Daily Archives: August 21, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Righteous Words

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From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
Proverbs 10:31, NIV

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 10:21-33

A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.

Try saying that three times in a row! What a marvelous, God-designed gift is our tongue! We use it for talking (even saying tongue-twisters) and for tasting and eating. It can do so much good when we use our words to encourage, to lift up, and to build up. We can use our speech to share the Gospel and lead people from the kingdom of darkness into the realm of grace. We can say, “Thank you,” “I love you,” and “How can I be of encouragement to you today?”

But the same tongue can also cause a lot of pain and trouble. As Christians, we must break our tendency to gossip, curse, lie, flatter, criticize, and brag.

Spend time each day in the Word of God, guarding your heart so that only righteous words come out of your mouth. “From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom.” The tongue reveals what the heart is storing.

A timely word—spoken at just the right time to meet a particular need—how good it is!
William MacDonald

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Faithfully Serving Others

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Discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5

Today’s Scripture

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

On a Thursday, in the church’s fellowship hall, sandwiches and watermelon slices were set out, waiting to be consumed by mourners sitting on metal folding chairs placed on stained carpet. It was a perfectly normal funeral, except for the preacher. He was a well-known speaker who has preached to stadiums full of thousands. Now he was speaking just as enthusiastically to this weekday gathering.

Paul told his protégé Timothy, “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season . . . . discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:2-5). All the duties. Not only the big ones performed on large stages with bright lights. Also ordinary, weekday duties. The speeches that won’t be recorded and broadcast for generations to come. The tasks that few will see. Do those well too.

Because someone is watching. Paul told Timothy he was serving “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead” (v. 1). Your platform may be small, but your audience could not be more important. Jesus waits expectantly for your service. Do it for Him, relying on the power of His Spirit. He will be honored as you humbly, faithfully minister to others.

Reflect & Pray

How much heart are you putting into your everyday tasks? How would God have you think about your ordinary jobs on this ordinary day?

Heavenly Father, may I serve You and others faithfully today.

You can use these six devotions help you start an ongoing conversation with the God that always shows up for His children. He desires to hear everything—every ordinary, mundane, and small detail of your life:  Praying Through Ordinary Life

Today’s Insights

While encouraging Timothy to be faithful to his ministerial calling, Paul summarized his own service for Christ and what he looked forward to after he died: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). As the apostle anticipated his departure from labor to reward (v. 6), he was conscious of what really mattered in life. Each believer in Jesus has been given different tasks to do on this earth. With the Spirit’s help, we can strive to do them faithfully. We all long to hear the voice of Christ, our Savior, say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Hope for those of us with “NAG” Syndrome

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If you’re like me, you have NAG Syndrome today. I’m not talking about a problem in my marriage (though anyone who knows my wife would blame me, as they should). Rather, I’m referring to No Authority Gauntlet Syndrome, which is when you have accountability without authority. You see a problem that needs to be fixed, but you don’t have the agency or resources to do so. It’s even worse when you’re not sure anyone else does, either.

Here are some examples in the news I’ll list without a lengthy description lest I discourage you before I have the chance to encourage you (the latter of which is the purpose of today’s article):

  • The US debt crossed the $40 trillion threshold for the first time yesterday.
  • The West is running out of interceptor missiles that are crucial in defending against attacks from Russia, China, or other adversaries.
  • A “mind-blowing” El Niño is setting warm water records in the Pacific and increasing the chances that 2026 will be the warmest year on record.
  • Some geopolitical analysts say Iran will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz without controlling it and receiving war reparations, an end to sanctions, and a US military exit from the region. It could strike US military targets in Europe if the US escalates the war.
  • Cyber warfare is increasingly targeting US water supplies. According to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, “A teenager with a laptop, a Starlink connection, and an open-weight AI model can now disrupt a municipal water or power system by identifying and exploiting old software vulnerabilities.”

Continue reading Denison Forum – Hope for those of us with “NAG” Syndrome →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Only the Best for Him

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 What can I offer the LORD for all he has done for me? 

—Psalm 116:12

Scripture:

Psalm 116:12 

A farmer who was known for his frugality owned a cow that gave birth to two calves. He said to his wife, “I’m going to dedicate one of these calves to the Lord.” Knowing his miserly ways, she was very surprised and asked which one he was planning to give to the Lord.

“I haven’t decided yet, but I’ll let you know,” he said.

A few days went by, and again she asked which calf he was giving to the Lord. “I’m still thinking about it,” he told her.

Then one day, one of the calves got sick. It grew worse and worse until one night the farmer walked up onto the porch with the calf draped over his arms. He said to his wife, “Honey, I have bad news. The Lord’s calf just died.”

Similarly, many of us tend to give God that which we don’t really want ourselves. Think about a typical day. What place do we give to the things of God? Maybe we utter a quick prayer as we roll out of bed or offer some hurried words of thanks over breakfast. Then we rush off to our responsibilities. At the end of the day, we say, “Oh, right. I’ll give God these last four minutes as I’m dozing off.”

If God is important, then why do we give Him our leftovers? God certainly doesn’t want our leftovers. He makes that quite clear in Scripture. God said to Israel, “Cursed is the cheat who promises to give a fine ram from his flock but then sacrifices a defective one to the Lord. For I am a great king . . . and my name is feared among the nations!” (Malachi 1:14 NLT).

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT).

One of the most important steps of spiritual growth is making sure that our priorities are in order. In the busyness of daily life, it’s easy to convince ourselves that pressing work responsibilities or family commitments should take precedence over our time with the Lord. But that kind of focus makes us lose sight of the interconnectedness of our responsibilities.

God rewards time spent with Him. When we give Him the choicest part of our day, He blesses the remainder. When we quiet ourselves before Him, pour out our praise, thanksgiving, and requests in prayer, and spend quality time in His Word, we are better prepared to face the challenges and responsibilities of the day.

The psalmist asked, “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12 NLT). If we let that question guide our thoughts, actions, and priorities, we will discover what it means to serve God—and to be abundantly blessed by Him in return.

God gave us His best. Let’s give Him ours.

 

Reflection question: How can you ensure that God gets the best from you?

Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Sealed by the Holy Spirit

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14)

From very ancient times it has been the custom to confirm and guarantee an agreed-on purchase by sealing the contract with a seal that could only be broken by the buyer when he was ready to take possession of his purchase.

The marvelous transaction seen by John at God’s throne in heaven references this practice. There, only the Lamb is found worthy to open the seven-sealed scroll on which is recorded the title to the whole creation. “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the [scroll], and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” (Revelation 5:9). The purchase price had been paid on Calvary, and the resurrected Lamb had come to claim His possession.

And we are part of that possession! The price has been paid for our redemption from sin’s bondage, but we have not yet entered into the inheritance that our great Redeemer has promised us. In the meantime, our individual title deed, as it were, has been sealed by none other than the Holy Spirit. He is not only the seal, but also the “earnest”—that is, the down payment, the earnest money—who guarantees the total “redemption of the purchased possession.”

His personal presence in our lives is our assurance that the full promise will be fulfilled, and we are urged to “grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). He “hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:22). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Step Out of the Boat

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Adapted from Battlefield of the Mind

And in the fourth watch [between 3:00—6:00 a.m.] of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, It is a ghost! And they screamed out with fright. But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid! And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.

Matthew 14:25-28 (AMPC)

Let’s focus for a moment on this part of a well-known New Testament story. The disciples were in the middle of the Sea of Galilee at midnight when they looked up and saw Jesus walking on the water. That is amazing, but as the story continues, Matthew wrote of the boisterous winds, yet Jesus kept walking on top of the waves.

The disciples were afraid—and that makes sense. Who would expect to see anyone walking on top of the water, even under the best of conditions?

Then Jesus cried out and told them, Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid! (Matthew 14:27 AMPC). This is the powerful moment in the story. What will happen now? Do they move over and give Jesus a place to sit in their boat? Should they get out and join Him on the waves? Do they huddle in fear, reminding themselves that human beings can’t walk on top of water?

Peter was the only one who responded in true faith. And let’s make no mistake here. For Peter to say, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water (Matthew 14:28) was a tremendous act of faith. You’ll notice that he was the only one who spoke that way.

That was a powerful moment of faith. It was a defining moment that pointed out Peter’s great faith and belief in Jesus, the Anointed One of God. He was so convinced that Jesus truly was the Son of God that he was ready to get out of the boat and walk on top of the water with Him.

How many of you would get out of the boat? I emphasize this because it would be easy enough to say, “Lord, I see You walking on the water, and I believe I could walk on the water alongside You.” But would you? Do you have the kind of faith that would enable you to step out of the boat? Of the 12 disciples, Peter was the only one who took that step of faith.

I’m not citing this example of faith to discourage you or to make you feel that your faith is somehow lacking. I’m simply pointing out the great triumph of a man who dared to believe! Peter believed so strongly that he took a step of faith over the side of the boat and started walking toward Jesus.

Most of us know the rest of the story. Some might even smirk, saying, “Big deal! He got out of the boat, started walking on the water, got scared, and began to sink.” And he also received a rebuke from Jesus: O you of little faith, why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:31 NIV). But think about it—Jesus didn’t say those words to the other disciples. He directed the words “you of little faith” to Peter. The implication is the others had no faith at that moment.

Think of these words not just as words of rebuke, but also as words of encouragement to Peter, the one who had enough faith to step out of the boat and begin walking on the water. But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me [from death]! (Matthew 14:30 AMPC).

What if you saw this as Jesus’ great encouragement, not just to Peter, but also to you? What if you looked at this event as Jesus saying to you, “You started so well. You believed Me and got out of the boat. You did it! You walked on water just as I did. But then you allowed doubt to enter, and when that happened, you began to sink.”

This powerful story is a wonderful reminder that Jesus is always with you, and He will suspend natural laws to reach out to you and care for you.

Prayer of the Day: Lord Jesus, please forgive my lack of faith. Increase my faith in Your Word and help me to trust You enough to follow Your leading. When the circumstances around me threaten to pull me into deep waters of doubt, help me to focus on You. I ask these things in Your holy name, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Pray It Through 

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No verse in the Bible promises the absence of struggle. Quite the contrary. Scripture is stained with tears, problems, injustices, immorality, and wars. Tough times come with life. But troubling times don’t have to take the life out of your life.

God gives us this invitation: “Pray it through.” It is what troubles you, fatigues you, shames you. It won’t have the last word. God will. Prayer slaps handcuffs on the culprit. Prayer marches the problem into the presence of God, the One who can solve it.

The prophet Elijah is remembered as an example of radical prayer. He is living proof that “when a believing person prays, great things happen” (James 5:16 NCV).

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – New Community

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Read Acts 2:1–47

If you could time-travel to any point in biblical history, which would you choose? Pentecost would be on my top ten list as a communication event that changed the course of history. Acts 2 records this pivotal moment in history when God sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples with a rushing wind and tongues of fire (vv. 2–3). The Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in other languages (v. 4).

Jews from every country were in Jerusalem—providing a diverse audience (v. 5). They all gathered to hear the disciples’ message. Imagine their amazement when they heard the disciples speaking in their own languages (vv. 6–12). At that moment, the linguistic fracture of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11) was reversed and redeemed through the work of the Spirit. Where Babel scattered the people through confusion, Pentecost drew people together through understanding.

Peter, who just weeks before had denied Jesus (John 18), stepped forward to boldly proclaim the gospel. He began by connecting the tongues phenomenon to Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28–32). Then he shared the gospel narrative—just as Jesus had called him to do (Acts 1:8). He confirmed the identity of Jesus through His miracles and signs (v. 22). He recounted the crucifixion as part of God’s redemptive plan (v. 23). And he declared Jesus’ victorious resurrection from the dead (v. 24). Peter finished: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (v. 36).

Peter’s message pierced people’s hearts. They asked: “What shall we do?” (v. 37). Verses 42–47 describe this new community that God formed around their teaching, worshiping, and fellowship.

Go Deeper

How did the Holy Spirit show up at Pentecost? What was the result? Ask God to empower you to communicate the gospel to someone in a way they will understand.

Pray with Us

Holy God, thank You for the free gift of salvation You have given us through Jesus! May we share the news of the gospel with boldness and delight, so that all may be saved.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.Acts 2:4

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/