Become New with John Ortberg

What if the two most freeing words you could say are:

"I can't."

In this reflection on Psalm 143, John Ortberg explores why admitting our limitations isn't failure—it's the beginning of faith.

Through a humorous story about assembling a chair, the story of Elijah's exhaustion, and a fresh look at Philippians 4:13, John reminds us that we were never meant to carry life on our own.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 143 and praying from weakness
- Why self-sufficiency is a spiritual trap
- Elijah's burnout and God's compassion
- "The journey is too much for you"
- A better understanding of Philippians 4:13
- Why "I can't" opens the door to God's strength

Scriptures:
- Psalm 143
- 1 Kings 19
- Psalm 127:1
- Philippians 4:13

#Psalm143 #JohnOrtberg #Prayer #Faith #DependenceOnGod #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #SpiritualFormation #Philippians413 #Hope

📚 Today's Resources:
Gerald F. Hawthorne, World Biblical Commentary: Philippians 

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Two Words That Can Change Your Life
 00:23 Psalm 143 Begins
 00:59 My Spirit Grows Faint
 01:52 Teach Me the Way I Should Go
 02:14 The Barrel Nut Story
 03:11 Two Life-Changing Words: "I Can't"
 03:59 What You Cannot Control
 05:06 Why We Need God
 05:31 Elijah's Exhaustion
 06:03 "The Journey Is Too Much for You"
 06:58 Unless the Lord Builds the House
 07:19 Rethinking Philippians 4:13
 08:04 "I Can Face All Things"
 08:38 I Can't. He Can.
 09:00 The Honest Prayer of Psalm 143

Is denial always a bad thing?

In this reflection on Psalm 39, John Ortberg explores one of the Bible's strangest prayers:
"Look away from me."

Why would anyone pray that?

Drawing on insights from Dallas Willard, Søren Kierkegaard, and Greg Ten Elshof, John explains the surprising difference between healthy denial and unhealthy denial, and why God often reveals truth gradually rather than all at once.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 39 and radical honesty
- Why Job, Peter, and Jonah wanted distance from God
- Healthy vs. unhealthy denial
- Self-deception and procrastination
- Why Jesus said, "You cannot bear it now"
- The grace of gradual transformation

Scriptures:
- Psalm 39
- Job 7
- Luke 5
- Jonah 1
- John 16

#psalm39  #JohnOrtberg #DallasWillard #SelfDeception #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Truth #Healing

📚 Today's Resources:
Gregg A. Ten Elshof, I Told Me So: Self-Deception and the Christian Life 
Søren Kierkegaard, The Sickness Unto Death 
Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart 

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

 00:00 One of the Strangest Prayers in the Bible
 00:33 Why We Need Denial
 00:59 Psalm 39 Begins
 01:22 Silence Isn't the Goal
 02:12 "Look Away From Me"
 02:51 Job's Similar Prayer
 03:40 Peter & Jonah Run From God
 04:29 How Self-Deception Works
 05:08 "I'll Deal With It Later"
 05:35 Kierkegaard on Denial
 06:13 "You Cannot Bear It Now"
 06:58 Dallas Willard on Healthy Denial
 08:05 "You Can't Handle the Truth"
 08:50 Healthy vs. Unhealthy Denial
 10:30 Are You Ready to See?
 11:16 God Reveals Truth With Love
 11:57 Denial Is an Emergency Brake

Is the opposite of fear really courage?

In this reflection on Psalm 27, John Ortberg offers a surprising answer:

No. The opposite of fear is God’s presence.

Drawing on the wisdom of Dallas Willard, John explains why Jesus could repeatedly tell His followers, "Do not be afraid," and what that invitation actually means.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 27 and trusting God
- Why courage isn't the ultimate antidote to fear
- The difference between emotional states and character traits
- The powerful "Then what?" exercise
- A practical prayer for anxious moments
- Learning to be hidden in God's presence

Scriptures:
- Psalm 27
- Exodus
- Esther
- Matthew 1
- 1 Samuel 17

#Psalm27 #JohnOrtberg #Fear #TrustGod #Prayer #DallasWillard #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Anxiety

📚 Today's Resources:
The Big Book of AA, Step 4

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Fear Isn't the Real Problem
 00:47 The Opposite of Fear Isn't Courage
 01:15 Was Jesus Nuts?
 01:43 Psalm 27 Begins
 02:18 The Lord Is My Light and Salvation
 02:44 Hidden in God
 03:08 God Is the Antidote to Fear
 03:33 State vs. Trait
 04:43 Becoming a Courageous Person
 05:33 Fear Not Doesn't Mean Feel Nothing
 06:14 Moses, Esther & Joseph
 06:41 What Are You Afraid Of?
 07:18 The 12-Step Prayer About Fear
 08:01 The Great White Shark Story
 08:48 "Then What?"
 10:25 Bringing Fear to God
 11:17 Take Action, Then Trust God
 11:40 The Lord Is My Light and Salvation

What actually makes someone a good person?

In this reflection on Psalm 51, John Ortberg explores one of the most important differences between religion and the teaching of Jesus.

David doesn't simply pray,
"Forgive my sins."

He prays,
"Create in me a clean heart."

Drawing on insights from Dallas Willard and the remarkable story of Joni Eareckson Tada, John explains why God is after something far deeper than behavior modification. He wants transformation from the inside out.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 51 and David's prayer
- The difference between behavior and the heart
- Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount
- Why outward obedience isn't enough
- Joni Eareckson Tada's powerful insight about sin
- Becoming the kind of person who naturally desires what is good

Scriptures:
- Psalm 51
- Matthew 5
- Matthew 23
- 2 Samuel 11–12

#Psalm51 #JohnOrtberg #JoniEarecksonTada #DallasWillard #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #HeartTransformation #SermonOnTheMount

📚 Today's Resources:
Dallas Willard
Joni Eareckson Tada

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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 What Does God Really Want?
 00:44 The Most Misunderstood Part of the Spiritual Life
 01:32 Psalm 51 & David's Prayer
 02:15 Create in Me a Clean Heart
 03:04 What Makes Someone a Good Person?
 03:41 Jesus vs. Behavior Modification
 04:43 Lust, the Heart & the Sermon on the Mount
 05:18 Why Jesus Talks About Gouging Out Your Eye
 06:08 Reductio ad Absurdum Explained
 06:57 Meet Joni Eareckson Tada
 07:50 "Sin Was an Attitude as Much as an Act"
 09:20 The Prayer We All Need
 09:48 Stop White-Knuckling Your Faith
 10:34 God Wants to Change Your Desires
 11:01 Love, Joy & Peace Begin in the Heart

What do you do when prayer feels impossible?

In this conversation, John Ortberg is joined by pastor and author Glenn Packiam to reflect on Psalm 73 and the reality of spiritual slumps.

Glenn shares why he always returns to the Psalms when he struggles to pray, and together they explore envy, self-pity, hope, and God's unwavering presence.

This episode explores:
- Psalm 73 and spiritual honesty
- The danger of a wounded heart and bitter spirit
- "The Bible is reading you"
- Why "Yet I am always with You" changes everything
- Christian hope beyond present circumstances
- Ty Cobb's surprising lesson for prayer
- Why the best thing you can do is simply keep showing up

Scriptures:
- Psalm 73

#Psalm73 #JohnOrtberg #GlennPackiam #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Psalms #Hope #FaithInHardTimes

🙌 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
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GET OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribe
GET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504
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Music Credits:
Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKE
Alta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF

00:00 Meet Glenn Packiam
00:48 Returning to the Psalms
02:20 Psalm 73 & A Slipping Faith
03:23 Envying the Prosperity of the Wicked
04:05 When the Bible Reads You
04:56 A Wounded Heart & Bitter Spirit
05:52 Losing Perspective
06:13 "Yet I Am Always With You"
07:00 God Holds You by the Hand
07:29 My Flesh and My Heart May Fail
08:18 When You Can't Fix Yourself
09:46 A Future Filled With Hope
10:31 Ty Cobb's Bunting Lesson
11:14 What to Do in a Spiritual Slump
11:53 Keep Showing Up