Complete Access - Our Daily Bread Devotional, February 26, 2017

Topic: Complete Access [Sunday February 26, 2017]

Read: Ephesians 3:7–13, Bible in a Year:Numbers 15–16; Mark 6:1–29

Through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12

A few years ago, a friend invited me to join him as a spectator at a pro golf tournament. Being a first-timer, I had no idea what to expect. When we arrived, I was surprised to receive gifts, information, and maps of the golf course. But what topped it all was that we gained access to a VIP tent behind the 18th green, where we had free food and a place to sit. I couldn’t have gained entry to the hospitality tent on my own though. The key was my friend; it was only through him that I had complete access.

Left to ourselves, we would all be hopelessly separated from God. But Jesus, who took our penalty, offers us His life and access to God. The apostle Paul wrote, “[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known” (Eph. 3:10). This wisdom has brought Jew and Gentile together in Christ, who has made a way for us to come to God the Father. “Through faith in [Christ] we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (v. 12).

When we put our trust in Jesus, we receive the greatest access of all—access to the God who loves us and desires relationship with us.

Prayer: Father! Just being able to call You Father is an incredible gift. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who has made it possible for me to come into Your presence, to know You personally, and, yes, to call You my Father.

Because of the cross of Christ, we can become friends of God.

Insight:

Paul was humbled by memories that left him feeling unworthy to be writing on behalf of Christ and the community he once hated (Eph. 3:8). How could he ever forget the harm he had done to the people of Christ? (Gal. 1:13–14, 23). With his conversion, the Spirit of God gave Paul a heart for the Gentiles he once regarded as outsiders to Israel’s covenant of faith (Eph. 2:11–12). Paul and his readers could now celebrate together the honor of being accepted by God in the name of Christ. Do you wrestle with what it means to not measure up? To feel like an outsider, not welcome in the love of God? If so, then Paul’s letter has great significance. Together we can recall what it means to be welcomed into the presence of God in the full sponsorship of the Son—who lived and died to bring outsiders like us into His Father’s family.

This message was written By Bill Crowder [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Efficacy of the Word - DCLM Daily Manna February 26, 2017

Text: Nehemiah 8:9-18

Key Verse:  "For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law" (Nehemiah 8:9).

Sorrow has its place in human affairs even though people detest it. In the midst of joy and pleasure, humans by nature are prone to forgetfulness and wanton actions that drive a wedge between them and God. However, when cast down, we are compelled to reflect. God’s word has a way of breaking us down. Among the Jews in our text, the word they heard from the priests and Levites produced an effect on them: they wept and mourned because of their departure from the truth. There is however joy after sorrow like sunlight after snow.

Thus, the priests and the Levites commanded them to hold their peace and to make merry as their souls were revived. The wind of revival that spread through the land made the priests, the Levites, the chief fathers and all the people to desire more of the word of God. They read the book of the Law and obeyed all that God wrote through Moses. God’s word is still like hammer today. Sometimes, when we wander away from the truth, God’s word brings us back.

However, that restoration can only be possible when we are broken. Brokenness that produces genuine repentance and restitution and holy resolution to go back no more to those evil thoughts, deeds and associations. Thereafter, the joy of the Lord will fill the heart "for blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted". The word of God has not lost its power. It liveth and abideth forever. However, we must maintain a broken heart to receive the dew of the Word when we hear and read it. Keep your heart unfettered with the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and you will profit by the Word.

Thought for the day: God’s word is quick and sharp.

Bible Reading in one Year: Psalm 139-150

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Ungrateful? - Open Heavens 25 February 2017: Saturday daily devotional

Memorise: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: – Psalms 92:1

Read: 1 Samuel 25:4-17 (KJV)

4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.

5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:

6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.

9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.

10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.

11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?

12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.

13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.

15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:

16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 19-20, Isaiah 44:21-45:13

MESSAGE:

God plays a prominent role in every successful endeavour (Lamentations 3:37). No human effort would suffice if God is not involved (Psalm 127:1). This is why you need to be grateful to God for every achievement you experience. Nabal, his household and everyone around him lived in prosperity. In spite of all the battles raging around them, Nabal’s workers were all secure and his goods intact. He enjoyed safety and prosperity because the men of David’s hand shielded him and all he had from attacks. At a crucial point, David and his men needed his help in providing food for their sustenance, but he denied them this. He disdained David and his men because he saw them as misfits and fugitives who did not deserve his generosity. Many children of God also feel this way when they are asked to give. Some people disdain God each time they are asked to give offerings to Him. They wonder why they have to give 10% of their profit or income to God. They see this as irrational. Yes, irrational minds cannot see the faithfulness of God. We should be grateful to God, and our gratitude should be expressed through our actions to Him and to our fellow men. Every time we bless others with our possessions out of a sincere heart, we are saying to God that we are grateful He made us a channel of blessing.

You can move God to do more for you through the heart of gratitude. Those who show gratitude to God achieve significant things in life. Solomon showed his gratitude to God through his offerings (1 Kings 3:3-15). He remembered and reflected on all the intrigues and battles that led to his emergence as king, and he was moved to give thanks. Also, King David was so grateful to God that he expressed it in his dance, to the point where he was disdained (2 Samuel 6:16). He forgot he was a king, because he was demonstrating his gratitude to the King of kings. For those with a heart of gratitude to God, when things are working, they praise God, and when things are not going in the direction they envisaged, they still praise God, knowing well that the faithfulness of God will never allow them to suffer loss. Are you surrounded by enemies you can’t number? Don’t be troubled. Trust in Lord, and you will see His salvation. Are you going through situations that you can’t see yourself overcoming? Put your trust in God, and you will have total victory. Just take the step of faith and begin to bless the Name of the Lord. Even if a sack letter from your job was handed over to you yesterday, just begin to bless the Lord because something awesome is about to happen to you, and the world will hear your testimony.

Action Point: With a heart of gratitude to God, count your blessings and name them one by one.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

CONTROL YOUR APPETITE - EaglesDevotional by Ayo Oritsejafor

“And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.” (Genesis 25: 30)

Your appetite can lead you into trouble if you are not careful. Men fail when they yield to diverse temptations. Answers to prayers come to you through altars.

In Gen 25:22, Rebekah became pregnant with a set of twins, Esau and Jacob, and inside her womb, was a battle for supremacy. Anyone who tells you life does not have battles is deceiving you. That is why I always feel sorry for those who come to church but are lukewarm. The reason the descendants of Esau can never defeat those of Jacob is because even before Esau and Jacob came into the world, Jacob had already defeated Esau in the womb. He settled it there.

If you must win the battles in your job, business, marriage, education, etc, you need to settle it from day one. January is the best time to start but February isn’t bad. Win your battles early and make the battles of the other months a stroll in the park.

The fact that God wishes something for you doesn’t mean you will automatically get it. You need to rearrange yourself to make it happen. Good things don’t just happen. Good people make them happen. Any battle you have won cannot be un-won.

You will defeat any human being and power that contends with you this year. You will defeat every contrary prophesy and satanic utterance from any other altar. The powers that once held you have released you. You will defeat those that want to take your job, your destiny, and your life, in the name of Jesus.

WORDS OF WISDOM: When an Esau grieves the mother, she turns around to support Jacob.

PRAYER/CONFESSION: Father, by Your grace, help me to give birth to my blessings and opportunities.

FURTHER READING: 1 Sam. 21:8, Rom. 12:11

 Eagles Devotional is a daily revelatory and inspirational Publication by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the founder and presiding Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Nigeria.

The Choice Is Yours - Kenneth Copeland’s daily devotional February 25, 2017

Choose you this day whom ye will serve. -Joshua 24:15

Choosing to side with God's Word is a continual challenge. It's not something you do just once. It's a process of choosing to believe and act upon the Word of God over and over in every circumstance.

That's what everyone has to do. Years ago I decided I was going to choose Jesus. Since then I've had to choose Him again and again in situations every day. I've chosen Him as my Lord and Savior. I've chosen Him as my Healer. I've chosen Him as my Financier. I've chosen Him as head of my household. I've chosen Him as head of this ministry. And I still have to choose Him moment by moment.

Sometimes that choice gets tough, but God has promised it will never get too tough. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, He says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able." What the Lord is saying is that He will not allow you to be subjected to a temptation you're unable to overcome. With every temptation, He'll make a way of escape. He'll always make sure you have a choice.

The devil doesn't come tempt you while God is off somewhere else, unaware of what is happening to you. The Spirit of God is constantly there with you, providing you with the way to overcome. In other words, God matches even the toughest temptations with the weapons and power you need to conquer them. He always makes it possible for you to choose life.

So choose to walk in love. Choose to walk by faith. Choose to live by the Word. Jesus is the Way! Choose Him!

Scripture Reading: Joshua 24:14-24

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith - prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Wholehearted - Our Daily Bread Devotional, February 25, 2017

Topic: Wholehearted! [Saturday February 25, 2017]

Read: Numbers 13:26–32; 14:20–24, Bible in a Year: Numbers 12–14; Mark 5:21–43

Because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. Numbers 14:24

Caleb was a “wholehearted” person. He and Joshua were part of a twelve-man reconnaissance team that explored the Promised Land and gave a report to Moses and the people. Caleb said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Num. 13:30). But ten members of the team said they couldn’t possibly succeed. In spite of God’s promises, they saw only obstacles (vv. 31–33).

Ten men caused the people to lose heart and grumble against God, which led to forty years of wandering in the desert. But Caleb never quit. The Lord said, “Because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it” (14:24). Forty-five years later God honored His promise when Caleb, at the age of 85, received the city of Hebron “because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly” (Josh. 14:14).

Centuries later an expert in the law asked Jesus, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matt. 22:35–38).

Today Caleb is still inspiring us with his confidence in a God who deserves our wholehearted love, reliance, and commitment.

Prayer: Lord, may we love You wholeheartedly today and follow You every day of our journey on this earth.

Commitment to Christ is a daily calling.

Insight:

The ten spies found the Anakim a daunting challenge because they viewed them in comparison to themselves. Joshua and Caleb, however, viewed them in comparison to God. Many of life’s circumstances—health concerns, relationship struggles, financial setbacks—can either be viewed in comparison to our own frailties or in the light of our all-powerful God.

This message was written By David McCasland [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Self-Restraint Please - DCLM Daily Manna February 25, 2017

Text: 1 Samuel 18:22-30

Key Verse:  "And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines" (1 Samuel 18:25).

Offering bribes, gifts, gratifications, is a well-oiled strategy in the secular world to influence decisions, solicit assistance, curry favour and pervert the course of justice. King Saul was very adept at this strategy. He had become envious of David whose popularity had spread throughout Israel because of his military conquests. David’s Lord was with him and everywhere he went, he behaved so wisely that even Saul’s daughter, Michal, fell in love with him.

That was the opening Saul needed to perfect his evil plot. Did David weigh the offer? Did he exercise restraints? Did the man after God’s heart seek the face of God on this matter? Did he smell a rat? He didn’t feel anything fishy in the royal offer. Always wisely examine every proposal, offer, gift brought to you, including those by seemingly well-meaning people. Do not be in a hurry to accept suggestions to do something or enter into every attractive great and good deal. They may appear juicy, demanding little or nothing from you. Nothing of value and enduring comes cheap.

Always look out for a hidden trap or trick that could throw you into a public scandal and shame or bring you earthly or eternal death. When you come to a crossroads in life, always ask for the grace of God to help you handle all such tricky and tempting situations. If you apply self-restraint and listen, a small voice will tell you what to say or do. Self-restraint is a virtue not a vice.

Thought for the day: It is wisdom to refuse unsolicited gifts.

Bible Reading in one Year: Psalm 131-138

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Children of God - Open Heavens 24 February 2017: Friday daily devotional

Memorise: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: – John 1:12

Read: 1 John 3:1-3 (KJV)

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Bible in One Year: Genesis 16:18, Isaiah 44:9-20

MESSAGE:

You cannot discover your true identity if you are not in Christ. You need to recognise your true self through the light of the Scripture. If you know your true identity, it will help you not to compromise the call of God on your life. The secret of blessings lies in your being able to walk in the divine purpose for your life. As a believer, you are the light in the midst of darkness, called to shine forth. You are the bridge to the destinies of men. If you don’t discover your destiny, the destinies of many others will be buried. I once asked the Almighty God why He allowed me to “waste” twenty-seven years studying mathematics, when He knew that I would eventually become a pastor. The Lord told me that it was simply for the purpose of being able to preach mathematically. It then dawned on me that indeed all things work together for good for the children of God(Romans 8:28).

You are not a child of God just to attend church; you need to find out what God has empowered you for, and do exploits in that area. The reason why you are a child of God is not just to feel cool but to be driven by God’s purpose and mission. When you recognise that you belong to God, it will be practically impossible for anyone to get you derailed (Acts 27:23-24). The power you have received as a child of God is not for nothing. It is expected that you will use this power in raising the dead, in opening the eyes of those still walking and living in ignorance, and in setting captives free from the bondage of Satan. In John 14:12, the Lord Jesus says to you:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

As children of God, let us wake up from our slumber and do the needful urgently. Every child of God is meant to be a fighter — a fearless fighter. You must not be weak in doing exploits for the Lord. You must not give in to fear despite the obstacles before you. All you need is the confidence that as a child of God, you have the backing of your Father. Anyone who comes to Christ comes to the newness of life which qualifies him or her for a new beginning. As a child of God, you must realise that Christ is the centre of your life, and you are meant to be a channel of blessings. A lot of people pass through life without being noticed because they have failed to understand the plan and programme of God for their lives. I pray for you that, in the Name of Jesus, you will find your place in God. By His grace, you will begin to experience prosperity, excellence and extraordinary breakthroughs, and before the end of your life, you will make a lasting change in the world.

Prayer Point: Father, as you did for the disciples of old, grant me boldness to speak Your word.

Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.

iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

BREAKING THE YOKE OF BARENESS - EaglesDevotional by Ayo Oritsejafor.

“And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.” (Gen 47:17)

Joseph gave bread in exchange for many things but we have been focusing on horses. A horse, as we have seen before is symbolic of hard work and strength. Another thing a horse symbolizes is food.

Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses. This means there was an exchange of food. To this day beginning from when they were born, Esau and Jacob are still being affected by food. Today, the descendants of Jacob are faster and better than the descendants of Esau in every way; spiritually, financially, scientifically, and so on. And it will very likely stay that way forever. Food has set a probably irreversible course for Esau. However, the two of them were products of the altar.

“And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” (Gen 25:21)

Isaac prayed for his wife and exchanged his wife’s barrenness for fruitfulness on the altar of God. Anytime you see prayer in the Bible, know that an altar is involved. Altars raise prayer requests to heaven on people’s behalf. When you pray, it goes to an altar for onward transmission to heaven. Every prayer finds force upon an altar.

If you believe in this house, anytime you pray, wherever you may be, in your bedroom, on the road, in an airplane, your prayer is connected to the altar of this house. God will answer any prayer you pray on His altar this year.

WORDS OF WISDOM: Boast with the LORD and watch Him beat up your enemies.

PRAYER/CONFESSION: LORD, terminate every bareness in my life and make me fruitful, in Jesus name.

FURTHER READING: Gen. 27:3-4, Gen. 26:35, 2 Chronicles. 13:10-15

Eagles Devotional is a daily revelatory and inspirational Publication by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the founder and presiding Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, Nigeria.

Power Of Divine Wisdom - DCLM Daily Manna February 24, 2017

Text: Mark 11:27-33

Key Verse: "The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me" (Mark 11:30).

The humanity and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ are awe inspiring. His birth as a man marks His identification with humans. His manifestation as the Son of God was a mystery that shows His authority over the affairs of humanity. Our text reveals one of the instances in which Jesus was tempted by some of the leaders of Judaism in Israel, "the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders" (Mark 11:27). 

Their aim was to ensnare Jesus with a question that not only challenged His authority as Lord, but also sought to portray Him as either a blasphemer or a person involved in a questionable doctrine or religion. Jesus’ answer shows the power of divine wisdom. His answer was equally a question they could not answer: "The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me" (Mark 11:30). A major lesson we learn from our text is that as children of God, we are partakers of the divine nature and the power of His wisdom.

In difficult situations, we should look up to Him for what to say and do. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). As the Lord assured Moses when he was sent to Pharaoh, He also assures us today: "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say" (Exodus 4:12).

Thought for the day: Wisdom is the principal thing to be earnestly sought after.

Bible Reading in one Year: Psalm 120-130

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Peace at Home - Kenneth Copeland’s daily devotional February 24, 2017

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. - James 3:16

Have you ever noticed that the easiest place to remain self-centered is at home? There's an incentive to be lovely with others, but with your family you are tempted to allow yourself more selfish privileges, as if it didn't count there.

Before I was a Christian, I was more courteous and nicer to friends than to my own family. I was more demanding and less forgiving with those dearest to me than with anyone else.

But after I made Jesus Lord of my life, I realized all that had to change.

Gloria and I began to learn through the Word how important harmony is within our family. We learned that if we wanted the power of agreemeent (see Matthews 18:19) to work in our lives, we could not allow strife in our home.

Strife drops the shield of faith, stops prayer results and invites Satan and his cohorts into your midst. Discord is deadly. It paralyzes the power of God in your life.

Don't allow the enemy to stop you at your own front door by allowing strife in your home. If you do, you'll be no threat to him anywhere else.

Put the power of harmony to work in your family.

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:1-13

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith - prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

The Land of “What Is” - Our Daily Bread Devotional, February 24, 2017

Topic: The Land of “What Is” [Friday February 24, 2017]

Read: Psalm 46:1–7, Bible in a Year:Numbers 9–11; Mark 5:1–20

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Even all these years after losing our seventeen-year-old daughter Melissa in a car accident in 2002, I sometimes find myself entering the world of “What If.” It’s easy, in grief, to reimagine the events of that tragic June evening and think of factors that—if rearranged—would have had Mell arriving safely home.

In reality, though, the land of “What If” is not a good place to be for any of us. It is a place of regret, second-guessing, and hopelessness. While the grief is real and the sadness endures, life is better and God is honored if we dwell in the world of “What Is.”

In that world, we can find hope, encouragement, and comfort. We have the sure hope (1 Thess. 4:13)—the assurance—that because Melissa loved Jesus she is in a place that is “better by far” (Phil. 1:23). We have the helpful presence of the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). We have God’s “ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). And we often have the encouragement of fellow believers.

We all wish to avoid the tragedies of life. But when we do face hard times, our greatest help comes from trusting God, our sure hope in the land of What Is.

Prayer: Father God, You know my broken heart. You know the pain of loss because You suffered through the death of Your Son. In the midst of ongoing sorrow, help me to dwell in the comfort of Your hope, encouragement, and comfort.

Our greatest hope comes from trusting God.

Insight:

In Psalm 46, the psalmist uses exaggeration to express his trust in the safety God provides. He tells of feeling safe in circumstances where safety is unimaginable. When the very ground under our feet is uncertain, the psalmist expresses confidence in the protection of the Lord. He isn’t saying, “Do not fear” because our circumstances are not fear-worthy, but because our God is bigger than our troubles. In uncertain times, He is stable. The mountains crumbling into the sea is a graphic image of the most stable land feature giving way. In what circumstances do you need to remember that God is constant and unchanging? How can you express your trust in Him as your refuge?

This message was written By Dave Branon [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]