And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.’

1 Samuel 30:8

When our hearts are shattered by circumstances beyond our control, we have blessed hope through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

David helps us navigate the business of brokenness and the road to restoration. After David took time for tears, strengthened himself in the Lord, and inquired for God’s will in his particular situation, he had one more thing to do.

When he asked the Lord if he should chase down the enemy, God responded that David and his men should pursue them. Not only would they overtake the enemy, but they would, without fail, recover everything that had been stolen from them!

David had to act on the instruction of the Lord. That word was good for nothing unless David was willing to move out in faith to pursue, overtake, and recover all. There is a moment when we wait quietly, in faith, to receive the strength of the Lord. But there is another moment where we hang back disobediently, in fear, because we are too afraid to fight.

Perhaps, the broken pieces of our hearts are still shattered and scattered because we have not taken the action that God is prompting. We must take an active role in our healing. Faith without action is dead. David pursued, overtook, recovered all, and returned rejoicing. God’s Word had already decided the outcome.

Blessing

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. Because of Christ’s victory at Calvary, He makes all things new. He will redeem and restore and cause you to hope again!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 23:9-44

New Testament 

Mark 10:1-12

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 44:8-16

Proverbs 10:20

https://www.jhm.org

…casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Broken hearts leave us susceptible to runaway imaginations. Vulnerable and hurting, our minds can drive us to worst-case scenarios. We must keep our imaginations in check.

The Israelites experienced this situation as they prepared to enter the land that God had promised to them for 400 years. Moses sent in 12 spies to canvas the territory. Two of the spies returned and confirmed that Canaan was definitely a land flowing with milk and honey. They encouraged their fellow Jews to take possession of it because they were “well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30).

The other 10 spies verified the beauty and bounty of the land, but their imaginations got the better of them. They proclaimed that the people of the land were like giants, and the Israelites were mere grasshoppers who could not hope to be victorious over them. Imagination won out over their faith.

When we keep our imaginations submitted to God and His Word, no heartbreak exists that is too complicated for God to heal. All things become possible to them that believe. He will answer us with great and mighty things that we do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). Take every thought captive to obey Christ!

Blessing

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. Even when your heart is breaking, He has not given you a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. His promises to you are established and true.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 22:21-23:8

New Testament 

Mark 9:30-50

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 44:1-7

Proverbs 10:19

https://www.jhm.org

I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly.

Psalm 85:8

When our hearts are broken and our lives are in turmoil, we long to hear the word of the Lord to us. We need to know how to gather up the pieces and move ahead.

Many times, God already has written down the answer for us. We simply need to open His book and obey His precepts.

If the enemy has attacked your family, the Word from the Lord is that “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17). If the enemy has attacked you with sickness, the Word from the Lord is that “by His stripes, we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). If the enemy has attacked your finances, the Word from the Lord is that “God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

God will never whisper something in our ears that He has not clearly written in His Word. He is not the Author of confusion. Out of the mouths of two or three witnesses, a matter is confirmed (2 Corinthians 13:1). If the Holy Spirit gives you specific direction, verify it in His Word. Then, confirm it with a spiritual authority – a pastor or leader. Let us hear only what God speaks.

Blessing

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. Receive the Word of the Lord today. Through the power of Jesus Christ, lay hold of the promises of God for your life.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Leviticus 20:22-22:20

New Testament 

Mark 9:1-29

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 43:1-5

Proverbs 10:18

https://www.jhm.org

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

As we go about the work of growing our marriage relationships and building strong families, we can take heart that our “labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Our work is worthwhile.

Consistency is key in our marriages. We must be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding.” To our spouse, we must remain dependable, trustworthy, and committed. We must be stubbornly and uncompromisingly devoted to the vows that we made before God and our family and friends.

Consistency compliments before it criticizes. Consistency appreciates instead of compares. Consistency yields instead of attempts to control. Consistency loves unconditionally. Consistency communicates instead of dictates.

Sacrificial love involves an act of the will, as well as the emotions. It is a decision to consider the needs of another person before our own, to take the necessary actions to benefit and bless our spouse, and to determine to protect and preserve our marriages.

We have the ability to abolish the power struggles in our marriages. We may not be able to influence the political or economic power struggles in our culture today, but God has given us impact and influence in our homes. We must resolve to submit to God and to serve one another as we raise our children in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). This is worthwhile work.

Blessing

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 marriage remain steadfast and immovable, a relationship that reflects His glory and accomplishes His purposes. In Jesus’ name…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

https://www.jhm.org

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

The Greek storyteller, Aesop, said, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” In marriage, we often see this proverb play out.

Husbands and wives live in close proximity. They witness the best in one another, but they also have a front-row seat to the regrettable weaknesses we all possess. If we are not careful, this close association can create a lack of appreciation – and even scorn – towards our spouse.

In our marriages, we must be mindful to extend continuing kindness to one another. When we are exhausted and stressed by daily demands, we are susceptible to irritability. Our tempers become short, and our words become hurtful.

We must keep our hearts sensitive to each other’s needs, preferring our spouse in love. When we choose compassion over conflict and harmony over hostility, we demonstrate sacrificial love. We love the other more than we want our own way. The currency of love is sacrifice.

When divisions threaten, we must quickly restore the bond of peace in our relationships. Since Jesus so generously cleanses and accepts us, we must forgive and repair the rift. Healthy marriages make no room for cold shoulders, the silent treatment, or harsh accusations.

Familiarity need not breed contempt. Instead, our marriages can be marked by sacrificial love, gentle kindness, tenderhearted affection, and warm intimacy that grow through the years.

Blessing

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. Prefer your spouse in sacrificial love. Practice kindness and tenderness towards one another. May the peace of God rule and reign in your hearts and home.

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

https://www.jhm.org

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 11:14

“And the two shall become one flesh” is not without challenges! Many couples falter early in their marriages because they lack wise counsel when navigating the transition of two individuals merging to become one unit.

The friends that we choose at this important juncture have the power to determine our future. A source that shares good, Godly counsel can determine a successful outcome.

Good counsel can be found in those couples who have negotiated this process successfully. They possess the experience and expertise that comes from charting a path through difficult, unknown waters. They have trusted God to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). They have held onto one another to discover the depths and richness of seasoned married love.

Titus 2 encourages the more mature women to be “teachers of good things” – to nurture the younger women so that they will know how to love their husbands and children well, create happy homes, and be good wives.

The older men are exhorted to model dignity, wisdom, faith, and endurance. By following their example, the younger men will learn discipline. In this way, how we live will enhance – not detract – from the Gospel message that we carry. Seek out the Godly counsel that leads to success!

Blessing

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 seek Godly counsel to build a strong marriage. May you grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ so your marriage flourishes and thrives!

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

https://www.jhm.org

For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

Hebrews 3:14

Most of us know a for-better-or-for-worse couple who pledged their promises for the long haul. They are confident in their love and committed in their devotion to one another as they journey through life together.

Confident means “living with faith;” the Latin “con” means “with,” and “fideo” means “faith.” These couples live with faith in God and His Word. That faith comes through hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

They are intimately connected to God and have made His Scriptures the compass for their lives, marriages, and homes. This Word protects the vows they have made and preserves their relationships.

The confidence in God and the love He has bestowed between them keep a husband and wife committed to one another even in the difficult seasons. When walking out seems the easiest choice, they refuse to quit on their marriages. They will not quit on each other or their kids.

Marriage is not always convenient or carefree. When Christ remains at the center of this sacred union, He steadies and secures us through the rough patches. When we are committed to God and the vows we made before Him, the same confidence of our first “I do” will carry us steadfastly through the years.

Blessing

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. Live with your faith firmly fixed on Jesus so that you remain confident in your love and committed to your vows. May love and loyalty bind you to the Lord and one another. 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

https://www.jhm.org

Let all that you do be done with love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Even before the day that we say “I do,” we begin the work of building a good marriage.

Much like building a house, marriage requires dreams for the future, intensive planning, and lots of sweat equity. The process often results in dirty hands and bruised hearts. It demands much love and every resource that we possess. We must be all in!

And we quickly come to the surprising realization that our home is never really complete! That leaky faucet needs attention. That outdated wallpaper must be replaced. Why is the furnace making that noise?

Better than a contractor, we have an Advocate Who works alongside us! Jesus lives to make intercession for us. When we boldly approach the throne of grace, He promises to hear and work on our behalf.

Like every master artist, He pays scrupulous attention to detail. Every project is a labor of love; the tiniest task is done with the greatest care. He never walks out in the middle of construction; He sticks close until the assignment is accomplished.

Wherever you are in the process – just laying the foundation or designing a new addition – carry on with dreaming and doing, loving and laughing, planning and preparing. Believe with confidence that your Master Carpenter is creating a masterpiece in your marriage.

Blessing

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. The Lord is faithful to complete the good work that He begins in you. May your marriage be a glorious work of art that reflects the love of our Father.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 39:1-40:38

New Testament 

Mark 1:1-28

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 35:1-16

Proverbs 9:11-12

https://www.jhm.org

Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it.

Song of Solomon 8:7

Red roses, sweet sentiments, and chubby cherubs with drawn bows abound on this “love-iest” of holidays!

Every human heart longs to be fully loved and fully known. Beyond the flutter of infatuation, Jesus calls us to a sacrificial love that demands the best of ourselves. The very definition of sacrifice tells us that we give up something valuable for the sake of something more worthy or important.

Paul encourages us to concentrate on harmony in our relationships, on ways to build up others and promote their spiritual growth (Romans 14:19). He urges us to not say or do things that would interfere with the free exchange of love. Put an end to selfishness, and consider another person’s feelings and preferences.

Speak words that are a gift of grace to the person who hears them (Ephesians 4:29). Appropriate words spoken at the right time are like apples of gold in a silver setting (Proverbs 25:11).

Instead of pitting ourselves against one another, we should treat one another with deep affection; prefer one another in love (Romans 12:10). Competition and comparison have no place in God’s family.

Choose love above all else – today and every day. Embrace the sacrificial love that Jesus modeled for us. In the same way He loves us, let us love one another. How does that look in your relationships?

Blessing

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 be rooted and grounded in the incomprehensible love of Jesus, complete in Him. O, the riches of God’s love for us!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 37:1-38:31

New Testament 

Matthew 28:1-20

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 34:11-22

Proverbs 9:9-10

https://www.jhm.org

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

Amos 3:3

Great marriages do not just happen! They succeed because the husband and the wife invest 110% to create a relationship that does not just survive, but thrives!

A basketball player tosses up hundreds of practice attempts so he can sink that critical free throw in a game situation. Good musicians practice endlessly to perfect their sound. Luck has little to do with it. Couples must be deliberate about building Godly relationships and strong families.

They determine to serve Jesus – individually and together. They seek His way of doing things first, and they trust God for all the other things (Matthew 6:33).

Intentional couples carve out time for one another. External demands and obligations take a toll, so they seriously guard their intimacy and create space for just the two of them.

They cultivate authentic communication. Ten minutes of talk about to-do lists and daily details does not constitute connection. Genuine communication requires time, eye contact, listening, and conversing.

Intentional couples choose the priorities they build into their relationships. How will they serve together? Will their home be filled with music? Or will they spend every free minute outdoors? Who will be in their inner circle? When will they pray and study together?

Couples do not drift into great marriages; they take prayer, time, practice, and work. Heart-to-heart and hand-in-hand, they agree on how to walk together. They build intentionally.

Blessing

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. Build your home upon the sure foundation of Christ Jesus. May He bless the home of the righteous and add every good thing to them!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 35:10-36:35

New Testament 

Matthew 27:35-66

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 34:1-10

Proverbs 9:7-8

https://www.jhm.org

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’.

1 Peter 4:8

Every relationship suffers seasons of difficulty. All marriages experience wear and tear. It speaks to life and our own humanity.

Circumstances beyond our control set us reeling. The day-to-day chipping away at our relationships can leave us bruised and exposed. Two imperfect people in close proximity, struggling against selfishness, often hurt one another.

Jesus, our Prince of Peace, brings hope to re-establish broken borders in our marriages. The enemy breaches the walls to cause isolation, resentment, and pain, but Jesus raises up a standard against him. He carries the banner of love into battle to vanquish him.

When storms arise – as they inevitably do – we must assess the damage to our relationships. We must determine if we played a role in inflicting the hurt, and we must be quick to repent and restore. Was I kind or seeking my own selfish desire? (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) What action can I take to begin the rebuilding process right away?

When our spouse causes us pain, Ephesians 4:32 encourages us to be compassionate, forgiving one another in the same way that Jesus has forgiven us. Confess your faults to one another, pray for one another, and God will bring healing and harmony (James 5:16).

Most importantly, love one another fervently. Tender devotion pulls up a quilt to generously cover offenses.

Blessing

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. Make Jesus the center of your marriage. A three-fold cord will not be easily broken. Let love lead!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 34:1-35:9

New Testament 

Matthew 27:15-34

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 33:12-22

Proverbs 9:1-6

https://www.jhm.org

But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.

Mark 10:6-8

God built all of civilization upon one relationship — marriage between a man and a woman. By His design, the family unit is the foundation of society.

At creation, God fashioned the male and female. The only marriage relationship that God endorses in Scripture is the union between a man and a woman. A man separates himself from his parents to be joined to a wife, and the two become one flesh.

Marriage and virtue are to be respected by all (Hebrews 13:4). Paul goes on to correlate the marriage between a man and a woman with the relationship that Christ enjoys with the church – a “great mystery” ( Ephesians 5:32).

Jesus calls each of us to honor one another. Wives should submit to and support their husbands…in the same way that they defer to Christ. Husbands must submit to and go all out in love for their wives…in the same way that Christ loved the church.

Submitting, nourishing, cherishing, respecting, loving – are these the words that describe our relationships? Do our marriages reflect the monumental love that compelled Jesus to lay down His life for His bride?

Blessing

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. As you submit to God first and then to your spouse, may your relationship be marked by the deep love of our Lord. May you reflect His goodness and grace always. Amen and Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 29:1-30:10

New Testament 

Matthew 26:14-46

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 31:19-24

Proverbs 8:14-26

https://www.jhm.org

…For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14

Give us this day our daily bread. Many Christians attend church on Sunday, walk out the doors, and do not partake of the “daily bread” again until next week.

They spend the other six days chewing on the deadly bread of this world. They mix it with the everlasting Bread of Heaven and come up with a toxic fusion.

In the physical, if we combine two foods that do not agree, it upsets our stomachs. Many Christians deal with upset spirits and unsettled souls because they continue to mix the worldly with the heavenly. Good and evil do not belong together. Light and darkness cannot share the same space. God and Satan cannot be partners.

We cannot eat deadly bread and have the power to shine as the light of the world for Him. We cannot expect God to erase six days of worldly impact in one hour on a Sunday morning.

Take a moment to examine your heart. Have you ingested something that is causing upset and turmoil? Have you welcomed something that has no business in your life? Seek His forgiveness, and be cleansed by the washing of the water by His Word (Ephesians 5:26).

Blessing

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. Confess and commit to the Lord that you will make His Word your daily bread, that you will collect the manna that He sends by reading His promises and standing on His truth. Let it be so.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 26:1-27:21

New Testament 

Matthew 25:1-30

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 31:1-8

Proverbs 8:1-11

https://www.jhm.org

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 34:8

We have all seen someone bite into something that obviously does not taste good…and the grimace that immediately follows. What comes next? He attempts to entice you to try it too!

What you chew is up to you! No one can force feed you something that you do not desire. When a delicacy is offered, you may choose to refuse or to gobble it up with relish.

Today, David encourages us to taste and see that the Lord is good. No one can coerce you into a taste test. What you choose to take into your heart, soul, mind, and body is solely up to you.

Another person may attempt to persuade you. She may share Scriptures that have the power to help you see things in a new light. She may try to convince you with stories of God’s grace, how He scooped her up from rock bottom just in the nick of time.

Ultimately, though, what you chew is up to you. The Psalmist declared that God’s words were sweeter than honey in his mouth (Psalm 119:103). No one else can sample them for you.

Won’t you open up your mouth to taste? Open up your eyes to see? The Lord is good, and He blesses those who trust in Him.

Blessing

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. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Read and obey His Word. May you find that the blessings of God chase down those that trust in Him!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 23:14-25:40

New Testament 

Matthew 24:29-51

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 30:1-12

Proverbs 7:24-27

https://www.jhm.org

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.

Romans 4:20

Abraham did not waver at the promise of God. He was fully convinced that what God promised, He would also perform.

Looking at his circumstances, who would have blamed him for doubting? But he was not weak in his faith; he was actually strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God!

He walked with God, recognized the sound of His voice, experienced His faithfulness, and knew he could stake his life – and his son’s – on the promises.

When your marriage dissolves into arguments and adversity, decide that no man can tear apart what God has joined together (Matthew 19:6). God came to restore relationships!

Do not despair at the doctor’s diagnosis. Hang on to the Word that He has sent to heal us (Psalm 107:20). He alone has the power to save from destruction!

When anxiety binds you in a stranglehold, declare that God has not given a spirit of fear; He has given a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). We can confidently stand on His Word!

Walk with God. Listen for the voice of our Beloved. Trust Him day by day to learn the rhythms of His faithfulness. When you do, He will make you rock steady. You will not waver at one of His promises.

Blessing

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. Commit to walk daily with Him, to open up His Word to find life, health, and power for living. Be strengthened in your most holy faith!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 21:22-23:13

New Testament 

Matthew 24:1-28

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 29:1-11

Proverbs 7:6-23

https://www.jhm.org

Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11

All of us crave the liberty and joy that can be found in relationship with Jesus Christ. Hiding behind that desire, though, we may harbor a taste for our old lives.

We long for Christ’s forgiveness, but we carry a grudge against another. We pray for the blessings of prosperity, but we seethe with jealousy when He blesses our neighbor. We relish the gift of grace, but we judge others instead of extending that same generosity.

We combine two things that do not mix – daily bread with deadly bread! We must choose between the daily bread of heaven that comes from God or the deadly bread of this world.

Our daily bread says that God is more than enough, while the deadly bread tells us that we need more. Our daily bread instructs us to love our neighbors and bless those who persecute us, while the deadly bread pushes us to seek revenge.

God has generously provided us with His daily bread through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. From the pages of His Word springs the message of salvation, freedom, hope, and redemption.

We must repent and cut away those cravings for our old lives—deadly bread—and the certain death to which they lead. We must embrace the daily bread given by a loving Father who satisfies our every longing with good gifts.

Blessing

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 hunger for the daily bread of God. May you feast on it to find deeper faith and the fullness of life in Him.

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 15:20-17:7

New Testament 

Matthew 22:1-32

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 27:1-7

Proverbs 6:20-26

https://www.jhm.org

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11

Do not focus on any situation until you have focused your faith first on a God Who never fails. Circumstances can sink your best intentions. Despair can demolish your hope.

Discipline yourself to exercise your faith and feast on God’s Word. Instead of thrashing about in a sea of fear and doubt, ground yourself in His truth. Lift your eyes to discover where He is at work all around you.

Every line and letter that He has spoken over you was sealed with His shed blood. With complete certainty, you can declare: “The Lord is on my side” (Psalm 118:6).

When the river rises, it will not sweep you away. When the fire rages, the flames will not scorch you (Isaiah 43:2).  When your world falls apart, even if the mountains crumble into the sea, you have no need to fear when God is your refuge (Psalm 46:1-3). He is always present in troubled times.

Focus first on God’s Word that never returns unfulfilled. His Truth always accomplishes the purposes for which He sends it and always completes the task to which He assigns it. Take Him at His Word.

Blessing

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. Know that nothing is impossible for God. He is waiting for you to ask so that He may give the eternal riches of His glory. Receive His blessings through the name of Jesus!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 13:17b-15:19

New Testament 

Matthew 21:23-46

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 26:1-12

Proverbs 6:16-19

https://www.jhm.org

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:5

A great conflict exists in each one of us when our cravings run up against what we actually need. We wrestle with that pain daily.

Spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially – we long to pursue our own paths. Yet, at the same time, we long to do what God asks. Paul said that things he longed to do, he ended up neglecting; the things he did not want to do, he carried through to completion (Romans 7:19-25).

When someone offends us, we can “live according to the flesh” and plot our revenge or we can “live according to the Spirit” and pray for those who harass us. We might be tempted to splurge on ourselves, but God prompts us to help someone in need.

If we are carnally minded and pursue fleshly things, it brings death. We have no hope of pleasing the Lord. However, if we set our minds on Godly things, we enjoy life and peace.

When we crave Him and the things of the Spirit, we get Him. When we long for His will, we receive His joy. When we crave His purpose and plan, we are rewarded with His peace and provision. Let’s set our minds on things above!

Blessing

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. Set your mind on the things of the Spirit. Hide your life in Christ so that you may share in His glorious appearing. All praise to Him!

Today’s Bible Reading: 

Old Testament

Exodus 2:11-3:22

New Testament 

Matthew 17:10-27

Psalms & Proverbs

Psalm 22:1-18

Proverbs 5:7-14

https://www.jhm.org