All posts by broboinhawaii

Bible believing christian worshiping God in Hawaii and Pennsylvania
Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – The Help God Provides

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Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Today’s Scripture

Hebrews 1:7-14

Listen to Today’s Devotion

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Today’s Devotion

When commercial fisherman Scott Thompson fell out of his boat one moonless night in the Santa Barbara Channel off the California coast, he didn’t know if he’d survive. He swam hard after the boat, but the motor was running and he couldn’t reach it. So he attempted to swim to a distant oil platform in the darkness. Beginning to lose hope, Thompson heard a splash in the cold water near him. A harbor seal swam with him for a while, nudging him along toward the platform. Five hours later, Thompson completed the long swim and described the seal as “an angel” sent to help him.

The writer of the book of Hebrews describes angels as “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). The passage highlights the greatness of Jesus and emphasizes that angels—wonderful and glorious beings that they are—exist to further His purposes in saving us. Jesus sustains “all things by his powerful word” (v. 3).

All around us is an unseen reality in which God sends angels to aid those who have gladly received the good news of Jesus. Sometimes our nights may be long, and we may wonder if we can keep going. But He’ll always give us the help we need—help that will nudge us on in Him.

Reflect & Pray

In what ways has God sent you unexpected help? How might He use you to help others today?

I praise You today, loving God, knowing that because You sustain all things, I’ll one day be able to praise You forever!

Today’s Insights

Hebrews says that angels are “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (1:14). They were created by God to worship and praise Him (v. 6), to serve as messengers (Revelation 1:1), and to protect His people (Psalm 68:17). In 2 Kings 6, when the Arameans surrounded the Israelites, the prophet Elisha reassured his frightened servant, “Don’t be afraid . . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (v. 16). The servant’s eyes were opened, and he “saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (v. 17)—a vast army of angels.

Psalm 91:11-12 says, “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Today, no matter what we’re going through, we can be assured that God loves and cares for us and will provide the help we need.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Bystander saves lives at In-N-Out Burger shooting in Idaho

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A twenty-four-year-old gunman opened fire in a crowded In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, last Saturday. He killed three people and wounded seven others; two of the injured were in critical condition as of Sunday. He then took his own life after coming under fire from a bystander and an off-duty Idaho state trooper.

At this writing, authorities have not yet established a motive for the shooting. But they are praising thirty-five-year-old Jordan Salinas of Kimberly, Idaho, who returned fire after the shooting began. “He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways,” Salinas said. “There’s a task that needs to be done, and we’re the ones who need to do it,” he added.

Police said Salinas and the off-duty trooper who responded “are true heroes in our community. They diverted the shooter and without a doubt saved many lives.”

If you were at the restaurant last Saturday and the heroism of the two men saved your life, you might be thanking God today for their bravery and his protection. If you love one of the people who was killed or wounded, however, you might be grateful for the men who protected others, but grieving that their protection and God’s providence did not extend to the ones you lost.

We have all been in both groups. I thanked God when our older son and youngest grandson survived cancer, but still grieve that my father died of heart disease at the age of fifty-five. You can cite times when God acted with benevolence in your life and times when it seemed he did not.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Bystander saves lives at In-N-Out Burger shooting in Idaho →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Righteous and Just

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 For the righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face. 

—Psalm 11:7

Scripture:

Psalm 11:7 

God reveals Himself to us in His Word. We know that God is holy because in Isaiah’s vision of Him, heavenly creatures declare, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (Isaiah 6:3 NLT). We know that God is righteous and just because Psalm 11:7 says, “The righteous Lord loves justice” (NLT). Holiness describes God’s character; righteousness and justice describe how He deals with humankind.

These perfections that we find in Scripture aren’t just the result of God’s people seeing what they want to see in Him. Even the enemies of the Lord recognized His perfect attributes. In the book of Exodus, we read about Pharaoh, who hardened his heart by holding on to the children of Israel after the Lord had instructed him to release them. When the Lord sent a series of plagues to Egypt, “Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron. ‘This time I have sinned,’ he confessed. ‘The Lord is the righteous one, and my people and I are wrong’” (Exodus 9:27 NLT).

From the very first verse of the Bible, we see that God is omnipotent, all-powerful. If He were all-powerful without being righteous, He would be just a celestial tyrant doing whatever He wanted wherever He wanted to do it. If He were righteous without being powerful, He would be unable to execute justice on this earth. But the good news is that God is all-powerful—and He is righteous. He can do whatever He wants, but He does the right thing in every situation.

That includes the exercise of His justice. Unlike human justice, God’s justice is perfect. He doesn’t show favoritism. He doesn’t look the other way at certain offenses. He demands that wrongdoing and wrongdoers be punished. Scripture certainly bears that out.

In Isaiah 51:4–5, God says, “Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm” (NLT).

Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” (NLT).

And in Psalm 140:12, David confidently proclaims, “But I know the Lord will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor” (NLT).

God’s justice leaves no room for appeal because He is righteous. Everything He determines is, by its very nature, perfectly just. Only our perfect heavenly Father can judge perfectly.

And He wants His people to prize justice as well. Proverbs 21:3 says, “The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices” (NLT). And Isaiah 1:17 instructs, “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows” (NLT).

Justice matters to the Lord, and it must matter to us.

 

Reflection question: What would seeking justice look like in your life?

Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Lord God of Heaven

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” (Ezra 1:2)

It is noteworthy that the words of this verse are almost the same as in the last verse of 2 Chronicles. This indicates that Ezra the scribe (who wrote the book of Ezra) was also the compiler and editor of the two books of Chronicles.

Even more noteworthy is the fact that the great emperor Cyrus seemed to acknowledge that the God of Israel was not just a tribal god, as many have claimed, but the Lord God of heaven—that is, Jehovah Elohim—recognizing Him as both Creator and Redeemer of the world. The Persians were largely followers of Zoroaster, but his religious system did bear some resemblance to the true monotheism of Israel.

Cyrus had been called, and even named, by God long before he was born (Isaiah 44:28–45:6). When he conquered Babylon, the prophet Daniel was there (Daniel 6:28). The Jewish historian Josephus wrote that Daniel even became prime minister under Cyrus and was able to read Isaiah’s remarkable prophecy to him, thus influencing him to send the Jews back to Jerusalem.

There have also been other Gentile rulers who acknowledged God, even before Christ came. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, once hating God, finally was forced to confess that He was “the most High” and “King of heaven” (Daniel 4:34, 37). Another was the Queen of Sheba, who recognized “the LORD thy God” (again Jehovah Elohim, 1 Kings 10:9). Then there was the king of Nineveh and Assyria, who believed in God at the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:6–10). In fact, in the ages to come “the kings of the earth” will all “bring their glory and honour” to the Lord in the holy city (Revelation 21:24). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How to Walk in the Fruits of the Spirit

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By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:8 (ESV)

The apostle Paul writes that he prays for the Colossians to walk in a manner worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10 AMPC, emphasis mine). As our souls are healed and we become stronger, we are better able to bear the fruit He wants us to produce.

Galatians 5:22–23 lists the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Recently, we looked at the first four, and today we will look at the remaining five of these and consider how God has put them in us and now wants us to bear their fruit.

  • Kindness: The psalmist says that God’s “lovingkindness is better than life” (Ps. 63:3 NKJV), and it is His kindness that leads people to repentance (Rom. 2:4). The Bible teaches us to “be kind to one another” (Eph. 4:32) and to “put on kindness” (Col. 3:12). Because Jesus lives in you, the ability to be kind is in you also.
  • Goodness: The Lord is good! This is repeated often throughout the Bible (Exod. 33:19; 1 Chron. 16:34; Pss. 106:1, 107:1, 119:68). The psalmist encourages us to “taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Ps. 34:8). He also praises God by saying, “Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you” (Ps. 31:19). The apostle Paul urges us: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Rom. 12:9). The best way I know to enjoy each day is to commit to being good to all people everywhere you go.
  • Gentleness: The Scriptures compare Jesus to a lamb, which is a very gentle animal. In 2 Corinthians 10:1, Paul appeals to the Corinthians “by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” He also writes: “So, as God’s own chosen people, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Col. 3:12 AMP), and “Let your gentleness be known to all” (Phil. 4:5 NKJV).
  • Faithfulness: He who calls you is faithful. When God’s presence passed before Moses, God said this about Himself, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exod. 34:6 ESV). Scripture teaches us: “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you” (Prov. 3:3 ESV), and “Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart” (1 Sam. 12:24 ESV).
  • Self-Control: Throughout God’s Word, God withholds anger. Proverbs 16:32 says that a patient person is better than a strong warrior, and that someone with self-control is better “than one who takes a city” (NIV). Some people say, “I just don’t have any self-control,” but if they have received Jesus into their heart, that statement is inaccurate. They do have self-control and simply need to keep exercising it and watch it get stronger and stronger.

As a believer in Christ, you can be confident that everything that is in Him is in you. Believing this truth is the beginning of a new way of living. We don’t have to struggle as we try in the flesh to produce these things, but we believe we have them and let each one flow as needed.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me bear the fruit of Your Spirit in every area of my life. Let kindness, goodness, and self-control flow naturally through me as I walk with You, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Enter…Elijah 

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Ancient Israel had the scruffy hills of Gilead, and somewhere in this rugged land Elijah came to believe in a mighty Yahweh who refused to share his glory with others. He confronted Ahab and Jezebel with a surgical strike. Baal was regarded as the god of fertility, yet Baal’s veil was about to be yanked back. Jehovah has declared a drought.

Does Elijah have some encouragement for our generation? Absolutely! The story of Elijah offers us hope. Elijah shows us that one person following a living God is greater than hundreds of people praying to a lifeless one.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – God Confuses Language

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Read Genesis 11:1–9

The international terminal at an airport is an interesting place to people watch. It’s a unique space where people from around the globe converge for a brief time. You can hear multiple languages. You see the whole range of human emotion—sorrow, fear, confusion, anticipation, ambition, stress, excitement, joy. In some ways, it gives us a glimpse of Babel.

In Genesis 11, we see the results of sin and pride as the population grew and the people migrated east. Their collective sin had previously provoked a worldwide flood (Gen. 6–9). And now—just decades later— their perverted use of language and power drew a disciplined response from the Lord.

Language is a gift from God that facilitates communication and fosters communion. One primary purpose for language—as God intended—is to give Him praise (Ps. 34:1). However, in the land of Shinar, the people were using their common language to glorify themselves. They collaborated to build a city and a tower that would garner status and praise. The Moody Bible Commentary calls Babel “the first expression of secular humanism.” Human prominence was pursued while divine purpose was ignored.

The LORD “came down” to see their city (v. 5). He was grieved by the human-centered trajectory that the people had established, an act that predicted even greater idolatry in their future. As tall as the tower may have been, it could not reach His heights.

So, for their own good, God confused their language, forcing them to scatter (vv. 7–9). Nevertheless, His heart still yearns for the unified worship of all nations and tongues as prophesied in Zephaniah 3:9: “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”

Go Deeper

Why did God confuse the language at Babel? How have you experienced the consequences of a “language barrier”?

Pray with Us

Lord, nothing that we can ever accomplish could reach the heights of Your glory. We praise You for this! We long for the day when people from all nations and tongues will worship You in unity.

If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.Genesis 11:6

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Seeking Wisdom

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NEW!Listen Now

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

Recommended Reading: 1 Kings 3:4-14

Imagine you are facing the most daunting challenge of your life—and you feel totally unprepared to handle it. Then imagine God invites you to ask Him for anything you need. What would you ask Him for?

This was the experience of Solomon, David’s son, when he was about twenty years old and became king. What would you have felt as a twenty year old in Solomon’s position? God came to Solomon in a dream and told him to ask for whatever he needed (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon’s reply to God was humble and wise. He asked God for “an understanding heart” to be able to judge the people of Israel as king. Because Solomon did not ask for long life, riches, or victory over enemies, God granted his request and gave him “a wise and understanding heart” (1 Kings 3:9, 12).

The apostle James wrote that we have the same privilege—to ask God for wisdom whenever we need it. If you are facing a challenge in your life, ask God for wisdom and expect to receive it.

Of all the pursuits open to men, the search for wisdom is most perfect, more sublime, more profitable, and more full of joy.
Thomas Aquinas

 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Waiting for God

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The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. Lamentations 3:24

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14

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Today’s Devotion

Kazuto and his wife, Migiwa, waited with trepidation for the ultrasound exam results. Migiwa’s liver had been failing for more than nine months, and she urgently needed a liver transplant. Kazuto could donate a portion of his liver to his wife, but there was one condition: Migiwa’s heart had to be strong. The last ultrasound had shown slight improvement to her heart. Would it show more this time?

To their disappointment, the results were the worst yet. Kazuto shared, “After I comforted my crying wife, I also cried by myself. But . . . as Henri Nouwen writes, waiting isn’t a waste of time because God is nurturing something wonderful . . . while we wait, even though we can’t see anything on the surface.”

Kazuto’s confidence in God paralleled that of King David, who wrote, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). Because God is our “light,” “salvation,” and “stronghold” (v. 1), we can trust Him to offer hope amid darkness (v. 3), comfort us during our trials (v. 13), and secure us safely in “his dwelling” (v. 5).

When God seems to delay in answering our prayers, we can still put our complete trust in His unchanging attributes. As we bring our heartaches to Him, let’s also instruct our hearts: “Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14). He is with us and always working for our good.

Reflect & Pray

What are you waiting for from God? Which of His attributes can you cling to as you wait?

 

Loving Father, please help me to be strong as I wait for You.

Today’s Insights

David’s anxious prayer in the second half of Psalm 27 (vv. 7-12) must be read against his unwavering proclamation at the beginning of the psalm: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life” (v. 1). The psalmist chose to focus on God rather than on his difficult circumstances. He speaks of Him as his light, which guides him safely into God’s presence and goodness. God is also his salvation, delivering him from dangers and death. He’s his stronghold, providing a strong, fortified place for his refuge and security. Knowing who God is, David rhetorically asks, “Of whom shall I be afraid?” (v. 1). The psalmist didn’t fear, for he knew God wouldn’t abandon him. Today, when we’re waiting on God, we can put our trust in Him and “be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (v. 14).

For further study, read The Sword, the Son, and a Rest for God’s People.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Sophie Cunningham and the transgender sports controversy

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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham is one of the best-known players in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and a committed Christian. She was re-baptized as an adult prior to this season and regularly speaks up about her faith on social media.

She has been in the news recently, however, for a subject that is relevant whether we follow women’s basketball or not. In a long profile published by ESPN, a few sentences in a single paragraph caused a cultural uproar. Here’s the quote:

I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I’m like, “I never once said that.” I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Sophie Cunningham and the transgender sports controversy →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Delighting in the Law of the Lord

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 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 

—Psalm 1:1–3

Scripture:

Psalm 1:1–3 

Many years ago, a young man named Billy Sunday placed his faith in Jesus Christ. An older believer then gave Billy some advice that he never forgot. The man said, “Billy, there are three simple rules I wish you would practice in life as a Christian. If you do, no one will ever write the word backslider after your name. Billy, take fifteen minutes each day to let God talk to you. Take fifteen minutes a day to talk to Him. And then spend fifteen minutes a day telling others about the Savior.” Billy Sunday followed this advice and became one of the most powerful evangelists in the history of the church. Billy Sunday recognized the value of moving forward.

That’s the central message of Psalm 1: Move forward. “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (verses 1–3 NLT).

You’ll notice that the people described in these first few verses aren’t passive or stationary. They understand that making a difference for the Lord involves more than not doing bad things. It also involves moving forward in the right things. That’s why “they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night” (verse 2 NLT).

They don’t simply “do their duty” when it comes to God’s Word. They don’t opt for the “hunt and peck” method of reading a little here and a little there with no genuine concern for context. They don’t return to it sporadically and then wonder why it’s not having much of an impact on them.

Instead, they delight in Scripture. They meditate on it. They find joy, meaning, purpose, and direction in it. They recognize its wisdom and actively look for ways to apply it to their lives. They ask key questions about the passages they read, questions such as “Is there any sin here for me to avoid?” “Is there any promise for me to claim?” “Is there any victory to gain?” “Is there any blessing to enjoy?”

Reading Scripture in this way creates a real sense of anticipation. Instead of treating Bible study like a classroom assignment, we approach it like the treasure hunt that it is. We embrace the awe-inspiring reality that we have access to the words of God Himself—and that those words have the power to change our lives.

 

Reflection question: What would delighting in and meditating on God’s Word look like in your life? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Infinite Wisdom and Knowledge of God

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)

One of the most amazing of the divine attributes is God’s omniscience. He not only understands all the complexities of relativistic science and higher mathematics, but He ordained them in the first place! The same applies to every other discipline of study and activity.

And He knows all about each of us! “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off” (Psalm 139:1–2).

As far as human knowledge is concerned, it is vital to know that “the fear of the LORD” is the very foundation of “knowledge” and of “wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10). Many of the greatest scientists of the past acknowledged that they were seeking merely to “think God’s thoughts after Him.”

How foolish it is to ignore or to oppose God! There are only four places in the Bible that speak of God laughing (Psalm 2:4; 37:13; 59:8; Proverbs 1:26), and each of them describes His response to such folly.

Instead, we should marvel at all the wonders of His creation and providence. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

Today’s text above actually refers explicitly to the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten and eternal Son of God. It is He who has given us access to the Creator God and therefore access to divine knowledge and understanding. Part of the still-effective dominion mandate (Genesis 1:26, 28) is to learn what we can about God’s creation, always remembering that Jesus insisted that—no matter what unbelievers say—“the scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How to Win the Battle Against Unbelief

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Adapted from Battlefield of the Mind

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (AMPC)

Sometimes we unintentionally give the wrong impression about spiritual warfare. We know that our enemy is the devil and that we must fight daily to win, but that’s not everything. If the Christian life were nothing but battles, it would be discouraging to fight every hour of every day.

I would feel that I could never relax because as soon as I did, Satan would sneak back again. That’s not the picture I want to present. The Christian life is one of joy and peace. God gives us a great sense of fulfillment, and we’re at rest because we know we honor Him by the way we live.

Peter wrote to Christians about their enemy—warning them and urging them to be vigilant, which is where we often put the emphasis. Just before he wrote those words, however, he said, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully (1 Peter 5:7 AMPC). As we read that verse, it tells us that we must remind ourselves of God’s love for us—God cares. Because God cares, we can trust Him to take care of us.

We need that as part of our foundation. It’s not that we don’t have faith; it’s that Satan tries to destroy our faith with lies like: “If God really cared about you, would He make you go through this trial?” “If God truly loved you, would He treat you this way?”

Those questions that the devil throws at you are full of lies. If he can make you think you’re not loved or that God doesn’t have your best interests at heart, he can plant tiny seeds of unbelief. God wants you to remain strong and true like Abraham and other believers in the Bible.

One of the things I’ve learned from ministering to thousands of people is that the terrible and negative problems striking our lives are not what cause us to turn away from God. No, it’s our reaction to those situations that makes the difference. Think of Abraham again. When God promised to give him a son, he was an old man. He could have said, “How could that possibly be? I’m old and long past being able to father a child.” Instead, he said, “That’s wonderful! I believe.”

When struggles, trials, and hardships come your way—and they always do—you have a choice. You can heed Peter’s words and give God your cares, worries, and concerns. No matter how dark the night or how evil the situation, you must remind yourself that God is not only present with you in those situations, but He also loves you and will provide for you.

Your job is to be vigilant during those difficult times. You can rejoice in God’s love and blessings when all is going well—and that’s what God wants you to do. But in the dark moments, you need to remind yourself that the devil stalks you and wants to defeat you.

One more thing. Sometimes you may wonder why you have so many trials and problems. Is it possible that the devil may have singled you out because of God’s great plan for your life? The more faithful you are, the more you have to resist him and his lies of unbelief.

Prayer of the Day: Dear heavenly Father, the enemy often tries to fill me with unbelief and make me deny Your powerful love for me. But like Abraham, I stand firm on Your promises. Thank You for the comfort I find in Your assurance that You’re always with me, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Ahab and Jezebel 

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“Ahab was king over Israel for twenty-two years. Ahab son of Omri did even more open evil before God than anyone yet—a new champion in evil!” (1 Kings 16:29-30 MSG).

There’s a reason parents don’t name their kids Ahab or Jezebel. Ahab not only neglected the faith of his fathers, but he also embraced the false gods of his enemies. Yet this evil king did more—he married Jezebel.  She was vile, she endorsed a religion that promoted temple prostitution and child sacrifice, she and her husband systematically killed the Lord’s prophets. The Ten Commandments were treated as ten suggestions, and the temple of worship was a relic of history.

God, however, will not sit idly while his covenants are trashed. He will not stay silent while his will is mocked. But he will act.

 

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Communication Corrupted

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Read Genesis 3:1–24

What happens when you are accused of wrongdoing? Do you own up to your error or blame someone else? In the opening chapters of Genesis, God established true, authentic, and meaningful communication. But in chapter 3, communication breaks down. The pure communion between God and man, as well as husband and wife are corrupted.

In his book, The Trauma of Transparency: A Biblical Approach to Interpersonal Communication, J. Grant Howard examines Genesis 3 and the devastating impact of the Fall. He highlights how Adam and Eve responded to the presence of sin and shame by hiding themselves, hurling accusations, and telling half-truths. As soon as Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (v. 6), “the eyes of both of them were opened” (v. 7). They understood good from evil and felt their own sense of guilt. Their nakedness became a source of shame, so they used the most available resource to create a covering to camouflage their vulnerability.

When the Lord God came walking through the garden, their embarrassment and insecurity drove them to another level of concealment. They tried to hide from Him (v. 8) —a pitiful and pointless endeavor. The Lord called: “Where are you?” (v. 9)—knowing full well what had happened. Adam responded, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (v. 10). The open communion they had previously enjoyed was now irreversibly damaged. God mercifully responded—not with condemnation—but with questions, gently paving the road to confession (v. 11). Both Adam and Eve finally admitted to eating the fruit, but only after pointing the finger at another. They both deflected the blame to alleviate their shame.

Go Deeper

In what ways have you responded to guilt? What do we learn from today’s passage about communicating when we are at fault?

Pray with Us

Merciful Father, thank You for being gentle to us in our shame and guilt. When we are tempted to condemn others, remind us of Your perfect example. Guide us in paths of righteousness!

But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”Genesis 3:9–10

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Created for Communion

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Read Genesis 2:15–25

The Latin word communis means “common” or “shared by all.” It is the root for communication, community, communion, and commune. Community can form around our shared interests, values, purpose, resources, or responsibility. Communis implies a reciprocal relationship; community members give and receive within this shared culture.

The concept of communis is central to the story of creation. In Genesis 2:15, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” According to The Moody Bible Commentary, the emphasis here was not on the gardening assignment—as is often communicated. Instead, God is the subject, and His main action is the “taking” and “putting” of Adam. In the Hebrew, the verb for “put” means “to set him at rest.” This rest God intended for Adam in the Garden of Eden was not primarily a physical rest. After all, Adam was given work to do! Rather, this rest was “an all- encompassing rest of faith.”

The Moody Bible Commentary continues: “God immediately placed him in that state for which man was originally intended, the state of being in full relationship with God, the state of being at spiritual rest in and with Him.” Thus, man was created to commune—primarily with God.

However, God also created humans to live in community. The only aspect of creation that God declared “not good” was Adam’s lack of human partnership (v. 18). When the animals were brought before Adam, he used language to give them names—just as God had done (v. 19). But the suitable “helper” for Adam was not found, so God fashioned for Adam a perfect partner, Eve. Adam’s first recorded words are a poetic declaration of their complementary (v. 23), enduring (v. 24), and unabashed union (v. 25).

Go Deeper

Where have you experienced reciprocal community in your life? Where is God calling you to grow in communion?

Pray with Us

How easily we grow distracted and forget that we were created to commune with You, God! There is nothing better than spiritual rest in and with You. Help us fix our eyes on You.

The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”Genesis 2:23

 

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Walking in Integrity

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Whoever walks in integrity walks securely. Proverbs 10:9

Today’s Scripture

Proverbs 10:6-14

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Today’s Devotion

An Uber driver named Esbon Kamau picked up a sixteen-year-old rider who was on his way to purchase a motorcycle—a gift from his father. After Kamau dropped the passenger off, he noticed the teen had left a bag in the back seat. There was $8,000 inside—the cash needed for the purchase of the motorcycle. Kamau quickly contacted Uber to try and locate the passenger. Soon Kamau delivered the cash back to the grateful, relieved young man. “Do the right thing at the right time,” Kamau said, “and don’t let selfishness overpower [you].”

Kamau displayed integrity. He resisted making a fast buck or taking advantage of someone’s mistake. Instead, he chose to simply do the right thing. “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,” Proverbs says (10:9). When we practice integrity, we never have to worry about remembering what we said to whom, because truth is our only concern. When we practice integrity, we don’t have to fear for our reputation or that our schemes will catch up with us (v. 23). We don’t have to be concerned about being a person whose “crooked paths will be found out” (v. 9). We simply live true—displaying wisdom (v. 13) that comes from God. We’re secure and free in Him.

We face numerous temptations to lie or manipulate in life, but God calls us to walk with Him. And as we do, we can lead “blameless” (v. 29) lives of integrity.

Reflect & Pray

When has your integrity been challenged? How have you experienced others’ integrity?

Dear God, I want to live with integrity. Please help me be blameless in You.

Today’s Insights

In Proverbs, Solomon offers basic wisdom for life and often uses a Hebrew poetic device called parallelism, where two or more lines of poetry correspond with one another. Parallelism and other poetic devices are normal features of Hebrew poetry, which doesn’t operate with rhyme and meter like Western poetry.

In synonymous parallelism, the idea in the first half of the verse is repeated in the second half but with different wording: “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke” (3:11). Proverbs 10:9 is an example of antithetical parallelism, where two statements are contrasted with opposite language: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Solomon exposes the folly of ignoring God’s wisdom and shows the consequences of that folly. Today, God will help us live by His wisdom and be marked as people of character who walk in integrity.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Lots of people are “Bricking” their phones. Should you?

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If someone asked you, “Are you addicted to your phone?” you might feel a bit defensive. “Addicted” sounds like such a strong word and holds many negative connotations. However, when you break it down, the definition of “addiction” is simply “a strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly.” For most people, that is exactly the power their phone holds over them.

The reality is that the average person spends over five hours per day on their phone. Many would likely claim that a lot of those five hours are work-related. Yet, the truth of the situation remains. People are still spending five hours of their day locked in, staring at their phones.

Whether decompressing, doomscrolling on social media, responding to emails, or talking with friends, our relationship with our phones has created a seemingly unbreakable tension between connection and isolation. Our phones provide us with instantaneous connection, yet the mental health crisis of our day rages with more fury than ever. People are feeling lonely, burnt out, anxious, and depressed with no hope of escape.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Lots of people are “Bricking” their phones. Should you? →

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – I Am

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)

After His arrest, “the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none” (Mark 14:55). Then they got their sought-after witness from Jesus Himself when the high priest asked Him, “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (v. 61). It only took two words from Him: “I am!”

As a matter of fact, this was not the first time He had thus identified Himself as the self-existent, eternal God. On an earlier occasion in Jerusalem, He told the Pharisees, “I am the light of the world,” and then, “I am from above . . . I am not of this world. . . . [I]f ye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:12, 23–24; the “he” in verse 24 is not in the Greek original).

He made this especially clear a few minutes later when He asserted, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). But when He finally made this wonderfully truthful claim in the presence of the council, “they all condemned him to be guilty of death” (Mark 14:64). He had committed the capital crime of blasphemy in their opinion: He claimed to be God.

“I am” is, in fact, the very name of God. When Moses, at the burning bush, was called by God to deliver the Israelites from slavery, God said His name was “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:14). The name Jehovah (or Yahweh), the most frequently used name of the Lord in the Old Testament, is essentially this name.

One can count at least 196 “I am” claims of God in Christ in the Bible (“I am the way, the truth, and the life,” for example—John 14:6). Truly, our Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal, self-existent God, “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:13). HMM

 

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – How Close You Are to God Is Your Choice

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And [so], the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God’s will in thought and deed), and he was called God’s friend.

James 2:23 (AMPC)

It’s obvious some people are closer to God than others. These “close friends” of God speak of talking to Him as if they know Him personally. Their faces shine with enthusiasm as they testify, “And God told me…” while skeptical acquaintances grumble to themselves, “Well, God doesn’t talk to me like that!”

Why is that? Does God have favorites? No, Scripture teaches that each person determines his or her own level of intimacy with God, depending on their willingness to seek Him and put time into developing a relationship with Him. Everyone has been extended the same open invitation to …fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace… (Hebrews 4:16 AMPC). At this moment, you are as close to God as you choose to be.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, I want to know You more deeply—more intimately. I want that close personal relationship I hear so much about. Give me the desire and discipline to seek You daily, draw near to Your throne, and grow in true intimacy with You, amen.

 

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org