Read Proverbs 21:1 through 24:34 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord (Proverbs 21:31). In the midst of life’s struggles have you ever asked yourself, “How much should I do, and what should I wait for God to do?” God expects us to trust Him. There is no success in the …
The Power of Words
Read Proverbs 10:1 through 14:35 Twelve-year-old John lived in an abusive home and often had behavior problems in school. Many teachers told him he would probably end up in prison—except for the woman who taught math. Being a strong Christian, she knew the influence of words. She took him aside, placed an arm over his shoulder and said, “John, God …
Encourage or Discourage?
Read Romans 14:1 through 15:13 Denise hurt for all the boys, including her own, every time their soccer coach shouted at them. Confrontation wasn’t her style, yet she couldn’t stand by as they crumpled in discouragement. One violent outburst had the younger team members in tears. Denise knew it was time to speak up. Saying a silent prayer, Denise approached …
Praise Brings Peace
Read Psalms 110:1 through 118:29 God can soothe our wounded spirits when we praise Him. This is a true mystery. Suffering may pierce us with financial reversal, spousal abandonment, debilitating sickness, and other devastations. We may find ourselves tossed into uncharted territory; even Christians can experience emotional numbness, not knowing how to proceed. While waiting for direction we can choose …
Constant Faithfulness
Read Psalms 71:1–24; 89:1–52 God’s faithfulness is the secure foundation we walk on. It is the reason we can go on singing when our earthly expectations are dashed on the rocks below us. God established His faithfulness in heaven, a place not subject to change. Throughout the psalms, songs of God’s faithfulness were sung by people who declared Him to …
Wanting to Escape
Read Psalms 55:1–23; 58:1–11 Have you every wanted to run; to drop everything and make a break for a quiet place, or a safe place, or anyplace for that matter? You’re not alone. What a comfort it is to find one of the greatest heroes of the Bible expressing that same common desire to escape. King David was walled in …
A Fragrant Reminder
Read 2 Corinthians 1:1 through 7:16 The morals of our society have slipped to a rock-bottom low. This is apparent to anyone familiar with popular entertainment; people pay to watch others saying and doing things that dishonor God, and go on in their daily lives to imitate the sinful patterns they have seen. When they are constantly surrounded by the …
Your Defender
Read Psalms 24:1 through 26:12 Walking onto the playground was not something Josh wanted to do. Every day that week a couple of boys picked on him, shoving him around and calling him names. He hated being bullied. If I were as big as they are, they would leave me alone, he thought to himself. The problem was, he wasn’t …
Sin is Messy
Read 1 Corinthians 5:1 through 7:40 One evening Justin, David, and Benjamin decided to help their father get rid of the broken washing machine. They disconnected the electrical cord and water hoses, and drained and removed it to make room for the new machine. However, the next morning, they woke up to a wet floor that extended from the laundry …
Friends Like Rivers
Read Job 5:1 through 8:22 Carter and Anne took annual trips to Yosemite every May. In May the waterfalls are at their peak and the most breathtaking. God’s splendor is exhibited in nature. This year, a combination of rains and warm weather melted the ice pack at the waterfall tops, and the overflowing water cascaded into the valley forcing tourists …