Restored To Minister

Restored To Minister

Luke 22:32 CSB

“But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

I was thinking about how, when things look darkest, God’s light can break through. When a person is down for the count and the fight referee is just about to reach nine, God can break in and lift that person back up.

When the devil is having a good laugh, thinking he has someone held down, God comes to the rescue and brings total victory—a victory that not only restores a person but can also restore them to ministry.

Fellow follower of Jesus, if you have been knocked down, do not despair. God’s love and help are on the way. Call out to Jesus. The One who raised the dead can raise your life from the ashes and restore you to serve Him.

Your absence from God may have been for only a short time, or it may have lasted for years. But no one is beyond the restorative help of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God who sent Messiah Jesus.

Jesus prayed for Peter before Peter fell. And when Peter turned back, Jesus gave him a purpose: “Strengthen your brothers.”

What a wonderful picture of restoration. Failure does not have to be the end of your story. Jesus can lift you up, restore your faith, and use you again.

If you have been knocked down, look to Jesus. He is still able to restore you and use you for His glory.

All Jesus - All The Time

All Jesus - All The Time 

Consider what Jesus is saying to us in His Word today.

Jesus first calls us to come to Him and learn from Him:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:29)

Learning from Jesus means following His example:

For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. (John 13:15)

It begins with a transformed mind—thinking the way Christ thinks:

Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)

Following Jesus is more than believing His words; it means walking in His footsteps, even when the path is difficult:

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)

God's Word makes the call clear: those who belong to Christ are to live like Christ:

He who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked. (1 John 2:6)

When Fear Becomes A Snare

When Fear Becomes A Snare

Proverbs 29:25 KJV says:

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."

The Bible warns us against placing our trust in people rather than in God. When we become overly concerned about what people may think, say, or do, fear can become a snare that keeps us from trusting the Lord.

Remember Abram when he traveled to Egypt and became afraid of what might happen to him because of Sarai?

Genesis 12:11-16 NLT says:

"As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, 'Look, you are a very beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, "This is his wife. Let's kill him; then we can have her!" So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.' And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai's beauty. When the palace officials saw her, they sang her praises to Pharaoh, their king, and Sarai was taken into his palace. Then Pharaoh gave Abram many gifts because of her—sheep, goats, cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels."

Abram's fear led him to take matters into his own hands, and his plan backfired. But God still protected him.

I think this is a wonderful reminder for us. Even in our weaknesses, and even in those moments when we fail, God can help us, protect us, and teach us to seek Him first in all things.

Perhaps you have had moments when fear caused you to make a decision you later regretted. Maybe you were more concerned about what someone else might think than about trusting God. If so, remember that our failures do not mean God has abandoned us.

The answer is not to put our trust in ourselves or in other people. The answer is to put our trust in the Lord.

The last part of Proverbs 16:20 says:

"…whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he."

What a beautiful promise. When we trust the Lord, we don't have to be controlled by the fear of people or by the fear of what might happen.

So today, let's put our trust in Jesus. When we make a mistake, turn to Him. When we don't know what to do, turn to Him.

Contend For The Faith

Contend For The Faith

"Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

---Jude 1:3 (WEB)

Jude calls believers “beloved,” and that matters. This call to contend for the faith is not harsh—it is loving. God knows His people will face error, compromise, and pressure, so He lovingly calls us to stand firm in the truth.

Contending for the faith does not mean being argumentative or proud. It means holding tightly to God’s Word, refusing what is false, and staying faithful to Christ in everyday life. We contend when we open our Bible instead of feeding on the world. We contend when we say no to sin, when we speak truth with gentleness, and when we refuse to be ashamed of Jesus.

Think of Jesus in the wilderness answering Satan with Scripture. Think of Paul refusing to let the gospel be distorted. God’s people have always been called to stand on truth.

Some days contending looks dramatic, but often it is quiet and ordinary. It looks like choosing obedience when compromise would be easier. It looks like guarding your home, your mind, and your church from falsehood. It looks like loving Christ enough to remain faithful when the world pushes back.

Believer, you do not need to invent the truth. You are called to hold fast to the truth already given in Scripture. So stay near the Word, stay humble, and stay bold. Christ is worth your faithfulness.

The Purpose Of Him

The Purpose Of Him

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,”

Think about the first time you started thinking about God, Jesus, and salvation. Do you think it was an accident? I don’t think so. Think about it.

Jesus tells us in John 6:44:

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Again, Jesus says in John 6:65:

“...This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

Now look again at what Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:11:

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”

There is great comfort in knowing that God has a purpose. Our coming to know Jesus is not some random accident. God has been at work, drawing us to His Son and calling us into the salvation we have in Christ.

His purpose is not to abandon you. His will has always been to love you, to draw you closer to Jesus, and to see you through.

So, my fellow follower of Christ, cling to Jesus. Trust Him. Seek Him in prayer and remember that your life is in His hands. The God who began drawing you to Himself is the God who will faithfully lead you forward.

And if you are at a point in your life where you feel yourself drawn to Jesus, then go to Him in prayer. He is waiting.

The Holy Spirit Is With Us

The Holy Spirit Is With Us

John 14:16-17 NASB

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”

Fellow follower of Jesus, I have been thinking about the Holy Spirit and how He is here with us day in and day out.

Through troublesome nights and busy days. Through good health and sickness. Through victories and defeats. Through all of our lives, the Holy Spirit is right here with us.

I thought this would be a good time to encourage us all to seek the Holy Spirit and ask Him to give us greater understanding as we grow in knowing Him and seeking His help.

I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Don’t you?

I know that the Holy Spirit will always bring me back to Jesus and His teachings. He reminds us of the words of Jesus and helps us understand and live according to His truth.

In John 14:26, Jesus tells us:

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

What a wonderful promise from Jesus. The Holy Spirit is not distant from us. He is our Helper, our Teacher, and the Spirit of truth. He abides with us and is in us.

So today, let us thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Let us seek Him, listen to Him, and allow Him to continually point our hearts toward Jesus.

Saved And Called

Saved And Called

2 Timothy 1:9 NIV

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

Reflecting on this Bible passage this morning, I was blessed as I thought about how we, as believers in Jesus, are saved and called to live a holy life for the Lord.

And this calling is according to God’s purpose and grace given to us in Jesus Christ. Get this: before the beginning of time.

Before time began, God had His plan for you and me. And it is a good plan. A marvelous plan. A great plan. A plan chock-full of blessings from God.

Think about that for a moment. God’s purpose for you didn’t begin when you came to faith in Jesus. His grace and purpose were established before the beginning of time.

Today, never forget your value in God’s eyes. Before the beginning of time, you were on His mind.

Ephesians 1:4 NIV says:

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight…”

Dressed for the Day

Dressed for the Day.

Listen to the Word of God from 1 Thessalonians 5:8:

"But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation."

There is something very tender in these words. God reminds His people that we belong to the day. If you are in Christ, you do not belong to darkness anymore. You belong to the light. You belong to the Lord who saved you, keeps you, and watches over you.

And because of that, He lovingly calls you to be sober, awake, and ready. Not fearful. Not anxious. But steady in Him.

Paul tells us to put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. What a kind picture that is. The Lord does not send His people into the day uncovered. He gives what is needed for the heart and for the mind.

You put on faith when you quietly trust God’s Word, even on the days when your heart feels weak. You put on love when you choose gentleness, patience, and kindness, even in small unseen moments. You put on the hope of salvation when you remind your soul that Jesus Christ has saved you, and that your future is safely held in His hands.

To be sober is to live carefully before God. It is to guard your heart from things that pull you away from Him. It is to notice what weakens your peace, stirs temptation, or cools your love for Christ, and then turn from it. This is not harshness. This is wisdom. This is the gentle care of a soul that wants to walk closely with the Lord.

So today, before the noise of the day fills your mind, pause and remember who you are. You belong to Jesus Christ. Ask Him to steady your heart, shape your love, and keep your eyes fixed on the hope you have in Him. The Lord who has saved you will faithfully carry you through this day.

A Future And A Hope

A Future And A Hope

Jeremiah 29:11 CSB
“For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

God’s great plan for you and me is to offer us a future and a hope through His New Covenant, established in Jesus the Messiah. From before our birth, God has planned for those who have trusted in Jesus alone for their salvation to experience His forgiveness, His blessings, and His promise of eternal life.

I understand that life can throw us many curveballs. As followers of Jesus, we face rejection, scorn, ridicule, unexpected trials, and even heartbreaking medical news. Where does God fit into all of this?

We are reminded in Hebrews 12:2-3 of the remedy:

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

For those of us facing illness, we are reminded in James 5:14-15:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.”

And Psalm 41:3 reminds us:

“The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.”

And let’s remember what the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

When all is said and done today, let’s look to Jesus and trust and obey. God will work out His plan for us.

Looking At The Glory Of The Lord

Looking At The Glory Of The Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18 CSB says:

“We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

I believe this verse beautifully summarizes the transforming power of Jesus in the life of a follower of Christ.

As we look to Jesus, we are being transformed into His image. And what is it that we are looking at? We are looking at the glory of God revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 BSB says:

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

So, how do you and I look at the glory of the Lord? We fix the eyes of faith on Jesus Christ as He is revealed to us in the Bible.

We saturate our minds and hearts with Scripture, especially the person and work of Jesus. As we read, study, memorize, and meditate on God’s Word, we see the holiness, humility, obedience, love, mercy, and grace of Christ. The Holy Spirit uses that truth to transform us and make us more like Jesus.

We also look to Jesus as we hear the faithful preaching of the Gospel, as we spend time in prayer and communion with Him, as we worship Him through song and corporate praise, and as we encourage one another through Christ-centered fellowship.

And perhaps some of the clearest moments of transformation come when we fix our eyes on Jesus in the middle of suffering, trials, and obedience. When life is difficult, we have a choice: we can focus on our circumstances, or we can keep looking to Jesus.

If you are outside of Christ, the first look must be the look of saving faith. Turn from your sin and behold Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Trust in Christ alone—His perfect righteousness and His atoning sacrifice for your sin. When we come to Jesus in faith, the veil is removed, and a lifelong journey of transformation begins.

And believer, keep looking to Jesus. There is a day coming when we will see Him face to face. First John 3:2 reminds us that when Christ appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.

That is our sure hope. And until that day, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus.

Why We Cling to Jesus

Why We Cling to Jesus

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

--- Romans 5:8-10 NLT

I was thinking this morning, why do we cling to Jesus?

We cling to Jesus because He is our lifeline to God. Through His death on the cross, Jesus made a way for our relationship with God to be restored. We did not earn this relationship, and we could never make ourselves right with God on our own. It was God’s great love for us that sent Jesus to the cross.

And by faith in Jesus alone, we are grounded in God’s constant love.

There will be days when life is difficult. There will be trials we do not understand and circumstances that may cause us to wonder what tomorrow will bring. But we can cling to Jesus because He is faithful.

Today, no event, no person, and nothing we face can separate us from God’s love and care for us in Christ Jesus. So, whatever you may be facing today, trust Jesus. Trust His love. Trust His guidance. Trust Him to lead you through every trial.

Cling to Jesus. He is our lifeline to God, and He will never let us go.

A Day Spent With Jesus

A Day Spent With Jesus

Psalm 25:5 ESV
“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

As I think about this verse, I am reminded of the wonderful blessing we have as believers in Jesus Christ.

Every day with Jesus is a day of discovery. Looking around us, we see the marvel of His creation. Not only that, but we discover more about Him and His ways. We open our Bibles and discover great treasures, golden nuggets of truth and blessing.

A day with Jesus is also a day of new adventures in faith. Even personal defeats can be re-created by Jesus into spiritual victories. With Jesus, all things work for our good.

So, let's look to Jesus right now and remember that He created us to know Him, to love Him, and to walk with Him.

Blessed is the person who finds Jesus, believes in Him, and chooses to spend each day walking with Him. Won't you look to Him right now?

Jesus, Our Gate to Abundant Life

Jesus, Our Gate to Abundant Life

John 10:9-10 NIV

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

There is something deep within every human heart that longs for more. We search for purpose, peace, forgiveness, and lasting hope.

By His grace, God awakens us to our greatest need—that we must be saved from our sins and rescued from this fallen world. Jesus declares, "I am the gate." He is the only entrance into salvation and eternal life. Through His death and resurrection, He opens the way for us to be reconciled to God.

But Jesus offers more than forgiveness. He says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." This abundant life is found in daily fellowship with Him. As we walk with Jesus, He leads us into fresh pastures where our souls are nourished and strengthened.

Those fresh pastures remind me of God's Word. Every time we open the Bible, we discover more of God's wisdom, His promises, His mercy, and His unfailing love. The Good Shepherd faithfully feeds His sheep, and His Word satisfies the hungry soul like nothing else can.

If you are searching today, come to Jesus. Enter through the only Gate. In Him you will find forgiveness, peace with God, and the abundant life your soul has always longed for. The Bible says in Acts 2:21 NIV, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Won't you call on the name of Jesus today and receive His gift of eternal life?

Standing in the Evil Day

Standing in the Evil Day.

Ephesians 6:13 (WEB):
"Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

There are seasons in life when the battle feels especially intense. There are days of temptation, sorrow, fear, pressure, and spiritual attack. In Ephesians 6:13, Paul calls that time “the evil day.” And in that day, God’s call to His people is clear: put on the whole armor of God, and stand.

This is a deeply comforting command, because the Lord never tells His people to stand in their own strength. He supplies what He commands. The armor belongs to God. The strength comes from God. The grace to endure comes from God. Believers are not left defenseless in the fight. In Christ, we are equipped to withstand.

Scripture gives us many examples of people who stood firm in their evil day. Joseph stood against temptation and refused to sin against God. Job stood in the middle of deep suffering and did not curse the Lord. Daniel stood in faithful prayer, even when it was forbidden. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood before the king and refused to bow to the idol. Peter and John stood before hostile rulers and declared that they must obey God rather than men.

And above all of them, Jesus Christ stood perfectly. He faced the temptation of Satan and did not yield. He set His face toward the cross and remained obedient to the Father. Where we are weak, Christ was steadfast. Where we fail, Christ was faithful. That is why our hope is not in ourselves, but in Him.

So if you are facing your own evil day, do not give in to fear. Do not lay down your spiritual weapons. Do not make peace with sin. Stand in the Lord. Hold fast to His truth. Rest in His righteousness. Trust His promises. Stay near to Christ in His Word. Persevere in prayer. Even when the battle is fierce, God is faithful to sustain His people.

Sometimes standing does not look dramatic. Sometimes it simply means refusing to compromise, refusing to despair, refusing to abandon Christ. And that quiet perseverance is a beautiful evidence of God’s grace at work in your life.

If today is difficult, take courage. The Lord who kept His servants in ages past is the same Lord who keeps His people now. By His grace, you can withstand. And having done all, you can stand.

Why Our Bibles Are Superior To Our AI Chatbots

Why Our Bibles Are Superior To Our AI Chatbots.

Jesus has all the words and knowledge we need in the Bible:

*** Matthew 11:28-30 

 

“Come to me, all you who labour and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

*** Jesus has given believers the Holy Spirit to teach us all things and remind us of all Jesus has said:

John 14:26 NIV 

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

*** The anointing God has given us teaches us to abide in Jesus not man made technology:

1 John 2:27 NKJV

"But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him."

*** Look away from distractions to Jesus and His teachings:

Hebrews 12:2 AMP

[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

I hope these Bible verses will be an encouragement to you. By the way, I am not anti-artificial intelligence; I just want to make sure I rely on God and the Bible  for guidance and spiritual nourishment.

God's Great Love

God's Great Love

Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

When I read these verses, I cannot help but think about where God has brought us from and where He is taking us.

Earlier in Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul reminds us that we were once dead in our sins and lived according to the ways of this world under the influence of "the prince of the power of the air." We were spiritually blind and unable to save ourselves. But then come two of the most hope-filled words in all of Scripture: "But God."

Because of His great love and abundant mercy, God made us alive together with Christ. We were not saved because we deserved it or because we earned it. We were saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

As we think about those who do not yet know Christ, we should not be surprised that they are spiritually blind. Scripture tells us that those apart from Christ are under the influence of the evil one. Yet we should never lose hope.

If God could open our eyes to the truth of the gospel, He can open their eyes as well. So let us continue to love them, share the good news of Jesus with them, and faithfully pray for their salvation. There is always hope because of God's great love.

May God's great love encourage you today to keep trusting Him and praying for those who have not yet come to faith in Jesus Christ.

When Jesus Cleanses the Temple

“When Jesus Cleanses the Temple.”

Listen to the Word of God from Luke: 
"He entered into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,"
---Luke 19:45

When Jesus entered the temple, He did not overlook what did not belong there. He drove it out. He cleansed what had been corrupted. He acted with holy authority because the temple was meant to be a place that honored God.

There is something deeply personal for us in that picture. For those who belong to Christ, the Lord is not content to leave us as we are. He loves His people too much to let sin, compromise, and harmful influences settle comfortably in our lives. Because He is holy, He works to cleanse us. Because He is loving, He removes what is harmful to our souls.

Sometimes Jesus drives out things we have tolerated for too long—habits that dull our love for Him, attitudes that harden our hearts, influences that pull us toward the world, or sins we have tried to excuse. And when He does, it may be uncomfortable, but it is never unkind. His cleansing is an act of mercy.

The Lord knows what does not belong in the life of His people. He knows what hinders prayer, weakens faith, disrupts peace, and steals our joy in Him. And in His faithfulness, He goes to work. He convicts, corrects, and calls us to repentance so that our lives may be more fully yielded to Him.

So if the Lord is putting His finger on something in your life today, do not resist Him. Open your heart to His Word. Turn from sin. Trust His wisdom. The same Jesus who cleanses is the Jesus who restores. He does not tear down His people to destroy them. He cleanses them so they may walk more closely with Him.

May the Lord Answer All Your Prayers

May the Lord Answer All Your Prayers

Psalm 20:4-5 NLT

"May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God. May the LORD answer all your prayers."

I love the encouragement we find in these verses. They remind me that our Heavenly Father cares about what is on our hearts. He invites us to come to Him in prayer and trust Him with every part of our lives.

Is there something you have been praying about? A burden you have been carrying? A decision you need to make? Bring it to the Lord. He knows your heart, and He delights in hearing from His children.

As you seek Him, ask Him to guide your steps and establish the plans that honor Him. Whatever you are facing today, remember that the Lord is able to give you victory. Nothing is too difficult for Him.

And when God answers your prayers, don't keep His goodness to yourself. Share what He has done. Your testimony may encourage someone else to trust the Lord. The good news of God's faithfulness causes hearts to rejoice with you and give God all the glory.

As wonderful as God's daily blessings are, His greatest gift is His Son, Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and rise again so that everyone who believes in Him can receive forgiveness, eternal life, and a personal relationship with God. There is no greater blessing than knowing Jesus.

Today, I encourage you to keep bringing your prayers to the Lord. Rest in His promises, and leave the results in His hands. May the Lord answer your prayers according to His perfect will, and may your life bring glory to His name.

Forget Not His Benefits

Forget Not His Benefits

Psalm 103:2–5 (NIV)

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."

How pleasant it is to sit back and take a few quiet moments to thank our Heavenly Father for His benefits. As we look around us, we can consider the many blessings from His hand: the privilege of walking with Jesus, the knowledge that God's love and mercy are like a crown upon our heads, and the provision of a home, a job, and an eternal future in paradise.

It is truly blessing upon blessing—forgiven sin, divine healing, and a life redeemed from the pit. As you rest in His goodness today, what comes to your mind?

What is one specific "benefit" from God you've taken for granted lately that you can thank Him for right now?

Let's pray: Father, thank You for Your endless mercy, forgiveness, and provision. Help me slow down today and remember every good gift that comes from Your hand. Amen.

Trust in the Name of the Lord

Trust in the Name of the Lord

Are you facing an obstacle in your life? Maybe it is something you know is unpleasing to the Lord, or perhaps it is something that is keeping you from drawing closer to him and living in obedience to his Word.

There is good news in Psalm 20:6–7 (NIV):

"Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."

That is a promise we can take to our spiritual bank!

We should not let our failures define our walk with God. Instead, let Jesus define our walk. Bring every area of concern to him. Surrender those struggles to him, and seek him in prayer. Jesus assures us in Matthew 7:7 (NIV):

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Be encouraged today. No obstacle is greater than the Lord's power, and no believer is beyond His help. Keep trusting in Jesus, keep seeking him, and keep walking by faith.

If God is for us, who can be against us?