Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Clear Windshields

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But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16

Recommended Reading: Romans 8:1-6

In the old movie Young at Heart, there’s a scene in which Barney Sloan (Frank Sinatra) is so discouraged he turns off his windshield wipers while driving in a snowstorm. He can no longer clearly see the road, and everything is blurred. It’s a frightening moment that illustrates how we often look at life. We can “turn off the wipers” in our own lives by neglecting truth and withdrawing from God’s Word.

The only way to see clearly is by looking at things through the eyesight of Jesus. Paul twice spoke of “the mind of Christ.” He told the Philippians, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), and he said to the Corinthians, “But we have the mind of Christ.”

Having the mind of Christ means having the Savior’s point of view. We learn to think as He does, not as the world thinks. Here is a verse to say aloud today and to turn into a prayer for this hour: “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5, NIV).

Believers must regain the use of the mind for God’s glory.
Bill Muhlenberg

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – The Courage God Gives

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Shammah took his stand. 2 Samuel 23:12

Today’s Scripture

2 Samuel 23:11-12

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

The CEO was hurting employees with his sharp tongue. No one dared confront him. Everyone was afraid of him, including Gene. But one day the CEO berated a new employee, reducing her to tears. When Gene saw how everyone in the room stayed silent, he spoke up.

“I told him the way he was treating people was wrong,” Gene recalls. “He was astonished; it was the first time someone stood up to him. He didn’t change, but I’m glad I spoke up.”

Scripture tells us of another man who stood up to a challenge many were afraid of. Shammah, a military warrior of David, came to the future king from difficult circumstances (see 2 Samuel 23:11-12), but God used him to defeat the Philistines. “When the Philistines banded together at . . . a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them” (v. 11). Only Shammah had the courage to defend Israel’s food supply. Being the lone man against the Philistine army meant death, but Shammah “took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it” (v. 12).

God helped Shammah defeat the Philistines (v. 12). He may have been the only Israelite in the field, but he wasn’t alone—God was with him, giving him great victory that day. There may be times when we’re called to stand up to a challenge that everyone else is avoiding. Like Shammah, let’s take our stand, relying on God’s presence and help.

Reflect & Pray

What challenge is God calling you to stand up to? How can you rely on Him for help?

Dear Father, please give me the courage to take a stand for You.

Today’s Insights

Thirty-seven loyal and fearless chief warriors led David’s army (2 Samuel 23:8-39). Collectively known as “the Thirty” (vv. 13, 23-24), God used these men to fulfill His purpose of making David king of the entire land of Israel (1 Chronicles 11:10). Of these chief warriors, a group called “the Three” (2 Samuel 23:8) were David’s top elite commanders. Josheb-Basshebeth killed eight hundred men at one time (v. 8). Eleazar struck down the Philistines after the rest of the Israelites had abandoned him (vv. 9-10). And Shammah stood his ground against the Philistines and was victorious through God’s power while the rest of Israel’s troops fled (vv. 11-12).

The apostle Paul likens the faith of believers in Jesus to warfare, urging us to “put on the full armor of God” in order to “stand [our] ground” (Ephesians 6:13). Today, God can give us courage as we fight our battles and enable us to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (v. 10).

If you would like to read “One Woman’s Inspirational Story of Trust and Courage: Click here: For This, I Have Jesus. 

 

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Responding to the Nepal floods with hope and purpose

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On Wednesday, August 26, flash floods broke out across Nepal, leaving chaos and destruction in their wake. Scientists believe that a glacier broke loose from high in the Himalayas near the Tibet-Nepal border. The melting ice mixed with rocks, boulders, and mud to create a concrete sludge. Videos show this sludge mixture barreling down from the mountain, over 40 miles, sweeping away bridges, buildings, cars, and people with  tremendous force.

It’s believed that more than 1,500 individuals are missing, and over 165 people have been reported dead. However, according to a local Christian worker, due to the remote nature of some of the villages affected by the flooding, not everyone is registered. So, it is extremely likely that the numbers are much higher than this, and they will continue to rise.

With rescue efforts already underway, CNN reports the threat is still ongoing. Many fear a secondary flooding event because the initial floods and landslides have “created a new lake, increasing the risk of landslides, mudslides and flash floods, with the three days of rain ahead.”

The collapsed earth is forming unstable dams and is liable to break. Thus, an already desperate circumstance has become all the more urgent.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Responding to the Nepal floods with hope and purpose →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – The Burden Giveaway

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 I said to the LORD, ‘You are my God!’ Listen, O LORD, to my cries for mercy! O Sovereign LORD, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle. 

—Psalm 140:6–7

Scripture:

Psalm 140:6–7 

Few people in Scripture had a better understanding of God than David did. David knew what it was like to be favored by God. In 1 Samuel 13:14, he is referred to as a man after God’s own heart. He also knew what it was like to be on the business end of God’s discipline after his affair with Bathsheba. But more importantly for the purposes of this devotion, David knew what it was like to be protected by God and to have his burdens lifted by the Lord.

Look at his words in Psalm 140:6–7: “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my God!’ Listen, O Lord, to my cries for mercy! O Sovereign Lord, the strong one who rescued me, you protected me on the day of battle” (NLT). Such confidence can only come from experience.

If you’ve ever wondered how David rose to the occasion time and time again when other people might have crumbled, look at his words to Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:46: “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands” (NIV). He didn’t boast about his speed, agility, or prowess with a sling. Instead, he invoked the name of the Lord, the One who had seen him through other dangers and carried his burdens in the past. David so completely trusted God to protect him again that he walked onto a battlefield against a heavily armored giant in his shepherd’s clothes.

In 1 Samuel 17:46 and Psalm 140:6–7, David’s message was the same: “Lord, I place it all on you.”

Have you reached the point in your relationship with God where you can say the same thing? You probably don’t have to think hard to recall times when He answered an urgent prayer request or saw you through a difficult situation.

Let those memories serve as confidence builders. Replay them again and again in your mind. Give thanks and praise to the Lord daily for His work in your life. Keep track of it in your prayer journal. Tell others about His goodness to you. Memorize Scripture passages that testify to His goodness, strength, and protection. For example, in Isaiah 41:10, God says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (NLT). And in Philippians 4:19, the apostle Paul writes, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (NLT).

Are you burdened today? Is something troubling you? Do you have anxiety over some situation? Maybe it’s a problem at work or an issue with a loved one. Whatever your burden may be, David has given you the example. Cast it on the Lord. He will sustain you. Psalm 55:22 says, “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (NLT).

God’s done it before, and He’ll do it again. Armed with that confidence, you can face any circumstance.

 

Reflection question: What burden do you need to give to God? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Apple of the Eye

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” (Zechariah 2:8)

This common phrase is often used to identify an object of one’s special favor or affection. The apple of the eye, of course, is not a fruit but the pupil of the eye. It is so essential for sight that it becomes a peculiarly apt symbol for a prized possession. It is used five times in the Bible as a translation of three different Hebrew nouns, none of which refer to the actual apple fruit. In each case, however, it speaks of something highly valuable to the owner.

Three of these (Deuteronomy 32:10; Lamentations 2:18; and our text above) are in reference to the chosen people, Israel, as the apple of the eye of God Himself. God has often punished Israel for her sins and has allowed other nations to be His rod of judgment, but woe to that nation that touches the apple of His eye in this way!

That individual believers can also be so regarded by the Lord is evident from one of David’s prayers: “Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness . . . . Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (Psalm 17:7–8).

To be kept by God as He would keep the very apple of His own eye requires an implicit trust in Him and His Word. In fact, His Word must become the apple of our eye! “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye” (Proverbs 7:1–2).

There are many beautiful and appropriate figures used for God’s Word (“light,” “hammer,” “sword,” “milk,” etc.) but none more personally meaningful than this. May the Holy Scriptures, the indispensable Word of God, truly be the apple of the eye for each of us. HMM

 

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How to Draw Closer to God

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…There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24 (ESV)

The title of today’s devotion may seem like a strange question. I ask it because I think many people are not comfortable in an intimate relationship with God. They may approach Him as one who is far away in heaven, and they may not feel they are worthy of intimacy with Him. God referred to Abraham as His friend (Isaiah 41:8), and He spoke to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11 ESV). These people were not perfect. They made mistakes just as you and I do, but they had an intimate relationship with God.

I encourage you to be comfortable talking with God about anything. After all, He already knows everything about you, and He loves and accepts you unconditionally.

The more open you are with God concerning everything in your life, the closer to Him you will feel. I believe God is calling you closer, and I pray that you will enter into His presence knowing that you are welcome there.

Prayer of the Day: Father, I want to be as close to You as I can be. Help me not to be ashamed or to feel uncomfortable in any way in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Dare to Think the Unthinkable 

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Play

Dare we think the unthinkable? That God will hear our prayers, that he will listen when we speak? If you were to pray a faith-empowered prayer, what would you say? Then say it! Let faith fuel your prayers. And let prayers put starch in your faith.

Will God give you what you request? Yes, he will. He may do so in a different form than you ask for or a different time frame than you prefer, but “it is [Jesus] who is the ‘Yes’ to all of God’s promises” (2 Corinthians 1:20 GNT).

Let’s renew our commitment to unreasonable, unquenchable, unthinkable prayer.  Let’s ask God to resurrect hope that has perished and dreams that are buried.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – A Tight Rein

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Read James 1:19–27

The authorship of James is typically attributed to Jesus’ half-brother. This epistle was likely written soon after Pentecost (as early as AD 35). It may even be the earliest New Testament document. James is writing to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1)— Jews who believed in Jesus as the Messiah and had left Jerusalem, possibly due to persecution. They had a foundation of faith but were lacking maturity. So James was writing to teach them how to live out their Christian commitment under difficult circumstances. A thesis statement for the book could be “faith without works is dead” (2:17).

James frequently references the teaching of Jesus. In The Moody Bible Commentary, John F. Hart notes 24 specific parallels with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Most relevant to our study, almost every chapter of James includes lessons on communication.

Today’s passage opens with three directives: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (v. 19). Christlike communication begins with careful, humble listening, which leads to measured responses and tames tempers. Uncontrolled anger, wrote James, can be a significant barrier to our growth and sanctification (v. 20).

James calls on his readers to listen to the Word of God (v. 22)—but not as passive hearers. Rather, James demands an active listening that results in obedience. James uses the simile of a person who looks in a mirror and ignores his reflection to describe someone who hears God’s Word but does not obey (vv. 23–24). By contrast, the person who studies the Word and changes accordingly will enjoy reward (v. 25). Finally, James boldly declares the religion of his readers “worthless” if it does not result in self-control in their speech and compassion for the needy (vv. 26–27).

Go Deeper

Watch this interview as our author Kelli Worrall describes the power of our words and why we need to keep a tight reign on them.

Pray with Us

Lord, it is not always easy to be quick to listen and slow to speak and become angry. When we are struggling, please give us self-control. We want to reflect You well.

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.James 1:26

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Trust

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Recommended Reading: Psalm 37:3-5

The digital age has brought us cars with built-in navigation systems and phones with maps powered by GPS satellites. We also have the option of riding in self-driving cars! Making the transition from depending on our own skills to trusting computerized devices can be challenging.

The same can be said when it comes to navigating through life. Before becoming a Christian, we trusted in our own skills, instincts, and decisions to make our way. But once we enter into a relationship with God, we find a different strategy is recommended—the strategy of trust. When we are driving and using a computerized map, we might question directions we are given based on traffic or construction delays. We might even ignore the directions and go our own way. But Solomon warned against such a strategy for life. Against our natural inclinations, we are told to “trust in the Lord with all [our] heart, and lean not on [our] own understanding; in all [our] ways acknowledge Him.”

If you need direction for your future, depend on God’s instructions instead of your own; let Him direct your path.

Doubt breeds distress but trust means joy in the long run. 
Charles Spurgeon

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Where God Reigns

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Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Today’s Scripture

James 4:1-10

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Today’s Devotion

In 2018, a man checked into a room at New York hotel for a one-night stay. Remarkably, he used the room for five years without paying another cent—exploiting obscure rent laws to hold on to it. His refusal to leave, however, eventually led to potential prison time for him.

Like an unwelcome tenant who overstays, James warns us that the devil lingers in our lives when left unchecked. “Resist the devil,” James writes, “and he will flee from you” (4:7). The apostle emphasizes that our struggles often come from impure “desires” and “wrong motives” (vv. 1, 3)—things like pride, divided loyalties, and impure thoughts residing in our hearts. To counter such temptation, James offers two commands: “submit . . . to God” and “resist the devil” (v. 7). To submit means surrendering every part of our lives to God. Resisting the devil is equally active, requiring prayer, vigilance, and the wisdom of Scripture.

Like a landlord evicting an unlawful tenant, in God’s strength we can refuse to let the temptation of the devil overtake us. As we resist him, God promises victory as James asserts, “He will flee from you” (v. 7).

When we evict sin and the devil’s influence and “come near to God” (v. 8), we allow His peace, joy, and purpose to dwell more fully in us. The enemy can’t stay where God reigns!

Reflect & Pray

What can you do to remove “unwelcome tenants” from your life? How does submitting to God help?

Sovereign God, please help me surrender every part of my life to You so I can stand firm against the enemy’s schemes.

Today’s Insights

In addition to the admonitions of Peter (1 Peter 5:8) and James (James 4:7) regarding spiritual vigilance in resisting temptation, Paul also had something to say about it. After noting how the Israelites had succumbed to temptation in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:1-11), he warned the Corinthians: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful . . . . When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (vv. 12-13). The apostle lists two examples of how the “way out” can sometimes involve fleeing. He says we’re to “flee from idolatry” (v. 14) and “sexual immorality” (6:18). The Holy Spirit helps us to stand firm against the enemy.

Read further to understand how a boy who grew up in the church moved from Hidden sin to honest surrender: From Hidden Sin to Honest Surrender.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Flash floods and wildfires

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A reflection on meteorology and eternity

Forty-seven American tourists are missing today following flash flooding that occurred at 8:30 a.m. local time in Nepal. They are among a “preliminary” toll of at least 341 missing people, according to a statement by the Nepal Tourism Board.

In other weather news, a wildfire west of Fort Worth, Texas, has burned eighty thousand acres at this writing and is only 12 percent contained. I have been watching it closely because it is close to a chapel our ministry supports, and that is close to my heart.

Mark Twain noted, “Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get.” He is often credited as well with the observation, “Everyone complains about the weather, but nobody ever seems to do anything about it.”

I am writing today to complain about the weather, and to decide what to do about it as well.

Meteorology and my morning walk

My morning walk was impaired today by meteorologists. I consulted the Weather Channel app, the AccuWeather app, and the app from our local news station. All were in adamant agreement that it would begin raining in forty-five minutes. So I altered my routine, got outside in the dark, and shortened my walk by half. Of course, not a drop of rain fell this morning.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Flash floods and wildfires →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – A Hunger for Truth

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 O LORD, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long. 

—Psalm 140:1–2

Scripture:

Psalm 140:1–2 

There’s an old saying that goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” David’s words in Psalm 140 offer compelling evidence of that. David begins the psalm with these words: “O Lord, rescue me from evil people. Protect me from those who are violent, those who plot evil in their hearts and stir up trouble all day long” (verses 1–2 NLT).

“Stirring up trouble all day long” is practically a job description for the influencers, trolls, and others who crowd onto modern social media platforms. No gossip is too salacious, no accusation is too offensive for them to reframe for their own purposes, comment on, and spread to others.

Like David, we are living in a wicked, vicious time. People today have an unhealthy appetite for gossip and slander—anything that makes others look bad. Once upon a time, this was known as a “tabloid mentality.” But the kind of stuff that once could be found only in supermarket tabloids has spread throughout the ranks of journalism and broadcast media. Hard news has been replaced by attacking partisan commentary. Everyone wants the dirt, especially on those they oppose. Social media has accelerated the decline in journalistic and personal integrity. Civility, courtesy, and empathy seem to be nearing extinction.

Take away the technology, and you have a culture that would have been recognizable to David. The “evil people” he referred to in Psalm 140:1 had initiated a carefully planned campaign of slander and lies against him, and it was proving to be effective. You’ve heard the expression, “Good news travels fast.” I suggest to you that bad news travels even faster. It’s been said that a lie is halfway around the world while truth is still putting on its shoes. There’s something about a falsehood that causes it to spread like a wildfire.

James knew what he was talking about when he wrote, “And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself” (James 3:6 NLT).

David understood what our response should be to the trouble that people stir up. In Psalm 25:4–5, he wrote, “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you” (NLT).

As believers, we must reject the lies of the world and learn everything we can about God’s truth. We must ask God to lead us, to help us resist the temptation to fight fire with fire when people stir up trouble.

We need never concern ourselves about people’s reactions when we’re walking in God’s truth.

 

Reflection question: What would focusing on God’s truth look like in your life?

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Always

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)

A favorite old song of many senior citizens (of this writer, at least) is the sentimental “I’ll Be Loving You—Always” ballad written long ago by Irving Berlin. The sincerity of some who sing it may be questioned, but the many “always” promises of the Bible really mean it. Consider a few of these precious promises.

The apostle Paul urges believers to be “always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). And to the same Corinthian church he later wrote, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Then there is that other tremendous promise in the same epistle: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). The greatest such promise is that in our text, when the Lord Jesus Christ Himself promised that “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

There are also a number of very important exhortations in the Scriptures involving an “always” type of commitment. For example, Jesus said “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). That is, never give up praying just because the answer seems a long time coming. Furthermore, Paul says that we should be “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

Then, we are to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Finally, there is the command to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). HMM

 

 

 

https://www.icr.org/articles/type/6

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How to Keep Your Passion for Jesus Alive

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So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth!

Revelation 3:16 (AMPC)

When our relationship with Jesus is new, it is often filled with passion and enthusiasm, but it is possible as time goes by to let it become commonplace and dull. That is a serious mistake!

We should keep ourselves stirred up and not allow ourselves to become so familiar with the amazing things that God does for us that we are no longer enthusiastic about them. Once I recall asking God, “Why don’t You do the exciting things in my life that You once did?” and He said, “I still do the same things, but you have become accustomed to them and are no longer amazed!” Let’s not be lukewarm but instead let’s keep our passion for Jesus.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, please don’t let familiarity steal my passion for You, because I definitely want to be intimately familiar with You. Help me stay amazed by the amazing work You are doing in my life and keep my enthusiasm for You burning bright, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Hit Your Knees 

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Play

When the child of Elijah’s friend died, the prophet prayed for the boy. “And God listened to Elijah’s prayer…Elijah picked the boy up, carried him downstairs from the loft, and gave him to his mother. ‘Here’s your son,’ said Elijah, ‘alive!’” 1 Kings 17:22-23 MSG).

The power of praying it through. Elijah believed in it. Jesus taught it. He told his followers “that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit” (Luke 18:1 MSG). Take the dead and dying portions of your life—the vigor that has faded, the faith that has dwindled—and lay them before the Lord. And next to them place our society, which seems sicker day by day.

The theologian Samuel Taylor Coleridge called prayer “the greatest achievement of the Christian’s warfare upon earth.” If you want to take a stand against the enemy, hit your knees.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – God Has Spoken

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Read Hebrews 1:1–4

In Matthew 21:33–44, Jesus told this parable: A landowner leased his vineyard to several tenants. When he sent his servants to retrieve his produce, the tenants killed them. When the landowner sent a larger group of servants to complete the errand, the tenants killed them as well. Finally, the landowner sent his own son. However, the tenants saw in the son an even greater opportunity. They killed him, seeking his inheritance.

The servants in the parable were the prophets, sent by God and rejected by the Jewish leaders. The son represented Jesus—God’s ultimate messenger. Through this parable, Jesus demonstrated God’s persistent communication with Israel, despite their objections. Hebrews also opens with a clear declaration of divine communication: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (vv. 1–2). God has always communicated with His people through different methods.

The “but” in verse 2 does not indicate a contrast, but rather the continuation and climax of God’s communication. Jesus’ arrival was the fulfillment of the prophets’ messages, and He was a superior revelation for many reasons. He was the divinely appointed “heir of all things” (v. 2b). No prophet could claim such an inheritance. He was also the Creator of the universe, while the prophets were among the created beings (v. 2c). Jesus radiated God’s glory and was “the exact representation of his being” (v. 3a). Divine communication was no longer shadowed or indirect. To see the Son was to know the Father. Jesus was also the ultimate revelation because He alone provided the atonement for our sins (v. 3b). He alone returned to the right hand of God on high. And He alone was superior to the angels (v. 4).

Go Deeper

In what ways has God communicated to people? What are ways we can hear God’s voice today?

Pray with Us

We stand in awe at the gift of Your Son, Father God. May we never take Your sacrifice for granted. We praise Your holy name!

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.Hebrews 1:1–2

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Be a Blessing

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NEW!Listen Now

He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
Proverbs 15:27

Recommended Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-10; 1 Timothy 6:17-19

The apostle Paul had appointed his young protégé Timothy to oversee the growing church in Ephesus. As a large, sophisticated, commercial center, Ephesus no doubt had a sizable population of wealthy people. That fact prompted Paul to write Timothy a lengthy passage about the dangers of pursuing wealth as a source of contentment or godliness and instructions for what wealthy people should do with their money (1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19).

Solomon wrote that pursuing riches for the sake of gain alone would bring trouble into one’s life. And Paul wrote Timothy the same thing: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). Note that it is not money but the love of money that brings sorrow. What should wealthy people do instead? “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share” (verse 18). Instead of being greedy, be generous.

To the degree God has blessed you, look for ways to be a blessing to others (2 Corinthians 8:11-12).

It is the best riches not to desire riches.
Thomas Brooks

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Power of Consistent Prayer

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Three times a day [Daniel] got down on his knees, and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10

Today’s Scripture

Daniel 6:3-7, 9-11

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Today’s Devotion

Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington encouraged a group of young actors to begin each day with prayer, suggesting they “put your shoes way under the bed at night” to ensure they “gotta get on your knees in the morning.”

Developing a regular habit of prayer might take some thoughtful and even creative planning, but it’s a practice that has sustained God’s people throughout history—especially in difficult times. We see this in the life of Daniel, who served in King Darius’ administration. He quickly distinguished himself as the top government advisor, which angered local officials (Daniel 6:3). Out of jealousy they plotted to oust the prophet, but quickly realized the only charge that would stick was related to Daniel’s devotion to the “the law of his God” (v. 5). Even after the officials tricked the king into making it illegal for Daniel to pray, Daniel still “got down on his knees, and prayed . . . just as he had done before” (v. 10).

A consistent prayer life was essential for Daniel to experience God’s sustaining strength and peace (Psalm 29:11). It helped him to triumph over the forces seeking to destroy him. In the same way, establishing a regular time to meet with God in prayer and making it a daily priority can help cultivate our relationship with Him. During each difficulty we face, it’s His strength that will sustain us.

Reflect & Pray

How has a regular pattern of prayer sustained you in difficulty? What example of prayer in the Bible encourages you?

Loving Father, please give me Your strength and mercy each morning.

Prayer is all about spending time with the one we love, Father God. To understand more about the joy of prayer listen to this video devotion: Luke 6:12 – A Master Class In Prayer| Our Daily Bread

Today’s Insights

Luke’s gospel includes snapshots of Jesus’ prayer life. As the news of His ministry spread, He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (5:16). Prior to the selection of the twelve apostles, He “went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God” (6:12). And as was the case with Daniel, prayer was a prelude to a severe trial (Daniel 6:6-10). Before Christ faced the cross, He agonized in prayer in Gethsemane (see Luke 22:39-46). Being faithful in prayer cultivates our relationship with God, strengthens our soul, and helps us to be at peace during trials.

 

 

 

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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Is gambling the next pornography?

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In August of 1996, I headed off to college as a freshman with a “hi-tech” word processor in tow and little awareness or understanding of the Internet, much less access to it. Equally, I was largely unaware of or affected by the temptation of pornography. Sure, I knew of magazines or movies containing such material, but thankfully, I had limited access to it and was too embarrassed to even try.

Unfortunately, by the time I graduated four years later, I was stuck in a hidden addiction to pornography. Though shame told me otherwise, a majority of my generation was, in retrospect, in the same predicament.

A pattern of addiction

Humanity’s struggle with lust and pornography is just about as old as time. Sexual temptation has seemingly affected each generation within every culture.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Is gambling the next pornography? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Never Alone

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 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 

—Psalm 139:7–10

Scripture:

Psalm 139:7–10 

One of God’s perfections is His omnipresence. He is present everywhere all the time. The psalmist captured the essence and implications of God’s omnipresence when he wrote, “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me” (Psalm 139:7–10 NLT).

If we extend that line of reasoning, it’s not hard to see that the omnipresence of God can be comforting or frightening, depending on your perspective. If you’re not right with God and you’re trying to get away from Him, His omnipresence creates a huge obstacle. The Old Testament prophet Jonah could testify to that.

God gave Jonah an assignment that Jonah found distasteful. The Lord wanted Jonah to warn the Ninevites that His judgment was coming if they didn’t repent. Jonah balked at the mission because the Ninevites were the enemies of Israel. He didn’t want them to repent. He was rooting for God’s judgment on them. So, he went down to Joppa and boarded a ship headed for Tarshish, away from Nineveh and presumably away from God. But you know how the story ends. Jonah recognized the error of his ways and repented in the belly of a giant fish. Because God was there, too.

There’s an obvious lesson in there for anyone who’s trying to run from God. That is, you’re wasting your time and energy. It can’t be done. No matter where you go, God will be waiting for you. You can’t escape His presence.

On the other hand, if you’re walking with God, you’ll find great comfort in the knowledge that you’re never alone. When you face fiery trials, when you go through times of difficulty, when you have to weather life’s storms, God is with you every step of the way.

David memorably celebrated God’s presence in Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (verses 1–4 NLT).

You never need feel lost, scared, abandoned, or alone. If you’re walking with God, He will never leave you.

 

Reflection question: When do you most appreciate God’s presence?

Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

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