God's Blessings Belong To Those Who Trust Him Greetings Reader I wrote today's devotion on a short section of Psalm 115, specifically verses 12-18. In three of those verses, the psalmist used the word bless five times. • The Lord remembers us and will bless us. • He will bless the people of Israel and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron. • He will bless those who fear the Lord, both great and lowly. • May the Lord richly bless both you and your children. Psalm 115:12-14 We can...
6 days ago • 1 min read
When Jesus Calls, Follow Immediately Greetings Reader Did you ever stop to think how Jesus called the disciples into the ministry? Then, when you give that some thought, think about how they responded. The day Jesus called Simon and Andrew. One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus calls out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Don't Fall Into The Snares Of The Devil Greetings Reader In Psalm 141, King David cried out to God for His protection. He said, Keep me from the traps they have set for me, from the snares of those who do wrong. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, but let me escape. In the New Testament, we are told that our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion. The devil is real, and we must be on guard from the flaming spiritual arrows that he shoots our way. I'm not saying everything that goes...
13 days ago • 1 min read
Sing Songs Of The Lord Even In A Strange Land Greetings Reader Have you ever had times when you were so down and out that you didn't even have a song in your heart? The Israelites had an experience like that when the Babylonians carried them off into captivity. Their captors asked them to sing a song. This is how they responded: We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees.For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn: "Sing us one of...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Guard Your Heart Against Subtle Idolatry Greetings Reader The Bible warns us to beware of the devil's fiery darts. The subtlety of the way he shoots them at us can sometimes catch us by surprise. Therefore, you must continually guard your heart. Today, as we look into Exodus 32, Aaron, Moses' brother and right-hand man, saw firsthand everything God did to deliver the Israelites from bondage. Yet, in the midst of threatening circumstances, he made a golden calf. Check out this chapter and the...
20 days ago • 1 min read
Children Are A Gift From The Lord Greetings Reader We all enjoy receiving gifts, don't we? God, on the other hand, loves to give us gifts. He gives us gifts in various ways, encompassing many things. Besides Himself, the most precious gifts He has given to us are our children. In Psalm 127, it says, "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him." They come though, with awesome responsibilities. God has entrusted us to raise them by teaching them and setting godly examples of...
23 days ago • 1 min read
Lift Your Hands And Praise The Lord Greetings Reader Psalm 134 contains only three verses, but they are verses of blessing, praise, and encouragement. Read it in the paragraph below and then click on the link to read the devotion that goes with it. Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who serve at night in the house of the Lord. Lift your hands toward the sanctuary, and praise the Lord. May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Jerusalem. Psalm 134:1-3 God...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Good Friday, The Day Jesus Was Crucified Greetings Reader After Jesus gathered with His disciples for the Passover meal, they went to the Mount of Olives to pray. The Lord knew His time was at hand. He also knew what lay in store for Him within the next twenty-four hours. That next day, He went through a very gruesome experience with each of us in mind. The most important word He uttered that entire day was "Tetelestai." It is pronounced like this (ta-tell'-es-ty). This word was often stamped...
30 days ago • 1 min read
The Protection Of The Lord Surrounds His People Greetings Reader The lyrics to the song "America the Beautiful," written by Katharine Lee Bates, takes note of our purple mountains' majesty. The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 125 not only mentions the mountains that surround Jerusalem, but he also compares them to the protection of the Lord that surrounds us. The influences of the world we live in will try their hardest to sway us to their sinful ways. The devil will hurl temptations at us and try...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read