Daily Archives: April 4, 2026

News and Info

Pope Claims That God ‘Rejects’ The Prayers Of Those Who Wage War — History And The Bible Disagree

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When God delivered the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt and defeated Pharaoh’s army, Moses responded with a song, recorded in Exodus 15. He declares, “The Lord is a man of war, the Lord is His name.”

That description is revealing. Scripture repeatedly presents God as one who defends His people, upholds justice, and ultimately triumphs over evil. He is not a distant observer of human conflict, but a righteous judge who acts in history.

And this imagery is not confined to the Old Testament. In Revelation 19, Jesus Himself is depicted as a warrior riding a white horse, bringing judgment against the nations, with a sword proceeding from His mouth. The biblical witness is consistent: God is both Redeemer and Righteous Judge.

War, therefore, is a tragic but real feature of a fallen world. The Bible does not ignore it — it regulates it. From these biblical principles, Augustine of Hippo articulated what would become known as Just War Theory, later refined by Thomas Aquinas. This framework has guided much of Western moral reasoning about war for centuries, recognizing that while war is never ideal, it may at times be necessary to restrain evil and protect the innocent.

Which is why recent comments from Pope Leo XIV in a Palm Sunday homily are both puzzling and concerning. He stated, in part, that Jesus “rejects war” and does not listen to the prayers of those who wage it.

Was the Allied effort in World War II — undertaken to stop Adolf Hitler and the atrocities of the Third Reich — contrary to the will of God? Were the prayers of leaders and soldiers, offered in humility and desperation, somehow rejected?

On June 6, 1944, as American troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, Franklin D. Roosevelt led the nation in prayer. He asked God’s blessing on those risking their lives to defeat tyranny and secure freedom. It was not a prayer for conquest — it was a prayer for justice, for deliverance, and for peace.

Likewise, during the brutal winter of the Battle of the Bulge, George Patton called for prayer. Facing impossible conditions, he urged his troops to seek God’s intervention. Two hundred and fifty thousand copies of that prayer were distributed to the soldiers of the Third Army.

And when the weather broke and the tide of battle turned, Patton famously remarked to his chaplain, “Well, Padre, our prayers worked.”

And thank God they did.

Scripture gives us confidence in this very truth. As the Apostle John writes in 1 John 5, if we ask anything according to God’s will, He hears us — and if He hears us, we have what we have asked of Him.

That is the key: according to His will.

Not every war is just. Not every cause is righteous. But when those entrusted with authority act to restrain evil, defend the innocent, and pursue a just peace, they do not stand counter to God, they stand within the very purposes of His justice.

And in those moments, prayer is not rejected — it is heard.

The question is not whether God hears the prayers of those in battle.

The question is whether those who lead — and those who fight — are aligned with the will of the One who is both Prince of Peace and the righteous defender of the innocent.

When they are, they can pray with confidence.

And history suggests — He answers.

 

 

 

 

ByTony Perkins April 3, 2026
Tony Perkins is the president of the Family Research Council and executive editor of The Washington Stand. He also served two terms as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, and served as Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Source: Pope Claims That God ‘Rejects’ The Prayers Of Those Who Wage War — History And The Bible Disagree – Harbinger’s Daily
Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – April Showers of Blessings: Raindrops

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I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessings.
Ezekiel 34:26

Recommended Reading: Ezekiel 34:25-31

Ezekiel’s “showers of blessings” concern the coming thousand-year reign of Christ, but the imagery is appropriate for those of us who have the reign of Christ established now in our hearts. Let’s start with rain itself. If water fell from the sky in sheets or one-gallon units, life would be impossible. In the clouds above us are tiny cloud droplets. It takes millions of these tiny particles to collide and form a single raindrop. As the drops fall to earth, they cleanse the air by capturing dust, pollen, and pollutants.

Almighty God sends our blessings one drop at a time—literally in the form of rain and metaphorically in the form of other blessings. Each is timed perfectly, shaped appropriately, and results in the blessings of a refreshed and cleansed life.

One of the greatest ways of adjusting our attitudes is to try counting our blessings. We can’t really do that any more than we can count the drops of rain outside our windows. But for each one we identify and turn into praise, our hearts are encouraged. Thank God for some drops today!

Mercy drops round us are falling!
Daniel Whittle

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Serving God Out of Love

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Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:20

Today’s Scripture

Matthew 6:1-4, 19-21

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

My dad was a hard worker on our farm and in the factory, but he wasn’t a handyman. Sometimes when our tractor or furnace or plumbing failed, a neighbor or friend would fix it. Dad offered to pay even though he knew he couldn’t afford as much as they deserved. But they wouldn’t accept anything; they just loved to help. “Thanks,” he’d say, “until you’re better paid.” I’m still not sure what he meant. Maybe he or someone else did something for them later.

Believers in Jesus who serve others because of their love for Him will one day be rewarded. Perhaps that’s a form of “until you’re better paid.” Jesus told His followers to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). Doing good to others may be one way to store up some of those “treasures.” He said we shouldn’t announce it “with trumpets”; if we do, that’s all the reward we’ll get (v. 2). We can be confident He sees us. The book of Hebrews reinforces this idea: “God . . . will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (6:10).

We don’t serve for rewards but rather because Jesus loves us, and in response we express our love and praise for Him. What a blessing it will be to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21, 23).

Reflect & Pray

What treasures have you stored up? What gifts has God given you to share with others?

Dear Jesus, I long to help others the way You want me to. Please help me point them to You, and lead me to live for Your pleasure.

Today’s Insights

Helping those in need is one of the ways that we “store up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). We take what God has given us and share with those in need. The concepts of loving God and helping the needy come together in 1 John 3:14-18: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. . . . This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Today, as God helps us, we can look for ways to serve others because of our love for Christ.

Learn more about heavenly treasures by reading The Fool’s Greed and God’s Generosity.

 

http://www.odb.org

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Making Something Out of Nothing

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 For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! 

—Isaiah 64:4

Scripture:

Isaiah 64:4 

Jesus’ retreat to the Garden of Gethsemane began a bad stretch of time for the apostle Peter. First, he fell asleep on his watch after Jesus asked him to stay alert. Second, according to John 18:10, when Jesus’ enemies came to arrest Him, “Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave” (NLT). And then, later that same night, when he was recognized as one of Jesus’ followers, Peter denied even knowing Jesus—not once, not twice, but three times.

Can you identify with a guy like that? I know that it’s sometimes hard to imagine what God is up to in your life. You see a blank canvas, but God sees a finished painting. You see a piece of coal, but God sees a refined diamond. You see an untalented person, but God sees a mighty man or woman of God.

This is also true of those we see in Scripture. We see an impetuous, impulsive Simon, but God sees a strong, decisive apostle named Peter. We see a conniving, manipulative Jacob, but God sees a godly, trusting man named Israel. We see a young, naïve Joseph, but the Lord sees a brilliant, wise world leader. And when it was all said and done, Joseph was able to look back and say to his brothers, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20 NKJV). He recognized that God used what happened to him to mold him into a compassionate, forgiving leader of many. He was clay in the Potter’s hands. He trusted in the Lord.

God specializes in making something out of nothing. I wonder what He’s doing with you right now. You’re a work in progress, and He isn’t finished yet. If you’re still alive and reading this, God has more work to do in your life! Most artists don’t like someone looking over their shoulders, trying to second-guess what they’re about to do. “Wait until I’m done,” they’ll say, “and then you’ll see.”

So, trust in the Lord during those times when it’s hard to see what He’s doing. Don’t allow the hardships you face to make you a bitter person. It’s time to let go of that. Rather, allow them to make you a better person.

Isaiah 64:4 says, “For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!” (NLT).

That night in Gethsemane was hardly the end of Peter’s story. After Jesus rose from the grave and ascended back to Heaven, Peter became one of the key leaders of the early Christian church, boldly proclaiming the gospel throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.

No matter what your past is like, and no matter where you are in your Christian journey, God has something important planned for you.

Reflection Question: What evidence do you see in your life of God’s ability to make you a better person? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Pleasant Perplexities

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by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.

“For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” (Philippians 1:23–24)

As we mature in the Lord, our fear of death recedes into the background and ultimately, as this verse demonstrates, becomes a desire to leave this sin-cursed world behind and pass into the presence of the Creator.

The word choices in this passage are unusual. The verse could be translated: “I am held together out of two pressures, a passion to be loosed to be with Christ; which is very much more serviceable for me: but remaining here in the flesh is, out of necessity, more critical for you.”

Thus, the tension of the true saint of God. The more that is known about the joy awaiting us in the presence of our Lord, the less we see earthly values and goals as things to work toward. Yet, the needs of churches, new Christians, troubled souls, and challenges surrounding our lives require a commitment to complete the “course” that God has given us to finish (2 Timothy 4:7).

The Lord Jesus insisted that we not worry about tomorrow because the evil of each day was “sufficient” (Matthew 6:34), since there is trouble enough in the world among those who reject God’s authority (2 Timothy 3:1–7). The evil that surrounds us should motivate us to long for the eternal rest promised to the people of God (Hebrews 4:9).

But to struggle with conflict resolution among the churches adds to the burden. Many in the ministry know this tension, as do most who serve regularly in their own churches. Perhaps our own peace comes when we finally determine that it is “far better” to serve. HMM III

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – You Are Complete in Christ

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Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.”

John 8:14 (AMPC)

Many people struggle emotionally because they simply do not know who they really are. They are not grounded in their true identity, and they feel lacking in certain ways.

Our identity is established as a result of who and what we choose to identify with. If we identify with people and what they say about us, we will end up in trouble, but if we identify with Jesus and His opinion of us, we will not have an identity crisis.

Today’s scripture indicates that Jesus knew who He was because He knew where He came from and where He was going. Many of the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, were angry at Jesus’ confidence in who He was. But no matter what people said about Jesus, He did not identify with it. He identified with what His heavenly Father said about Him. He identified with God.

Identification with Christ is a doctrinal foundation of the Christian faith. As a believer, you belong to God. Your identity is in Him, and you are complete in Him. This truth will give you confidence to walk through this world, dealing with all kinds of people, with your head held high. It will enable you to follow your heart and do what God leads you to do without becoming emotionally upset when people do not agree with you or your choices. The more firmly you are rooted in your identity in Christ, the more you will realize that you are not lacking in any way. You have—and are—everything in Him.

Prayer of the Day: Thank You, God, that my identity is in You. Help me grow deeper in the identity You give me.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – A Hint of Hesed

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Read Ruth 1:6

Hesed is a beautiful and complex Hebrew concept that no single English word can fully convey. It is a multi-faceted relational term, encompassing the ideas of loyalty, faithfulness, goodness, mercy, and love. While hesed presumes emotion, it is primarily an action. Hesed acts to address an urgent need for the recipient. A more powerful person will often act on behalf of a situationally helpless beneficiary.

Of course, God is the source and primary demonstrator of hesed, but the word is also used in Scripture to describe uncommon human love. We pause here because hesed will become a major theme throughout the narrative. Verses 1–5 have already established the setting of the book of Ruth. We have met the initial cast of characters and learned the central dramatic question: Will Naomi be redeemed? These verses left Naomi in the most desperate state—alone and destitute in an alien land.

Then, verse 6 brings a hint of hope. A hint of hesed. Today we are focusing on this key verse—the first place in the book where we see God’s care and lovingkindness at work. It is precisely in Naomi’s moment of deepest despair that important news reached her. The Lord had provided for His people back in Bethlehem. This is the first time Yahweh is mentioned in the story, and His hesed character is on full display. He had not forgotten His people. Since no repentance on the part of Israel is mentioned, this act of covenantal love is best understood as a gracious gift.

Naomi’s response to this good news was decisive. She immediately prepared to return to her home. The Hebrew word for “return” can carry the connotation of restoration and recovery, hinting at the further blessing that God had in store. Naomi’s daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, joined her travel preparation without any documented discussion.

Go Deeper

When did you first hear the news of God’s hesed love? How did you respond?

Pray with Us

God, we thank You for Your provision in our lives. You give us blessings because of Your love, not because of anything we have done to earn them.

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.Lamentations 3:22

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/