Promise for Today - To Tell the Truth

Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice.

Proverbs 12:15 (GNT)

We all have blind spots. There are things in our lives that need correcting, but we can’t always see them. Why? Because we don’t always see ourselves clearly—and sometimes we just don’t want to. We don’t want to acknowledge the habits we’ve settled into that feel comfortable but keep us from growing.

That’s why God puts people around you to tell you the truth. Everybody needs somebody in their life who loves them enough to tell them the truth.

Do you have anyone like that in your life? Do you have any godly friends who don’t just tell you what you want to hear but love you enough to level with you?

If you don’t have people who speak the hard truths to you, that means you’re probably making a lot of avoidable mistakes. You need to identify the people in your life who encourage you to live like Jesus.

You also need to be that kind of person for others. Are you comfortable pointing out blind spots with grace and love to the people who matter most to you? In God’s family, that’s what we do for each other so we can grow into the people who God wants us to be.

This is why God hates pride so much. Pride makes us defensive and unteachable. When we are prideful, we build up walls and keep people at a distance. Then we can’t hear God’s voice speaking to us through others.

Proverbs 12:15 says, “Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice” (GNT). God wants to use you to help others grow. He will speak through you - but it takes courage. And he will speak through other people to you - and that takes humility.

Maybe you’re thinking of someone right now. You’ve got a friend or sibling or coworker who is headed down the wrong path, and you see it clear as day - but you’ve said nothing. You’ve kept silent, telling yourself it’s none of your business.

But love cares. And when you care, you’re aware and you dare to share. When you care, you’re aware of each other’s blind spots, and you dare to share the truth with the other person. In those moments, God can use your words to bring life and encouragement.

Talk It Over

In what ways does spending time together with friends from your small group during the week, outside of your weekly meeting, help you build trust with each other?

How can you know when you are ready to receive, with humility, counsel from others?

When has God used someone to speak truth into your life? How did you respond?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          Open our hearts to compassion, soften our spirits with humility, and grant us the courage to speak truth in love. We are asking for a heart that reflects Your love and mercy. Give us compassion for everyone we meet, that we may listen with patience, forgive readily, and speak with kindness even when words are hard. Grant us humility, that we may set aside pride, value others above ourselves, and recognize that all we are and have comes from You.
      Teach us to speak truth - not with harshness or selfish ambition, but with love and gentleness and honesty that builds up. Help us to listen before we speak, to choose words that honor God and bless others, and to resist the urge to speak from pride or to cover our faults.
       As we walk in humility, may our words and actions point others to Christ rather than to ourselves. Let our speech be a reflection of Your Word, and our hearts a place of peace, mercy, and truth. May our lives be a living prayer, showing the compassion of Jesus, the humility of the meek, and the integrity of the truth. In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen

Promise for Today - Think Eternal

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Two verses in the Bible are written by the same author but seem to send opposite messages:

1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (NIV). That’s pretty clear!

But John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world...” (NIV). That looks like a big contradiction right there.

However, “the world” is used two ways in these verses. The first verse refers to the world’s value system, and the second refers to the world’s people. Followers of Jesus are to love people, no matter what choices they make. On the other hand, we are to hate the world’s value system, including things like status, selfishness, and sexual immorality. The problem is that we often get it reversed. We love the value system and hate the people. We do this all the time. Instead of being different, we’re often just as materialistic and hedonistic as the culture we live in. But that’s backwards from how God calls us to live.

For the rest of your life, you’ll face great pressure to conform to the culture. This was Israel’s biggest problem for thousands of years. They wanted to be like other nations. Yet God gave them all kinds of moral, civil, and ceremonial laws to make them different on purpose.

God has done the same for you and me. We don’t live under Old Testament Law, but God has told us exactly how we should live and how to get the wisdom and power to stand out in this world: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2 NLT).

One reason you may not know what God wants you to do in life is that you may be too assimilated to your culture. Often this happens without you realizing it. But you can’t think like the world and think like God thinks. You have to make a choice.

The problem with following culture is that it’s all temporary. You need to follow something eternal: God’s Word.

Fill your mind with God’s truth, and let it transform your life by helping you love people without loving the world’s value system.

Talk It Over

Write down several areas of your life (family, career, church involvement, etc.) and the top five values that drive you in each area. In what ways are those values based on what culture values? In what ways are they based on God’s Word?

Why do you think that temporary things often feel satisfying in the short-term?

In what ways are you loving people like God loves them?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

         Teach our hearts the rhythm of Your own - where patience flows like a quiet river, and kindness blooms without condition. Let us see each soul as You behold them: not by the shadow of their failings, but by the light You breathed into their being. If we are wronged, anchor us in forgiveness deeper than the wound; when we are weary, fill us with the strength that serves without counting the cost. Break the walls of our selfishness, till our love is not ours, but Yours - a love that seeks no return, that gives as the sun gives, that holds as the sky holds, that endures as eternity endures. Teach us to walk in Your love so completely that we extend it to everyone around us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Ambassadors of Truth

God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 

1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)

God has called you to represent him everywhere you go. Just as countries send ambassadors, God is sending you out to tell others about his love and forgiveness.

But maybe you lack the confidence needed to share your faith. Maybe you think it requires having a salesperson mentality. But that simply isn’t true! You don’t have to be good at “closing the deal” to invite people into God’s family. You see, all humans have the same inner longings. So, when you tell others about Jesus, you’re offering them something they’re already looking for. What a confidence booster!

Another confidence booster in sharing your faith is this: Most people don’t really know what they believe. They may label themselves a certain way, but when you scratch beneath the surface, they sometimes don’t even know what that system believes.

Some people claim to think a certain way but end up contradicting themselves. For example, they’ll say, "There are no absolutes in life." But that’s nonsense because that statement contradicts itself. They may as well say, “There are absolutely no absolutes in life.” In fact, people who make that claim live by rules and beliefs based on absolutes all the time.

Sharing your hope in Christ can help bring clarity to people’s lives. It gives them the understanding they need. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:33, “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (ESV). The truth of God’s Word sets people free from contradiction, confusion, and everything else that binds up their lives.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV).

Next time you lack the confidence to share your faith, you can relax, knowing that the message of Jesus will bring much-needed clarity to people’s lives.

Talk It Over

Do you live life consciously that you are an ambassador for Christ everywhere you go? If not, how might that practice change your life and the lives of those around you?

What confusing or conflicting beliefs did you once have? How has God’s Word brought clarity to those beliefs?

Who do you have who can hold you accountable to share your faith while you do the same for them?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father,

           Make us faithful ambassadors of Your truth. Let our words be seasoned with grace, our actions reflect Your love, and our lives bear witness to the transforming power of the Gospel. Give us the courage to speak boldly when the world is silent, and the wisdom to listen deeply when hearts are hurting.
      Clothe us with the armor of righteousness, so that we may stand firm against deception and fear. Fill us with compassion for the lost, patience for the searching, and steadfastness in the face of opposition. May we never distort or dilute Your Word, but proclaim it with clarity, humility, and love.
      Holy Spirit, guide our steps so that every conversation, every decision, and every moment becomes an opportunity to point others toward Christ. Let Your presence in our lives bring light into darkness, hope into despair, and peace into chaos.
      Father, we surrender our will to Yours. Use us as Your vessel - whether in quiet acts of kindness or in bold declarations of faith—to draw others closer to You. May our lives be living testimonies that Jesus is Lord, and may all glory be Yours forever. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Under Attack

Be humble when you correct people who oppose you . . . They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape.

2 Timothy 2:25-26 (CEV)

When you face opposition because of your faith, you need to recognize its source. It’s not other people. It’s not your coworkers. It’s not a political party. It’s not a competitor. The pressure you feel to cave in or be quiet or sit down when you should stand up—that pressure is not coming from other people. It’s really coming from Satan.

In Revelation 12:10, Satan is called “the accuser of our brothers and sisters” (NIV). In other words, he’s the accuser of Christians. His number one job is to put you down.

There is an unseen spiritual battle going on all around you. The pressure to keep you from doing the right thing is not really coming from other people. They’re just weapons. Most of the time they don’t even know they’re being used. The real issue is spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 says, “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world” (GNT).

Satan knows it’s ineffective to attack Jesus directly, so instead he attacks Jesus’ followers. He uses the media, music, popular culture, and anything he can to ridicule those who belong to Jesus. He’s behind the voices saying, “Those Christians are out of date. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”

Here’s what the Bible says you should do: “Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble, and God’s servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient. Be humble when you correct people who oppose you . . . They have been trapped by the devil, and he makes them obey him, but God may help them escape” (2 Timothy 2:23-26 CEV).

God has given you the Holy Spirit to help you stand against the devil’s attacks. His Spirit gives you the power to grow in self-control, even over your moods. He helps you resist things like jealousy that Satan uses to tempt you. He gives you strength in seasons of depression and struggle. And He helps you overcome things like anger and rage.

You may think you’re strong, but you’re not strong enough to fight Satan’s attacks on your own. What you need to do is recognize the source—the devil, not that person—and treat the opposition the way Jesus did.

How did Jesus treat those who opposed him? Even on the cross he said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34 GW).

The people who attack you—who put down Jesus and church and Christianity—often don’t know the extent of what they’re doing.

That’s why, just like Jesus, you need to pray, “Father, forgive them,” so that you can show love even under attack. Then you’ll have more energy to fight the real enemy.

Talk It Over

If Satan is behind people’s wrong actions, why are they still held accountable by God for what they do?

What is the effect on you physically, emotionally, and spiritually when you are able to forgive your enemies?

What areas of weakness in your life does Satan attack most easily? Ask God to grow your faith in those areas and give you strength to stand firm.

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

          We come before You asking for protection and strength in spiritual battle. When we are weak, You are our strength. When we are under pressure, You are our peace. Shield us from every fiery dart of the enemy and strengthen our hearts for the battles we can’t see. Equip us with the armor of God: truth, righteousness, faith, and the sword of the Spirit. Let us stand firm, unshaken, and rooted in Your Word. Help us walk boldly, knowing You are with us. Be our defender and fortress today and always, according to Your Word. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen

Promise for Today - Image or Integrity

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

Matthew 5:8 (NLT)

To “see God” means to experience the presence of God. Believers who have pure hearts get to feel the power of God. They experience the pardon of God. They get to know the purpose God has for their lives. They get to live in the peace of God.

Do you want to be one of those people? We don’t talk a lot these days about being pure in heart, but instead we use a word with a similar meaning: integrity. Are you working to build your life on values that last? If you are, you need to learn to live with integrity. To have integrity does not mean you are perfect, because if it did, none of us would have it! So what does it mean to have integrity?

Integrity is wholeness.
A lot of people think of their lives like a pie, and the different parts of their lives are the pieces of the pie. Someone might describe it like this: “This slice of the pie is my career. This is my work life. This is my spiritual life. Then this is my family life. That one is my social life. Then over here is my secret life—my compulsions, addictions, and secret sins—the things nobody else knows about.”

When you segment your life like that, you lack integrity because your life is not a whole. Integrity means you’re the same person everywhere and with everybody—in your speech, actions, and motives—no matter which part of life you’re walking through.

Integrity is uncorrupted motivation.
When you have integrity, you do the right thing for the right reason. You have unmixed, pure motives. You’re sincere and straightforward in every area of your life and with all people. You pray so you can talk with God, not so you can impress other people.

The Bible says, “The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity” (Proverbs 11:20 NLT).

We’re interested in image, but God is interested in integrity. We’re interested in reputation, but God is interested in character. Reputation has to do with what everybody thinks you are; integrity is what you really are. Your reputation is connected to who you appear to be in public; integrity is connected to who you are when you’re all alone with God.

Have you been more concerned about your image and reputation than your character and integrity? Commit to being a person of integrity today.

Talk It Over

Would the people in each area of your life—your co-workers, classmates, neighbors, family members, and friends—all use the same words to describe you? Why or why not?

Think of someone in your life who models integrity well. What is one specific habit you can learn from that person?

When are you most tempted to value and protect reputation over character? Why?

- by Pastor Rick

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Prayer:

Father, 

           We come before You today to ask for Your guidance and strength in maintaining integrity. Help us always walk in honesty and truth, even when it is challenging. Give us the courage to stand up for what is right, even in the face of opposition or criticism. Remind us that our integrity is important not only for our personal growth and development but also for the impact it can have on those around us. Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit and help us to renew our minds, so that we may always be a reflection of Your love and Truth. 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 - Be Encouraged

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

Today marks the 5th anniversary of my eldest brother's death. You know we prayed, but Ron died anyway. We didn't understand, and still don't. However, there is much in this lifetime that we will never understand. The only hope we have is found in God's written Word, the Bible. It is the only Truth that does not change.

Our Promise for Today speaks to what everyone who chooses to follow God faces at some point - trust and choices. We all have decisions to make, and yet this particular proverb clearly states that we should not trust our own thinking or reasoning. Remember, we are to trust God's Truth OVER the facts!

Here are a couple of Truths we DO know.
1. God promised to NEVER leave us or forsake us. Deuteronomy 31
2. The gift of God is eternal life. Romans 6:23

The Bible also tells us that we live in a fallen world and we will all die. When we know Christ, we don't have to be afraid, for we have the assurance of heaven because of what Jesus Christ did for us. 1st Thessalonians 4:15-18, NIV, reads, "15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

And then he says, "Therefore, encourage one another with these words." 

Be encouraged.

Prayer:

Father,
          Build a hedge of protection around our minds and hearts so that satan cannot defeat or discourage those who pray for healing. Anoint us with fresh fire! Let the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead, rise up in us with renewed fervor to make us passionate, fervent prayer warriors! Help us to realize the end result is not up to us, but trusting You in it is. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - As We See It

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Matthew 7:15-20 NLT

Look at that piece of fruit - it looks SO good! You can't wait to sink your teeth into it. You pick it up and find that the hidden side is rotten, bruised, or has a wormhole. You can't go by looks. Looks are deceiving.

It's the same with people we meet. Or teachers we might listen to - whether online or in person. And that's much more dangerous and harmful. They might look good. They might even smile, but the point Christ makes in this passage is that we must examine the fruit. Do their words line up with God's Word? Are they consistent? Does their lifestyle portray God's love and seek after His holiness? Are they transparent in their walk with the Lord?

Do NOT be deceived by the way something or someone looks and/or by empty promises.

Prayer:

Father,
          We pray for the gift of discerning the spirits, whether they be false or of You, as included in 1 Corinthians 12:10. Holy Spirit, lead us into all Truth, and do not let us be deceived. As we spend time with You and Your Word, help us to rightly divide the words of Truth to share with others. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Faith, not Feelings

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23 NLT

We live in a day and age where what we feel can be easily confused as the truth for our lives because it's broadcast on Facebook or trending on the web or tweeted for all the world to see. We buy into others' opinions like they're gospel.

Heart check! They are not gospel. There's only one true gospel - the gospel of Jesus Christ.

There is a great difference between getting bogged down in feelings and having compassion. I'm not saying feelings are bad, I'm just pointing out that feelings should not control our lives, our actions. Don't get sucked into being angry and outraged. Don't get dragged down into a victim mentality over things from the past - your past or anyone else's.

Sometimes, life is very difficult. We don't always understand why things happen the way they do, or why someone does (or doesn't do) a particular something. But there are things that we can KNOW in spite of circumstances. For instance, God reassures us in Isaiah 43:2 NIV, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." Throughout the Psalms we find the Truth that God's love is everlasting. It endures forever.

Sometimes, in the midst of the trial, we're hard-pressed to see beyond what we feel... but that's exactly the choice we must make. 

Nowhere in the Bible does it tell us to go with what we feel. 

No, we are instructed to stand and believe, and having done all to stand! 

You may not feel like it; do it anyway. Let's talk faith, not feelings.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for Your Word. It is always Truth, and when applied to our lives will surely guard our hearts and steer us in a true course to complete Your plan and purpose. Help us to override our feelings with the measure of faith You have provided to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Reminder: That Warm Feeling

 John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.

Luke 3:18 NLT

You and I have talked about Truth so many times. What it is and what it is not. We have talked about having Truth as our standard - that the Word of God is Truth that will stand and be the measure by which we live. It's not a maybe. It's not a perhaps. It's not conjecture - pure or otherwise. It's Truth... absolute Truth.

John the Baptist spoke Truth...not a real popular guy. But in the telling of it, I made a connection that I'd never seen before in the Word and I'd like to share it with you. First, let me back up a little and give you the general gist of the chapter. John is in the wilderness. He's preaching true repentance. Repentance is NOT about asking for forgiveness. Repentance IS us choosing to do a 180-degree turn - away from those things that are sin and not aligned with the covenant God set before us - and then NEVER going back.

In chapter 3 of Luke, those who are in sin ask John, "What should we do?" and John tells them like it is. He does not mince words. He does not say, "Oh, poor baby, I know you're trying." He tells them flat out - Stop! Stop doing this! Start doing that! He speaks absolute Truth.

Just as the Word of God instructs, it is Truth that sets us free (from sin and its wages). Luke said of John in verses 4-6, Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God." (That's from Isaiah, chapter 40).

It is Truth that digs out the lies underneath the anger. It's Truth that hacks away at the walls we build around us. It's Truth that fills the empty places and potholes in our lives. And I believe it's Truth that makes the road clear - that prepares the way of the Lord and that enables us to see salvation.

If I remove the dunghill between me and thee, I can see you. I can see much farther on a straight road than I can on a crooked one. When we get all the junk (sin) out of the way, we are enabled to see much clearer, much further. In Isaiah 45:2, God said to Cyrus, "I will go before you and make the crooked places straight..." Psalm 25:10a tells us, "All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth," but it doesn't end with that. There's a condition to it - part B - "To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies." Did you get that? Were you paying attention? All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth to THOSE WHO keep His covenant and His testimonies.

John spoke Truth and did not worry about giving people warm fuzzies. The Word tells us there is an eternal lake of fire for those who don't embrace His Truth and salvation. If you're more interested in feeling than Truth, you would do well to check to see where the heat is coming from that supplies the warmth for those fuzzies.

Prayer:

Father,
           Psalm 25:11, For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Apply Your absolute Truth to our lives. Speak Your Truth in love so that we might see You and embrace the salvation offered. Reveal Yourself and Your absolute Truth to us, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today Favorite - Why Is It Always "The Bible Says..."?

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.
Revelation 21:4 NLT

What if the last words you spoke or wrote could be the last words a person would ever hear or read? My opinions are not answers to life's challenges. I don't always understand the why or the wherefore of things. You ask me why is it always "the Bible says..."? Because the Bible is Truth. It's Light in the darkness. It's the Way out and up. When you speak the Word of God - you speak LIFE! That's why!

For those facing overwhelming issues, I PROMISE YOU, God is still God and He is still on the Throne.

Psalm 61:1-4
"Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah"

Psalm 23:1-4
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

Romans 5:18-21 The Message
"Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person [Jesus] did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right. All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life - a life that goes on and on and on, world without end."

Prayer:

Father,
         I personally haven't the right words to say or pray tonight or any night, but I am so grateful for Your Words and I thank You for them and for the opportunity to share them with one more person. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

Promise for Today - In Pursuit of Truth

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 NKJV

As a society, we have lost our taste for pure, unadulterated Truth. Oh, we like a little taste of it - like adding a flavor packet to a bottle of water - let's water it down enough to make it palatable. That's just what satan does to us. Waters down the truth. Lies to us about us, about God and about others, but leaves just enough truth to make it believable... palatable. There's no such thing as "just enough" Truth. What does Scripture have to say about that?

John 4:23-24 NLT reads, "But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. The Message Bible verse 24 reads like this, It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth."

Somewhere along the line, we seem to have formed a "Bless Me" Club. What's that about? Where did we get the idea that it's all about the blessing? It's supposed to be all about worshiping the Father, accepting and receiving the Son. In John 16:33, Jesus said, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

The Truth is, as Jesus said, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." AND the Truth is also as Jesus said, "I have overcome the world."

If you're going through a hard time, a great trial, some tribulation, the Truth is you can have hope. Scripture is explicit in promising that God will never leave us alone to face life. Think about this Truth - we have no life except in Him. Hebrews 6:18-19 tells us, "Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary."

Remember this - "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth."

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray, according to Your Word in Psalm 51, "For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." Father, we desire - as You desire - Truth in our inward parts. Help us succeed in our pursuit of Truth. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Lies, Lies, and More Lies

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2nd Kings 6:15-17 NIV

Now and again, in the tough times of life (which everyone has experienced), we tend to feel outnumbered and often, alone. Looking at the circumstances, we begin to believe that LIE. Nobody cares. Nobody's there. We're all alone. Lies, lies, and more lies!

The Truth is found (always!) in God's Word. In Hebrews 13:5, God promises to never leave us nor forsake us (the writer of Hebrews is actually quoting Deuteronomy). And Jesus declared in Matthew 28:20 that He will always be with us - even to the end of the age. The age hasn't ended yet... So, you are not abandoned. You are NOT alone.

Prayer:

Father,
           We pray as Elisha prayed, that You would open the eyes of everyone who can only see the circumstances surrounding them. Light up their lives with Your Presence and holy fire. Shine the Light of Your Truth to dispel the darkness of satan's lies. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - Truth Be Told

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. 

He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them - even the children not yet born - and they in turn will teach their own children. 

So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors - stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.

Psalm 78:4-8 NLT

Prayer:

Father, 

           This Word is Your Truth and it must be told to each generation! We pray for divine appointments and their hearts to be prepared to receive Your Truths. We pray for divine wisdom to know what, how and when to give them to those in need. Teach us, Father, we pray, and let our generations receive Your Words. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - God's Math Doesn't Add Up

So this is the family line descended from Shem: Arphaxad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, and Abram, later known as Abraham.
The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael. These are their genealogical records:...
1st Chronicles 1:24-29 NLT

In reading through the Bible Recap this year - a chronological study with author and speaker Tara-Leigh Cobble - we're at day 113 and chapters 1 and 2 of 1 Chronicles. Thus begins yet another retelling of the generations, beginning with Adam. I was listening to it instead of trying to read all the names, but I must admit, I could feel my eyes glazing over. And as the narrator droned on about names I would not remember, let alone pronounce, I found myself talking to God about it. 

My intention was not to express my editorial opinion on Scripture, but to sincerely try to glean what I should be learning from hearing/reading this again. "Father, I don't mean to be disrespectful to Your Word. I believe the Bible is Your living Word and every word in it is there for a reason. I believe there is purpose and meaning. Please reveal to me what the purpose is for going through another litany of who's who in the lineage."  I closed the book with my eyes still glazed over, so I didn't search for any divine inspiration. 

This morning, my friend, Hope, sent an email with this revelation: "What I gleaned from these two chapters of Chronicles about God is that He kept His word to Abraham about making his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky." And that was exactly it!! 

In my disdain of so many chapters of whose sons were whose, I missed a HUGE, VERY IMPORTANT Truth. God ALWAYS keeps His Word. Think about Abraham and Sarah for just a moment. She was 90, he was 100 when Isaac was born. Both well past childbearing age. Yes, he had Ishmael by Hagar, but last time I checked 1+1 still only equals 2 - a far cry from too numerous to count... but God. Abraham BELIEVED God.  "As your faith, so be it unto you..." (Jesus speaking - Matthew 9:29). 

"As your faith, so be it unto you..." There are so many times that what God did or does or is doing just doesn't add up. It should not come as a surprise to those who believe because God doesn't add; He multiplies. 

Prayer:

Father, 

         Forgive me/us for those times when we want to just skim over, discounting the diamonds that can be found if we glean. Thank You for reminding us over and over about the proof of the Truth of Your Word. Help us to understand and know that repetition is how we build knowledge and fitness because we want to be able to rightly divide Your Word.  Birth in us a fresh desire to celebrate Your faithfulness and goodness toward us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lent - Day Five - Satan and His Lies Have No Power

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2025 

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Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him,“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.
Matthew 4:1-11

Satan is the father of lies. When he tempted Jesus he twisted everything, even the Word of God, in order to try and get his desired outcome. But Jesus did not fall into the traps of Satan and his temptations. Instead, Jesus demonstrated that Satan has no power over Him. The good news is that victory over Satan belongs not only to Jesus but is ours as well. By His death and resurrection, Jesus has defeated the devil. Satan has no power or control over God’s children. All Satan has is deceit. Do not believe the lies Satan tells you. Instead, surround yourself with the Word of God because God’s Word is Truth. In that Word we hear “I forgive you of all your sin, yes, even that sin.” We hear, “You are My child, I love you.” We hear, “Live in such a way that others know you are My child.” We hear, “I give you My Spirit to live in and through you.” Drown out the sound of the devil’s deceit with the powerful promises of the Father.

Prayer:

Dear Father, keep us in Your Word so that we do not believe Satan’s lies but rather, we are strengthened by Your Truth. Amen.

Reminder - No Fakers

"Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality."
Romans 12:9-13 NLT

How many times in life have we pretended to be something we're not? Or pretended NOT to be something we really are? Why? To make someone like us? Or because we're afraid if they found out who we really are (or aren't), we would be judged and found wanting? How many times have you heard an exuberant, "Oh, I am too blessed to be stressed!" but if you take the time to look into their eyes, you see fear and dread...or worse - hopelessness. Do we allow the Great Pretender to carry on pretending under the guise of preserving their "dignity" or will we love enough to clasp their hand in ours and reply, "I'll agree with your confession of faith. Let me pray with you..." and let the Holy Spirit guide our words?

Even those who are trained to act can only sustain a role for so long... Our Maker did not create us to be fakers. We are called to Truth - there is nothing fake about Truth. No pretending about Truth. And even if we were GREAT pretenders, we could not play the role forever because Truth always wins out.

We are called to love... not to pretend to love. Pretend love barely lasts till the person walks out of the room.

If we can be loved without the complication of trying to remember what role we are playing, then we will be free to love in return. It starts with Christ. To love as Christ loved and gave Himself for us - that lasts forever and will sustain us through eternity - and will also sustain those around us so they can stop being Great Pretenders.

Prayer:

Father,
          You have called us to be in relationship with You. You who knows all and sees all. There is no hiding from You. Help us to be who You have created us to be - nothing fake. Nothing pretend. According to Your Word in Psalm 51, "You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make us to know wisdom. Purge us with hyssop, and we shall be clean; wash us, and we shall be whiter than snow." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Does God Answer Prayers?

'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'
Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

The world calls it unanswered prayers and then they ask, "Why pray to a God who won’t answer your prayers?"

Have you ever noticed that satan loves to swoop in with questions like that to cause doubt in people’s lives? We've all attended funerals of friends and loved ones who died before they had a chance to be old. I know for certain there were many fervent prayers prayed asking for total healing, and yet God chose to take them Home. Some view that as unanswered prayer. That may seem like fact, but it’s certainly not the Truth.

I don't believe there is any such thing as unanswered prayer. The Truth of the matter is that our prayers ARE answered - ALL of them. They just aren't always answered the way we want them to be…

Sometimes the answer is 'No'

Prayer:

Father,
              Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts higher than our thoughts. We choose to trust You. Give us revelation, Father. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Advent Day 4 - God Blesses Us Even...

This year's Advent devotionals are from A Celebration of Advent: A 25-Day Devotional
by New Spring Church of Anderson, SC
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“ ... the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord.’” 

Luke 1:13-15 

Though Zechariah and Elizabeth wanted children, all signs pointed to “no.” All their prayers seemed to produce were old age and empty arms. As a priest serving in the temple of the Lord, Zechariah should have been leading out in faith, but he did not believe the words of the angel. Zechariah’s unbelief muted his testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Zechariah’s faith grew even as he sat in silence, watching the child grow in Elizabeth’s belly. After a miraculous nine months, Zechariah and Elizabeth faithfully listened to God and named their baby John (see Luke 1:59-63). Immediately, Zechariah’s tongue was loosed, and he began declaring the faithfulness of God and prophesying over his newborn son.

If we are faithless, God still proves faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). Our wavering uncertainty does not nullify God’s faithfulness. Like Zechariah, our faith can grow, and we can serve God without fear. Despite our doubts, God still blesses us.

REFLECT:   Read Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:57-66

What does Zechariah’s life show us about God’s patience?

Is there an area in your life where you’re doubting God?

How do you see God working in your situation?

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Prayer:

Father,

           Your Word declares that Your faithfulness, O God, reaches beyond the clouds. David writes in Psalms that when we trust in You and do good, we can feed securely on Your faithfulness. Strengthen us to remain steadfast in Your faithfulness and to not be moved by anything else we see, hear or touch. We want to please You, Father, in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Different Perspective

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

The Apostle Paul had a different perspective on life than most people. Instead of a bird's eye view, he had a God's eye view. 

Paul was a man who understood suffering and the benefit of it. Yes, the benefit of it! He realized that the results of suffering and hardship wrought a much greater reward of Christ-like character in us when we trust God through it all. Not the least of which are compassion, patience, and understanding. These are things for which we should be grateful. 

James 1:2-4 NLT reads,  "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance [patience] is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

Any opportunity to grow in the Lord is cause for "great joy".  Every time our faith is tested, our "endurance has a chance to grow". So, we can focus on the problems, the issues, the tests, the trials, the suffering... or we can have a different perspective. A God's eye view.

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to not look at the troubles we can see now; but rather, to fix our gaze on the things that cannot be seen. Help us to see things through the Truth and Light of Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen