After Jesus was arrested and questioned by the high priest, he was brought before Pilate, the Roman governor. But Jesus refused to be intimidated and told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36).

The kingdom of God is all-encompassing. It is present in the lives of those who willingly submit to His rule. It is a future kingdom where Jesus will rule supreme—not only in our lives, but also over the new heaven and earth.

When we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy kingdom come," we are asking for His rule to extend to every area of our lives. However, if we pick and choose those areas to submit to Him, we limit His power.

Through this prayer, we also are asking for God to work in the lives of others. There are those who never have made a commitment to the Savior—family members, friends, and co-workers who never have experienced God's saving grace.

By praying this prayer, we express our longing for His second coming. As believers, we should have a natural desire to be in God's presence. Our citizenship is in heaven, not on this earth (Philippians 3:20).

Have you blocked off areas of your life from Jesus' rule? If this is the case, then you are not fully experiencing His love and power.

No matter what your situation may be, you can come to Christ today and ask Him to be the Lord of your life. When you draw near to God, He draws near to you. Take the opportunity to experience a glimpse of heaven while you are still here on earth.

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for calling You Lord, but blocking off areas of my life to You. My desire is to follow You and draw near to You. Thank You for drawing near to me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

There are two kingdoms—the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are adopted into the Kingdom of God.

Being a citizen of a country means you have special privileges. These vary from country to country. However, as a citizen of God's Kingdom, we become members of the royal family. We are joint heirs with Christ. We have access to the throne of God. We have personal fellowship with the King of kings. We are His beloved children.

In order to become a citizen of a country other than the one in which you are born, you must meet certain requirements. The kingdom of God requires its citizens to accept the reign of a wise and loving King. It means acknowledging Christ as our Lord and Savior. It means being obedient to the Word of God. It requires our saying, "Lord, not my will, but Yours be done."

Human nature is selfish. What we think we need is foremost in our actions and prayers. Prayer that revolves around our own plans, desires, and needs, however, can be contrary to God's Word.

When we surrender our lives to Christ and submit ourselves to Him, we are placing our will in submission to the Lord's. Thus we begin to pray, "Lord, reign in my life, dominate my thoughts, show me Your will."

Within each of us rages the war between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. With Christ we have the victory. Knowing this, press on, armed with the confidence that God hears us and will answer our prayers.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for making a way for me to pass from the kingdom of this world into the Kingdom of God. Thank You for the victory I always have in Christ. I pray I will be bold and courageous always in You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" (1 Peter 3:12).

We all have a choice—either we put God first or we put ourselves first. If we choose the latter, then we will not have successful prayer lives. To live successful Christian lives, we need to learn to praise God no matter how we feel. It is a life filled with praise that establishes the foundation of prayer. The key to hallowing the name of God is praise.

The apostle Paul knew the value of praise. In the book of Acts, Paul and Silas were arrested in Philippi for preaching the Gospel. Beaten and bleeding, they were still singing praises to the Lord. The result of their praise was an earthquake that shook the city and opened the prison gate. Even the prison warden wanted to know Christ.

Do you feel like God is not responding to you? Try praising Him. Praise is powerful and can change your outlook. Ask yourself if you are a person of praise or whether you have yielded to thoughts of doubt and negative thinking. You certainly can learn to praise God! How you act and talk is a reflection of the character of Christ within you. Regardless of your situation, praise comes as an overflow of His joy.

Practice praising the Lord by telling Him that you surrender to His power and authority, that you desire to place Him first in your life, and that you want to obey His Word. To honor and to uplift the name of the Lord brings delight to our heavenly Father.

Do you feel as if you are in a spiritual desert? Develop a life of praise by praising the Lord each day, regardless of how you feel or what you are experiencing. Can you praise God in the midst of pain and despair like Paul and Silas did? When you praise the name of God, you will feel the joy of the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, I praise Your holy name. Thank You for calling me Your beloved child. I pray my eyes would be fixed on You and I would receive and live in Your joy, Lord. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6).

Imagine that you have been granted an audience with the king. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for—the chance to bring your requests before his majesty. The great doors open, and you are standing before the throne. In awe and reverence, you first address the king. It would be improper to just begin asking for your needs.

Jesus instructed His disciples, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name’” (Matthew 6:9).

The dictionary defines hallow as “to make or set apart as holy.” God is holy. He is sovereign and omniscient. He is the King of kings, the Creator of the universe. When we place our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, He becomes our heavenly Father. As such, we have the honor and the privilege of being able to come to Him in prayer.

It is important that we know the character of God, and honor and revere Him in our prayers, actions, and thoughts. God’s character is pure, holy, flawless, loving, compassionate, righteous, just, merciful, kind, long-suffering, honest, true, dependable, faithful, and understanding.

The more we know about God, the more we grow in fellowship with Him. This carries over into our prayers. Placing Him first and foremost in our minds keeps our focus on Him instead of on our needs and desires.

However, Jesus did not intend for our prayers to become ritualistic. Nor does He tell us how to pray. But by beginning with God’s name, we are reminded that we are coming before Almighty God. As children of God, we have been given free access to the throne room of the King of kings. We can address the King as our Father. There is no greater honor!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for inviting me into Your presence. I praise You as King of kings and Lord of lords and also thank You for being my Father. There is no one like You.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you” (Psalm 89:8).

Jesus told the parable of a father who showed his son unconditional love (Luke 15:11-24). This father was patient, slow to anger, and quick to forgive. When the son asked for his inheritance, the father gave it to him. When the son left, the father let him go, knowing that he could not keep his son against his will.

Even though the father’s heart was breaking over his son’s rebellion, he never gave up loving him. While he longed for his son’s return, he did not change his convictions to suit his son’s behavior.

Eventually, the son’s sinful actions caught up with him. He lost all of his inheritance and out of desperation had to do the only work available—feeding pigs! Suddenly, a thought came to the son: He could go home. He knew his father had an abiding love for him. Still, he would have to make a decision to repent.

Even from a distance, the father saw his son returning and ran to meet him. Instead of belittling the son, the father threw open his arms, welcoming him home with love and forgiveness.

God is our heavenly Father. We all have sinned against Him. However, when we come to Him with a repentant heart, He welcomes us. If the prodigal son had sent someone to speak to his father on his behalf, he may not have been forgiven. He had to ask for his father’s forgiveness himself.

The father of the wayward son was caring, compassionate, patient, long-suffering, slow to anger, and quick to forgive. How much more does our heavenly Father demonstrate these characteristics toward us!

If you have wandered away from God and find yourself alone, “feeding the pigs,” remember that you can go home. Don’t delay; God is waiting for your return.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your abiding love for me. Forgive me for the times I have left You in search of fulfillment apart from You. Thank You for Your forgiveness and Your love.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

Do you think of God as your loving, heavenly Father? Many people find this hard to do. The notion of calling God—who is holy and righteous—your Father can be overwhelming. We can call Him Father because of the shed blood of Christ.

The Bible tells us that without the sacrificial death of Jesus, there can be no forgiveness. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we are redeemed and restored into right fellowship with God. When we place our faith in Christ, we can call God our Father.

Biblical repentance means accepting Christ’s free gift of salvation. When we repent, we have the power to overcome. He gives us new life—freedom from our past, strength to change our ways, and the right to come to God in prayer.

Charles Spurgeon explains the honor of prayer this way: “What a privilege intimate communion is with the Father of our spirits! It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even the nearest friend intermeddleth not.”

Have you been crying out to God, feeling that He is not responding? Don’t give up. He hears you and will answer.

Prayer: Father, thank You for having compassion on me and for the joy of intimate communion with You.  I pray I will be a blessing to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:6).

There are numerous books and seminars designed to teach us how to communicate better in the workplace and at home. But how is our communication with the Lord?

We have many examples in the Bible of praying men and women. When Abraham’s servant Eliezer prayed, Rebekah appeared. When Moses prayed, powerful Amalek was defeated. When Hannah prayed for a child, Samuel was born. In the midst of battle, Joshua prayed and the sun stood still. When Elijah prayed for the rain to stop, there was a three-year drought.

Each of these individuals sought God in prayer for a specific need—and through His answer, He was honored. The purpose of prayer is for God to be glorified. While prayer is a blessing to us, it also is an opportunity to see God’s goodness and power at work in the lives of others.

When children are small, they ask their parents for all kinds of things. Does that mean that a parent gives everything a child asks for? Of course not! Neither does our heavenly Father give us all that we ask of Him. However, He knows our every need, and He is committed to meeting those needs—but not always in our timing or in the way we think is best.

God is sovereign, and in His sovereignty He responds to the prayers of His people. As a result, we are blessed when we trust His purpose and plan.

Jesus does not dictate when we should pray. Rather, for Him, prayer is a way of life—and it should be for us, too. We can learn to pattern our lives to match His by beginning to pray on a consistent basis. Adoration, praise, and petition of our Lord and Savior will change our lives.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for teaching me how to pray.  Thank You for responding to the prayers of Your people.  I also thank You for giving me what is ultimately good for me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father”(John 14:13).

p>Have you ever noticed that when you are ready to pray, the phone rings or somebody knocks on your door? How often is your prayer time distracted with things on your to-do list, with daydreams, or with sleepiness?

Prayer is the most important thing we can do as believers. Through prayer, we communicate with our heavenly Father. We also learn more about Him when we pray. We grow in our faith through prayer. When we pray, we find the encouragement, the strength, and the power we need to face life.

Satan, however, seeks to interfere with the sacred intimacy of prayer. He did not want Adam and Eve to communicate with God in the Garden, nor does Satan want us to communicate with God. Rather, he seeks to find ways of making us spiritually weak. He knows that prayer is our vital source of power and strength.

When you receive good news or something wonderful happens in your life, do you immediately thank the Lord? Many of us pray only when we are facing a problem. We cry out to the Lord in our pain, but we often fail to praise Him in times of joy. This is when we realize that we have not made prayer part of our daily lives.

Prayer is not to inform, to persuade, to manipulate, or to cajole God. It is the evidence of our love, surrender, obedience and sincerity before God. He wants to commune with us. When you understand prayer is joyous, intimate fellowship with the Lord, you will want to make prayer a consistent part of your life.

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for neglecting prayer and time with You.  Thank You for blessing me with an intimate relationship with You. Help me to never neglect my time with You.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
 
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

No matter how frustrated or anxious we become, we do not have to lose hope. Our hope should never be in ourselves or in our abilities, nor should it be in other people. At some point, others will let us down. Rather, our hope should be in the living Christ, who has kept every one of His promises to us!

We can have hope because Christ Jesus is our Savior. He is our joy. He is our peace. He is our fulfillment. If we try to get our joy from our feelings or from our possessions, then we will be constantly disappointed. However, if we find our joy in the Lord and in trusting in His Word, then we will experience hope—regardless of our circumstances.

Have you ever experienced the joy of the Lord? There comes a time when we must stop dwelling on our despair. We must stop giving in to the moaning and groaning that keeps us from experiencing the hope and the joy that God freely gives. He does not cast us away.

As His children, we have a hope in Christ who never fails. We can know a life filled with contentment, peace, joy, praise, and love when we commit our way to God. Moreover, as long as we are consumed with fear, envy, pride, selfish ambition, and greed, we cannot be filled with God’s Spirit. The choice is ours—contentment in Christ or discontentment in ourselves.

Christ is waiting with open arms. Begin by thirsting for Him. Come before Him in humility. Recognize that He has the answers for your feelings of fear and despair. Don’t give up. God is always with you.

Prayer:  Father, thank You for Your love.  In your presence is fullness of joy. My soul rejoices in You. I choose contentment in Christ and I thank You for Your salvation.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:2).

The writer of Psalm 42 is disheartened. Maybe he is dealing with a problem that has continued for some time. Then he hits on a truth that changes his feelings of depression into thoughts of hope. He writes, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5-6 and Psalm 42:11).

Emotional depression can result from anger, disappointment, or discouragement. If we dwell on these feelings, then they will consume us. If we fail to look to God in the midst of our difficulty, then we will be overwhelmed and defeated.

When you are tired and discouraged, do you find yourself thirsty for God’s wisdom, guidance, and protection? If so, pray: “Lord, show me Your face. Help me to understand what I need to know about this situation and how to handle it.”

If we seek God, then we will find Him (Matthew 7:8). Despair, hatred, malice, envy, and feelings of bitterness will fade. Is there something in your life that fills you with misery? Ask for God’s light to come upon you and for His truth to guide you.

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand my feelings of anxiety and concern. Help me to focus on You and not on my anger, disappointment, and distress. Shine Your light on my life as I thirst for You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell” (Psalm 43:3).

The prophet Isaiah wrote, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19, NKJV). At some point, all of us have felt the weight of the enemy surrounding us.

We experience panic or stress over work deadlines, bills to be paid, or relationship conflicts. We catch ourselves focusing on what people will think or say. Then we begin to suffer discouragement and even depression.

No one wants to be scorned, ridiculed, or taken for granted. Even Jesus suffered the ridicule of others. The chief priests, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, "He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God'" (Matthew 27:43).

No matter what we face or how others ridicule us, God is our rock and our fortress. He is our deliverer. We can find refuge and security in Him. Although you may not feel God's presence or help, He is near. Psalm 91:15 states, "He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him."

Do you feel that God has forgotten you? The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the Lord will not forget us, as God Himself has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

So no matter what others say or how discouraged you may feel, remember that the Lord has the answer for your anxiety and despair. All you have to do is cry out to Him. He longs for you to seek His power. Ask Him to be the source of your strength and deliverance.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for never leaving or forsaking me. I cry out to you now for the strength I need for today. Thank you for your new mercies every morning. Great is Your faithfulness. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God" (Psalm 42:11).

Many people feel as though we are living in very ungodly times, and they are right. Our world is changing at a very rapid pace. At times, the moral decline of our society seems overwhelming. The lack of true love, respect, and worship for the Lord grows ever stronger.

While these times certainly can seem desperate, they also are some of the most exciting times to be alive. The opportunity to know Christ and to make Him known is greater than any other time in history. Truly, the Lord has provided a broad door for us to travel through as we witness His love at work in our world.

However, with this opened door comes a responsibility—one that demands us to take seriously our call to follow Christ.

Many have drifted in their faith by failing to guard their minds against Satan's evil thoughts, suggestions, and feelings. With little to no thought of the consequences, they have opened their minds to the enemy's temptations and have suffered the consequences of their sin.

Paul sent Titus to the island of Crete for one reason: to establish a plumb line of godly Truth and morality. The believers in Crete, like so many New Testament Christians, came from a pagan background. Therefore, the temptation to compromise their walk of faith with Christ was ever increasing.

While the power of temptation was broken on the cross, we must remain keen to the enemy's tactics. Begin each day by putting on the "full armor" of God (Ephesians 6); then you will know how to stand victoriously against the enemy.

Prayer: Father, thank You that I have victory over the enemy, and through Jesus Christ have the power to live with hope for the future! I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"Teach what is in accord with sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1).

Do you ever find yourself absorbed in the activities of life and wonder how you became so busy? Many people overextend themselves to the point of exhaustion. When asked why they are rushing here and there, they answer that they are just keeping up with the normal details of life.

As amazing as it may seem, it is not unusual to find people doing all kinds of unnecessary "work" in the church. Maybe they are trying to reach a level of acceptance in God's eyes or seeking to please another person.

Striving to gain the approval of others is stressful at best. Trying to gain God's approval is useless. This is because God has already placed His stamp of approval on your life and nothing you do can cause Him to love you more than He does right now. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you gain everything there is to gain of God's love. Even before you were created in your mother's womb, God loved you fully and completely.

This world has nothing of lasting value to offer us. All of our striving and rushing to gain approval results in only one thing: emptiness of heart and soul. Satan's greatest folly is to tempt us into believing that through our good works or our smart appearance someone will love us more. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Don't allow the enemy to entice you into believing you are unacceptable. God accepts you just the way you are. All He longs for you to do is to love Him with a whole heart. When you truly understand your acceptance in Christ and experience the everlasting love of God, you will obey the Lord as an expression of your love.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me even when I act unlovable. Forgive me for the times when I turn away from You. I surrender my life to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).

While witnessing one team take a lopsided lead in a sporting event, we sometimes keep watching because of the slight chance that the losing team could mount a comeback. More often than not, that team fails, but at least there is hope.

When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, He secured the victory for us. Jesus’ triumph over death also gave us the victory over death’s grip, both here on earth and in eternity. No longer do we have to be held in bondage to sin on earth. No longer do we have to pay the price of death for our sins on earth either.

Jesus’ sacrifice covered it all.

Life can be difficult. It can even feel gloomy and full of despair. Yet, just as Jesus’ sacrifice gives us new life, His last words before His death fill us with hope: “It is finished.”

Like watching a movie for the second time where all the suspense is removed, so is living our lives here on earth if we are walking with the hope and assurance of salvation in Christ. We know the ending. God is victorious. Satan, sin, and death are defeated.

Jesus’ death and resurrection give us eternal life, and His final words on the cross give us encouragement, spurring us to press on because God is the victor and we are His people.

While the enemy may make a last-ditch effort to discourage you and to divert the plans God has for your life, he will not win.

God loves you and when you place your faith and hope in Him, He will deliver you from all the wiles of the enemy. The victory has already been won!

Prayer: Lord, reveal to me how I can walk more in the victory of Christ each day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Psalm 20:7)

The faster our world moves, the less patience we have. When we want something, we want it now. When presented with two equal choices, we make our selection based on availability.

Can we get it today?

Waiting on God can seem like an eternity. We have His promises, yet we wonder if He remembers us. We pace back and forth and mutter about how God never moves quickly. We wonder what is taking Him so long, and we wonder if He will keep His Word.

Just as a loving earthly father would not hand over car keys to a child who is unprepared to drive an automobile, neither would God give us something before we are truly ready. The time in which we wait upon Him often prepares us for the work He wants to do through us. He is preparing us to handle greater responsibilities.

Unfortunately, we struggle to realize this and often forget about the way He has operated in our lives in the past. God is not slow as much as He is patient. He is waiting for us to arrive at just the right place to receive His blessings. Our patience in waiting upon Him demonstrates our love and trust that He knows exactly what He is doing.

As our relationship with God grows deeper, we realize our maturity is not based on how many verses we have memorized or how many things we are doing for the church. Much of maturing in our relationship with God means we have come to a better understanding of His love for us and we trust Him fully; no matter how long it takes for Him to fulfill His promises.

Prayer: Lord, give me the patience I need to wait upon Your perfect timing for my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we take time to look at the world around us, we become aware of all the work we have to do as believers. The dying world in which we live is desperate for the Gospel. It needs to hear the Truth of God’s Word. Truly, we have our work cut out for us.

However, in all our striving to advance the Kingdom of God, we sometimes forget one of the biggest truths of God’s Word. On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The work which He came to do, to fulfill God’s promise to mankind by making the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of the world, is finished.

In our hearts, the work of the Holy Spirit to bring us to completion is still taking place. Once we submit our lives to Jesus, the process begins and does not end until we get to heaven. Yet, we are not called to finish Jesus’ work because His work is done. We are called merely to allow the Holy Spirit to complete His work in us as we share with others the Good News through both our words and actions.

It is not up to us to finish the work that only God can do in our lives. We cannot live a holy life without Him. His gift of salvation can only be received through faith in His Son. Strive as we may, eventually we will stumble. But God has promised to do what we cannot do for ourselves. He has sent His Son to save us.

While we can look forward to the day when God looks at us and pronounces a completion of His work in our hearts, we must remain faithful and allow the Holy Spirit to continue His transforming work in our lives.

Seek the Lord above all things. Desire to be a person He uses to draw others to Himself.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the work You have started in me. Please continue shaping me into the person You want me to be. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place” (Proverbs 3:19).

The wisdom of God usually confounds man’s intellect. In fact, some of the greatest truths in the Bible are paradoxical. Giving away things does not seem like the best way to receive blessing. And it does not seem right to show mercy and kindness toward those who do wrong to us. But these are actions believers are encouraged to take, as God promises blessings to those who do them.

However, one of the most difficult biblical truths to understand is this: to truly take back your life, you must surrender it to God. In order for us to live in freedom, free from bondage to sin and the enemy, we must make ourselves subject to Him.

Jesus’ moment of victory came when He surrendered His life on the cross. When Jesus committed His Spirit into God’s hands, He relinquished control and let God work the most amazing triumph in the history of mankind. No longer would people have to pay the appropriate penalty for their sins. Suddenly, there was forgiveness for all who would receive it through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Our moment of victory comes when we decide to give away our lives. When we make the conscious decision to quit trying to run our own lives and allow God to have control, we win. Our cry of weakness is actually our greatest moment of strength. It is the point where we stop trying to be good Christians and start allowing the Holy Spirit to finish the transforming work that remains in our hearts.

Surrendering to God does not mean you are weak. On the contrary, it means you are a person who knows where your greatest strength lies.

Prayer: Lord, make Your truths real in my life today and help me to understand the power that comes when I surrender fully to You.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Whom we trust with our lives says volumes about our faith. When a difficult situation arises, do we turn to others for help? Do we attempt to resolve the situation alone? Or do we ask God to give us wisdom and guidance?

The moment we give our lives to the Lord, we must sever all ties that we have with our clever minds. No matter how intelligent we are, there will be times when only God’s wisdom can lead us to the perfect solution. We may not recognize it, especially if we feel trapped by our circumstances, but no problem we ever have is too great for God.

Our challenge as believers is taking this truth to heart. Sometimes, we give our hearts to God only to take them back when surrender to Him becomes inconvenient.

But when you commit your life into God’s hands, you must resolve to leave it there. Just as no money market account matures with excessive withdrawals, you will struggle to grow when you continually seize control of your life after depositing it into His hands.

It is never easy to relinquish total control. We feel helpless as we sit by and watch. Yet God wants us to surrender so He can do His greatest work in us, the work of completely transforming our hearts and minds as He molds us into the image of Christ. While we may have an idea of what God wants to do with our lives, we do not know the fullness of what He desires to do; therefore, we must allow Him to have total control.

As you give God control of your life, He will shape you into the person He intends for you to be. Remember: There is no one you can trust more than the Son of God.

Prayer: Lord, I want You to be in control of my life today, leading me through Your Holy Spirit. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6).

In our daily lives, we are quick to satisfy our desires. When we are hungry, we make every attempt to eat as quickly as possible. When we are thirsty, we head for the water fountain.

When we are lonely, we call a friend or a family member. However, as Christians, sometimes we fail to recognize what our greatest needs are and who can satisfy them. The emptiness we sometimes feel can only be filled by God. Even after we come to know Christ, we may struggle to recognize that emptiness is a sign we need to turn to Him.

The world throws so many different things in our faces that we can look at everything zipping by and mistakenly believe it will satisfy us. Maybe we seek fulfillment in our relationships with others. Maybe we are seeking fulfillment in our jobs or through financial success. So we chase after these things with reckless abandon. An intimate relationship with God is the only thing that will satisfy every need we have.

He is the One who transforms our hearts and minds, bringing us unspeakable joy even in the midst of what seems like our darkest hours. He is the One who quenches the thirst of our souls by showing us how much He loves us and cares for us.

He knows what You need, and He knows exactly how to meet you where you are. If you are thirsty, remember God is the source that quenches. He wants you to drink in Him and fulfill your heart’s desires.

Prayer: Lord, help me realize how much You love me today and how You desire to fill the deepest longing in my heart. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” (Revelation 7:17)

Quenching our thirst comes quite easily for most of us. Our minds tell us we need water, so we find the nearest source of water and drink. But do we apply this same principle to our spiritual lives?

Everything in life can become routine, even our relationship with God. At times, we may not feel like we are teeming with life.

We feel the thirst for God, but what are we doing about it? Sometimes, we look to sources other than God Himself; and while they may divert our attention, our thirst for Him remains.

Our bodies are designed to let us know when we need to replenish our internal water supply. Our mouths become dry and our brain quickly alerts us to the problem. We also have signals that tell us we need spiritual water—when life feels empty, when we are filled with fear and anxiety, and when we do not love God, our neighbors or ourselves.

But what is our response? Those who remain thirsty do so because they forget where the well is. They forget there is an unending source of refreshment and revitalization found in relationship with God.

The longer we remain numb to the problem, the larger the problem grows. We may know we are thirsty for God, but if we make no effort to pursue the fountain of life found in an intimate relationship with the Savior, we are robbing ourselves of one of the most refreshing moments in life.

No matter how long we have been away from God’s presence, He welcomes us back.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit, and to recognize You are the only Source that quenches my thirst. I pray in the name of Jesus.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1).

With his last breath, Thomas Hobbes, the self-confessed atheist said, “I am taking a fearful leap into the dark!” On his deathbed the French agnostic Voltaire sadly spoke these words, “I am abandoned by God and man. I shall go to hell.”

In contrast to these two men, who died without Christ, is Christian evangelist Dwight L. Moody, whose last words were: “This is glorious ... Earth recedes; heaven is opening, and God is calling me.”

For believers, the moment we take our last breath is the first moment we will draw in the heavenly air of our new home; our abode with the Lord Jesus Christ. To be out of earth’s atmosphere is to be in His holy presence.

We rarely think about the difference between life lived here on earth and the one we will have in heaven. Instead, we often focus on our temporary home; how we can make it larger, decorate it with our favorite things, and enjoy it.

At some point, our thinking has to switch from being earthbound to heaven bound. The short time we spend on this earth is not even a fraction of the time we will spend in eternity. Jesus never missed an opportunity to prepare His followers for His death but, more importantly, He wanted them to understand His resurrection and the future blessings that would be theirs.

Nothing, but Jesus, can satisfy our thirst for living water. Only Jesus has the ability to provide the “living water” that satisfies our souls.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for satisfying my thirst. Forgive me for trying to quench my thirst with the things of this world. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst” (John 4:13-14).

Even though Christ is your Savior, there will be times when you are tempted to sin. And if you yield to the temptation, you will sense a spiritual darkness around you. The closer you are to Christ in your devotion, the deeper the darkness will seem.

This is because the more we commit our lives to the Lord, the more we become like Him. Once we are saved, sin no longer reflects who we are in Christ.

One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to draw us even closer to the Lord. He also is the One who guides us through each day. A check in your spirit may mean you are about to do something that could jeopardize your God-centered peace.

There are times when you will sense God’s Spirit warning about a particular event or set of circumstances. Listen to His voice. Ask God to make His will clear to you, and never allow the enemy to twist the love and protection of God into something that yields fearful thoughts.

If you want to walk in the light of Truth, having the knowledge and wisdom of God, make a commitment to read and to study His Word; which is “a lamp to our feet.”

The people who gathered at the cross to witness the crucifixion were living in spiritual darkness, and God wanted to make sure they understood the choice they were making.

Beginning with the third hour of this horrendous event, a deep, all-consuming darkness fell on the land and the people were engulfed with fear. Today we do not have to walk in darkness. We have the eternal flame of God guiding our every step.

Prayer: Father, You are the light of this world, and I choose to walk in it knowing that You will give me the wisdom I need for every situation. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” (John 1:5).

In the book First and Last Things, American historian H.G. Wells wrote how Jesus Christ repelled him, “this image of virtue, this terrible and incomprehensible Galilean.” Wells is not the first or the last to be repelled by the Lord.

The government of Christ’s day turned its back on Him. The Jews repudiated Him. Those gathered for His crucifixion jeered Him, and His friends, who had been with Him for three years of ministry, abandoned Him; going into hiding after His arrest. Only John followed Him to the cross.

It is not surprising that Satan is still at work in our world, seeking to deceive and to draw men and women away from the only One who can provide the hope they so desperately need.

The rejection of God’s Son can be subtle. The “good” person may say, “I am a Christian because I was raised in a Christian family, but I just don’t want to get too serious about church or the Bible.” Another person may mistakenly believe he can live any way he chooses, and God will still save his soul. God is not the one who condemns us. Jesus told His followers that His goal was to seek and save those who are lost. We are the ones who condemn ourselves when we reject God’s love and gift of salvation.

However, even when we are faithless, Jesus remains faithful. When we yield to temptation, He continues to love us, and when we seek His forgiveness, He becomes our strong advocate of mercy and grace before the throne of God.

He is your dearest friend; the One who will never abandon you. At the cross, He died for you, knowing that He was your only way to truth and eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I don’t understand the depth of love You displayed for me. I am forever indebted to You for Your selfless gift of love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Imagine the anguish of Mary’s heart as she looked up into the face of her dying Son. Jesus had been beaten so seriously that He was probably unrecognizable. Yet, Mary would have known Him anywhere. She was His mother.

She could close her eyes and remember what it felt like to hold Him as a baby in her arms. No one has ever held the Son of God this way. She was there when He took his first steps, and she was with Him when He took His last breath.

A strong bond remained between them, and also an understanding that He must do exactly what His Father had called Him to do. She never thought His life would lead to this moment. Simeon had warned her, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many ... And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34-35). But no one is ever prepared for the loss of a child.

On the evening of His arrest, Jesus was with His closest followers; His disciples. Throughout the night and into the next day, John followed the Savior from mock trial to mock trial. Then Mary joined John at the cross.

There may be times when we are tempted to think Jesus does not care for us. Satan whispers that God is not interested in our sorrows or difficulties. This is not true. Even on the cross, Jesus was still saving lives and thinking of others: “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to [John] “Here is your mother” (John 19:26-27). In other words, “John, My mother is now your mother; take care of her for Me.”

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for doubting You and Your care for me. I know that no matter what I am facing You are beside me, giving me the strength and wisdom I need. I also want to thank you for the people you have placed in my life to care for me.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

At Calvary, the cross of Christ became an eternal emblem of love. Jesus never lost sight of God's purpose for His life. Everything He learned from the Father was in preparation for this moment.

As Scripture tells us, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Jesus not only laid down His life for those who loved Him, He laid it down for all men and women, even those who choose to reject Him. He didn't die just for those closest to Him. He died for all of us; no one is left out. But we must make a choice either to accept Him as our Savior or to turn away from Him and face the judgment of a tormenting death.

The Jews rejected Jesus. However, we know that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea made a different choice. After His death, they asked for the Savior's body to be given to them. Pilate granted their request. No Jew of their social position could come in contact with the dead and remain spiritually clean. Yet, these men lovingly accepted the role they played in the Lord's burial. It is doubtful that after this event they were allowed to continue as leaders in the Jewish community. More than likely, they became followers of Jesus Christ. Love leads to love, and it is Christ's unconditional love that drew Nicodemus and Joseph to Himself, and it is that same love that draws us today.

When you find yourself being drawn away by the world's passions and temptations, remember the cross, where Christ gave His life as atonement for your sin. There is no greater love than God's love for you.

Prayer: Lord, it is hard to imagine the depth of Your love for me. Thank You for dying for me. May I love others as you have loved me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Even though the way before you seems dark, trust the Lord because He is faithful. When your faith is challenged, remember that Jesus never fails. He loves you and even when you drift in your devotion to Him, He will not forsake His love for you.

In Exodus 14, Israel was on the run from the Egyptians. Their escape route was blocked by the boundaries of the Red Sea, and they began to panic. But Moses called out to them:

Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still (Exodus 14:13-14).

The King James Version of the Bible says, "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."

True faith remains unshaken by the trials of life. When it seems the world has turned against you, run to the Lord. God will not allow you to be destroyed. Charles Spurgeon writes:

Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up."... But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you; you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What if for a while thou art called to stand still; yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time.

Prayer: Lord, in times of difficulty, You are my strength. Thank You for Your gift of salvation and for Your guidance each day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

One day as the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was reviewing his troops, his horse bolted out of control. He was in danger of being hurled to the ground, but a young private broke rank and calmed the animal.

"Thank you, Captain," said Napoleon, thus bestowing an instant promotion on the man.

Smiling proudly, the soldier inquired, "Of what regiment, sir?"

"Of my guards," replied Bonaparte. Immediately, the soldier assumed his new rank and walked over to join a group of staff officers. "What is this insolent fellow doing here?" one questioned.

"I am Captain of the guards," the young man replied.

"You are just a private. What makes you think you are a captain?"

At that, the young man pointed to the emperor and confidently responded, "He said it!"

"I beg your pardon, Captain," the officer answered politely. "I was not aware of your promotion."

The moment we accept Christ as our Savior, we are immediately given an eternal position of authority in heaven. Our rank changes from one of no real authority to one of great reward and prominence.

With his last breath the repentant thief said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). The Lord replied, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). And it was immediately done. Is Jesus the Captain of your soul? If not, will you give your life to Him?

Prayer: Lord, I have sinned against You. Forgive me. I accept Your gift of salvation and know that from this day forward I am living for You, my Lord and Savior! I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21).

Even in His death, Jesus was thinking of you and me. He was preparing a way for us to know the Father and for us to receive His gift of salvation.

It was no mistake that Jesus was crucified between two thieves. One was repentant, and the other blasphemed the Lord.

One believed, and the other denied the Truth of God. One accepted God's wondrous gift of mercy and grace; the other turned his back on the offer and lost his soul.

There is no escaping the Truth. We can choose eternal life or settle for an endless death that is far worse than any torment we can imagine. The two men that hung dying beside the Savior could be any one of us.

Just like them, we must make a choice. God has chosen to save all men, but not everyone will come to Him. Those who do will immediately be saved and will spend eternity enjoying the love and intimate devotion of our Heavenly Father. Those who don't will spend an eternity separated from Him.

Joshua challenged the nation of Israel with these words:

If serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

Prayer: Lord, I want to serve You and You alone. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Job is an excellent example of a man who loved his family and wanted God's best for each one of them. He also understood the role of the priesthood of the father and never hesitated to take responsibility for his loved ones.

He was up early in the morning, not so he could check the weather report or the stock market predictions. His first concern was not whether he could beat the traffic rush into work. He didn't turn on his computer to check his e-mail or log-in to read the Wall Street Journal. Instead, Job was up early in order to spend time with God. He worshiped the Lord and offered sacrifices for his wife and children. He was aware of their personal needs and he was a committed provider.

There are three things a man should do as a family priest:

1. He needs to cultivate a strong commitment to the Lord. God must be first in His life. If he has allowed anything to come before God, then he will not have the godly wisdom he needs to provide for those he loves.
2. He should cultivate compassion and be sensitive to his family's needs.
3. He needs to cultivate consistency. Job never swayed in his devotion, commitment, and love for the Lord, and you can have the same type of lifestyle.

If you are a single parent, God understands the challenges you are facing. If you simply cry out to the Him in difficult times, He will turn your trials into moments of blessing and praise. When you seek Him with your whole heart, He will come to your rescue as your faithful provider and living Lord, and give you a double portion of His strength. 

Prayer: Lord, show me how to pray for those I love and teach me more about You each day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1).

For decades, Sam Rayburn was recognized as one of the most powerful politicians in America. When asked by a reporter to recount the most important moment of his life, his thoughts went back to his father as he began to tell about the day he left his East Texas home. He was 18 years old and on his way to college. His father was a man of few words but full of wisdom.

Standing on the train platform, both men looked down at Sam's suitcase that was nothing more than a bundle of clothes tied together with a rope. It was obvious the family did not have much money. Sam's presence was really needed at home but the elder Rayburn knew the opportunities awaiting his son were many and could only be experienced by his willingness to allow his son to leave.

As the train arrived and Sam prepared to get on board, his father reached deep into his pocket and pulled out a fist full of dollars and placed them in Sam's hand. There were 25 single dollar bills.

"Only God knows how he saved this money," Sam later said. "We never had any extra. He barely earned enough for the family to live on. It broke me up, and I often wondered what he did without; what sacrifices he and Mother made so I could go to school."

Fathers have an immeasurable impact on the lives of their children. Always believe in your children. Help them to understand the cost of sacrifice and how it is given as an act of love—the greatest being God's sacrifice to us through His Son.

Prayer: Father, help me to be a person who reflects Your love and sacrifice to others, especially to those in my family. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:12-14).

As a godly parent, one of the things you will want to do is to cultivate consistency in your family's walk of faith. Job valued spending time with his family and communicating with them, not only speaking to them but listening closely as they voiced their concerns, needs, and opinions.

Being consistent in our faith is not the same thing as perfection, nor does it mean we are always right. Rather, consistency means we make our families a priority when it comes to our time and our schedules.

Consistency also means walking the walk and not just talking the talk of your faith. It means going with your children to church every Sunday, including attendance at Sunday school. It means praying with your family daily, memorizing Scripture, and talking about the things of the Lord and the principles of the Bible in a natural, ongoing way.

Use every moment of your relationship with your children to establish the reality of both God's love and your love in their lives. Keep His love and the Bible's teachings at the heart of your discussions with your children about what they see on television, learn in school, or hear from other children. Make God your number one resource to consult any time they face problems, are sick, or have specific needs.

It is in this daily walking-and-talking, dawn-to-dusk way that we train our children to have the right attitudes and to express the right behavior to others. It is a daily challenge to teach our children compassion and to lead them into a consistent pattern of godly living.

Prayer: Lord, I know when the focus of my life is set on You, then the focus of my family will be the same. I pray You will help me to stay focused on You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live” (Proverbs 4:4).

Another role of the godly parent is to cultivate compassion for others. Job trained his children to be generous, hospitable, responsible, kind, and considerate, and to be leaders when it came to building up others, building up the family, and building unity and harmony in the community.

This did not mean Job taught his children to compromise for the sake of agreement, but rather to hold strong principles and demonstrate genuine love.

How do we develop compassion for others? We first must experience God's love and then be challenged to pass on that love. Children first experience God's love by experiencing the love of their own parents. The more their parents express love to them, the quicker they are to show compassion.

Assure your children repeatedly of God's love, even when they disobey. Be affectionate with them, hugging and kissing them and putting your hand on their shoulders as a sign of encouragement.

Also, don't link your love to any behavioral trait in your child. Let your children know you love them just as God loves them, unconditionally. God loves us solely because we are His beloved, uniquely created children. Learn to love your children in the same way.

When you demonstrate love to your children, they gain a proper perspective of God. They learn to view the Lord as being a God of love and not wrath.

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to communicate Your love better to my family. I know when I learn to love You better, I can then pass this love on to others. Thank You for Your faithfulness in my life.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

The very first step to becoming a godly parent is to accept Christ as your Savior. If you have never asked Him to come into your heart and forgive your sins, then you will not know how to meet your children’s needs effectively. The Lord is the One who has given us the ability to have children, and in order to understand His purpose for their lives, you have to have a personal relationship with Him.

The second step to becoming a godly parent is dependence on God. Children are great imitators. If we have a sincere walk of faith, they will follow our lead. Let your love for your children be rooted in your love for God. It is only to the degree that you love the Lord that you will be able to show your love to your children and other family members.

The third step is one of humility. Your children need to recognize the fact that you are the head of the household. However, they also need to know you can make mistakes, and when you do, you are not slow in seeking God’s forgiveness. When your child hears you praying, his or her life is changed. Suddenly, he realizes Mom or Dad’s faith is in God and nothing else.

Make sure you find time to praise God for your salvation, His provision for your family, and the wisdom He gives each day. Thank Him for His blessings and protection. Pray for a spirit of gratitude so your children will learn to have grateful hearts instead of being consumed with their personal wants and desires.

Prayer: Lord, I know there are times when I forget to say thank You for all You have done. Forgive my ingratitude and teach me to be grateful for the love You have shown to my family and me.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you” (Deuteronomy 6:18).

Training children to love and to serve the Lord, to be compassionate toward others, and to have consistent walks of faith is the most noble and important work any parent can do. Therefore, we should find great joy in the fact that the Lord has called us and entrusted us to be parents!

Never lose sight of the fact that you are training your child not only to take a role in God’s kingdom on this earth, but also to assume a place and an inheritance in heaven.

Many parents wonder what the most important lesson is that they can teach their children. The answer is simple. Nothing can take the place of teaching your child about the forgiveness and love of God. Sharing about the saving grace of Jesus Christ is the most important thing you will ever do.

Too often, mothers and fathers become weary in the process and say, “I am raising children” or “I am supporting a family.” However, we need to view our parental roles as being a privilege. We are training heirs to the kingdom of God; children who will make a difference in this world for God, children who will love others in Christ and lead others to salvation, children who will live together with you in eternity, children who will know the fullness of God’s blessings, guidance, and favor!

As you pursue the challenge of being a godly parent, you can be assured that God is on your team. He will provide the wisdom you need for every situation. He also will protect you and bless you as you walk in His ways and bring glory to His name.

Prayer: Lord, I realize that as a parent I have a tremendous task. I know I cannot do it on my own. I need Your wisdom to guide me each day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1).

Some parents who are knee-deep in diapers and family deadlines may wonder if there will ever be a time when they can just relax and enjoy their children. The truth is children can be a great comfort from the Lord. In them, we can learn to see life from a different perspective; one of wonder and freshness.

When we get older, our children will be the hope of our heritage. Abraham understood this principle. He longed for a son but remained childless. God had promised him that Sarah would have a son. As the years moved on, Abraham wondered if this promise would be fulfilled. Then when Sarah was past childbearing age, she gave birth to Isaac. Scripture says:

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him (Genesis 21:1-2).

Isaac’s birth was a cause for celebration but not just because of his birth. We rejoice over the fact that God did exactly what He promised He would do.

Like Sarah, you may have waited for years to have a child. Or there may be another promise you have from the Lord that has up until this point gone unanswered. When you think all hope is gone, God will step into your situation with an answer to your deepest prayer. There is no higher calling than to be a person who helps to mold and shape the life of a child. And there is no greater experience than to trust in Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of my children. Teach me to love children as you do and to be a parent or role model whose life is guided by Your truth and wisdom.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).

When we know and understand people better, we are more empowered to relate to them. Knowing more about individuals allows us to speak directly into their lives where they need it most, when they need it most.

Whether you are in a marital relationship or not, taking time to get to know someone will help you bring out the best in that person. In 1 Peter 3:7, husbands are given the charge to honor their wives. This is a powerful life principle that we should apply to all relationships.

People respond to different acts of love in different ways. However, everyone responds in a positive manner when someone takes an interest in his/her life. We all enjoy sharing our life stories. And when you take an interest in someone that goes beyond the courteous “How are you doing?” question, people come alive and open up their lives. 

During Jesus’ time on earth He had a large following, but He did not act like a superstar. He spent time with people and ate in their homes. When Zacchaeus was struggling to get a glimpse of Jesus from atop a sycamore tree, Jesus looked up at him and took more than a passing interest in his life. He suggested they eat dinner together.

After one meal with Jesus, Zacchaeus, the once-hated tax collector, experienced a changed life. He returned the money to those he had taxed unfairly. In fact, he was so moved by the Savior’s love that he returned much more than was taken.

Prayer: Lord, please give me a genuine interest in people. I pray for You to flow through me into their lives. I pray in the name of Jesus.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Whether you are married or not, Peter has some good advice: The beauty of your character is your greatest asset. No matter what people say about you or do to you, your character says the most about who you are. The decisions you make when no one is watching determine the depth of character you possess.

In speaking directly to wives with unbelieving husbands, Peter reminds these women of the importance of letting their inner beauty shine brightly. He writes:

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment. ... Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3-4).

As we respond to the call God places on our lives as believers, we cannot ignore the importance of living a life beyond reproach. The world can strip away all our worldly possessions, but it cannot take our names, what our names represent, and the character associated with them.

The more genuine you are with those around you, the more God will be able to use you as an encourager. Your credibility will rise. People will acknowledge you as a person of authority because you not only talk about it, you live it. As we spread the Gospel to a world desperate for the Truth, we must make sure our words align with our actions.

For the wife of an unbeliever, this passage in 1 Peter 3 is full of hope. It is possible to see the hardest of hearts softened and dramatically transformed through the power of God’s love.

Prayer: Lord, help me live a life honoring and pleasing to You today; and let the world know it is real. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8).

It happens quite often in the world of sports: a player or a team once on top comes crashing down amidst intense pressure and somewhere buried beneath the rubble is their confidence. Instead of dominating their sport like they once did, they suddenly begin making mistakes they have never made before. Rather than winning championships, they hope to just be respectable.

In today’s media-hungry world, it only takes a few people to begin denouncing a team or player before everyone joins in, including the players and teams. Those who once seemed invincible now seem average. Climbing out of such a devastating place is a difficult task.

We, too, face public opinion each day in our lives. Though we may firmly espouse the doctrines of our faith, when life turns dark and we become gloomy, the people we interact with on a daily basis begin to question our faith. Whenever we experience tragedy, our tendency is to shake an angry fist at God rather than turning to Him for comfort.

Many people begin to drift away from their faith because events occur in their lives that make them doubt God’s sovereignty and they begin to listen to the naysayers around them.

Whether it is a broken relationship or the death of a loved one, God does not abandon us; rather, He takes those situations and begins to weave His love into our lives in unexpected ways.

We see His hand at work and realize He has never left us. As believers dedicated to following God, we must not let public opinion sway our faith in Him, holding fast to our confidence that He alone is our Savior.

Prayer: Lord, help me to recall Your victories in my life in the past and trust You no matter what.  I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great” (Psalm 18:35).

More than likely, when Paul was a young man he had a dream to know God fully. His quest for knowledge led him to study under one of the greatest rabbis of his day.

As he grew in knowledge, he became a Pharisee and then was elected to the Sanhedrin. Only the most noted of Jewish scholars held these positions. Paul was one of them. His heart, though charged with the wrong motivation, longed to worship God. Then one day, God revealed Himself to Paul through the life of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is only one way to interpret what happened to Paul on the Damascus Road and that is to say it was life-changing (Acts 9:1-9). Christ did not just appear to Paul; He embraced him.

Maybe you are feeling the weight of your circumstances closing in on you. You have longed to be free, but you have remained shackled to this world in ways that only God knows and understands. If you seek Him, He will set you free from the sin of worry, doubt, fear, hopelessness, lustful feelings, and more. When you pray with a sincere heart, the Lord will be found by you. Then your witness and testimony will become a way to glorify God and lead others into His throne room of mercy and grace.

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I need Your purifying touch on my life. There are things I have done and said that do not honor You. Forgive me as I mention each one to You and receive Your forgiveness and eternal love.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).