Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.” Most of us can quote the familiar words of the “Serenity Prayer” penned by American theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr. To anyone who has ever struggled with change, it can prove exceedingly difficult, and like Niebuhr, we know that it requires courage.

Even Paul, battle-hardened apostle though he was, declared himself a wretched man. “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Romans 7:19).

The first step towards change is admitting the issue. While it sounds simple enough, we recognize our humanity. We blame; we avoid; we ignore; we justify; we put off the inevitable. Whining about what we wish to change is futile. Ignoring what we are afraid to change leaves us powerless.

We cannot change what we will not confront. Often, calling the issue for what it is – putting a name to it – brings it out of the darkness into the light of Jesus’ love, and it breaks the power of it to harm. Satan does his best work under cover of night. When we bring our situations boldly to the throne of grace, Satan’s lies drop powerless in the presence of God’s absolute truth.

Once we confront, change requires commitment, a walking it out by faith. First Corinthians 3:9 refers to us as co-laborers with Christ. He does not leave us to confront and change on our own. When we come to the end of our puny self-discipline, His strength is perfected in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). He supernaturally accomplishes what we are helpless to address in our own strength. With Paul the apostle, we can then proclaim: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

That conflict in which you are engaged? That secret sin with which you struggle? That situation from which you cannot escape? In the power of Christ, confront it today. Call it by name. Bring it into the light. Rise up like a warrior intent on victory. Do not let the fear of change diminish the plans God has for you. He alone gives power to overcome.

Today’s Blessing: 

Heavenly Father, I confess my need to You. With Your help, I call out what I have not been able to confront. Break the power of it in my life. Set me free. Walk me through the battle, step by step, until I emerge victorious. All glory belongs to You in the name of Jesus! Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Numbers 10:1-11:23

New Testament 

Mark 14:1-21

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 51:1-19

Proverbs 10:31-32

https://www.jhm.org

Judges 6:12 & 16

…Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.’

In the time of Gideon, the Midianites had terrorized the Israelites for seven years. They raided the country, destroyed the crops, and stole their livestock. Their land was ravaged, and the Israelites were impoverished, forced to live in caves and mountains.

When God introduces us to Gideon in Judges 6, he is threshing wheat in a winepress. Usually, an Israelite threshed wheat in a wide, open space, but Gideon was lying low, hiding out from the Midianites in a pit dug into the ground.

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared and announced, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” Gideon must have looked over both of his shoulders, tapped himself on the chest, and asked, “You talkin’ ta me?” He did not hesitate to voice his doubts aloud.

How could this be true? If God was with them, why were these things happening? Where were the miracles they had heard about from their fathers? He was certain that God had deserted them. He blatantly declared that he was the weakest, least likely person to deliver Israel. He was not convinced. His eyes were closed to the possibilities. His faith in God wavered after so much suffering.

Perhaps you find yourself in a situation like Gideon. The enemy has attacked relentlessly, assaulted your health, waged war against your marriage, or even carried off your children. Your faith is eroded. Lying low, you long for deliverance.

When we met him, Gideon was not a warrior. He was a wimp and a whiner. God, however, looked beyond the pit and saw the potential. He had handwritten Gideon’s destiny with victory. When God opened his eyes, Gideon recognized the truth: God plus you make a majority. When God pressed a torch in one hand and a trumpet in the other, Gideon discovered that God equips you with the weapons needed for battle.

Whatever your situation, know this: God drafted a plan for your life before you drew your first breath. He lovingly wove in valor and victory. He created you with purpose and talents for your particular battles. Look up, mighty man and woman of valor! Climb out of the pit. Put on all the promise, potential and power of the plan God designed specially for you. He will provide the weapons of your warfare and send allies to fight beside you. God is with you, and His plan never fails.

Today’s Blessing: 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the beautiful plan You drew up for my life. Open my eyes to see Your purposes. Equip me to walk in them. I surrender to Your will for me. Remind me that I never stand alone or undefended because You are with me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Numbers 8:1-9:23

New Testament 

Mark 13:14-37

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 50:1-23

Proverbs 10:29-30

https://www.jhm.org

Psalm 40:2

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

In the days when judges ruled, the children of Israel found themselves in a rut. Joshua and Caleb, those mighty, faith-filled warriors, had died. The generation that rose up after them did not know God nor the work that God had accomplished on their behalf. The Jewish people cast off the truth of God’s Word and did what was right in their own eyes. They were surrounded by social chaos, political turmoil, and lawlessness.

Please understand that the Israelites were not ignorant of God. They had grown up listening to the stories of how Abraham believed for a son, how Jacob wrestled with an angel, how Miriam danced a victory jig. All around, they saw signs of God’s handiwork—here are twelve stones heaped up in the Jordan River where God rolled back the waters, and here are the ruins of Jericho where the walls came down with a shout. This generation knew God, but they chose to act as if He did not exist. They fell into the hands of the enemy who carried them away as captives. They were in a serious rut.

Have you ever found yourself in a serious rut? In the course of everyday obligations, it is easy to find ourselves overwhelmed, bogged down and stuck. Preoccupation with the demands of life can cause us to act as though God does not exist. When we neglect to pray, we cut off the communication line that speaks power into every area of our lives. When we ignore His Word in favor of other pursuits, we can cross over into lawlessness where we are buffeted by a culture that declares good to be evil and vice versa. The enemy can carry us off into confusion and chaos, doubt and disorder.

If you find yourself in a rut, be encouraged! Call out to God Who is attuned to your every cry. You are divinely positioned to be sprung! You are His lamb. He will leave the ninety-nine to search you out, lift you from the ravine, lovingly place you over His shoulders, and carry you back to the safety of the fold. He will spring you from the trap, the rut into which you have fallen to walk again in freedom and truth.

Today’s Blessing: 

Heavenly Father, I gratefully thank You for pulling me from the pit, rescuing me from the ruts and ravines. Help me to always remember that You exist and that You reward those who diligently pursue You. Set my feet on the solid rock that is Christ Jesus. In His name, Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Numbers 6:1-7:89

New Testament 

Mark 12:38-13:13

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 49:1-20

Proverbs 10:27-28

https://www.jhm.org

Psalm 20:7

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Israel suffered under the Canaanite king, Jabin, for twenty years. The renowned general of his army, Sisera, commanded 900 iron chariots – more than any army in the Old Testament. These chariots were the tanks of their day – sleek, fast and deadly. Sisera horribly oppressed the Israelites until they cried out to God for help.

In response to their plea, God spoke to Deborah, the only woman to ever judge in Israel. She summoned Barak to tell him that “the Lord God of Israel” (Judges 4:6) commanded him to go fight General Sisera with 10,000 soldiers. God commanded! Not his father or mother, doctor or minister, but God Himself! He even promised unquestioned victory and to give Sisera into Barak’s hands.

And how did Barak respond? Did he suit up for war? Call for his sword and shield? Rally the troops? None of those things. He wimped out. He turned to the woman, the “weaker” fair sex, and staunchly declared, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” (Judges 4:8)

Deborah did not flinch. Proving her strong leadership and faith in God, she agreed to accompany Barak on his campaign. Just as God promised, General Sisera and every man in his army fell to the Israelites that day. But the glory for the battle belonged to a woman – not to Barak.

What is God commanding you to do today? Maybe He has asked you to apologize for an offense. Perhaps He has instructed you to share the Gospel with a coworker. Has a habit taken root that He is asking you to lay aside? Is He asking you to initiate a new discipline? Do not ignore or postpone.

Even though Barak eventually proved to be a worthy warrior, his initial hesitation cost him. He faltered at the Word of the Lord. His misplaced faith – in another human instead of God – testified to his fear and inability to follow God without doubt.

Whatever God is prompting, obey without delay. Attune your ear to His merest whisper. Align yourself to His request. You can trust His direction without reservation. He is faithful to accomplish every one of His promises. He will bless your “Yes!”

Today’s Blessing: 

Heavenly Father, I pray for a heart that is sensitive to Your every word. I pray for ears to hear what You would speak to me. I ask for a willing heart and swift feet to accomplish what You command. I am Your humble, obedient servant in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Numbers 4:1-5:31

New Testament 

Mark 12:18-37

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 48:1-14

Proverbs 10:26

https://www.jhm.org

Romans 8:37

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Every person that you meet today is facing a struggle. How they meet that struggle determines the outcome. Wimps run away. Whiners play the blame game. Warriors, though, refuse to point the finger or wait for rescue.

A warrior determines to engage the enemy. He polishes his armor and brandishes his sword. A warrior is not concerned with the number of the enemy. She doesn’t ask, “How many?” She says, “Where are they?” Warriors choose to take a stand. They do not feel their way into being a warrior. They contend with the same fears, doubts and distractions that assail us all, but they make up their minds to draw a line in the sand, to fight for right, to charge into battle.

The Bible teaches that every warrior needs three things:

Every warrior needs to remember the cause for which he fights. Fathers, are you contending for the faith of your children? Ladies, are you combating the tendency to over commit? Keep that worthy cause at the forefront of your mind. Pray without letting up. Take the necessary steps to protect and defend.

Every warrior needs a battle plan. Armies do not stumble over a success. Soldiers do not drift into a victory. Warriors without battle plans are casualties. Fight with focus. Be intentional. Ask for the intelligence of God to be poured out in you as you strategize for success.

Every warrior needs to remember in Whose strength you fight. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). You have an enemy – the devil, the serpent of old. In your own strength, you are no match for him. Alone, you cannot go toe to toe. Jesus has promised to stick close to your side. He will not desert you on the battlefield. He will provide the mighty weapons you need. In His name, you are undefeatable.

Choose to be a warrior! Remember the cause for which you fight. Prayerfully create a battle plan. Be aware that you do not wage war in your own strength. When you do, you will be a warrior that becomes a winner.

Today’s Blessing: 

Heavenly Father, even when I am surrounded on all sides, open my eyes to see that I never battle alone. Give me the courage to fight for the causes close to Your heart. Give me the wisdom to overcome the wiles of the enemy. May Your kingdom be advanced in my life, my family, my community, and the world in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Numbers 2:1-3:51

New Testament 

Mark 11:26-12:17

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 47:1-9

Proverbs 10:24-25

https://www.jhm.org

Romans 8:37

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Warrior. Winner. Whiner. Wimp.

We all know people who fit neatly into these categories. No pointing fingers! Eyes on the page!

We celebrate warriors. We enjoy winners. We are irritated by whiners. Who has any use for a wimp? Each of these people earn the title. While they may be greatly different, they have one thing in common: they earned the title they wear based upon how they responded to struggle.

A winner is not crowned as champion until she overcomes the struggle. A warrior demonstrates valor only when he endures the adversity of battle. We recognize the whiner right away when trouble breaks out and the complaining commences. The wimp invariably puts her faith in fear, her head in the sand, and waits for someone else to solve the problem. The common denominator is struggle.

Job assured us that struggle is inevitable: “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). The headlines shout at us – global conflict, economic inequities, political stalemates, racial strife, class discrimination. No shortage of struggles exists.

On the home front, you may be wrestling with questions that seem to have no answers. You may be staring at a zero balance wondering when provision will come. You may be contending for a marriage that seems shattered beyond restoration.

In this world, we will have trouble (John 16:33). How will you respond? Will you engage like a warrior? Complain like the whiner? Or ignore it like the wimp? Rise up, and be what God created you to be – a winner!

Jesus Christ bought you with His blood, so you are able to stand and declare, “I am more than a conqueror!” You were born to win. When you came to faith in Jesus, an amazing transformation occurred: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Regardless of the circumstances or the person that you once were, the day that you received Him by faith, you were born to win.

Through Him, you are a warrior not a weakling, a vanquisher not a victim. The battle belongs to you as a chosen champion. You were born to win!

Today’s Blessing: 

Dear Heavenly Father, remind me of the power that I have through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Let me engage the enemy in the mighty name of Jesus. Give me faith for the fight and strength for the struggle. Thank You for making me MORE than a conqueror. In that mighty name, Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 27:14- Numbers 1:54

New Testament 

Mark 11:1-25

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 46:1-11

Proverbs 10:23

https://www.jhm.org

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God calls us to first love Him with all our heart, and that is reflected in what we put in the treasury of our heart. There are many things that people tend to lay up in their heart as treasure—money, time, career, family, pleasure—but Jesus cautioned that we should rather lay up treasure in heaven. That means we need to bring all our earthly treasures to God, including our families, and give them to Him to use for His glory.

This is easily seen in our attitude toward giving money. Whenever God sees us put more love into our bank accounts than we do into the King who died for us, He says there’s a problem in the heart. This is why the Bible says, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7 NKJV). If you cut God a million- dollar check with a begrudging attitude, the church board will be thrilled, but God won’t be because your attitude says more to God about the love of your heart than anything else. But if you have just a dollar to give and you’re delighted to give it, God loves it. It’s all about what’s in your heart!

Today’s Blessing: 

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob forgive us of our sin. May He forgive us for our ungodly lifestyle, and may we return to the God of our fathers and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. For there is one God and He is Jehovah God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Creator of heaven and earth, from everlasting to everlasting. We confess Him to be God and no other. In Jesus’ name, we pray and ask it.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 25:47-27:13

New Testament 

Mark 10:32-52

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 45:1-17

Proverbs 10:22

https://www.jhm.org

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

The promises of God’s Word may take longer to come to pass than your impatient self wants, but if you wait on the Lord, He will strengthen your heart and keep His promises. He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it. He will make a way where there seems to be no way. He is the God who can do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think. He’s the One who said that when you call on Him, He will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you know not. He’s the One who said that He will provide your every need according to His riches in glory. He’s the One who brings you peace that surpasses understanding and joy in the midst of great sorrow. He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Wait upon the Lord for He is worthy. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the fairest of ten thousand, the Lamb of God for sinners slain. He has conquered death, hell and the grave. He is your Savior, Redeemer and Good Shepherd – faithful and true. What a mighty God we serve! Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Today’s Blessing: 

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May your children and your children’s children live in the liberty we enjoy because in our generation, we stood up and were counted for righteousness’ sake. In Jesus’ name, I pray you receive this blessing all the days of your life. And all of God’s children said, “Praise the Lord.”

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 24:1-25:46

New Testament 

Mark 10:13-31

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 44:8-26

Proverbs 10:20-21

https://www.jhm.org

Psalm 63:1

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

Have you ever read something in God’s Word and wished it wasn’t there? If His Word on certain points, such as “early will I seek You,” doesn’t line up with our will, we may try to forget or disregard it because we don’t want to do what it says. God’s Word sometimes requires us to change our perspective in order for us to be willing to accept it. But we struggle to want to conform to certain truths even though they are the very ones that can transform our lives to become what God wants us to be.

Let me remind you today that God desperately wants you to get to know Him. He’s made a way for you to have a relationship with Him that’s far greater than anything you could ask or think. But in spite of all He has done and can do on your behalf, until you’re willing, He will not. So for everything He can do, He won’t until you do. You have to seek Him, and by hearing His Word, you’ll begin to develop the faith that overcomes the world.

Child of God, whenever you begin to have faith in God and take a step in God’s direction, He’ll move heaven and earth on your behalf!

Today’s Blessing: 

And now, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May God help righteousness arise; may God expose the ungodly; may God expose every secret and corrupt thing; may righteousness return and we the people discover our voice because we are the bright city on a hill holding the righteous torch of God’s truth. In Jesus’ name, we pray that for the future, Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 22:21-23:44

New Testament 

Mark 9:30-10:12

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 44:1-7

Proverbs 10:19

https://www.jhm.org

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Because this is the day that the Lord has made, it doesn’t matter if it’s a wonderful day or the hardest day of our life; we will rejoice and be glad in it. The reason we’ll rejoice is not because of the outcome, but because of the promise of what’s coming. Oftentimes we like to wait on the results before we start to celebrate, but the context of what David was writing about here was something that he didn’t live to see. He was talking about a day of salvation in which Jesus, the stone that the builders rejected, would become the chief cornerstone. David didn’t live to see that, but he said it because that day is coming. He was rejoicing in advance of its arrival because the One who promised it is faithful to complete it.

Child of God, you don’t have to wait for the mountain to move or the crooked place to be made straight before you can start rejoicing in the joy of your salvation, before you can start celebrating the great things that God has done because He can do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ever ask, think, or imagine! He is great and greatly to be praised! Rejoice in the Lord, and again, I say, rejoice!

Today’s Blessing: 

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; giving you His peace. May you walk with the blessed assurance that the guardian angels of heaven are watching you and standing beside you. They will protect you. They will defend you. The Lord of hosts will make your enemy His enemy, and your adversary His adversary. I have power because the kingdom of God has come with power through the authority of Jesus’ name. Live and walk in that word. Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 19:1-20:21

New Testament 

Mark 8:10-38

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 42:1-11

Proverbs 10:17

https://www.jhm.org

Psalm 118:23

This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.

When God does something, man does not deserve one ounce of credit. That’s why all glory, all praise, and all honor are to Him alone. There are things that happen in our lives that we can’t make sense of. We did the best we could, but it was not enough, so God took over, and it was His doing. Don’t try to make heads or tails of it; just get on your knees and declare, “This is the Lord’s doing!”

Take a moment to consider all that God has done. Everything in your life is the Lord’s doing. Your salvation is by grace through faith, the gift of God that no man can boast. It is the Lord’s doing. Every ounce of success you’ve ever known is not because you are so amazing. It’s because God has given you the strength to succeed and the mind to achieve. It is the Lord’s doing. Every struggle you’ve made it through, every battle you’ve ever won is not because you are so brilliant in strategy or so capable. It’s because God has a plan to protect you and pull you through that storm and bring you to the other side. It is the Lord’s doing, and He is greatly to be praised!

Today’s Blessing: 

And now may the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you. And may the Lord make His face to shine upon you. And may the Lord be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you walk in the confidence that you have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ; that you are whiter than snow; that you are the property of heaven. And when the King comes, you’re leaving this earth in the twinkling of an eye for mansions on high and for a life that is simply beyond the minds of men’s capacity to understand or fully know. And all of God’s children said, “Praise the Lord.” Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 16:29-18:30

New Testament 

Mark 7:24-8:9

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 41:1-13

Proverbs 10:15-16

https://www.jhm.org

Luke 11:1

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

None of us just wake up one day as a prayer warrior; we learn to pray. The disciples saw very clearly what was happening in the ministry of Jesus. They saw Him walking on water after He had spent the night in prayer. They noticed that when He prayed, the fishes and the loaves were multiplied and fed thousands. They heard what He said when He drove out a demon—that “this kind” only comes out when you fast and pray. If the disciples knew they needed to learn to pray, don’t you think we should learn, too?

How was it that Christ had the confidence to say, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do” (John 14:12)? He could say that because He taught the disciples to pray. When you learn to pray like Jesus prayed, and you learn to walk in the power of the anointing that gave Him the ability to move heaven and earth, when you learn how to live the life of “greater things than these shall you do,” you have the chance to turn the world upside down.

Enter into the power and the privilege you have when you are willing to learn to pray!

Today’s Blessing: 

Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, giving you His peace. Today may you be filled to overflowing with hope, love and joy. May the unshakeable power of God’s eternal hope remove from you every form of bitterness and every element of sorrow that has dogged you all of your life. May you rejoice in a new beginning that will remain forever. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. And all of God’s children said, “Praise the Lord.” Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 15:1-16:28

New Testament 

Mark 7:1-23

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 40:11-17

Proverbs 10:13-14

https://www.jhm.org

James 4:2

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

You know that God can do more for you in a moment than you could do for yourself in ten lifetimes. But what if He is waiting on you to participate in the process? You may know exactly what you want God to accomplish in your life and believe that He has the power to do it. The problem is not that the provision isn’t made. The problem is you’re not reaching for the provision and doing what God has asked you to do.

Here’s what I mean. God will not answer prayer until you pray. God “will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” until you are giving (Mal. 3:10). God will not “forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” until we confess our sins (1 John 1:9). But the moment that you do, the moment you reach out to Him in faith believing, suddenly all of heaven and earth begin to move on your behalf because that’s just how much God truly wants to bless you. Take the step that God is asking you to take, and you’ll move in the faith that overcomes the world.

Today’s Blessing: 

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you. And may the Lord be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you celebrate in the joy and the peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May He remove the pain of the failures in your past. May He remove the criticisms in your life that have scarred you by persons of influence. May you walk with divine victory because heaven is on your side, and God has given you all things for your life to be totally blessed. Go with this blessing and live a life of victory rejoicing in Jesus Christ. And all of God’s children said, “Praise the Lord.”

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 14:1-57

New Testament 

Mark 6:30-56

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 40:1-10

Proverbs 10:11-12

https://www.jhm.org

1 Samuel 3:10

Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

Many people dismiss the concept that God wants to talk with them. The devil doesn’t want you to ever believe that God would talk to you personally, so he’ll give you a list of reasons to not listen for God’s voice. But I believe that God talks to a lot of people who either have the mute button on, or they engage in selective hearing. Like my own children, who tend to hear what they want to hear from me, God’s kids tend to turn off what they don’t want to hear and listen for exactly what they want to hear Him say.

You really need to read the story of young Samuel in 1 Samuel 3. What would happen in your life if you took on his attitude of “God, speak to me. I’m listening to You?” And then, what if whatever He told you to do, according to His Word, according to His plan, according to His purpose, you had the faith to do? That’s the kind of communication and relationship God wants with you.

The prophet Jonah heard God’s still, small voice and did just the opposite of what he was told, so God turned up the volume by sending a big old fish. God always has the final word.

Today’s Blessing: 

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; giving you His peace. May you walk in the blessings of the cross; may you have spiritual and personal freedom; may you have peace of mind; may you have the confidence that your divine destiny and your purpose on this earth is going to be fulfilled by the help of God; may you know and recognize that through the blood of the cross you are forgiven of all of your sin; that God in heaven sends the joy and the peace that God gives only to the righteous. In Jesus’ name, we pray and ask it, Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 13:1-59

New Testament 

Mark 6:1-29

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 39:1-13

Proverbs 10:10

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Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”

Most people consider prayer to be like a drive-through window. It’s where they pull up and don’t have time to stay, but they want to make sure their order gets in and they get just what they want before they rush away. They pull up to heaven, and God says, “Welcome to McHeaven. May I take your order, please?” As sad as that sounds, that’s what a lot of people think about prayer.

The first thing they…and we…need to know about prayer is that prayer is not a monologue; prayer is a dialogue. Prayer is not where I speak and God listens. It’s where God and I have a conversation. Not only do I get the opportunity to speak to Him, but God very dearly wants to speak to me. Prayer is how we invite the supernatural presence of the Almighty to invade our life. Prayer is where we take time to learn how God effectively communicates with us! Prayer is where we get to hear exciting things when we stop talking and start listening to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We get to talk to the Commander in Chief and ask Him what He wants us to do here on this earth so we can wage spiritual warfare and overcome the enemy.

Today’s Blessing: 

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you go from glory to glory and from strength to strength. May you go from victory to victory, and may God give to you the desires of your heart. May God give you a vision of your future and give you the strength to realize that it is His desire for you to have heaven’s best while you dwell on this earth. In Jesus’ name, we pray and release this blessing upon the righteous of God.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 11:1-12:8

New Testament 

Mark 5:21-43

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 38:1-22

Proverbs 10:8-9

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Proverbs 3:1–2

My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.

We live in a world that is suffering with a tremendous lack of peace. Perhaps you’re concerned about the chaos you see happening all around you. You’re wondering about the indecision of leaders and what direction our future holds. Today, God’s Word promises if you remember His commandments and do what He asks you to do, you are going to have length of days, long life, and peace. You can be supremely convinced that if you do God’s will in your life, you can have perfect peace that God is a problem solver, and everything is going to be alright.

His Word also says you will have “long life,” which is God’s promise that you will get to enjoy your years of living, not just live long. But what does it mean to have “length of days?” A life is made up of decades and years, but days are made up of hours. When you have a “length of day,” God is saying that whatever you put your hands to in a day’s work, God will pour His anointing upon it, and He will give you progress. Rather than struggle in your own strength, when you submit yourself to God’s Word, whatever you put your hands to is going to prosper.

Today’s Blessing: 

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you. And may the Lord be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you walk in the confidence that you are victorious in Jesus’ name; that the precious blood of the cross has forever forgiven you of your sins. For if we confess our sins, God is faithful and forgives us of our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Walk in the confidence that you are a member of the church triumphant, and everything that’s in the future, God Almighty is in sovereign control. And we are soon to see the King in all of His glory. In Jesus’ name, receive this blessing.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 9:7-10:20

New Testament 

Mark 4:26-5:20

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 37:29-40

Proverbs 10:6-7

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Romans 15:4

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

When you look back at what God has done historically, you can build expectation about what He can do for you. When you see how He consistently blessed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you know that if He blessed a father, son and grandson, He will bless you, your children and your grandchildren, too. When you look back at how He delivered the children of Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh and brought them miraculously from their past into the full potential of their future, you recognize that He can destroy every shackle of sin and set you free from every bondage and addiction that binds you. And you can, with comfort, declare that whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

When you read about the manna and the water from a rock in the wilderness, about Jericho’s walls that came down with a shout, and how a giant was defeated with David’s stone, you can trust God enough to declare in faith believing,“Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world.” When you read how Jesus Christ touched multitudes of the sick and healed them all and how He fed the masses with a sack lunch, you know that our God is full of power and able to provide more than you could ask, think or imagine.

Today’s Blessing: 

Father, bless us and keep us. Make Your face to shine upon us. Be gracious unto us. That which You’ve done in the past, in faith believing, we claim You’ll do it again. We receive a new dawn and a new direction knowing, heavenly Father, that You have made a way where there seems to be no way. We know Your loving kindness will shine upon us, and the newness of life will be the glorious shining Face of God that goes before us. We receive Your blessing. We receive Your presence, and we thank You for Your touch. Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 7:28-9:6

New Testament 

Mark 3:31-4:25

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 37:12-28

Proverbs 10:5

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Mark 12:30

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

When we hear the word “currency,” we immediately think “money.” But did you ever wonder what the currency of the kingdom of God is? What does God find valuable in our lives as a heavenly currency? For a heavenly kingdom, you must trade in heavenly currency, which Jesus defines in these words: “you shall love the Lord your God.” That is what God values as the kingdom currency.

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13 that our intellect is not kingdom currency. He says that even if he knew everything there was to know, or if he could tell you everything that no one could figure out, he would be nothing if he didn’t have love. And if he could speak all kinds of languages, he would be nothing without love. And if he could do great things for people, even sacrifice himself for them, he would be nothing without love. Why? Because God only values love as His currency.

You might not think you have much to give God, but it’s not about money. The capital that you can give to the King is love from your heart, soul, mind and strength. Today, consider what you have to invest in His kingdom and be generous in the love offering.

Today’s Blessing: 

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you, giving you His peace. May you walk in His divine atonement totally unified with God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. May you walk with the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, with the power of the knowledge that you are blessed, and that God delights in your prosperity in all things. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for you are sons and daughters set free by the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 6:1-7:27

New Testament 

Mark 3:7-30

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 37:1-11

Proverbs 10:3-4

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Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding

Trust is a deteriorating quality in today’s world. Coworkers play office politics because they cannot trust one another’s motives. The public doesn’t trust the government and vice versa. We have apps on our phones to check on the safety of our homes and bank accounts. We’ve learned how not to trust.

In the midst of a world where trust can be so difficult, you have every reason to fully trust the God whom you serve with your whole heart. When you see how He gave His only begotten Son to forgive and cleanse sinners, who sets free those who believe in Him and gives them everlasting life, you can declare, “If God is for me, who can be against me?”

I’ve learned that the faster we trust the Lord, the farther we can go. The delay between us receiving His blessing and His willingness to pour it out is the time it takes for us to trust that His promise is true. The less time we spend worrying about what if and what will be, and the less strength we waste in our own effort, the more we are able to accomplish because God’s goodness is being poured out the quicker we trust Him.

Today’s Blessing: 

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you. And may the Lord be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you recognize today the power of the anointing in your life and know that God Almighty has commanded His blessing upon your life. Look for the blessing. Expect the blessing. Speak the blessing. Because heaven has commanded it this day that your life may be blessed with divine favor. In Jesus’ name, we receive the blessing.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 4:1-5:19

New Testament 

Mark 2:13-3:6

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 36:1-12

Proverbs 10:1-2

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Psalm 24:1

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

Oftentimes we get together and talk about things we’d like to change in the world. When we see the conditions of morality in this nation and the current direction our country is headed, and we know that many churches are abandoning the truth of God’s Word to be politically correct, it’s easy to feel hopeless because we don’t feel as though we have the ability, the power or the strength to make a difference. The reality is that not much will change until we talk to Someone who can change things. Regardless of how corrupt our world has become, the truth remains that this earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness. God is still on His throne, and He still governs the affairs of men.

So if we want to see change, we need to talk to the One who can change it. The only One who has the ability to change the direction of this nation is not running on a party ticket. The only One who has the ability to fix what is broken in your world is the One who created it. And the only way to speak to Him is when you pray.

Don’t you think it’s time to pray?

Today’s Blessing: 

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you. And may the Lord be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you walk today knowing the faith that God has given you and the initiative that you take on that faith will lead you into success for tomorrow and in every adventure. Nothing is too difficult for the Lord that we serve. Put your hands in the nail-scarred hand of the Son of God and walk with Him to achieve your destiny. For great is the Lord God of heaven, who saves us all through His precious blood. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 1:1-3:17

New Testament 

Mark 1:29-2:12

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 35:17-28

Proverbs 9:13-18

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