"Our God is the God of salvation; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death." – Psalm 68:20 If you cannot thank God for what you received, thank Him for what you escaped. If God opened our eyes to see the many unseen evils He protects us from or the many plans in the enemy's mind restrained from hatching, thanksgiving would not be difficult. David made this statement after escaping two assassination attempts and living as a fugitive for years. I often imagine that while some thieves plan a heist, God keeps the thoughts of my street or...
“Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” ~ Psalm 40:5 REFERENCE: Psalm 40:1-5 Overwhelmed by the quality and quantity of God’s dealings in his life, David exclaimed, “Many are Your wonderful works.” He concluded that the things God does are innumerable, several, and diverse. David was also awed by God’s constant care, which reflects His thoughts toward us. Every good deed that God does is an expression of His...
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.’” – Matthew 25:24-25 REFERENCE: Matthew 25:14-30 People who believe they were not given any ‘talent’ often fall into destructive behaviors, largely despising what they have. They feel life, or God cheated them, that what they have is insignificant, and they complain about it like this wicked servant. They see those more ‘talented’...
“And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, ‘For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.’” – Genesis 26:22 REFERENCE: Genesis 26:12-22 Nothing is as disheartening as putting so much effort into something and not seeing corresponding results. It is even worse when external forces sabotage your efforts and make progress difficult. Isaac, an otherwise industrious man, found himself in such a situation; the Philistines worked against all his business interests, but he...
"While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him saying, 'My daughter has just died, but come lay your hand on her and she will live.'" – Matthew 9:18 REFERENCE: Matthew 9:18-26 Life can be full of regrets; we look back at situations we wished turned out better or grapple with the ones that went bad. We often contend with losing opportunities, jobs, relationships, businesses, etc., for reasons beyond us. The account in today's text shows that your situation may be bad, but it is not irreversible; God brings beauty out of ashes. ...
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21 REFERENCE: Proverbs 18:20-21 The mouth is the most potent weapon God gave humanity. I say that because God Himself used His words (mouth) to speak the world, we see today into existence. Our text says life and death are in the power of the tongue. The mouth (which houses the tongue) is a creative force; it can create a haven of peace, joy, or prosperity; if misused, it can also create a miserable life. I saw...
“And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, ‘Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines?’” – I Samuel 4:3 REFERENCE: I Samuel 4:1-3 Life often throws surprises that go contrary to our expected outcomes at us. Sometimes, we dot all our I’s, cross our T’s, and get all our ducks in a row, but things still turn out bad. Human nature may tell you to work and try harder, put in more effort, and do or pray more. Meanwhile, it may be because of none of these; God may want...
"Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him." – I Samuel 3:7 REFERENCE: I Samuel 3:1-9 I used to have a next-door neighbor who often remarked over our not seeing each other for weeks, "Close to church but far from God." In other words, we lived beside each other but rarely spent time with each other. It describes the sad state of many Christians today; they go to church and maybe even serve in their church, but they don't know the church's God. Samuel was ministering in...
"So Jesus answered and said to him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' The blind man said to Him; 'Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.'" Mark 10:51 REFERENCE: Mark 10:46-52 Have you ever had a young fellow or sibling tell you that they need a job, and you ask them, "What kind of job?" and they respond, "Any kind."? One of two things happens to you; you are either confused about how to help them or find a way to give them whatever is available, even if it is below their qualification. Also, when we...
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (MSG) REFERENCE: Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) Jesus extends an invitation to everyone who feels tired, burnt out, or worn out by the pressure of living in these times. This invitation is valid because you can find true rest for your spirit, soul, and body in Him. Tiredness, especially emotional, comes from bearing emotional burdens, family cares, anxieties, facing difficult situations, or just being numbed by the weight...