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In: Bible and Theology, God's promises, Prayer and Devotions

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12) Recently we’ve talked about, based on psalms, pressing our roots down into the streams of living water flowing from the Lord being the key to weathering the storms of life (okay, so we used desert imagery.) Here James reasserts plainly the need for the steadfastness implied by the tree roots dipped into a flowing river so it has the resources to survive no matter what the weather of the world throwsRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Faith, Gospel, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness

“ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11) I was really reluctant to write a devotional based on today’s verse of the day. Tons of commentaries have been done on this passage, and entire books written on the armor of God. We can apply the same lens we’ve held up before to the scripture: what God commands us to do, he will empower us to do. View this as a blessing and a promise and allow theRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Fear and Anxiety, Lament, Prayer and Devotions

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream,and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green,and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8) Let’s skip the guilt trip today. We all have room for improvement when it comes to trusting the Lord and probably most of us will continue to have times when we struggle there. So what is your heat, what is your drought? That is, what leavesRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Grace, Prayer and Devotions

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2-3 Going in, I find myself assuming Peter must have been talking to a brand new church and brand new Christians, since Paul slammed a church for still crawling around in diapers, drinking milk, and not able to digest the meat and potatoes he felt they ought to have been ready for. Perhaps this is meant rather as a reminder to take stock from time to time of the spiritual essentials we think we alreadyRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Fear and Anxiety, God's promises, Lament, Prayer and Devotions

“ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3) These words of comfort reach across ages. The promise is true today. Humble yourself under the Lord’s rod and His staff and trust and hear no other voice. You know his voice, for you are his, chosen out of the world, beautiful and precious in his eyes. If you are tired, wrung out, stressed out, discouraged, and/or afraid, allow him to lay you downRead More →