Warfare abounds all around us, but we don’t have to fear. In the battles we fight in this life God wants to fight on our behalf and save us. Bible Reading: Deut. 19-21 Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 20:4, "For the LORD your God is the One who is going with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." Word of the day: Save. It is the Hebrew word: יָשַׁע (yaw-shah').
The foreknowledge of God chose us before we even were. Our finite minds struggle to grasp this reality, but as Augustine stated, “If you understood Him, He would not be God.” Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1-3 Verse of the day: 1 Peter 1:2, "According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you." Word of the day: Foreknowledge. It is the Greek word: πρόγνωσις (prog'-...
Every parent knows what it is like to call their kids and they don’t respond. But the calling of God on our lives is too great to dismiss. Bible Reading: Acts 13-14 Verse of the day: Acts 13:2, "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”" Word of the day: Called. It is the Greek word: προσκαλέω (pros-kal-eh'-om-ahee).
Being impulsive can get us into a lot of trouble. Especially in the presence of God. Bible Reading: Eccl. 5-6 Verse of the day: Ecclesiastes 5:2, "Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few." Word of the day: Impulsive. It is the Hebrew word: מָהַר (maw-har').
We all want joy, but the path to get there might not be so coveted. We would not experience joy if we had not first experienced joyless times. Bible Reading: Psalms 126-128 Verse of the day: Psalm 126:5, "Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting." Word of the day: Joyful. It is the Hebrew word: רִנָּה (rin-naw').
A branch on its own cannot survive and begins to die. But a branch connected to the vine is alive. So it is with us. Jesus is the BRANCH, the root of Jesse, and He is also the vine we are connected to. Bible Reading: Zech. 6-10 Verse of the day: Zechariah 6:12, "Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD." Word of the day: Branch. It is the Hebrew word: צֶמַח (tseh'-makh)....
Love in this world does not last forever, but God’s love does. Think about that. He will never stop loving you. Bible Reading: Ezra 1–5 Verse of the day: Ezra 3:11, "They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD: “For he is good; his faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD because the foundation of the LORD’s house had been laid." Word of the day: Forever. It is the Hebrew word: עוֹלָם (o-lawm')....
Our hands are vessels for serving God and others. Our hands give from what they have been given. Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 16–18 Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 16:10, “Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.” Word of the day: Hand. It is the Hebrew word: יָד (yawd).
We cannot avoid conflict for long. But when it is in our power to do so, healthy conflict avoidance is not a bad thing when the goal is God’s glory. Bible Reading: James 4–5 Verse of the day: James 4:1, “What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you?” Word of the day: Conflicts. It is the Hebrew word: μάχη (makh'-ay).
Have you received the good news? The best news of all? Hearing the good news is one thing, but receiving it is quite another and it transforms our lives. Bible Reading: Acts 11–12 Verse of the day: Acts 11:1, “Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.” Word of the day: Received. It is the Hebrew word: δέχομαι (dekh'-om-ahee).
Time is a commodity that evaporates the moment we are given it. Make the most of the time you are given. Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 3–4 Verse of the day: Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Word of the day: Time. It is the Hebrew word: נָתַן (zem-awn').
When others seek to humble you in their pride, don’t let your own pride keep you from crying out to God. Today is my oldest son’s birthday and this past weekend he surprised my husband and me by sharing a video about how much he loves his Dad and posting a Go Fund Me for my husband’s cancer treatment that Insurance is not paying for. So my husband is my kinsman redeemer who stepped into my life as a single mom in the wake of utterly devastating circumstances. And he stepped in as a Dad of 5 kids...
Being angry is often associated with sin. But God’s anger with His people was about their waywardness that caused them to sin and turn from Him. Bible Reading: Zech. 1-5 Verse of the day: Zech 1:2, “The LORD was very angry with your ancestors." Word of the day: Angry. It is the Hebrew word: קָצַף (kaw-tsaf').
When we face battles, our strength does not lie in our power our ability, but in God’s strength. Our battles belong to the LORD. Bible Reading: 2 Chr. 31-36 Verse of the day: 2 Chr. 32:8, "He may have a great army, but they are merely men. We have the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!” Hezekiah’s words greatly encouraged the people." Word of the day: Battles. It is the Hebrew word: מִלְחָמָה (mil-khaw-maw').
What we cling to will cling to us. When we cling to this world and its false beliefs, we will be lost. But when we cling to Jesus, He will guide us through all the distractions of this world and keep us centered in Him. Bible Reading: Deut. 13-15 Verse of the day: Deut. 13:4, "You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him." Word of the day: Cling. It is the Hebrew word: דָּבַק (daw-bak')....
Perspective is everything. What we consider to be a trial can instead turn into a mission that ends up blessing us. Bible Reading: James 1-3 Verse of the day: James 1:2, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Word of the day: Consider. It is the Greek word: ἡγέομαι (hayg-eh'-om-ahee).
From the moment we first accepted Christ as our Savior, we became living signposts called to proclaim His name. No longer living to make ourselves known, but to make God known. Bible Reading: Acts 9-10 Verse of the day: Acts 9:20, "And immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God." Word of the day: Proclaim. It is the Greek word: κηρύσσω (kay-roos'-so).
Humans are unique in all of creation. They are made in God’s image, yet they are constantly worried about measuring up. Vanity is a vain attempt to discover our worth and meaning in this life. Bible Reading: Eccl. 1-2 Verse of the day: Eccl. 1:2, "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." Word of the day: Vanity. It is the Hebrew word: הֶבֶל (heh'bel).
We can’t find help if we don’t express our need of it. God stands ready to help and there is no stronger support than Him. Bible Reading: Psalms 120-122 Verse of the day: Psalm 121:2, "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." Word of the day: Help. It is the Hebrew word: עֵזֶר (ay'-zer).
Rebuilding is hard when all we see are ruins around us. But it is harder not to rebuild. Bible Reading: Haggai Verse of the day: Haggai 1:2, "The LORD of Armies says this: These people say: The time has not come for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt.” Word of the day: Rebuilt. It is the Hebrew word: בָּנָה (baw-naw').
God wants to prosper us but not in the way the world views prosperity. Those who are in Christ are the most blessed of all. Bible Reading: 2 Chr. 26-30 Verse of the day: 2 Chr. 26:5, “He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God prospered him.” Word of the day: Prospered. It is the Hebrew word: צָלֵחַ (tsaw-lakh').
Every day we serve somebody whether we realize it or not. We were saved to serve. Bible Reading: Deut. 10-12 Verse of the day: Deut. 10:12, "Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Word of the day: Serve. It is the Hebrew word: עָבַד (aw-bad').
God does not need or require our sacrifices. There is nothing we can offer to God that could ever satisfy except for a broken and contrite heart. Bible Reading: Hebrews 10-13 Verse of the day: Hebrews 10:1, “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.” Word of the day: Sacrifices. It is the Greek word: θυσία (thoo-see'-ah)....
Bible Reading: Acts 7-8 Verse of the day: Acts 7:55, "But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;" Word of the day: Full. It is the Greek word: πλήρης (play'-race).
Bible Reading: Proverbs 31 Verse of the day: Proverbs 31:10, "An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels." Word of the day: Worth. It is the Hebrew word: מֶכֶר (meh'-ker).
Bible Reading: Psalm 119 Verse of the day: Psalm 119:2, "How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart." Word of the day: Observe. It is the Hebrew word: נָצַר (naw-tsar').
We were made to worship and all the world around us is worshiping someone or something. But when we bow to all, we bow to none. We were made to worship One. Bible Reading: Zephaniah Verse of the day: Zeph 1:5, "For they go up to their roofs and bow down to the sun, moon, and stars. They claim to follow the LORD, but then they worship Molech, too." Word of the day: Bow. It is the Hebrew word: שָׁחָה (shaw-khaw').
Progress does not just happen in a moment. Progress happens in a process that happens one step at a time. Bible Reading: 2 Chr. 21-25 Verse of the day: 2 Chr 24:13, “The men in charge of the work were diligent, and the repairs progressed under them. They rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it.” Word of the day: Progressed. It is the Hebrew word: עָלָה (aw-law').
Everyone wants to feel like they have worth and ultimately that they are known and loved. But no one else can give us a greater worth than we already have as God’s treasured possession. Bible Reading: Deut. 7-9 Verse of the day: Deut 7:6, "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." Word of the day: Possession. It is the Hebrew word: סְגֻלָּה (seg-ool-law')....
Trying to be perfect is overrated and never possible. But for those who are in Christ, God sees us as righteous and perfect. Bible Reading: Hebrews 7-9 Verse of the day: Hebrews 7:2, “To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.” Word of the day: Righteousness. It is the Greek word: δικαιοσύνη (dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay).
