Can’t Curse the Blessed

Then Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed [them] bountifully!" So he answered and said, "Must I not take heed to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?" Numbers 23:11-12 NKJV Balaam was a hired prophet, engaged by Balak to...

Back in Black

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; [Are they] not in Your book? ...In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:8, 11 NKJV It’s comforting to know God keeps a record of all your sorrows and sufferings. As an adopted son through Christ...

Always in His Hands

This is the ritual of the law which the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no blemish, upon which a yoke has never come. And you shall give her to Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her outside the camp, and she shall be slaughtered...

Balm for the Deepest Wounds

Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 NKJV Few wounds cut more deeply than a friend’s betrayal. Psalm 55 addresses such a betrayal—a friend become foe, smooth words masking surprising hatred, a stunning turn that cut...

For God’s Sake

A Contemplation of David when the Ziphites went and said to Saul, "Is David not hiding with us?" Save me, O God, by Your name, And vindicate me by Your strength. Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. Psalm 54:1-2 NKJV The Bible’s histories never say if David got sick of...

Watch and Pray

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak." Mark 14:38 NKJV Jesus knew what was coming: betrayal, denial, torture, and an excruciating death. But even in His darkest hour, when His friends fell asleep on Him, when soldiers and...

Courage Over Cowardice

"Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they [are] our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD [is] with us. Do not fear them." Numbers 14:9 NKJV Twelve scouts returned from the Promised Land having seen the same things. But ten of them...

A Born-Again Heart

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 AMPC More than asking for forgiveness for his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah, David longed for God to take away sinful desires altogether. He knew that was the only way he wouldn’t hurt...

Truth from the Inside Out

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden [part] You will make me to know wisdom. Psalm 51:6 NKJV The key to David’s psalm of repentance is that he acknowledges that no one is more offended by his sin than God. Others were certainly affected; that’s always the case. But as...

Mindful Giving

Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on." Mark 12:43-44 NLT The story of the...

Gratitude can be a Sacrifice

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory." Psalm 50:14-15 NLT Most God-fearing people will admit that, at some point, God has disappointed them. An important...

Faith in God Alone

I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours...

Called Out and Up

And Jesus stopped and said, Call him. And they called the blind man, telling him, Take courage! Get up! He is calling you. Mark 10:49 AMPC Jesus has the power to heal all types of blindness—the physical but also the mental, emotional, and spiritual. In fact, the latter types of healings are...

Touching the Sore Spot

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great...

Worth the Struggle

"For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. "Salt [is] good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." Mark 9:49-50 NKJV Jesus brought serious challenge in Mark 9, starting...

Praise Him Like You Know Him

For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding. Psalm 47:7 AMPC Like Psalm 46, Psalm 47 keeps the theme of God’s sovereign power but shifts our response from trust to praise. In ancient times, a song was most often a story. The psalms often set...

Let God be God

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 AMPC Psalm 46 reminds God’s people that He is still in control, still in charge of the outcome—of all outcomes. That includes natural...

Your Own Personal Savior

I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. Leviticus 26:11-12 NKJV Christians are still subject to seeing the physical world through sin-stained glasses. Jesus will fix us eventually, but till then...

Expect the Unexpected

When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke with them and said, "Have courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Mark 6:49-50 CSB We’re so used to the idea of Jesus walking on the waves that it’s...

Rest is Restoration

"You shall do no manner of work; [it shall be] a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. "It [shall be] to you a sabbath of [solemn] rest, and you shall afflict your souls; on the ninth [day] of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall celebrate your...