Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire.—Job 6:8 (NIV)
Often when we experience deep suffering, we question why God allowed the situation to happen. If we can’t change the circumstances, we want God to intervene and relieve us of pain. We hope that God will hear us and fulfill our desire, yet ultimately, no matter the outcome, we must trust His divine plan.
Lord, when I am filled with doubt and despair, fill my heart with Your peace.
Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
––Psalm 116:7-9
Few words sum up large chunks of the Bible’s key themes as much as the word deliverance. God delivers Abraham from one land to another. He delivers Joseph from the pit, Noah from the flood, Moses from the Egyptians, Jacob from his enemies, David from Saul. Ultimately, it all culminates as Jesus delivers us from our greatest adversary, Satan, and into eternal life with Him.
When Jesus came and was baptized by John, the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove. From Jesus’ arrival onward, the Holy Spirit was not just a some-time visitor to His people, but a permanent resident in the lives of all believers in Jesus. In fact, our bodies are literally the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Deliverance is another one of those words that you don’t hear much these days. And in church circles, when you say “deliverance,” most folks think about freedom from oppression or deliverance from toxic habits or demonic strongholds. And all those things are biblical.
But what I’m talking about has to do with the day-in and day-out process of being and growing as God’s man. And as we’ve learned, the primary fight for “delivering us from evil” is not our own. The fight for our deliverance is the work of the Holy Spirit.
That initial and ongoing spiritual work of deliverance of God in our lives, like Israel’s literal deliverance, is the shaping encounter for how we relate to God. More specifically, it forms the basis of the Spirit-formed, Spirit-filled, and Spirit-used life. Of little consequence to God is the nature of your personal deliverances. Of massive importance to God, however, is your perception of these experiences with Him that set you free: how that deliverance shapes your own identity in Him and how the Holy Spirit seeks to use a delivered and filled man in the lives of others. As we’ll see, when God goes to great lengths to deliver His people from any Egypt, He desires that they translate their deliverances into meaningful service for Him.
God’s pioneering pastor was Moses. He had to spiritually recalibrate his troops early and often. In fact, when he needed to light a fire underneath the feet of God’s children, he had a tried and true formula to motivate, remind, and teach them about their purpose on earth. When a man uses the metaphor of circumcision to get his point across, he’s not playing nickel poker. That tone means business, and Moses certainly got the men squirming uncomfortably and paying attention. “Circumcise your hearts, therefore and do not be stiff-necked any longer” (Deuteronomy 10:16).
What motivates you to live a life of purpose and meaning? As you have been delivered, so allow God to use you in His plan to deliver others.
Father, Your deliverance of me from the pit has been powerful—use me in the precious days I have left on this earth to help others do the same.
Bible in a Year :
I discipline my body and keep it under control.
Today’s Scripture & Insight :
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
It was June 2016 during the official celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s ninetieth birthday. From her carriage, the monarch waved to the crowds, passing in front of long lines of red-coated soldiers standing at perfect, unflinching attention. It was a warm day in England, and the guards were dressed in their traditional dark wool pants, wool jackets buttoned to the chin, and massive bear-fur hats. As the soldiers stood in rigid rows under the sun, one guard began to faint. Remarkably, he maintained his strict control and simply fell forward, his body remaining straight as a board as he planted his face in the sandy gravel. There he lay—somehow still at attention.
It took years of practice and discipline for this guard to learn such self-control, to hold his body in place even as he was falling unconscious. The apostle Paul describes such training: “I discipline my body and keep it under control,” he wrote (1 Corinthians 9:27 esv). Paul recognized that “everyone who competes . . . goes into strict training” (v. 25).
While God’s grace (not our efforts) undergirds all we do, our spiritual life deserves rigorous discipline. As God helps us discipline our mind, heart, and body, we learn to keep our attention fixed on Him, even amid trials or distractions.
By: Winn Collier
Reflect & Pray
Where is it most difficult for you to discipline your heart, mind, or body? How do you sense God inviting you into deeper discipline?
Dear God, please teach me how to be more disciplined for You. I want to grow my love for You and keep my heart close to You.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].
Proverbs 18:21 (AMPC)
According to the Bible, the power of life and death is in the tongue, and we often have to eat our words.
I wonder how many times in our lives we say, “I’m afraid…” “I’m afraid I’ll get that flu that is going around.” “I’m afraid my kids will get in trouble.” “I’m afraid it’s going to snow, and I’m afraid to drive in it, if it does.” “With the way prices are going up, I’m afraid I won’t have enough money.” “I’m afraid if I don’t go to that party, people will think badly of me.” “I’m afraid we won’t get a good seat at the theater.” “I’m afraid someone will break into my house while I’m out of town.” If we heard a recording of every time in our life we have said “I’m afraid,” we would probably be amazed that our lives are going as well as they are.
If we really understood the power of words, I think we would change the way we talk. Our talk should be confident and bold, not fearful. Fearful talk not only affects us in an adverse way, but it affects those around us.
Prayer of the Day: Lord, show me the ways I need to change how I talk. Help me to break the bad habits I’ve adopted and the negative words I repeat over and over, amen.
Contemporary journalism and the quest for truth
The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) was founded nearly a hundred years ago. It is sometimes called the Tiffany Network, alluding to its high programming quality during the tenure of its founding. Now people across the political spectrum are asking, What is going on at CBS?
First came allegations that 60 Minutes edited its interview with Vice President Kamala Harris to favor her. Many called on the network to release a full transcript of the interview; former staffers demanded an independent investigation.
Then came the network’s rebuke of morning anchor Tony Dokoupil after he challenged author Ta-Nehisi Coates’ anti-Israel characterizations and lack of historical context during their discussion of Coates’ one-sided new book on Palestine.
The Washington Post spoke for many in calling the interview good journalism. The chair of CBS’s parent company later admitted that CBS leadership made a “bad mistake” in upbraiding Dokoupil as it did. Gayle King has also been criticized for reportedly giving Coates her questions in advance of her part of their interview.
CBS is also under fire for telling its staff not to refer to Jerusalem as a part of Israel due to its “disputed status.”
Truth or “truthiness”?
We all want to believe that our work matters, that we are leaving a legacy by what we do. Those of us whose work is words especially wonder if we are making a difference.
To this end, many believe that their words can make the world what they believe it should be.
Why?
Our culture has jettisoned its belief in objective truth for what Stephen Colbert calls “truthiness,” defined as “the belief in what you feel to be true rather than what the facts will support.” As a result, some journalists believe that their value no longer lies in reporting the news but in changing society.
Those on one side of the partisan divide think they are saving Palestinians from Israeli “colonizers” and democracy from those who would destroy it. Those on the other side think they are protecting democracy from “wokeism” and socialism. Both are speaking “their truth” unfettered by objective accountability.
There was a day when words could not be published without going through editorial review. For example, when I wrote a book on radical Islam some years ago, I worked with an editor who had served in the US Army. He corrected several of my statements regarding military hardware even though I was quoting other sources. His expertise made my words more accurate than they would have been otherwise.
Now social media gives everyone’s words unfiltered, unedited access to the world. And the line between objective reporting and opinion journalism has been blurred if not obliterated.
Seeking truth beyond our “horizon”
Our secularized culture can reject objective truth, but this makes truth no less objective. To claim “there is no such thing as absolute truth” is to make an absolute truth claim. The person who denies the sunrise does not harm the sun.
At the same time, we all experience what Hans-Georg Gadamer called the “fusion of horizons”—when we view a sunrise, listen to music, or otherwise interact with the world, we interpret it from our unique perspective. We bring it into ourselves and ourselves into it.
We can therefore either abandon our quest for objective truth, as many do, or seek an authority we can objectively trust.
Such an authority must obviously come from outside our personal “horizon” and be superior to our finite, fallen minds. The good news is that we have such an authority available to us today:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).
God’s word reveals God’s superior, omniscient mind (Isaiah 55:8–9). As such, “the law of the Lᴏʀᴅ is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lᴏʀᴅ is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). We can therefore know that “every word of God proves true” (Proverbs 30:5).
“A flash of light comes”
Our decision is whether to trust God’s revealed truth or “our truth.”
The latter leads into confusion and spiritual darkness: “If anyone … does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing” (1 Timothy 6:3–4). The former leads to spiritual enlightenment: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Accordingly, Oswald Chambers observed:
All God’s revelations are sealed until they are opened to us by obedience. You will never get them open by philosophy or thinking. Immediately you obey, a flash of light comes. … Obey God in the thing he shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up.
Then he adds:
“God will never reveal more truth about himself until you have obeyed what you already know.”
Will you obey “what you already know” today?
Monday news to know:
*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.
Quote for the day:
“Truth is the agreement of our ideas with the ideas of God.” —Jonathan Edwards
by Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.
“How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, a woman shall compass a man.” (Jeremiah 31:22)
Long ago, the wise man concluded: “There is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). That nothing is now being created is even recognized as a scientific law.
But God reminds us as He reminded His backsliding people of Israel that He has, indeed, created one new thing in the earth. Since only God can “create,” a really new thing would have to be produced directly by the Lord Himself. Of course, God had completed His original work of creating all things long ago (Genesis 2:1-3), including a marvelous mechanism for human reproduction. Nevertheless, because of man’s sin, He very soon had to begin a work of reconciliation, and this included a primeval promise that “the seed of the woman” (Genesis 3:15) would come someday to accomplish this great work. Since all normal reproduction requires male seed, such a miracle would mean God would have to create a new thing when the appropriate time came. At that time, as Isaiah prophesied many years later, “a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,” and that Son would be “the mighty God,” who would establish His kingdom “with justice from henceforth even for ever” (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7).
Then, still later, Jeremiah reminded his forgetful people of this same great promise: God would create, by His mighty power, a new thing, a perfect human without inherited sin and with no contribution from man, in the womb of a specially called virgin. She would compass that “holy thing” (Luke 1:35) with warmth and love for nine long months as it grew in her womb. Then, in the fullness of time, “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman” (Galatians 4:4), to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). HMM
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. — 1 John 2:2
The key to the missionary’s message is the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Take any phase of Christ’s work—the healing phase, the teaching phase, the saving and sanctifying phase. There’s nothing limitless about any of these. But “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)—that is limitless, and that is the missionary’s message. A missionary is one who has soaked in this revelation and has made it the basis of his or her appeal.
The key to the missionary’s message isn’t Jesus Christ’s kindness and goodness. It’s the great limitless significance of the fact that “he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” The missionary’s message isn’t patriotic. It has no allegiance to nations or to individuals. It’s meant for the whole world. When the Holy Spirit comes in, he doesn’t consider personal preferences. He simply brings everyone he touches into union with Jesus Christ.
A missionary is one who is wedded to Jesus Christ’s own message. A missionary has no desire to proclaim a personal point of view, only to proclaim the Lamb of God. It’s easier to share personal stories of salvation. It’s easier to be a devotee of divine healing, or of a special type of sanctification, or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Paul didn’t say, “Woe to me if I do not preach what the gospel has done for me.” He said, “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). What is the gospel? Only this: “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
Isaiah 45-46; 1 Thessalonians 3
Wisdom from Oswald
We never enter into the Kingdom of God by having our head questions answered, but only by commitment.
The Highest Good—Thy Great Redemption
The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
—John 6:63
To one of the most religious men of His day, Jesus said, “Ye must be born again” (John 3:7). Nicodemus could not substitute his profound knowledge of religion for spiritual rebirth, and neither can we. I have read a book on water skiing, and it did not take long for me to learn that I could never learn to water ski by reading a book—I would have to experience it.
I have read a number of books on golf, but none of them seems to improve my game; I must get out on the golf course and play. You may study theology and religion, but there comes a time when you must experience Christ for yourself.
Lea este devocional en español en es.billygraham.org.
Prayer for the day
Lord, You have given me life and I praise You!
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.—Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
Search your heart and reflect on any hurts that have not yet healed. Surrender your pain and unresolved feelings to God. Ask Him to work miracles from your misfortune. Open your heart to His compassion and love. He will free you from pain.
Dear Lord, thank You for caring for me and helping me let go of my grief and sadness. Open my heart to Your healing touch. Work Your miracles and free me from pain.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ––Acts 2:1-2
A Santa Ana wind event is like true love: You will know it when you see it. It’s hard to describe what these unique winds are like, typically hitting Southern California in the fall or early winter. The science is straightforward, as UCLA professor Robert Fovell explains:
“The Santa Ana winds are a cool season wind that blows from the desert, raising dust, fanning fires and, according to popular literature at least, making people crazy and homicidal. Santa Anas are always dry, a result of subsidence from their place of origin over the higher elevation Great Basin of Nevada and Utah. During the fall and early winter, the winds can also be quite hot as well, and are one of the reasons why September is the warmest month of the year in Los Angeles.”
I happen to love the surprisingly warm evenings that come with the Santa Anas, but when the gusts get nasty—100 to 150 mph at their worst—and the wild fires start up, it’s not fun.
Wind, of course, plays a prominent role in God’s Word, often representing His Holy Spirit or His movement on the Earth. Jesus used wind to teach godly Nicodemus about the Holy Spirit:
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
I can think of few Scripture passages that sum up better both the beautiful nature of the Holy Spirit and the wonder of the wind than the one above. Jesus is articulating that which is incomprehensible for those who still see through a glass darkly, which is all of us: The Spirit of God cannot be touched or quantified, it can only be experienced through His Son.
Like the Santa Ana winds, we can’t touch or see the Holy Spirit—but we can feel His presence and see His handiwork. The kindness of a stranger when we are stranded on a deserted highway; the love of a parent who comforted us when our teen heart was broken; the miracle of salvation that comes to the former addict who turns his life over to Christ.
Take a moment to thank God for His Spirit—the presence we can’t see, but whose effects in our lives are so readily apparent.
Father, thank You for sending Your Spirit to be with me here in this world. May I get to know Him better!
Bible in a Year :
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Today’s Scripture & Insight :
Ruth 2:1-2, 5-11
When my mom was in hospice and nearing her last days on earth, I was touched by the genuine kindness of a nursing home caregiver. After gently lifting my frail mother from her chair and tucking her into bed, the nursing assistant caressed Mom’s head while leaning over her to say, “You are so sweet.” Then she asked how I was doing. Her kindness moved me to tears then and still does today.
Hers was a simple act of kindness, but it was just what I needed in that moment. It helped me to cope, knowing that in this woman’s eyes my mom wasn’t just a patient. She cared for and saw her as a person of great worth.
When Naomi and Ruth were bereft after the loss of their husbands, Boaz showed kindness to Ruth by allowing her to glean leftover grain behind the harvesters. He even ordered the male harvesters to leave her alone (Ruth 2:8-9). His kindness was prompted by Ruth’s care for Naomi: “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband” (v. 11). He saw her not as a foreigner or widow but as a woman in need.
God wants us to “clothe [ourselves] with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12). As God helps us, our simple acts of kindness can cheer hearts, bring hope, and inspire kindness in others.
By: Alyson Kieda
Reflect & Pray
When has someone shown you a simple act of kindness? How did it inspire or encourage you?
Dear God, I want to be clothed in kindness. Please give me opportunities to show it to others.
Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you….
Isaiah 41:10 (AMP)
Fear is an enemy that torments the soul and seeks to steal our peace and joy. Totally conquering fear is not something that we do in one day, or even a thousand days. It is something we conquer one day at a time with God’s help.
Fear can show up quite unexpectedly in many ways. One of our goals should be to recognize it so we can deal with it promptly. You can’t defeat an enemy you don’t know is there.
Being free from fear doesn’t mean that we will never experience it or be confronted by it. It means that we are committed to not allowing it to rule our lives, and when necessary, we will do what we need to do, even if we have to do it afraid.
Prayer of the Day: Lord, Help me to recognize fear at its onset and keep moving forward in Your strength. Guide me and give me peace, especially in trying times, amen.
Why do Christians serve those in need?
Rescue crews are wading through heavy flooding caused by Hurricane Milton, looking for people trapped in houses, cars, and other structures. First responders completed around 170 high-water rescues in just one county yesterday. More than one hundred residents in an assisted living facility in Tampa were transported by rescuers in boats to safety.
We should all be grateful for officials who act in such heroic, selfless ways, though they would probably tell us they are “just doing their jobs.”
The same cannot be said, however, regarding Samaritan’s Purse, Texans on Mission, and other religious groups whose volunteers are responding to the destruction of Hurricanes Milton and Helene. My friend, Dr. Duane Brooks, noted in one of his daily devotionals that Christians responding to disasters seldom have to compete with atheist groups, because they’re not there.
The numbers bear him out. According to Philanthropy Roundtable:
Why are Christians so motivated to help in times of need?
If I were a skeptic
If I were a skeptic, I would turn to Darwinian evolution to explain sacrificial altruism as a manifestation of our innate desire to propagate ourselves. Helping others advances our species and may make it more likely that others will help us in our time of need. The satisfaction we feel in such service is nature’s way of encouraging our sacrifice and compelling further service.
With regard to those who serve for religious reasons, I would offer a similar response: We want to advance our religious community while positioning ourselves to receive their help in the future. And since we believe that God will reward us in heaven for faithful service on earth (Matthew 25:23), we are even more motivated by selfish desires than nonreligious people.
Of course, we do not need to be Darwinian evolutionists to acknowledge that we have a God-given instinct to preserve and steward our lives and community. Nor do we need to disagree that such service advances ourselves and our faith community in this life and the next.
But there is more to the story.
“Not to be served but to serve”
Even when others do not see our true motives, “the Lᴏʀᴅ looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). And he cannot reward selfish transactionalism as he can genuine altruism.
Why is this?
The answer goes to the heart of Christian uniqueness. Ancient Greeks and Romans made sacrifices to the gods so the gods would meet their needs. Other world religions are similarly transactional: If we do what we are told to do, God or the gods will respond accordingly.
Christianity is uniquely different. We serve not so God will love us but because he already does. We love our Lord and our neighbor because our Lord loves our neighbor and us.
This frees us from the constant anxiety of doing more to receive more. When our relationship with God and others is based on our service, there is always more service to render. We are never done. We cannot have the peace of God that “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) because our peace is based not on God’s grace but on our works.
However, if we serve others because we have been served by God and love others because we are loved by God, then we are free to love whether we are loved in return or not. We are free to give without thought for who can give to us, because we emulate the One who “came not to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28).
Three practical responses
What can you do to help those facing the devastation of Hurricane Milton and other disasters?
1: Pray fervently
2: Give sacrificially
3: Serve strategically
I once heard Dr. Mac Brunson say that every Christian should have a personal Acts 1:8 strategy. How will you help those in need at home, in the larger area where you live, and “to the end of the earth”? According to Jesus, your “neighbor” is anyone who needs what you have to give (Luke 10:36–37).
I’ll say it again: We serve not so God will love us but because he already does. We give not to be blessed but because we already are. However, it is a fact that when we pray, give, and serve, we position ourselves to experience God’s best in response.
St. Francis of Assisi, in his first known letter to all Christians, assured us:
Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve.
What will you do today that you will “carry” to heaven one day?
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Friday news to know:
*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.
Quote for the day:
“He who does not serve God where he is would not serve God anywhere else.” —Charles Spurgeon
by Henry M. Morris III, D.Min.
“Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.” (2 Corinthians 13:10)
The Greek word oikodomos (translated as “edification”) pictures the building of a house. We still use the word “edifice” to describe a structure of some importance. Paul specifically said he had the “power” to edify and later called himself a “wise masterbuilder,” an architekton, who laid the foundation on which we would later build (1 Corinthians 3:10).
When Jesus used oikodomos to depict those who might build their house on a rock (His Word) or the sand (the ideas of men), He was painting a picture of how we should edify each other (Luke 6:48-49). The various gifts of leadership are to be used to “perfect” the saints in the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12), using the living “stones” that will build the “spiritual house” of God (1 Peter 2:5).
And like any good builder, the Christian carpenter has tools of the trade to assist the process. There are “things which make for peace” that must be employed (Romans 14:19). Most certainly “charity” is a major tool (1 Corinthians 8:1), along with good communication that does not “corrupt” the building work (Ephesians 4:29).
Since “all things” are to be done so that the church is edified (1 Corinthians 14:26), it surely follows that “fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions,” are not helpful (1 Timothy 1:4). Effective communication demands that those with whom we are speaking understand what is said, hence a mysterious “tongue” does not publicly edify like prophecy does (1 Corinthians 14:2-4).
An “edified” church walks “in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 9:31). HMM III
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. — Matthew 28:18–19
The basis of the missionary’s work is the authority of Jesus Christ, not the needs of the unsaved. We tend to view our Lord as someone who assists us in our projects. Jesus Christ puts himself as the absolute sovereign over his disciples. Jesus doesn’t say that other people’s salvation depends on us, that if we don’t preach the gospel, the unsaved will be lost. He simply tells us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” That is, “Go on the revelation of my sovereignty; teach and preach out of a living experience of me.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened” (Matthew 11:28). Before I can go, I must learn how to come. If I want to know the universal sovereignty of Christ, I must know him for myself first. I must know how to get myself alone with him. I must take time to worship the Being whose name I bear. Am I weary and burdened, as so many missionaries are? Then, says Jesus, “Come to me.” We banish these marvelous words to the footnotes when they are the main text. They are the words of the universal sovereign of the world, the words of Jesus to his disciples.
“Therefore go.” “Go” simply means “live.” The description of how to go is found in Acts 1:8: “Be my witnesses.” To live bearing witness to Jesus is to fulfill your mission as his disciple. He will organize your goings himself.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you . . .” (John 15:7). This is the description of how to keep going in your personal life. Where God places you is a matter of indifference. God engineers your goings, while you remain steadfast in him. That is the way to keep going until you’re gone.
Isaiah 43-44; 1 Thessalonians 2
Wisdom from Oswald
The fiery furnaces are there by God’s direct permission. It is misleading to imagine that we are developed in spite of our circumstances; we are developed because of them. It is mastery in circumstances that is needed, not mastery over them.The Love of God—The Message of Invincible Consolation, 674 R
He that walketh righteously . . . shall dwell on high.
—Isaiah 33:15,16
Being pure in conduct also includes honesty and integrity in dealing with our fellowmen. A Christian should be known in his neighborhood or place of business as an honest person, a person who can be trusted. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart.” Do you want to be happy? All right, apply this Beatitude to your heart. Take it to yourself.
The pure in heart are the only ones who can know what it means to be supremely happy. Their hearts are pure toward God and, as a result are pure toward their fellowmen. They are happy because, in possessing Him who is All and in All, they envy no man’s worldly goods. They are happy because they envy not another man’s praise. Because they are the enemy of no man, they regard no man as their enemy. The result is peace with God and the world.
“How Can I Control My Thoughts?” Read Billy Graham’s answer.
Lea este devocional en español en es.billygraham.org.
Prayer for the day
Forgive me, Lord Jesus, my heart is far from pure. I confess to You all my innermost thoughts.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.—Romans 12:21 (NIV)
It’s been said that you should be kind to unkind people because they need it the most. Although it’s not always easy, when you show compassion and forgiveness, you create positive change. Ask God for the wisdom to know when to speak up, when to remain silent, the courage to do what is right and always to remain kind.
Lord, help me to see difficult people through your eyes and to respond to them with your love and compassion. Teach me to set healthy boundaries and to communicate with grace and humility.
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ––Luke 9:23-24
The wisdom of our Father in heaven is truly amazing when we look at His Word and the way it is laid out, regarding the sequence of thought He uses to convey His love for us.
When we look at the beginning of Genesis we see how He shows that love demands a choice. He gives Adam and Eve a chance to experience good and evil to show that there is no love without choice. We often condemn the way God has set up his plan when we see all the hurtful, negative, painful things in life. We have maybe thought or heard others ponder this question. God’s love is not recognized without the presence of choice.
Later in the book of Genesis we see Abraham is given a choice to stay or leave his homeland. Then we are exposed to the next four books of the Bible showing us God’s deliverance of His people from Egypt. It is interesting to consider this thought. Would we have ever considered the word faith or the risk that it demands if we would have no need to use the word?
The term “incompetent incompetence” has been used to describe the lowest level of intelligence. This is a person who doesn’t understand that he doesn’t understand. Do you understand that you need something or someone to deliver you from a life that contains emotional, physical, and relational pain, or are you the god of your life?
Let me quickly add that I believe we all slip into self-godship at times—where we take the reins and attempt to do a job that only God is qualified to do: run our life in a healthy, productive way. It’s the old North Star analogy: without the magnetic pull that is Christ—the lodestone of our life—we will always drift off course. Always. He is our North Star—the constant in a world of chaos. But … and it’s a big but … we have to make that God-of-our-lives choice each and every day. Sometimes many times each day—or hour!
In essence, faith is simply the best choice out of millions of choices. We make the “big choice” for Jesus when we give our lives to Him and ask Him to be our Lord and savior. We then make literally hundreds of thousands of choices on that road between here (this earthly life) and there (our eternal home).
What top three choices sit before you today? How can you best choose God’s path in each of those choices? Make a habit of always, always trusting the Holy Spirit to lead you to the best choices.
Thank You, Father, that You have chosen to reveal Your wisdom and love to me and for the joy of sharing it with others.
Bible in a Year :
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, . . . they will still bear fruit in old age.
Today’s Scripture & Insight :
Titus 2:1-5
When people think about the 100-meter dash, current world-record holder Usain Bolt might come to mind. But we can’t forget about Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins. In 2021, Julia crossed the finish line before all other runners to win the 100-meter dash in the Louisiana Senior Games. Her time was a bit slower than Bolt’s 9.58 seconds—just over 60 seconds. But she was also 105 years old!
There’s a lot to like about a woman who’s still running sprints at her age. And there’s a lot to like about believers in Jesus who never stop running the race with Him as their goal (Hebrews 12:1-2). The psalmist says this about the faithful in the later stages of life: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, . . . they will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green” (92:12-14).
Older believers who follow this kind of standard can find further instruction in the apostle Paul’s letter to Titus. Seasoned men are to be “sound in faith, in love and in endurance” (Titus 2:2), and senior women are “to teach what is good” (v. 3).
There’s no call for older believers to stop running the race. Maybe not the way Julia does on the track, but in ways that honor God as He provides the strength they need. Let’s all run the race to serve Him and others well.
By: Dave Branon
Reflect & Pray
What are some things you can do to reach others for Christ and help them grow in faith? How can you encourage other believers to serve as they can?
Dear Jesus, thank You for every day you give me. No matter my age, help me to strive to run the race for Your honor.
All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].
Proverbs 15:15 (AMPC)
Do you have something in your life that you could be very worried about and very anxious about if you didn’t decide not to be? Most people do, and if you don’t have something today you might have something tomorrow or the next day. That’s not being negative, it’s just saying that life is real and you never know exactly what is going to come your way. But we do know God and we don’t have to live in fear. He is with us and He’s on our side.
I had a lot of bad things happen to me in the early years of my life, and I got to the point where I was afraid that bad things would happen. Proverb 15:15 calls that “evil forebodings,” which means you have this sense that you are waiting for the next disaster. I’ve learned instead of doing that to expect something good to happen in my life and to expect it on purpose.
You can choose your own thoughts. You don’t have to just think whatever falls in your head. You can cast out wrong things and choose right thoughts. Faith starts in our hearts, a gift from God, but it is released through our thinking and speaking right things. When we have a problem, we can either do what the devil wants us to do and worry about it and get anxious and try to figure things out on our own, or we can do what God wants us to do and think about the promises in His Word.
The Bible teaches us to cast all of our care on God because He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).
Throughout our married life, every time we’ve had a problem in our house, Dave has had one answer: “Cast your care.” It’s not wrong to see our problems, but we need to tell them where they stand in relation to God. Worry sees the problem, but faith sees the God Who can handle the problem.
Prayer of the Day: Father God, with Your help, I cast my cares on You. Help me replace worry with faith, and trust in Your promises. Help me to expect only good things to happen in my life, amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS, NEWS AND INFORMATION 