Tag: jesus

When your Heart Is blocked by doubt and your hands and feet are as much help as a millstone around our neck. Matthew 14:28-32

Matthew 14:28-32 Lexham English Bible

28 And Peter answered him and[a] said, “Lord, if it is you,[b] command me to come to you on the water!” 29 So he said, “Come!” And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he[c] saw the strong wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus extended his[d] hand and[e] caught him and said to him, “You of little faith! Why did you doubt?” 32 And when[f] they got into the boat, the wind abated.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

What is the craziest thing you have ever done, were dared to do?

I could mention a few things from my younger days, but let’s just leave that to the imagination.

How about in your life of faith?

What is the craziest thing God has ever challenged you to do?

Were you up for the challenge, or did you hear excuses in your head about why you couldn’t possibly try?

Did you jump in with both feet and find, to your surprise, that maybe it wasn’t so impossible after all?

I wonder how big the smile was on Jesus’ face when Peter said, “Lord, if it’s you . . . tell me to come to you on the water.”

I love it that Peter was ready to jump in, test his faith even when things looked impossible. He stepped out of the boat looking at Jesus. And as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, his steps went in the right direction.

Even with little faith, his walk on water was possible.

But when Peter looked around him and saw the wind and deep water, he became afraid, doubted his judgment, and started to sink.

When Jesus asks for our trust, he knows there is always going to be a bigger story to be written.

There are days when circumstances muddy the waters and the trust factor diminishes and we cannot figure out what those ‘first’ next steps should be.

Many people get discouraged by the devastation evident in the world.

Today, we can easily turn on the news and learn about wars, natural disasters, murders, and injustices.

When we see these examples of evil and suffering, doubts can form in our minds.

Why would God allow such terrible things to happen?

What is He doing about these problems?

What is He doing to do about these problems?

Widespread suffering is not the only cause for doubt.

We can also struggle with questions of “why” when disaster, loss, and illness strike close to home.

If we get diagnosed with a long-term illness or a loved one dies, we can feel angry with God.

In our pain and doubt, we start to question the Lord’s loving character.

Nonbelievers and believers alike can struggle with seasons of doubt.

As much as these times can make people feel like everything they know has been tossed like a salad made for serving thousands, leaving them confused and questioning, seasons of doubting are also opportunities for growth, to shed the assumptions and false views we once held.

These are God opportunities to seek the truth, to learn more about God and experience His love.

Doubt is, without question uncomfortable, but God can transform it, like anything else, for our good (Romans 8:28).

If your heart is blocked by doubt, there are ways to move forward.

Consider implementing these five steps to address doubts.

1. Talk to God about Your Struggle with Doubt

Praying is often not on the top of the list for those who are wrestling with doubts. They may feel resentment or bitterness toward God. Some could also feel ashamed of their doubt, assume the Lord does not want to hear from them.

But talking to God is what we should be doing when we are struggling with different feelings and questions about faith. He is not afraid of our doubts or tough questions. Instead of giving the Lord the silent treatment, we need to “gird our loins” and take time to pray when our heart is blocked by doubt.

Scripture shows us many examples of this, especially in the Psalms. David and other psalmists cried out to the Lord, sometimes in sorrow, pain, or anger.

Consider Psalm 10, in which the psalmist asks God, “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1).

Or consider the prayer of Heman the Ezrahite, “Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?” (Psalm 88:14).

These individuals took their questions, emotions, and struggles to the Lord in pleas and prayers. He inspired these prayers and preserved them in His Word.

We also have the example of the man with the demon-possessed son in the Gospels. He wanted his son to be freed from the oppression of the evil spirit.

Yet, his faith was not overly strong. He told the Lord Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us” (Mark 9:22, my emphasis added).

Christ affirmed that anything is possible for the one who believes (Mark 9:23).

At this, the man cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

Like this man, and the psalmists, we can cry out to God, asking Him to help us with our unbelief and doubts.

None of us are immune to questions, not even believers.

Therefore, praying is not reserved only for when we feel joyful and filled with strong faith.

It also for when we are tired, weak, and doubting.

2. Reflect on What the Bible Says about the Lord’s Character

Although we can have questions about many things in life, the main doubts that people experience are centered on the Lord.

Individuals look at all the evil in the world, and the suffering in their lives, and they want to know why God would allow these things to happen.

If God is all-powerful, then why does He not stop the evil?

And if He is good, then why do people suffer?

The character of God is brought into question.

This is why we should use this opportunity to examine what we believe about God and what the Bible teaches.

Lots of people have faulty assumptions and beliefs, some of which could even have been passed onto them by a church or pastor.

Such views should be questioned and brought into scrutiny – to compare the view with God’s Word.

Asking these questions about evil, suffering, and the goodness of God, then, gives us a chance to delve deeper into the truth of the Bible.

For example, some Christian circles commonly teach that the Lord gives a good life to those who serve Him but punishes those who do wrong with suffering.

The ideology is: “If you do what is right, you will experience a good life. But whenever you sin, God will punish you.”

Of course, in this sense, “good” is usually defined by worldly standards as having wealth and a comfortable life.

The Lord, thus, is presented as a doting grandfather figure who has a vengeful streak.

Another way that people often depict God is some sort of monster – delighting in inflicting pain.

Some churches emphasize rule-keeping and fear of God so much that they distort His biblical character.

People see a God of wrath who does not care about a person’s suffering and has probably sent it because he or she is not checking off religious lists well enough.

Questioning views like this is actually something we should do. 

Scripture presents a much different view of God than these two examples.

He is not a God who sends suffering or delights in evil.

He is the Lord who made all things good in the beginning – it was humankind who sinned and brought sin and death into the world.

In the Lord’s compassion and mercy, He made a promise to provide a solution and heal our brokenness (Genesis 3:15).

This He did by sending His Son into the world (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

As fully God and fully man, Jesus came to save us from sin and death by dying for our sins. 

The cross and empty tomb are the answer to the problem of evil and suffering.

God is not a doting, vengeful grandfather or a monster.

He is the loving, merciful, just, holy, death-defeating Savior who loved us and gave Himself for us.

We might still have questions about what we see in the world.

However, the reminder that God is good, loving, and has taken action to save us is comforting and encouraging in a season of doubt.

Perhaps today is a day to refocus where you are looking.

How can you more adeptly keep your eyes on Jesus?

3. Study Areas of God’s Word That Address Questions and Doubts

When individuals are facing difficulties with their faith, it is common for them to avoid reading the Bible, just as they often stop praying.

But like talking to God, we need to listen to Him by reading His Word. For there are many areas in Scripture that address questions and doubts.

One such area, which has already been mentioned, is the Psalms.

During a season of asking “why,” the Psalms give us relatable prayers that can comfort us.

We may even find ourselves praying a psalm regularly, or gleaning strength from specific passages. 

Psalm 77 can offer us a place to start, in which we read about Asaph crying out to God in distress. He was honest about his pain, but also directed his thoughts back to God to remember all that the Lord had done in the past.

After asking multiple questions, he said, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago” (Psalm 77:11).

Choosing to dwell on what God did in the past strengthened Asaph’s faith, and it can strengthen ours.

Another area of the Bible to study when doubt overwhelms us is the book of Job.

Evident in Job’s story is the theme of evil and suffering as we read about Satan causing the loss of Job’s servants and livestock (Job 1:13-17), the death of his children (Job 1:18-19), and his struggle with painful sores (Job 2:7).

Throughout the book, we read various explanations about his suffering that are presented by his friends – the main one being that Job had sinned which is why he encountered trouble in life (Job 4:7-9).

Yet, the book emphasizes that Job had not sinned against the Lord (Job 1:8, 22; 2:10). As we read this biblical account, we are shown that sometimes in life, we will not fully understand why things happen to us. But one thing we can know – The Lord is a powerful, awesome, and good God (Job 38-41).

These books of the Bible, and many others, can help us when our faith feels small, or we have questions for God.

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions and Seek the Truth

During the times we doubt God’s goodness or have questions of “why” swirling in our heads, we can allow these feelings to push us to seek truth.

So many of us can fear asking questions about faith or examining our beliefs.

We are afraid that doing so is wrong.

But if we ignore these areas and trudge on, not building our faith on a solid base, then when another cat. 5 storm in life comes, we will likely find greater destruction in its wake.

Instead of shoving questions and doubts aside, we need to acknowledge them and commit ourselves to finding the truth. Jesus encouraged us that those who seek will find (Matthew 7:7-8).

Experiencing doubts is an opportunity for us to cut away unbiblical ideas and reframe our thinking according to the truth of God’s Word.

Thankfully, there are tools we can use as we take the brave step to ask questions and seek answers.

Numerous apologetic materials exist that cover a variety of topics. Whether we have questions about creation/evolution, the problem of evil and suffering, the reliability of Scripture, or the historicity of Jesus’ ministry, among others, we can find sources that help us study these issues from a biblical viewpoint.

Of course, we should not limit ourselves to only scholarly materials, like textbooks. Many people find creative works, such as fiction and poetry, to be just as faith-building as academically intense books or lectures.

C. S. Lewis credited imagination and works of literature, especially Phantastes by George MacDonald, as part of his faith journey toward placing faith in Christ.

Similarly, author Sarah Clarkson has noted how The Lord of the Rings saved her faith when she faced a diagnosis of OCD, struggled with disillusionment with the church and God.

As she stated in this same interview for Word on Fire, “Such novels teach us to look beyond the evil and anger, the grief and despair of the broken world.”

Whether scholarly-based, creative, or a combination of both, God can use many different sources to bolster our faith in Him.

5. Stay Connected to Other Believers

Finally, when we find ourselves flailing with unbelief, we need connection to other believers.

Multiple passages in Scripture encourage the church to strengthen the spiritually weak (James 5:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).

We should not take this term (spiritually weak) negatively, as if we have a fault.

Rather, we can be grateful that provision has been provided.

The Lord included these instructions in Scripture because He knows there are times when we will struggle with faith.

In His grace, He provides the company of other believers to strengthen and encourage us.

Specifically, we can benefit from sharing our questions and concerns with a trustworthy, mature follower of Christ.

He or she has walked through similar times of doubts and can share insights and suggestions – or perhaps just a listening ear and loving presence.

Although friends and family members may be available to talk with, the perspective of a mature Christian can inspire and challenge us in healthy ways.

He or she will listen to our doubts, but also ask thought-provoking questions, confront faulty assumptions.

Such a relationship is truly an iron-sharpening one (Proverbs 27:17).

Having a Christian mentor come alongside us when our heart is blocked by doubt can remind us there is hope.

We do not have to be alone as we ask difficult, yet important questions or as we seek biblical truth.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 13 Lexham English Bible

Trust in the Salvation of Yahweh
For the music director. A psalm of David.[a]

13 How long, O Yahweh? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel[b] in my soul,
and sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider[c] and answer me, O Yahweh my God.
Give light to my eyes
lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 and lest my enemy should say, “I have overcome him,”
lest my enemies rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But as for me, I have trusted in your steadfast love.[d]
My heart will rejoice in your deliverance.
6 [e] I will sing to Yahweh
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Lord always Has His Eye on You! For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me. Psalm 102:19

Psalm 102:18-22 The Message

18-22 Write this down for the next generation
    so people not yet born will praise God:
“God looked out from his high holy place;
    from heaven he surveyed the earth.
He listened to the groans of the doomed,
    he opened the doors of their death cells.”
Write it so the story can be told in Zion,
    so God’s praise will be sung in Jerusalem’s streets
And wherever people gather together
    along with their rulers to worship him.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

This offers a glimpse into the transcendent and compassionate nature of God.

In these verses, the psalmist reflects on how God’s attention extends not only to the exalted heavens but also to the needs and cries of those on earth.

This passage captures the essence of divine care and involvement in the lives of humanity. 

The opening line, “For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary,” draws our attention to the divine perspective. It conveys the idea that God’s sanctuary, a place of truest holiness and divine presence, is located high above.

This imagery emphasizes the exalted nature of God and the heavens.

The phrase “From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth” reinforces the notion that God’s gaze transcends the earthly realm. It signifies God’s omniscience and omnipresence—the ability to see and understand all that happens on earth.

This imagery conveys a sense of divine awareness that extends beyond human comprehension.

The subsequent words, “to hear the groans of the prisoner,” highlight God’s compassionate response to the suffering of those in distress.

The word “groans” conveys deep and heartfelt expressions of pain or anguish.

God’s willingness to hear these groans illustrates his attentiveness to the cries of the afflicted marginalized.

The mention of prisoners emphasizes the marginalized and those held captive.

It alludes to those who are oppressed, bound, disabled, shunned or restricted—both physically and metaphorically. The emphasis on prisoners speaks to the psalmist’s understanding of God as a supreme deliverer who extends his care to quite literally everyone, without exception, even to those in dire situations.

The verse continues, “to free those who are condemned to death.”

This phrase underscores God’s role as a redeemer and savior.

It signifies his power to intervene in situations where death seems imminent.

Whether this refers to physical life or the spiritual deliverance from the hard condemnation of sin, it echoes into the ages, the theme of rescue and salvation.

Together, these verses depict a God who is not aloof or detached or distant or double minded, but a God whose intimately involved in the lives of individuals.

The psalmist’s portrayal of God’s actions—looking down, seeing, hearing, and freeing—vividly captures the true essence of a caring and compassionate deity.

It reflects the psalmist’s complete confidence in God’s responsiveness to all human suffering, without bias, and his ability to bring about transformation.

For believers, Psalm 102:19-20 carries timeless significance.

It reminds us that our prayers and cries for help do not fall on deaf ears. God’s holy sanctuary, His divine dwelling place, is not distant or inaccessible; rather, it is already on earth and he actively engages with the world and its inhabitants.

This passage reinforces the biblical truth that God cares for the brokenhearted, the oppressed, and those in need.

As we reflect on these verses, we’re reminded of God’s constant presence and willingness to intervene in our lives.

It encourages us to approach God with our struggles, knowing that He hears our cry’s and groans, has the power to deliver us from various forms of captivity.

This passage invites us to trust in God’s compassionate nature and to draw comfort from the fact that he is the ultimate source of hope and salvation.

In conclusion,

Psalm 102:19-20 portrays God’s divine perspective and compassionate involvement in the affairs of humanity.

It speaks to His awareness of our struggles, His willingness to listen to our cries, and His unmatched ability to bring deliverance and salvation.

This passage invites believers to approach God with confidence, knowing that He is intimately engaged with our lives and cares deeply for our well-being.

“Let not your heart be troubled.”
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubt and fear.
Though by the path He leadeth,
But one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

I sing because I’m happy—
I sing because I’m free—
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

https://hymnary.org/text/why_should_i_feel_discouraged_why_should#Author

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 139 The Message

139 1-6 God, investigate my life;
    get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
    even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
    I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
    before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
    then up ahead and you’re there, too—
    your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
    I can’t take it all in!

7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
    to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
    If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

13-16 Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.

17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
    God, I’ll never comprehend them!
I couldn’t even begin to count them—
    any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
    And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers—out of here!—
    all the men and women who belittle you, God,
    infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
See how I hate those who hate you, God,
    see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
    Your enemies are my enemies!

23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
    find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
    get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
    then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Invest in Eternity; ‘Their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.’ 2 Corinthians 8:1–4

2 Corinthians 8:1-4 The Message

The Offering

8 1-4 Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Are you a person who plans and saves and strategizes for your retirement years?

It seems most people will take the time to invest in their long term future on earth yet give little thought or consideration to investing in their eternal home.

Our retirement years are few, but our eternity is a much, much longer time. 

It would be prudent of us to have an eternal perspective and invest into your life beyond this short term temporal existence.

The most important investment we can make into heaven is to bring people with us. There is nothing we take to heaven when we die except other people.

Jesus said, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents” (Luke 15:10).

Do we live our lives with the understanding that every soul is precious to God?

Jesus stated that if a man has one hundred sheep, and one goes astray, He will go after the one and rejoice much when the one is found.

Jesus went on to say in Matthew 18:14, “Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

He was showing the importance of even one person being saved.

It takes effort to share the gospel with others but Proverbs 11:30 says, “He that wins souls is wise.”

The Bible actually says we are wise when we win people to Christ!

God wants us to have His perspective and His heart for others, try to influence as many people as possible for the kingdom. One of the ways we can naturally be a good witness for Jesus is to be aware of how we represent Him on our jobs.

Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

If you want to be a witness to your employer, employees, put in extra effort every day. Show up on time, refrain from negative talk and grumbling, and do your job with excellence. When the opportunity arises to share your faith, your witness in front of other will win you their respect and their attention.

It’s unfortunate that it often takes a tragedy, a severe illness or a catastrophic event to have a conversation with someone about God and the afterlife. How wonderful it would be to see far more people live their lives with the hope and joy of Jesus in their lifetime, and not just when their life is near its end.

Do you believe that having a discussion about God will be uncomfortable and possibly produce some difficult questions?

If you said yes, you are right.

However, in your procrastination, you may miss the only opportunity to have a conversation with someone before it is too late. Would the potential discomfort be worth it if that person found their way to heaven? Of course, it would.

When a person does not know Jesus, there is usually an overwhelming fear that comes as their days draw near to the end.

I have personally observed this so many times in visiting people in the hospital.

They are suddenly ready to listen and be open to the truth.

That can be the only time someone is willing to talk about heaven. 

If you are ever faced with this situation, with someone you care about, do not miss the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

You can help someone find peace with God. You can lead someone to full  assurance of salvation and confidence of an eternal home in heaven.

The question is, Are we spiritually astute enough to see this time as a time of eternal opportunity? The stakes are high. The eternal destinies of multitudes at stake.

Every player is needed. We are in the army of God! We do not want to miss the opportunities to be low-profile, high-impact players on the King’s Team. We are hard playing for imperishable crowns to bring glory to the King of Kings.

How indescribably beautiful and so immeasurably valuable it is to wonder how beautiful God is, make investments in eternity by changing the life of another!

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 19 The Message

19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.

6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Lies Sin whispers into our ears. Lies Sin hammers deep into our very Soul. Lies Sin uses to crush our Spirit with. 1 John 1:6-10

1 John 1:6-10 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Part of growing into mature Christian is the constant confession of sin, with both God and with others.

But in the individualistic society in which we live, people don’t always confess their sin.

In fact, if they fall away from having their daily quiet time with God, it can be months or even years since they’ve confessed sin and been forgiven by God.

When this happens, the habitual sins which they find they’re constantly repeating become even bigger (or less) than they originally thought because they deceive themselves into thinking lies about the sin.

If you find yourself stuck in habitual sin that you can’t get out of, is it possible you’re believing lies about it that is causing a foothold to stay in your life? We believe the enemy’s lies, which can allow sin to remain, creating a hindrance between ourselves and our community with God. Here are five lies sin tells you:

1. It’s No Big Deal

When we first commit a sin, such as lying, our conscience informs us we’ve made the wrong decision. We feel guilt and shame, among other emotions.

That is, until we lie again.

If we continue to commit the act, we deceive ourselves by telling ourselves it’s no big deal.

We may even minimize those lies into what are called white lies, which society sees as less than otherwise.

But the reality is lying is just as bad as any other sin.

It causes us to distort the truth about a situation, ourselves, or others.

It also causes people not to trust us if we get caught.

Soon there’s always a big deal, and every growing Christian needs to have a mature accountability partner with whom they can talk to and confess their sin regularly to.

This person can help them with the work of confession and repentance, to move past this particular sin.

2. No One Will Find Out

Secrets are not always a bad thing. 

Matthew 6:4 says,

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

In the garden, God told Adam all about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, before he made Eve.

But in a later chapter, we quickly realized Adam told Eve all about it too.

Does that mean God kept a secret from Eve?

Secrets are bad only if the nature of them is rooted in sin.

Keeping a sinful secret, however, can be detrimental to a healthy spiritual life.

In chapter three of Genesis, God gives Adam and Eve the opportunity to confess their sin before him.

Although they didn’t take responsibility for their sin and instead blamed each other, God still wants us to openly speak to him about our sin.

As we confess our sin to God or to others, it offers us the opportunity to be forgiven and to take responsibility for our actions.

It is necessary for every person to have someone they can talk to about their sin.

By confessing it outwardly, the bondage with which Satan holds us and the shame that comes with it can be broken when we confess our sins openly.

3. God Can’t Forgive This

Some sins in our mind are so severe, we think God can’t possibly forgive us.

For example, if the sin is habitual, like some form of lust (pornography, for example) we realize that sin not only deals with lust but also with adultery, especially if the person looking at it is married. 

Matthew 5:28 says, “anyone who even looks lustfully in another woman has committed adultery in his heart.”

But there is no sin God can’t forgive.

By Jesus’ death on the cross, he covered over every sin we have committed or will commit in the future.

We can be assured God forgives us when we confess our sin and repent of our behavior. But sometimes the person we can’t forgive is ourselves. We struggle with the process of forgiving ourselves for the difficult sins we have committed.

Don’t believe the lie that you can’t stop doing what you’re doing.

With God’s help anything is possible.

4. It’s Not as Big as Other People’s Sin

In Galatians 6:4-5, Paul encourages the church to restore someone gently, especially if they are in sin.

He then continues, “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.”

It’s easy to get into the trap of comparison and allow pride to enter your heart.

One of the sneakiest sins we commit is pride because it’s so easy to go on and on unchecked.

We then compare our sin to the person who needs to be restored, and believe we are better people because our sin is not as bad as theirs.

But again, we deceive ourselves into thinking certain sins are worse than others.

All sin separates us from the love of God.

All sin needs to be confessed and forgiven.

All behaviors must be repented before freedom can be achieved.

The next time you hear someone else’s sin, don’t be quick to allow pride to enter your heart.

Show gentleness and humility, helping that person and praying for them so that they can achieve the same freedom you’ve come to know.

5. I Can’t Stop

When we are entangled in sin, and repeat the same behavior again, it becomes more difficult to break free.

This is especially true of sins which are still considered shameful in front of society. We can easily lie to ourselves and say we don’t have the willpower to be able to stop this. But our finite willpower isn’t the key to freedom; only Jesus is.

When we lie to ourselves and tell ourselves we cannot stop, we put God in a box.

We underestimate his power and presence in our lives.

If Jesus can raise people from the dead, then he can certainly stop a sin from dominating our lives.

A good place to start is confess your sin to someone.

Tell them you need help to stop. Through a renewed reading of the word, prayer and constant accountability, freedom is possible. It may be hard at first and you may stumble, but don’t give up. All freedom is possible to those who believe.

We live in a divisive society where people don’t want to be judged for their sin.

Therefore, it gets much easier for us to conceal our sin and allow it to become a stronghold in our lives.

But through open confession, prayer, reading the Word of God and renewing our minds, max reliance on Jesus is key. When we rely on Jesus and trust him to remove the sin, we can experience freedom, Shalom, as we never have before. 

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 15 Lexham English Bible

A Description of Those Who May Dwell with Yahweh

A psalm of David.[a]

15 O Yahweh, who may reside in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy mountain?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right.
He who speaks honestly in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue.
He does not harm his friend,
nor bring up[b] a disgrace against his neighbor.
4 In his eyes a rejected one is contemptible,
but he honors those who respect Yahweh.
He takes an oath to his own injury and does not retract it.
5 He does not lend his money at interest,
and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Herds of Panting Deer? Our Parched, Thirsty Souls? God’s Living Waters? Psalm 42

Psalm 42 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 42
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God:
when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night,
while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me:
for I had gone with the multitude,
I went with them to the house of God,
with the voice of joy and praise,
with a multitude that kept holyday.

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted in me?
hope thou in God:
for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me:
therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan,
and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts:
all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime,
and in the night his song shall be with me,
and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me?
why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me;
while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul?
and why art thou disquieted within me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him,
who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

When I visualize a deer, I rather quickly picture the white-tail deer which is commonplace in most of North America.

That default picture in my head could be misleading because in the Bible the word “deer” could mean any one of number of creatures such as an ibex, a gazelle, a mountain goat, and other species in the deer family.

Israel was allowed to eat deer (Deut. 15:22), and, even though it is considered a “clean” (edible) animal, it is nowhere stated to be a sacrificial animal.

They are pictured as beautiful and graceful (Prov. 5:19) and creatures known for their speed, agility, and slender legs.

In Psalm 42, the Psalmist begins with a vivid image:

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Ps. 42:1–2).

This comparison between a deer’s thirst for water and the soul’s thirst for God beautifully captures the essence of our spiritual hunger.

The deer more likely here is in search of water during a season of prolonged drought than one who is frantically trying to escape when it is being hunted.

On a hot day, nothing cools and revives us like water. Whether we drink it, splash our faces with it, or plunge into it—those streams of water refreshes.

Our eyes can thirst for the sight of it and our ears long for the sound of it.

A spectacular waterfall can take our breath away.

There is nothing else in creation like water; it is essential to life.

Our psalmist shares our appreciation.

Stranded far away from God’s temple, which symbolized God’s presence among his people, the psalmist desperately ached to be nearer to God, yearned to be with God in the traditional, non-traditional places of worship. Yet the writer of this Psalm reminded himself that God could always be found close at hand too.

The Psalmist’s expression of deep spiritual longing for God reflects a profound personal awareness of his significant need for divine presence and intimacy.

Deprived of the fresh stream of water that is God, sometimes we try to refill our souls with our tears, but they can’t satisfy our thirst.

Reminding ourselves of what God has done for us in the past can be a refreshing drink; remembering God’s promises can soak us in waves of hope.

When others share stories with us of how God alone has quenched their thirst, they push us into the pool of God’s grace.

These psalms assure us there is plenty of living water to satisfy all our thirst.

Even more, Jesus stands ready at his well of living water, offering us the life-giving Spirit of God as a spring that wells up within us to eternal life (John 4:14).

The Psalmists use of “my soul” in verse 1 instead of just “I” extends the metaphor of thirsting not only for physical water but also for spiritual needs.

Just as water is essential for a deer’s survival, so too is God’s presence essential for our spiritual well-being. The Psalmist’s soul mightily thirsts for the living God, emphasizing that nothing else can ever satisfy this inner spiritual craving.

Have you been refreshed by the water of life?

Go Deeper

Have you ever experienced spiritual dryness and periods of longing?

Do you feel that way today?

Our soul’s thirst for God is a reminder of our dependence on Him and our need to seek His presence continually.

What can you do today to satisfy that need?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Pray with Us …

Psalm 63

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:
my soul thirsteth for thee,
my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 to see thy power and thy glory,
so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,
my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;
and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 when I remember thee upon my bed,
and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help,
therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee:
thy right hand upholdeth me.
9 But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword:
they shall be a portion for foxes.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
every one that sweareth by him shall glory:
but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Lord, we recognize our deep dependence on You. With the Psalmist, we cry out to You: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Ps. 42:2). Satisfy our spiritual hunger and thirst, we pray, with the living water of Your Word!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When do we survey the indescribable shame, total ugliness of the Cross? Hebrews 12:1-3

Hebrews 12:1-3 Lexham English Bible

The Example of Jesus’ Suffering

12 Therefore, since[a] we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us[b], let us run with patient endurance the race that has been set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider the one who endured such hostility by sinners against himself,[c] so that you will not grow weary in your souls and give up.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

How many crosses do you own?

Where are they, and in what style? Writing and recording this today, I could see several crosses around me. There is the cross I wear around my neck and the wooded one around my neck; I also have a wonderfully hand-crafted cross of nails hanging on my wall. These crosses are all simple, artistic and beautiful.

Such majestic representations of the cross pair well with the regal language we use to describe it.

We may speak about the victory we received or how the simple cross testifies to  salvation, love, and forgiveness.

We might sing about the Old Rugged Cross and cherish it deeply.

A favorite hymn of my church growing up described the cross as erected on “some green hill far away outside the city wall.”

It all seems quite regal, quaint, and nostalgic, doesn’t it?

Don’t get me wrong—there is truth in all of this. The cross is a moment of victory, and love and forgiveness coming our way because of it. But there is a deeper too often overlooked truth we must remember: Jesus’s cross was ugly.

Jesus did not die upon some majestic religious symbol.

In the ancient world, the cross was a brutal execution tool, reserved for those deemed unworthy of respect or dignity.

Written in Roman law was the decree that no Roman citizen could be killed on the cross.

The cross was reserved for the worst of the worst, declaring them less than nothing.

The reason why Jesus died on the “green hill far away outside the city wall” wasn’t because this was a place of scenic beauty; no, it was a place wherein the crucified could be mocked. It was the place of the skull, signifying how cut off the crucified was from all life, love, and relationships, and provision for life.

When Jesus hung upon the cross, those standing by Jesus didn’t muse about the love of God; they mocked him.

They derided him.  

They insulted him. “You who could save others, save yourself!” they jeer.  

“Come down from the cross, if you can,” they cry. And that grand sign above Jesus, “This is the King of the Jews,” was not written as some statement of faith. This was Pilate declaring defeat over any would-be Israelite King. 

No. Jesus didn’t take on that which was beautiful or majestic, as if it were something easy and dignified. He endured the cross, taking on its shame.

On the cross, Jesus took upon himself everything that makes us squirm, recoil, and feel uncomfortable.

But it was this that testifies to who Jesus is.

Intersecting Faith and Life

Jesus shows his true nature; reveals his fullness as the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord of all, not because he escapes the cross, nor transforms it into some easy, much desirable symbol.

No, He proves who he is, the salvation he brings by hanging there and taking upon himself not an easy or beautiful cross but of derision, mockery, shame.

Jesus scorns all that the cross represents; he shows that he is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith precisely because he understands this is the will of His Father God, obediently endures the cross, takes it on, and does not forsake it.

The cross, therefore, is the symbol of faith precisely because it is ugly, extreme, and a symbol of shame, abandonment, and derision.

The cross represents everything not beautiful, majestic, nor surrounded by pleasantry and Ease.

It symbolizes faith because it is into that place that Jesus entered.

it is into that place we all must enter and utterly embrace and own the moment.

So, as you think about the cross, dare to take a moment and be uncomfortable today.  Dare to be affected. Dare to recognize the very scorn and derision that Jesus felt as he hung brutally beaten and bloodied, dying on the cross for you.

And allow that fact to teach you Jesus doesn’t, will not ever wait for you to feel comfortable and victorious. Jesus doesn’t stand on the sidelines of life trying to avoid the mess. He comes to you in the very place where you should feel the very harshest derision, the utmost profound guilt, and the worst ever shame.

The ugliness of the cross means that Jesus embraces you in all the places where you feel ugly. 

So, look to Jesus. Embrace the cross and uncover how Jesus’s love meets us.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Suffering and Waiting for Deliverance

For the music director; according to The Doe of the Dawn. A psalm of David.[a]

22 My God, my God why have you forsaken me?
Why are you far from helping me, far from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I call by day and you do not answer,
and by night but I have no rest.[b]
3 Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors[c] trusted you;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you and were saved;
they trusted you and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by humankind and despised by people.
7 All who see me mock me.
They open wide their lips;
they shake the head, saying:
8 “He trusts Yahweh.[d] Let him rescue him.
Let him deliver him because he delights in him.”
9 Yet you took me from the belly;
you made me trust while on my mother’s breasts.
10 On you I was cast from the womb.
From my mother’s belly you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me
because trouble is near;
because there is no helper.
12 Many bulls have encircled me;
mighty bulls of Bashan have surrounded me.
13 They open their mouth against me
like a lion tearing and roaring.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax;
it is melted within me.[e]
15 My strength is dry like a potsherd,
and my tongue is sticking to my jaws;
and you have placed me in the dust of death.
16 Because dogs have surrounded me;
a gang of evildoers has encircled me.
Like the lion[f] they are at my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones;
they gaze, they look at me.
18 They divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.[g]
19 But you, O Yahweh, do not remain distant.
O my help, hasten to help me.
20 Rescue my life from the sword,
my only life from the power of the dogs.[h]
21 Save me from the mouth of the lion,
and from the horns of the wild oxen answer me.
22 I will tell your name to my brothers;
inside the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who revere Yahweh, praise him!
Glorify him, all you seed of Jacob,
and be in awe of him, all you seed of Israel,
24 because he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted,
and has not hid his face from him;
but he listened to him when he cried for help.
25 From you is my praise.
In the great assembly,
I will pay my vows before those who revere him.
26 The afflicted will eat and will be satisfied.
Those who seek him will praise Yahweh.
May your[i] heart live forever.
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to Yahweh.
All the families of the nations
will worship before you.
28 Because the kingship belongs to Yahweh,
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the healthy ones[j] of the earth will eat and worship.
Before him all of those descending into the dust will kneel,
even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
30 Descendants[k] will serve him.
Regarding the Lord, it will be told to the next generation.
31 They will come and tell his saving[l] deeds
to a people yet to be born, that he has done it.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Helping Your Children’s Faith Grow this Summer; “I have treasured Your Word in my heart, So that I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:9-16

Psalm 119:9-16 The Message

9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
    By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
    don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
    so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
    train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
    all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
    than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
    I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life,
    I won’t forget a word of it.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

As parents, hopefully, we are all concerned for our children’s spiritual growth.

I’m assuming you’ve read this far into this article because you want tangible ways to nurture this growth. The great news is that caring is half the battle. 

You’ve cared enough to lay the foundation in their formidable years, but now, as your children enter their adolescence it’s time to pivot. Our children are now critical thinkers and questioning their worldviews.

They will have serious questions about faith, the world, culture, themselves.

It’s time to create a culture within our homes for conversation and even doubt.

In her book Saving Leonardo, Professor Nancy Pearcey references a Fuller Youth Institute study that backs the idea that when adolescents are given their space to wrestle with their doubts, it actually deepens and strengthens their faith.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Saving+Leonardo%2C&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Becoming a safe space to wrestle with doubts might sound scary to us as parents, but it turns out that our children really, desperately, need this.

So, how do we brave the waters of becoming a safe place for doubt without accidentally wading into deconstructionism?

What is the main idea of deconstructionism?

Deconstruction denotes the pursuing of the meaning of a text to the point of exposing the supposed contradictions and internal oppositions upon which it is founded, grounded—supposedly showing that those foundations are 100% irreducibly complex, unstable, or impossible.

What is the core concept of deconstruction?

It challenges the traditional notions of language, meaning, and truth by exposing the contradictions and inconsistencies within texts and ideas.

At its core, deconstruction argues that all texts and ideas are composed of a series of oppositions or binary pairs, such as good/evil, presence/absence, or male/female.

What do deconstructionists believe?

Essentially, deconstructionists think they can interpret the real meaning of Scripture using their finite, fleshly understanding. They deny the existence of absolute truth because they are filled with confusion, conflict, and doubt.

Deconstructionism argues that logical structures based on binaries, or binary pairs, are the bones of society and language.

What is an example of deconstructionism?

A binary consists of two concepts that are presented as being at odds with each other. Examples include life/death, mind/body, and masculine/feminine.

3 Ways to Help Your Children’s Faith Grow This Summer

Step One: Open Up Your Heart

 If you are a parent, which I assume you are because you’re still reading this article, you have an opportunity to meet your child on their terms. 

We’ve already discussed all the factors that adolescents are currently facing, but the reality is that we just don’t know what we don’t know. 

We don’t know what young people today are internalizing.

We likely don’t know what it’s like to be challenged with worldviews antithetical to a Christian worldview.

We don’t know what it’s like to have LGBTQ+ literature in our middle school libraries (if your child is in public school), we don’t know what it’s like to have gender-neutral bathrooms in our school or to have to compete against trans-athletes or forfeit, and we don’t know what it’s like to our gender challenged by our own peers at such a critical time of physical and cognitive development.

Sure, we had our own challenges in our upbringing, but the challenges our children face are almost incomprehensible to us. Given these factors and more, our hearts must be incredibly tender towards our children and their friends.

Keeping a tender heart opens us up in empathy to pray over the intricate aspects of our children’s lives. It helps us orient ourselves towards prayer, not just for our children but for their friends, the other children in their schools—and by extension—families in our communities. 

Step Two: Open Up Your Home

I’ll be completely transparent when I tell you that this part is hard for me. Opening up my home means that I’m inviting loud, messy, stinky and sometimes crude teenage boys into my home.

And when I say stinky, I really mean it. I love a clean house. I love order.

I really love quiet.

Becoming “the house” means that my house is going to get messy, disorderly, and very loud, but becoming “the house” also means that I get to walk out my Christian faith right in front of my children.

Through meals and conversation the gospel is shared.

My children observe that a life dedicated to Christ is a life lived in action. 

We do not close ourselves off from the rest of the world, instead we dig in, get messy and become as inclusive as possible.

This summer, consider starting a prayer journal in which you record your prayers over your children and all of their friends. 

Next, model this for your children.

Engage your children in prayer, praying with them, over them, and for their friends.

Modeling an active prayer life for your children may have a massive ripple effect.

Step Three: Open Up Your Head

Okay, so you’ve become “the house,” now what? 

Now, you listen, serve, and attend to the needs of your children and their friends. You feed them, stay engaged, invite them (youth group or Bible study), and create an environment where your children and their friends can ask the hard questions.

This part may feel somewhat tedious, but creating a safe environment in which young people can ask questions about faith will be fundamental in their spiritual development. 

Now, this part might make you feel nervous.

“What if I don’t have all the answers?”

“What if my own child stumps me?”

My 11-year-old grandson stumps me all the time, but I’m willing to engage in a conversation with him. 

Sometimes the best response is, “I don’t know the answer, but I’d love to research and pursue that with you.” 

The reality is that we don’t have to know it all, but Christian responsibility means being open to learning and wrestling. 

Don’t be in a rush to answer questions; instead be humble and willing to grow alongside your children.

Who knows, their questions might actually drive you to a deeper faith.

Bonus Step: Open Up Your Wallet

In opening up my heart, home, and head, I quickly learned that a fourth step was necessary.

I had to open my wallet, because snacks and tacos are expensive.

Gas money for driving all the kids everywhere they want to go is expensive.

Engaging our children and facilitating spiritual growth will always come at a cost, and, more often than not, that cost is monetary. 

Additionally, the cost can be our time, or our preferences when we make choices that benefit our children and their friends more than ourselves. 

Scripture reminds us time and time again, walking in faith is costly, but  hopefully, when it comes to our children’s spiritual growth, we count that cost as gain.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit

Praying …

Psalm 19 New American Standard Bible
The Works and the Word of God.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their expanse declares the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their [a]line has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices like a strong person to run his course.
6 Its rising is from [b]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the [c]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The Law of the Lord is [d]perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold;
Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, Your servant is warned by them;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep Your servant back from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be innocent,
And I will be blameless of great wrongdoing.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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What would it look like for the Holy Spirit to be at work in the ministry of a particular congregation? Acts 17:11

Acts 17:10-13 New American Standard Bible

Paul in Berea

10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, [a]and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, [b]for they received the word with [c]great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore, many of them believed, [d]along with a significant number of  prominent Greek women and men. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

How do we know if a preacher is doing a good job?

Do we say the preaching is good because it says what we want to hear, or is it good because we hear what the Bible teaches?

Sometimes our understanding of the gospel can grow narrow or get watered down, and we can fail to embrace the whole counsel of Scripture.

Sometimes in our efforts to protect ourselves from deception, we can close ourselves to new insights from Scripture.

Paul and Silas were bringing to the Jews in Berea a new interpretation of the person and mission of the long-awaited Messiah.

They taught that Jesus was the Messiah, that he suffered and died for the sins of the world–and, indeed, for the sins of the Bereans as well.

Instead of resisting or discarding what they heard, the Jews in Berea examined the Scriptures in close detail in order to know if Paul and Silas’s interpretations were true. They had used their available Scriptures as their standard for truth.

Question: What would it look like for the Holy Spirit to be at work in the life of a particular congregation?

In other words, if the Holy Spirit was truly present with us and active among us, what signs or evidences would we see of his presence and activity?

Some would look for passionate singing, people raising their hands in worship, maybe even people bowing down during worship.

These folks would cite a phenomenon like the 2023 “Asbury Revival” in Wilmore, Kentucky.

Best I can tell, the predominant feature of this revival was a prolonged worship service where an ever-changing group of students refused to leave the chapel.

Others (of a more charismatic stripe) would look for some kind of wild activity like people running the aisles, people speaking in tongues, or people laughing hysterically.

Some in this group would look for signs and wonders, people being slain in the Spirit, prophetic words, and dramatic healings.

Still others in this group would expect exorcisms and encounters with demons.

To be clear, my question is less based on experience, more based on Scripture.

Based on the biblical teaching about the person and the work of the Holy Spirit, what would we expect to see, hear, and experience if the Holy Spirit was truly at work in a local congregation.

I think Scripture points us to at least 7 realities.

The people of God will be focused on the Word of God. 

Jesus described the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of truth” who would help the disciples remember the things Jesus taught (John 14-16).

Luke tells us the early church was devoted to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42).

Paul clearly says that the only people who can receive the truth of God are the people who have the Spirit and are taught by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:11-16).

Most importantly, the Bible itself claims to be authored by the Holy Spirit working through human authors (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21).

Make no mistake, when the Holy Spirit is at work in a church, the Children of God will be hungry – not for dreams and visions and words of prophecy – but the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God.

People will feel deep, genuine, abiding conviction of sin. 

In John 16 Jesus spoke plainly about his “going away” so that the Helper could come to the disciples.

Speaking about the Holy Spirit, Jesus promised, “when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8)

Only the Holy Spirit can work conviction that is deep, genuine, and abiding.

In contrast, man is quite capable of manipulating shallow, manufactured, temporary feelings of remorse.

Paul talks about this very issue in 2 Corinthians 7 when he contrasts “godly grief” that is brought about by the Holy Spirit and “worldly grief” that only ends in death. When the Spirit is at work in a congregation, the people in that congregation will experience “godly grief” that leads to repentance and life.

The miracle of regeneration will result in conversions. 

In the Old Covenant, the prophet Ezekiel looked forward to the day when the Spirit of God would remove hearts of stone and replace them with hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36).

He looked forward to a day when the Spirit of God would bring life to those who were hopelessly dead in sin (Ezekiel 37).

That hope was brought to fruition in the work of regeneration (John 3).

Jesus told Nicodemus that no one would see the kingdom unless they were born again, and he explained that this new birth was the work of the Spirit of God.

The new birth is God’s work (1 Peter 1:3), and it is a work that God brings about through the preaching of the Word of truth (James 1:18).

Left to ourselves we are dead in sin, but the miracle of regeneration gives us life that leads to faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10).

When the Spirit is at work, blowing like the wind and granting new birth, people who are dead in sin will be converted and saved.

The people of God will fix their eyes on Jesus. 

All too often, churches that boast about the work of the Holy Spirit have their eyes fixed on the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, however, clearly told his disciples that it was the work of the Holy Spirit to glorify the person and work of God the Son – “He will glorify me,” Jesus said (John 16:14).

This focus on Jesus fits perfectly with Paul’s teaching in Romans 8 where we learn that the Holy Spirit is given to us to help us in sanctification.

That is, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to conform the people of God to the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29).

This is why Paul can say “for those who love God all things work together for good.” (Romans 8:28).

It’s also why the author of Hebrews can confidently call the people of God to fix their eyes – not on the Holy Spirit – but on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

When the Spirit is at work in our midst, he will call us to look to Jesus.

The people of God will be serious about killing sin. 

Romans 8:13 is one of the most challenging texts in all of Scripture – not because it’s hard to understand, but because of the call it places on our lives.

Paul says, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)

This isn’t legalism or Phariseeism or works-based-salvation.

Paul has laid those charges to rest in Romans 3-5.

Paul here is simply explaining what will happen in the life of a person who has trusted in Jesus and received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

They will kill sin.

Paul’s teaching here in Romans 8 is echoed in Galatians 5 and 1 Corinthians 6.

Believers will walk with the Spirit and not according to the works of the flesh.

Believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and their lives will increasingly reflect the holiness of the Spirit.

Rest assured, those who are experiencing the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit will be serious about obedience, discipleship, and holiness.

The people of God will be passionate about missions. 

After his death and resurrection, Jesus spoke the words we commonly know as “The Great Commission” …

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

How is it that Jesus, who was going away and ascending to heaven, would be “with” his disciples to the end of the age.

Clearly the book of Acts indicates that the promised presence of Jesus became a reality in the sending of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28 reminds us that the precious promise about Jesus’ presence is directly tied to the clear command to make disciples.

Thus, those who enjoy the presence of Jesus through the person of the Holy Spirit will be people committed to making disciples of all nations.

The people of God will long for the return of Christ. 

Throughout Romans 8, as Paul talks about the work of the Holy Spirit in our sanctification, Paul also points us forward to the future hope of Christ’s return, the resurrection of our bodies, our heavenly inheritance, our final glorification.

Paul points to this future hope in Romans 8:11, reminding us that the Spirit who dwells in us now will raise our bodies in the future work of glorification.

He also points to this hope in Romans 8:17, when he talks about the Spirit’s work of assuring us of our adoption and our future inheritance – an inheritance that will be ours when we are “glorified with him.”

Paul circles back to this point in Romans 8:26-30 where he begins by telling us the Spirit helps us in our weakness and concludes by talking about the certainty of our future glorification.

When the Spirit is at work in a church, that church will long for the return of Christ and the glorification of believers (Revelation 22:20).

We are also challenged today to embrace the wide truth of the entire Scriptures.

The people in Berea, as our text explains, carefully examined the Scriptures to make sure Paul’s teaching was true.

Smart people need to be wise people, and wise people need to be listened to, talked with, questioned, and accepted if what they are saying is the truth.

Have we made God too small?

Have we limited our understanding of Scripture to only the most familiar parts of the Bible?

Have we placed more confidence in our tradition than in the living Word of God?

What is the foundation of our faith and practice?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God, the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 119:105-112 New American Standard Bible

Nun

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.
106 I have sworn and I will confirm it,
That I will keep Your righteous judgments.
107 I am exceedingly afflicted;
[a]Revive me, Lord, according to Your word.
108 Be pleased to accept the [b]voluntary offerings of my mouth, Lord,
And teach me Your judgments.
109 My [c]life is continually [d]in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Your Law.
110 The wicked have set a [e]trap for me,
Yet I have not wandered from Your precepts.
111 I have inherited Your testimonies forever,
For they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes
Forever, even to the end.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Greatest Transfer of Trust; “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you will live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!” Acts 16:25-31

Acts 16:25-31 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer[a] called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

It started with an earthquake that forced prison doors to open. A jailer’s world literally crumbling around him unto death by his own sword. In that moment of desperation, he discovered what we all eventually find – our strength will never be enough. “What must I do to be saved?” His question pierced the darkness.

For centuries, religion had made salvation complicated. Endless rules. Constant striving. Never quite measuring up. But on that night, in a prison of all places, heaven’s answer rang with breathtaking simplicity: “Believe in the Lord Jesus.”

Not “get better first” or “prove yourself worthy.” Not “try harder” or “do more.” Just believe. Just Trust. Just Receive.

In that moment, a prison became a sanctuary, and a hardened jailer discovered what countless hearts have found since – when we stop trying to save ourselves by our own severely limited resources, we quickly find the One who already has.

That same invitation lights up every dark place today: believe in Jesus.

One of the most important keys to being an effective witness for Christ is to be constantly on the lookout for open doors and open hearts.

We need to ask God for opportunities to share our faith, and we need to keep watch as God opens doors for us.

For the apostle Paul, every place he went was a potential mission field.

Even behind the closed doors of a prison Paul and Silas found open doors for sharing their faith.

First they sang hymns to God at midnight, and later they shared the story of Jesus with the jailer.

Jails have a way of hardening a person’s heart. The seamy side of life can leave one calloused and impenetrable. But the earthquake brought the jailer to his knees both physically and spiritually. He was scared, open, receptive, softened by the circumstances. Paul, Silas, saw the opportunity for a spiritual harvest.

Part of being an effective witness is being able to discern when people are open to hearing the good news. Be 100% assured that God is at work tilling the hard-packed soil of people’s hearts. The Holy Spirit is right now doing his spadework in the lives of many people around us.

That’s why we must always be ready to share the message of Jesus’ love. As 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

1 Peter 3:13-18 The Message

13-18 If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

Let grace do what all our striving never could.

1 Peter 3:15-16 Amplified Bible

15 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. 16 And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].

The fact that you’re reading these devotions suggests that you probably have some idea of what it means to be saved.

Saved is a familiar word, and yet it can mean different things to people in different places along the journey of faith.

For some, it can mean going back to church.

For others, it may mean agreeing with certain ideas in Christianity.

For yet others, being saved may mean being willing to feel guilty over sins they used to take pride in.

As God leads us, each faith-growing experience inevitably involves some kind of minor surrender—as when you face a crisis and seek direction, looking to God to sustain you along the way.

If you let God lead, guide and direct you along a series of surrenders, you’re eventually going reach a “tipping point” where something inside you realizes that you simply need to hand everything over to the God who’s been guiding you through the fog.

You can tell this has happened when you start worrying less about getting God’s help for what you want and instead start to wonder what he really wants for me and you. Instead of wanting God to find your way, you’re first seeking his way.

Have you been saved like that?

Ask Yourself:

  • What does it mean to move beyond knowing about Jesus to truly believing in Him?
  • How has simple faith in Jesus changed your perspective on life?

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 13 English Standard Version

How Long, O Lord?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Has anyone devoted any serious time to pray through this thought? Living and loving without God in the World? Psalm 49

Psalm 49 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Psalm 49

The Folly of Trust in Riches

To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

1 Hear this, all you peoples;
    give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
    rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom;
    the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
    I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life;[a]
    there is no price one can give to God for it.
8 For the ransom of life is costly
    and can never suffice,
9 that one should live on forever
    and never see the Pit.

10 When we look at the wise, they die;
    fool and dolt perish together
    and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves[b] are their homes forever,
    their dwelling places to all generations,
    though they named lands their own.
12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
    they are like the animals that perish.

13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
    the end of those[c] who are pleased with their lot. Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,[d]
    and their form shall waste away;
    Sheol shall be their home.[e]
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will receive me. Selah

16 Do not be afraid when some become rich,
    when the wealth of their houses increases.
17 For when they die they will carry nothing away;
    their wealth will not go down after them.
18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
    —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19 they[f] will go to the company of their ancestors,
    who will never again see the light.
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
    they are like the animals that perish.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Without God in the World?

For centuries, Western society has benefited from the widespread influence of the Christian faith.

While the history of the West is filled with examples of stark, grotesques human depravity, where there has been a consistent Christian presence it has, in many ways and at many times, also stayed the hand of evil. Most of us have not had to experience what a society looks like when it completely rejects and forgets God.

Psalm 10 Complete Jewish Bible

10 Why, Adonai, do you stand at a distance?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 The wicked in their arrogance hunt down the poor,
who get caught in the schemes they think up.

3 For the wicked boasts about his lusts;
he blesses greed and despises Adonai.
4 Every scheme of the wicked in his arrogance [says],
“There is no God, [so] it won’t be held against me.”
5 His ways prosper at all times.
Your judgments are way up there,
so he takes no notice.
His adversaries? He scoffs at them all.
6 In his heart he thinks, “I will never be shaken;
I won’t meet trouble, not now or ever.”
7 His mouth is full of curses, deceit, oppression;
under his tongue, mischief and injustice.
8 He waits near settlements in ambush
and kills an innocent man in secret;
his eyes are on the hunt for the helpless.
9 Lurking unseen like a lion in his lair,
he lies in wait to pounce on the poor,
then seizes the poor and drags him off in his net.
10 Yes, he stoops, crouches down low;
and the helpless wretch falls into his clutches.
11 He says in his heart, “God forgets,
he hides his face, he will never see.”

12 Arise, Adonai! God, raise your hand!
Don’t forget the humble!
13 Why does the wicked despise God
and say in his heart, “It won’t be held against me”?
14 You have seen; for you look at mischief and grief,
so that you can take the matter in hand.
The helpless commits himself to you;
you help the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked!
As for the evil man,
search out his wickedness
until there is none left.

16 Adonai is king forever and ever!
The nations have vanished from his land.
17 Adonai, you have heard what the humble want;
you encourage them and listen to them,
18 to give justice to the fatherless and oppressed,
so that no one on earth will strike terror again.

The Scriptures, however, do give us more than a few grim pictures of what happens when people have convinced themselves that there is no God.

It is a poignant picture of a rejection of humility, where “the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul” and rejects God in pride (Psalm 10:3-4). Humility is where the knowledge of God begins; therefore, those who reject God reject humility too.

Not only do such proud people reject God; they also revile Him, cursing and renouncing Him (Psalm 10:3).

It is often prosperity that leads people to curse God.

Their lives are going so well that they believe nothing can touch them and they will give no account to their Maker.

Their prosperity gives them a false sense of security.

They think they can live as they like, that “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it” (v 11), and that there will be no repercussions for their behavior.

With no accountability, personal morals, ethics, responsibility, for how people live, there is no need for the powerful to serve or the strong to be gentle: we can treat others however we please, and so the godless man “sits in ambush … he murders the innocent … he lurks that he may seize the poor” (v 8-9).

It is with good reason, then, that the psalmist poignantly says, “Man in all his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.”

When we consciously reject and revile God, we foolishly think we are secure in our devices, which convinces us that it’s acceptable for us to mistreat others.

It is tempting to think that passages like this one only describe other people.

But we should not be too quick to look away from ourselves.

Are there ways we ourselves have rejected humility, believing ourselves to be “wholly sufficient” without God?

Have we let our prosperity numb us to our neediness and accountability before God? Has our treatment of those around us been marked by self-interest and arrogance instead of love and service?

We may confess to have faith in God, but perhaps there are still areas of our “Christian” lives that require some serious Psalm 51 measure of repentance.

The picture of man “in his pomp yet without understanding” is indeed a bleak one—both in this life and at its end.

So praise God that this is not our own whole “Mona Lisa” self portrait/selfie.

If you grasp we have a Creator to whom we are valuable and accountable,

and that that Creator has ransomed your soul and will receive you into eternal life (Psalm 49:15),

then all of the pomp of this world will assume its proper place, and in Jesus Christ you will enjoy purpose, hope, forgiveness, and pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 49:15-20 The Message

13-15 This is what happens to those who live for the moment,
    who only look out for themselves:
Death herds them like sheep straight to hell;
    they disappear down the gullet of the grave;
They waste away to nothing—
    nothing left but a marker in a cemetery.
But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death,
    he reaches down and grabs me.

16-19 So don’t be impressed with those who get rich
    and pile up fame and fortune.
They can’t take it with them;
    fame and fortune all get left behind.
Just when they think they’ve arrived
    and folks praise them because they’ve made good,
They enter the family burial plot
    where they’ll never see sunshine again.

20 We aren’t immortal. We don’t last long.
    Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will return there.
Adonai gave; Adonai took;
blessed be the name of Adonai.”

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 23 Complete Jewish Bible

23 (0) A psalm of David:

(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.

5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.

6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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