THE RIGHTEOUS RISE AGAIN 7.13.25
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
Falling is never the plan—but it is part of the journey. Proverbs 24:16 doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of life: even the righteous fall. Not once, but seven times. The verse doesn’t describe perfection—it describes persistence. Righteousness isn’t defined by a life without stumbles, but by a heart that gets back up with God’s help.
Think of Moses, David, Jonah, Peter, and Paul—each stumbled, some in dramatic ways. Yet none of them were disqualified from God’s plan. Why? Because God's grace meets us after the fall and gives us the strength to stand again.
Sometimes, our biggest mistake is not falling—it’s staying down. When we settle in the valley, shame, fear, and regret try to keep us there. But valleys are meant to be walked through, not lived in. Jesus took our shame on the cross so that failure would never have the final word. Because of Him, we rise.
So if you’ve fallen—again—remember: you’re in good company. And better yet, you have a faithful God who’s not done writing your story. Stand up. Shake off the dust. Rise again.
REFLECT |
Think of Moses, David, Jonah, Peter, and Paul—each stumbled, some in dramatic ways. Yet none of them were disqualified from God’s plan. Why? Because God's grace meets us after the fall and gives us the strength to stand again.
Sometimes, our biggest mistake is not falling—it’s staying down. When we settle in the valley, shame, fear, and regret try to keep us there. But valleys are meant to be walked through, not lived in. Jesus took our shame on the cross so that failure would never have the final word. Because of Him, we rise.
So if you’ve fallen—again—remember: you’re in good company. And better yet, you have a faithful God who’s not done writing your story. Stand up. Shake off the dust. Rise again.
REFLECT |
- What "fall" in your life are you still holding onto as failure instead of seeing it as part of your testimony?
- What step can you take this week to stop “camping” in the valley and start walking forward with God?
BIBLE VERSES
Key Verses are denoted with an *
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DAY 1 | FALLING DOESN'T DEFINE YOU
We all fall. It's not a matter of if, but when. The beauty of Proverbs 24:16 is that it doesn't say "if" the righteous fall, but "though" they fall. God's Word acknowledges our humanity and our propensity to stumble. But here's the good news: falling doesn't define you. Think about the heroes of faith in Scripture. Moses had a temper. David committed adultery and murder. Jonah ran from God. Peter denied Jesus. Paul persecuted Christians. Yet God used each of them powerfully. Their falls didn't disqualify them from God's purpose. When we stumble, we often feel like frauds. We question our faith and wonder if we're beyond redemption. But God sees differently. He doesn't measure your worth by your worst moments but by the blood of His Son that covers them all. Today, if you're feeling the weight of a fall, remember that stumbling doesn't make you a failure—it makes you human. What matters most isn't that you fell, but that with God's help, you choose to rise again.
BIBLE VERSE |
"For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. But the wicked stumble when calamity strikes." - Proverbs 24:16
REFLECTION QUESTION |
What area of your life are you struggling to rise from after a fall, and how might viewing this through the lens of God's grace change your perspective?
QUOTE |
Falling doesn't make you fake, and falling doesn't make you a failure. Falling means that you are very much not Jesus.
PRAYER |
Father, thank You that my falls don't define me. When I stumble, help me remember that Your grace is greater than my failures. Give me the courage to rise again, not through my own strength, but through Your unfailing love. Amen.
BIBLE VERSE |
"For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. But the wicked stumble when calamity strikes." - Proverbs 24:16
REFLECTION QUESTION |
What area of your life are you struggling to rise from after a fall, and how might viewing this through the lens of God's grace change your perspective?
QUOTE |
Falling doesn't make you fake, and falling doesn't make you a failure. Falling means that you are very much not Jesus.
PRAYER |
Father, thank You that my falls don't define me. When I stumble, help me remember that Your grace is greater than my failures. Give me the courage to rise again, not through my own strength, but through Your unfailing love. Amen.
DAY 2 | THE POWER OF GETTING BACK UP
There's something profoundly inspiring about someone who refuses to stay down. We see this resilience throughout Scripture in the lives of those who stumbled but didn't stay fallen. David, after his moral failure with Bathsheba, poured out his heart in Psalm 51. Instead of hiding in shame, he confessed, repented, and rose again to continue as a man after God's own heart. Jonah ran from God's call, ended up in the belly of a fish, yet God's Word came to him a second time, giving him another chance to fulfill his purpose. The pattern is clear: God specializes in restoration. He doesn't just forgive; He reinstates. He doesn't just pardon; He repurposes. Your falls and failures aren't the end of your story—they're often the beginning of a powerful testimony of God's grace. The world tells us that certain mistakes are too big to overcome. But God's economy of grace operates differently. No matter how many times you've fallen or how far you've strayed, you remain a candidate for His transformative grace. Today is your day to get back up.
BIBLE VERSE |
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." - Psalm 51:10-12
REFLECTION QUESTION |
What past failure or mistake have you been allowing to define your future? How might embracing God's offer of restoration change the trajectory of your life?
QUOTE |
If you feel like you have fallen, if you've made some mistakes, I've got great news for you today. You are a candidate for grace.
PRAYER |
Lord, thank You that You are the God of second chances. I confess the times I've allowed my falls to keep me down. Today, I choose to rise again through Your strength. Restore my joy and purpose as I walk forward with You. Amen.
BIBLE VERSE |
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." - Psalm 51:10-12
REFLECTION QUESTION |
What past failure or mistake have you been allowing to define your future? How might embracing God's offer of restoration change the trajectory of your life?
QUOTE |
If you feel like you have fallen, if you've made some mistakes, I've got great news for you today. You are a candidate for grace.
PRAYER |
Lord, thank You that You are the God of second chances. I confess the times I've allowed my falls to keep me down. Today, I choose to rise again through Your strength. Restore my joy and purpose as I walk forward with You. Amen.
DAY 3 | JESUS FELL SO WE COULD RISE
At the heart of Christianity lies a profound paradox: the sinless One took on our sin. Jesus never stumbled morally, yet He willingly fell under the weight of our transgressions. This sacrificial act forms the foundation of our ability to rise again after falling. Isaiah prophetically described this exchange: "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Jesus wore our shame. He carried our guilt. He endured our failures. When we fall, we often feel disqualified from God's love and purpose. But the cross stands as an eternal reminder that our falls were anticipated and addressed before we ever experienced them. Jesus didn't just fall—He was crushed so that we could be lifted up. This means our rising isn't based on our own merit or effort. We don't get back up through determination alone or by minimizing our failures. We rise through the resurrection power of Christ, who conquered not only His grave but ours too. Because He lives, we can face tomorrow, regardless of how badly we fell today.
BIBLE VERSE |
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21
REFLECTION QUESTION |
How does understanding that Jesus bore your failures change the way you view your own falls and the possibility of rising again?
QUOTE |
Jesus, he didn't fall into sin. You know what he did? He fell under the weight of ours. He wore our shame. He wore our guilt. He took on our failures. He wore a crown that we so deserved.
PRAYER |
Jesus, I stand in awe of Your sacrifice. You fell under the weight of my sin so I could rise in Your righteousness. When I'm tempted to stay down in shame, remind me of the price You paid for my restoration. Help me to live in the freedom You purchased. Amen.
BIBLE VERSE |
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21
REFLECTION QUESTION |
How does understanding that Jesus bore your failures change the way you view your own falls and the possibility of rising again?
QUOTE |
Jesus, he didn't fall into sin. You know what he did? He fell under the weight of ours. He wore our shame. He wore our guilt. He took on our failures. He wore a crown that we so deserved.
PRAYER |
Jesus, I stand in awe of Your sacrifice. You fell under the weight of my sin so I could rise in Your righteousness. When I'm tempted to stay down in shame, remind me of the price You paid for my restoration. Help me to live in the freedom You purchased. Amen.
DAY 4 | VALLEYS ARE FOR WALKING THROUGH
Life's valleys can feel endless when we're in them. The darkness seems permanent, the pain relentless. But God's Word offers a crucial perspective shift: valleys aren't destinations—they're passageways. David understood this when he wrote, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death." Notice the preposition: through, not to. The valley was never meant to be where you settle or surrender. It's a place you pass through on your journey with God. When we fall or find ourselves in low places, our natural response is often to isolate and adapt to life in the valley. We set up camp in our failure, believing the lie that this is our new permanent address. But God intends something different. The same God who walks with you in the valley leads you through it. He doesn't abandon you in your lowest moments but uses them as pathways to greater strength and deeper faith. Your current valley—whether caused by your own mistakes or circumstances beyond your control—is not your final destination. It's merely part of your story, not the conclusion of it.
BIBLE VERSE |
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4
REFLECTION QUESTION |
What valley are you currently walking through, and what would change if you began to see it as a temporary passage rather than a permanent place?
QUOTE |
The valley was never supposed to be your destination. You hear me? The valley was never supposed to be your destination. This was a walkthrough moment for you.
PRAYER |
Father, thank You that my valleys are pathways, not destinations. When I'm tempted to set up camp in my lowest moments, remind me that You're leading me through, not abandoning me to them. Give me the courage to keep walking with You toward the green pastures ahead. Amen.
BIBLE VERSE |
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4
REFLECTION QUESTION |
What valley are you currently walking through, and what would change if you began to see it as a temporary passage rather than a permanent place?
QUOTE |
The valley was never supposed to be your destination. You hear me? The valley was never supposed to be your destination. This was a walkthrough moment for you.
PRAYER |
Father, thank You that my valleys are pathways, not destinations. When I'm tempted to set up camp in my lowest moments, remind me that You're leading me through, not abandoning me to them. Give me the courage to keep walking with You toward the green pastures ahead. Amen.
DAY 5 | YOUR STORY ISN'T FINISHED
One of the enemy's most effective tactics is convincing us that our falls are final—that we've strayed too far, failed too often, or fallen too hard for God to continue using us. But Scripture tells a different story. The Psalmist declares, "The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down." This promise isn't selective. It doesn't exclude those with certain types of failures or a specific number of stumbles. God lifts up all who fall. Your story isn't finished because God isn't finished with you. The same grace that saved you continues to sustain you. The same love that called you keeps pursuing you. The same power that raised Christ from the dead works in you to raise you from your falls. Jesus didn't stay in the grave, and neither should you stay down in your failures. His resurrection wasn't just a historical event—it's the pattern for our lives. Because He rose, we can rise again and again, no matter how many times we fall. Today, God is still writing your story. The pen remains in His hand. Your falls are not the conclusion but merely challenging chapters in a narrative of redemption that He is determined to complete.
BIBLE VERSE |
"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand." - Psalm 37:23-24
REFLECTION QUESTION |
What new chapter might God be wanting to write in your story if you would allow Him to lift you up from where you've fallen?
QUOTE |
God is still writing your story. But again, the ball may be in your court. You may have to move with him.
PRAYER |
Lord, thank You that my story isn't finished. When I'm tempted to believe that my falls are final, remind me of Your unfailing grace. Help me to cooperate with what You're writing in my life, trusting that Your plans for me are good, even when I stumble. Amen.
BIBLE VERSE |
"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand." - Psalm 37:23-24
REFLECTION QUESTION |
What new chapter might God be wanting to write in your story if you would allow Him to lift you up from where you've fallen?
QUOTE |
God is still writing your story. But again, the ball may be in your court. You may have to move with him.
PRAYER |
Lord, thank You that my story isn't finished. When I'm tempted to believe that my falls are final, remind me of Your unfailing grace. Help me to cooperate with what You're writing in my life, trusting that Your plans for me are good, even when I stumble. Amen.
ACTION STEP
This week, identify one area where you've 'fallen' or feel stuck in a valley. Instead of camping there, take one specific step toward rising again. This might mean reaching out for help, confessing a sin, forgiving someone, or making a change you've been avoiding. Remember that Jesus took the fall so you could rise, and His grace is sufficient. Share with at least one trusted person what step you're taking, and ask them to pray for you and hold you accountable.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the God of second chances. We acknowledge that we have fallen and will fall again, but we're grateful that You never leave us in our valleys. Thank You for taking our fall upon Yourself at the cross so we could rise. Give us the courage to tear down the tents we've built in our valleys and the humility to reach for Your hand when we need to get back up. Help us to walk through our difficult seasons clinging to You, our Shepherd. May we be known not by our falls but by how we rise again through Your grace. In Your powerful name we pray, Amen.
BIBLE APP PLANS
Forgiveness
7 Days – First15 and Craig Denison
Offering forgiveness to others is one of the most challenging, but life-giving aspects of the Christian faith. In forgiving we find healing for our own hearts. When we forgive, we become like Christ in offering undeserving mercy and grace in love. In this 7-day plan, you’ll embark on the journey to healing and restoration as you receive and give forgiveness in the power and presence of Jesus.
7 Days – First15 and Craig Denison
Offering forgiveness to others is one of the most challenging, but life-giving aspects of the Christian faith. In forgiving we find healing for our own hearts. When we forgive, we become like Christ in offering undeserving mercy and grace in love. In this 7-day plan, you’ll embark on the journey to healing and restoration as you receive and give forgiveness in the power and presence of Jesus.
Everyone Gets A Second Chance: Wisdom from the Story of Jonah
7 Days – Life.Church
Need a second chance in life, or need a reminder of God’s limitless grace? The Book of Jonah is for you. This short story about a bad prophet and big fish might seem strange, but it has a lot to say about the transformative power of God’s love. Ready to dive in?
7 Days – Life.Church
Need a second chance in life, or need a reminder of God’s limitless grace? The Book of Jonah is for you. This short story about a bad prophet and big fish might seem strange, but it has a lot to say about the transformative power of God’s love. Ready to dive in?
Give and Take (Youth)
21 Days – reThink Group
A high school devotional designed to help students embrace the power of forgiveness. In this devotional, you’ll find wisdom to see how forgiveness impacts the way you navigate relationships with yourself, with others, and with God.
21 Days – reThink Group
A high school devotional designed to help students embrace the power of forgiveness. In this devotional, you’ll find wisdom to see how forgiveness impacts the way you navigate relationships with yourself, with others, and with God.
WATCH THE SERMON
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