Daily Archives: August 12, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – A Source of Life

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Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well…. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
Proverbs 5:15, 18

Recommended Reading: Song of Solomon 4:15

When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, threatened to invade Judah, King Hezekiah blocked off all the springs around Jerusalem so the Assyrian army could not access water. Most famously, he blocked a spring in Gihon outside the city walls and dug a tunnel from the spring to a pool in the city to supply water for Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:1-4, 30). Known today as Hezekiah’s tunnel, tourists to Jerusalem can walk through the entire length of the 1,749-foot-long tunnel.

That historical event shows how valuable water was in the arid Middle East. Wells, cisterns, and springs were protected at all costs. Solomon used wells and cisterns to illustrate the importance of a man protecting his wife (Proverbs 5:15-20). Not only should he refresh himself from his own “well” (wife), but he should also protect his wife so that strangers will never seek refreshment from her (verse 17). A good marriage is a life-sustaining source and force.

May your marriage be nurtured and protected and be a source of life and refreshment.

There is no estate to which Satan is more opposed than marriage.
Martin Luther

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Precious Parting Words

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Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

Today’s Scripture

Matthew 28:16-20

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

My friend José was in hospice care. He’d been alert and talkative during my prior visit but a week later was now frail and speechless. I sat with José and his family anyway, hoping my presence would mean something to them. At the end of what would be my final visit, I was the last one in the room with him. I finally stood and slowly headed to the door but stopped and turned around one last time to say, “Love you,” not expecting a response. There I saw José moving his lips. He was mouthing the words “love you” in return.

A person’s parting words can leave a lasting impression. As Jesus was getting ready to return to His Father in heaven after His sacrificial death and resurrection, He assured His disciples that all authority on heaven and earth belonged to Him (Matthew 28:18). And He left them with this lasting charge or Great Commission, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (vv. 19-20). Christ also assured His followers that He would always be with them (v. 20).

Jesus’ parting words are for us today too. May we embrace His call to tell others about Him so they can experience His love and forgiveness, live for Him, and enjoy eternal life with Him in heaven. His message is too good not to share with people of all nations.

Reflect & Pray

How do Jesus’ parting words touch you? Who can you share Him with today?

Dear Jesus, please help me to share Your good news with others.

Today’s Insights

Matthew 28:16-20, which includes the Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations,” is one of several texts with similar wording. Mark 16:15 says to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Luke 24:47 states that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” In John 20:21, Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And Acts 1:8 says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

As soon as the Holy Spirit was sent on the Day of Pentecost (see Luke 24:49; Acts 2), these early believers in Christ immediately began obeying the Great Commission. Today, we’re invited to continue the mission of telling the good news to everyone everywhere.

 

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – “AI’s Scariest Week Yet” and three practical responses

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AI pioneer Demis Hassabis believes artificial intelligence will be “the most important invention that humanity will ever make.” Whether its importance will ultimately be positive, negative, or both is, of course, still to be determined.

For example, in an article titled “AI’s Scariest Week Yet,” the Wall Street Journal reports:

In tests, AI models have been foiling attempts at constraining them and behaving in unforeseen ways. In the past month, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta Platforms all reported serious breaches: their AI models escaped contained environments, got onto the internet, and hacked other companies. Anthropic’s Mythos practiced deception, while OpenAI models swapped tips on a secret message board for future exploits.

This sounds bad, doesn’t it? But what does any of it actually mean? And why does it matter so urgently to all of us?

Continue reading Denison Forum – “AI’s Scariest Week Yet” and three practical responses →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Days of Doubt, Discouragement, and Despair

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 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! 

—Psalm 42:11

Scripture:

Psalm 42:11 

It’s not unusual for sincere believers to have days of doubt, discouragement, and despair. Even the heroes of the faith struggled in these areas. Moses was handpicked by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery and to deliver the Ten Commandments. Yet, on at least one occasion, he was so overwhelmed by the consistent complaining of the Israelites that he said to the Lord, “I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!” (Numbers 11:14–15 NLT).

Elijah, after his contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, heard that Queen Jezebel had put a contract out on his life. He was so overwhelmed by his circumstances, so discouraged, so uncertain, and so filled with doubt that he said to God, “I have had enough, Lord. . . . Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died” (1 Kings 19:4 NLT).

The prophet Jeremiah struggled as well. He was ridiculed and harassed for communicating the Word of God. Because he was tired of the pressure he was facing, it made him want to stop communicating God’s Word altogether. He said, “When I speak, the words burst out. ‘Violence and destruction!’ I shout. So these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke” (Jeremiah 20:8 NLT).

Even the apostle Paul had moments when he was discouraged. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it” (2 Corinthians 1:8 NLT).

So, if we ever feel overwhelmed, the first thing we need to understand is that we’re in good company. Wrestling with doubt or uncertainty or being perplexed as to why God didn’t work in a certain way doesn’t set us apart from other believers.

The second thing we need to understand is that fear and faith are separated by a very thin line, one that often gets blurred during our walk with Christ. One moment we say, “Everything will be fine—no problem.” Then the next moment we can look at the same circumstances and find ourselves in absolute despair.

So, what’s the answer? We must recognize that we’re human, just like the great people of Scripture. We must cast our burdens on God and pray for the strength to place our problems in their proper perspective. The psalmist had that perspective when he wrote, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:11 NLT).

We can’t see the big picture of God’s work in this world. And our limited perspective is bound to cause some heightened emotions. That’s why we must place our trust in the One who can see everything and is working it all for good.

 

Reflection question: How can you keep a proper perspective when you struggle with doubt, discouragement, or despair? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – God Our Savior

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by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

“But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared.” (Titus 3:4)

Six times in the pastoral epistles Paul refers to God (evidently meaning the Father) as our Savior (1 Timothy 1:1; 2:3; 4:10; Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4). Usually, however, he and the other New Testament writers identify Jesus Christ as our Savior. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18, for example). In the same fashion, Paul relates that his commission to preach the gospel came from “God our Saviour” (Titus 1:3), while elsewhere he says his commission came “by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12).

Is this a contradiction? No! In fact, references to God as our Savior should not surprise us, for they are found in numerous places in the Old Testament (see Psalm 106:21). Furthermore, our understanding of the Trinity insists that all three persons of the Godhead are one in God. Of course, Christ made many references to the fact that He was not acting on His own but came to do “the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Paul himself appeared to be comfortable with this seeming overlap, for in one sentence he wrote, “God our Saviour . . . grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 1:3–4). Such usages further confirm that Jesus is God.

While Christ was the primary instrument of salvation as the perfect sacrifice for sin, God the Father is the source of all human salvation, and the application of the title Savior to Him is proper. Indeed, we derive great comfort as we see the role of all three persons of the Godhead involved in our salvation.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). JDM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – God Leads Us by Peace

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Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. The Lord [be] with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (AMPC)

People often do things they don’t have peace about, and then they wonder why they have big messes in their lives. If we follow God’s Word and are thankful for His direction and leading, we will enjoy blessed and peaceful lives. The Bible warns us that we will live in turmoil if we follow our own will and walk in our own ways (Deuteronomy 28:15–33).

I hear people say things like this too often:

  • “I know I shouldn’t do this, but . . .”
  • “I know I shouldn’t buy this, but . . .”
  • “I probably shouldn’t say this, but . . .”

These words reflect an uncomfortable feeling deep inside, a “knowing” that the action they are taking is not right or good for them, but they won’t surrender their wills to God’s leading. Thankfully, when we feel this lack of peace, we can decide to release our plans and submit to God’s good plan for our lives.

Prayer of the Day: I thank You, Father, that You lead me in peace. Help me be sensitive to the leading of Your Spirit as You set the course for my life. Thank You for the peace that comes with knowing You are in control and You have a good plan for me.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Absorb Spiritual Power 

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Play

A person with no input from God has the vibrancy of Shafter Lake. It languishes a few miles west of my West Texas hometown. Envision a brackish mud puddle the size of a football field. Unlike true lakes, Shafter has no pure source. No river fills to flows through it. Gas, oil, and saltwater puddle and fume. Not a pleasant sight. The lake without an entrance or exit stinks.

So does the life with no divine source. Hence the invitation of Jesus. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way” (John 7:37-38 MSG).

Like a plant absorbs light from the sun, the believer absorbs spiritual power from the divine.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – A Two-Way Street

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Read Jeremiah 29:10–20

When our kids were young, we taught them about good conversations. “When I ask a question, you answer— with more than one word. Then, you ask me a question, and I’ll respond. It’s a two-way street.”

Few biblical passages describe the two-way communication that God desires to have with His people more passionately than Jeremiah 29. This chapter is a letter from the prophet Jeremiah to the elders of the Jewish exiles in Babylon. False prophets had infiltrated the community and were communicating empty promises of quick rescue. Jeremiah wrote to provide clear instruction and an invitation to communion.

Jeremiah quotes the Lord, who begins with an honest description of Judah’s seventy-year exile. He does not sugarcoat their suffering but quickly adds assurance of His personal connection and promised deliverance. “I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place” (v. 10). God declared His sovereign care for His people: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future’” (v. 11).

Then God describes how their communication should unfold. Judah would cry out to the Lord. They would pray for deliverance. God would listen and respond (vv. 12–14). In verses 15–19, God reveals that He knew their hearts. They had been captivated by the false prophets in Babylon, who promised a swift end to their captivity. But Jeremiah contradicted these lies. God also had other plans for those who had not gone into exile. They, too, would suffer famine and plagues because they had not listened to the repeated words of the Lord. The passage finishes with this final, core admonition: “Hear the word of the LORD” (v. 20).

Go Deeper

How is our communication with God like a two-way street? How does staying in communication with God guard against false teaching?

Pray with Us

Thank you, Father, that You want us to communicate with You. When we cry out to You, You hear us, and You care. We bring You our joys, sorrows, and uncertainties.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.Jeremiah 29:12

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/