Today's Godly Reminder - John 15:15

God did not call us servants any longer. It is because the servant does not know what his master is doing. But He had called us Our friends. It is because He had revealed to us everything that He had heard from His Father.

Isn't it amazing? We are no longer servants, but God called us His friends. What a privilege to have! Thank God today and acknowledge His Words that we are His friends.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, You know me better than I know myself. Search the deepest parts of my heart for anything that is displeasing to You. Cleanse me of my wandering ways and lead me in Your good and righteous way.

Be present with me always. Dwell within my heart, O Lord. With thy light and thy Spirit, guide my soul, my thoughts, and all my actions, that I may teach thy Word, that thy healing power may be in me and in all the saints of thy church universal.

I praise You for Christ’s resurrection and victory, and for His promise to all people, that He will intercede for us at our death, and bring us to eternal life. Today, I remember and celebrate His resurrection, giving all glory to Father, Son and Holy Spirit for this miracle and the redemption of our own lives. Through Christ, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 139:23

Let Him search thoroughly our hearts. Let Him investigate our lives. Let Him find out everything about us. Let Him cross-examine and test us, and get a clear picture of what we're about. Let Him do those things to see for ourselves whether we’ve done anything wrong. Then, He could guide us on the road to eternal life.

The Daily Grace - God's Sandpaper

My friend's words stung. Trying to sleep, I battled to stop mulling over her pointed comments about my strong opinions. As I lay there, I asked for God's wisdom and peace. Several weeks later, still concerned about the matter, I prayed, "I hurt, Lord, but show me where I need to change. Show me where she's right".

My friend had acted as God's sandpaper in my life. My feelings felt rubbed raw, but I sensed that how I responded would lead to the building of my character - or not. My choice was to submit to the smoothing process, confessing my pride and stubborn stance. I sensed that my bumps and imperfections didn't glorify the Lord.

King Solomon knew that living in a community could be difficult, a theme he addressed in the book of Proverbs. In chapter 27, we see his wisdom applied to relationships. He likens the sharp words between friends as iron sharpening iron: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another" (v. 17), shaving off the rough edges in each other's behavior. The process may bring about wounds, such as the hurt I felt from my friend's words (see v. 6), but ultimately the Lord can use these words to help and encourage us to make needed changes in our attitude and behavior. How might the Lord be smoothing out your rough edges for His glory? The Lord allows our rough edges to be smoothed over through the sandpaper of life.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, how often I forget that it is because of You that I live. You made all of us from the very dust that You created. Then You did the most wondrous of all things, You made us in Your image and You breathed life into us.

This shaping process hurts, but I want to submit to the process. Mold me and smooth me. And having learned so much, I thank You that I can hear with my ears your wonderful works, the testimony of the earth and the spirit, like a light shining in the darkness.

I join those praying with me today in thanking You for our lives. We pray that You continue to sustain us each day. From Your heavenly place, accept our prayers and our praise. 

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Proverbs 27:17

This verse talks about the influences of the people around you. Through discussions, you can sharpen one another and learn one another. It's like you use steel to sharpen steel. This is how one friend sharpens another. A man sharpens the countenance of his friend to show rage or worthy purpose.

A friendly discussion is as stimulating as the sparks that fly when iron strikes the iron. Friends sharpen the minds of each other. Pray for a friend who will do the same for you. Through this, it can help your growth in all aspects of your life.

The Daily Grace - Walking with the Lord

A small pamphlet I received from a friend was titled "An Attempt to Share the story of 86 Years of Relationship with the Lord". In it, Al Ackenheil noted key people and events in his journey of faith over nearly nine decades. What seemed to be ordinary choices at the time - memorizing Bible verses, meeting for prayer with others, telling his neighbors about Jesus - became turning points that changed the direction of his life. It was fascinating to read how God's hand guided and encouraged Al.

The psalmist wrote, "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him" (Ps. 37:23). The passage continues with a beautiful description of God's faithful care for everyone who wants to walk with Him. "The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip" (v. 31). Each of us could create a record of God's leading and faithfulness, reflecting on God's guidance - the people, places, and experiences that are landmarks on our pathway of faith. Every remembrance of the Lord's goodness encourages us to keep walking with Him and to thank someone who influenced us for good. The Lord guides and guards all who walk with Him. You are headed in the right direction when you walk with God.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Your faithfulness to us is unfailing. Thank You for leading, guiding, and providing so many spiritual encouragers and mentors. Bless those today who have helped us so much.

In You, I live and move and have my being. I humbly pray You so to guide and govern me by Your Holy Spirit. In all the cares and occupations of my life, I may not forget You but may remember that I am ever walking in Your sight.

May the God of hope fill me and all of us with the joy and peace that comes from believing. May we abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Christ's name, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 37:23

The steps of a righteous man are established by the Lord. He delights in his way and blesses his path. He busies Himself with his every step. His path is blazed by God.

The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. If you do what the Lord wants, He will make certain each step you take is sure. The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

The Daily Grace - The Wrong Horsehoe

Napoleon's defeat in Russia 200 years ago was attributed to the harsh Russian winter. One specific problem was that his horses were wearing summer horseshoes. When winter came, these horses died because they slipped on icy roads as they pulled the supply wagons. The failure of Napoleon's supply chain reduced his 400,000-strong army to just 10,000. A small slip; a disastrous result!

James described how a slip of the tongue can do great damage. One wrong word can change the careers or destinies of people. So toxic is the tongue that James wrote, "No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). The problem has increased in our modern world as a careless email or a posting on a social media site can cause great harm. It quickly goes viral and can't always be retracted.

King David tied to respect for the Lord with the way we use our words. He wrote, "I will teach you the fear of the Lord. . . Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies" (Ps. 34:11, 13). He resolved, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth" (39:1). Ask help from the Lord to do the same. Our words have the power to build or tear down.

Today We Pray

Dear God, flood me with Your Spirit. Drown Satan in a deluge of Your mighty power! Shake the foundations of hell.

Let the beauty and love of Christ pour through me like a cataract. Let me wield the Sword of Faith. Renew me, empower me, purify me this day to Your Great Commission.

I bind myself to You this day, oh Christ, in Your truth and in Your sacrifice. I give to You my anxiety and my fear, my depression, and my doubt, for You have promised to take them if we only ask; and I take upon myself Your burden, for it is light and Your way is gentle. May I keep this in my heart and mind all this day.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 34:13

Let us always guard our words. Let us spread optimism everywhere. Say something that will encourage others, not to bring them down. Speak blessings. Speak life.

The Daily Grace - Free from Fear

Fear sneaks into my heart without permission. It paints a picture of helplessness and hopelessness. It steals my peace and my concentration. What am I fearful about? I'm concerned about the safety of my family or the health of loved ones. I panic at the loss of a job or a broken relationship. Fear turns my focus inward and reveals a heart that sometimes finds it hard to trust.

When these fears and worries strike, how good it is to read David's prayer in Psalm 34: "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears" (v. 4). And how does God deliver us from our fears? When we "look to him" (v. 5), when we focus on Him, our fears fade; we trust Him to be in control. Then David mentions a different type of fear - not fear that paralyzes, but deep respect and awe of the One who surrounds us and delivers us (v. 7). We can take refuge in Him because He is good (v. 8).

This awe of His goodness helps put our fears into perspective. When we remember who God is and how much He loves us, we can relax into His peace. "Those who fear him lack nothing" (v. 9), concludes David. How wonderful to discover that in the fear of the Lord, we can be delivered from our fears. Ask God to free you from your fears.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, I'm aware of my worries and fears. I place them in Your hands. Give me peace as I face the day.

Please help me today to take one truth and apply it to my circumstances. Oh blessed Holy Spirit, nudge me, remind me throughout my day, again and again, for I know I will find freedom in obedience to Your Word. I pray, show me what I need to focus on, right now and wherever the day might take me.

I humbly pray You so to guide and govern me by Your Holy Spirit, that in all the joys, occupations, and cares of this day I may never forget You. Let me always remember that I am ever walking in Your sight. In Christ’s name, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 34:4

God will always meet us more than halfway. He will also free us from our anxious fears. When we cry to Him, He will answer us. And, when we ask for help, He will always save us.

Pray to the Lord. He will answer it. He will be always there to hear our prayers. He listens.

The Daily Grace - Confidence In What?

While walking through a home-improvement store, I saw a man wearing a bright red T-shirt bearing this melancholy message: "Confidence: The feeling you have just before you understand the situation". I laughed at this humorous concept, but I also realized that the shirt carried a sane and sound warning. It's a reminder to all of us who try to get things done through confidence in our own ability or credentials but without consciously trusting in the strength of God. If we think we can accomplish life's tasks in our own strength, that false confidence will inevitably become our undoing - and we'll collapse under the weight of our own feelings.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this by recalling ancient Israel's penchant for self-confidence and self-sufficiency. He described everything the Israelites thought they had going for them; then he told how they had turned those benefits into a license to sin and an almost arrogant confidence that would prove to be their undoing. Paul said their self-confidence should warn us. His conclusion? "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). Psalm 118:8 shows us the best way: "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man", or in ourselves. Where is your confidence? Confidence in Christ is the right kind of confidence.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, who has created all things, seen and unseen, this day is Your creation and I give thanks to live in it. I pray that I will not shut You out of the day you have made, blinded by the petty concerns of life, but that I may be always open to Your presence. I open my body to You and give thanks for Your life that fills and warms every cell of it.

We need Your touch on our lives. Work in our hearts in whatever areas need a fresh start. Help us to do our part and to trust You to do what only You can do.

Make me and all who confess Your holy name people of this light. Make me faithful to Your Word that I may bring Your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 32:5

Make a clean breast of your failures to God. Let it all out! The pressure will be gone if you do it. Your guilt will be dissolved and your sin will be disappeared.

Stop trying to hide your sins and guilt to God. Confess your rebellions to Him and He will be faithful to forgive you and purify you from all unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:9). Do not hesitate to tell the Lord each one of your sins. Your guilt will also be gone because He will take it away. 

The Daily Grace - Tactical Distractions

It became painfully clear the first time my wife and I collaborated on a writing project that procrastination was going to be a major obstacle. Her role was to edit my work and keep me on schedule; my role seemed to be to drive her crazy. Most times, her organization and patience outlasted my resistance to deadlines and direction. I promised to have a certain amount of writing done by the end of one day. For the first hour, I plugged away diligently. Satisfied with what I'd accomplished so far, I decided to take a break. Before I knew it, my time was up. In trouble for sure, I thought of a way out. I set about doing a couple of chores my wife despised and which always netted me praise when I did them.

My plan failed. I sometimes play the same games with God. He brings specific people into my life He wants me to serve or tasks He wants me to accomplish. Like Jonah, who went another way when God gave Him an assignment (Jonah 4:2), I need to set aside my own feelings. I often try to impress God with good deeds or spiritual activity when what He really wants is obedience to His priorities. 

Inevitably, my plan fails. Are you dodging duties God makes clear He wants you to tackle? Trust me: Real contentment comes from doing it in His strength and in His way. Obedience pleases God.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to recognize our busyness and distractions for what they so often are - disobedience and inattention to the work You have given us to do. Soften my heart, that I may be directed by Your truth, and not the devices of my body and mind. And, grant me the grace to listen and hear Your Word. 

I have sinned against Heaven and before You. Cleanse me with Your divine fire as You purified the holy Apostles with fiery tongues. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, oh Lord. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me in my prayer and in thought. May the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - 2 Thessalonians 3:13

In spite of your busyness and in any distractions in your life, remember that do not grow tired or lose heart in doing good. Continue doing what is right without weakening. Don’t slack off in doing your duties. Never be tired of doing right.

But, never forget the Lord your God in your busyness. Still, acknowledge Him and put Him first above all else. Make time for Him. And, let Him be with you as you go through your course of life.

The Daily Grace - Faithful Service

Having served in World War I, C.S. Lewis was no stranger to the stresses of military service. In a public address during the Second World War, he eloquently described the hardships a soldier has to face: "All that we fear from all the kinds of adversity. . . is collected together in the life of the soldier on active service. Like sickness, it threatens pain and death. Like poverty, it threatens ill lodging, cold, heat, thirst, and hunger. Like slavery, it threatens toil, humiliation, injustice, and arbitrary rule. Like exile, it separates you from all you love".

The apostle Paul used the analogy of a soldier suffering hardship to describe the trials a believer may experience in service to Christ. Paul - now at the end of his life - had faithfully endured suffering for the sake of the gospel. He encourages Timothy to do the same: "Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:3).

Serving Christ requires perseverance. We may encounter obstacles of poor health, troubled relationships, or difficult circumstances. But as a good soldier, we press on - with God's strength - because we serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who sacrificed Himself for us! God's love does not keep us from trials but sees us through them.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, You are marvelous and wonderful! Help me to be faithful in my service to You. Thank You for the strength You provide to help me persevere through suffering.

Each day, enrapture me with Your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all. Grant me the grace of wonder. 

Finally, let me go forth in thanks for the victory I have been given through our Lord Jesus Christ. May I be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, and always remembering that in the Lord our labor is not in vain. This I pray, in Christ's name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - John 1:14

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory. Like Father, like Son, who is generous inside and out. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. True from start to finish.

The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him, all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us. May everything we do, by word or deed or story, be done to please the Lord.

The Daily Grace - Grace, Mercy and Peace

The words grace and peace are found in all of Paul's greetings in his New Testament letters to the churches. And in his letters to Timothy and Titus, he also includes mercy: "Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" (2 Tim. 1:2). Let's examine each of these words.

Grace is what our holy God gives that we, as sinful people, don't deserve. In Acts 17:25, we learn that "He gives to all life, breath, and all things". His gifts include our very next breath. Even in our darkest hour, strength is given by God so that we can endure. Mercy is what God withholds that we do deserve. In Lamentations 3:22, we read, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed". Even when we're wayward, God gives time and help for us to turn back to Him. Peace is what God brings to His people. Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 14:27). Even in the worst of times, we have inner tranquility because our God is in control.

We can be encouraged that throughout our lives the Lord will give us the grace, mercy, and peace we need to live for Him. God's grace is immeasurable, His mercy is inexhaustible, His peace is inexpressible. He gives more grace when the burdens grow greater. He sends more strength when the labors increase, to added affliction He adds His mercy, and to multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

Today We Pray

Dear God, You know every blade of grass that grows, every sparrow that dies, every act and thought of the seven billion people here on earth. The hundred billion stars are Yours and You made them, and you watch them, and the vastness of space and the countless galaxies, you know. You know my coming in and my going out, my thoughts and dreams and schemes, my countless little sins and lies, my kindnesses and my cruelties, my prayers and my curses.

Your knowledge is utterly beyond my comprehension. And yet, despite all of this, You have promised to know me, to be with me, to listen to me and help me. If I only ask for it in the name of Your Son, to forgive me when I offend You.

I praise You above all else, Mighty God; for the wonderment of Your existence and the unfathomable size and complexity of Your creation. And above all, my love and obedience are Yours. I give them to You now and forever, in gratitude for Your greatest gift, the sacrifice of Your blessed Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 102:27

God Himself never grow old. His years never end. Year after year He's as good as new. He lives forever.

He is always the same. Years cannot change Him. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).

The Daily Grace - Misplaced Trust

I like watching birds, an activity I developed while growing up in a forest village in Ghana where there were many different species of birds. In the city suburb where I now live, I recently observed the behavior of some crows that interested me. Flying toward a tree that had shed most of its leaves, the crows decided to take a rest. But instead of settling on the sturdy branches, they lighted on the dry and weak limbs that quickly gave away. They flapped their way out of danger - only to repeat the useless effort. Apparently, their bird sense didn't tell them that the solid branches were more trustworthy and secure resting places.

How about us? Where do we place our trust? David observes in Psalm 20:7: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God". Chariots and horses represent material and human assets. While these represent things that are useful in daily life, they don't give us security in times of trouble. If we place our trust in things or possessions or wealth, we will find that they eventually give way beneath us, as the branches gave way beneath the crows.

Those who trust in their chariots and horses can be "brought to their knees and fall" but those who trust in God will "rise up and stand firm" (20:8). Have you ever trusted someone or something and been disappointed or let down? Who or what was it? What do you trust in the most? In a world of change, we can trust our unchanging God.

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, it is so, so very difficult sometimes to keep You at the front of my mind and in the center of my heart, to let You guide my thoughts and actions during the pressure and rush of the day. Much of the time I completely forget You; I act from my own mind and heart, living in this world. It is so bad on some days that I will rush through whatever prayers I say, or fail to read Your Word with any conviction.

This is not how I want to live. Please, Lord God, so fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I have You in mind with my every thought and act. Lead me to take that first step every day to open my Bible, and to fold my hands and close my eyes.

Let me put You first, Lord God, and realize that the pressures of the world are illusory: but Your Word is forever. And now, as a little child, let me abide in You all this day, oh Christ so that when You appear I may have confidence and not shrink from You in shame at Your coming. I know that You are righteous, and I am sure that I will be made righteous only by my life in You.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 20:7-8

See those people polishing their chariots, and those others grooming their horses? But we’re making garlands for God our God. The chariots will rust, those horses pull up lame— and we’ll be on our feet, standing tall. Some nations boast of armies and of weaponry, but our boast is in the Lord our God. Those nations will collapse and perish; we will arise to stand firm and sure!

Other people trust the power of chariots or horses in wars, but let us trust our Lord God. Others will stumble and fall, but we will be strong and stand firm in His Name. It is because His Name is powerful above all things. We will rise up and stand firm in the Name of our Lord God!

The Daily Grace - Tears of a Teen

As I sat with four teenagers and a 20-something homeless man at a soup kitchen in Alaska, I was touched by the teens' compassion for him. They listened as he talked about what he believed and then they gently presented the gospel to him - lovingly offered him hope in Jesus. Sadly, the man refused to seriously consider the gospel. As we were leaving, one of the girls, Grace, expressed through her tears how much she didn't want the man to die without knowing Jesus. From the heart, she grieved for this young man who, at least at this point, was rejecting the love of the Savior.

The tears of this teen remind me of the apostle. Paul who served the Lord humbly and had great sorrow in his heart for his countrymen, desiring that they trust in Christ (Rom. 9:1-5). Paul's compassion and concern must have brought him to tears on many occasions. If we care enough for others who have not yet accepted God's gift of forgiveness through Christ, we will find ways to share with them. With the confidence of our own faith and with tears of compassion, let's take the good news to those who need to know the Savior. Sharing the gospel is one person telling another good news.

Today We Pray

Dear God, I entreat You, teach me to pray aright. Purify me from all taint of flesh and spirit. Bless this day which You give to me, Your unworthy servant.

By the power of Your blessing enable me, throughout this day, to speak and act to Your glory with a pure spirit, with humility, patience, love, gentleness, peace, courage and wisdom. Let me be always aware of Your presence. By the power of Your love, grant me to hold fast to that which is good.

Preserve me from every word or deed that corrupts the soul; from every impulse unpleasing in your sight and hurtful to my fellow man, my brothers, and sisters. The blessing of the Lord rest and remain upon all His people, in every land, of every tongue; the Lord meet in mercy all that seek Him; the Lord comfort all who suffer and mourn; the Lord hasten His coming, and give us, His people, the blessing of peace, this day and always. This in Christ’s name, I pray.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Romans 9:1

This is Paul's words in showing concern for Israel. He wanted its people to convince that he is telling the truth about Jesus. We all know Paul is a God-sent messenger to the people and he already wrote a lot of books in the New Testament to proclaim the good news. God spoke through Paul and is eagerly sharing it to every one of us through the Scriptures.

May we be like Paul in sharing the gospel to others. Never be ashamed, to tell the truth, and the people will be set free. Is there someone you need to talk to about Jesus today? Start now and ask guidance from the Lord to spread His good news to all mankind.

The Daily Grace - The Gift and the Giver

It's only a keychain. Five little blocks held together by a shoelace. My daughter gave it to me years ago when she was seven. Today, the lace is frayed and the blocks are chipped, but they spell a message that never grows old: "I ❤ DAD". The most precious gifts are determined not by what went into them, but by who they are from. Ask any parent who ever received a bouquet of dandelions from a chubby hand. The best gifts are valued not in money but in love.

Zechariah understood that. We hear it in his prophetic song as he praised God for giving him and his wife Elizabeth their son John when they were well past their childbearing years (Luke 1:67-69). Zechariah rejoiced because John was to be a prophet who would proclaim God's greatest gift to all people - the coming Messiah: "Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us" (Luke 1:78, NLT). Those words point to a gift given with so much love that it will even "shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death" (1:79).

The sweetest gift we can receive is God's tender mercy - the forgiveness of our sins through Jesus. That gift cost Him dearly at the cross, but He offers it freely out of His deep love for us. Jesus is both the Gift and the Giver. Be excited to receive gifts from Him because it is always the best one!

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, this day, give me not the spirit of laziness, despair, the lust for power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of sobriety, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages.

Teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve you as you deserve. Teach me to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not heed the wounds, to toil and not seek for rest, to labor and not to seek reward, save that of knowing that I do Your will.

May the God of peace, who declared victory over death by the resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ, make me perfect in every thought and act through His grace. Let my life might be pleasing in His sight. And that, I might share the perfect peace that is only possible through Him, to whom be glory forever and ever.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Psalm 103:2

Bless the Lord at all times. Affectionately, praise His Name. Let us not forget the good things that He has done in our lives. God is a sovereign God. He is always gracious to extend to us the blessings that come from His hands. 

Receive that blessing always. It's not just one or two, but you will be blessed a thousand folds. Acknowledge the Lord always. Let His Name be known to the nations. Let the people know the good things that He has done so that many people will come to Him and inherit His Kingdom.

The Daily Grace - Transformed Hearts

During the early 1970s in Ghana, a poster titled "The Heart of Man" appeared on walls and public notice boards. In one picture, all kinds of reptiles - symbols of the vile and despicable - filled the heart-shaped painting with the head of a very unhappy man on top of it. In another image, the heart-shape was clean and serene with the head of a contented man. The caption beneath the images read: "What is the condition of your heart?"

In Matthew 15:18-19, Jesus explained what pollutes a person. "The things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts - murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander". That is the condition of a heart separated from God - the situation ancient Israelites found themselves in when their sins forced them into exile (Ezek. 36:23).

God's promise in Ezekiel 36:26 is beautiful: "I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart" (NLT; See also 11:19). God will take away our stubborn hearts that have been corrupted by all kinds of evil and give us a clean heart that is responsive to Him. Praise God for such a wonderful gift. For a new start, ask God for a new heart.

Today We Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for this day. I thank You that I can see or hear your Word this morning. Let me give thanks all day for what I have, especially Your eternal love, and forgive me this day when I go astray, by my thoughts or actions; my only aim is to please You, to know and do Your will. 

Thank You that when we confess our sin to You, You give us a new heart and a new life. I pray that the life I live reflects the goodness of Your gift and that others may see the difference a new heart has made in me. Guide my every step, Lord.

May Your Words be planted deeply in my mind and heart. Help me not to walk away and forget it, but to meditate on it and obey it and so built my life on the rock of Your truth. This I pray, in Christ's Name.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Proverbs 4:23

Watch over your heart with all diligence. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard. For from, it flows the springs of life. It is the source of life’s consequences. So, keep vigilant over your heart; that’s where life starts.

Also, carefully guard your thoughts. Guard your affections. It is because they are the source of true life. They influence everything else in your life.

The Daily Grace - The Likes of Us

In the late 18th century, William Carey felt a call to travel to India as a missionary to share the good news of Jesus. Pastors around him scoffed: "Young man, if God wants to save [anyone] in India, He will do it without your help or mine!" They missed the point of partnership. God does very little on earth without the likes of us.

As partners in God's work on earth, we insist that God's will be done while at the same time committing ourselves to whatever that may require of us. "Your kingdom come, Your will be done", Jesus taught us to pray (Matt. 6:10). These words are not a calm request but holy demands. Give us justice! Set the world aright!

We have different roles to play, we and God. It is our role to follow in Jesus' steps by doing the work of the kingdom both by our deeds and by our prayers. We are Christ's body on earth, to borrow Paul's metaphor in Colossians 1:24. Those we serve, Christ serves. When we extend mercy to the broken, we reach out with the hands of Christ Himself. As William Carey said, "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God".

Today We Pray

Dear Lord, You have called us Your friends. In some small way, help us to show Your love to this hurting world so they will know You. Deliver me, when I draw near to You, from the coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, so that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections, I may worship You in spirit and in truth.

I confess that I have sinned against Your Holy Word. I pray that You will now fulfill in me and in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace. Please forgive all our sins and cleanse us from an evil conscience. 

God of love, Father of all, the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of Your Word made flesh, make me and all who confess Your holy name people of this light. Make me faithful to Your Word that I may bring Your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Today's Godly Reminder - Matthew 9:38

The harvest truly is plenteous. A waving field of golden grain invites many reapers and demands haste. By reference to the harvest here, it means that the multitude of people that flocked to his ministry was great. The people expected the Messiah. They were prepared to receive the gospel, but the laborers were few. Therefore, it was instructed to the people to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth reapers, especially to the lost. God is the proprietor of the great harvest of the world, and he only can send people to gather it in.

People still need to send, to make a way for others to go. And we all need to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest. So, prayer is the essential first step in reaching the lost. It’s a joining of our pleading with the compassion of Christ. Are our hearts burdened for the lost? If so, then we must pray. If not, we must pray even more, that God would give us the compassion and concern for those that are separated from the Good Shepherd.

The Daily Grace - Something I Should Know?

During a concert, singer-songwriter David Wilcox responded to a question from the audience about how he composes songs. He said there are three aspects to his process: a quiet room, an empty page, and the question, "Is there something I should know?" It struck me as a wonderful approach for followers of Jesus as we seek the Lord's plan for our lives each day.

Throughout Jesus' public ministry, He took time to be alone in prayer. After feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, He sent His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat while He dismissed the crowd (Matt. 14:22). "After [Jesus] had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone" (v. 23).

If the Lord Jesus saw the need to be alone with His Father, how much more do we need a daily time of solitude to pour out our hearts to God, ponder His Word, and prepare to follow His directions. A quiet room - anywhere we can focus on the Lord without distractions. An empty page - a receptive mind, a blank sheet of paper, a willingness to listen. Is there something I should know? "Lord, speak to me by Your Spirit, Your written Word, and the assurance of Your direction". From that quiet hillside, Jesus descended into a violent storm, knowing exactly what His Father wanted Him to do (vv. 24-27). Taking time to be with God is the best place to find strength.

Today We Pray

Dear God, You are a helper, a savior, and a shield. You resurrect the dead. And, You are powerful to save us in the forgiveness of our sins.

Do not permit vanity, self-love, sensuality, carelessness, nor anger to rule over me and steal me from Thy love, O my Lord and Creator, all my hope! Do not leave me without a portion of the blessed eternity. Grant also that I may follow Thy Holy example, that I may submit to the authorities placed over me.

Grant me the clean soul, the simplicity of heart that makes us worthy of Thy love. And, may I go in peace, with God, and with his other children, and may we love one another as Christ taught us. May I follow the example of good men of old, and may God comfort and help me and all who believe in Him, both in this world and in the world which is to come.

Amen