Daily Archives: April 15, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Always Protected

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Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”
Exodus 13:17

Recommended Reading: Psalm 91:1-8

It is easy to be irritated when we encounter unexpected circumstances. But God might use such events for our protection. That’s what happened to the Israelites when they came out of captivity in Egypt.

The shortest route from Egypt to Canaan was along “the way of the land of the Philistines”—a trade route that hugged the southeast shore of the Mediterranean Sea. That road led directly to the land of the Philistines. Through Moses, God directed the people to turn south into the Sinai wilderness to avoid encountering the war-like Philistines and be destroyed or driven back into Egypt. Though the Sinai wilderness was inhospitable, the change in direction at least kept the Hebrews alive. There is no record in Scripture that the Israelites were ever told that what they considered an inconvenience likely saved their lives.

Use unexpected events as a way to thank God that every event works together for your good (Romans 8:28).

No Christian should feel under the circumstances because the circumstances are under God.
John Blanchard

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Agents of a Higher King

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Our citizenship is in heaven. Philippians 3:20

Today’s Scripture

Philippians 3:4-11

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Today’s Devotion

Anna and her husband lived in Argentina with their two children. They kept to themselves and spoke only fluent Spanish. But they weren’t Argentines. They were sleeper agents, spies who’d been born in another country. They’d mastered blending into their host culture, down to how to hold their forks. But a change in their civil registry aroused suspicion, and eventually the couple was caught. As the family was being flown to their true homeland, Anna looked at her eleven-year-old daughter. How would she break the news that they weren’t who her daughter thought?

Believers in Jesus have a citizenship even more vital. We’re agents of a higher king, for “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). The citizens of Philippi were proud of their Roman citizenship; they loyally served Rome as they lived in Philippi. Paul said their loyalty stretched even further. Their highest allegiance was to Jesus, who ruled Rome and Philippi from heaven.

Unlike Anna and her husband, we’re not working secretly against our “host country.” We’re openly working for its good. Our loyalty to Jesus prompts us to serve our neighbors and pray for “all those in authority, that we may live . . . in all godliness” (1 Timothy 2:2). With God’s help we will “seek the peace and prosperity” of our city. We will “pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers,” we “too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7).

Reflect & Pray

How might your allegiance to Jesus serve your neighbors? How might you show that help today?

Gracious Father, please help me encourage my neighbors.

Today’s Insights

The church at Philippi, established by Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:6-40), was a faithful church that actively supported his ministry (Philippians 1:5; 4:15-19). The apostle encourages the believers in Jesus to live exemplary lives “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27) even though they lived in a city that opposed and persecuted them (v. 28). Paul tells them to serve the church and the city with much joy in “the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (2:5), imitating His selfless, humble, and sacrificial servanthood (vv. 1-8). As citizens of heaven (3:20), believers are to “work hard to show the results of [their] salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear” (2:12 nlt). Because of our faith in Jesus, we’re to be “blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault’ ” (v. 15) as we serve our neighbors and pray for those in authority.

Learn how to “love your neighbor as yourself” in every aspect of your everyday life.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – “Blasphemous” social media image of Donald Trump deleted

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Denison Ministries is a non-partisan, non-profit ministry. Accordingly, I would write the same article today if the subject were any political leader or individual.

In fact, that’s my point, as I’ll explain in a moment.

As you probably know by now, President Trump posted an image Sunday evening on Truth Social depicting himself in a white robe with a bronze cape draped over his shoulders. An American flag stands on the left and the Statue of Liberty on the right, with soldiers and military jets overhead. A brilliant light glows in his left hand. Light also emanates from his right hand, which is placed on the forehead of a patient lying on a bed.

Many across the political spectrum protested the image as sacrilegious. One writer called the post “blasphemous” and “reprehensible.” Conservative pundit Carmine Sabia stated, “As a Christian, I’m offended by this, and I don’t know how any Christian would not be offended by this. There is only one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Mocking him is not OK.”

The post was subsequently deleted.

Continue reading Denison Forum – “Blasphemous” social media image of Donald Trump deleted →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – No Doubt

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 Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ 

—John 11:21

Scripture:

John 11:21 

One of the most pervasive headwinds that believers face in daily life is doubt. Our faith seems strong until certain situations or circumstances arise that make us question or rethink certain aspects of it. If Scripture shows us anything, it’s that such doubts are not unusual among God’s people.

As we saw in a devotion last week, Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus, was not one to hold her tongue. People always knew where they stood with her. According to John 11:21, after Lazarus died, “Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died’” (NLT). To put it another way: “Where were You anyway, Jesus?”

Maybe you’ve said something similar during or after some crisis in your life. “Lord, where were You when my parents divorced? Lord, where were You when we got that diagnosis of cancer? Lord, where were You when our marriage fell apart? Lord, where were You when I lost my job? Lord, where were You when my child got into trouble? Lord, where were You when my loved one died?”

Please notice that Jesus didn’t reprove Martha for what she said. It isn’t wrong to tell the Lord exactly how you feel. I think we sometimes get the idea that it’s irreverent or sinful to express our real fears or the doubts of our heart, even to God. But when we read the book of Psalms, we learn that there were many times when David and the other psalmists really “let their hair down” with God. They cried out to Him and emptied the contents of their hearts in His presence.

I’ve done it many times. In my pain, I’ll cry out to God. Sometimes the reality that my son is gone hits my heart like a sledgehammer, and I say, “Oh, God. I can’t believe this! I can’t handle this pain!” But then I’ll preach to myself and say, “Now, Greg, listen to me. Your son is alive—more alive than he ever was before. He’s in the presence of the Lord, and you are going to see him again.” And I’ll remind myself of the promises of God.

My prayers, however, are wide open and honest. I pour out my heart before God, describing my pain to Him. I put my doubts into words. I talk to Him about the things I don’t understand—the circumstances that don’t make sense, the situations, losses, and diagnoses that don’t seem fair. But I also remind myself of God’s truth. And that’s what prayer is.

God wants us to cry out to Him. He invites us to pour out our hearts before Him. David writes, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:8 NIV). That’s an invitation you want to accept.

Reflection Question: What do you do when you struggle with doubt? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Trumpet of God

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.” (Exodus 19:19)

This is the first reference to trumpets in the Bible, and it is significant that the “voice” of the trumpet was coming not from man but from God. The setting was the awesome scene at Mount Sinai when the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments for His people.

The last reference in the Old Testament to trumpets again refers to God’s trumpet. “And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south” (Zechariah 9:14).

The trumpet as used in Israel (Hebrew shofar) was made of rams’ horns and was used on many important occasions. One of the most notable was when the Israelites finally entered the promised land at Jericho. “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and . . . the wall fell down flat, . . . and they took the city” (Joshua 6:20). These were human trumpets, of course, but they were sounded with the authority of God, and God gave the victory.

We also today can speak with the authority of God if we speak His Word plainly and clearly. But “if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8).

We ourselves may soon hear the trumpet of God, for the return of Christ is drawing near. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven . . . with the trump of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). As we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, we (like John long ago) will hear a voice “as it were of a trumpet” saying, “Come up hither” (Revelation 4:1), and then “shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Have Confidence in God

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No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.

Romans 4:20-21 (AMPC)

No one believed David could defeat the giant, but David wasn’t discouraged. David had sought the Lord early, which gave him confidence in God to do what he was supposed to do that day. When David killed Goliath, he ran quickly to the battlefield and proclaimed victory in the name of the living God (1 Samuel 17:20–54).

People who rise early and seek God go forth to do what they must do with courage. Ask God for confidence to slay any giants in your life that have set themselves against God’s plan for you.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, as I seek You first, fill me with courage and confidence. Help me face every giant with faith, knowing You fight for me and lead me to victory, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – What Just Happened? 

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We are incarcerated by our past. Our low road choices, our high minded pride. We have been found guilty. Our executioner’s footsteps echo against stone walls. We sit on the floor of the dusty cell, awaiting our final moment. We don’t look up as he opens the door; we know what he’s going to say. “Time to pay for your sins!”

But we hear something else. “You’re free to go. They took Jesus instead of you.” The door swings open and the guard barks, “Get out!” And we find ourselves shackles gone, crimes pardoned, wondering, what just happened?

Well, grace just happened. Christ took away your sins. Romans chapter 3 explains that God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. What happened? Grace happened!

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Guardian-Redeemer

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Read Ruth 2:17–23

According to the Law, a guardian-redeemer (go’el) had the privilege and responsibility of protecting and restoring the rights of a close relative. This included redeeming property, freeing that relative from debt or slavery, and even avenging a relative’s death. Although the verb form of the word is used over one hundred times in Scripture, the book of Ruth gives us the most vivid example.

Today’s passage begins with Ruth threshing the barley she had gleaned (v. 17). Verse 17 emphasizes the amount of grain Ruth had procured—“about an ephah”—enough food for Naomi and Ruth to eat for an entire week. The overwhelming generosity (hesed) of Boaz was demonstrated once again.

Naomi was surprised when Ruth appeared with the ephah of barley and her leftovers from lunch. “Where did you glean today?” she asked (v. 19). But actually, she was more interested in “the man who took notice of [Ruth].” So, Ruth told Naomi about her incredible day, finishing with the man’s name—Boaz. Naomi recognized this name immediately and burst into praise. She pronounced the Lord’s blessing on Boaz. Then she proclaimed: “He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead” (v. 20). In the Hebrew, the grammatical structure is ambiguous. Was Naomi speaking of the Lord’s kindness or Boaz’s? Perhaps both. Naomi then shared the most important information. This man was a guardian-redeemer (go’el). Boaz had already redeemed Naomi and Ruth from hunger. But this new revelation adds another layer of suspense. What more is to come?

Ruth continued to glean in the field of Boaz about seven more weeks and still “lived with her mother-in-law” (v. 23). Her relationship with Boaz had not yet progressed.

Go Deeper

What did Boaz provide for Ruth as her guardian-redeemer? How does that help us understand God as our Redeemer?

Pray with Us

Merciful God, You provided for Ruth and Naomi by sending a guardian- redeemer. May we remember that You also provide for and redeem us. We praise You!

Our Redeemer—the LORD Almighty is his name—is the Holy One of Israel.Isaiah 47:4

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/