What My Rental Car Taught Me

What My Rental Car Taught Me

Author: Our Daily Bread Ministries August 11, 2026 Duration: 0:00

I recently traveled to Los Angeles and had to rent a car. Soon, I was driving through narrow downtown lanes, full of traffic and people. I found myself driving very carefully, slower than normal. Why? Well, I didn’t want to have an accident. But I really didn’t want to damage my rental car. It wasn’t mine, after all. I was just, well, borrowing it.

Most of the time, we’d rather be owners than renters. But, as I drove, I couldn’t help but think that renting that car illustrated something important about my relationship to God.

Scripture teaches that even our bodies—which we might think we own—don’t belong to us. In a larger conversation about sexual sin in 1 Corinthians 6, Paul concludes, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (vv. 19-20).

I’ll admit, it’s hard to completely comprehend that my body is not my own. Still, God calls us to honor Him with it. To care for our bodies. To realize that we are stewards—renters, if you will—of these vessels He’s given us, that we might use them to honor and serve the One whose own broken body and blood saved us.


Each day, Our Daily Bread Podcast offers a quiet moment of reflection grounded in scripture. Produced by Our Daily Bread Ministries, these brief audio readings are more than just a narration of the devotional; they are an invitation to pause and consider how timeless biblical truths connect to the realities of modern life. You'll hear a thoughtful exploration of a passage, often accompanied by a relatable story or personal insight, all designed to make the wisdom of the Bible accessible and practical. This podcast serves as a gentle daily companion for anyone looking to cultivate a deeper, more consistent engagement with their faith amidst a busy routine. It transforms a few minutes of your day into a space for spiritual nourishment and perspective. Whether during a morning commute, a lunch break, or a quiet evening, each episode provides a focused point of connection, encouraging listeners to carry that sense of peace and purpose forward. The consistent, calm delivery and substantive content have made this a trusted resource for individuals and families seeking to integrate faith into their daily rhythm. By meeting listeners where they are, this audio experience faithfully extends the ministry's long-standing mission of providing daily biblical encouragement.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Our Daily Bread Podcast | Our Daily Bread
Podcast Episodes
Running to God in Prayer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
One moment Adrián Simancas was kayaking in the Strait of Magellan in Chile with his father. The next, the twenty-four-year-old was engulfed in the mouth of a humpback whale. “I thought I was dead,” Adrián told a news out…
Freedom in God’s Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
If you’ve ever heard the expression “albatross around my neck”—a phrase referring to a tiresome burden—you’ve heard an allusion to English poet Samuel Coleridge’s famous poem Rime of the Ancient Mariner. In the poem, a s…
The Power of Music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
On November 21, 1915, the hope of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his twenty-seven crew members sank, along with their ship Endurance, into the dark below the Antarctic ice. They were stranded, thousands of miles from home. La…
Our Part, God’s Part [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
In Singapore, the government encourages people to support good causes by donation-matching. It “tops up” donations to specific charities by contributing an equal amount or more. By effectively multiplying people’s contri…
Generous Giving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
When Oswald and Biddy Chambers ran a Bible college in London from 1911 to 1915, they continued with their life principle of not turning away those in need. Astute Londoners were aghast at this practice, thinking the coll…
Extending God’s Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
As a teenager, I had a strained relationship with my churchmate Lisa, so I was dismayed to learn we’d be roommates at our youth summer camp. The week at camp passed smoothly though, with both of us being civil. The most…
Imitating God’s Forgiveness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
I used to work with a woman named Madge, who was an amazing cook. “You should taste my pea and ham soup!” she said one day. After replying that I really didn’t like peas, Madge smiled and said, “You will after you try my…
Waiting on God [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
As a little girl, I got so excited when I’d see special signs appear on the side of the road. I thought colorful signs meant my family had arrived at the popular amusement park we were driving to. I’d joyfully start gath…
It Was Me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
In an old movie comedy, a bumbling but brilliant programmer is chosen for the first manned mission to Mars. Constantly making foolish mistakes, the programmer has a habit of blurting out, “It wasn’t me!” When the crew la…
Joy from Jesus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Nancy’s cancer treatment caused so many ulcers in her mouth and throat that she couldn’t even swallow a piece of bread. She had to rely on milk to fill her stomach as many painful days passed. The only thing that brought…