Daily Archives: July 29, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Formed

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My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.
Galatians 4:19

Recommended Reading: Galatians 4:17-20

It takes time to grow into the image of Jesus Christ. This reality is counterintuitive to our instant gratification culture where we can get same-day delivery for packages and instant accessibility to the world from the palms of our hands. But forming our souls does not happen at digital speed. It occurs slowly and often painfully.

The apostle Paul told the Galatians that he was laboring for Christ to be formed within them. This is the ultimate goal of our Christian experience. We want our souls and spirits to be shaped into the personality of Jesus Christ. And, for the glory of God, we want others to see this.

If you spend time with someone for a while, you can know what they’re like. Similarly, when someone spends time with us, we want them to be able to tell by our actions that we are Christ followers. Are you living in a way that proclaims your commitment to the Lord?

Spiritual maturity is marked by spiritual knowledge being put into action. 
Edward Bedore

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – The Company We Keep

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Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 13:14-20

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

A scientific study revealed that watching TV programs featuring mean characters can actually lead people to be mean. Various forms of aggression—whether outright fighting or subtle gossip—primes viewers’ brains for similar behavior. This connection is often subconscious, meaning that even shows with seemingly “harmless” jokes at others’ expense can subtly influence how we treat others. So, too, the people we choose to spend our time with will affect our behavior.

Solomon provides timeless wisdom on this important subject: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20). He implies that individuals may not achieve this wisdom alone, so they should associate with wise, God-honoring people—teachers and friends—instead of those who are foolish. Surrounding oneself with wise individuals fosters “good judgment” and helps us steer clear of “destruction” (v. 15). One scholar calls this “education by friendship.” Regular companions inevitably influence each other, for better or worse. Solomon urges us to be aware of the company we keep, recognizing that “the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life” (v. 14).

As God helps us, let’s consistently surround ourselves with people who will encourage us to revere Him, love others, and grow in wisdom.

Reflect & Pray

Why is it vital to learn from people who love others and act wisely? How can you encourage others to grow in love and wisdom?

Loving God, thank You for the people who’ve taught me wisdom, kindness, and love.

Today’s Insights

The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings penned by several people. Today’s text comes from a portion of Scripture that King Solomon wrote. Tragically, the challenge was one that he himself failed to follow. He wrote, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20). Yet he’d surrounded himself with one thousand pagan wives and concubines (1 Kings 11:3), which was forbidden by God (v. 2), and they drew Solomon away from Him: “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites” (vv. 4-5). God desires instead that we surround ourselves with those who encourage us to love Him and others.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Should Christians preach the gospel on airplanes?

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Today’s headline is not a theoretical question. A recent Washington Post article reports that “self-described evangelists are seizing the opportunity to share their faith with other passengers, whether fellow travelers asked for the word or not.”

Such passengers constitute the quintessential “captive audience.” As one airplane evangelist explains, “When I have a gift and I have a life raft, if you’re drowning, I want to give you that life raft so you can be saved.”

Jesus said of himself, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18). If everyone on earth has a terminal disease and I have the only cure, shouldn’t I do everything I can to share it? From preaching on airplanes to witnessing to diners in restaurants to knocking on my neighbors’ doors, what could I be doing that is more urgent than sharing Christ with as many people as I can?

And yet, if surveys are to be believed, 80 percent of Christians do not consistently witness, and less than 2 percent are involved in the ministry of evangelism. I think such reticence has something to do with what is in the blockbuster movie The Odyssey. Or, more accurately, what is not in the film.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Should Christians preach the gospel on airplanes? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Healing from Within

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 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. 

—Psalm 51:7–13

Scripture:

Psalm 51:7–13 

As we look at the trouble and turmoil in our country now, it isn’t hard to see that the United States is reaping the results of years of disobedience to God and His Word. We’ve worked hard to remove God and His Word from our courtrooms, from our classrooms, and from society in general.

But our society’s troubles are all symptoms of a deeper problem. Simply put, it’s the effect of sin that we’re seeing. We’ve been so careful to arm ourselves against the enemy on the outside, yet we’ve forgotten the enemy on the inside. And we’ve missed one of the most important blessings of history.

Abraham Lincoln made this proclamation in 1863: “Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” Honest Abe was right. We are rotting from within.

How will we solve this problem? Politicians can’t do it for us. While they can offer some help, their efforts won’t get to the root of the problem. The only answer is a heaven-sent spiritual awakening. The only answer is a revival.

The words of the psalmist reflect the spirit necessary for a revival. “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you” (Psalm 51:7–13 NLT).

There will never be a spiritual awakening in this nation until we believe in the one and only true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Without this, there will never be moral change or a cure for our countless social ills.

This is the message God has entrusted to believers. This is the message we must deliver to the nation as we pray for and work toward revival.

 

Reflection question: What would it look like in your life to be restored to the joy of your salvation? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – From Prayer to Praise

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by Michael Hansen

“Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” (Psalm 28:6–7)

The story of David facing fears of surrounding enemies and impending death seems to be on repeat in the Psalms. But before we allow it to become redundant, consider your own life. How often do you face trials that strain your heart with fear, worry, and doubt? Perhaps David’s life isn’t too far from your own, just with fewer spears and battle cries.

In today’s psalm, David spends the first portion crying out to the Lord for help. But for our encouragement and edification, pay special attention to the close of this installment of Scripture. David goes from heart-wrenching prayer to heartfelt praise!

Consider practicing praise throughout your daily prayer pattern. Here are several reasons why you should bless the Lord.

Join your heart today with the psalmist. Rejoice greatly and sing praises to the Lord! MH

 

 

 

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

Uncategorized

Joyce Meyer – Fullness of Joy

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You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 (AMPC)

The presence of the Lord is always with us, but we do not always recognize it or take time to be conscious of it. I think this is why there seems to be a lack of joy in the lives of many believers. There are a lot of unhappy people who are spending their lives chasing things, when nothing can keep us satisfied except God Himself.

When people are not satisfied inwardly, they usually look for some outward object to satisfy their hunger. Often they end up in a fruitless search for that which cannot fill the emptiness within. We’ve heard it said, many people spend their lives climbing the ladder of success, only to find when they reach the top that their ladder is leaning against the wrong building.

When we keep our priorities straight, we discover that everything we really need in life is found in the Lord. Seek to dwell in His presence. In Him is the path of life, the fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore.

Prayer of the Day: God, help me seek You above everything else. Teach me to find my joy, peace, and satisfaction in Your presence instead of temporary things, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – God’s Near Presence 

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God repeatedly pledges his presence to his people. To Abram, God said, “Do not be afraid…I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (Genesis 15:1 NKJV). God told Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

In the ultimate declaration of communion, God called himself Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” He became flesh. He became sin. He defeated the grave. He is still with us. In the form of his Spirit, he comforts, teaches, and convicts.

Don’t assume God is watching from a distance. Isolation creates a downward cycle of fret. Choose instead to be the person who clutches the presence of God with both hands. We can calmly take our concerns to God because he is as near as our next breath. And because the Lord is near, we can be anxious for nothing!

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – False Followers

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Read Matthew 7:21–23

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,” Jesus said, “and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” This judgment parable is marked by surprise and simplicity. Both sides express surprise to which Jesus responds simply, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (see Matt. 25:31–46).

Similar dynamics are found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7, the people condemned to hell are surprised. They say to the Lord, “Did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” (v. 22). And Jesus responds simply, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (v. 23).

How is this possible? How could people do amazing things in the name of Christ and yet He never knew them? Because there really are false teachers, false prophets, and false disciples out there! Despite appearances, their fruit is rotten at the core. Jesus warned, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven” (v. 21).

How can we tell the difference between true and false? In the context of following Christ—not one’s initial salvation—the difference is simple. “The one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” is the true disciple (v. 21; Mark 3:35). The fact is that miracles can come from supernatural sources other than God. But only true disciples obey God. That’s why “evildoers” (v. 23) can also be translated “lawbreakers.” While we can sometimes be mistaken about “fruit,” God’s judgment is perfectly accurate and just.

Go Deeper

Today is a good day for self-examination. Are you an obedient follower of Christ? Can others see it in your “fruit,” that is, your words and actions?

Pray with Us

Father, we are grateful for the assurance of our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You for saving us. Help us obey You wholeheartedly.

Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”Matthew 7:23

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/