Sermons from Good News: Training your spirit, part 1

Church 4/17/2024

Sermon message:

Prequel: staying in that slowed down space.

We are a spirit. We have a soul. We live in a body.

Our spirit is what God gave us when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. When we go to church, pray, read the Bible we sow to the Spirit.

Our soul is our mind and emotions.

Our body is our suit.

But God renews the way we think.

We have the human spirit and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit should be leading the way.

Thesis: Training your spirit.

God wants us to dig deep into His word. Read passages multiple times. You’ll get it more each time.

Hebrew word for spirit: ruach

Ruach means three different things:

• Wind/energy
• Breath / to breathe
• God’s Holy Spirit

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Philippians 1:6

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

God can empower us to empower others.

Psalm 148:8: The wind definition of ruach

Fire and hail, snow and clouds;

Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Genesis 6:17: The breath definition of ruach

And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.

1 Samuel 16:23: The spirit definition of ruach

And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

The function of ruach: Creating, empowering people and recreating.

Proverbs 20:27

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord,

Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

Meditate on the word of God. The Holy Spirit never contradicts the word of God.

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Meditating on God’s Word is training your spirit. It needs to be your reaction. Having God’s Word in you needs to be automatic. It will get the Holy Spirit in you front and center, not your human spirit.

How do we train our spirit? By practicing the Word of God.

James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James was the oldest half brother of Jesus. But he wasn’t a believer when Jesus was alive. But after He resurrected He visited James. And James was converted. And James was a doer of the Word.

Your faith becomes alive when you are a doer of the Word of God.

Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

It doesn’t say you’ll get what you ask for. But give it to God. He knows what you need. Don’t worry. Pray. Give God thanks. Practice the Word of God.

We can’t allow our emotions or our human spirit to run our lives. We need to feed the Holy Spirit in us so He can run our lives.

James 2:17

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Galatians 5:17-18

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

If you are led by the Holy Spirit, you are not under the law. You can be free to be imperfect; just follow the Holy Spirit, and to do that, spend time with God and submit to Him.

Our human spirit and emotions want to do the opposite of what the Holy Spirit wants to do.

John 3:17

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

The Holy Spirit is a gentleman; He will guide you but He won’t force you to do anything.

Be careful who you listen to. Don’t listen to the devil. The more you train your spirit you’ll be able to stand.

Another point: Giving the Word of God first place in your life. God should be first place in your life.

Proverbs 4:20-22

My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not let them depart from your eyes;

Keep them in the midst of your heart;

For they are life to those who find them,

And health to all their flesh.

John 6:63

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

The Holy Spirit gives life. Scripture gives life.

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

It doesn’t say scripture will condemn us or kick us while we’re down. Because scripture doesn’t do that. That’s the devil speaking.

How we train our spirit?

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Run to God no matter what day you’re having.
Feed the Holy Spirit. Train your human spirit.

Sermons from Good News: Living Christ

Church 4/13/2024

Offertory scripture:

Genesis 1:12

And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

2 Corinthians 9:6-14

6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

“He has dispersed abroad,

He has given to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.

Sermon message:

Guest speaker: Pastor Pete

Thesis: Living Christ.

Are we living in Christ?

John 6:51-57

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

52 The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

Focus verse: John 6:57

As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

From Paul: “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Eat Christ, and live Christ.

Confess this too: to live is Christ and to die is gain.

We need to taste the Word of God to the point where it’s working in our lives personally. Revelation is one thing; “rema” is yet another.

It’s easy to fall back into the natural vs the spiritual.

Colossians 2:6

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

You can’t fall back on the natural. 

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Don’t rely on self; live Christ.

There are so many things that could be counterfeits: good ethics, good works, etc

Christ instead of you.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Christianity is not a big “do” but a big “done.”

Jesus said: it is finished.

Romans 7:19-25

19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

1 Corinthians 1:30

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

Christ is my righteousness. Christ is my health. Christ is my wealth and prosperity. Christ is my patience.

Read through the epistles to find more examples of living Christ. Focus books: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians.

Sermons from Good News: Doubt is a thief

Church 4/10/2024

Sermon message:

Thesis: Doubt is a thief.

Point #1: Jesus warns about doubt.

Mark 11:23

For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Point #2: Faith is acting on God’s word.

Hearing, believing, and acting on God’s word.

Matthew 14:22-29

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Point #3: Doubt will stop you from acting.

Matthew 14:30–31

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Point #4: Doubt can stop results from happening.

Matthew 10:1

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

Luke 10:1

After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

Luke 10:17

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

Matthew 17:14-19

14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

The above is an interesting question.

Matthew 17:19-20

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 14:31

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Mark 4:40

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Point #5: Continuing to feed your faith is important.

The story of Abram —> Abraham.

Closing of the service:
“Pray for one another that you may be healed.”

Sermons from Good News: Benefits of faith in Jesus

 

Church 4/6/2024

Offertory scripture:

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (AMP)

Now [remember] this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to others] will also reap generously [and be blessed]. Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift]. And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

Sermon message:

Thesis: Benefits of faith in Jesus.

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV from here on out)

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Point #1: Jesus gives you strength to stand.

Ephesians 6:10-13

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Matthew 11:28

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Confession is what you believe, what you say, and what you do.

James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 2:17

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Hebrews 4:14

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Point #2: Jesus gives you confidence to draw near.

Hebrews 4:15-16

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Isaiah 53:3

He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Point #3: Jesus gives you the help you need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Psalm 33:20

Our soul waits for the Lord;

He is our help and our shield.

Psalm 54:4

Behold, God is my helper;

The Lord is with those who uphold my life.

Psalm 121:1-2

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

On assignment

 This is going to be an incomplete blog post, but I'm going to begin it, write it, post it, and come back later in a follow-up post to finish the rest of my thought. Today boils down to the following question-and-answer sequence:

Question: Why are we here?

Answer: We are here on assignment.

It wasn't really until maybe the last year or so that my perspective finally began to change. Circumstantially speaking, I've had to come to terms with the fact that, despite being born in a place and era of prosperity and (largely) growing up as such, adulthood has not turned out like that. Intellectually I understood even as a young adult that I shouldn't necessarily pursue the cookie-cutter "American" dream that had been in force for a number of decades by that point. But my substitute was to find my own dream and pursue that - my own personal equivalent to "the American dream." Either way, the goal was still to find my own happiness.

Up until that point, every major decision I made was with the end goal of my happiness in mind: school, finishing school, church (as an adult), different small groups, therapy, pursuing my own hodgepodge musical career, dating, changing careers to accounting and then again to procurement/business, and so on. I cannot begin to tell you of the deep disappointment and frustration at every turn when I tried to pursue an independent, fruitful, happy adult life only to be thwarted in one way or another. I have countless peers from my generation who are miles ahead of me. I have one friend from my generation I still keep in touch with who zags where everyone else has zigged. He's managed to balance income for the present and for the future, with traveling the world. He found his own happiness. Interestingly, due to that, I've felt closer to him regarding life pursuits than most people I've ever known. And I've known a lot of people over the years.

One of the hard things I've been having to learn to swallow is that in my life, I'm marked for suffering. It may not be my only purpose but it is one of them. Even before I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior, my life was marked for suffering whether I liked it or not.

Pause: for anyone reading this post, this is not a pity party. I'm not looking for attention, nor do I seek pity. The purpose of my writing this post is 1.) to be real, and 2.) to use this as a vehicle for (hopefully) coming to terms with my life the way it is. Only God can change things for the better, just as much as He can allow things to happen for the worse.

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.

Joel 2:25, NKJV

When I hit low seasons, one of my favorite verses has been this:

“Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah

Psalm 39:4-5, NKJV

I've come to realize that my flesh has two competing desires: 1.) if life is good, to live as long as possible, but 2.) if life is hard, to have a shorter life. But there's a problem with this mindset:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. Galatians 6:7-8, NKJV

So if I cannot decide whether I desire to live a long life or a short life, where does that leave me?

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25, NKJV

Basically, there's no other purpose than to follow Jesus for life and do what He says.

But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. John 12:23-26, NKJV

I'm still gnawing on the possibility that I must have some great calling I still don't know about, in order for life to continue to be this hard, this far in. Here's what I know so far: I am called to take part in the Great Commission. I am called to life a holy life according to the Bible. I am called also to be a husband to my love (we're not married yet but the day is rapidly approaching!). Regarding music, I have received a vision in the past of Jesus delighting in my piano-playing, tied to a childhood memory of me improvising on the choir room piano after Sunday services while everyone else was taking off their choir robes, and while I was waiting for my parents to finish up with whatever they were doing. And I have been told that the piano-playing I do now at my current church blesses people. I'm still unclear about where that fits with everything else, but it's something. But all that said, I'm still working on reconciling what I understand of my calling, my assignment, vs the trials and tribulations I constantly face (and still hate, honestly).

One thing I am clear on at this point: my life isn't going to be about the American dream or some alternate "self-happiness" dream. I'm here on assignment. My job while on this earth until the day I pass away is to do whatever God tells me to do until it's time.

One clarification before I wrap up, regarding flip-flopping regarding whether I want to live a short life or a long life: my love wants me to live as long as possible in the hopes that we'll both pass away together at the same exact moment (so that we'll never be apart, not even in death). I've begun praying that as well. My life is for Jesus first and foremost, but after that, it's also for her.

A prayer for Scottie Pippen's repentance

This photo was taken from a Bulls game I attended in 2012.

Periodically I will write sports-themed posts, although these are intentionally few and far in between. I do so because I still occasionally catch up with friends where the sports scene is one of our regular conversations. I've had on my heart to witness to them, especially one in particular. There is no shortage of stories to provide opportunity for me to combine sports with faith. Today I have another one for the reader:

As you may already know, I grew up a Chicago Bulls fan and started following the team right during the middle of their championship era in the 1990s. As a child, I found sports to be a great diversion from the challenges of life, and the fact that the Bulls were winning championships made it that much easier to tune in and enjoy this aspect of life.

As the years went by, and as the NBA saw players of that generation retire and a new generation of players rise up, one debate that began to intensify regards the question of the greatest basketball player of all time. In this post from 2019 (copied and pasted from an email to a couple sports friends in 2017, which ended up revitalizing our group friend-ship which had gone dormant by that time), I did my own in-depth analysis of different players I thought who could be the greatest of all time, narrowed it down to three, and crowned my champion. I resisted the urge to outright declare Michael Jordan the winner because I knew I was biased. Of course MJ's the G.O.A.T.! ...Right? But in my analysis, I decided to give Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the edge. (LeBron James came in third in my rankings.)

First, an admission of a mistake: in that post I called MJ a jerk. In fact, in the original email to my friends I called him something worse and then toned down the adjective to make it more family-friendly for the blog. Then again, a lot of people (former teammates) have called him a jerk or something similar. But I admit calling Jordan this name as a mistake because at the time I didn't have the proper data on which to base my claim. I thought I did. But I didn't.

Jordan himself has long been aware of other people calling him names, especially regarding how he treated some of his teammates (and opponents). And in The Last Dance (which I've seen clips of but not the entire thing), he addresses these statements. One thing that Jordan said in response that stood out to me was that, in his challenging his teammates, even to what some may call extreme lengths, he never asked them to do anything that he wouldn't have done himself.

I need to highlight that because I respect the heck out of him for it. Admittedly, if I had been one of the Bulls players in the 90s and I was subjected to that, of course I would hate it. Of course I would be ticked off at him. But as an outsider - as a fan, even - I've come to realize that if someone were to get on my case about something, as long as it was something that they too would put themselves through, I would respect that. (Mostly because hypocrisy is one of my biggest pet peeves, if not the biggest.)

This brings me to Scottie Pippen. From my flesh, my opinion of Pippen has dropped precipitously over the last four years. From my spirit, my heart breaks for him. As I embark on this part of my post, I will say that I am late to the party on chiming in. The recent No Bull Tour, although apparently it has turned out to be a lot better and nicer than originally perceived, still didn't sit right with me.

It didn't sit right with me because of all the slander Pippen has thrown at Jordan over the last four years, since the The Last Dance documentary came out. It first became evident when Pippen's book, Unguarded, was released, containing what apparently are his true thoughts, opinions, emotions toward his co-star both now and apparently also when they played together. In his book, and in subsequent interviews, Pippen has referred to Jordan as a "horrible player" (obviously untrue for anyone who knows the game of basketball), saying, "It was all 1-on-1, shooting bad shots, and all of a sudden, we become a team and we start winning. Everybody forgot who he was." (TheGrio Staff, Yahoo! News, May 31, 2023)

It's safe to say that, in my flesh, I've lost a lot of respect for Pippen. This was a guy who wound up in a stupid spat with Shaquille O'neal back in 2015, and I took Pippen's side because I thought O'neal was being a bully! (He kinda was...) But, looking at both men now, while O'neal is busy with a successful second career on the sports show "Inside The NBA" and being a philanthropist otherwise, Pippen is still stewing, harboring bitterness. Although I remain a Bulls fan and would put the 1990s Bulls above O'neal's teams anytime (as a fan), I have a much higher respect for O'neal as a person by comparison.

In my spirit, I'm praying for Pippen to stop the bitterness. Other commentators have also noted that his tirade over the last several years is rooted in jealousy, which I also agree with. His relationship with Jordan is already permanently damaged, due to an admission that he intentionally didn't offer condolences to his teammate after his father was brutally murdered. (I think Jordan had long assumed it was an oversight and brushed off any possible issue he might've taken from it.)

The other thing about it is that Jordan was intentional from the beginning about trying to patch things up with Pippen once he got word of his co-star's unhappiness. Every potential issue that Pippen could have had with how Jordan portrayed him in The Last Dance was dealt with in a private conversation (presumably over the phone).

By contrast, Pippen appears to be intentional about trying to hurt his former teammate. Maybe he always felt this way. Still, I've had spats with teammates myself (in my own world) and have also had to learn about intentionality and taking the necessary steps to own my part if there's anything amiss in the relationship. I've had people in my life where I felt a certain way toward them, perhaps not too differently from how Pippen felt toward MJ.

I could go on, but the bottom line is, they're both lost without Jesus. The Bible makes it clear that bitterness and unforgiveness are sins.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. Ephesians 4:31, NKJV

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15, NKJV

Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18, NKJV

Hell is still real, unfortunately. It's where you'll end up if you don't repent of your unforgiveness, bitterness, pride, wrath, etc. But Jesus still loves you:

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:13, NKJV

Even today, Jesus's invitation is still open, His invitation to forgive you your sins and welcome you into the kingdom of heaven. So what's Scottie Pippen waiting for? And you, the reader, what are you waiting for?

Plans from my Bible app: Reaping the Rewards (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, NKJV

Reaping the Rewards

God is working on your behalf, even though His plans for you take time. My prayer for you is that you’ll learn to anticipate His answer—no matter how long it takes—and to do so faithfully, patiently, and joyfully. You’ve invested so much time, energy, prayer, and confidence into waiting for Him, it would be a shame for you to abandon your hope now … especially when you’re on the brink of blessing and when His answer for you is closer than ever before. So don’t ever give up!

Be assured God’s actively, powerfully, wisely, and lovingly arranging the circumstances of your life. Even though His activity may not be obvious to you, He’s drawing you closer, refining your character, teaching you His ways, and fulfilling His promises to you.

First Corinthians 2:9-10 teaches, “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard … all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” In other words, you may not be able to imagine all that the Father’s doing in and through the days, months, and years you’ve been seeking Him, but it’s absolutely amazing. And if you wait for Him with expectant endurance—directing your focus to Him, purposefully seeking His will through Scripture and prayer, actively claiming His promises, and courageously facing adversity with faith—you’ll certainly see the fruit of your obedience.

While you expectantly wait, here’s what you can do:Humble yourself before the Lord and focus on Him rather than your desire.
Remain obedient to God’s will.
Have faith that the Father will do as He’s promised.
And finally, be courageous.

We began this plan with a list of “nevers.” However, I pray that after each day’s devotion, you’ve been encouraged and have discovered principles and biblical truths that will strengthen you whenever the Father appears to delay and human reason tells you to give up.

You can endure expectantly with the joy of knowing God will never let you down. You can keep hoping—even when the nevers of life bombard you, realizing that the Lord is the One you really hope for, and He perfectly cares for all that concerns you. You can trust the Father to lead you and know for absolute certain that He has your very best interest in mind.

Since Day 1 of this reading plan, I hope you see we’ve come a long way from the nevers. With that in mind, I want to end with a far more optimistic theme—a word that I hope you’ll remember when you wait on the Lord; a word that applies to His wonderful, unfailing character; and a word that beautifully describes how committed He is to you and to your wellbeing.

Always.

As a believer ...

God will always be with you.
He will always love you.
He will always forgive your sins.
He will always listen to you.
He will always comfort you.
He will always provide for you.
He will always remember you.
He will always work on your behalf.
He will always lead you with love, power, and wisdom.
He will always bless your obedience to Him.
He will always come through for you.
He will always answer your prayers.
And when you wait on the Lord, you can know for certain that the best is yet to come …

always.

Discover more reading plans like this one at intouch.org/plans

Plans from my Bible app: Surviving the Wait With Courage

Note before sharing a devotional from one of the Bible reading plans: this also was part of my reading about a year ago. This was apropos then and it is apropos now.

Bible verses to prep you for the devotional below:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12, NKJV

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, NKJV

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8, NKJV

Surviving the Wait With Courage

Continued delays can be disheartening, especially when circumstances don’t go your way or your burdens become too heavy to carry.

Most likely, you’ve experienced heartbreaking occasions before—devastating disappointments that have robbed you of the last of your strength and resolve. The days, weeks, months, and sometimes years go by without any answers to your prayers. The illness, financial difficulty, conflict, loneliness, uncertainty, or need persists. You struggle, feeling the overwhelming temptation to give in to utter despair and fall back into destructive habits.

There’s nothing that can plunge you into the darkness of despair like a prolonged season of waiting. But this is when you must determine to wait on the Lord with courage. The quality that enables us to endure suffering, opposition, and the challenges of life with a steadfast and fearless confidence in God’s provision and protection is courage. And it’s your courage that’s stretched and refined in your darkest and most painful times.

Courage is a state of mind that’s absolutely essential for the child of God to triumph. When everything looks bleak and there’s no hope in view, we dauntlessly continue to trust that the Father is in complete control. We don’t give up or quit because we have faith the Lord is still good and has wonderful plans for our lives. We’re willing to face adversity and forgo good opportunities that offer temporary comfort in order to take hold of the very best the Lord has planned for us.

So how do you stay on track with His purposes for your life when everything seems dark and you feel desolate? How can you bravely take hold of the truth that God will take care of you and lead you through? Remember that …

1. God is with you. He knows exactly where you are and what you’re facing—and He’s walking with you, providing for and protecting you along the way.

2. He has an important purpose for the seasons of adversity you face. In order to make you His useful and effective representative, the Father trains you in the fires of adversity. Why? Because there’s nothing that deepens your understanding, stirs your compassion for others, and shows you what’s truly important the way pain does.

 
3. You’re in a spiritual battle (Eph. 6:12). You have a real enemy who strikes at the core of who you are. How does he do so? Through what you think and believe (2 Cor. 10:4-5). There’s no more effective time for the devil to discourage and torment you than when you’re waiting on God. He knows exactly how to pinpoint the most painful, vulnerable places in your life and lead you to despair. But through Jesus’ example in Matthew 4, you can resist the devil’s disheartening lies with courage and the powerful truth of Scripture.

4. You must express thanks to God, regardless of what happens (1 Thess. 5:18). You must give thanks in every situation and delay you face, courageously trusting in the One who will ultimately bring you through.

Take courage—there’s a limit to the delays and sufferings in your life. They will only continue as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purposes in you (Ps. 138:8). If you’ll remain courageous and faithful, trusting God to guide you through the difficult seasons of your life, then He’ll do amazing things in and through you. And He’ll move you from despair to the wonderful place where all of His promises for you are fulfilled.

Plans from my Bible app: The Idols That Impede Your Faith

Note before sharing a devotional from one of the Bible reading plans: this is one of a few devotionals that I spent a few days reading through about a year ago. I forget what the title of the plan itself was, but there were a few powerful readings that really made me think. At about this time, I was still in the early days of repenting from having drifted far from God for over a year previously, and so I was pushing to draw near to Him.

Idolatry is serious. Anyone can fall to this one. And it is one of the things that God makes clear, really from the first commandment: 

2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 3 “You must not have any other god but me. 4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.

Exodus 20:2-5a, NLT

With that said, let's dive into the devotional:

The Idols That Impede Your Faith

As we direct our focus to the Father and wait patiently for His will to open wide the way in our lives, we may discover that there are many things standing in the way of deepening our relationship with God and exercising our faith in Him.

These strongholds—or idols—are very subtle. They steal into your life covertly, rooting themselves in your emotions and becoming more important to you than God.

No one can identify an idol except the Lord … and He sees your heart clearly. Anything that competes for your total devotion to God is an idol in your life. So what is it in you? What are those things—hidden or known to you—that stand in your way of waiting patiently for the Lord’s will to manifest in your life? Ask the Father to reveal them to you. He’s promised He’ll be faithful to show you if and where an idol exists. But be very careful that you don’t rationalize away what He reveals to you. If the Lord puts His finger on something in your life, then set your mind to deal with it immediately.
Here are some common idols in our lives:

1. Our Own Understanding—We often lose our focus on the Father when we don’t fully understand what’s happening, so we repeatedly analyze our situations, scrutinizing them incessantly from every angle we can conceive. When events don’t proceed the way we expect, we’re left discouraged and disillusioned. Don’t fall into this trap. God unmistakably commands you to trust Him and not to rely on your own understanding (Prov. 3:5-6).

2. A Sense of Security—We don’t like being out of control or trusting our future to Someone we don’t see. We prefer a steady stream of income, reliable resources, and predictable results. So when we’re forced to wait, watch our bills pile up, or encounter threats that challenge our sense of wellbeing, our insecurity breeds a dangerous distrust of the Father.

 
3. Goals and Dreams—We become so driven to achieve our objectives and daily goals that we forget the eternal life we’ve been given (John 17:3) and all the good things the Lord has purposed for us to accomplish. Our dreams become an idol that are more important than what the Father desires to do in and through us.

4. Relationships—Certain relationships in our lives can become idols. No matter how much you attempt to focus on the Father, your attention returns to this person or group of people. Feelings of rejection, fear, lack of self-worth, or bitterness continue to arise because of your circumstances—and ultimately they drive you away from God, not toward Him.

 
5. The Past—Past relationships can become impediments in our relationship with God. When terrible things happen, the human response is to wonder why the Father allowed us to suffer. And when other people hurt us, when we harbor unforgiveness, or when we allow the unkind treatment from others to shape how we see the Father, these can become idols in our lives, undermining our faith in Him as we wait.

6. Hobbies—Our hobbies and preferred forms of entertainment might also be competing with our relationship with and faith in God. Though pastimes such as sports, shopping, television, exercise, social media, and other interests aren’t necessarily wrong in themselves, if they have more of your attention than the Lord does, then there’s certainly a problem.

Remember: Whatever you release to the Lord, you get more and better in return. I’ve seen it happen in my own life and can say with the utmost confidence that you can trust the Father completely with anything He asks of you. So open your hands and let your heavenly Father have what you’ve been holding on to. When you place your complete faith and trust in Him, inviting Him to be number one in your life, the blessings will flow beyond comprehension, and it’ll make your time of waiting on Him that much easier and more fruitful.

Plans from my Bible app: Choose Your Foundation (Matthew 7:24-27)

Note before sharing a devotional from one of the Bible reading plans: this is a passage I've heard for many years, but only in the last year did what Jesus was saying begin to make sense. What does it mean to build one's house on rock vs on sand? The short answer pertains to what I spend my time doing, saying, and thinking about. If I spend time with God, praying, worshiping, and reading the Bible, then I'm building my house on rock. If not, if I'm instead partaking in or thinking about worldly things, then I'm building my house on sand. I could go into more detail, but I think that's sufficient for now.

Choose Your Foundation

Imagine standing next to the sea as waves crash at your feet, storm clouds swallow the sky, and the wind whips your face.

You know you need shelter—and that’s when you see a small hut nestled in the sand nearby, and one further away that’s firmly built into a rocky hill. Which shelter would you choose to take cover in?

2,000 years ago, when Jesus walked this earth, He often told stories to the crowds that gathered around to hear Him teach. One day, He said to them:

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.”

Matthew 7:24-25 NLT

As was His way, Jesus used real-life examples to help explain spiritual truths:

“But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Matthew 7:26-27 NLT

We are all building our lives on something. Every decision we make reinforces what we believe our support system to be. So when life’s storms come, will the thing you’ve built your life on support you—or cause you to crumble?

Jesus’ teachings have remained reliable and steadfast through social upheaval, the rise and fall of government regimes, and generations of historic change. No matter what has happened—God’s Word still stands firm.

Teachings from the world, on the other hand, tend to shift with each generation. Like shifting sand, what current culture provides is usually unstable because its values are constantly changing.

Storms are inevitable and challenges will come, but you get to choose your foundation. You can choose to make Jesus the one thing you build your life upon, or you can choose whatever habit, idea, or desire feels good and accessible in the moment.

So … what will you build your life upon?

Devotionals from my Bible app: Made to Thrive (Titus 2:11-12)

Made to Thrive

Do you remember what God has saved you from and what He’s brought you through? How He’s given you a fresh start, a confident hope, and future beyond the here and now?

Because of God’s amazing grace, we have been empowered to live boldly for Him.

In Paul’s letter to his friend, coworker, and traveling companion, Titus, he says this:

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…”

Titus 2:11-12 ESV

God created a world where life could thrive, where His creations could be fruitful, where His people could reign on His behalf, and where His glory could be obvious to everyone.

But when His people chose to ignore His loving intentions and when they rebelled against His masterfully designed plan, it complicated things.

It’s only by the grace of God that salvation is even possible. And it’s only from that firm foundation that we can build our lives on Him.

God created you and knows how you tick. He loves you and knows how life was designed to work best. After all, He is the designer. That’s why He gave His people guidelines, instructions, and even warnings—to show them how to thrive.

Once your salvation is secure and you realize that you can’t do anything to earn God’s love, you then can accept His invitation to live, to thrive, and to be a part of the greatest story on earth.

You were made for it.

https://bible.com/bible/59/tit.2.11-12.ESV

Devotionals from my Bible app: A New Heart (Ezekiel 36:26)

Note before sharing the devotional: I don't know who may need to receive this prayer, but I wanted to pass on a prayer that a friend of mine recently advised me to pray over my situation right now, and I want to allow it to bless you as well:

Father God, please let the blood of Jesus speak for me, in every situation. In Jesus' name. Amen

A New Heart

When someone needs a physical heart transplant, it’s desperately serious. Their heart is failing and, left on their own, that person will physically die.

But there is hope—the possibility of a new heart. But, in order to get a new heart, a good and capable surgeon is essential. More importantly, in order for that person to live, somebody else must die. The failing heart is then replaced with a thriving heart, and abundant life is once again possible.

In the same way, when someone needs a spiritual heart transplant, it’s desperately serious. The heart is failing and, left on their own, that person will spiritually die.

“And 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.”

Ezekiel 36:26 NLT

God is our good surgeon, and Jesus gave His life for yours. He takes your insufficient efforts and replaces them with something better. But to receive His abundant life, you must humbly ask for His help. You must allow Him to do surgery on your heart. You must surrender what is dying and trust Him with your life.

Maybe the thing that needs to die is a habit that’s impacting your life.
Maybe it’s an unhealthy relationship, or guilt and regret over your past.
Maybe it’s an attitude of pride or insecurity.

Whatever it is—Jesus wants to take the broken and failing parts of your heart and replace them with something completely new and life-giving.

As you process today’s verse and what God is capable of doing, ask yourself:

Do I trust Him—really trust Him—with the details of my life? Am I willing to let Him do “surgery” on my heart and show me a better way to live?

https://bible.com/bible/59/ezk.36.26.ESV

Devotionals from my Bible app: The Ruler of Everything (1 Chronicles 29:11)

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness,

The power and the glory,

The victory and the majesty;

For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;

Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,

And You are exalted as head over all.

1 Chronicles 29:11, NKJV

The Ruler of Everything

If you were to look at a map of the world, you would see many different countries divided by territory lines. Each of those countries has a ruler who is responsible for what happens in those borders. Ever since the beginning of creation, humans have had ownership as rulers over portions of land.

It can be easy to look at the world and think those rulers alone have ultimate control over what happens within their land. As we look at Scripture though, we see that even though humans rule over various countries—it is God who truly rules over everything.

While many leaders have power over their land and people, God’s Word tells us that only God has true power. He is the One who created everything that exists, so He is the only one who is truly great and powerful.

Everything on earth and in heaven ultimately belongs to God, and regardless of what happens in the world, God is still the ruler over everything. No matter what earthly rulers decide, God is ultimately in control of everything. This is why God is deserving of all praise and glory for His greatness and power.

So take some time today to think about the greatness of God who made everything that exists, and yet still desires a relationship with His people. God is not some lofty ruler who makes decisions in a far off place, but He is present in the lives of those who call Him Lord.

https://bible.com/bible/59/1ch.29.11.ESV

Devotionals from my Bible app: Cultivating Honest Conversations with God (Ephesians 6:18)

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Ephesians 6:18, NKJV

Note before sharing the devotional: this wraps up the weeklong series of devotionals from Ephesians 6 regarding spiritual battles and putting on the complete armor of God. I do agree with the devotional below, but I would like to add one point that all should consider. First, I fully agree - we need to be real with God. I am. But, second, we also need to check our hearts. It's one thing to be real with our pain and our struggles, but it's a completely different thing to be boasting in ourselves, or worse, rejecting God and cursing Him. For some, that's being "real," but in reality, those are wrong attitudes and such that will ultimately damn a person. We don't want that. Even God doesn't want that to happen to anyone. After all:

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9, NKJV

But we must not only neither reject Him nor curse Him but come to Him with reverence, not boasting in ourselves:

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14, NKJV 

Being honest with God means still putting our trust in Him no matter the circumstances.

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3, NKJV

Cultivating Honest Conversations with God

Prayer is one of the most important habits we can develop. Not only does Scripture command us to pray often, but there are tremendous benefits to building a life of prayer.

Prayer connects us relationally to God. We can thank God for who He is and what He has done for us during our prayer time. We can ask Him for things that we need.

Even though we know we should pray, we often do not take the time to do it. Unless we set aside time to talk to God, it doesn’t always find a way into our daily schedules. But Paul, the writer of the letter to the Ephesians, urges Christians to build a life of prayer. He says that every occasion is a chance to talk to God.

All of our requests and needs should be given to God. However, our time praying should not only be asking God for things. We should also spend part of our time in worship—thanking God for who He is and all He has done.

Paul also encourages us to pray for other people. In fact, part of our responsibility towards others is to advocate for them through prayer. We typically remember to pray for others when something negative is happening to them. But God’s Word says we should always be praying for the people in our life.

As we pray, we should not be discouraged when we don’t see immediate change. God is always working in our lives, even if it doesn’t match our desired timeline. We may not receive the answers we want, but we can rest assured that God is always listening and working on our behalf.

Take some time today to pray to God. Thank Him for all He has done for you. Tell Him your needs. Think of a few people in your life that you can pray for. Throughout your week, use every opportunity to pray to God.

https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.6.18.ESV

Devotionals from my Bible app: If You Can Only Bring One Weapon… (Ephesians 6:17)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Ephesians 6:17, NKJV

If You Can Only Bring One Weapon…

Before Jesus left His disciples, He spoke words that were both realistic and encouraging:

“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NIV

Even though Jesus has won the ultimate victory, He knew there would be a time between His resurrection and return when His people would still be vulnerable to attack. But Jesus spoke with confidence to encourage His followers: He is both willing and able to overcome anything and everything the world might throw at us.

We can withstand any spiritual attack because of who we stand with: Jesus. It is the armor of God: Jesus’ truth, Jesus’ righteousness, Jesus’ peace, and Jesus’ salvation which we wear. He has given us all the protective gear we need… with one notable offensive weapon: the sword of the Spirit.

The Bible is no mere book. It is God’s Spirit-filled, powerful, living, and active tool for change, both in our own hearts (Hebrews 4:12) and in any spiritual battles we may face. We can join in on the offensive against the enemy using this spiritual weapon, God’s Word.

The time you are spending in God’s Word right now is powerful. It is sharpening you and preparing you for whatever happens today so that after all is said and done, you will stand.

Don’t be surprised when you face trouble. Just remember that Jesus prepared you for this day and has given you all you need to face it.

https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.6.17.ESV

Jesus is tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)

 After yesterday's devotional, I felt prompted to dive deeper into Matthew's account of Jesus's temptation in the wilderness:

Matthew 4:1-10, NKJV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

What is remarkable is that Jesus' rebuttals all came from the Book of Deuteronomy. They are, as follows:

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3, NKJV

You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah. Deuteronomy 6:16, NKJV

and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O Lord, have given me.’ “Then you shall set it before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 26:10, NKJV

you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, Deuteronomy 5:9, NKJV

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, Deuteronomy 10:12, NKJV

We fight and resist the devil by speaking the Word of God. Further, I want to reference the Scripture verse that Satan tried to bait Jesus with (but had left a key part of it out). I will share the full verse and then highlight the part that was omitted above:

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12, NKJV

The line Satan omitted in Matthew 4:6-7 was: to keep you in all your ways. Satan was trying to bait Jesus into doing something foolish and something that was outside of His ways. Thankfully, Jesus was having none of it. Praise God.

More and more, I'm finding that my favorite Bible verses have tended to gravitate toward times of refreshing and healing after an intense time of trial. As I've written before, I hate trials and tribulations. I just do. And in the midst of this latest one, that hasn't changed. But, one thing that has changed (praise God) is that I have seen times of much-needed refreshing in my life, and that is something I am holding onto. As of today, one of my favorite Bible verses is Job 42:10-11, where after all that he went through (none of it was his fault), after he repented and prayed for his friends, the following happened:

And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. Job 42:10-11, NKJV

To that end, here is Matthew 4:11 (NKJV):

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.