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He [the serpent] said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1b).
Of the Word
“Sell now! Top prices for gold!” “Did your dad really say you had to be home by midnight?” “Lose 20 pounds in 20 days or your money back!” Who can you trust?
It began in the Garden of Eden when Satan talked to Eve — and she listened. Adam and Eve, the perfect human beings God created, chose Satan’s words over God’s words. When they listened to Satan, they lost sight of God.
Sin followed sin; and ever since that fateful day, sin has been part of our world. Temptations of all shapes and sizes surround us, but we can look to the Lord for truth and power. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7a). Only He gives us strength to defy Satan and refute his lies.
Walking with my Lord
Dear Father in heaven, temptations come at me from every direction. Give me strength and courage to reject Satan. Help me choose what is good and right in Your sight. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:22).
Of the Word
Any morning you wake up laughing is a good day. I had one of those mornings when, through the baby monitor, I heard my daughter say, “All done!” She was done sleeping, ready to get up, and confident I could hear her and would act to free her from the confines of the crib.
Much like the baby monitor that allows me to hear my daughter in her room, we have a direct line to God’s ear: prayer. Speaking to God is a privilege He gives believers. Prayer is powerful.
Joshua prayed and the sun stood still for a whole day. (Joshua 10:12–13) Jonah prayed and the very large fish that swallowed him spit Jonah out onto dry land. (Jonah 2) When Abraham prayed, a few people were saved from destruction in Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 18:22–33) Joshua, Jonah, and Abraham prayed with confidence, knowing God would act for them.
In the same way, we can be confident in our prayers. God hears and God acts when we come before Him with our requests. And as Joshua, Jonah, and Abraham proved, nothing is too big or too small to bring before God in prayer.
Walking with my Lord
Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of speaking to You in prayer. Help me be confident as I come before You with my requests. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice (James 3:16 NIV).
Of the Word
Sweet is to bitter as contentment is to envy. Most of us would choose a sweet flavor over a bitter one, and we would certainly choose feelings of contentment over feelings of envy or jealousy. Unfortunately, envy is often a part of human relationships because of sin.
What happens when envy rules? God's Word says, … where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice (James 3:16). God directs, So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander (1 Peter 2:1).
How can we rid ourselves of the evil of envy? First, we must recognize it; then we must confess it. If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive us our sins … (1 John 1:9).
God's Word gives us strength to live content with all that He provides for us. But godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6).
Walking with my Lord
Dear Lord, envy can cause divisions and ruin relationships in homes, churches and workplaces. Help me to recognize it and fight against it in my life. Forgive me when I fail, and help me to be content with the blessings You have showered upon me. Help me to rejoice with others when they, too, are blessed. In Jesus' name. Amen.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).
Of the Word
“Fear” is a four-letter word that can wreak havoc on a person’s life! The fear of the unknown, the fear of the unseen, the fear that comes from the “what ifs.” These fears can turn a person from a believer into a doubter, or an optimist into a pessimist. Fear turns people into victims.
What do we fear? Often, we fear failure, heights, disease, rejection, war, death, what others may think about us, and on goes the list. Fear in our minds, it seems, lurks around every corner.
The Lord is my light. How often have I repeated the first verse of David’s Psalm 27 when I have encountered fear! The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? He’s the light that shines in the darkness, the light that acts as my guide in times of trouble, my beacon as I go along life’s path.
The Lord is my salvation. Isaiah 12:2a says, Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid. There is no need to fear as our salvation has been secured through Christ shedding His blood on the cross for us. His resurrection assures me that someday I will rise and be with Him forever.
The Lord is my strength. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). He holds me in His strong hands whenever I feel weak and afraid. He strengthens me as I put my trust in Him.
Light. Salvation. Strength. The Lord is all of these and more — so why am I so afraid?
I began to ask the Lord to free me from my fears and to trust Him. God’s Word from Romans 8:38–39 became my powerful weapon against fear: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. God will do away with our fears and the “what ifs” in life. We need only to trust Him. Draw upon Scripture to help chase away fear!
Walking with my Lord
Dear Lord, help me chase fear away. I know You are my light when my world seems so dark, frightening, and depressing. You are my strength when I am weary and feel I cannot go on. Most importantly, You are my salvation and my hope for eternity. Help me to trust You at all times. In Your Son’s name I pray. Amen.
Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens (Psalm 119:89 NIV).
Of the Word
"Do I actually have to READ the Bible?" "I read the Bible once so I know it." "My Bible has old-fashioned words in it and I don't understand them." "I'm not a good reader." "I don't have time to read the Bible."
Would the persons who made the above comments say the same thing about food? "Do I actually have to eat?" "I ate once; I know what it's like." "I'm not a good eater." "I don't have time to eat." We would laugh at that kind of reasoning, but the same kinds of excuses are often used for neglecting the reading of God's Word. It is the Word that provides spiritual nourishment for daily life.
God wants us to READ the Bible so we can learn of His grace. Reading it just once is not enough. Contemporary English versions and Bible audio recordings make reading easier. Is time the issue? Ask God to slow you down so that you make time for Him in your busy schedule. Time with God may just become the best part of your day!
Walking with my Lord
Father God, Your Word tells me Jesus opened the minds of His followers so they could understand the Scriptures. Please fill me with Your Spirit of understanding and give me a burning desire to read Your Word. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
The HOLY SPIRIT keeps us focused on Jesus, our comfort and joy!
In the Word
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”(John 20:19).
Of the Word
When a dear one dies, fear and despair lurk at our heart’s door. That must be how the disciples felt when Jesus died. Huddled behind locked doors, the temptation to give up hope was strong.
But the night before Jesus was crucified, He promised, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. … He remains with you and is in you. … you will not be left all alone” (John 14:16, 17a, 17c, 18a GNT). And then — the resurrected Lord Jesus Himself came to that locked room to reassure the disciples before He returned to heaven.
Present-day disciples cling to the same promise. The same Holy Spirit lives with us and in us. The Spirit comes to us in God’s Word and Sacraments. The Spirit creates faith and trust. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13 NIV).
Walking with my Lord
Lord Jesus, thank You for the Holy Spirit. By Your Spirit’s power I know You and trust You. Forgive me when my faith falters and I feel afraid and hopeless. Renew me each day with the warmth of Your love. In Your name I pray. Amen.
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us … (Romans 8:26b NIV).
Of the Word
Sometimes our hearts and minds are unable to put prayers into words. How thankful we can be that the Holy Spirit speaks for us, interceding on our behalf!
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:18a NIV). Praying in the Spirit means that we are praying for God's will to be done in our lives. The Holy Spirit guides us, reminding us that God wants us to pray at any time, in any place, about any need. We can be confident that our loving God hears every prayer, no matter how large or small the request may be.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).
Walking with my Lord
Father God, I rejoice knowing that You are always ready to listen to me, no matter what I bring to You. The Holy Spirit brings my prayers to Your ears. Thank You for this gift. In Jesus' name. Amen.
