From: August 11, 2023
“Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin” (Proverbs 21:4 NLT).
This proverbs speaks to the reality that sin is more than an action, but is preceded by an attitude and heart condition. Jesus addressed this reality in the Sermon on the Mount when he connected the prohibitions of the Decalogue with the attitudes of the heart. Certainly the understanding of this should drive us to our need for a Savior. For who else can rescue us from this body of death?
And as parents, it should also instruct our care for our children, so that our discipline is not just for the action, but aimed at the attitude of the heart. Here again, the desire to shepherd your child’s heart should drive you to your need for Christ’s help.
For Christ alone is able to give us a new heart.
PRAYER: Father thank you for Jesus. He is the Shepherd of our hearts. Examine our hearts this day and empower us to live in Your Spirit. For those of us who are parents and grandparents, give us the insight and wisdom to do more than parent our child’s behavior. Help us to shepherd their hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 11, 2022
DOES GOD FORGET HIS PROMISES?
When Nehemiah heard the report about the broken down condition of Jerusalem’s walls, he fasted and prayed with weeping. As he poured out his heart to God, he reminded God to “remember” His Word. This seems a little strange doesn’t it? Asking the omniscient God to “remember” His own Word? Yet, many biblical prayers contain similar language. Like a child who goes to his father saying, “You promised I could have a cookie if I ate all my broccoli.” Nehemiah called on the Lord to remember His promise that if they returned to Him, He would “gather them and bring them” back to Jerusalem and make His Name “dwell there” again. Nehemiah called on God to remember His promise.
The truth is, God loves it when His people repeat His Word back to Him in prayer. Of course, this implies that we know His promises, so that we are able to pray them back to Him. We ask God to remember His promises, not because He is forgetful, but because we want Him to see that we are putting our faith in Him and in His Word.
What promises are you asking God to remember?
PRAYER: Dear Father, teach us to claim Your promises when we are troubled and weary. Help us to focus on Your Word rather than the world and its problems. Lord, remember Your Word, we pray, and stretch out Your hand to strengthen us for Your work. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: August 11, 2016
When Nehemiah heard the report about the broken down condition of Jerusalem’s walls, he fasted and prayed with weeping. As he poured out his heart to God, he reminded God to “remember” His Word. This seems a little strange doesn’t it? Asking the omniscient God to “remember” His own Word? Yet, many biblical prayers contain similar language. Like a child who goes to his father saying, “You promised I could have a cookie if I ate all my broccoli.” Nehemiah called on the Lord to remember His promise that if they returned to Him, He would “gather them and bring them” back to Jerusalem and make His Name “dwell there” again. Nehemiah called on God to remember His promise. The truth is, God loves it when His people repeat His Word back to Him in prayer. Of course, this implies that we know His promises, so that we are able to pray them back to Him. What promises are you asking God to remember?
From: August 11, 2015
Have you ever felt as David did when he wrote this psalm? You’re crying out to God in prayer, but you don’t feel His presence? Perhaps this dark night of the soul has come in order to increase your thirst for the Lord. It causes you to grow in awareness of your ultimate dependence on God. And this has become more acute as you desire to hear His voice and experience His touch. When we pray like this what may have begun as a litany of requests becomes a singular desire: “God, I only want You!”
From: August 11, 2014
This proverbs speaks to the reality that sin is more than an action, but is preceded by an attitude and heart condition. Jesus addressed this reality in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5) when he connected the outward prohibitions of the Decalogue with the attitudes of the heart. Certainly the full understanding of this should drive us to our need for a Savior. For who else can rescue us from this body of death? And as parents, it should also instruct our care for our children, so that our discipline is not just for the action, but aimed at the attitude of the heart. Here again, the desire to shepherd your child’s heart should drive you to your need for Christ’s help.
From: August 11, 2012
To those who think that Jesus was permissive on divorce, Paul reminds us of His command: Don’t leave your spouse. If Christianity doesn’t have the power to bring peace to your home, how can it claim to offer peace to the world? Don’t give up! Trust Christ to heal your marriage.
From: August 11, 2011
How Nehemiah responded to the disgraceful news about Jerusalem’s broken walls. Where are the broken walls of today’s world? Where are the Nehemiahs of this day that would rebuild the broken walls? God is looking and listening for those who would be so moved.