When the Heart Can Face God

As the Day Begins “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” —1 John 3:21 Morning Meditation There is a great difference between trusting our goodness and trusting God’s goodness. John does not teach that confidence before God comes from living a flawless life. He has already written, “If weContinue reading “When the Heart Can Face God”

Don’t Stop Halfway Up the Mountain

As the Day Begins “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” —John 12:26 The word “mediocre” comes through Latin roots suggesting something situated halfway up a mountain. It is a fitting picture of a ChristianContinue reading “Don’t Stop Halfway Up the Mountain”

When Weakness Becomes Holy Ground

As the Day Begins “God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” —1 Corinthians 1:27 There is something inside most of us that wants to appear strong. We straighten our shoulders, hide our fears, and tell ourselves that we can handle whatever the day brings. Determination hasContinue reading “When Weakness Becomes Holy Ground”

More Than Comfort for the Journey

As the Day Begins “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” — Psalm 1:1–2, KJV Meditation There are mornings when consolation is exactly what we need. Life bruises us, disappointmentContinue reading “More Than Comfort for the Journey”

Hidden Where the World Cannot Reach You

As the Day Begins “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” —Colossians 3:3 Meditation Most of us learn early how to adjust. We discover what earns approval, what avoids criticism, and what helps us fit comfortably into the expectations of others. Some adjustment is necessary for living graciously with people.Continue reading “Hidden Where the World Cannot Reach You”

When Worship Becomes More Than a Sunday Activity

As the Day Begins “Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” —1 Corinthians 3:13 Meditation Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3 are not primarily about how much we accomplish butContinue reading “When Worship Becomes More Than a Sunday Activity”

When Words Fail, the Spirit Still Prays

As the Day Begins “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us.” —Romans 8:26 There are mornings when prayer comes easily. Gratitude rises naturally, our needs appear clear, and words seem to arrange themselvesContinue reading “When Words Fail, the Spirit Still Prays”

When Kindness Needs Courage

As the Day Begins “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables.” —2 Peter 1:16 Peter’s words come from an eyewitness who had seen the majesty of Jesus Christ. He was not offering a religious legend or a story polished to impress an audience. The Greek word translated “cunningly devised” is sesophismenoi, related to sophizō,Continue reading “When Kindness Needs Courage”

The Son Who Inherits Everything

As the Day Begins “God…hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things.” —Hebrews 1:1–2 We begin this day inside a world that often appears unfinished. Prayers remain unanswered, relationships need healing, and circumstances do not always reveal where God is leading. Yet Hebrews remindsContinue reading “The Son Who Inherits Everything”

When Glory Walked Among Us

As the Day Begins “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14 John did not say that he merely heard reports about Jesus; he said, “We beheld His glory.” The GreekContinue reading “When Glory Walked Among Us”