As the Day Ends “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” —Hebrews 13:5 The desire to be happy is not inherently sinful. Scripture speaks openly of joy, gladness, celebration, and delight. TheContinue reading “When Happiness Becomes a Demanding Master”
Tag Archives: God’s presence
The Friend Who Already Knows What We Cannot Say
On Second Thought “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends.” —John 15:15 What do you imagine when you enter God’s presence in prayer? Some people picture a distant ruler who must be approached with carefully chosen words. Others imagine a judgeContinue reading “The Friend Who Already Knows What We Cannot Say”
Closer Than the Air You Breathe
As the Day Begins “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” — Jeremiah 23:23–24 There are mornings when God feels very near. Prayer seems easy,Continue reading “Closer Than the Air You Breathe”
WHEN THE WATERS RISE, GOD DOES NOT LEAVE
The Bible in a Year “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” — Isaiah 43:2 Isaiah 43:2 is one of those verses that becomesContinue reading “WHEN THE WATERS RISE, GOD DOES NOT LEAVE”
GOD IS NEAR WITHOUT BEING EVERYTHING
As the Day Ends “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.” — Psalm 50:12 As the day closes, Psalm 50 reminds us that God is neither absent from His world nor dependent upon it. The earth belongs to Him, yet He is greater thanContinue reading “GOD IS NEAR WITHOUT BEING EVERYTHING”
HE REMEMBERS WE ARE DUST
DID YOU KNOW Did You Know? God knows your weaknesses completely and still chooses to love you faithfully. Psalm 103 paints one of the warmest portraits of God’s character in all of Scripture. David begins by declaring, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1).Continue reading “HE REMEMBERS WE ARE DUST”
Praying Beyond Small Boundaries
Hidden among the long genealogies of 1 Chronicles is a brief prayer that has encouraged believers for generations. Jabez appears only for a moment in Scripture, yet his words reveal a heart deeply aware of his dependence upon God. “Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand mightContinue reading “Praying Beyond Small Boundaries”
The God Who Never Looks Away
On Second Thought There is something deeply comforting about Psalm 121:3: “He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.” Human beings tire. We become distracted. We miss details, overlook people, forget promises, and sometimes emotionally withdraw from one another. But the God of Scripture never drifts intoContinue reading “The God Who Never Looks Away”
Resting in the Light That Cannot Be Dimmed
As the Day Ends “You, Lord, are my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? You, Lord, are the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” — Psalm 27:1 As the day draws to a close, there is often a quiet battle that begins within the heart. The enemy whispers subtle distortions, suggestingContinue reading “Resting in the Light That Cannot Be Dimmed”
Resting in What Is Already True
Embracing God’s Presence Tonight As the Day Ends As the day comes to a close, I am reminded that one of the greatest challenges of faith is not discovering God’s presence, but accepting it. The Scripture from Epistle to the Ephesians 2:4–7 declares a reality that transcends feeling: “Because of His great love… God, whoContinue reading “Resting in What Is Already True”