1. A Prayer for Before You Get Out of Bed Dear Heavenly Father, You know I’ve just woken up, and my mind isn’t working at its optimum just yet. As I lay here, help me remember how very loved I am by You. You created me in Your image, You know me intimately and completely, and You consider me so precious that You made a way to heaven for me through

For us to know God will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8) is a lesson in God’s faithfulness. As believers, He does not leave us to face anything without Him. That’s a sure hope and a promise.3. God’s Providence Is Always Active(Genesis 50:19-21; Romans 8:28) When Jacob died and Joseph’s brothers feared he would exact vengeance upon th

Writing to the church at Colossae, Paul emphasizes that whatever a believer does can be done for the glory of God. Carrying oneself with integrity, modesty, and striving to live a righteous life can make anything someone does an act of worship and a way to bless the Lord.What Should We Do When We Find It Hard to Bless the Lord?Sometimes it is hard

What Is the Shortest Verse in the Bible?In our English language translations, John 11:35 is deemed the shortest verse in the Bible. It reads, “Jesus wept.” This verse reflects our Lord’s reaction when He heard of the death of His friend, Lazarus.There is, however, another two-word verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice always.” In the original Greek

A rainbow is a pinnacle of God’s astounding creation. It shines in a dismal, rainy sky or a sky just beginning to reveal the sun. A rainbow reminds us of God’s faithfulness in stormy times.At the end of the New Testament, in John’s prophetic book of Revelation, he describes the glory and power of God on his throne with these words: After these thin

It would make sense for God to institute a Year of Jubilee to free the slaves who owed their masters. Speaking of…God Frees Us from DebtsIf you find yourself naturally reacting against the idea of freeing people from their debts (especially if you would be getting the money back), consider checking out the passage of the unforgiving servant in Matt

The Processing StepWe must decide to say yes to God’s plan. This does not mean we give consent, rather we make a commitment to the plan and say, no matter what God, I’m all in. Like Joseph, I'm in whether the pit or the prison... because I believe in the palace!The Price StepWe recognize the cost of carrying the vision to its fulfillment. Any visio

When it comes to salvation there are things the Bible says about free will that may cause some to imply we have no choice in our salvation decision. Here are two scriptures to consider.“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he pre

In Isaiah 47, we see that God condemned those who did use astrology in this way. Verse 12 first condemns the magicians, and then verses 13-14 goes say the following:“Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds. But they are like straw burning in a fire;

What Is Worship?The word worship comes from the Old English word “weorþscipe” or “worth-ship” which means “to give worth to.” In a secular context, the word can mean “to hold something in high esteem.” In a Biblical context, the Hebrew word for worship is shachah, which means to depress, to fall down, or to lay prostrate before a deity. It is to ho

What Is Communion? Communion is the name given to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, which Jesus instituted in Matthew 26:17–29 (Mark and Luke also record this in Mark 14:12–25, and Luke 22:7–38). In these passages, Jesus and His disciples gathered to celebrate the Passover. Jesus’ focus is on the New Covenant which He guaranteed by presenting H

In this poem, God is pictured as a mighty warrior, taking up his weapons, and fighting against David’s enemies. God is described in human terms with ears, nose, mouth, and feet. He mounts the cherubim like a horse or chariot. His voice thunders and he shoots arrows of lightning that rout his enemies.That this passage is not literal does not detract

The book of Obadiah ends on a bit of a high note. But it’s not a high note that will be fulfilled by obedient Israelites. It is a high note that will be fulfilled by the true Israel, Jesus Christ. I appreciate Eugene Peterson’s words here: “But the last line of the prophecy takes a giant step out of the centuries of hate and rivalry and invective.

Where Does Revelation Describe a War in Heaven? In Revelation 12, the apostle John switches from talking about the seven trumpets and trials of the earth to war in heaven. Revelation 12:7-10 is where the war begins. “Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did

Thank you for giving me life. I lift up my voice in praise for Your mighty hand and Your infinite creativity and wisdom. You gave me the breath of life, Your Spirit, and Your image. When I strayed away from You and sinned, You extended forgiveness and grace. You sent Jesus Christ to die in my place on the cross, to pay for my sins, so that I may ha

Mark 8:17 – “And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?’”Proverbs 28:14 – “How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”Luke 24:38 – “And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why

4. Seven x 10 (70) years of captivityWhen the Israelites enter captivity, they resided in Babylon for 70 years (7x10, Jeremiah 25:8-12). Every seven years was supposed to be a year of rest (the year of Jubilee had other items in addition to this). Israelites failed to observe 70 Sabbath years, hence the 70 years in captivity. 5. Seven in Relation

These denominations and thought movements include:Reformed/Calvinist: The reformed or Calvinist tradition was born from the Reformation, with an emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Bible, and covenantal theology. Key early figures include John Calvin, Martin Bucer, and Besançon Hugues. The movement began in the mid to late 15th

What Do Catholics Believe? Generally, when people in western cultures speak about Catholicism, they are referring to the Roman Catholic church, though it is not the only one that could fall under the banner of Catholicism. The beliefs outlined here will be in reference to the catechism, beliefs, and church structure of the Roman Catholic Church, an

What Is the Significance of This?The number 777 highlights the importance of repetition for us to remember God’s messages. God has wired our minds to be able to recall a message especially well when it is repeated. By repeating the number that biblically signifies full completion (the number seven) three times (the number of the perfect Trinity), 7