Daily Archives: June 13, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – The Great Outdoors: Nature Reflects God’s Peace

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For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12

Recommended Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13

Every single day millions of people play ocean sounds from their music streaming services for relaxation, sleep, and ambient noise. The repetitive sounds of waves crashing and receding calm us. Psychologists have noticed that recurring ocean sounds resemble actual biological rhythms such as breathing and heartbeat patterns. The Lord has built these peaceful patterns into His creation for our benefit.

It’s true that nature was diminished by Adam’s sin in Genesis 3. Weeds now grow naturally while crops must be cultivated. Natural disasters occur. But the genius of God’s creative ability still shines through. What restoring, refreshing moments we experience when we sit in the sunshine, gaze across a mountain vista, or even hear the birds chirping! Being outdoors is good for us physically and mentally. There’s value to sitting on the porch or patio watching the sunrise or sunset. Puttering in the backyard or hiking in the forest is therapy for the soul.

This summer find a way to let God’s vast outdoors bring peace and joy to you!

Spending time outside, enjoying God’s creation is good for us.
Gemma Hunt

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Dependent on God’s Strength

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My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Today’s Scripture

2 Corinthians 11:23-29

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

Tungsten is something of a paradox. It has the highest tensile strength of any pure element, making it extremely difficult to pull apart. But the Mead Metals website notes, “In terms of impact strength, tungsten is weak—it’s a brittle metal known to shatter on impact.” It’s fascinating that tungsten, the strongest natural metal, is also so weak and brittle.

Human beings display a similar characteristic. Though capable of great strength both physically and mentally, we’re easily crushed under the weight of this fallen, broken world. Paul experienced this personally. In 2 Corinthians 11, he described experiences that overwhelmed him (vv. 23-29). But God encouraged him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul resolved, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Earlier in 2 Corinthians, Paul had written, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed” (4:8). There’s hope, even though the strongest child of God knows all too well that this world is simply too much for us. We’re happily dependent on the strength of His grace if we are to endure. May we, like Paul, embrace our weaknesses so God’s power can carry us through.

Reflect & Pray

When did you experience a moment that felt like it would crush you? How will you rest in God’s strength the next time you’re in a crisis?

Dear Father, please help me to rest in Your strength to carry me through life’s crushing moments.

Today’s Insights

When we feel weak and powerless, God wants us to turn to Him. As Isaiah wrote, our “everlasting God, the Creator of the [earth],” doesn’t “grow tired or weary” (Isaiah 40:28). “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (v. 29). When we put our trust in Him, He renews our strength (v. 31).

Paul reminds us that when we turn to God in our weakness, we can rejoice because through our weakness God’s power is seen (2 Corinthians 11:29-30; 12:9). Romans tells us that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness” and “intercedes for us” even when we don’t know how we should pray (8:26). We can find hope, comfort, and joy “through him who gives [us] strength” (Philippians 4:13). God provides what we truly need to persevere and to live for and serve Him.

Learn more about how God can be our strength.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – SpaceX to make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire

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SpaceX will launch the largest public offering in history today, valuing the company at $1.77 trillion. The company’s founder, Elon Musk, owns roughly half of its stock, which would put his personal net worth at more than $1 trillion when combined with his stakes in Tesla, The Boring Company, Neuralink, and other ventures.

While Musk was already the richest man in the world, he is now set to become wealthier than the next four richest people combined. That kind of wealth is difficult to fathom, but these figures might help make the point:

  • Since he co-founded the first of his US tech and engineering companies 31 years ago, Musk has amassed an average of roughly $59,492 per minute, totaling $3.6 million per hour and $602 million per week.
  • His net worth exceeds that of 125 countries.
  • His fortune is equal to 3 percent of the US GDP.
  • He could buy every team in the NFL and the NBA with $500 billion left over.

And if you’re still having trouble appreciating just how large $1 trillion is, perhaps the best way to convey its magnitude is to think of it in terms of time. One million seconds is equal to roughly 11.5 days. By comparison, 1 billion seconds amounts to 31 years and 8 months, while 1 trillion seconds equals 31,688 years.

Continue reading Denison Forum – SpaceX to make Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – A Heart Undivided

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 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 

—Matthew 5:8

Scripture:

The apostle Paul wrote,

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:12–14 NLT)

 

This is a prime example of a person with an undivided heart. Many of us today could say, “I focus on these eight things” or “I focus on these four things,” instead of saying, “I focus on this one thing.” Such is the problem of a divided heart.

Jesus emphasized the importance of an undivided heart in His Sermon on the Mount. He said, “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8 NLT). The word pure in this context means “undivided.” In other words, blessed, or happy, are the people who have a singular focus. Happy are the people who strive to maintain a pure heart. Happy are the people who know where they’re going in life, who have priorities and live by them. Happy are the people who aren’t trying to live in two different worlds.

The apostle Peter explained why trying to live in two different worlds isn’t an option for believers: “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT).

We live in a wicked time, one in which we’re exposed to countless things that are spiritually harmful. This presents a serious problem for believers. As Paul wrote in Romans 16:19, “I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong.”

Paul makes the case for an undivided heart in Colossians 3:1–4:

 

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory” (NLT).

 

God is offering you true happiness—happiness that’s not contingent on how much you have but on whom you know. If you don’t align your life properly with God, you will always be chasing an elusive dream. But if you do align your life with Him and pursue His will, you’ll find purpose in life. You’ll find the happiness you’re seeking.

 

Reflection question: What would an undivided heart look like in your life?Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Proverbial Tongue

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)

The book of Proverbs has much wise counsel concerning the use of the tongue. It contains, for example, no less than 27 sober warnings against speaking lies! There are also at least eight condemnations of gossiping, such as “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter” (11:13).

Then there are warnings against using the tongue to criticize, slander, or hurt. A good example is in 12:18: “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” And 18:8 says, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”

Too much talking is also dangerous, as our text for the day points out, for it often results in sin. In this connection, one of the most picturesque proverbs is the following: “A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike” (27:15). The virtues of silence are graphically pointed out in 17:27–28: “He that hath knowledge spareth his words . . . . Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”

Similarly, there are many promised blessings to those who speak carefully and graciously: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (25:11). “The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning” (16:21). “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life” (15:4). “The tongue of the just is as choice silver” (10:20). “A soft answer turneth away wrath” (15:1). “A word spoken in due season, how good is it!” (15:23).

May we, indeed, learn to make our speech like choice silver, apples of gold, and a tree of life! HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength

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…Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)

Even though Satan comes only to bring destruction, Jesus came so we might have and enjoy our lives (John 10:10). I was at least 45 years old before I ever let myself enjoy my life. Because of growing up in incest and a joyless atmosphere, I developed the habit of merely trying to survive each day. It never occurred to me that one of the reasons Jesus died and rose from the dead was so we could all enjoy our lives. Due to sexual abuse, I never really got to experience being a child. God actually had to teach me how to enjoy life.

I felt guilty most of the time. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another; but it was all a result of my childhood. I had a wounded soul and needed Jesus to heal it, and He did. He gave me beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning (Isaiah 61:3).

God’s will is for us to enjoy every day of our lives. I have good news for you: Even while you are having trials and problems, you can cast the care of them onto God (1 Peter 5:7) and still enjoy your life. The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Satan does all he possibly can to steal your joy because he wants us to be weak and powerless. Don’t let him win. Enjoy life and laugh as often as you can. I’m sure the devil hates to hear us laugh.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, heal my heart and restore my joy. Help me release the past, trust You in every season, and choose to enjoy the life You’ve given me, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Life in Community

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Read 1 Peter 3:8–12

Conflict in the church is so common that some people even joke about it, like a church splitting over the color of the carpet. Indeed, church history is littered with examples of division. Even so, Jesus claimed, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

In 1 Peter 3, Peter calls the church to lean hard into this truth. Peter has been talking about how Christians relate to outsiders. Here, he shifts to address the church community. We are to be like-minded, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble (v. 8). Humility helps enable the rest with Jesus as our example. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet. Taking the role of a servant, Jesus performed a powerful object lesson. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). Following Jesus, we are to be sympathetic and loving toward one another.

When conflict arises, our tendency is to fight for our position, especially if we feel we have been treated unjustly. Yet, Peter presents a different way, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult” (v. 9). Jesus had taught Peter that believers were called to love even their enemies (Matt. 5:44). When evil was done to them, they were to repay it—with blessing (v. 9)!

Our speech should be used to build others up and bring life, not tear down and destroy (v. 10). This is only possible because of the Spirit of God at work within us. It is also grounded in the knowledge that God is sovereign, He cares for the righteous, and is “against those who do evil” (v. 12). With faith in God’s fatherly care, we can be free to love others in this radical way.

Go Deeper

Have you experienced division in the church or between members? What were the root causes? Would humility help resolve those issues?

Pray with Us

Life in community always brings challenges. Jesus, when we stumble into conflict, show us how to repay evil with blessing. Give us self-control to build up and bring life with our words and actions.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.1 Peter 3:9

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/