Trading with Jesus

Today we’re stepping back and resetting our perspective. We’re anchored in Gospel of John 8:58, where Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” That statement is powerful because Jesus isn’t just saying He existed before Abraham, He’s saying something much deeper. He doesn’t say “I was”… He says “I AM.” That’s the same name God gave in Exodus, which means Jesus is not just part of history, He’s outside of it, eternal, unchanging, fully God.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Revelation 1:17–18, where Jesus says, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” — Revelation 1:17–18.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Isaiah 41:4, where the scripture says, “Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.” — Isaiah 41:4. That verse is God reminding us that He’s not just part of the story… He’s over all of it.

Today we’re anchored in Hebrews 1:8–12, where the scripture says something powerful about Jesus: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…” — Hebrews 1:8. That right there is God the Father speaking about the Son and calling Him God. That means Jesus is not just a teacher or a guide, He is God, and He is King with an authority that never ends.

Today we’re anchored in the Book of Daniel 7:13–14, where the scripture says, “with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man… And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom… his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away.” — Daniel 7:13–14. That right there is a direct prophetic picture of Jesus. Before the New Testament ever reveals Him fully, this is pointing to Christ as King.

Today we’re anchored in the Gospel of John 10:27–30, where Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27. That right there is relationship. Not just believing in Jesus, but being close enough to recognize His voice. And that’s important because there are a lot of voices out there. Fear, doubt, social media, other traders, your own emotions. And if you’re not grounded, you’ll start following whatever is loudest instead of what is right.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Proverbs 30:3–4, where the scripture says, “I have not learned wisdom… Who has ascended to heaven and come down? …What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!” — Proverbs 30:3–4. That’s powerful because it starts with humility. It’s basically saying, “I don’t have it all figured out.” And that right there is the beginning of real wisdom.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 22:14–18, where David writes, “I am poured out like water… my strength is dried up…” — Psalm 22:14–15. That’s deep exhaustion. That’s not just being tired, that’s being empty. Mentally, emotionally, physically. And trading can take you there fast. Not just losses, but the pressure, the constant decision-making, the weight of trying to stay disciplined when everything in you wants to react.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 23:3, where David writes, “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” — Psalm 23:3. That verse hits deep because it shows two things we all need: restoration and direction.

Today we’re anchored in Acts 4:31, which says, “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” — Acts 4:31. What stands out is that they didn’t wait until everything felt good to pray, they prayed in the middle of pressure. They were threatened, tested, and uncertain, but instead of reacting emotionally, they went to God first. And that’s the reset for today, because a lot of us are used to reacting first and praying later, but this verse shows us the right order.

Today we’re anchored in Acts 1:8, where Jesus says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…” — Acts 1:8. That verse shifts everything from your ability to God’s power. A lot of people are trying to stay disciplined, control emotions, and be consistent in their own strength, but that only lasts for so long. Your strength runs out, your emotions get tested, and pressure exposes your limits. But Jesus makes it clear, real power doesn’t come from you, it comes from the Holy Spirit. That means you’re not meant to live drained, reactive, or constantly overwhelmed. You’ve been given access to something greater that steadies you and keeps you grounded when things get intense.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Proverbs 29:25, and this verse cuts straight to the heart of fear, pressure, and people-pleasing.“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”— Proverbs 29:25That word “snare” means trap. And honestly, a lot of people are trapped without even realizing it. Trapped by opinions. Trapped by validation. Trapped by comparison. Trapped by the pressure to prove something to other people.And trading exposes that quickly.

Today we’re anchored in Galatians 5:16, and Paul the Apostle says:“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”— Galatians 5:16 That verse is powerful because Paul is revealing that there’s a constant battle happening internally. The Spirit pulls you toward discipline, peace, patience, wisdom, and alignment with God. The flesh pulls you toward impulse, emotion, pride, fear, greed, and temporary satisfaction.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 15, and this chapter is all about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the victory He secured over death, and the eternal hope believers now have because of Him. Paul the Apostle makes it clear that the resurrection is not a side issue, it is the foundation of everything. He says, “…Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures… he was buried… he was raised on the third day…” — 1 Corinthians 15:3–4. The resurrection is proof that Jesus conquered sin, death, and the grave. And because He lives, we live with hope that goes beyond temporary outcomes.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 14, and this chapter is all about maturity, clarity, self-control, and making sure what you’re doing actually builds people up instead of creating confusion. Paul the Apostle keeps bringing everything back to one central idea: spiritual maturity is not chaos, emotionalism, or drawing attention to yourself. Real maturity produces peace, order, clarity, and alignment.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 13, and this chapter is one of the most important chapters in all of scripture because it reveals what real spiritual maturity actually looks like. Paul the Apostle makes it clear that knowledge, gifting, sacrifice, talent, and ability mean absolutely nothing if love is missing.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 12, and this chapter is all about purpose, gifting, unity, and understanding that God intentionally made people different. Paul the Apostle explains that there are different gifts, different functions, different assignments, but the same God working through all of them.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 11, and this chapter is all about humility, honor, self-examination, and approaching God with sincerity instead of pride or selfishness. Paul the Apostle starts by saying, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 11:1. That’s a reminder that our lives should reflect something worth following. Not perfection, but alignment. Not performance, but genuine pursuit of Christ.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 10, and this chapter is a warning against complacency, overconfidence, temptation, and divided focus. Paul the Apostle points back to Israel and reminds believers that even though they experienced God’s blessings, miracles, and provision, many of them still fell because they became spiritually careless.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 9, and this chapter is all about discipline, sacrifice, intentionality, and learning how to move with purpose instead of impulse. Paul the Apostle explains that even though he had certain rights and freedoms, he willingly gave some of them up so nothing would interfere with the bigger mission God gave him. And honestly, that mindset is rare today. Most people ask, “What can I do?” but Paul asks, “What actually helps me stay aligned?” That’s maturity. Paul says, “But I have made no use of any of these rights…” — 1 Corinthians 9:15. Even though he had freedom, he practiced restraint. And that hits directly in trading because discipline is not just about avoiding bad trades, it’s about being willing to walk away from things that could pull you out of alignment, even if you technically can do them. Not every setup needs to be traded. Not every opportunity needs a reaction. Not every impulse deserves execution.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 8, and this chapter is all about knowledge, humility, love, and learning that being right is not the same as being wise. Paul the Apostle starts by saying something powerful: “This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up.” — 1 Corinthians 8:1. In other words, knowledge alone can make you prideful if you’re not careful. You can know a lot, understand a lot, even be technically correct, and still move the wrong way.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 7, and this chapter is all about faithfulness, self-control, contentment, and learning how to stay aligned with God in whatever season you’re in. Paul the Apostle keeps bringing the focus back to one thing: stop living restless. And if we’re being honest, restlessness is one of the biggest struggles traders deal with. Always chasing the next setup, the next strategy, the next payout, the next breakthrough, thinking peace will finally come once something changes externally. But Paul says, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” — 1 Corinthians 7:17. Then again, “Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.” — 1 Corinthians 7:20. Paul is teaching contentment and faithfulness, not laziness or complacency, but learning how to stay grounded instead of constantly feeling like you need something else to finally have peace.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 6, and this chapter is all about maturity, discipline, and knowing your value. Paul the Apostle challenges believers to stop operating emotionally and impulsively and start moving with control and awareness.

Today we’re in First Corinthians 5, and this chapter is all about accountability, discipline, and not becoming comfortable with things that slowly pull you out of alignment. Paul the Apostle confronts the church because they were tolerating something destructive instead of dealing with it.

Today we’re in First Epistle Corinthians 4, and this chapter is all about stewardship, humility, and staying focused on what actually matters. Paul the Apostle reminds us that we’re not owners, we’re stewards. That means everything you have, your skill, your opportunities, your growth, it’s been entrusted to you, not created by you. And if that’s the case, then the goal isn’t to look impressive, it’s to be faithful.

Today we’re in First Epistle Corinthians 3, and this chapter is all about growth, maturity, and what you’re actually building. Paul the Apostle calls people out for being believers but still moving immature. He says they’re still acting like beginners, caught up in jealousy, comparison, and division. And if we’re being real, that shows up in trading too. Comparing yourself to other traders, chasing what someone else is doing, getting frustrated when things don’t go your way, that’s not strategy, that’s immaturity.

Today we’re anchored in First Epistle to the Corinthians 2, and this chapter is all about where your understanding really comes from. Paul the Apostle makes it clear, this walk is not about relying on your own intelligence, your own analysis, or how sharp you think you are. It’s about learning to move with the Spirit.

Today we’re anchored in First Epistle to the Corinthians 1, and this chapter is all about identity, focus, and where your confidence really comes from. Paul the Apostle is writing to people who were gifted, capable, and had everything they needed, but they were distracted, divided, and focused on the wrong things.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 34, and this chapter is all about consistent praise, real trust, and what happens when you actually seek God in the middle of everything. King David opens by saying, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” Not just on green days, not just when things go your way, but at all times. And that’s a mindset shift, because it means your attitude isn’t tied to your results.

Today we’re in Book of Psalms 33, and this chapter is all about perspective, specifically where your trust is placed. It starts with praise, recognizing who God is, but then it shifts into something deeper. It reminds us that God’s word is true, His plans stand forever, and nothing that happens in this world overrides His authority. He speaks and things move. He sees everything. He understands both actions and intentions. That means nothing you’re dealing with this week is outside of His awareness or control.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 32, and this chapter is all about confession, honesty, and the freedom that comes when you stop hiding. King David starts by saying how blessed it is to be forgiven, to have your mistakes covered, to be free from that weight. But then he gets real about what happens when you don’t deal with it.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 31, and this chapter hits because it’s real. King David doesn’t hold anything back. He talks about feeling overwhelmed, drained, even broken. He says his strength is failing and that pressure is coming from all sides. And if we’re being honest, trading can feel like that too. You can start the week confident, then one or two trades don’t go your way and suddenly you’re second guessing, feeling off, or trying to force things to get back on track.

Today we’re in Book of Psalms 30, and this chapter is all about going from a low place to restoration. King David starts by saying, “You have drawn me up.” That’s like being pulled out of a pit. And that’s important because it reminds you that not every comeback is self-made. There are seasons where God is the one lifting you, restoring you, bringing you back when you felt off.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 29, and this chapter is all about the power and authority of God’s voice. King David paints this picture of a massive storm, thunder, lightning, trees snapping, the ground shaking, just to show how powerful God really is. And the point is simple, when God speaks, everything responds.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 28, a powerful chapter from King David that shows how to move from pressure to praise. David starts off real, “To You, O Lord, I call… don’t be silent to me.” That’s urgency. That’s going to God first, not last. And that’s important because in trading, when pressure hits, most people go inward. They start overthinking, forcing trades, trying to fix everything themselves. But David shows you the right move, bring it to God immediately.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 27, and this chapter hits because it shows you how to walk with confidence without losing dependence on God. King David starts off bold, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” That’s clarity and security. Light means direction, salvation means deliverance, and stronghold means protection. David is saying God is guiding me, covering me, and holding me down, so fear doesn’t get to control how I move.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 26, a prayer from King David where he’s asking God to examine his life, not just bless it. And that’s the part that hits. David says, “Test me… try my heart and my mind.” He’s inviting God to check him, to refine him, to expose anything that’s off. That’s a different mindset, because most people want results without examination. We want the wins, the progress, the growth, but we don’t always want to look at what needs to change internally.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 25, and this whole chapter is a prayer from King David about trust, guidance, and humility. And if there’s one theme that stands out, it’s this… David is not asking for quick results, he’s asking for direction.

Today we’re pulling from Book of Psalms 23 and 24, and this combination is powerful because it gives you two perspectives you need to carry into this week. Psalm 23 shows you that God is your Shepherd, and Psalm 24 reminds you that He is your King. That means He’s both personal with you and sovereign over everything around you.

Today we’re anchored in Second Epistle to Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” And this right here is a mindset shift if you really take it in. Because if we’re being honest, fear shows up heavy in trading. Fear of losing money, fear of being wrong, fear after a loss, fear of missing out on a move, and if you don’t recognize it, that fear will quietly control your decisions. You’ll hesitate on good setups, jump into bad ones, cut your winners too early, and hold onto losers too long. But this verse makes it clear, that kind of fear is not from God, so you don’t have to operate from it.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” And this verse carries a sense of urgency that we don’t always like to think about.

Today we’re anchored in First Epistle of Peter 5:8, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” And this hits especially hard on a Friday.

Today we’re anchored in Second Epistle to the Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” This verse is powerful because it shows what I like to call the great exchange.

Today we’re anchored in Gospel of Mark 13:33, “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.” This is all about awareness and readiness.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” This verse is real because it calls all of us out. Nobody is exempt.

Today we’re anchored in Gospel of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” This verse is the foundation. If you really understand this, it changes how you move in everything, including trading.

Today we’re anchored in Gospel of Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” And this is all about how you live, not just what you say.

Today we’re anchored in First Epistle to the Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” And this is one of those verses that can really shift how you move if you truly understand it.

Today we’re anchored in Book of Psalms 145:18, “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” And this verse is simple, but it hits deep. It reminds us that God isn’t distant. He’s not hard to reach. He’s near.

Today we’re anchored in Acts of the Apostles 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” This is a bold statement. Clear, direct, no confusion. Salvation is found in Jesus alone.