Tag Archives: christianity

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – God Blesses Obedience

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Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine.

Exodus 19:5 (AMPC)

God’s grace and power are available for us to use. God enables us or gives us an anointing of the Holy Spirit to do what He tells us to do. Sometimes after He has prompted us to go another direction, we still keep pressing on with our original plan. If we are doing something He has not approved, He is under no obligation to give us the energy to do it. We are functioning in our own strength rather than under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Then we get so frustrated, stressed, or burned out, we lose our self-control, simply by ignoring the promptings of the Spirit.

Many people are stressed and burned out from going their own way instead of God’s way. They end up in stressful situations when they go a different direction from the one God prompted. Then they burn out in the midst of the disobedience and end up struggling to finish what they started outside of God’s direction, all the while begging God to bless them.

Thankfully, God is merciful, and He helps us in the midst of our mistakes. But He is not going to give us strength and energy to disobey Him. We can avoid many stressful situations simply by obeying the Holy Spirit’s promptings at all times.

Hebrews 6:19 tells us that hope is the anchor of the soul. Hope is the force that keeps us steady in a time of trial. Don’t ever stop hoping. Don’t be afraid to hope. No one can promise that you’ll never be disappointed. But you can always have hope and be positive.

Prayer of the Day: Holy Spirit, help me slow down and listen to Your guidance. Give me grace to obey promptly, walk in Your strength, and avoid stress caused by doing things my own way, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Jesus Himself Chose the Cross 

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God has penned a list of our faults. The list God has made, however, cannot be deciphered. The mistakes are covered. The sins hidden. “He has forgiven you all your sins:  he has utterly wiped out the written evidence…and has completely annulled it by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14 Phillips).

He knew the price of those sins was death. He knew the source of those sins was you, and since he couldn’t bear the thought of eternity without you, he chose the nails.

The verdict behind the death was not decided by jealous Jews. With a flex of the biceps, Jesus could have resisted. No. Jesus himself chose the nails. He knew that the purpose of the nail was to place your sins where they could be hidden by his sacrifice—nailed to the cross, covered by his blood.

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Special Delivery

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Read Revelation 3

If you located the seven churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3 on a map, they would form a rough geographical circle, starting at Ephesus and going clockwise to Laodicea. This is also the order a courier or messenger would likely have delivered the original copies of this book. The Roman province of Asia today is western Turkey. Sadly, these seven churches have mostly vanished, as this area is now largely Muslim. As we continue through the remainder of the seven letters, this fact is a warning to take their contents seriously.

The fifth letter is to the church in Sardis (vv. 1–6). The congregation’s high reputation is undeserved. They need to wake up and repent! Yet there is a faithful remnant, counted worthy to walk with Christ. The sixth letter is to the church in Philadelphia (vv. 7–13). This congregation is praised for their faithfulness and patient endurance. As with the church in Smyrna, no sins or weaknesses are pointed out. The seventh is to the church in Laodicea (vv. 14–22). Tragically, they receive no words of commendation from the Lord. They’re portrayed as lukewarm, complacent, and prideful. They need to accept God’s loving discipline and repent.

The rewards described in the letters are both specific and general. They’re specific in that they fit well with the strengths and admonitions in each letter. But they’re also general in that they’re available to all believers. This is because most of the rewards have to do with eternal life and our relationship with Christ. While the letters focus on “what is now” from the perspective of the original readers, there are timeless truths for us as well. The rest of the book will deal with “what will take place later” (Rev. 1:19), that is, end-times events that are still in our future.

Go Deeper

Revelation 3:20 is a verse often used for evangelism. It was originally addressed to the church in Laodicea. What does it mean? How might it best be interpreted?

Pray with Us

God, help us listen to Your voice! Your Word is a guide for our lives that leads us to repentance. May we not dismiss the warnings You give us in Scripture.

These are the words of him who is holy and true.Revelation 3:7

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – Small Groups, Big Blessings

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To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.
Philemon 1:1-2

Recommended Reading: Philemon 1:1-7

According to the World Happiness Report, 19 percent of young adults across the world have no one they can count on for support. That’s a 39 percent increase from 2006. At the same time, loneliness has risen with half of all U.S. college undergraduates facing significant loneliness.1 While this report targeted young adults, the same trends are true for all population groups.

When Jesus left for heaven, He left behind His Church. In those earliest day before church buildings, the Church met in homes. In Colossae, one of those groups met in the home of Philemon. Paul told him, “The hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother” (Philemon 7).

During difficult times, small groups are vital to fellowship as we lift up each other. If you aren’t part of a small group, look for one you can join. Pray for each other and strengthen each other during the good times and the bad.

There is a brotherhood within the body of believers, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the common denominator.
J. Vernon McGee

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – The Unnamed Women

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These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:3

Today’s Scripture

Luke 8:1-3

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After wiping down tables with disinfectant, Shelia stooped to tie a garbage bag filled with used cups and plates. She heaved the bag over her shoulder and turned to survey the church’s multipurpose room. She’d volunteered to clean it for the next gathering and wanted to make sure it was ready. A thought fluttered through her mind: Would anyone notice?

It’s easy to wonder if our everyday contributions to the kingdom are valued. Whether we clean, balance spreadsheets, lead a Bible study, or give money, so many of us remain unseen in our places of service and unnamed in public commendations.

In Luke 8:1-2, the historian catalogs the faithful service of women in the ministry of Jesus. He lists three by name from among the women freed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary of Magdalene; Joanna the wife of Chuza, who managed Herod’s household; and Susanna. Then Luke says, “Many others . . . were helping to support [Jesus and His disciples] out of their own means” (v. 3). Luke spotlights these unnamed women who invested themselves in supporting the gospel, and so underlines their value.

Just as God includes unnamed women in His account of valuable contributions to His kingdom, He sees our efforts. He knows our names (John 10:3), and He sees our investment in His work (Hebrews 6:10).

Reflect & Pray

When have you felt overlooked and undervalued? How does knowing that God included unnamed women in His catalog of contributions encourage you?

 

Dear God, thank You that You see me, know me, and value all I give You.

God made you with a purpose. Learn more about your worth in Jesus by watching this video.

Today’s Insights

Luke gives more attention to Jesus’ interactions with women than any other gospel writer. The women—both named and unnamed—mentioned in Luke 8:1-3 are one example, but others include His encounter with the widow of Nain (7:11-17), the “sinful” woman (vv. 36-50), Mary and Martha (10:38-42), a disabled woman (13:10-17), and the women who “mourned and wailed for him” prior to His crucifixion (23:27). Luke 2 also includes an extended account of Mary’s experience prior to Christ’s birth. In the ancient world, women were often undervalued or devalued, but Jesus elevated their status by showing great care for them. This can remind us today that when we feel undervalued and overlooked by others, we can be assured that we’re valued by God. He sees and knows all that we do in His name.

 

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Will the Iran war forge a “very different” Middle East?

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Political headlines this morning are focusing on overnight results from Senate primaries in Texas and North Carolina, races whose outcomes could help determine control of the Senate in the fall. However, a different political story is making fewer headlines, though its impact could affect the entire world.

As Iran has expanded the war by targeting US allies in the Middle East, it is facing a consequence it apparently did not expect: the Wall Street Journal reports that “Gulf states, rattled by volleys of Iranian drones and missiles targeting their hotels, ports, and airports, are concluding the Iranian peril must be confronted.”

This is of foundational significance. Arabs are not Persians. There has been enmity between the two cultures for millennia. And most Arab Muslims are Sunni, while most Iranian Muslims are Shiite. If Arab states (most notably Saudi Arabia) side with Israel and the West in responding to Iran, this geopolitical alliance will forge what one article calls a “very different” Middle East.

However, there is a consequence to the Arab states’ involvement in the war that is not military or political but spiritual and eternal.

Sincerely running on the wrong road

I’ve been responding this week to “Operation Epic Fury” by reminding Christians that our “front lines” in this conflict are the prayers by which we wage spiritual war for the protection of innocents and the conversion of multitudes. Here’s my point today: the more Muslims across the Arab world are endangered by this war, the more urgently we should pray for them to know Christ before it’s too late.

Of course, secularists and even some Christians will respond by claiming that Muslims and Christians worship the same God and that my call to intercession for Muslim conversions to Christ is therefore unnecessary and oppressive.

Is this true?

You’ve perhaps heard the saying with regard to world religions, “All roads lead up the same mountain.” But the reality is that Christianity and Islam are very different “mountains.” And when two mountains exist, you cannot climb them both at the same time.

As I noted in Monday’s Daily Article, the Qur’an explicitly denies the divinity of Jesus (cf. Surah 5:75; 19:36), while the New Testament explicitly states that trust in Christ as Savior is the one essential path to salvation (cf. John 3:18; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:20–21; Revelation 20:15). If Islam is right about Jesus, Christianity is wrong about him. And faith in the wrong “road,” no matter how sincerely it is held, still leads to the wrong outcome.

You may have heard about the runner who was leading the US Half Marathon Championships in Atlanta last weekend before she was led off the course by a media vehicle. By the time she got back onto the right path, her lead was gone and she finished in ninth place.

She was sincere in running the wrong road, but she was sincerely wrong.

The biblical bottom line

If Muslims do not need to hear the gospel and respond by turning to Christ, why is God calling so many Christians to share the good news with them? You might say that these believers are wrong in thinking they are called to such ministry, but what of the dreams and visions by which Jesus himself is appearing to Muslims?

Is Jesus wrong as well?

I have encountered liberal theologians over the years who claim that the Bible commissions us to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) not because the lost will spend eternity in hell apart from Christ, but so they can live better lives in this world. But Jesus clearly stated, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:38).

And it is not necessarily true that Muslim converts to Jesus will live “better” lives in this world as a result. Many face the loss of their jobs, homes, families, and even their lives.

The biblical bottom line is clear and non-negotiable: Every person who does not know Jesus needs to know him personally. And every person who does know Jesus needs to share him personally.

“The whole purpose of becoming a Christian”

In The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Tim Keller notes: “If you don’t live for Jesus, you will live for something else.” Why choose him? As Keller reminds us, “Jesus is the one Lord you can live for who died for you—who breathed his last breath for you.”

With all due respect, Muhammad did not die for Muslims. Buddha did not die for Buddhists. Jewish rabbis do not atone for their fellow Jews by their deaths, much less for the rest of humanity. But “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Each of us. All of us.

Now we are to imitate our Lord by paying forward the grace we have received.

In his Exposition on Galatians, St. Augustine wrote, “The believer who imitates Christ becomes … the same as Christ whom he imitates.” According to C. S. Lewis, such Christlikeness and nothing less is the purpose of the Christian faith.

In Mere Christianity, Lewis observed: “The whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have his way, come to share in the life of Christ. . . . Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”

To become like Jesus, we must embrace his mission as ours: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28).

How will you “serve” those who do not know your Lord today?

Quote for the day:

“God had only one Son, and he made him a missionary.” —David Livingstone

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Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – Your Request Has Been Heard

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 Then he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.’ 

—Daniel 10:12–13

Scripture:

Daniel 10:12–13 

An interesting story in the Old Testament book of Daniel offers us a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what happens when we pray. It seems only fitting that the story comes from the book of Daniel because Daniel was one of the great pray-ers in the Bible. He built his daily schedule around his prayer time. He prayed even at the risk of his own life.

In Daniel 10:12–13, Daniel receives a message confirming that his prayer reached Heaven. God heard Daniel’s prayer and dispatched an angel with a special message for Daniel. But the angel who was sent from Heaven was held up for twenty-one days because he was engaged in spiritual warfare with a powerful demon spirit. As a result, God dispatched Michael the archangel. (You might say that Michael is a head honcho among angels.) Michael overruled the demon power, and the answer eventually was brought to Daniel. But it took twenty-one days for the answer to get there.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that every prayer runs into the same delays. Remember, Daniel was a key figure during a very important time in the history of God’s people. He was a leading light not just among the Jewish people in exile but also among the rulers of Babylon.

The devil recognized Daniel’s spiritual potential and did everything in his power—including interfering with Daniel’s prayers—to thwart it.

That’s important to remember when our prayers seem to go unanswered. It may be that certain prayers have the potential to cause real damage to our spiritual enemy. He may be working overtime to thwart them. He won’t succeed, of course. But recognizing this possibility may help us be more patient when it comes to prayer.

Sometimes when God doesn’t answer our prayers as quickly as we would like Him to, we think that He’s letting us down. We need to understand that delays aren’t necessarily denials. When we pray and don’t see an answer as quickly as we would like, it may be a result of circumstances that we can’t see.

Maybe you’ve been praying for someone to come to know the Lord. Maybe you’ve been asking God to heal you. Maybe you’ve been asking the Lord to open doors of opportunity for you to serve Him. Don’t give up. Don’t be discouraged. Keep praying. Jesus said to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, and the door would be opened. So be persistent. And watch what God will do.

Reflection Question: What do you do when a prayer seems to go unanswered? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Fellowship in the Gospel

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by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Philippians 1:3–5)

This poignant letter was written to a church that Paul founded early in his ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 16:12–15). He endured challenging opposition there: he was followed for days by a demon-possessed young girl, tossed into prison by an angry business community, and beaten and locked immobile into wooden stocks (Acts 16:16–24).

Yet in that dark midnight while Paul and Silas sang hymns of the faith, God struck the jail with an earthquake and opened both the chains and the doors of the prison. The head jailor became converted, and along with the successful businesswoman Lydia, the seed of a flourishing church was planted (Acts 16:25–34).

It is to these “saints” and the “bishops and deacons” of the church at Philippi that Paul writes (Philippians 1:1). The church matured enough over the years of Paul’s absence to have established leadership and a strong testimony in that city. The “rememberance” of these faithful men and women gives rise to his thanks to God for their “fellowship in the gospel.”

May we never take for granted the sweet friends that we have known in our churches. Their fellowship is far more valuable than business or political contacts. Theirs is the bond of an eternal brother or sister; theirs is the friendship that is “closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

The apostle John understood this: “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). And because we share in a love for the Lord Jesus and walk together in the light of God’s truth, “we have fellowship one with another”(1 John 1:7). HMM III

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Self-Control

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And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety).

2 Peter 1:6 (AMPC)

As believers in Jesus Christ, God has given us a new nature, but at the same time, we also have to deal with the old nature. When we allow the old nature to rule, we will follow our feelings instead of operating in self-control. Self-control is a fruit of our new nature, and all we need to do is develop it. We can develop self-control by using it, just as we can develop muscles by using them.

Exercising self-control is a form of freedom. You don’t have to do what you feel like doing. You’re free to do what you know is wise. Discipline and self-control will help you be the person you want to be. Don’t ever say, “I just don’t have any self-control,” because the truth is that you do have it, but it needs to be exercised in order to be strong.

Prayer of the Day: God, thank You for giving me self-control through my new nature in Christ. Help me choose wisdom over feelings and strengthen my discipline as I practice obedience each day, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – The Hand of God 

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Play

Come with me to the hill of Calvary. Watch as the soldiers press a knee against a forearm and a spike against a hand, as the soldier lifts the hammer to strike it. Think about the hand that received the nail. The fist doesn’t clench, the moment isn’t aborted.

A mallet drove a nail into the hand, not just of a carpenter, but into the hand of God. Fingers that formed Adam out of clay and furrowed truth into tablets felt the pain of crucifixion. The same hand that stilled the seas stilled your guilt. And as the hands of Jesus opened for the nail, the doors of heaven opened for you.

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Letters to the Seven Churches

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Read Revelation 2

Doubtless, we’ve all read one or more of the 21 letters, or epistles, in the New Testament. In each one, the author was writing to a specific church, including greetings, personal names, and specific spiritual issues. The “mini-epistles” we find in Revelation 2–3 are shorter but otherwise the same. These letters from Christ are aimed at specific churches, while also being aimed at readers throughout church history, including us.

These letters include five main ingredients: (1) something about Christ, the author of the letters—typically a quality already mentioned in chapter 1; (2) something good or praiseworthy; (3) a weakness or area for improvement; (4) a call to hear and respond rightly; and (5) rewards for those who are “victorious.” Not every letter has every ingredient, but the pattern is consistent. While we cannot exhaustively discuss each letter here, we’ll hit the highlights.

The first letter is to the church in Ephesus (vv. 1–7). The believers there are praised for their hard work, perseverance, and hatred of wickedness and false teaching. But they’re admonished to repent of their cold hearts to return to their “first love.”

The second letter is to the church in Smyrna (vv. 8–11). This congregation is recognized for their endurance of afflictions and poverty, slander and persecution from others. Impressively, no weaknesses are mentioned.

The third letter is to the church in Pergamum (vv. 12–17). They are praised for being faithful and true under pressure, even to the point of martyrdom, though some do follow false teaching and need to repent. Culturally, the “white stone” reward probably symbolizes admission to the Messianic banquet (Isa. 25:6; Rev. 19:9).

The fourth letter is to the church in Thyatira (vv. 18–29). They do well in love, faith, service, perseverance, and good deeds, but they’re much too tolerant of a certain false teaching.

Go Deeper

What letter might Christ write to you or your church? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Which of His qualities are most precious to you?

Pray with Us

Father, Your instruction to the churches is a reminder for us to examine our own walk with You. Show us where we need to grow and give us the strength to remain faithful to You.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.Revelation 2:7

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – The Eye of the Storm

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When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Proverbs 10:25

Recommended Reading: Psalm 46

In October 2025, meteorologist Matthew Cappucci and NOAA Hurricane Hunters flew into the eye of Hurricane Melissa. After describing the violent turbulence and 50,000-foot wall of thunderclouds, he recorded the moment they entered the eye of the storm. “Then it happened. We emerged from the mist… My jaw dropped. I was sitting in the middle of a 10-mile-wide stadium of the gods. On all sides, hulking thunderstorms towered high above me—yet, directly overhead the stars twinkled. With the faint glow offered by the moon, I could see brushstroke-like striations as the clouds in the eyewall swung around the eye at breakneck speeds. But for a moment, I was in an oasis of calm.”1

That’s where we, as God’s children, find ourselves. Although we see frightening things happening in the world today, when we open our Bibles, it’s like being in a quiet room. We can be still and know that He is God. The calmness we gain will encourage those around us. Use this visual of the eye of the storm today. Sit down in a quiet spot, read a meaningful passage of Scripture, and enjoy the presence of the Lord.

He who has the Holy Spirit in his heart and the Scriptures in his hands has all he needs.
Alexander MacLaren

  1. Matthew Cappucci, “What It Was Like to Fly Into Hurricane Melissa’s Eye,” The Washington Post, October 27, 2025.

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org

Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread – God’s Undeniable Power

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[God] rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. Daniel 6:27

Today’s Scripture

Daniel 6:25-28

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Today’s Devotional

When the Transit Agency of Central Kentucky (TACK) renovated its headquarters, it wanted to make sure people noticed. Instead of a subtle sign or announcement, it installed a massive, nearly twenty-two-feet-tall thumbtack at its entrance. The thumbtack, a world record, is an undeniable marker that no passersby can miss.

In Daniel 6, God used something undeniable to get people’s attention: He miraculously rescued Daniel after he’d been placed in a lion’s den for choosing to defy King Darius’ decree by continuing to pray to God (vv. 10-23). The prophet survived because he’d “trusted in . . . God” (v. 23). Darius then declared that—unlike the dead idols of the Medes and Persians—Daniel’s God was “the living God [who] endures forever” (v. 26). He alone “rescues and . . . saves [and] performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth” (v. 27). It’s remarkable that even a pagan king acknowledged God’s power and sovereignty. Like a giant, divine “thumbtack,” God’s act of power couldn’t be overlooked.

Sometimes God gets our attention as He does something significant and undeniable (v. 27)—supernatural rescues, right-on-time provisions, and heart transformations. Other times, He works quietly as we watch and wait. Let’s stand in awe of what He’s doing in and around us today—trusting in Him and His great power (v. 23).

Reflect & Pray

How has God captured your attention? How can you share with others what He’s shown you?

 

Sovereign God of heaven and earth, I stand in awe of Your inspiring power.

What is God calling you to? Find out more about journeying with God by reading this woman’s story.

Today’s Insights

An important theme in the book of Daniel is that while human kingdoms and powers rise and fall, behind the scenes God and His eternal kingdom are what will truly endure. Daniel declares, “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others” (2:20-21). In a world that denies God’s power, remaining faithful to Him carries personal risk. The politically motivated scheming of others led to Daniel being cast into a lions’ den because of his faithfulness to God (6:3-8, 11-16). But when God delivered him, King Darius himself concluded that God is the ultimate ruler: “He is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end” (v. 26). Daniel’s story reminds us to trust and rely on God and His great power.

 

http://www.odb.org

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Possible terrorism in Texas and jihad against Americans

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The FBI is reporting that the mass shooting in Austin, Texas, last Sunday morning may be related to terrorism. A third victim has now died; more than a dozen others were injured, including some who remain in critical condition. Police shot and killed the suspect as well.

The attack came on the weekend that the US and Israel launched multiple strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The gunman in Austin was reportedly wearing a sweatshirt with the words “Property of Allah.” An FBI agent also said, “There were indicators on the subject and in his vehicle that indicate potential nexus to terrorism.” The bureau’s terror task force is now probing the mass shooting.

A very troubling aspect of this story is its possible connection to hardline Muslim clerics in the US who have been claiming that war between the US and Iran is part of a prophetic destiny tied to the return of the Mahdi, their messiah. One of them closed his Friday prayer before war broke out: “May Allah destroy all the nonbelievers.” He asked for this victory “before the arrival of Imam Mahdi.”

Add to that senior clerics in Iran who have now issued a fatwa (religious edict) against Americans, stating that vengeance is a “religious duty” for all Muslims. Some Muslims believe that for a Muslim to die while carrying out such a jihad is a guaranteed path to paradise.

All of this taken together could cause Americans to fear all Muslims in our midst and to hate radical Islamists who seem to hate us. But while we should obviously take necessary steps with regard to the security of Americans at home and abroad, this visceral reaction is not the way God wants believers to respond.

The opposite is actually the case.

Continue reading Denison Forum – Possible terrorism in Texas and jihad against Americans →

Greg Laurie

Harvest Ministries; Greg Laurie – A Time to Prepare

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 So Elijah did as the LORD told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. 

—1 Kings 17:5–7

Scripture:

1 Kings 17:5-7 

God said to the prophet Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food” (1 Kings 17:3–4 NLT). At first glance, it might seem as though God was giving Elijah a vacation—some downtime for services rendered. But this was no leisurely camping trip.

The ravens didn’t take Elijah’s order, fly to the local fast-food restaurant, and then deliver his meal. Ravens are scavengers. They brought little bits of meat and bread to Elijah. What’s more, the water in the brook from which he drank would have been somewhat polluted. This wasn’t an easy situation by any stretch of the imagination.

Even if it had been, Elijah likely would have tired of it pretty quickly. Based on his biblical profile, Elijah was a man of action—confronting, challenging, moving, doing the Lord’s work. How easily he could have said, “Lord, I don’t want to be in this crummy little place, drinking river water. I like being in front of people. I like the limelight.”

But Elijah seems to have understood that the Lord was preparing him for something big, something profoundly impactful. Something that would push him to his physical, emotional, and spiritual limits. Not long after his brookside sojourn, Elijah would be standing on Mount Carmel, singlehandedly challenging hundreds of false prophets to a winner-takes-all showdown (see 1 Kings 18:20–40).

His raven-assisted stay by the brook wasn’t downtime. It was preparation time. God gave Elijah the time and space he needed to prepare himself for the battle ahead.

Sometimes we don’t like where God has put us. We say, “Lord, I don’t like this situation. I want to do something great for You. I want to make a difference in my world.” But that may be because we’re misreading our situation. We may mistake preparation time for downtime. Or may not recognize the opportunities that surround us.

Maybe the Lord wants you to be effective right where you are. Maybe He wants you to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you and be faithful in the little things. Who knows what God has in store for you?

If God has you by some muddy little brook, so to speak, just hang in there. Be faithful, do what He has already told you, and wait on Him and His timing. God will do something wonderful for you or with you. Just be available and open to do what He would have you do.

Reflection Question: How can you prepare spiritually for what lies ahead? Discuss this with believers like you on Harvest Discipleship!

 

 

Harvest.org | Greg Laurie

Days of Praise

Days of Praise – Living in the Real World

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by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)

People often think they are being practical when they place material values ahead of spiritual, emphasizing that we have to “live in the real world.” The fact is, however, that we are living in a world that is dying and will soon be gone. “The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). This is not even the world that God created, for that world was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Because “sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Romans 5:12), therefore, “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). In fact, this world is not even as it was soon after God’s Curse, for “the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished” (2 Peter 3:6).

The present, post-Flood world is now under the dominion of Satan, who is “the prince of this world” (John 12:31) and of “all the kingdoms of the world” (Matthew 4:8). The Lord Jesus Christ came to “deliver us from this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4). As our text says, this world shall not even “be remembered, nor come into mind.” It “shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).

Therefore, we must “be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). We must “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:12–13). In the meantime, our true citizenship, if we have been born again in Christ, is in the real world to come, and we are His ambassadors to an alien land (2 Corinthians 5:20). HMM

 

 

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

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – What Does Real Generosity Look Like?

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In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive.

Acts 20:35 (AMPC)

There are many people around us on a daily basis who are in need. People we could bless if we took a moment to think about how we could help them.

I have learned that true giving is not giving until I can feel it. Giving away clothes and household items that are old and I am finished with may be a nice gesture, but it does not equate to real giving. Real giving occurs when I give something I want to keep, or I make an effort that will give aid to someone else.

That’s how God gave to us. When He sent Jesus to pay for our sins, He gave His very best. God gave us His only Son because He loves us, so what will love cause us to do? Can we at least be inconvenienced or uncomfortable occasionally in order to help someone in need?

Prayer of the Day: Lord, thank You that Your mercy is greater than yesterday’s mistakes. Help me release the past, ignore the enemy’s lies, and press forward into the new beginnings You have for me today, amen.

 

http://www.joycemeyer.org

Max Lucado

Max Lucado – The Briar Patch of Humanity 

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Play

What is the fruit of sin? Step into the briar patch of humanity and feel a few thistles. Shame. Fear. Disgrace. Discouragement. Anxiety. Haven’t our hearts been caught in these brambles?

The heart of Jesus, however, had not. Jesus never knew the fruits of sin—until he became sin for us. And when he did, all the emotions of sin tumbled in on him. Can’t you hear the emotion in his prayer at the Cross? “My God, my God, why have you rejected me?” (Matthew 27:46). These are not the words of a saint. This is the cry of a sinner. He stood silent as a million guilty verdicts echoed in the tribunal of heaven.

Do you want to know the most amazing thing about the One who gave up the crown of heaven for a crown of thorns? He did it for you. Just for you.

 

 

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Today in the Word

Today in the Word – Moody Bible Institute – Vision of Christ

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Read Revelation 1:9–20

John Newton, eighteenth-century slave-ship-captain-turned-abolitionist and hymn writer, wrote of Jesus, “In [Christ], I have an offering, an altar, a temple, a priest, a sun, a shield, a Savior, a Shepherd, a hiding place, a resting place, food, medicine, riches, honor, wisdom, righteousness, holiness, in short, everything.”

The Apostle John also was deeply moved by the glorious vision of Christ. John was in exile, a brother and companion in persecution alongside his original readers (vv. 9–11). For the sake of the gospel, they shared in “the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus”—a striking phrase. On the Lord’s Day, Sunday, the day Christ rose from the dead, John was worshiping “in the Spirit.” He heard a voice “like a trumpet” instructing him to write down what he was about to see and send it to the seven churches.

Naturally, he turned around to see who it was. There stood “someone like a son of man” (an allusion to Daniel 7:13), the Messiah, Jesus Christ (vv. 12–16). He wore a robe and a golden sash, indicating royalty. His white hair symbolized wisdom and eternality. His eyes blazed fire, indicating His penetrating insight and omniscience (Heb. 4:13). His feet of glowing bronze stood ready to trample His enemies. His voice sounded like rushing waters, powerful and beautiful. He held seven stars, the angels of the seven churches (v. 20). Out of his mouth came a double-edged sword, the Word of God (Heb. 4:12). His face shone like the sun (Num. 6:24–26). He is “the First and the Last,” “the Living One,” and holds the keys to everything.

John fell on his face in worship (vv. 17–18). Jesus, however, said, “Do not be afraid,” and told him again to write “what is now and what will take place later” (vv. 19–20).

Go Deeper

In what ways is the worship-filled “fear of the Lord” different from human fears? In what other Bible passages do people respond as John did in today’s reading?

Pray with Us

Lord, You cause us to fall to our knees in worship. We are in awe of Your glory. As we reflect on the wonders of this book, give us hearts that revere Your name.

I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!Revelation 1:18

 

 

https://www.moodybible.org/

Turning Point

Turning Point; David Jeremiah – The Bible Habit

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Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:31-32

Recommended Reading: John 8:31-36

Ovid said, “Nothing is stronger than habit.” Habits are those patterns of daily behavior that make us who we are. For the believer the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer is the reservoir of our spiritual vitality. George Müller said, “The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts.”

Have the pressures of life disrupted this habit in your life? Sometimes Christians get out of the habit of reading and studying the Scriptures. They miss a day, then another. Eventually Satan uses this to silently steal away their desire for the Word. Don’t allow that to happen. What we do occasionally may inspire us, but what we do every day shapes us. We must abide in His Word!

If you’ve missed your Bible time recently, start back. Today!

God’s Word is the instrument by which God’s Spirit transforms the Christian.
Robert M. Horn

 

 

https://www.davidjeremiah.org