Daily Archives: June 29, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Drive-Thru Prayers

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But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God.
Jude 20-21

Recommended Reading: Jude 20-25

If you drive down 6th Street in Lambert, Mississippi, on a Tuesday morning, you might see this sign in front of a local church: “Drive-Thru Prayer.” Several church members will be waiting outside for cars to pull up. “How can we pray for you today?” they ask. Both men and women have poured out their troubles and received prayer for their needs.1

It’s wonderful to know we can pray on streets and sidewalks, in offices and factories, at our homes and with our families. It’s also vital to learn to withdraw to the Lord in solitude during our daily time with the Lord. We have the Holy Spirit to help us pray. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to be “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”

When the Holy Spirit is within us, we should also be vigilant in prayer. This means to be spiritually alert, looking out for spiritual danger in our lives and the lives of others. Have you missed a few days of prayer? God longs for your fellowship! Get back to God and back to vigilant prayer.

The very act of prayer is a blessing.
Charles Spurgeon

  1. Lindsey Williams, “Drive-Through Prayer Ministry Sparks Unexpected Prison Outreach,” The Baptist Record, February 9, 2026.

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Jesus—Our Substitute

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We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:10

Today’s Scripture

Hebrews 10:1-10

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Today’s Devotion

As the US Civil War (1861-65) dragged on, both sides resorted to conscription (the draft) to fill their ranks. Under the Confederate law, a draftee could dodge service by hiring a man who was exempt from the draft to replace him—in most cases someone under or over the conscription age. Generally, the “principal” (as one evading the draft was called) paid a fee to the government as well as a large sum to his substitute. Only the wealthy could afford substitutes.

The apostle Paul writes of the cosmic spiritual war, where “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (6:23). There was no clause or loophole that gave those with “means” some way out. But what about a substitute for us all? The writer to the Hebrews praises God, who in His infinite mercy sent Jesus to be our substitute—to bear the punishment our sin deserved, to pay our debt by sacrificing “the body of Jesus Christ once for all” so that we would be “made holy” through His substitutionary sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). We have “died with Christ,” and one day “we will also live with him” (Romans 6:8).

That’s the good news right there. Christ died for you and for me; the substitute took our place. We’re now more than simply survivors of the war. We’ve become the sons and daughters of God.

Reflect & Pray

How does it make you feel to realize that Jesus died in your place? How might you explain this good news to a friend?

Dear Jesus, I praise You for being my substitute and securing for me life eternal.

Today’s Insights

As the writer of Hebrews explains the thorough effectiveness of the sacrifice Christ made for us, he makes it clear that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (10:4). So what was the point of the sacrificial system the Hebrew people practiced for centuries? It was “only a shadow of the good things that are coming” (10:1). This is why John the Baptist declared of Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). What the slaughter of animals couldn’t do, Christ did. As a result, “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).

Learn more about the hope that resurrection gives us by reading Hunting for Resurrection Hope.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – “A nation with the soul of a church”

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Pulling together America’s spiritual heritage, strengths, and failures

We’ve finally arrived at the week of our nation’s anniversary. Over the coming days, you’re likely to see even more reminders of this country’s past, both the good and the bad. But as we reflect on the path that turned thirteen disparate colonies into the strongest nation on earth—and, yes, the United States does still hold that title, even if the gap is narrowing—let’s bring this discussion together in order to highlight the truth about how God sees America.

Last week we discussed the importance of turning control of everything we have over to God and actively recognizing his authority to use us and our possessions in whatever way he sees fit. What is true in our personal lives is true for our country as well.

Think back to the three purposes behind America’s founding: launching evangelistic missions, building a secular economic venture, and establishing Christian community. Now, let’s add to them what we have learned from Scripture about God’s judgment and blessing on the nations. Doing so will help us to gain a better understanding of the ways our actions have enabled him to bless our nation as well as the manner in which our sins that have invoked his judgment.

Continue reading Denison Forum – “A nation with the soul of a church” →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Not Home Yet

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 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. 

—Hebrews 13:14

Scripture:

I heard a story about an old missionary couple who had been serving in Africa for years and were returning home to retire. Their health was broken down, and they had no pension. As it turned out, the same steamer ship they were traveling on had a very well-known passenger, President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning home from a hunting expedition. As the passengers disembarked, a crowd of admirers gathered around. They were all there to greet the president of the United States. A band was playing, and the cheers of the crowd were deafening.

But when the missionary couple came ashore, there was no band playing for them. There was no applause. There was no one to welcome them—not a single soul to meet them. Discouraged, the husband buried his face in his hands and moaned, “God, I didn’t expect a band or a parade, but someone could have seen to it to welcome us home.”

Hearing this, his wife looked at him and said, “Now, honey, we are not home yet.”

One of the costs of following Christ is the challenge of living in a place that’s not our home. This creates an inescapable tension. We can’t ignore our earthly responsibilities. We must involve ourselves in many different aspects of life on this planet. At the same time, we can’t become too comfortable in our earthly environment. We must keep the prevailing attitudes and priorities of this world at arm’s length. And we must keep one eye trained on our forever home so that we never lose sight of our ultimate destination.

God’s Word makes it clear that believers are not home yet, but one day we will be. The author of Hebrews wrote, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come” (Hebrews 13:14 NLT).

We have no say in the timing of our eventual homecoming. God will call us home according to His timetable. Our job, until that day, is to be faithful with the opportunities and resources He has given to us. There are some people who simply “go for it” as Christians. They take risks for God. They want to do great things for Him. They give it everything they have. Then there are others who want to serve the Lord, but in a more cautious, careful manner. Some people are setting the world on fire while others are still looking for a match.

God has equipped us for our sojourn in this world. We must focus on being faithful to Him and using the gifts, opportunities, and resources He’s given us. This world may not be our home, but while we’re here, we can make a big difference in it.

 

Reflection question: How do you deal with the challenge of living day to day in a place that isn’t your home? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Doing God’s Pleasure

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by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12–13)

With an unusual play on words, in this passage we are told to give our salvation a “workout.” The Greek word is katergazomai, an interesting compound word that means to “perform.” When we are told that God is working in us, the Greek word is energeo, which is the “energy” to do work.

Paul puts it this way: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh [energeo] in us” (Ephesians 3:20). This “energizing” is an internal and spiritual resource, demonstrated most poignantly by “the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working [energeo] of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19–20). Since the energy to produce comes from the same Creator who saved us by grace, He has every right to expect us to “will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Peter taught us that God provided “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). The Thessalonian church was told that “the word of God . . . effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). And of course, “all scripture . . . is profitable . . . that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

Our objective, having been supernaturally supplied by the One who saved us, is to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:10–11). HMM III

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Give Your Soul a Rest

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. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Hebrews 4:9 (ESV)

If you have ever had a good, hard workout at the gym, you know how nice it feels to give your body a rest afterward. Your body not only enjoys the rest, it needs it. When your soul has been wounded, just like a body after a workout, it also needs a rest. Thankfully, God promises us rest for our souls in His Word. In Exodus 33:14, God speaks to the Israelites, saying: My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest

The psalmist declares: Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him (Psalm 62:1 NIV). Interestingly, the psalmist speaks to his soul in Psalm 62:5, saying: Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him (NIV) and again in Psalm 116:7 (ESV): Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. Also in Psalms is a phrase familiar to many people, saying that the Lord restores our souls (23:3). When our soul has a chance to rest, it can be strengthened and restored.

In Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus says: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (NIV). A wounded soul can be a heavy burden, but Jesus invites us to come to Him because He will give our souls the rest they need.

Many people whose souls have been wounded try all kinds of ways to feel better and find peace before they ultimately surrender to God. That can be frustrating and exhausting. Nothing and no one apart from God can ever give our soul the rest it needs.

Hebrews 4:1–3 teaches us that we enter into rest by faith, by believing God. It says: Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest.

Believing (trusting God) is the only doorway into the rest of God. The more we trust God, the easier life becomes because we find that what we commit to Him, He does take care of. He may not do it on the schedule we have set or in exactly the way we want it done, but He will always take the best possible care of us because of His amazing love for us.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me find true rest in You. Teach me to trust You fully, release my burdens, and receive the peace and restoration my soul needs, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Gifts From the Father 

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James 1:17 says, “Every good and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

Take this simple pocket prayer for you today: Dear Father, teach me to accept what you’ve given. I may not always understand the circumstances, but show me how they are blessings and give me gratitude for all your gifts. Rain your blessings on my friends and family today. Give them hope whatever they face. Thank you that your blessings never end. In Jesus name, amen.

Here’s my challenge for you: every day for four weeks pray four minutes. Then get ready to connect with God like never before.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Live in Hope

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Read 2 Peter 3:14–16

In the ancient world, sometimes people would put short sayings on their tombs like this: “Once I had an existence; now I have none. I am not aware of it. It does not concern me.” Today, many people feel the same way. This life is all there is.

Peter had a very different view. He knew the day of the Lord would come and judgment administered. As followers of Jesus, we too hold that truth, giving our lives significance and meaning. This should impact the way we live today. Peter says, “Since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (v. 14). The new heavens and new earth will be a place of righteousness (v. 13). God is preparing us to be the kind of people who belong there.

Peter supports his argument by appealing to “our dear brother Paul” (v. 15). This is a remarkable passage. It shows that Peter and Paul had the same message. Paul also spoke of the return of Christ and of God’s kindness being a reason for the delay in judgment (1 Thess. 4:13–18; Rom. 2:4). But even more remarkable is that Peter puts Paul’s writing on par with the Old Testament Scriptures. Notice what he says: “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures” (v. 16).

There is a warning here. Scripture teaches the truth, but false teachers can twist Scripture for their own purposes. We need to be on guard. This is especially the case when it comes to teaching about Christ’s return. Our focus should be like Peter’s, on how the truth of the Second Coming should lead us to repentance and a transformed life today.

Go Deeper

Have you encountered people who believe that this life is all there is? How can sharing the gospel communicate hope for their future?

Pray with Us

Father, thank You that “every word of God is flawless” (Prov. 30:5). In a world where so many people are led astray by lies, You have given us absolute truth. We praise You!

Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.2 Peter 3:14

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/