Joyce Meyer – You Can Talk to God

 

I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not hide my wickedness; I said, “I will confess [all] my transgressions to the LORD”; and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 32:5 (AMP)

Our soul can be wounded for many reasons. Sometimes, we are wounded because of things other people have done to us. Sometimes, the wounds come from our own bad choices. Even when we regret past sin or mistakes, the pain they caused will linger if we let it.

Some people who are very strong Christians and walk closely with God today will tell you that they have not always had an intimate relationship with Him. Some of them, like me, have abuse, betrayal, addictions, and other hurtful things in their background. They are healed today because they refused to allow their past to determine their future. I want you to know that no matter what is in your past or how painful it has been, healing is available for you and your future can be better than you ever imagined.

One of the most important steps you can take toward the healing of your soul is to talk to God about what hurts you and confess to Him any sin you have committed. If there is shame or guilt associated with what happened to you (as in the case of victims of abuse or in the case of someone who made a very bad decision that affected others), you may wonder if God really wants to hear about it. I can assure you that He does. First of all, He knows everything about the situation anyway. And second, He understands that acknowledging our wrongdoing helps cleanse it from our soul. There is no one better than God to talk to about the things that have hurt you. You can talk to God about anything, and He will not judge you or be angry or frustrated with you. He loves you more than anyone on earth ever could, and He is the only one with the power to heal your broken heart.

Many people in the Bible sinned and failed. Some of those we think of as being closest to God made bad choices. Abraham got tired of waiting for God to give him a son through Sarah, so he turned to her handmaid instead (Genesis 16:1–4). David lusted after Bathsheba and got her pregnant, then had her husband killed (2 Samuel 11:2–24). But both Abraham and David recovered and went on to do great things for God. James refers to Abraham as “a friend of God” (James 2:23), and the Bible calls David a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).

One of the keys of David’s restoration and the great future he enjoyed after his moral failure was his willingness to repent and receive God’s forgiveness. He wrote that God desires truth in our innermost being (Psalm 51:6 AMP). I encourage you today to talk to God about the things that have hurt you or the ways you have failed in the past, and He will comfort you. You can be restored completely, and I encourage you to believe that with all your heart.

Prayer of the Day: God, I bring You every wound, failure, and regret. Heal my heart, cleanse my soul, and restore my future. I trust Your forgiveness and believe You can make me whole again, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – The New Jerusalem

 

Read Revelation 22:1–5

In 1997, musician and writer Michael Card released an album Unveiled Hope, based on the book of Revelation. Titles of songs on this album include reminders of themes we’ve encountered in our devotional study this month, such as “To the Overcomers,” “You Are Worthy,” and “The Dragon.” One of my favorite songs is “The New Jerusalem,” drawn from Revelation 21–22.

At the start of Revelation’s final chapter, John recaps and expands his description of the New Jerusalem. In this city, there is a river of the water of life flowing from God’s throne (vv. 1–2). Salvation is a reality we’ll experience fully and always in this place. And not only as individuals: The leaves of the tree of life will bring about the “healing of the nations.” That tree, last seen in Eden, will bear fruit monthly.

The curse (Genesis 3) and the realities of the fallen world we live in today will be utterly gone (vv.  3–4). God will dwell directly with His people, with no barriers in between. We’ll “see his face.” Fellowship with Him will be intimate and unhindered. We as His servants will serve (also translated “worship”) Him, meaning in part that we’ll have meaningful things to do—as opposed to the stereotype that we’ll be sitting around on clouds strumming harps. His name will be on our foreheads, graciously marking us as members of His eternal family. The 144,000 Jewish evangelists similarly will have the Father’s and Lamb’s names written on their foreheads (Rev. 14:1).

In the heavenly New Jerusalem, there will be no darkness or night (v. 5). God will provide the light, and there will be no need for the sun or even for lamps. There we’ll reign forever with Christ. This is the ultimate “And they lived happily ever after”!

Go Deeper

Understanding that this question is speculative, what do you think are some of the activities we might do in heaven? (Besides singing, which is clearly shown in Revelation.)

Pray with Us

Father, as we think about a future with You in heaven, help us to be encouraged as we live in the world. When we feel the effects of sin, remind us of the hope of Your glory!

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city.Revelation 22:3

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread – Tears and Hope

 

My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. Isaiah 55:8

Today’s Scripture

Isaiah 55:6-13

Listen to Today’s Devotion

Play Audio

0:00

-4:54

Apple LinkSpotify Link

Today’s Devotion

Although it was Palm Sunday, a day to celebrate the triumphal entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, for Mary Edwar it became a time of deep pain. Leaving their church after the service, she and her husband, Kareem, were holding hands when a bomb went off. The device killed Kareem and injured Mary, causing her to miscarry.

While Mary recuperated, she felt furious while grieving for her husband and child. But somehow reading the Bible calmed “the volcano inside her.” In particular, when she struggled to comprehend why God allowed the atrocity, Isaiah 55:9 helped: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.” As she understood that God extends grace even when He’s dishonored, she felt soothed by His Spirit.

Mary considered Isaiah’s message from God to His wayward people. While calling them back to Himself, God sought to expand their understanding of His merciful character. Even as the heavens are “higher than” the earth, so were God’s ways “higher than” theirs (v. 9). So too will God show love and grace, more than they could imagine.

While grieving deeply, Mary was stunned to receive God’s gift of peace. She welcomed Jesus’ consoling love, which He poured out in the events that we mark during Holy Week. He’s eager to give us His peace too; we need only to look to Him.

Reflect & Pray

How does reflecting on God’s loving nature help you? How have you found peace when reading the Bible?

 

Creator God, You cherish me. Even when I’m wracked with pain and doubt, you provide hope and love.

 

Today’s Insights

Isaiah 55 begins with a divine invitation: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters” (v. 1). God will expound on this imagery of life-giving water in verses 10-11 as He compares His very words to His method of caring for creation: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, . . . so is my word that goes out from my mouth.” Precipitation brings life to the earth; God’s words give life to our spirits. Even in times of grief and doubt, God gives us His peace: “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace” (v. 12).

 

Find love and peace in the practice of lament.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum – What is Critical Race Theory and is it biblical?

 

 

In simple terms, Critical Race Theory (CRT) says America still possesses racism that’s at least partially hidden, but still serious. Some level of racism lurks in how we as Americans define what is “normal” in the criminal justice system, in laws, in all levels of education, etc.

Put another way, CRT says that American institutions (i.e., government, education, media, criminal justice system), social norms (i.e., what clothes to wear, how to speak, etiquette, etc.), and many widely held beliefs (i.e., religion, patriotism, philosophies) are corrupted by obscured yet widespread racism.

CRT’s goal is equitable outcomes between races and comprehensive liberation for all minorities.

Interestingly, what this liberation should look like and other fundamental questions, are often left unanswered by CRT. As a theory, CRT primarily critiques other theories while offering few positive values or beliefs. It prioritizes action and results over ideals.

Kimberlé Crenshaw, a CRT legal scholar and the one who coined the term CRT, once remarked that CRT is like a verb in nature, since it is dynamic and action-oriented. According to CRT, there is no such thing as “neutral” scholarship or “neutral” theories; scholarship always includes social influences, motivations, and biases.

Continue reading Denison Forum – What is Critical Race Theory and is it biblical?

Days of Praise – In Need of the Colt of an Ass

 

by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them, and straightway he will send them.” (Matthew 21:3)

In His humanity, the Lord Jesus no doubt had the same physical needs shared by all humans: food, clothing, shelter, etc. Interestingly enough, however, it appears He only expressed one need in a recorded, verbal conversation. He needed a little donkey colt to ride on as He made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before His bitterly cruel death.

For over three years He walked all over Galilee and Judaea—even Samaria. Why would He suddenly need to ride now? Matthew tells us why: “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matthew 21:4–5). Amazingly, this event had been prophesied four centuries earlier (Zechariah 9:9), and the time had finally come for Jesus to see that the prophecy was fulfilled. As He entered the city, the people rejoiced and took “branches of palm trees [hence the name Palm Sunday] . . . and cried, Hosanna: blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13). However, just a few days later these same crowds turned on Him and cried out, “Crucify him” (Luke 23:21).

We often celebrate Palm Sunday as the final blasts of a bitter winter are beginning to give way to a beautiful and fruitful spring. So this terrible Passion Week, beginning so meekly and proceeding so cruelly, would shortly be overcome by the glorious resurrection of Jesus and everlasting life. HMM

 

 

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