Good Words for Today

Before you complain, count your blessings. Before you give up, pray. Before you speak, listen. Before you decide, seek godly counsel. Before you get angry, forgive. Before you worry, worship.

Better to run away from temptation than to wish you had.

Father, when we are tempted to despair, grant us eyes of faith to see beyond our problems to the everlasting promises of God. Amen. 

God’s mercy is not like the weather. It does not change with the seasons.

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Do not say you want Christ but not the Bible. The Bible reveals Christ to us. As Luther said, the Bible is the cradle where Christ is laid.

Christianity is not about man climbing up to God but God coming down to man. If God doesn't come down to us, we will never go up to him.

Repentance isn't just asking for forgiveness. You haven't repented until you admit you were wrong in the first place.

Let your hope in God be greater than your fear of the future.

Thank God for men of faith who are not ashamed to stand up for Jesus. Thank God for fathers and grandfathers who set a godly example. Thank God for husbands who love and lead like Jesus. Happy Father’s Day!

Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more.

“Only desperate people learn to pray.” Erwin Lutzer

When in doubt, be kind today.

When you aren't sure what to do, choose faith over fear and courage over comfort.

The road to redemption is paved with the stones of repentance. Until you turn around, you are still going in the wrong direction.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Remember this verse. You’ll probably need it before the end of the day.

Faith believes God even when it doesn't make sense. Noah's Ark looked like a fool's errand until the rains came.

Three questions for today: What if hell is real? What if our friends and loved ones may end up there? What difference should that make to us?

We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

We are sinners by birth, by nature, and by choice. That's why we need a new birth, a new nature, and a new heart. We cannot save ourselves any more than we can raise ourselves from the dead. Salvation is of the Lord!

You can't help everyone, but you can help someone. Help that person and then sleep well tonight. Do what you can do, and leave the rest with God. After you have done all that you can do, there will be much left undone. Only Jesus can save the world.

"Beware when all men speak well of you" was spoken by our Lord to remind us that popularity with the world is not the same thing as faithfulness to God.

We aren’t called to turn off the darkness but to let our light shine. Darkness disappears when light enters the room.

“The vilest offender who truly believes That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.”

Lord Jesus, you came to show us a better way. Help us to delight in what you have given us. Make us eager to hear what you are saying in your Word. Amen.

Spiritual leaders are often unappreciated in this life. The world does not notice their work. And even in the church, we often overlook those who labor for Christ. But when Jesus returns, the roles will be reversed and those who have served Christ faithfully will be vindicated openly. The crown they receive will last forever and their labors on earth will never be forgotten. The slightest deed done in Jesus’ name in the remotest corner of the earth will be remembered because God writes it down in His book. He sees it all, not just the glamour, but the work of faith, the labor of love and the patience of hope. Not even a cup of water offered in His name goes unnoticed. It’s all written down waiting the final reward.

There is no progress in the Christian life without daily repentance. We are to be always repenting because we are always sinning.

"Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Love refuses to wash its dirty laundry in public. Love handles it privately, it goes out of its way to veil sin, to treat it discreetly. It is exactly the opposite of hatred that exposes weakness and humiliates someone else. Love deals with sin publicly only as a last resort.

Why should we fear death? For the Christian, death is not the end, but the beginning. When we die, we will be more alive than we’ve ever been because we are finally and forever with the Lord.

Being an elder, if you do it right, is an exhausting job. It demands the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, the strength of Samson, the courage of Daniel, the kingly character of David, the administrative ability of Nehemiah, to say nothing of the compassion of Hosea or the battlefield brilliance of Joshua. Thank God for elders who have the volunteer spirit and lead the church because they believe God has called them to the work.

God measures our spiritual progress not by huge battles won or lost but by a thousand daily skirmishes no one else knows about.

God is not confused. He knows what he is doing even when we don't have a clue.

Be kind. Everyone you know is having a hard time.

We need to pray for one another. As we pray for our brothers and sisters, God sends his angels to help those for whom we pray. Our words uttered in secret move the heart of God, and friends in the battle are made strong once again.