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▼ See a Sample of Today's Verse

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

—Philippians 4:12-13

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Life is full of ups and downs, highs and lows. So much of what and who we hold dear in this world can be touched by death, disaster, and decay. What do we have that is certain? To whom can we turn for assurance? Where do we find the power to live victoriously in good times and bad? In the Lord who gives us strength! With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can do everything and endure everything, with the help of God — Father, Son, and Spirit who give us strength!

My Prayer...

O Lord God, Father of all creation, we confess that our lives and the circumstances in which we live are beyond our abilities to control. We thank you for being present to comfort, protect, guide, and empower us. Because of your presence and strength in us and with us, we believe we can face each situation with confidence and assurance. Because you are with each of us, O loving Shepherd, we know we will have all we need to live victoriously for you until the glorious day we share with you in your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen.

▼ See a Sample of God's Holy Fire

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

—Romans 8:11 ESV

Key Thought

The Holy Spirit brings life to our mortal bodies by bringing Jesus alive in us despite the fact that we live in mortal bodies of decay. We display the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as we are conformed to Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit within us is God's promise that we will be raised up and given new life in a resurrection body when Christ returns (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5). The power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:17-20).

Today's Prayer

Father in heaven, I know that you are glorious and that I am mortal. I know that you are eternal and that my current physical body is subject to decay. So I thank you for placing your Holy Spirit within me so that I can live for you while in this physical body of decay. I thank you for placing your Holy Spirit within me so I can have the assurance that I will be given a glorious body to share in glory with you forever and with those who love you, Father. I thank you for these gifts, in Jesus' name. Amen.

▼ See a Sample of What Jesus Did!

There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons [in the two men Jesus encountered after crossing the lake] begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs."

"All right, go!" Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

—Matthew 8:30-32 NLT

Key Thought

Two truths are powerfully illustrated by these verses. First, Jesus commands and demons must obey. He is superior to them. They cannot stand against him. Second, the goal of the demonic world is to destroy. The plight of the men — possessed, unclothed, out of their minds, self-destructive, living in the place of the dead, isolated from people — and the ultimate end of the herd of pigs both remind us that the demonic world, no matter how alluring or seductive or powerful, has as its goal our destruction. The crucifixion of Jesus, which lies ahead of him at this time in his ministry, will be the place that Jesus' superiority will ultimately conflict with the demonic world's desire to destroy. For three days after his crucifixion, it appears as if the demonic world has won. Jesus' triumphant resurrection is the great reminder that he is Lord. He has the power to defeat every enemy. Our ultimate victory in Jesus is assured just as surely as demons ultimate defeat is certain.

Today's Prayer

Holy God, please give me wisdom to see through the temptations of Satan and the allure of the demonic world. Don't let me ever forget that Satan's ultimate desire for me is my complete physical, spiritual, and social destruction. Thank you for sending Jesus to absorb the demonic world's blows intended for me and to free me from the power of death forever. In the mighty name of Jesus, your Son and my Savior, I pray. Amen.

▼ See a Sample of Unstoppable!

[Stephen, in his defense before the council, emphasized how the Jewish ancestors had turned against Moses during their time in the Sinai wilderness:] "But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt. They told Aaron, 'Make us some gods who can lead us, for we don't know what has become of this Moses, who brought us out of Egypt.' So they made an idol shaped like a calf, and they sacrificed to it and celebrated over this thing they had made."

—Acts 7:39-41 NLT

Key Thought

The Israelites rejected Moses, and in so doing, they also rejected God. They trusted in the work of their hands instead of trusting the deliverance they had received from God. They quickly forgot what God had done and the leader he had chosen to deliver them. Generations later, the Israelites did the same with Jesus. But are we different? Do we call on God only when we are desperate and need him to solve some problem? Do we expect God to do our will instead of surrendering our lives to his will? Do we expect God to protect us while we ignore his warnings about the consequences of disobedience?

Today's Prayer

Father, forgive us, forgive me, for so quickly forgetting all of your blessings. Forgive me for choosing my own will and following my own path. Forgive me for ignoring your calls to live life by Jesus' standard and not the world's standard. I recognize, dear Father, that your people have repeatedly turned away from you and your will for them — all to their harm. Come, O Holy Spirit, and anoint us with power and clean hearts so that we pursue the way of the Lord out of reverential appreciation for all he has done. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

▼ See a Sample of Passion for Praise

Exalt the Lord our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!

—Psalm 99:5

▼ See a Sample of Quotemeal

"If you lose an opportunity you will be like one who lets the bird fly away; you will never get it back."

—John of the Cross

▼ See a Sample of Morning and Evening

"My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels."

—Psalms 22:14

Morning Thought

Our blessed Lord experienced a terrible sinking and melting of soul. "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear?" Deep depression of spirit is the most grievous of all trials; all besides is as nothing. Well might the suffering Saviour cry to his God, "Be not far from me," for above all other seasons a man needs his God when his heart is melted within him because of heaviness. Believer, come near the cross this morning, and humbly adore the King of glory as having once been brought far lower, in mental distress and inward anguish, than any one among us; and mark his fitness to become a faithful High Priest, who can be touched with a feeling of our infirmities. Especially let those of us whose sadness springs directly from the withdrawal of a present sense of our Father's love, enter into near and intimate communion with Jesus. Let us not give way to despair, since through this dark room the Master has passed before us. Our souls may sometimes long and faint, and thirst even to anguish, to behold the light of the Lord's countenance: at such times let us stay ourselves with the sweet fact of the sympathy of our great High Priest. Our drops of sorrow may well be forgotten in the ocean of his griefs; but how high ought our love to rise! Come in, O strong and deep love of Jesus, like the sea at the flood in spring tides, cover all my powers, drown all my sins, wash out all my cares, lift up my earth-bound soul, and float it right up to my Lord's feet, and there let me lie, a poor broken shell, washed up by his love, having no virtue or value; and only venturing to whisper to him that if he will put his ear to me, he will hear within my heart faint echoes of the vast waves of his own love which have brought me where it is my delight to lie, even at his feet for ever.

▼ See a Sample of Daily Wisdom

For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.

—Proverbs 8:35-36

▼ See a Sample of Praying with Paul

1 Corinthians 9:1-18

Dear Father, who sees my heart,

Help me to follow the excellent example of the Apostle Paul. Though he had a right to earn his livelihood from his preaching, he didn't do so. He chose not to make full use of his rights in the gospel and instead preached the message free of charge.

Grant that my service to you will not be motivated by monetary gain or personal ambition. Whatever I do, let it be done out of love for you, your Son, your Word and your holy people.

Help me never to put any obstacle in the way of the proclamation of the Good News about Jesus Christ to all who need to hear.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

▼ See a Sample of A Year with Jesus

Note from Jesus

Dear Beloved,

Are you ready?

That's a question that could be asked about so many things that are a normal part of life — things like marriage, children, illness, moving, job change, or death.

But what about even bigger things? Are you ready for those things?

Some folks can't think of anything bigger than the first list. However, there are bigger and more important things — things like following Me, recognizing the presence of the kingdom of God, and preparing for My return as the victorious Son of Man. I want you to be ready for the things in both lists. However, the verses we focus on today center on the more important second list.

As I approached Jerusalem for My last visit before the cross, there was speculation about the kingdom of God coming. People were wondering if I was going to seize control politically and militarily. Some were hoping that I would use My power to restore the greatness of Israel as a nation. Notice how Luke describes it:

The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the kingdom of God would begin right away.
(Luke 19:11 NLT)

The power and character of the kingdom of God were already present and visible in the lives of My disciples. They had yielded their hearts to My Lordship and had submitted to My reign as Lord over their lives. This reign was displayed in the spiritual family they formed after Pentecost and the character and compassion with which they lived (Acts 2:42-47).

Read the verses below carefully. The coming of the kingdom of God is more than just My return as the glorious Son of Man from heaven (Daniel 7:13-14). Notice what I taught My disciples to pray:

Your prayers, rather, should be simple, like this:
Our Father in heaven,
let Your name remain holy.
Bring about Your kingdom. Manifest Your will here on earth,
as it is manifest in heaven.
(Matthew 6:9-10)

It is important for you to realize that the manner of writing and speaking at that time meant that "Manifest Your will..." was a restatement of "Bring about Your kingdom." That kingdom has already arrived among you as you live for Me and as you live My lifestyle in the world. Yet there is still My coming with power and glory in the kingdom at the end of time. As long as you are on earth, there will always be glimpses of the Father's kingdom breaking through, and yet the full dawning of that kingdom will be still ahead.

Here are some basic things about My coming in power at the end of time:

• Before My great coming as the victorious Son of Man, I had to suffer and be crucified.
• There will be no doubt when I come as the victorious Son of Man and no doubt that I have come: My coming will be visible and recognizable to everyone!
• At My coming, people will be carrying on life normally as they always have done — marrying, eating and drinking, doing business, farming, building, etc.
• The day I come as the victorious Son of Man will come suddenly, and so you must always be ready for it.
• When I come as the glorious Son of Man, I will raise and bring eternal life to those who have died but belong to Me, also bring eternal life to those who are still alive and belong to Me, and take them all to share in My glory.

My plea to you, today, contains two challenges:

1. Yearn, pray, and live to see the reign of My kingdom take hold in your life.
2. Be ready for My ultimate return — live as if it could occur at any moment because it could!

Verses to Live

Notice how carefully and firmly I move from the Pharisees' question about the coming of My kingdom to talking about My coming again in glory as the Son of Man. Both are important, but the two shouldn't be confused. The coming of My kingdom has arrived and should be present among you as you live with My character and compassion. My return to earth as the glorious and powerful Son of Man lies in the future, but you must always be ready for it to happen.

Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come.

Jesus:

The kingdom of God comes — but not with signs that you can observe. People are not going to say, "Look! Here it is!" They're not going to say, "Look! It's over there!" You want to see the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is already here among you.

Jesus (to His disciples):

Days are coming when you will wish you could see just one of the days of the Son of Man, but you won't see it. People will say, "Look, it's there!" or "Look! It's here!" Don't even bother looking. Don't follow their lead. You know how lightning flashes across the sky, bringing light from one horizon to the other. That's how the Son of Man will be when His time comes.

But first, He must face many sufferings. He must be rejected by this generation. The days of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah. People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage. Everything seemed completely normal until the day Noah entered the ark. Then it started raining, and soon they were all destroyed by the flood.

It was just the same in the days of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building, and carrying on business as usual. But then came the day when Lot left Sodom — a different kind of rain began to fall, and they were all destroyed by fire and sulfur falling from the sky. That's how it will be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

When that day comes, if you're on the housetop, don't run inside to try to save any of your belongings. If you're in the field, don't bother running back to the house. Remember Lot's wife. Turning back is fatal for those who do so. If you try to hold on to your life, it will slip through your fingers; if you let go of your life, you'll keep it. Listen, on the day of the Son of Man, two people will be asleep in bed; destruction will take one and the other will be left to survive. Two women will be grinding grain together; destruction will take one and the other will survive. Two men will be working out in the field; destruction will overtake one and the other will survive.

(Luke 17:20-36)

Response in Prayer

Glorious God, thank You for Your promised victory when all of us who love Jesus and long for His return as the victorious Son of Man will be brought to You. Until that day, I pray that I can — and that we can — display the values of Your kingdom in the way we live with each other and before a world caught in darkness. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

▼ See a Sample of Spiritual Warfare

Jacob's sons became jealous of Joseph and sold him to be a slave in Egypt. But God was with him and saved him from all his troubles. The king of Egypt liked Joseph and respected him because of the wisdom God gave him. The king made him governor of Egypt and put him in charge of all the people in his palace.

—Acts 7:9-10 NCV

Today's Prayer

Lord, I know it's not uncommon to be betrayed by those closest to us, but it's still very painful. I know You see what has been done to me. I know You know my pain and can empathize because You lived a life in the flesh where You experienced it. Help me to find hope in the promise that You will deliver me in Your good time. In Jesus' Name, Amen.