There are times when a Bible verse grabs hold of you and won’t let go. You just can’t read past it, even if you’ve done so many times before.
That’s the Holy Spirit, your personal helper in all things concerning walking with God, saying, “Let’s park here for awhile; I have some things to teach you.” What follows is what the Spirit taught me when He pulled me aside for our lesson on sacrifices of righteousness.
There is no shortage of mysteries to ponder in God’s Word! Heavenly things and invisible things are always mysterious to earthlings staring at a toaster. Mysteries about what God holds out to us must be taken in faith until we understand them. Such a mystery is in the words of Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:6: …
The first time I fasted seven days was a challenge, and a surprise.
A surprise because I didn’t know going in that after the first three days, that gnawing hunger stops coming in waves. The science says this phenomena happens because your body, seeing that you aren’t going to offer it food, turns to your fat stores and burns them for energy. I truly did not crave food those last few days, which left me with a lovely sense of rest.
If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. John 5:31-32 (NASB) As I read these words in John’s gospel this morning, my mind flooded with memories of all the good opinions of …
Hebrews 4:12 says God’s Word is living and active. So what is it doing in all that living and activity, where you are concerned? Ponder with me the fuller passage from Hebrews 4:12-16. Then we’ll look closely at verse 12, from The Passion Translation: For we have the living Word of God, which is full …
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
John 14:21
What does that actually mean for a born-again believer and disciple of Christ today? How does Jesus show himself?
I always appreciate learning more about how to pray, how to talk to God. Especially when troubled, or in trouble. As I often say, the Psalms are chock full of great examples, even conversations between God and His child. Psalm 4 is yet another pattern for prayer. Again, this is an example of a Psalm …
When God brought the Hebrew nation out from their life of Egyptian slavery, He gave them such favor with the Egyptians that they handed over their wealth for the asking. The Israelites walked away from their life of enslavement loaded with precious gold, silver, and bronze; fine white gossamer linen; colorful yarns; olive oil, spices, precious stones and much more. God’s redeemed people were not just free, they were greatly enriched with a treasure God instructed them to ask for as they departed.
God leans in to hear our prayers! What an amazing image. Because the Psalmist so often gives words to my own heart’s experience, I read the verses as if they were mine, to personalize them. Or as we like to say, “take them to heart.” The following is what that looks like for Psalm 116 …
Life with the Spirit offers a dialogue with God that nourish your spirit and soul. Through my first reading of the Bible in 1979, I was inspired to believe and listen for the voice of my new Lord. My journals are now salted with conversations with God as He personally encouraged, comforted and mentored me. The Spirit makes the thoughts of God known to those in whom He lives. That, dear Christian, is YOU.
