Daily Archives: September 15, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Nerves and Knees

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He’s so ill-tempered that no one can even talk to him!
1 Samuel 25:17, NLT

Recommended Reading: 1 Samuel 25:14-19

According to a 2024 survey, 85% of all employees have had an experience with a coworker who annoyed them, and 41% wish they could tell their annoying coworker what they think about them.1

When David was a young man running for his life, he encountered an ill-tempered man named Nabal. David almost went to war against him. Only the intervention of Nabal’s wife, Abigail, kept the two men from bloodshed. God gave her the grace to be a peacemaker.

What do we do with people who get on our nerves? First, we have to look at ourselves and ask if we are the cranky and irritable one. Sometimes fatigue can create friction, and neglecting Bible study can cause our love to ebb. Second, we have to look at the other person and see if they have a need behind their nuisance. We are to consider their souls and remember that we are all children of God.

When people get on our nerves, we should get on our knees.

We are all in relationships, we all face conflicts, and we all have to learn how to navigate them so that we, and our relationships, can truly thrive.
Gary Chapman

  1. Julia Belak, “Survey Reveals 85% of Workers Have to Deal With Annoying Colleagues,” KickResume, June 19, 2024.

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Be Patient

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Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

Today’s Scripture

Ephesians 4:1-6

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

Shiro Oguni once visited a group home for adults with dementia. Heartbroken at their isolation from the hum of society, he felt there ought to be a better way. Oguni’s creative genius led to what is known as the Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, an actual restaurant with this added twist—all the wait staff struggle with memory loss. Yes, you read that correctly. Every person in that pivotal role, which requires a strong memory, suffers in that exact area. Now, from the usual business perspective, the results were poor—thirty-seven percent of the time, the guests did not receive what they ordered. But those guests also expect such problems, so they understand. After these “surprises,” apologies and hearty laughter ensue, and customers leave happy.

Paul writes, “Be patient” (Ephesians 4:2)—and we all know that’s so much easier said than done because it involves bearing with each other, a word that can mean everything from “carrying” to “enduring” to “supporting.” In other words, effort is involved. Yet if the effort has its source in God’s love as opposed to our own strength, the burden is lightened and leads to a lighthearted way of living, full of surprises and apologies and even laughter. It’s a way of living where you may not get what you asked for, but you end up getting what we all really want—“a life worthy of the calling you have received” (v. 1).

Reflect & Pray

Who are two people you have little to no patience for? How will you show them patience this week?
Dear God, I want to be patient. Please help my impatience.
For further study, read Speaking in the Love of the Spirit at odbm.org.

Today’s Insights

At the start of his letter to the Ephesian church, Paul reminds us how much God loves us: “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ . . . to adopt us into his own family” (1:4-5 nlt). To this undeserved love, the apostle urges us “to live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received” (4:1) and to manifest the Christlike virtues of humility, gentleness, patience, and love (v. 2). In humility, we “value others above [ourselves], not looking to [our] own interests but . . . to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4). In gentleness and patience, “we bear with each other and forgive one another . . . as the Lord forgave [us]” (Colossians 3:12-13). Because “God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us” (1 John 4:12 nlt), He’ll help us demonstrate His love to others by being patient with them.

For further study, read: Speaking in the Love of the Spirit

 

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Why is everyone suddenly worried about an AI apocalypse?

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“There is no subject now but artificial intelligence. Nothing else is as crucial, nothing carries dangers so imminent or implications so great for the human future.” This is how Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, a former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan and one of the most even-handed commentators I know, begins her latest article.

She closes it: “The stakes are high, couldn’t be higher.”

Artificial intelligence has been in the news for years. Why all the fervor in recent days?

“America’s Great AI Freakout”

On September 9, AI engineer Jacob Coxon posted on X: “I resigned from Anthropic today.” He warned that AI developers “are racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives.” His post sparked headlines across the week and has generated more than 170 million views as of this morning. It is notable that Coxon gave up equity in the company when he resigned, demonstrating the urgency of the crisis in his view.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Why is everyone suddenly worried about an AI apocalypse? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – The Pursuit of Weightlessness

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 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 

—Hebrews 12:1

Scripture:

Hebrews 12:1 

A professional concert violinist once was asked about the secret to her amazing performances. She replied, “Planned neglect. Anything that would keep me from practicing and playing well must be neglected.”

At first, this may seem like a harsh regimen. After all, many of the things being neglected might bring her enjoyment or temporary satisfaction. But those things weren’t her priority. What she prized most of all was being able to maximize her gift so that its impact was as powerful and as memorable as it could be.

And there’s a wisdom in her approach that shouldn’t be lost on believers. I believe that many of us could use some planned neglect in our lives because there’s a lot more junk in them than we may realize. If you don’t believe me, then try moving from one house to another. Isn’t it amazing how much junk we collect over time? The same is true in our lives. We take on things we don’t need. Periodically, we need to jettison this excess weight and let it go.

When the race of life gets difficult, we like to blame circumstances, other people, or sometimes even God. But we need to remember that if we stumble or fall, it’s our own fault.

Second Peter 1:3 says, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence” (NLT).

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (NLT). Think of it as a more active approach to planned neglect.

Periodically, we need to take stock of our lives as believers and look at the things that we’re doing with our time. We need to ask ourselves, “Is it helping me run, or is it weighing me down? Is it speeding me on my way spiritually, or is it slowing me down? Is it increasing my spiritual appetite, or is it dulling it?”

David had the right idea when he prayed, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24 NIV).

Are you race-ready?

 

Reflection question: What are some things that might be slowing you down as you run the race God has set before you? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Riches of His Grace

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

The attributes of God are characterized by the “riches of His grace.” This amazing grace led Him to shed His blood as the price of our redemption.

No wonder men have developed the familiar acrostic for GRACE—God’s riches at Christ’s expense. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Paul seems again and again to try to find descriptions for these riches. To the Romans he wrote of “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering” (Romans 2:4) and of His plan to “make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of [his] mercy” (Romans 9:23). Speaking of God’s mercy, he exclaims, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33).

The inexhaustibility of these infinite depths of grace and mercy led Paul to call these attributes “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). Desiring that all believers learn to appreciate the tremendous future they have in Christ, he prayed that “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened” so we may appreciate even now “the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:18).

Yet, marvelously rich and full though His grace is now, there is much more to come. “God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ . . . that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4–5, 7). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – An Excellent Life

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As for the saints (godly people) who are in the land, they are the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.

Psalm 16:3 (AMP)

David writes about godly people in today’s scripture, describing them as the majestic and the noble and the excellent ones. If we want to live up to this description, we begin in the mind. A noble and excellent life starts with noble, excellent thoughts. Paul echoes this idea in Philippians 4:8: Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s Word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart] (AMP).

God has called all of us to be excellent in all we do. In this way, we represent Him well to the people around us. Examine your thoughts today and embrace only the ones that are excellent.

Prayer of the Day: Father, help me to think excellent thoughts so I can live an excellent life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – The Distant Cloud 

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The promises of God glitter like diamonds on the pages of Scripture. Will we gather them? claim them? delight in them? pursue them?  Elijah did. He prayed, not just once, but seven times!

Bible study guide

Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant.  And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea” (1 Kings 18:43-44). God’s answer came as a cloud the size of a hand.  That was enough to excite Elijah.

Faith sees the distant cloud.  Faith sees promises as though they were fulfilled.  Can you see the hint of an answer to your prayer?

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Comeback Story

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Read Ezra 4:17–24

There’s a reason they don’t make movies about sports teams that dominate every opponent. That would be boring! By contrast, everyone loves a great comeback story. The team must overcome an initial obstacle, stiff opposition, or even apparent failure before the triumphant conclusion.

The chronology at the end of Ezra 4 is a bit confusing. Verses 17–23 relate to the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem. Verse 21 states, “Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order.” This order came from the Persian king Artaxerxes, who ruled from 464 to 424 BC. He is the king who received the letter recorded in verses 11–16.

The final verse in today’s reading (v. 24) jumps back several decades to discuss the status of the temple rebuilding project. It states, “Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” Temple construction had begun in 538 BC when the exiles first returned. That’s what Ezra 1:1–4:5 is all about. Temple reconstruction would stop the next year and not start again until Darius’s second year, that is, 520 BC.

To summarize, these two sections lump together two instances of successful opposition to God’s people. In 4:17–23, opposition to rebuilding the city itself succeeded. That occurred somewhere during 464 to 424 BC. In Ezra 4:24, the author reminds us of successful opposition to rebuilding the temple, which ceased for eighteen years, several decades before King Artaxerxes ordered that city construction stop. Ezra 4:17–23 sets us up for the comeback story recorded in the book of Nehemiah. And verse 24 prepares us for the comeback story starting in chapter 5. The temple will be rebuilt!

Go Deeper

What setbacks can you remember in your spiritual life? How did you respond? How did God come through?

Pray with Us

Serving You comes with certain challenges and oppositions, God. But when people oppose us, You give us grace and courage to carry on. You are worth every difficulty we endure.

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.Genesis 28:15

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/