Good Words for Today
When Paul gave a benediction, he often said something like "May the Lord himself do such-and-such." Until recently I had never thought about that. When trouble comes, we don't need more words; we need the Lord himself. Thank God, we don't have to walk through the valley alone. The Lord himself walks with us.
“But where sin increased, grace multiplied even more” (Romans 5:20 CEB). The translators struggle a bit because Paul uses a verb in the first clause that means to add, but in the second he uses a verb that means to multiply. Sin is addition. Grace is multiplication. It’s not as if sin goes up to “Level 37” and so grace goes up to “Level 38.” That in itself would be good news, that grace always goes beyond sin. But the text does not suggest this. It is more like, if sin goes up to “Level 37,” then grace goes up to “Level 3700.” Grace far outstrips whatever sin can do.
"No matter the jarring, a jar of fresh water can’t spill filthy water. When you’re upset, you upset what’s really in you." Ann Voskamp
We do not pray because we know what we need. We pray because we don't know but God does.
"One great tragedy of our era is that our mouths have gotten bigger as our hearts have gotten smaller. Canyon mouths betraying pebble hearts." Beth Moore
People are crazy. Love them anyway.
"I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I." James Rowe
"Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate." Rick Warren
Help me to do serve you right now, O Lord. Save me from the folly of thinking that tomorrow is somehow more important than today. Amen.
"When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found, Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne! On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand." Edward Mote, 1834
When God speaks, that ends the argument.
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). If you wonder what it means to love your enemies, try forgiving them while they murder you. We need this because we will never be more like Jesus than when we pray for those who have hurt us deeply.
"Love . . . always hopes" (1 Corinthians 13:7). We are told endlessly these days that we must accept other people just the way they are. Certainly that is where we must start. But that is not the end of the matter. Biblical acceptance is based on hope in God. It says, "I accept that this is the way you are right now. But I don't believe you are going to stay this way. I'm not giving up hope."
"There are no great preachers. There is only a great Christ." Haddon Robinson
"Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:7). Don't forget to forget what needs to be forgotten.
"I will never leave you" (Hebrews 13:5). He stood by your side in your darkest moments. He protected you when Satan attacked. He knew when you were betrayed. He saw every tear. He didn't give up when you tried to run away. He held you in his hands when you did that stupid thing. You think he's going to leave you now? Never means never.
"To pretend to preach the truth without offending carnal man, is to pretend to be able to do what Jesus Christ could not do." Thomas Watson
"He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:10). He's not the God we think he is. He's much better than that.
"Cast all your cares on him" (1 Peter 5:7). Either he carries the worries or we do. Here’s another way to say it: “Jesus will carry your backpack as you hike toward heaven.” Why are you lugging that heavy load around?
Christ didn't die for good people because there aren't any. He died for sinners and rebels and scoundrels. If you qualify in any of those categories, you can be saved.
"When he was insulted, he did not insult in return" (1 Peter 2:23). You find out what you really believe when others mistreat you. Sometimes the real test of your faith is what you don’t do. Sometimes you’ll be a better Christian by not saying anything at all.
"God never made a promise that was too good to come true." D. L. Moody
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). That’s not just theory; that’s how life actually works. When your heart is pure, you will see God. When your heart is cluttered with wrong attitudes and evil notions, you will see everything but God.
Heavenly Father, Your kingdom will last long after this world has crumbled to the dust. Help me to live today for the things that will last forever. Amen.
Your unbelief cannot cancel God's truth any more than closing your eyes can cancel the sun.
The question is not, "Why is God not answering our prayers?" but "Will we trust him while we wait for the answer to come?"
"The first thing I plan to do on resurrected legs is to drop on grateful, glorified knees." Joni Eareckson Tada, paralyzed for 50 years
Pray first, then act. Pray first, then speak. It's amazing how well life works when we get the order right and how quickly things foul up when we don't. Lord, help us to remember you in all that we say and do today. Amen.
Through prayer we invade Satan's territory and bring home men and women for Christ. We plunder the strong man’s house every time we pray that the lost would be saved.
Do not complain about circumstances. That changes nothing. Do not resent difficult people. That changes nothing. Do not moan about hard challenges. That changes nothing. Ask the Lord, “What do you want me to learn from this?” That changes you.
Lord, help me to love the irritating people I meet, and help me to remember that someone is probably praying this about me today. Amen.
"The more grace in my heart, the less things get 'under my skin.'" Scotty Smith
"Dare to be a Daniel, Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known." P. P. Bliss
"There is no language in the world so eloquent as a holy life. Men may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do." C H Spurgeon
"Boldness apart from brokenness makes a bully." David Benham
"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest Name I know, Fills my every longing, Keeps me singing as I go." Luther Bridgers
Lord, please feel free to do whatever needs to be done in my life so that others may see Christ in me. Amen.
I woke up grateful because I woke up. Thank you, Lord!
Go ahead and rip that big "G" off your sweatshirt. Let God be God and all will be well.
Help me to be busy doing the work You have given me to do, O Lord. Save me from the folly of thinking that tomorrow is somehow more important than today. Amen.