Daily Archives: September 21, 2026

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Going to the Dogs

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Yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.
Jonah 3:8

Recommended Reading: Proverbs 12:10-16

Early Methodist preachers noticed something unexpected when revival swept through parts of England. Men who had once cursed their horses, beaten their dogs, and treated animals harshly began showing gentleness even toward creatures under their care. John Wesley taught that the grace of Christ softens the entire heart. Conversion changed not only how people worshiped God and treated neighbors—it even changed how they treated animals.

When God changes our heart, it affects every relationship we have. When revival came to the city of Nineveh under the preaching of Jonah, people turned away from their evil ways and from feelings of violence. The streets became safer, and the homes became sweeter.

Have you experienced the Lord’s work in your life? Has it affected your interactions with others? It should, and as you walk with Christ, your love, joy, peace, and patience will grow.

True love is an act of the will—a conscious decision to do what is best for the other person instead of ourselves.
Billy Graham

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – The Heart of the Matter

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People look at the outward appearance, 
but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

Today’s Scripture

1 Samuel 16:6-12

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

On a teaching trip to Moscow, I decided to take the subway to get lunch. Standing in the subway car, I started whistling simply because I felt good after an enjoyable morning teaching and the day was pleasant. The passengers stared at me like I was insane. When I got back to the school, I told one of the office workers that the people were so discouraged and downhearted they stared when I whistled. She politely informed me, “Yes, their lives are very hard, but that isn’t why they stared. They stared because it’s rude to whistle in public here.”

When we make assumptions, we base them on external factors that may not have any bearing on the moment. It’s helpful to recall the story of David’s selection as future king of Israel. As the prophet Samuel considered Jesse’s eldest son, he thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord” (1 Samuel 16:6). But God told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (v. 7).

Basing judgments on appearances will lead to wrong conclusions. We do well to let God do the judging. He sees the heart of the matter.

Reflect & Pray

How do you feel when someone makes wrong assumptions 
about you? Why is it so easy to make assumptions about others?

Wise Father, please forgive me for judging people’s motives when I don’t know the truth about their hearts. Help me to entrust such judgments to You.

Today’s Insights

When Samuel saw Jesse’s son Eliab, he assumed that “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 16:6) stood before him, for he was strong, impressive, and outwardly fit for kingship. Yet God interrupted Samuel’s confident judgment with a sobering truth: “The Lord does not look at the things people look at” (v. 7). We can sometimes be quick to measure others based on outward appearance, to mistake confidence for calling and stature for faithfulness. But God searches deeper: “[He] looks at the heart” (v. 7). He alone understands the full story within each person, and He’s the only righteous judge. The apostle Paul says that “when the Lord comes,” He’ll “bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart” (1 Corinthians 4:5). Today, when we’re tempted to judge others, God can help us entrust judgment to Him, who sees the heart.

For further study, watch the daily video devotional: It’s Easy to Judge

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – “They preached God to us”

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How the West became the world’s newest mission field

For most of Christian history, missionaries have gone from the West to share the gospel with other parts of the world. But what happens when the West begins to turn its back on that same faith? As I discussed in the “God is good” section of this week’s Focus, the thousands of missionaries being sent from Africa, Asia, and other parts of the developing world to Europe, Canada, and the United States are providing the answer.

In 1900, over 80 percent of the world’s Christians lived in Europe and North America. That number is now down to 25 percent. The rest reside in the Global South, namely, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania.

Interestingly, though, the percentage of the world’s population who are Christians hasn’t really changed, falling roughly 2 percent from 34.5 percent in 1900 to 32.3 percent today. So, while Christianity has increasingly left the West, it hasn’t diminished. God has simply gone where he’s wanted.

Continue reading Denison Forum – “They preached God to us” →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Plans for Good

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 ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ 

—Jeremiah 29:11

Scripture:

Jeremiah 29:11 

In this week’s devotions, we’re going to be talking about the future. We’re not necessarily going to focus on specific events in the future, but rather on how Christians should approach and prepare for the future. Whether you’re hopeful or pessimistic about what lies ahead, you need to be aware that the Bible contains a wealth of wisdom on how to face the future as God intends.

Proverbs 27:1 sets the tone: “Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring” (NLT). Using analytics and artificial intelligence, many experts believe that they can predict future trends, opportunities, and crises. God’s Word, on the other hand, makes it clear that the future is unpredictable. Putting our ultimate faith in human intuition or AI models is foolish.

The truth is that no one knows what tomorrow will bring, let alone next week, next month, or next year. We don’t know what problems we’ll encounter or what changes will come our way. Think of the things that have happened in your life and in the world around you in just the past year. How many of them could you have anticipated a year ago? And how many of them just came out of the blue, with no warning whatsoever?

When it comes to facing the future, only one strategy makes sense. And that’s to leave it in the hands of the only One who knows what the future holds. The only One who isn’t limited by time and space, who can see eternity past and eternity future as clearly as He sees this present moment. The One who created every fiber of your being. The One who laid out a path for you that will lead to your ultimate fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction. The One who knows every step of the way on that path.

The One who said, “For I know the plans I have for you . . . They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 nlt). You’ll notice that God paints in broad strokes. He doesn’t go into detail about His plans, even though we might wish He did. Many of us would prefer to have the complete map and timeline of our life so that we can set out on our own.

But that’s not how God works. He wants us to depend on Him every step of the way. He assures us that His plans are good and that they give us hope for the future. But what shape those plans will take remains a glorious mystery. We may not know what blessings the Lord has in store for us, but if we trust in Him, we know that His grace will be sufficient. We have no reason to be anxious about what lies ahead.

I like the words of that wonderful woman of God, Corrie ten Boom, who said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” God is in control of our future. He is able to sustain us today, tomorrow, and every day we draw breath in this world.

Because God holds the future, we can face it with hope.

Reflection question: What would trusting God with your future look like in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – But God

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:4–5)

God makes all the difference! There was a time when the whole world was in bondage to sin and death. But God!

“But . . . God sent forth his Son . . . to redeem them that were under the law” (our text). Because He did, “the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). But there was a problem, for every man was still a lost sinner, deserving to die under the righteous, well-deserved wrath of a holy God. But God!

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He died for us, suffering in our place, because He loved us. The issue is not yet settled, however, for how could a dead redeemer complete the work He was sent to do? But God!

“But God raised him from the dead” (Acts 13:30). The price for sin was forever settled, so that God, in full righteousness and in mighty power, could raise His beloved Son, alive forevermore. Yes, but we ourselves are still sinful—still dying. Our very nature keeps us in bondage to sin, even though the price for our deliverance has been fully paid. But God!

“But 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 . . . . For by grace are ye saved through faith; . . . it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:4–5, 8). We cannot fully understand. But God does not require us to understand—only to believe and receive. HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Free to Fly

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The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound.

Isaiah 61:1 (AMPC)

Love offers people both roots and wings. It provides a sense of belonging (roots) and a sense of freedom (wings). Love does not try to control or manipulate others.

Jesus said that He was sent by God to proclaim liberty. As believers, that is what we are meant to do also—to free people to fulfill God’s will for their lives, not to bring them under our control.

Have you ever seen parents push their children to do things they do not even want to do just to meet the frustrated desires of their parents? Have you ever seen a person who is clingy and emotionally smothering to a new friend, because he is afraid to lose that person? Both of these examples bind rather than set free.

That is not the way true love works. Love does not try to gain personal satisfaction at the expense of others. Love will always proclaim liberty. When we love God, and when we love others, we will excitedly allow the people in our lives to follow God’s plan—not our plan—and see who they can be and what they can accomplish in Christ Jesus.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me love others the way You do—giving others roots and wings instead of trying to control them. I love You, Father, and I need Your help if I’m going to help people discover the freedom to follow You and become who You created them to be, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – God’s Soothing Touch 

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Play

When darkness descends, flee solitude. 1 Kings 19:11 (NIV): “The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’”

God wanted Elijah’s attention. Elijah obeyed and beheld a display of power. The roar of tempests bounced off the canyon walls. “But the Lord was not in the wind” (1 Kings 19:11). An earthquake sent tremors through the desert floor. “But the Lord was not in the earthquake” (1 Kings 19:11). Next came fire that leapt to the height of the trees. “But the Lord was not in the fire” (1 Kings 19:12). Then… “the sound of a low whisper” (1 Kings 19:12).

The soothing touch of God was needed for  Elijah’s season of sadness. Listen for it…listen for Him.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Ezra the Scribe

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Read Ezra 7:1–10

When movies switch back and forth in time, a caption on the screen will typically appear: “twenty years later” or “1957.” The book of Ezra doesn’t quite do that, but it does use the reigns of kings to signal transitions in time. Chapter 6 ends in 515 BC, with the completion of the temple. Chapter 7 opens nearly 60 years later, “during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia.” The author introduces us to Ezra, the godly scribe who returns to Jerusalem to teach God’s people.

The chapter then transitions to another long list of names (remember chapter 2?). This time it’s the genealogy of Ezra, recorded in order to prove his qualifications. Ezra’s lineage traces back to the first high priest, Aaron (Exod. 28–29). We also see a few familiar names. Hilkiah was the priest who ministered during Josiah’s reign, when the Book of the Law was rediscovered and revival broke out in Judah (2 Kings 22). Phinehas was the famous Levite who defended God’s name in the wilderness (Num. 25). Ezra had a heritage to be proud of!

We read that “priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants” came to Jerusalem with Ezra (Ezra 7:7). Verse 6 says “the hand of the LORD his God was on” Ezra, and the same message is repeated in verse 9: “the gracious hand of his God was on him.” What is significant about Ezra is that he was “well versed in the Law of Moses” (v. 6). He “had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (v. 10). Ezra was just what the people needed. He was a faithful priest who was devoted to learning God’s Word. This appointed man of God could teach them to follow God with their whole hearts.

Go Deeper

How is a faithful teacher a gift from God for His people? Do you have an Ezra in your life?

Pray with Us

Like Ezra, we want to study and know Your Word, God! Let us be able to say, like the psalmist, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11).

The gracious hand of his God was on him.Ezra 7:9

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/