significant for his own faith.”

“What’s that?”

“While he had grown up in the church, he was not growing in his own faith.”

“Grown up, but not growing,” I repeated, “I can see that would be a significant revelation. What led your neighbor to see that?”

“Two different things that Jesus said,” Stan replied. “The first was when Jesus was preaching the gospel in Galilee, while the second was something He said to a Pharisee named Nicodemus.”

“What’d Jesus say in Galilee?”

“That the kingdom of God was at hand and it was time to repent and believe in the gospel.”

“That’s quite a mouthful,” I responded with a smile.

“It is,” Stan agreed. “A mouthful of truth. What Jesus said to Nicodemus is how to apply that truth to our lives.”

“What’d He say to Nicodemus about that?”

“Be born again in order to see and enter the kingdom of God that’s at hand,” Stan replied. “That’s what my neighbor said moved him to grow in his faith.”

“What’s that? Be born again?”

“That’s it,” Stan exclaimed. “He realized he was not growing where he’d grown up. He knew he needed the new birth to grow by seeing and entering into the kingdom that’s at hand!”

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Bible verses to be considered:

And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and was saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15.

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here by seeing and entering into your kingdom and will continue forever in your heavenly kingdom. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too ofter while I remain on this side of eternity, I don’t take the time or make the effort to see and enter into your kingdom here. Please forgive that foolish approach to living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead in seeing and entering into every aspect of your kingdom on earth. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you entered into God’s kingdom in the sense of having accepted His provision for entering it through the cross of Christ? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with seeing and entering into all of God’s kingdom on this side of eternity? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to not only see and enter into His kingdom on earth, but to continually see and enter into all He has for you? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

For those who may have missed it (or want to focus on it again), each Sunday we re-post the prior week’s WFTT devotional that received the most attention. The one for this week is about praying even when it’s painful because of our lack of desire to pray, the seeming lack of response from God, the pain of interceding for someone else, or whatever. Stan uses Jesus’ prayer in the garden to make his point. Link — June 4, 2026 — When prayer causes pain, don’t stop; go deeper

Stan’s main takeaway for each posting this past week. Each posting can be accessed by clicking the link for that day. 

Please forward this to friends, family, colleagues, etc. as a way to introduce them to Stan,  S. Tory Teller, and the conversations about faith, discipleship, and what it means to be a Christian who is pursuing discipleship.

Also, don’t forget that S. Tory Teller’s book, the 100-day devotional, Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing Before Going, is available from amazon.com, other on-line book sellers, and directly from the publisher at www.s-toryteller.com 

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Monday, June 1, 2026 — It’s not uncommon for people to go on short-term mission trips to  present the gospel to help others come to faith and be saved. Stan talks about a friend who went on such a trip to the other side of the world, but came home convicted that people right around him are equally lost and need the same message of salvation. Link — June 1, 2026 — To reach those who are just as lost

Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — Jesus said to a woman named Martha some powerful words about Himself. Stan uses what Jesus said to her as the backdrop for the point that Jesus has the same crucial question for us today. Link — June 2, 2026 — Do you believe what He said?

Wednesday, June 3, 2026 —It was a big deal when Jesus fed and satisfied the five thousand with a few fish and a little bit of bread. Stan talks about what Jesu did after God had done what He did as the example for each one of us. Link — June 3, 2026 — What to do when God does something

Thursday, June 4, 2026 — Have you ever found prayer to be painful, either because you really didn’t want to take the time to pray, or for some other reason? Stan talks about what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane as the example of what to do when praying causes pain. Link — June 4, 2026 — When prayer causes pain, don’t stop; go deeper

Friday, June 5, 2026 — Do you ever think about how you want to be remembered? Stan asks this question and says he wants to be remembered for the same reason as the woman who poured the expensive perfume on Jesus, which is that she did what she could. Link — June 5, 2026 — A great way to be remembered

Stan and I were again at the cafe for breakfast. As we waited for Ricky to bring what we wanted for breakfast, Stan asked me if I ever think much about how I want to be remembered. I had to admit I don’t really think much about that. I asked him if he does.

“I sure do,” he relied with a smile. “I want to be remembered just like a certain woman Jesus talked about.”

“What woman?”

“The one who poured stuff on Jesus’ head.”

“What stuff?”

“Some expensive perfume.”

“Why’d she do that?”

“To anoint His body before He was to be buried.”

“Why do you want to be remembered for doing something like that?”

“Because of what Jesus said about the woman who did it.”

“What’s that?”

“That she had done what she could and because of that she would be remembered wherever the gospel is preached.”

“Remembered for doing what you could for Jesus,” I commented. “I can see that might be a great thing.”

“Might be?” Stan replied. “I think it’s more than that, my friend. It seems to me it’s actually a great way to be remembered!”

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Bible verses to consider:

She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, that also what this woman has done shall be spoken of in memory of her. Mark 14:8-9.

Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of in memory of her. Matthew 26:13.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and what He did in giving me life with you through His finished work on the cross, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence because of what He did for me, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t do what I can for you and your kingdom. Please forgive that foolish approach to living the new life you’ve given. Help me follow every step of your lead in doing all that I can for you and your kingdom. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Think on this: Do you have life with God through what what Jesus did for you on the cross, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, are you doing for God what you can while you remain on this side of eternity? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need so you actually do for Him what you can? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

It was another morning with Stan as we enjoyed breakfast together at the Twelve Baskets Cafe. He told me about a neighbor who went to a physical therapist and ended up getting a great lesson about prayer. I wanted to know what he meant, so I said, “A prayer lesson at a physical therapist? What was that all about?”

“My neighbor,” Stan replied, “said that at one point a couple of years ago he’d been having some back and hip pain, apparently caused by some arthritis in his back. His doctor sent him to a physical therapist to see if that might help.”

“Did it?” I asked.

“Not so much with the physical pain,” Stan said, “but, as he told me, it really helped with prayers that can be painful.”

“What kind of pain?”

Rather than answer my question directly, Stan said, “When the physical therapist was showing  my neighbor some stretching exercises to do, he told him to try them but to stop if they hurt.”

“That make sense,” I responded. “No sense causing more pain.”

“Yeah,” Stan agreed, “but that’s when the physical therapist said something like, ‘Unlike Jesus and His prayer’.”

“Unlike Jesus and His prayer? What’d he mean?”

“When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying about all He was about to experience in going to the cross to redeem the lost world,” Stan replied, “it says He was in agony with His prayers. He was in agony, but He didn’t stop. He went deeper.”

“And,” he continued with a smile, “that’s the lesson: when prayer causes pain, don’t stop; go deeper!”

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Bible verses to consider:

And being in agony He was praying very fervently; . .. . Luke 22:44.

In the days of His flesh He offered up both prayers and supplication with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Hebrews 5:7.

Lord, teach us how to pray . . . . Luke 11:1.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you, too, that because of Him, I can come to you in prayer. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t come before you in prayer and I don’t persist in my prayer the way you intend. When I find praying to be painful, my tendency is to stop rather than go deeper to see what you know I need. Please forgive that foolish way to pray. Help me follow every step of your lead into the deepest possible prayer relationship with you, one that only goes deeper and deeper. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Can you approach God the Father in prayer through Jesus because you have the life Jesus came to give, the life that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with your prayers when they become painful? Do you tend to quit or do you go deeper? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to have the kind of prayer life modeled by Jesus when, even though it hurt, He went deeper? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

As Stan and I were enjoying our time together over breakfast one morning, he mentioned he had been talking to a neighbor about how the world, especially the investing world, is always looking for the next big thing and how Jesus is the perfect example of what we’re supposed to do when God does a big thing in our lives. “What,” I asked, “do you mean by that?”

“When Jesus fed the five thousand with a few fish and a little bit of bread,” Stan said, “that was a big thing, don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” I agreed, “that was a really big thing.”

“Do you remember,” Stan asked, “what Jesus did after that big thing?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “What’d He do?”

“He went to the mountain to spend time with the One who had done that big thing,” Stan replied. “He didn’t sit around with the disciples and talk about how great that was or anything like that. No, He went to spend time with His Father.”

“It seems to me,” he continued, “that’s what I’m supposed to do when God does things — big things, little things, and in-between things in my life. I’m to go and spend time with Him!”

“And do what?”

“Talk,” Stan replied. “Talk with Him about what it means, what He knows I need to do with and about what’s He’s done, all kinds of stuff like that. Maybe even ask Him, ‘What’s the next big thing?!’”

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Bible versess to consider:

And after He had sent the multitudes away, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. Mathew 14:23.

And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, He departed to the mountain to pray. Mark 6:45-46. 

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you, too, for all the things you do, not only for me, but in and though me for you and your kingdom. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too ofter while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t spend time with you about the things you do in my life. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live the new life you’ve provided without spending time with you about what you have done, what you do, and what you want to do. Help me follow every step of your lead in doing so. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Have you accepted the big thing God provided through Jesus and His finished work on the cross, namely life with Him that begins here and will continue forever? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with spending time with God talking about what He has done, is doing, and wants to do in and through your life while you remain on this side of eternity waiting for the train? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to spend time with Him about what He has done, is doing, and wants to do in and through you? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

Stan and I were having breakfast together one morning when he mentioned that in his journaling earlier that day he had focused on a single question Jesus asked that is the core of everything dealing with Christianity.

“A single question at the core of everything about Christianity,” I repeated. “That’s a very big statement. You sure about that?”

“I am,’ Stan asserted.

“Okay,” I replied. “What question did Jesus ask?”

“Do you believe this?”

“Believe what?”

“What He had just said about Himself to a woman named Martha.”

“What’d He say to her?”

“That He is the resurrection and the life, that whoever believes in Him shall live even if they die, and everyone who lives and believes in Him shall never die. And then He asked Martha a most crucial question that’s the crucial question each person has to answer today.”

“What question?”

“Do you believe what He said?”

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Bible verses to consider:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through Him. John 3:16-17.

. . . if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romas 10:9-10.

I came that they may have life, and might have it abundantly. John 10:10.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence because I believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t tell others about who Jesus is and what He accomplished by His finished work on the cross so they can believe and have the life He came to give. Please forgive that foolishness. Help me follow every step of your lead in telling others about Jesus and what He accomplished for them. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in His precious name. Amen.

Think on this: Do you have life eternally with God because you believe in Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever because of your unbelief? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with telling others about Jesus and what He accomplished for them? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need so you personally not only have life with Him, but that you go and tell others about Jesus and what He did for them? Spend time studying God’s Word, praying, reflecting, and journaling about what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

We were again at the Twelve Baskets Cafe enjoying breakfast together when Stan mentioned something he often talks about concerning how talking with other Christians about their faith walk can not only be interesting, but impactful. He told me he had been talking with a neighbor about how he went from being a short-term to a long-term missionary. I asked him to explain.

“This particular neighbor,” Stan said, “lives a few doors down. The other day I asked him about his faith and what he said is that he really became serious about his Christianity and the great commission after he went on a short-term mission trip.”

“A short-term mission trip,” I responded. “Where’d he go?”

“I don’t know for certain,” Stan replied. “Some place on the other side of the world, but where he went isn’t really important for where he goes now.”

“Where’s that?”

“Wherever he happens to be,” Stan replied with a smile. “He went to the other side of the world for a short time to present the gospel to some lost people he may never see again on this side of eternity, but now every day he goes into the world right around him to reach those who are just as lost.”

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Bible verses to consider:

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Mathew 28:19-20.

. . . for whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall the believe in Him whom they have not heard? Romans 10:13-14.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus and His finished work on the cross as the way to life with you, the life that begins here and will continue forever. Thank you for those people who came into my world to tell me the truth of your provision so I could accept it. Even though I know I will spend eternity in your presence, I confess that too often while I remain on this side of eternity I don’t go anywhere to tell anyone anything about your provision for them. Please forgive that foolish disobedience. Help me follow every step of your lead in going and telling whoever that may be. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Think on this: Do you have life with God because you’ve accepted His eternal provision that starts here? If no, why do you choose to remain separated from God both now and forever? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with going and telling others about God’s provision for them? If you sense the desire for change with any of this, how is that change going to happen? Is that what you truly want? Why or why not?

The need: Since God knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8), what does He know you need to not only have life eternally with Him, but to go and tell others about His provision for them? Spend time studying God’s word, praying, reflecting, and journaling to see what God knows you need. He will show you!

Forward: Do you know others who would or could benefit from this devotional? If so, why not forward it and open them to be part of the conversation between Stan and S. Tory Teller?

For those who may have missed it (or want to focus on it again), each Sunday we re-post the prior week’s WFTT devotional that got the most attention. The one for this week is where Stan talks about how John the Baptist described Jesus as the “Lamb of God” and Jesus described Himself as the “Good Shepherd” and what those two roles mean for us for eternity and for this side of eternity. Link — May 26, 2026 — The Lamb who’s also the Shepherd