Promise for Today - Reminding Who?

Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them . . . I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’ 

Nehemiah 1:8-9 (NLT)

When you pray, it turns your attention toward God and helps you to see that he is bigger and more powerful than any of your concerns. And as you watch God answer your prayers, your faith deepens.

Four ways to pray effectively, based on the life of Nehemiah:

1. Base your request on God’s character. Pray like you know God will answer you. You can say something like, “God, I’m expecting you to answer this prayer because of who you are. You are a faithful God. You are a great God. You are a loving God. You are a wonderful God. You can handle this problem!”

2. Confess the sins you’re aware of. That’s what Nehemiah did. He said, “I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us” (Nehemiah 1:6-7 NLT). It wasn’t Nehemiah’s fault that Israel went into captivity. He wasn’t even born when it happened; he was most likely born in captivity. Yet he included himself in the sins of his people. He essentially said, “I’ve been a part of the problem.”

3. Claim the promises of God. Nehemiah prayed to the Lord, saying, “Please remember what you told your servant Moses” (Nehemiah 1:8 NLT). Can you imagine saying “remember” to God? Nehemiah reminded God of a promise he made to the nation of Israel. In effect, Nehemiah prayed, “God, you warned through Moses that if we were unfaithful, we would lose the land of Israel. But you also promised that if we’d repent, you’d give it back to us.”

Does God have to be reminded? No. Does he forget what he’s promised? No. Then why should you claim God’s promises when you pray? Because it helps you remember what God has promised.

4. Be specific in what you ask for. If you want specific answers to prayer, make specific requests. If your prayers consist of general requests, how will you know if they’re answered?

When you pray, you’re submitting yourself to God’s sovereignty, acknowledging that he is active in all the details of your life and able to provide for your every need. But prayer also brings you into alignment with God’s will, helping you understand how and why he answered the way he did.

And never doubt this: God answers your prayers.

Talk It Over

What is a prayer request you’ve recently made of God that you think is still unanswered?

Pray again for that request, following the steps above. Do those steps change your prayer?

What promises of God do you need to embrace?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for every promise You have spoken over us - promises of hope, peace, provision, and eternal love. When our hearts grow weary, or our thoughts are clouded with doubt, remind us of Your faithfulness. Let Your Word be the anchor that steadies us in every storm.
        In moments of uncertainty, whisper Your truth to our souls. In moments of joy, we will give thanks for Your goodness. And in all things, keep our hearts aligned with Your will, so that we walk boldly in the light of Your unfailing Word. 

       Help us to recall, mind and heart, that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Teach us to trust that what You have spoken will come to pass in Your perfect timing. May our lives reflect the confidence of one who knows that Your promises never fail. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Where is He?

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised. 

Job 1:21 (NIV)

When you’re a baby Christian, God gives you a lot of confirming emotions and often answers immature, self-centered prayers so you’ll know he exists. But as you grow in faith, he will wean you off these dependencies.

God’s omnipresence and the manifestation of his presence are two different things. One is a fact; the other is often a feeling. It’s a fact that God is omnipresent; he’s always there, even when you’re unaware of him. Even when you don’t feel his presence, you can always trust the fact that God is with you. His presence is too profound to be measured just by emotion. Yes, God wants you to sense his presence, but he’s more concerned that you trust him than feel him. We live by faith, not by sight or by our feelings.

The situations that will stretch your faith most will be those times when life falls apart and God [seems like he] is nowhere to be found. That happened to a man named Job. On a single day, he lost everything—his children, his business, his health, and all his possessions. And then, for 37 chapters in the Old Testament book of Job, God said nothing!

How do you praise God when you don’t understand what’s happening in your life and God is silent? How do you stay connected in a crisis without communication? How do you keep your eyes on Jesus when they’re full of tears? You do what Job did: “Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised’” (Job 1:20-21 NIV).

Tell God exactly how you feel. Pour out your heart to him. Unload every emotion that you’re feeling. Job did this when he said, “I can’t be quiet! I am angry and bitter. I have to speak” (Job 7:11 GNT).

He cried out when God seemed distant: “Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house” (Job 29:4 NIV).

Whether or not you can feel God today, you can trust that he’s there with you. Are you full of doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, or questions? Bring it all to God. He is with you, he is for you, and he can handle all your questions and concerns.

The Bible says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV).

Talk It Over

Think about a time when you couldn’t feel God’s presence. How did you stay connected to him during that time?

Why is God more concerned about your faith than your feelings?

What person do you go to when life gets tough? What do you say to them that you also need to say to God?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father:

         We come before You with an open heart, longing for Your nearness. Let Your light fill every shadow within us, and Your peace quiet every storm. Draw us closer to You, so that our thoughts, words, and actions reflect Your love. Holy Spirit, guide our steps, strengthen our faith, and renew our hope each day. Stay with us, Lord, in every moment - both in joy and in trial - so that we may walk in the comfort of Your presence and the power of Your grace. It is written that we walk by faith, not by sight. Keep us ever mindful of the Truth - the promise of Your presence. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - A Right Relationship

The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself. 

Romans 1:17 (NCV)

“Righteousness” is a big word in the Bible. It’s used hundreds of times. For example, the Bible says that God loves righteousness and that God is righteous. It says that one day God is going to judge the world in righteousness. Psalm 23 says that God leads us “in the paths of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3 KJV).

But what in the world does this word “righteousness” really mean? I once looked it up in a theological dictionary, and its definition went on for 27 pages! But I’ll boil it down to two things: Righteousness is a relationship and a lifestyle.

Righteousness simply means being right with God. The Good News is that God made us right with himself through Jesus’ death as payment for our sins. Because of Jesus’ death, we can have a personal relationship with God.

Righteousness is also a lifestyle. It means living right, as God intends. The Message paraphrase says, “All who practice righteousness are God’s true children” (1 John 2:29). So why should you care about being right with God? Because it’s the only way to truly live, and it’s the only way to heaven.

When you are disconnected from God, you’re not really living; you’re just existing. Most people in the world aren’t really fully alive. They just exist, trying to make it to the weekend. When you’re disconnected from your Creator who made you for a purpose, life is nonsense.

Life is not about the acquisition of things or the achievement of goals. Life is about getting to know God—the one who loves you and made you for a purpose. You’re not really living until you’re right with God and have a relationship with him.

Righteousness is also the way you get to heaven. God created heaven as a place for his children whom he loves, and he wants you to be with him forever. He wants you to be in heaven, but he’s not going to force you to go to heaven. You can choose to be disconnected from God here on earth, but when your life on earth is done, you will not be given a second chance to choose where you spend eternity—no matter how many good things you’ve done.

God gives you the choice right now to have a relationship with him. He wants you to choose to love him! And when you do, you will be made right with him. It will change your life—here on earth and for eternity!

Talk It Over

If God makes you right with him, why does he still want you to learn and grow in spiritual maturity?

What does it mean to have a relationship with God? What does that look like in your life?

In your own words, how would you explain righteousness to someone else? What difference has it made in your life to be made right with God?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          We come before You with humble hearts, longing to know You more deeply. Draw us into Your presence each day, so that our thoughts, words, and actions reflect Your love. Teach us to listen for Your voice in the quiet moments and to trust You in the storms. Remove anything in our lives that keeps us distant from You, and fill us with a desire to walk in Your ways. Let our faith grow stronger, and our hearts grow softer, and our spirits grow more aligned with Yours. May our lives be a living testimony of Your grace, mercy, and truth. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - More Like Jesus

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

Gentleness is important for so many reasons. It defuses conflict. It disarms critics. It’s persuasive. It’s attractive. It communicates love. Most importantly, gentleness makes you more like Jesus. 

Do you feel weary and burdened today? Do you want to find rest and be at peace instead? Rest and peace come from being like Jesus—from being gentle.

You can’t just walk out your door and force yourself to be gentle. Gentleness needs to be an “inside job.” It should be the fruit of God’s Spirit in you. Jesus is gentle, and when you walk alongside him, you’ll learn to be gentle too.

For decades, I’ve prayed the same prayer almost every day: “Lord, help me to treat people the way Jesus would.” Why? Because I am not by nature a gentle person. So I have to let God produce gentleness in my life.

Here are three simple ways for you to practice gentleness with God’s help this week:

1. When somebody serves you, be understanding, not demanding.
Then next time you’re in a long line at a government office or coffee shop, be considerate—be understanding—of the person who eventually helps you.

2. When somebody disagrees with you, be tender without surrender.
You’ll never get your point across by being cross. You don’t have to back down from God’s truth, but you can treat people with gentleness and respect.

3. When somebody disappoints you, be gentle, not judgmental.
The Message paraphrase says it like this: “Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

As you walk alongside Jesus and put these things into practice every day, you’ll find yourself becoming gentler and more like Jesus.

Talk It Over

A yoke is a harness that is put on an animal to pull a plow. Why does Jesus’ yoke bring rest, not burdens?

Have you ever used the excuse that you’re “just not a gentle person”? What other learned traits do we sometimes treat like they are inherent?

How have you seen a difference in your life, including becoming gentler, since you became a follower of Jesus and received the Holy Spirit? If you’re not a believer, consider taking that step today.

Gentleness is a benefit of your relationship with Jesus.
Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit, an overflow of God’s Spirit in you. You can’t be gentle without the power of the Holy Spirit. And you don’t receive the power of the Holy Spirit until you surrender your life to Jesus. If you’re ready to take that step, pray this prayer:

Dear God, 

           I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I believe that he died for my sin and that you raised him to life. I want to trust him as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. I am not by nature a gentle person. Help me learn to walk with Jesus and let your Holy Spirit make me gentle like him. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

- by Pastor Rick

Promise for Today - A Teachable Spirit

A woman of gentle grace gets respect. 

Proverbs 11:16 (MSG)

No matter where you want to be a leader—in church, government, business, home, school, or your community—you first have to be gentle. The Message paraphrase says, “A woman of gentle grace gets respect” (Proverbs 11:16)—and that’s true for men too. Gentleness leads to respect, and no one can truly lead without being respected. Gentleness is a prerequisite to leadership. 

Jesus was “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29 NIV). He was strong in every way. He could make arrogant leaders speechless and overturn tables in the temple. But he never lost his temper. He kept his strength under control. He was gentle.

Other than Jesus, Moses is one of the few people in the Bible described as deeply humble—the kind of humility that shows up as gentleness. You probably think of Moses as a strong leader. He took on Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world at the time, and demanded that Pharaoh let God’s people go. Moses had nothing but God on his side—and that was enough for him. But before Moses was a leader, Moses was gentle.

Here’s what the Bible says about Moses: “Now the man Moses was very humble (gentle, kind, devoid of self-righteousness), more than any man who was on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3 AMP). But it’s likely that gentleness didn’t come naturally for Moses. His persistent sin was uncontrolled anger; he had a violent temper, and he had trouble managing it.

One time Moses got so angry that he killed an Egyptian. Another time, when Moses came down from the mountain after receiving the Ten Commandments, he found the Hebrew people worshiping an idol. He was so angry that he threw down the Ten Commandments and broke them. And anger kept Moses from entering the Promised Land.

So how could the guy who had a lifelong problem with anger be the only one in the Bible besides Jesus who is called gentle? Because Moses was teachable. When people spoke to him about areas of his life that needed changing, it didn’t make him angry. Instead, he learned from them. Because he was gentle,  that gentleness earned him respect. And that respect made him a leader.

Maybe you struggle with anger like Moses. Or maybe you’re too submissive, or impatient, or lazy. Whatever you struggle with, choose to have a gentle, teachable spirit. You’ll find that your humble gentleness earns you the respect of the people around you.

Talk It Over

What gentle leaders do you know?

Do you think gentleness is an admirable quality? Why?

What does it mean to have a teachable spirit? In what specific area can you ask God to develop that kind of spirit in you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

    Thank You for the gift of life and the wisdom You freely offer. Soften our hearts to receive correction without pride, and open our minds to learn from every experience You place before us. Help us to listen more than we speak, to seek understanding before giving an answer, and to value truth over our own opinions. Remove any stubbornness that blinds us, and replace it with humility, patience, and discernment. Guide us to mentors, friends, and moments that shape us for Your purpose. May our spirits remain teachable, so that we grow in wisdom, walk in love, and reflect Your grace in all we do.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Gentle Beauty

Pursue what God approves of: a godly life, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. 

1 Timothy 6:11 (GW)

Do you want to be attractive? You might say you don’t care about being good-looking—but attractiveness goes much deeper than the skin. An attractive person often appeals to others more for who they are on the inside than how they look on the outside.

The Bible says that, if you want to be more attractive, you need to learn to be gentle: Gentleness is strength under control. It’s one of the marks of someone who follows Jesus. And gentleness makes you more attractive to the people around you.

The Bible tells the story of Ruth and Boaz, two gentle people who were attracted to each other and ended up changing the world together.

Boaz was a successful young farmer. One day he saw strangers out in his field taking what was left after his workers had harvested. This wasn’t unusual; it was common for the poor to find food that way.

But he noticed in particular a young woman named Ruth. She was poor because her husband had died, leaving her with very little. Her mother-in-law also was a widow, and Ruth had decided to stay with Naomi to care for her. Why did Ruth do that? Because she was gentle; she had strength under control.

When Boaz saw Ruth in his field, he could have demanded she leave. Instead, he allowed her to continue picking from his field and even commended her for caring for her mother-in-law.

Ruth responded by saying, “You are very kind to me, sir. You have made me feel better by speaking gently to me” (Ruth 2:13-14 GNT).

Eventually, Boaz invited Ruth to share a meal with him. She ate until she was satisfied, and then he gave her more food to take home. He was kind; he was gentle. He was a powerful man and chose to keep that strength under control and use it to care for other people.

Boaz and Ruth married, and their great-grandson was King David. And it was through King David’s line that Jesus eventually was born.

Are you attractive to other people? Do you have a gentleness that makes other people want to be around you, like Ruth and Boaz?  If not, you can change that today by intentionally pursuing the things God approves of—starting with gentleness!

Talk It Over

Do you usually associate gentleness with strength? Why or why not?

Who in your life is attractive because of their gentleness? In what specific ways are they gentle?

What does it mean to “pursue” gentleness?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Shape our hearts in the quiet of Your presence, where pride dissolves like mist before the morning sun. Teach us to walk in the lowly path You chose, to see the overlooked, to lift the weary with gentle hands. Let our words carry the fragrance of grace; let our thoughts be sifted through Your truth; let our actions mirror the mercy and humble spirit that knelt to wash the dust from another’s feet. When anger stirs, clothe us in patience; when fear whispers, anchor us in faith; when self seeks its own, turn our gaze to the Cross where love bore all, forgave all, redeemed all.

          Make our lives a living echo of Your compassion, a vessel for Your light in shadowed places, until the day we stand before You, and You recognize in us the gentle beauty of Your own heart. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Gentle Persuasion

Gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses. 

Proverbs 25:15 (MSG)

Gentleness is persuasive.

If you have a successful career in sales, you may know that truth already! There was a time when the hard sell—the loudest advertisement or the strongest sales pitch—might have closed a deal. But today, gentleness works. Most people today buy something because someone they trust recommended it. A trusted friend or salesperson’s gentle recommendation is far more persuasive than a loud sales pitch.

And that’s not just true in sales; it’s true in just about every area of life.

The Bible says this over and over again. The Message paraphrase of Proverbs 25:15 says, “Gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.” Are you trying to convince a family member or coworker to do something that they’re feeling defensive about? Gentle words, not pushy tactics, will get through their defenses.

In my own ministry, I want to persuade everyone who hears me to live for Jesus, but I have to do that in a gentle way. If I stood in front of people yelling at them, they’d eventually stop listening. But gentleness is persuasive.

A different translation of Proverbs 25:15 says it this way: “A gentle word can get through to the hard-headed” (NCV). What does this mean for you? If you’re a parent or teacher, screaming at a child never works. Anger and frustration only create fear, resentment, and defensiveness. What does work? Gently disciplining in love.

Here’s yet another translation of the same verse: “Patience and gentle talk can convince a ruler and overcome any problem” (Proverbs 25:15 CEV). Many of us don’t live in cultures with a “ruler,” but we all have some kind of boss, supervisor, or authority in our lives. This translation reminds us that, with gentleness, we can persuade even those in authority over us.

The Bible says in Proverbs 16:21, “A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is” (GNT).

In that verse, there’s a connection between the words “pleasant” and “persuasive.” If you want to be persuasive, you must first be pleasant.

Being pleasant is a mark of maturity. Fools are rude and unpleasant. The wiser and more mature you are, the more pleasant and positive your speech becomes.

Remember this: You’re never persuasive when you’re abrasive. Gentleness is persuasive.

Talk It Over

When have you been abrasive rather than gentle with someone? What was the result?

How has someone’s gentleness persuaded you to do something?

Who do you know who is gentle? What would you like to imitate from their life?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          We come before You seeking a gentle heart, one that embodies compassion, kindness, and understanding. Help us to soften our words and actions, reflecting Your love in all we do. May we embrace humility and patience, fostering peace in our relationships. Guide us to be instruments of Your grace, spreading warmth and comfort to those around us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Controlled Strength

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

Have you noticed that human beings tend to mimic other people’s emotions, especially if we’re sitting or standing right across from them? We do that because of mirror neurons in our brains that allow us to sympathize and to mirror what other people feel.

For instance, if somebody gets angry with you, you get angry back. If somebody is really miserable and you hang around that person long enough, you get miserable too.

In the same way, when someone raises their voice against you, you usually raise your voice back. Then they raise their voice higher. Then you raise your voice higher. Then pretty soon things have escalated, and your emotions are out of control. But the Bible offers a different way to respond: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1 NIV).

Let me give you a little tip that will save you a lot of heartache and conflict in your marriage, in your parenting, in your friendships, and at work: When another person raises their voice, lower yours. When you do that, you’re demonstrating strength under control.

Another word for strength under control is gentleness. Gentleness defuses conflict. It de-escalates anger. A gentle person does not overreact and is not driven by emotions. A gentle person demonstrates strength under control.

The Greek word in the Bible for “gentleness” is the word prautes. Some older English translations of the Bible translate prautes as “meek.” The word “meek” isn’t used much anymore because meek has become a synonym for weak. But gentleness—or prautes—is anything but weak.

In fact, the word prautes was used to refer to a wild stallion that had been tamed. Think about that image. If you go out in the hills and find a wild stallion, it’s unbridled and even dangerous, with a strength that could kill you pretty quickly. But if you tame that stallion, it’s still just as strong, but the strength is brought under control. The strength is bottled up for the master’s use.

When you learn true gentleness as a man or woman of God, you don’t become weak. You just bring your strength under God’s control and use it for his purposes.

Talk It Over

What is your normal reaction to raised voices, such as when your kids are misbehaving or you’re having a disagreement with your spouse or close friend?

Why do you think responding in gentleness rather than anger is so disarming? Why does it get people’s attention?

Look for ways to practice gentleness this week. How do people react when you respond to them with gentleness? You may even want to record your efforts and their effects and share them with your small group.
- by Pastor Rick
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Prayer:

Father,
         We come before You with gratitude for all that You are, for all that You have given us, for Your mercy and grace towards us, for Your presence and faithfulness. You created us to reflect Your image, and in doing so, to bring You glory. We confess to You that we fail to do this. Every day, we fall short. Please forgive us. Thank You for Your unfailing patience with us. Thank You for correcting our stubborn and rebellious hearts. You tell us to learn from You for You are gentle and humble in heart. (Matthew 11:29)You modeled gentleness and humility while You lived here on earth. You have dealt gently with us in our sin and rebellion. Help us to learn from You and follow Your example. So many people need a kind word, an act of compassion, a quiet voice of reason, a softly spoken encouragement, a tender touch. Help us, Jesus, to be the peacemakers. Help us to be mild-mannered. Help us to be careful with our responses and interactions with others. Help us to be those who bring calm to the storms raging in this world.
        In Galatians 5, You tell us that gentleness is a fruit produced by the Spirit at work in our hearts. Father, we ask that Your Spirit would develop and grow gentleness within us. We know that we cannot bear fruit if we are not connected to You, so we cling to You, Jesus. We look to You. By following closely, we seek to emulate You. Show us when harshness and bitterness enter into our thoughts and help us to turn from our wicked ways. Soften our hearts. Soften us so that we may reflect Your gentleness and, in doing so, bring You glory. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Change Bitter to Better

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)

We rarely change when we see the light. We change when we feel the heat. Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (GNT). Grief, loss, and pain are inevitable parts of life. But did you know that God uses these things to help you grow? He does it in three ways.

First, God uses pain to get your attention. C. S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain.” Pain is God’s megaphone. 

Second, God brings good out of bad. One of the most famous verses in the Bible is Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (NIV).

When you experience a loss, it’s an opportunity to grow in character. You can’t control the pain you go through, but you can decide whether it’s going to make you bitter or better. You decide whether it’s going to be a steppingstone or a stumbling block. Remember, even in your pain, God is working for your good.

Third, God prepares you for eternity. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen” (CEV).

You’re not taking your car to heaven; you’re not taking your jewelry or your clothes to heaven; you’re not taking your career to heaven. But you are taking your character. You are taking you.

God is more interested in your character development than in your comfort. Why? Because when you get to heaven, you’ll have plenty of time to be comfortable. But life on earth is the get-ready stage; it’s the learning phase or the warm-up act. God uses your troubles here on earth to get you ready for eternal glory. That’s a comfort.

When you’re in pain, you need to ask, “What is God doing?” Is he trying to get your attention? Is he trying to bring good out of bad? Is he preparing your character for heaven?

You can trust him through it all.

Talk It Over

What does it mean that God is working for your good? Does it mean that God only lets good things happen to believers?

Why is it often easier to focus on today’s realities than on the promise of heaven?

How can you prepare yourself now so that you are ready to hear from God when you are in a time of pain?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           In this valley of hurt, our hearts feel heavy and our spirits weary. The noise of the pain sometimes drowns out Your gentle voice, but we know You are near, even when we cannot feel You. 
Quiet our thoughts, Lord, and open the ears of our souls to hear Your whisper. Let Your words be like healing rain, washing over wounds and restoring hope. Guide us with Your truth, keep us ever mindful of Your unfailing love, and help us to trust that even in this darkness, You are leading us toward light. 
We wait for You, Lord. Speak, and we will listen. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Blessing the Broken

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.

Psalm 34:18 (NCV)

You don’t just "get over" a loss. You can’t go under it; you can’t go around it. You’ve got to go through the grief. And if you’re scared to express emotion and refuse to go through it, you just get stuck.

You get unstuck by letting God help you. Here are six ways God blesses a broken heart.

1. God draws you close to himself.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed” (NCV). When you grieve, God is not a million miles away, even though it may feel like it. In fact, he’s never been any closer.

2. God grieves with you.
The Bible tells us that Jesus was “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief” (Isaiah 53:3 NLT). When you come to Jesus with your grief, he knows what you’re talking about, and he understands your pain. God is not apathetic. He is sympathetic, and he grieves with you.

3. God gives you a church family for support.
We’re meant to grieve and heal in community. We’re better together! The Bible says, “In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. . . . Be devoted to one another in love. . . . Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:5, 10, 15 NIV).

4. God uses grief to help you grow.
God uses grief and pain to help you become more like Christ, and he does it in three ways:
God uses pain to get your attention (Romans 5:3-5), he brings good out of bad (Romans 8:28), and he prepares you for eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

5. God gives you the hope of heaven.
Your life on earth is short, but if you trust Jesus Christ for your salvation, then you have the hope of spending eternity in heaven with God. That hope will sustain you through your time of loss. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “We don’t want you to be ignorant about those who have died. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope” (GW).

6. God uses your pain to help others.
This is called redemptive pain, and it is the highest and best use of the pain you go through. God does not want you to waste a hurt. “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT).

Talk It Over

Why do you think God has allowed you to experience grief and loss?

How does God want you to minister to others who grieve without hope?

What is the deepest pain you have experienced? In what ways can you use that pain to help others?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

         We ask You for a fresh vision of what breakthrough will look like in our lives. Help us to pursue healing while we wait for Your miracle. Show us how to rest right in the middle of the storm. Help us to enjoy the feast You prepare for us, right in the middle of the battlefield. We want our whole life to testify that there’s a God in heaven who knows our names and who will get us safely home. Fill us afresh with the wonder of Your love and power. We are determined to win this battle by Your Grace. Help us to discern when to rest, when to feast, and how to actively engage our faith as we wait for You to break through. May our lives display Your power and Truth. Do the impossible in and through us, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Doesn't Work Perfectly

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens ...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 (NIV)

As you learn to rise above life’s inevitable losses, you need to understand a couple of truths that will give you better perspective.

Life is tough. The world is broken, and nothing works perfectly. Your body doesn’t work perfectly, the weather doesn’t work perfectly, the economy doesn’t work perfectly, and no relationship works perfectly. Life is full of losses.

First, God doesn’t expect you to be happy all the time. 

There is this myth that Christians should be always smiling, always happy, always cheerful. But the Bible says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens ...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 NIV).

Sometimes the only appropriate, logical response to life is grief. The Bible says you should grieve over your losses, including your disappointments, your sin, the suffering in the world, and your friends who are spiritually lost. God doesn’t expect you to be happy all the time. In fact, he wants you to be intentional in your grief.

Second, grief is essential to your health.
If you never grieve over anything, it means one of three things: You’re out of touch with reality, you’re out of touch with your own emotions, or you don’t love. When you love and you see sad things, grief is a natural response.

Grief is a healthy and helpful emotion. And it’s God’s gift that helps you get through the transitions of life.

Maybe you were hurt many years ago growing up. Maybe your parents divorced. Maybe you were abused. Maybe you were hurt by something somebody said about you. As a child, you didn’t know how to grieve in a healthy way, so you just pushed it down deep inside you.

You need to grieve that hurt. Why? Because if you don’t grieve, you get stuck emotionally, and you spend the rest of your life reacting to something that happened a long time ago and taking it out on the people around you. It’s unhealthy!

David talked about this in Psalm 32:3: “When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long” (NCV).

The bad things that happen to you are not your choice. But grief is a choice! You’ve got to let yourself mourn losses so that you can move forward to emotional and spiritual health.

Talk It Over

What loss have you failed to grieve? How has it affected you physically, emotionally, and spiritually?

Do you think grief is the same for everyone? Why or why not?

In what specific ways can you support someone in your life who is grieving right now?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           You see the ache in our hearts and the weight we carry. Help us to not hide from our sorrow, but to walk through it with honesty and courage. Teach us to release our tears without shame, to remember without being crushed, and to honor what we’ve lost while still choosing life. Hold us steady when the waves of grief rise high, and remind us that healing is not forgetting, but learning to carry the love in a new way. Guide our steps toward peace, and surround us with people who will pray with us through the tough times. Keep us ever mindful that, with You, we are never alone. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - Secure Supply

My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

Putting your trust in your bank account, your job, or your investments is a recipe for heartache. Why? Because you can lose all of those things. Where do you find your security?

You need to find security in something that cannot be taken from you: God! If you want God’s blessing on your life, you need to learn to trust in God’s wealth and not your own.

Here’s what the Bible says about God’s wealth: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 ESV).

Your job may be where you get your income, but it shouldn’t be your security. Your job is a channel, but God is your source. If you understand this, you’ll have so much less stress in your life. Let me say it again: Your job is a channel, but God is the source of your supply.

If you turned on the faucet in your kitchen and no water came out, what would you do? Would you say, “Oh, the world has run out of water! There’s no water coming out of the faucet, so there must not be any left in the whole world”?

Of course not. You’d know the problem is not with the source. There’s plenty of water in the world. The problem is the channel; it’s gotten blocked one way or another.

It’s the same way in your life. If one channel gets blocked in your life and the “faucet” stops working, it doesn’t mean the whole supply has dried up. God can easily turn on another faucet.

God is not limited by your ability and capacity. You may be limited by your own capacity in the work you do. But your job is not what ultimately supplies your needs. Your job is just a channel for God to supply your needs.

If you think that your job is what keeps you financially secure, then you’re going to feel insecure your entire life. You need to understand that God is the source of your supply. You can depend on him to know exactly what you need and how to give it to you.

Jobs may come and go. Bank accounts rise and fall. Economies go up and down. Stock markets can go bull or bear. It doesn’t matter!

No matter what happens, you can trust in God’s wealth for your security.

Talk It Over

What have you been waiting for God to do in your life? How have you responded to the season of waiting?

Think of a time when you had to trust God’s timing. How did he work in your life during that time?

It’s easy to hurry—but God’s blessing often comes through waiting. How can you slow yourself down so that you learn patience and trust?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,
          Strengthen us to endure this season with faith and joy, trusting that You are working all things for our good, even when we cannot see the outcome. Strengthen our hearts to remain steadfast and hopeful. Let us find courage in Your promises and joy in Your presence while we wait for Your guidance and blessings. As we face uncertainty by the world's standards, fill our hearts with peace as we stand on the rock-solid foundation of Your Word. Keep us ever mindful that You are always with us, guiding our steps and providing for our needs, and we are so grateful. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - God's Plan of Defense

I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter. 

Psalm 62:5-7 (GNT)

You’ll always have people in your life who misunderstand you and don’t like you. Others will criticize you, judge you, attack you, and spread rumors about you. In all of these circumstances, your natural tendency will be to fight back. When you’re misunderstood, you’ll want to defend yourself. When you’re attacked, you’ll be tempted to launch your own attack. When people criticize you, you’ll want to criticize them. When people insult you, you’ll want to hurl back your own insults.

Don’t do it! Instead, let God be your defender. Every time you are attacked, criticized, ridiculed, or misunderstood, you have two choices: You can defend yourself, or you can let God defend you. Which will it be? Who do you think can do a better job defending you? You or God? Of course, God can.

Pay attention to this: You’re most like Christ when you say nothing in the face of attacks, lies, and unfair criticism. You’re most like Jesus when you remain silent and leave it in God’s hands. The Bible says, “When [Jesus] was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge” (1 Peter 2:23 GNT). In the face of his unjust conviction and persecution, Jesus did not fight back. When it mattered most, he trusted God to defend him and bring ultimate justice.

King David was criticized and attacked his entire life. In fact, people repeatedly wanted to kill him because they were jealous of him. But David said this: “I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter” (Psalm 62:5-7 GNT).

People will be jealous of your success, and some will even want to attack you. But like David, you need to let God be your protector, your Savior, your defender, your victor, and your shelter.

Let God handle it. Let him be your defense.

Talk It Over

What practical things can you do in a tense moment to keep from speaking or acting in retaliation?

Why does God want you to remain silent when you are under attack? Why doesn’t he want you to try to prove that you’re right?

How does someone’s attack on your character say more about that person than it does about you?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          You are our refuge and our shield, our strong tower in times of trouble. Stand before us, Lord, as our defender against every seen and unseen danger. Surround us with Your mighty presence, and let no weapon formed against us prosper. When fear tries to creep in, fill our hearts with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Fight for us, Lord, and let Your justice prevail. We trust in Your unfailing love and rest in the safety of Your hands. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Making the Choice to Wait

I trust the LORD God to save me, and I will wait for him to answer my prayer. 

Micah 7:7 (CEV)

The Bible is clear that you’ll go through different seasons in life. One season God talks about over and over is the season of waiting. But you can trust that while you’re waiting, God is working. A season of waiting doesn’t mean that God has stopped working. In fact, he’s taking you through that season because he’s using the time to work in your circumstances for your good.

The truth is, you’re going to spend much of your life waiting. And so, if you don’t figure out how to trust God while you’re waiting, you’ll spend a lot of your life not trusting God.

God is never in a hurry; he’s eternal! And as he’s working, he wants you to learn how to trust him.

You might be asking, “When, Lord? When is it going to happen?” And God’s saying something like, “You can trust me with this.”

It’s human nature to say, “Don’t wait! Get things as quickly as you can.” But that goes against God’s blessing in your life—because God’s blessing often comes through times of waiting. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “[God] has set the right time for everything” (GNT).

Are you in a time of waiting? Maybe it’s for school to end. Maybe it's for healing. Maybe it’s for the “right person” to come into your life. Maybe it’s for a marriage to happen, a baby to come, or a new job opportunity to arrive. And you’re frustrated with how slowly things are happening. We’ve all been there.

There’s a promise in the Bible that not only tells you God is working but also how God is working. You need to believe it while you’re waiting: “I am the LORD, and when it is time, I will make these things happen quickly” (Isaiah 60:22 NCV).

That’s how God worked when he sent Jesus into this world. The world waited thousands of years for him to come the first time. And then he came at just the right moment.

We’ve been waiting 2,000 years now for Jesus to come again. When will that happen? At just the right time—God’s time. That’s when he’s going to return.

You can apply this same truth to your time of waiting. Remember that a delay is not a denial. When you think God is saying, “No,” he may just be saying, “Not yet. Will you keep trusting me through this?”

Micah 7:7 says, “I trust the LORD God to save me, and I will wait for him to answer my prayer” (CEV).

That is the kind of faith God blesses.

Talk It Over

What have you been waiting for God to do in your life? How have you responded to the season of waiting?

Think of a time when you had to trust God’s timing. How did he work in your life during that time?

It’s easy to hurry—but God’s blessing often comes through waiting. How can you slow yourself down so that you learn patience and trust?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           In this hurry-up, instant-fix, same-day online order season of the world we live in, we often lose sight of and patience with a season of waiting. Forgive us for every time we gloss over, 'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength". Forgive us for every time we equate waiting with being punished or ignored by You. Forgive us for believing that lie of the enemy of our souls to try to make us doubt You and weaken our faith and trust in You. Father, we declare the Truth of Your Word over the facts of our lives. From Psalm 62, Let all that we are wait quietly before You, God, for our hope is in You. You alone are our rock and our salvation, our fortress where we will not be shaken. Our victory and honor come from You alone. You are our refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach us. Father, we choose to trust You at all times.  Help us to stand strong upon Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Dependent Strength

You bless all who depend on you for their strength.
Psalm 84:5 (CEV)

Are you tired? Maybe you’re running on steam, and at the end of each day, you’ve run out of energy. The reason why is really simple: You’re a human being. Your strength is limited. But God’s strength is unlimited. Your strength is finite. But God’s strength is infinite. Your strength is exhaustible—that’s why you get exhausted! But God’s strength is inexhaustible. God never runs out of energy. God never gets tired.

Psalm 84:5 says, “You bless all who depend on you for their strength” (CEV). Do you want God’s blessing on your life? Then you need to depend on God for your strength.

Hudson Taylor was an influential missionary to China in the 19th century. He was a spiritual giant and a brilliant man. In his old age, he lost his health and became quite weak. He wrote a letter to a friend that said, “I am so weak I can no longer work. I am so weak I can no longer study. I am so weak I can no longer read my Bible. I cannot even pray. I can only lie still in the arms of God like a little child in trust.”

At some point in your life, you may be so weak that you can’t even pray, read the Bible, go to a Bible study, work, or really do anything. What do you do in those moments? You rest in the strength of the Lord—in his arms like a little child—and you trust.

Weakness can actually be a good thing in your life if it causes you to depend on God. In 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT, Paul says, “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong”.

That’s the paradox of depending on God: The weaker you are, the more you depend on him. And the more you depend on him, the stronger you get.

Talk It Over

Why is it sometimes difficult to admit or show weakness?

How does your culture perpetuate the idea that you have to be strong all the time?

What does it mean to depend on God’s strength? What would that look like in your life?
- by Pastor Rick
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Prayer:

Father,
          Your Word promises that Your Strength is made perfect in our weakness. Isaiah teaches that when we wait upon You, our strength will be renewed; we will mount up with wings like eagles; we will run and not be weary and walk and not faint. And also that we don't have to fear, for You are with us. You are our God. You promise to strengthen and help us, and hold us up with Your righteous right hand. Fill our bodies with Your healing power and our spirits with unwavering faith. Grant us the peace and comfort found only in Your presence. Teach us to rest in Your timing, to trust Your plans, and to draw from the strength You provide so we can continue living for Your purpose. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Ask for It

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7 (NLT)

Have you ever had the feeling that something was so very, very right, but then when you did it, it ended up being so very, very wrong? Feelings often lie. There’s an old country song that says, “How can it be wrong when it feels so right?” Are you kidding me? There are a lot of things that are wrong that feel so right in the moment.

After six months in a relationship, you wonder, “What was I thinking?” Just a few weeks into a job, you think, “How in the world did I get caught up in this?” A quick decision that seemed harmless at the time leaves you broken and scarred years later.

If you want to experience fewer dead ends and failures in your life, you need to hear what Proverbs 3:5-7 NLT says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil”.

If you really want God’s blessing on your life, you have to depend on God’s wisdom and not on what your feelings say or what your gut says. In other words, trust in the Lord and not your own understanding.

So how do you get God’s wisdom?

You pray. You talk to God, and you let him talk to you as you read the Bible. That’s how you get his wisdom.

The Bible says in James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (NIV).

God doesn’t want you to make foolish mistakes. He wants you to succeed. He wants you to make wise decisions with your time, money, and relationships. The truth is, you’re not waiting on God for his help; he’s waiting on you! It’s like he’s saying, “Hey! I’m here. I’ll give you wisdom, and I’ll give it generously. I want to make you wise. You’ve just got to ask.”

If you want to be blessed, you’ve got to get God’s wisdom. And if you want God's wisdom, you need to ask for it—and then be open to receive it.

Talk It Over

Think of a time in your life when you depended on your feelings to make a big decision. What was the result?

How does God speak to you? How do you know it’s him speaking to you?

Why is it important to spend time with God every day if you want to know his plans for your life?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Keep us ever mindful of walking in faith and not feelings. We actively and intentionally choose to believe Your Word over every emotion and circumstance. You are the Rock on which we can stand and not fall. We set You ever before us, and we will not be shaken. We stand in agreement with the writer of Hebrews and declare, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - More Than a Hope

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

1 John 5:11-12 (NIV)

If you walked around a park today and asked people if they were going to heaven or hell, you’d likely hear many of them say, “I hope I’ll go to heaven.” But hope just isn’t good enough. I pray that’s not your answer. Your eternal destiny is too important not to know for sure.

You’re not guaranteed another minute on this planet, much less another hour. The most recent statistics show that mortality rates worldwide remain at 100 percent! Death is inevitable—so it’s foolish not to be prepared. Don’t put off the most important choice you’ll ever make.

Our Scripture for today tells us, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (NIV). That’s about as clear as you can get. If you have Jesus, you have life. If you don’t have Jesus, you do not have life. You have a choice.

You won’t go to heaven because of someone else’s faith. You’ll never go to hell because of someone else’s choice.

It’s your choice! You get to decide where you’ll spend eternity.

This is why we celebrate Christmas and Easter. If Jesus hadn’t come at Christmas—and then if he hadn’t died and come back to life on Easter—our situation would be hopeless. Nothing you do would matter. You wouldn’t have this choice.

The Bible says, “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14 NLT).

The cross is the answer to your deepest problem: your separation from God. Make the choice today to be reconciled to God through Jesus and secure your eternity in heaven.

Talk It Over

None of us are promised another second on earth. How does that reality give more urgency to either your decision to follow Jesus or the decision your friends and family need to make?

Who in your life needs to read the message in this devotional? How can you develop your relationship to a point where you can share this message with them?

If the decision to follow Jesus and have life—or reject Jesus and not have life—is so clear and stark, why is it still hard for some people to choose?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Your Word tells us, “Look, today I am giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse!" We are blessed if we choose to follow Your commands and cursed if we choose to reject them. Father, we want the security of Your Word, Your promise of eternal life with You. Give us the wisdom and Your strength to daily walk out that choice. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Such Good News

Those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me have eternal life. They will not be judged.

John 5:24 Good News Translation

Maybe you’ve imagined a day of judgment that goes something like this: You’re standing outside the gates of heaven in a really long line. You’re slowly moving forward, one step at a time. As you get closer, you start to sweat and wonder, “Am I going to get in? Am I going to make it? Is God going to use a giant TV screen to show every foolish or wrong thing I’ve ever done? Will my every sin be exposed?” 

I have good news for you, promised by Jesus Christ himself: “Those who believe in the Son are not judged” (John 3:18 GNT).

Or, as he says it later in the book of John: “Those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me have eternal life. They will not be judged” (John 5:24 GNT).

Is that good news? Oh, yeah! Jesus’ death and resurrection release you from judgment! 

I have a friend named Buddy who said that, when he was a little kid, his Sunday school teacher taught him that God was sitting in heaven, writing down every bad thing that Buddy ever did. She actually made the class sing a song every week that went, “My Lord is writing all the time. Writing, writing, writing all the time.” Buddy said, “It scared me. I just thought, ‘I’m never going to make it to heaven. My list is getting longer and longer.’”

Is that the way God treats you when you come to him and put your faith in Christ? No! In fact, God is erasing, erasing, erasing all the time. Forgiving, forgiving, forgiving all the time. He’s sitting in heaven, hitting the “delete” button.

Why? Because the Bible says, “God is love” (1 John 4:8 NIV) and love “keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5 NIV). If you put your trust in the love of Jesus Christ, your sins are wiped out.

You can count on God to keep his promise: “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NLT).

Talk It Over

What do you think of when you hear people talk about a “day of judgment”?

How does confidence of a future in heaven shape your daily actions and choices?

If God doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, why is it still important to try to do the right thing?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           We are overwhelmed with Your goodness toward us and the miracle-working power of Your love in our lives. Thank You for transforming our hearts and minds to be holy reflections of You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - A Straightforward Solution

God says he will accept and acquit us—declare us ‘not guilty’—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. 

Romans 3:22 (TLB)

Every human who has ever lived has faced the same problem: Their sin separates them from God. But the Bible offers a simple, straightforward solution, “good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10 NLT).

The Bible says, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life’” (Romans 1:17 NLT).

God’s Word also says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

The Good News is that the death and resurrection of Jesus give you access to God. In other words, you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ.

How do you express faith in Christ? Here’s a simple, biblical guide:

Admit you need a Savior
You can’t get to God on your own. You’re a sinner. You’ve blown it. Heaven is perfect, and you’re not. But the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Believe in Jesus
The Bible is straightforward about what you need to believe for salvation: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31 NLT). That means you believe Jesus is who the Bible says he is, and you trust him entirely and completely with your future. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NIV).  And your belief must be specific in Christ: “If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved... ‘Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved’” (Romans 10:9-10, 13 GNT).

Confess your commitment to Jesus
Tell Jesus you trust him with your life. Confess that you believe in him and his promises. Jesus said, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark” (John 12:44-46 NLT).

Depend on God’s promises
You can rely on God’s promise in John 3:16: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (NLT).

No matter what you’ve done or how long you’ve done it, God promises that everyone who believes in Jesus will live with him in heaven forever.

Talk It Over

If you are a follower of Jesus, how has today’s Daily Hope encouraged you by reminding you of how Jesus saved you? Who will you share the gospel with this week?

God promises that everyone who believes in Jesus will live with him forever in heaven. What difference does that promise make in your life?

If you haven’t yet committed your life to Jesus, what is holding you back? Are you ready to take that step now? Do you want to commit your life to Jesus? If you haven’t yet trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? 

- by Pastor Rick

Pray this prayer:

Dear Jesus, 

                  You have promised that if I believe in You, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven and You will accept me into Your eternal home in heaven one day. I’m so grateful that I do not have to earn or work for my salvation. It is a gift from God, through Your sacrifice on the cross.

I confess my sin, and I ask You to be my Savior. I receive You into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to Your management. I want to use the rest of my life to serve You instead of serving myself. I commit my life to You and ask You to save me and accept me into Your family. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.

Promise for Today - An Eternal Perspective

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. 

Psalm 23:6 (NLT)

To God, your yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows are all connected. It’s as if he says to every Christian, “I’ve got this great life planned for you. Goodness and mercy have been with you all along—and will continue to follow you through your whole life. But that’s not all of it! I’ve got something wonderful planned at the end!”

David explains how God connects yesterday and today with tomorrow when he says, “I will live in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6 NLT). David is reminding believers of how it all ends: We’re going to heaven!

With God, it just keeps getting better and better.

Paul says it like this: “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT).

How long is forever going to last? Right - Forever!

One day your body will die, but you won’t. Your body will end, but that’s not going to be the end of you. You’re going to live forever in one of two places—heaven or hell. You were made to last forever; the only question is where your forever will be.

Why are Christians confident about the future? The Bible says, “We are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. . . . Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6, 8 NLT).

You’re going to die someday. And if you’ve accepted Christ, you’re going to heaven. You’ll be released from pain, sorrow, suffering, depression, and fear. God will remove all your sorrows, “and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 NLT).

As a follower of Christ, you can trust this truth: The best is yet to come!

Talk It Over

What things in your life will last forever?

How does an eternal perspective change everyday aspects of life like goals, plans, schedules, and relationships?

Is your confidence in your future with God evident in the way you live your life? Why or why not?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Praying the words of Laura Bailey, Help us to live with eternity in mind. Be with us as we focus on the eternal, shifting our perspective from temporary things that distract us from living a life for Your glory alone. Forgive us when we sin against You, and be with us as we pursue holiness.

We love You, Lord; we are undeserving of Your grace and mercy but thankful that You freely grant us both. We ask that You strengthen and help us as we share the Gospel in a broken world. Guide our conversations, and direct our paths to those who need to experience the eternal hope of salvation. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Promise for Today - Compared to Eternity

If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from death, lives in you, then he who raised Christ from death will also give life to your mortal bodies by the presence of his Spirit in you. 

Romans 8:11 (GNT)

God never promised that life would be fair. Heaven is where everything is done God’s way; life on Earth just doesn’t work like that. We live on a broken planet. But what happens on earth isn’t all there is to life.

You’ll spend 60, 80, or maybe 100 years on Earth. You’ll spend trillions of years in eternity. If you’ve placed your faith in Jesus, the Bible says you’ll spend eternity with God in heaven.

That’s one of the most important reasons Christians should be joyful—God has given us eternal life!

And eternity will be amazing!

What will heaven be like? You’ll be reunited with people you love. You’ll get rewards. You’ll rest. You’ll get responsibilities you love.

And, as Romans 8:11 says, you’ll get a new body. That’s one of the things I’m most excited about in heaven—no more decaying old body.

You were created because God wants a family. He wants to spend eternity with his family. He wants to spend eternity with you and me! And that truth can - and should - bring you great joy.

Talk It Over

How does knowing that life is short compared to all of eternity change the way you live?

If God wants you in heaven with him, why do you think you are here on earth now? What is your purpose for the time you are here?

How are you working to fulfill your purpose?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Help us to remember that life here is fleeting - over before we know it. But for those who have accepted Christ as our Saviour, we look forward to eternity in Heaven with You and with those we hold dear... and miss so much for the time being - but in Heaven, never again to be missed... As the writer of Hebrews encouraged us - "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."  Father, in our weakness, be our Strength. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - What On Earth Did You Do?

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 

Luke 16:10-11 (NLT)

If you think you’re going to be bored in heaven, think again.

You’re not going to sit around on a cloud doing nothing in heaven. God wired you and knows what you’re interested in. All your hobbies, skills, and talents come from him. He shaped you with your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. God didn’t make you extraordinarily unique just for Earth. He’s going to use your shape in eternity.

You will have work in heaven. But here’s the difference between work in heaven and work on earth: In heaven, you’re guaranteed to enjoy your work. You won’t experience any heartache or stress over your work. It will be meaningful, enjoyable, and fulfilling all the time. You’ll have your dream job forever!

I don’t know what your specific roles or responsibilities will be in heaven. But I do know that they will be based on how faithful you are with the roles and responsibilities God has given you on Earth.

God is watching you, and he’s testing you. Life is a temporary assignment, and God wants to see how responsible, faithful, and trustworthy you are with the responsibilities you have now.

What are you doing with what you’ve been given? If you make the most of what you’ve been given, then God is going to give you more in heaven. You’ll make it into heaven because of God’s grace, but your rewards and responsibilities once you get there will be based on how faithfully you served God on Earth.

God is watching to see how you manage your time, your relationships, your health, your opportunities, and your finances

The way you manage your money is a test of your faithfulness, and it’s going to help determine what you do in heaven. If God can’t trust you with worldly wealth—you’re always in debt, you can’t afford to tithe, and you’re not generous—then what do you think he’s going to trust you with in eternity?

God is watching how you handle your responsibilities, too—not because he wants to make you feel guilty but because he wants you to enjoy all the wonderful things heaven has to offer.

When you choose faithfulness in everything God has entrusted to you on Earth, then you will be entrusted with much more in heaven.

Talk It Over

What difference does it make when you see your work as a test of faithfulness?

What do you think God wants you to do with a job that does not feel fulfilling or meaningful?

How can you choose faithfulness in your work today?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for helping us to see that living here on Earth is not just something we have to put up with till we get to Heaven. Help us fully understand the importance of being faithful with all You have entrusted to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Keep Us Ever Mindful

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great. 

Luke 6:35 (NLT)

Heaven probably already sounds pretty good to you. But did you know there are also going to be rewards in heaven?  You will be rewarded for everything you did in obedience to Jesus while on this earth. God is watching everything in your life. You will be rewarded in heaven for your good actions, speech, and thoughts; for your character and good decisions; and for your generosity and sacrifices. You’ll be rewarded for loving your enemies and for not giving up when it was difficult to do the right thing.

You will be rewarded for bringing other people to Jesus Christ. (Is anybody going to be in heaven because of you?)

You will be rewarded for putting up with criticism for being a Christian and for being persecuted as a believer. That’s why Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV).

God is watching it all and will reward it all.

These rewards have nothing to do with your salvation. The only way you get into heaven is by faith in what Jesus Christ has already done for you. You can’t get into heaven by your good works. But the Bible says that when you get to heaven, you will be rewarded according to your good works.

There are all kinds of verses about this. Matthew 10:42 says, “If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded” (NLT). It seems like such a simple thing to give a cup of water to someone or to share a meal. But every time you do that, it’s like God says, “I’m writing that one down. I’ve got them all recorded.”

You get to decide where you want your rewards. Do you want them in this life, or do you want them in the next life? If you choose this life’s rewards—like popularity, wealth, fame, success, and comfort—then you will enjoy them for only 80 years or so. But if you build up rewards in heaven, you’ll get to enjoy those rewards forever.

Don’t settle for the rewards this world has to offer. As a child of God, you have so much more to look forward to!

Talk It Over

The phrase, “What would Jesus do?” may seem overused in Christian culture, but how is it helpful for making choices that will be rewarded in heaven?

Why do you think God wants to reward you for your obedience?

In what ways are you working for rewards on earth? In what ways are you working for rewards in heaven?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          You are SO good to us. Help us to keep love as the motivator in our lives for doing good works. Keep us ever mindful of giving as You and Your Son gave and continue to give - lavishly, selflessly, lovingly.  In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen

Promise for Today - Not In Heaven

Can you understand the mysteries surrounding God All-Powerful? They are higher than the heavens and deeper than the grave. So what can you do when you know so little, and these mysteries outreach the earth and the ocean? 

Job 11:7-9 Common English Version

When I was a little boy, we traveled to Disneyland for a family vacation. On the way there, my dad explained to me what it was going to be like. But no matter how he tried, there was no way for me to understand just how amazing that place was until I walked into the park for the first time. It far surpassed anything I had imagined it to be!

Heaven is a mystery that you will not fully understand until you arrive there. But the Bible does give important information about eternity, including five things that will not be in heaven.

In heaven, there will be no sickness. 

The Bible says, “This is how it will be when the dead are raised to life. When the body is buried . . . it is ugly and weak; when raised, it will be beautiful and strong” (1 Corinthians 15:42-43 GNT). There won’t be any sickness because you’re going to get a new, perfect body.

In heaven, there will be no sadness. 

God “will wipe every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4 NIV). God has kept a record of your tears and pain because he cares about you. But when you get to heaven, there will be no more broken hearts, rejection, loneliness, grief, or heartache.

In heaven, there will be no suffering. 

The Bible says, “‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat” (Revelation 7:16 NIV). Every one of your needs will be satisfied in heaven.

In heaven, there will be no sin. 

“God . . . will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault” (Jude 1:24 NLT). Jesus Christ died on the cross and paid for all your sin so that when you see him face to face, your character will be instantly changed to be like him.

In heaven, there will be no death. 

“There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (Revelation 21:4 NLT). Heaven is glorious in many ways, but the best part is that you get to be in God’s presence—forever.

The Bible says, “We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. . . . Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us” (1 Corinthians 13:9, 12 CEV).

One day, it’s all going to be clear. It’s all going to make sense. You’re going to be able to say, “So that’s why God allowed that in my life!” Until then, God wants you to trust him.

Talk It Over

Is it enough for you that in heaven God promises to take away all suffering, sickness, and sadness, even though you must endure those things now? Why or why not?

What are you most looking forward to about heaven?

In what ways can you become more like Christ while you are here on earth? Why is it important to do so?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         Thank You for Your Word. Thank You that all of it is Truth and everlasting proof of Your love for us. Thank You for all the promises of Yes and Amen. Thank You for the hardships in this life that have shaped and molded us into Your desired image for us. Thank You that there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever! We look forward to that glorious day. Even so, Come, Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Certainty of Forever

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 

1 John 5:13 (NLT)

You probably have a picture that comes to mind when you think about what hell must be like. Your image likely has some red and black tones in it, a lot of fire, and maybe the devil looming over everything.

Hell is described in the Bible as a place of torment. Matthew 13:42 says it is a “blazing furnace, where the people will cry and grind their teeth with pain” (NCV). That description sounds terrible, but do you know what the worst part of hell is? Hell is total separation from God, which means hell is the exact opposite of everything God is.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (NIV). The opposite of love is fear. Living without love means you’re scared to death all the time. God is love, so there is no love in hell. God is light, so hell is complete darkness. God is good, so there is absolutely nothing good in hell. God is life, so that means hell is eternal death. God is gracious, so that means there’s no grace in hell.

Just think what eternity would be like without the joy of knowing God and being loved by him—an eternity without any joy at all.

It would be terrible—unthinkable, really. But that is the reality for anyone who does not choose to love and follow Jesus in this life. The Bible says, “If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be separated from God—lost forever!” (1 Corinthians 16:22 NCV).

If you go through your entire life saying, “I don’t want God in my life,” then that means you will also spend eternity without God. Whatever you choose on earth is your forever choice.

But there is good news! There is a way for you to be absolutely certain you’re going to heaven and not hell. The Bible tells you how to settle your destiny: “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13 NLT).

You don’t have to guess or wonder about something that is inevitable and could happen at any moment. You can know for certain today that when you die, you will spend eternity in God’s presence. Don’t put it off any longer.  Settle your future today.

Talk It Over

Why do you think so many people put off deciding something so important when they know death could come at any moment?

What would you say to someone who thinks they have been good enough to get into heaven?

How do you live differently because you are certain about where you will spend eternity?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Open our eyes to see Your Truth. Open our hearts to receive it. Open our minds to understand the importance of how we live to be certain of spending eternity with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Heaven via G.P.S.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NIV)

Over the years, I’ve encountered people who want to deny the existence of evil. They think that people are basically good and by nature unselfish, and that they naturally put the needs of others before their own.

I always wonder if those people have ever read the news! You don’t have to look far to see that the world is filled with broken relationships, broken promises, and sin. Evil is all around you—from world politics to local conflicts, you can see hatred, bitterness, and corruption. And because sin and evil exist, hell also exists.

What was true in Noah’s day is still true today: “The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness . . . and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart” (Genesis 6:5-6 NLT).

When God looks at all the wrong, evil things that are done in the world, it breaks his heart—because he loves everyone and wants us to learn to love each other.

But God is also holy and just. He is perfect and cannot sin. So one day he will settle the score and right the wrongs: “He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth” (Psalm 96:13 NLT).

Until then, God has given you free will so that you can choose to love him—and love involves a choice. That’s why this world is still broken by sin. But in heaven, there is no sin. It’s a completely perfect place.

If heaven is a perfect place, then that means only perfect people get to go there. Of course, that’s a problem—because you’re not perfect, and neither am I. No one is perfect! If you’re made to last forever and you’re not perfect, you can't go to a perfect place like heaven. So, where will you go? The Bible says hell.

But thank God! He has made a way—through Jesus Christ, his Son—for you to join him in heaven. [You need GPS - God's Perfect Son]

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18 NIV).

Hell is real. So is heaven. Choose Christ, and there is no condemnation. The choice is yours!

Talk It Over

Why is it important to be straightforward about the existence of hell when you talk to people about the gospel?

How would you respond to someone who asks, “Why do you believe hell exists?”

Do you think God can have love without exacting justice? Why or why not?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for making a way for us to stand before You holy and without sin, through Christ our Lord, according to Your Word. It is only in our choosing to follow Jesus and accept His atonement for us that we can make Heaven.  Give us Your strength to walk in righteous choices so that we have eternity with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

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SPECIAL NOTE from Pastor Rick

Will you choose to spend eternity with God?
The Bible says, “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are” (Romans 3:22 NLT). If you’re ready to turn away from your sins and surrender your life to Jesus Christ, start by praying this simple prayer:

“Dear God, I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is your Son. I believe that he died for my sins and that you raised him to life. I want to trust him as my Savior and follow him as Lord from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

Promise for Today - No Putting It Off

We are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKJV)

We’ve been talking about eternal realities so that you can clearly see why you need to choose heaven.  Yes, you get to choose where you’re going to spend eternity. But you have to choose now while you’re alive, not after you’re dead. There’s no going back! God gives you an entire lifetime to make the right decision. If you keep putting it off, then there will be no second chance to get it right once you’ve died.

The Bible talks about what happens when we’re away from our earthly bodies—“for then we will be at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT). There is no halfway house between heaven and hell. There’s no intermediate state. There’s no limbo. You may have heard the term “purgatory.” Although the idea developed over time in church history, it is not taught in Scripture.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, there was a man next to him who had been a criminal his entire life. In his last seconds, the man surrendered his life to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42 NKJV). All he knew about salvation was that Jesus could save him. He didn’t know all the doctrines or theology. He didn’t know all the “right” words. He just said “yes” to Jesus. Because of the man’s faith, Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NIV).

To get into heaven, all it takes on your part is saying “yes” to Jesus Christ. That’s it! The promise is that you are then guaranteed to be with God when you die and to spend eternity in the joy of his presence.

But you have only one life to make the choice to follow Jesus. And God has done everything to make sure you can get into heaven. Now you just need to receive his promise.

Today, you have the opportunity to choose where you’ll spend eternity. Don’t put it off!

Talk It Over

Why do you think so many people believe they can put off making the decision of whether or not to become a Christian?

How does the story of the criminal on the cross next to Jesus give you hope?

This week, who will you share with about the urgency of making a choice to follow Jesus?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us from our sins and make the way for us to be in right relationship with You. Give us divine opportunities and the boldness to lift Him up so that His love story will draw all hearers to salvation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Choosing Up

He has planted eternity in the human heart. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

Heaven and hell are real. God wants you to understand this eternal reality, along with the realities of life that are found in His Word.

The first reality of life is that God made you so He could love you, and he wants you to learn to love him back. The Great Commandment says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 NIV).

The second reality of life is this: You were made to last forever. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has planted eternity in the human heart” (NLT). No matter how good things are on this planet, at some point in your life, you’ll think, “There’s got to be more than this.”

And there is! You’re going to spend far more time on the other side of death than on this side. This life is preparation for your life in eternity.

Because of that, you have the third reality of life: God has prepared two eternal places, heaven and hell.

God has been preparing heaven since the foundation of the world. Jesus says in Matthew 25:34, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world” (NLT). You don’t have to stay forever on a planet broken by sin. You can choose to go to a place of perfection and be in God’s presence forever.

But hell is also a real place. Jesus goes on to say, “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons’” (Matthew 25:41 NLT). Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, who rebelled against God. But now it is a reality for anyone who chooses to rebel against God.

When I spend time talking about the reality of hell, it’s not because I want you to be scared and depressed. I want you to understand the truth about hell so that you can fully embrace the fourth reality of life: You get to choose where you’ll spend eternity.

Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God’s blessing and God’s curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life” (GNT).

God wants you to choose life and to spend eternity with him. He’s opened the door to heaven through his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus promised, “Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned” (Mark 16:16 CEV).

When you choose to believe in Jesus, you’re guaranteed everlasting life with God in heaven. What a promise!

Talk It Over

Why do you think God gives you the choice of whether or not to love him?

How does understanding the reality of hell help you better understand God’s love?

In what ways is God preparing you now for eternity?
- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

          Everything we've experienced and everything we have learned has brought us to this place of choosing. We realize it's not as easy as the childhood question of "What do you want to be when you grow up?" We now know it's about making a decisive choice to follow Jesus. We realize it means living with eternity in mind, aligning our actions with Your Truth, practicing forgiveness, and seeking Your guidance in all matters. Father, we need Your ever-present wisdom and guidance to know that eternal life choices are about making the conscious, ongoing. daily decision to follow in the footsteps of truth, to accept Your forgiveness, and to live in obedience — knowing that these choices have lasting consequences beyond this life. Father, we choose You and Your Way. Help us to walk uprightly in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Eternal Realities

Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen. 

2 Corinthians 4:18 (CEV)

Everything you see around you is temporary. It’s what you can’t see that will last forever. And those eternal, spiritual realities are what truly matter.

The truth is, spiritual realities are just as real as physical realities. And you need to be sure to focus on the spiritual ones—because they are part of reality. Here are five spiritual realities you need to understand:

God made you to love you. 

Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (NIV). God created you to love you, and he wants you to learn to love him back. This is the most important reality of life.

You were made to last forever. 

The Bible says, “He has... set eternity in the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV). The evangelist Billy Graham talked about death this way: “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.” He is in the presence of God now.

God has prepared two eternal places. 

Both heaven and hell are real, literal places. They’re not just “states of being.”

You get to choose where you’ll spend eternity. 

You won’t accidentally find yourself in heaven or hell one day. You’ll be where you are because of a choice you made. If you choose to make Jesus the boss of your life, you’ll spend eternity with him in heaven. If you choose to reject him, you’ll spend forever in hell. There are no other options.

Once you die, you don't get a second chance to make your choice. 

You have your entire life to make the decision about where you’ll spend eternity, but you can’t change your mind after death.

What you do with these five truths will affect your eternal destiny and transform how you live on this side of eternity.

Life on earth is always uncertain, so if you haven’t already made the choice for Jesus, go ahead and do it today. 

Talk It Over

Why is it important to keep your mind focused on the things that cannot be seen?

What unseen spiritual realities has God helped you to be particularly aware of?

Why do you think God gives you your whole life to make a decision about Jesus, but he doesn’t give you a second chance to decide after death?

- by Pastor Rick

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If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, then pray this prayer:

Dear Jesus, 

                 You have promised that if we believe in You, everything we’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven. We will learn the purpose You have for our life, and You will accept us into Your eternal home in heaven one day.
         We confess our sin, and we believe that You are God, our Savior. We receive You into our lives as our Lord. Today, we're turning over every part of our life to Your management. You have the right to call the shots in our life.
         Jesus, we want to relax in Your love. Thank You that we don’t have to earn it, deserve it, or work for it. You did it all for us already. We want to use the rest of our lives to serve You instead of serving ourselves. 

I humbly commit my life to You, and ask You to save me and accept me into Your family. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.