Tag Archives: Bible

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Emotions and Spiritual Maturity

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For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?

1 Corinthians 3:3 (AMPC)

Paul teaches in today’s scripture that we are unspiritual if we are controlled by ordinary human impulses, such as emotions and feelings. Are you in control of your emotions, or do they control you? Feelings are fickle and ever-changing, and thus unreliable. I believe the number one way the enemy harasses and tries to hinder Christians is through our emotions.

We cannot always control how we feel, but we can control what we do. Mature Christians don’t walk by feelings; they order their conduct according to God’s Word. Emotions are fueled by our thoughts and words, so it is necessary to pay attention to what we think and say if we hope to walk by the Spirit instead of our emotions. What is right doesn’t change just because we don’t feel like doing it. People who are spiritually mature live beyond their feelings and do God’s will no matter how they feel.

Paul specifically mentions jealousy and factions (dissension or strife) as indicators of a lack of spiritual maturity. Ask God to help you in these areas. Be content with what you have, not jealous of others, knowing that God will give you more when the time is right. Do your best to live in peace with all people.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me not be ruled by my emotions. Teach me to follow Your Word, control my actions, and live by truth instead of feelings, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Thirsty for Mercy 

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Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.”

Because Jesus has forgiven us, we can forgive others. Because he lives in us, you and I can do the same. Oh, I could never do that, you object. The hurt is so deep. Just seeing the person makes me cringe. Perhaps that’s the problem: you’re seeing too much of the wrong person. Try shifting your glance away from the one who hurt you and setting your eyes on the One who has saved you.

Please understand. Relationships don’t thrive because the guilty are punished but because the innocent are merciful. Are there any relationships in your world thirsty for mercy? Is there anyone who needs to be assured of your grace? Jesus made sure his disciples had no reason to doubt his love. Why don’t you do the same?

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Following the Cloud

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Read Numbers 9

During a recent flight, the pilot made an unexpected announcement: “We’re waiting for clearance from air traffic control.” While the delay was frustrating, it was essential for safe travel. The tower had visibility we didn’t have, and our safe departure depended on their timing and guidance.

Numbers chapter 9 reveals God’s perfect control system for His people in the wilderness. After celebrating the first Passover since leaving Egypt (vv. 1–5), Israel received a divine guidance system from God to direct their journey for the next 40 years: “On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning, the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire” (v. 15). This was God’s presence providing unmistakable direction.

The cloud was an important signal: “Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped” (v. 17). Sometimes they stayed in one place for days, months, or even years. Other times, they moved after just one night. The duration didn’t matter—only obedience did.

The passage emphasizes this total dependence with striking repetition: “At the LORD’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp” (v. 18). The chapter concludes: “At the LORD’s command they encamped, and at the LORD’s command they set out. They obeyed the LORD’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses” (v. 23). They trusted God’s timing and direction completely.

Go Deeper

Do you find it challenging to wait on God’s timing? Just as the Israelites watched for the cloud’s movement, seek God’s direction through prayer, Scripture, and wise counsel before making major life changes.

Pray with Us

Holy God, we know that following You is always the best choice! Forgive us when we plunge forward impatiently on our own. Tune our hearts to Your desire for our lives.

At the LORD’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped.Numbers 9:18

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Your Delight

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I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. Therefore be careful to observe them; for this is your wisdom.
Deuteronomy 4:5-6

Recommended Reading: Deuteronomy 4:5-10

We may think of Bible study as a chore or obligation, but the psalms use the word “delight” to describe our relationship with Scripture. Psalm 1:2 says our delight should be in the Word day and night. Psalm 94:19 says His Word will delight us even in the multitude of our anxieties. Psalm 112:1 tells us to delight greatly in God’s commands. And Psalm 119 contains nine exclamations about delighting in the Lord’s Word.

Christians should delight in the Bible. If your desire is to please God, reading His Word is a key part of learning how to please the Father. Each time you come to Scripture ask God to show you something that will help you please Him. As He shows you His wonderful truths, be careful to observe them, for this is your wisdom.

Can you honestly say that the Bible is a delight to you?… If you don’t desire the Word as much as you’d like, there is a solution. Ask the Lord to teach you to delight in it. Then start reading and meditating on a passage.
Charles Stanley

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Faithful in Prayer

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Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Today’s Scripture

Romans 12:9-21

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Today’s Devotion

After great-grandma Clara passed away, her ten-foot-long prayer list of people for whom she prayed regularly became a family heirloom. On it were typewritten many extended family members, friends, people her friends were praying for, as well as the names of high-profile evangelists, pastors, and ministries. New family members and specific prayer requests are handwritten in the margins. I became emotional seeing my mother’s name on the list, added when she was just a child.

The apostle Paul wrote to the early church, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). In his letter, Paul exhorted believers to do many things that displayed love in action—hating evil and loving good (v. 9), honoring others above yourself (v. 10), passionately serving God (v. 11), and practicing hospitality (v. 13). These good works would be empty without the love of Christ working in us. That’s where faithful prayer comes in. Paul called his friends to “join [him] in [his] struggle by praying to God for [him]” (15:30). Specific requests for safety from opposers and a favorable reception in Jerusalem (vv. 31-32) were on Paul’s list. Perhaps they ended up on the private prayer list of a great-grandma in Rome too.

Prayer empowers us to live in a way that “overcomes evil with good” (12:21). Though we may not always see the outcome, it creates a legacy of faithfulness for generations to come.

Reflect & Pray

What kinds of prayers have others prayed for you? Who or what is at the top of your prayer list?

Dear God, please help me be faithful in prayer.

Today’s Insights

Romans 12:9-21 shows how love should be the foundation for believers in Jesus. This passage bears striking similarities to Paul’s extended instructions to the Corinthian church on the centrality of love (1 Corinthians 13).

Here in Romans, we see that love can overcome evil as we live in faithful dedication to others (v. 21). Mirroring the words of Christ in His Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5-7), the apostle advocates that the Roman believers embrace humility, meekness, and faithfulness (Romans 12:10-16). For them and for us today, a life of love overcomes the evil in the world and shows the worthiness of Christ, who Himself never repaid evil for evil but first loved those who hated Him. As we’re “faithful in prayer” (12:12), the Holy Spirit will help us love others and leave a legacy of faithfulness.

Explore how the Bible not only defines but also models prayer.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – How should Christians respond to violence justified by faith?

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A biblical response to the Correspondents’ Dinner attacker’s manifesto

 

A gunman who entered the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 25 left behind a “manifesto” that framed his actions as consistent with Christian belief. In a note included in a criminal affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, he anticipated objections, responded to critics, and apologized to his family, colleagues, and others.

Cole Thomas Allen, 31, a California resident, was charged on April 27 with multiple offenses, including attempting to assassinate the president. His manifesto outlined grievances with the administration and identified officials as targets, though the president was not named.

In this 1,000-word document, he quotes Scripture, talks about Christian behavior, and ends it by thanking his family “both personal and church” for their love.

Continue reading Denison Forum – How should Christians respond to violence justified by faith? →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Behind the Scenes

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 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. One day the girl said to her mistress, ‘I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy. 

—2 Kings 5:2–3

Scripture:

2 Kings 5:2-3 

Often the most profound and far-reaching spiritual opportunities are those that happen “behind the scenes.” What’s more, the person who appears to be the main figure in a given situation isn’t always the person God chooses to work through.

One example of this can be found in the book of Nehemiah. King Artaxerxes was obviously the most powerful man in the Persian Empire, ruling over Babylon and much of the Middle East. His word was law. Nehemiah, in contrast, served as the king’s cupbearer. Though his position was several steps down from the ruler of the kingdom, Nehemiah served a vital function—one that kept him always near Artaxerxes. A cupbearer’s job was to taste a drink before the king did to make sure it hadn’t been poisoned. If a drink was poisonous, then that was the end of the cupbearer’s job—and the end of his life for that matter. But the cupbearer did more than sip beverages. Because he spent so much time around the king, he often would become an advisor to the monarch, someone who exerted influence on him. Cupbearer was a very prestigious position in the palace. A cupbearer lived in affluence and influence.

But Nehemiah had another allegiance. He was, after all, an exiled Jew—one who felt passionately about his abandoned homeland. He knew that the walls of Jerusalem had been burned down and were lying in rubble—and that something needed to be done. So, he leveraged his position, at great risk to himself. He asked the king to allow him to return to Jerusalem with a group of fellow exiles to rebuild the walls. He could have lost his life by asking such a thing. But he saw a spiritual opportunity to work behind the scenes to accomplish something meaningful.

Another example can be found in 2 Kings 5. A young Jewish girl, whose name is never mentioned, said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy” (verse 3 NLT). Her master was Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army—one of the towering figures of his day. The young girl was a maid who served Naaman’s wife. She, too, saw a spiritual opportunity to work behind the scenes and seized it. Her subtle suggestion prompted Naaman to seek out the Israelite prophet Elisha. Naaman made the journey to Israel and was healed of his leprosy.

These stories serve as reminders that God can and does use anyone to accomplish His purposes. And though the names of the people He uses may be lost to history, they are never lost to Him. He will faithfully reward all who make themselves available to Him.

Reflection question: How can you make yourself available to God? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – The Soul Exchange

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37)

The lives of many people revolve almost completely around the stock exchange, and they never stop to realize that it easily may become a soul exchange where they exchange their very souls for the imagined blessings of the great god Mammon. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Similarly, many are greatly exercised about their monthly profit-and-loss statements. But the Lord Jesus asks whether there is really a profit, even if one acquires the wealth of the whole world at the cost of his soul, and the answer to such a rhetorical question has to be: “No!” For “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17).

Furthermore, the words “life” in verse 35 and “soul” in our text are actually the same word (psuche) in the Greek original. That is, to lose one’s soul is to lose one’s very life, for they are inseparable. A life centered around money is not only a soul lost but a life wasted as well. On the other hand, if we lose our lives in Christ, then we find true life, eternal life, beginning here and now and continuing forever. This is a good exchange!

God may well bless a Christian with material wealth, but this should not be his motivation. “Charge them that are rich in this world,” Paul says, “that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate [i.e., share]; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:17–19). HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Character Building

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And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

Romans 5:4 (AMPC)

The journey toward our goals is just as important as the destination itself. The journey builds our patience, faith, endurance, and self-discipline. It prepares us for the destination.

Romans says that we can rejoice in trials because they bear the fruit of godly character (5:3–4). If the destination you are working toward still seems a long way off, think of it as character building. Maintaining a good attitude and keeping your trust in God while you wait is training you to be able to handle all the blessings and the challenges that come your way.

God has equipped us to achieve the dreams He’s put inside us. He wants to prepare us by building godly character in us so that we are able to handle future challenges with grace and future victories with humility. If we don’t have strong godly character, we will set ourselves up for failure, and we won’t be able to sustain our vision once it comes to pass.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul concludes by charging them to grow to maturity (2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT). The Amplified Bible says it like this: Be made complete [be what you should be]. The journey is where we become what we should be, where we are made complete.

Prayer of the Day: God, thank You for all of the opportunities You have given me to grow. Give me a positive attitude as I learn to rejoice even when challenges come. Help me remember that it is through these trials that I will become what I should be—what You created me to be, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – A Passionate Moment 

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Few situations stir panic like being trapped in a relationship. Some opt to flee, to get out of the relationship. Others fight, and tension becomes a way of life. A few, however, discover another treatment: forgiveness.

In Jesus’ day the task of washing feet was reserved for the lowest of the servants. But in the thirteenth chapter of John, the one with the basin and towel is the king of the universe. What a passionate moment when Jesus silently washes the feet of all the disciples…even Judas. Jesus knows that, by morning, these men will bury their heads in shame. Remarkable. He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it.

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Consecrated and Blessed

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Read Numbers 8

Many medical schools participate in a rite of passage called the “white coat ceremony.” After students complete their basic coursework, they are given their first white coats—a symbol of their calling. They also take the Hippocratic Oath, promising to “first, do no harm” and to dedicate their lives to serving others. The white coat is a visible sign of their consecration to a higher purpose.

Numbers chapter 8 describes a similar consecration ceremony, but with enduring significance. After the tabernacle was completed and offerings given, God commanded the purification and dedication of the Levites for sacred service. This wasn’t merely a religious ritual—it was a divine appointment for those called to minister before the Lord.

When Aaron lit the lamps in the tabernacle, he was symbolically illuminating the space where God’s presence dwelt (vv. 1–4). Then comes the heart of the passage: the Levites’ consecration. God instructed Moses: “Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean” (v. 6). This purification involved being sprinkled with “the water of cleansing,” shaving their entire bodies, washing their clothes, and offering sacrifices (vv. 7–8).

But the most significant moment came when the Israelites were to “lay their hands” on the Levites (v. 10), followed by Aaron presenting them as a wave offering. God declared the purpose: “In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine” (v. 14). The Levites belonged to God, taking the place of every firstborn male in Israel (vv. 16–18). Notice the communal aspect—the entire nation participated in setting apart the Levites, recognizing and supporting those called to serve.

Go Deeper

The Levites were consecrated for ministry, and we too are called to be “a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). Does your life reflect this sacred purpose?

Pray with Us

Father, it is easy to think of ourselves as ordinary. We wonder if there is anything special or valuable about us. Remind us that we are chosen for Your service, a holy calling!

The LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself.Psalm 4:3

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Resisting the Downward Pull

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May 6, 2026

NEW!Listen Now

Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
Hebrews 2:1

Recommended Reading: Hebrews 2:1-9

It’s thrilling to see a shooting star. But it’s no fun for the meteoroid. When a space rock flies too close to our planet, it’s pulled into our atmosphere by gravity. The heat generated by friction causes intense heat, and the meteoroid is usually burned up.

Don’t become a shooting star! The world—along with the flesh and the devil—project a gravitational field. We’re drawn to them. We easily veer into sin, which burns us. We must be constantly on guard. Henry B. Carrington, a nineteenth-century Civil War soldier and writer, said, “There is a subtle pull also in the drift of fashion and usage which carries away everyone who is not established on a Bible conscience.”

Take attending church, for example. Losing the habit can start with a small, seemingly innocent decision to skip one week, then continue as you gradually miss more and more until the pattern is virtually burned up by the world’s atmosphere. Take care each day to avoid being drawn into the gravitational pull of the world.

The downward pull of sin is tremendous. To be able firmly to say, “Yet will not I,” requires the grace from above in the heart.
Henry B. Carrington 

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – Fueled by Faith

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Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” Matthew 15:28

Today’s Scripture

Matthew 15:21-28

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Today’s Devotion

J.D. witnessed amazing sights on his trip to several African nations. His text messages to us from Eastern Zambia included several pictures of faith-filled women who presented their three-year gospel ministry plan. “It is one of the most powerful strategic plan presentations I’ve ever heard in my life. Instead of a whiteboard, they drew in the dirt. Instead of handing out nice copies of what they were going to do, they displayed their plan on poster-sized crumpled paper held up by two of them. It was just incredible!”

They were demonstrating the kind of faith that Jesus values. Matthew 15:21-28 records another example. A daughter’s condition drove a woman to seek Him. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly” (v. 22). Her “great faith” (v. 28) in Jesus contrasted with the faithlessness of the Jewish leadership whose hearts were far from God (v. 8). While Christ recognized the outward pedigree of those belonging to Abraham, His commendation was for a gentile woman who possessed the faith of Abraham.

What compels you to look to Jesus today? A personal, family or community need? Whatever prompts you to go to Jesus, go—even if you feel that you’re limping. Go to Him because it’s not the size of your faith that matters. What matters is the object of your faith: Jesus and Jesus alone.

Reflect & Pray

How would you describe your faith today? How might you refuel your trust in Jesus?

Dear Jesus, please help me to grow in my faith as You provide what I need.

For further study, read Fear, Faith, and the True Cost of Not Trusting God.

Today’s Insights

The encounter with the Canaanite woman has often perplexed Bible students because Jesus’ treatment of her seems out of character. Why would He be so harsh with this hurting woman? Perhaps His interaction with her regarding her demon-possessed daughter was more for the disciples’ benefit to show them the hardness of their own hearts as they repeatedly pushed Christ to send her away (Matthew 15:23). By communicating with her before His disciples, Jesus gave them a wonderful example of what “great faith” (v. 28) looks like when He healed the gentile woman’s daughter because of her faith in Him. It’s saying that this incident closely follows a debate between Christ and the religious leaders whom He described as formalistic in their religion without a true heart for God (vv. 1-14). Today, as we focus our eyes on Jesus, the object of our faith, we can entrust our cares to Him.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – What last night’s elections tell us about President Trump

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It’s been said that we should believe our beliefs and doubt our doubts, but many of us doubt our beliefs and believe our doubts. I know the feeling. If you do as well, please continue reading.

We’ll begin with what must seem like a non sequitur: the results are in from Indiana’s Republican primaries.

As Politico reported yesterday, these primaries were “the first big test for whether the president still has an iron grip over his party.” The reason: last December, despite the president’s strong urging, nearly a dozen GOP state senators refused to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps. Seven of these lawmakers were targeted yesterday as Mr. Trump’s allies spent nearly $10 million combined against them; the president also endorsed a candidate running for an open Senate seat.

In election returns last night, five of the seven lost to challengers backed by the president; a sixth race is too close to call, and Mr. Trump’s candidate for the open seat won as well.

Here’s my point: Not in living memory has a single politician so unified both parties as Donald Trump does.

Continue reading Denison Forum – What last night’s elections tell us about President Trump →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Be Faithful—and Tactful

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 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ The man replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?’ And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. 

—Acts 8:30–31 NLT

Scripture:

Acts 8:30-31 

Philip, a leader in the early church, was given a remarkable opportunity to share the gospel. According to Acts 8, he was guided by the Holy Spirit to an Ethiopian official, who was sitting in a chariot, struggling to understand a passage from the book of Isaiah.

“Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ The man replied, ‘How can I, unless someone instructs me?’ And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him” (Acts 8:30–31 NLT).

As you explore the passage further, you’ll find that when Philip shared the gospel with the Ethiopian dignitary, he demonstrated something that’s often lacking in evangelistic efforts, and that’s tact.

Many Christians, when they sense an opportunity to witness to an unbeliever, opt for an all-out blitz. They fire away with everything they have in their spiritual arsenal. They don’t make an effort to engage the people they speak with. They don’t try to establish a dialogue. They don’t bother with building an interpersonal bridge. They simply present their arguments, make their statements, and walk away from the encounter feeling impressed with themselves. Meanwhile, the people they’re talking to are silently wishing they would just stop talking and going away.

Later, the Christian thinks, “Boy, I really blew them out of the water when they said this and that. Wasn’t that great?” No, it wasn’t great. In fact, it was quite foolish, because our job as believers is not to win the argument; it’s to win the soul.

If we want to effectively share the gospel with people, then we need to engage them. What did the master evangelist Jesus do as He talked with the woman at the well in Samaria? He engaged her in conversation. He established some give-and-take. He spoke. He listened. She shared her heart with Him. He revealed the truth to her.

When we share the gospel with people, it must be as a dialogue—and not as a monologue. It’s not just a matter of talking; it’s also a matter of listening. Sharing the gospel involves offering appropriate passages from Scripture and genuine responses from a heart filled with love.

No one will ever be argued into the kingdom of God. No one will come away from an adversarial debate with a believer—after winning or losing—with a desire to “join the other side.” Ultimately, people are going to believe because the Holy Spirit convicted them of their sin. Our job is to simply bring them the essential gospel message in a way that’s compelling, thoughtful, and personal.

Reflection question: How do you use tact when you share the gospel with others? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – God Is Triune

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by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 28:19)

The foundational plank of Israel’s worship was Deuteronomy 6:4—“Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD.” Even the great apostle James acknowledged, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19).

Some have suggested that the Old Testament does not teach the Trinity and that the New Testament is making a “god” out of Jesus to foster the new religion. Nothing could be further from the truth. Both sections present the triune God.

The Father is named in Malachi 2:10: “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?” Jesus Himself insisted that we pray to the Father. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9).

The Son is clearly declared in both Testaments. “The LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (Psalm 2:7). Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), and the apostle Paul insisted that the Lord Jesus was “all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

The Holy Spirit is hardly a stranger to both Testaments. King David knew that “the Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). And as the Lord Jesus was preparing to go back to the Father, He promised that “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

This much is clear: there is one God, who is manifested to us in three Persons. HMM III

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – You Are God’s Beloved—Believe It!

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So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

1 John 4:16 (ESV)

The greatest happiness and peace in people’s lives comes from knowing they are loved unconditionally, for exactly who they are, with all their strengths and weaknesses, good points and not-so-good points. I don’t think any human being alive, no matter how wonderful or godly he or she might be, is fully capable of loving us unconditionally all the time. Only God can love us that way.

God loves us unconditionally in spite of ourselves, no matter what we do. But He does even more than that; He also calls us His beloved (Romans 9:25). This is a term of endearment reserved for someone who is very special to someone else, someone who holds a unique place in another person’s heart. It means to long for, to respect, and to hold in affectionate regard. When I think of the word beloved, I sense that it means to be loved in every way at every moment in time. Because you are God’s beloved, there has never been and never will be even a split-second when you are not perfectly loved.

The enemy will use many different things that will challenge your belief that you are beloved. He may use words other people have spoken against you, situations in which you have been victimized, mistakes, failures, disappointments, and anything else that would damage the way you see yourself or cause you to doubt the truth of what God’s Word says about you. A well-known minister and author Henri Nouwen wrote: “Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the ‘Beloved.’ ”

To fight self-rejection and all the other things that try to contradict the “sacred voice that calls us the ‘Beloved,’” we need to do as the apostle John encourages us in today’s Scripture verse: We receive God’s love totally by faith, coming to know and believe He loves us. The more we meditate on that and persist in believing, the more established it becomes in our hearts.

When we have been deeply wounded, receiving this love is not always easy. Don’t get discouraged if you find yourself struggling to accept it. Just let the desire of your heart be to embrace it more and more. If there are times when you feel like you’ve failed, just begin again. With God, you can always make a fresh start. Eventually, God’s unconditional love for you and your place as His beloved will be deeply rooted in your heart and no one will be able to convince you otherwise, but it takes time.

When we are secure in our place as God’s beloved, we are strong and confident. We can step into our destiny and into the great future He has planned for us. I encourage you to say out loud today, “I am God’s beloved,” as often as you can. The more you say it, the more you will believe it.

Prayer of the Day: Lord, help me receive Your unconditional love. Teach me to believe I am Your beloved, secure in Your care, and confident in the purpose You have for my life, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – What We Can Become 

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Jesus is pure; we are greedy. He is peaceful; we are hassled. He is spiritual; we are earthbound. The distance between our hearts and his seems so immense. How could we ever hope to have the heart of Jesus?

Ready for a surprise? You already do. If you have given your life to Jesus, Jesus has given himself to you. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:16 (TLB), “Strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ.”

God has ambitious plans for us. The same one who saved your soul longs to remake your heart. Let’s imagine what it means to be just like Jesus. Let’s look long into the heart of Christ. Perhaps in seeing him, we will see what we can become.

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – The Heart Behind the Gift

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Read Numbers 7

In the 13th century, during the construction of the magnificent Chartres Cathedral in France, something remarkable happened. The guilds of various professions—bakers, shoemakers, carpenters, and others—each made donations to fund the cathedral’s stained-glass windows. In exchange, small panels within these windows illustrated their specific trades and activities. Each individual contribution has been immortalized in those windows.

Numbers chapter 7 records one of the most repetitive yet beautiful passages in Scripture. Over twelve consecutive days, each tribal leader brought identical offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle. The chapter meticulously records every gift: “They brought as their gifts before the LORD six covered carts and twelve oxen” (v. 3).

What follows is extraordinary repetition. Each day, a different tribal leader presented “one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels…one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering” (vv. 13–15). The pattern repeats twelve times, word for word.

Why such repetitive detail? The repetition itself is the message. God doesn’t see our gifts as mass-produced donations—He sees each offering as a unique expression of our individual devotion. The chapter concludes with an impressive total: “twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes” (v. 84), representing twelve acts of worship, twelve demonstrations of commitment, twelve hearts aligned with God’s purposes. This passage in Numbers reminds us that we each have a unique and important contribution to God’s work.

Go Deeper

Have you ever felt that your contribution to God’s work was unimportant or insignificant? How does this passage contradict that idea?

Pray with Us

Holy God, You give good gifts to Your children! Help us recognize the unique way You have gifted us and give us the opportunity to use our giftedness to glorify You.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.Romans 12:6

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – God With Us

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NEW!Listen Now

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14

Recommended Reading: Psalm 46:7-11

Greg Livingstone, the missionary giant who died last year, never knew his dad. Nor was his stepfather in his life. Greg was raised in foster homes. But when he found Christ as Savior, he said Jesus took up residence in him. “I had finally been adopted by a Father who would stick with me.”1

There are times you might feel alone, but always know God is with you. He’s immediately accessible to you wherever you go. Jesus was called Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” He has adopted you into His family. He loves you constantly. We certainly need human companionship, but when we don’t have as much fellowship as we need, let’s look to Him.

If you’re feeling alone today, you can talk to God and give Him thanks for never leaving your side.

I must learn the art of taking minute vacations—of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to smile at a child, to read a few pages from a good book. I need to take more time to reflect, ponder, and enjoy companionship with God.
Greg Livingstone

  1. Greg Livingstone, You’ve Got Libya (Monarch Books, 2014), 52.

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org