Podcasts about your word

I opened the refrigerator and there it was again - the pig! Yes, years ago someone bought it, put it in the refrigerator for a while and then it disappeared. I thought maybe he'd gone to the bacon factory, but then the pig was back. See, this pig was actually plastic, and whenever you would open the door, the plastic pig started oinking at you. It's annoying, but it does make you think about what you're about to do to yourself. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The No Regrets Alarm." Our word for today from the Word of God - very familiar verses from Matthew 6, beginning at verse 9, "This then is how you should pray." And this is what we commonly call The Lord's Prayer of course. "Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one." How many times have you prayed that? That's an important prayer. We almost don't think about those words. "Lead me not into temptation; deliver me from evil." In other words, "Lord, help me see where the temptation is. Help me steer away from it. Keep me from anything that the Devil might be trying to get me to do." Well, how do you do that? That's through His Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus said that the Holy Spirit, who He called the Comforter, would do that. He said it in John 16:8. He promises "that the Holy Spirit - the Comforter - when He is come, He will convict the world of sin." He also said in John 14:26 He will "bring to your remembrance all the things that I have taught you." In other words, the Holy Spirit's going to bring to mind how Jesus feels about this. The day you put your trust in Jesus as your Savior, God plants in your soul a sin alarm. Now somebody planted a gluttony alarm in our refrigerator; this noise that makes you stop and think before you reach for something. It was annoying, but the pig could keep you from doing something you would regret later; like how you'll feel when you step on the scale tomorrow. We do need some noise inside of us when we're about to reach for something we're going to later regret. And God delivers us from evil if we will listen to the inner alarms He triggers when we are about to sin. He says something like, "That's not the truth; don't lie. That's not pure; don't watch it. That's going to hurt; don't say it. That's going too far; don't do it." See, one alarm in us is what I call Scripture brakes. God brings to your mind a statement from the Word of God that keeps you from making a mistake if you listen. It's the brakes; step on the brakes. D. L. Moody said that "When you think sin you ought to think Scripture." That's why it's important to commit to memory verses that God can later use to warn you away from the edge. Psalm 119: "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I will not sin against You." Now, another sin alarm is what I call shame warnings. See, many of us don't carry a sense of shame from the sins of the past, and God erased those from His books if you've brought those sins to Jesus. But sometimes the shame feelings are there a long time after God has forgiven us. And that's actually not all bad, because God can remind you of the damage that comes from saying yes to that temptation, using the shame warnings from the past. Listen to those. One other sin alarm that God uses when you're reaching for something that could hurt you is Spirit tremors. It's an uneasiness in your spirit that says, "This just isn't right." That's probably the stirring of the Holy Spirit. Listen to that inner warning. But respond immediately and put on the Scripture brakes, respond to the shame warnings, to the Spirit tremors before sin drowns them out and you grab a plateful of regrets. After a while, I have to admit I got immune to that pig warning in the fridge. I finally just put it away. Don't do that with the Holy Spirit alarm system inside you. Do not quench the Spirit, because He knows the price tag for what you are about to grab.

Some of the greatest stories of believers down through time have involved those who really studied God's Word. These people have gone before us to show us the way. From Charles Spurgeon to a missionary mother in China, daily study of the Word and prayer prepared them to mentor entire generations.Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another.”We also read in Romans 10 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We have to do it so that others know how. Remember, there is no substitute for spending time in God's Word.In order to properly train an apprentice, you need to obviously be prepared and adept. Anything less leads to weak faith, or no faith at all.This is what the Great Commission, sharing the Gospel, has always been about. Duplicating disciples. Grounding your own faith in the Bible and then imparting that to others. That is the essence of true iron sharpening iron.Let's pray.Lord, keep us about your work by daily reminding us to spend time with you in Your Word. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

Welcome to Day 2814 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2814 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Each Tuesday, I will share the messages I have delivered at Putnam Congregational Church this year. This is the eleventh message in a year-long series covering the Good News as narrated by Luke. Today's message covers Luke four verses thirty-one through forty-four and is titled “Ministry at the Grassroots Level” . I pray it will be a conduit for learning and encouragement for you. Putnam Church Message – 02/08/2026 Luke's Account of the Good News - “Ministry at the Grassroots Level.”    Last week, we began our study of the ministry of Jesus Christ with a message titled “Into the Fire,” where we learned that the Road to Calvary began in Nazareth. Today, we continue with the eleventh message in Luke's narrative of the Good News of Jesus Christ in a message titled “Ministry at the Grassroots Level.” Our Core verses for this week are Luke 4:31-44, found on page 1597 of your Pew Bibles. Follow along as I read. SCRIPTURE READING — Luke 4:31-44 (NIV) Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. Jesus Heals Many 38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. 40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. 42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.   Opening Prayer Lord God, as we open Your Word today, we ask that You would do more than inform our minds. Shape our hearts. Correct our assumptions. And show us what faithful ministry really looks like— not from a distance, but right in the middle of ordinary life.  Give us ears to hear, hearts to obey, and courage to follow where Jesus leads. In His name we pray. Amen. Introduction: Learning by Watching the Master I was not a great student, especially in grade school and high school. In college, I buckled down somewhat and did okay, grade-wise, even while working two part-time jobs to pay for school.  But when I look back, the moments that shaped me most weren't lectures—they were moments of watching someone who really knew what they were doing. I learn best by observing an expert. I need a mentor, not just a teacher. I even find that hands-on YouTube videos are extremely helpful, much more than a manual or set of instructions. Someone who doesn't just explain the theory but shows me how it works in real life. That's exactly what Luke gives us in Luke 4:31–44. This passage is the third part of Luke's introduction to Jesus' public ministry: First, Luke summarized Jesus' growing influence (4:14–15) Then he showed us the scope of Jesus' mission in Nazareth—saving those who want a Savior (4:16–30) And now, here in Capernaum, Luke shows us how Jesus actually did ministry. Not from a platform. Not from a palace. Not from the center of religious power. But at ground level, among real people with real problems. Main Point 1: Jesus Taught with Authority Where Life Was Actually Lived Luke 4:31–32 “Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at His teaching, because He spoke with authority.” (NLT) Jesus leaves Nazareth behind and travels downhill—literally and figuratively. Nazareth sat high in the hills. Capernaum sat along the Sea of Galilee, nearly 2,000 feet lower. Luke wants us to notice that while Jesus went down in elevation, His ministry went up in influence. Capernaum wasn't glamorous, but it was strategic: A fishing town, /A trade hub, /A place where ordinary people lived and worked. /And there, Jesus taught. What Made His Teaching Different? Luke tells us the people were “amazed” because Jesus taught with authority — exousia. That word doesn't mean volume. / It doesn't mean charisma. / It doesn't mean clever arguments. / It means as someone who has the right to speak. Most rabbis taught by quoting other rabbis: “Rabbi so-and-so says… but Rabbi such-and-such disagrees…” Jesus didn't do that. /He didn't borrow authority. /He didn't hide behind tradition. /He didn't perform. / He spoke directly from the Word of God, as someone who knew it from the inside out. / Not just because He was divine—but because He lived what He taught. Object Lesson: The Difference Between a Map and a Guide Imagine preparing to hike a difficult trail that you have never seen before. One ranger hands you a map and says, “Good luck.” Another ranger comes alongside you and says, “Follow me—I've hiked this trail before and know it well.” Jesus didn't just give people information. He invited them to follow Him.  That's why His teaching carried weight. Ancient Context → Modern Parallel In Jesus' day, people were tired of religious talk that didn't touch real life. In our day, people are tired of: Empty slogans / Shallow answers / Advice that sounds good but doesn't work on Monday morning. What people hunger for—then and now—is truth that meets them where they live. Jesus didn't water down the truth. But He delivered it in a way people could grasp and trust. Supporting Scripture Matthew 7:28–29 — “He taught as one who had authority.” James 1:22 — “Do not merely listen… do what it says.” John 7:46 — “No one ever spoke the way this man does.” Summary of Main Point 1 Jesus' ministry didn't begin with miracles. It began with truth spoken clearly, lived consistently, and offered humbly.  Authority in ministry is not about position. It is about faithfulness to God's Word and alignment with God's heart.

God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we don’t see the full path ahead. Hannah Benson reflects on Abraham’s journey, emphasizing that trusting God often requires waiting, patience, and obedience despite uncertainty. Abraham’s story illustrates that God’s promises are trustworthy, even when fulfillment seems slow or beyond human logic. By believing God’s Word and following His direction, we can experience His faithfulness and become a blessing to others. Highlights God calls us to act in faith, even without knowing all the answers. Abraham’s journey teaches patience, trust, and obedience in the waiting season. God fulfills His promises in His timing, not ours, reminding us that no word from Him returns void (Isaiah 55:11). Taking matters into our own hands, as Abraham and Sarah did with Hagar, can complicate God’s plan. Trusting God’s Word requires both courage to move and patience to wait. This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org Full Transcript Below: Believe the Word the Lord Has Spoken By Hannah Benson Bible Reading:“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’” (Genesis 12:1-3 ESV). Recently, I re-read Abraham’s story through new eyes. Isn’t it amazing how we can read the same stories in Scripture again and again, yet every time we read them, the Lord will often reveal things we’ve never realized before? God called Abraham (then called Abram) to leave his homeland and everything he knew and was familiar with to go to a land that He would show him. How did Abraham feel about that? Was he afraid at all? Excited? Probably both. But regardless of how he felt, note that he stepped forward in faith even though he didn’t have all the answers. Read that again. If God calls us to do something, we must step forward in faith even if we don’t have all the answers. In fact, I have found that God doesn’t always give us the answers all at once. He’ll tell us the first step we need to take. So many of us look at the long road ahead of us and think we need all the answers before we move forward. A friend pointed out to me recently that in Exodus 24, Moses went into the fog of the mountain. Clarity came through hearing God’s voice and not from what he could see. I do want to include a disclaimer here. Sometimes, the Lord puts something on our hearts, but it doesn’t mean the time is now. Just because something may be a God-thing doesn’t mean it’s always God’s time for it. But when God calls us to step forward in faith, even when we can’t see the path ahead? Step forward. Go for it. Even if you aren’t sure how, take the next step. God didn’t just call Abraham. He gave him a promise. He promised He would make him a great nation, bless him, and make his name great so that he would be a blessing (Genesis 12:1-3). Imagine what it meant for Abraham to believe that promise. He had to leave everything familiar behind. He had to step forward in faith even though it was frightening. No matter what ran through Abraham’s mind, he chose to believe the promise God spoke, not knowing how or when it would come to fruition. He probably thought he would see the promise soon. If God were to make him a great nation, then that meant God would give him a child. At this point, Abraham was 75 years old and his wife, Sarah, was 65. Perhaps he thought God would fulfill the promise within the next couple of years. After all, that made logical sense. Already, they were advanced in years and past childbearing age. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 ESV). In other words, God doesn’t always do what makes logical sense to us. And that’s what happened. The promise took time, and in that time, Abraham grew discouraged. He asked God questions. He wondered when it would happen, if the heir to his house would be Eliezer (Genesis 15:2). God reassured Abraham that “your very own son shall be your heir” (Genesis 15:4 ESV). The Lord made a covenant with Abraham. Covenants in those days were made when two parties sacrificed animals, and the persons making the covenant passed between the split animals (or in the case of a king and his servant, the servant would pass through by himself), symbolizing, “May I be torn apart like these animals if I don’t keep my promise.” Sounds intense, doesn’t it? Usually, the servant would walk between the animals. But instead, God put Abraham into a deep sleep and passed through the animals Himself. In other words, He was saying that He would be the One to pay the price if the covenant was broken (Genesis 15). Abraham didn’t always remain perfectly faithful because, like the rest of us, he’s a sinner and unable to be perfect before a holy God. And one day, God fulfilled His promise, allowing Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, to be broken in atonement for all the sins we’ve committed and the broken promises we’ve ever made. Isn’t that such a beautiful picture? In Genesis 16, however, Abraham and Sarah (at the time still called Abram and Sarai) took matters into their own hands. Sarah suggested to Abraham that he “go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her” (v. 2b). Abraham listened to his wife and had a child through Hagar. God doesn’t waste anything, and every child, no matter how they are conceived, is a gift and a blessing. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t pain and conflict as a result of our actions. Intersecting Faith & Life: When we wait so long for something, we often begin to lose hope and think we must take matters into our own hands. 10 years after God made the promise that he would make of Abraham a great nation, the man and his wife still didn’t have a child. Sometimes, the Lord asks us to knock, move forward in faith, and do something (Matthew 7:7). Other times, the Lord asks us to quiet our hearts and be still before Him (Psalm 46:10). In Abraham and Sarah’s story, God asked them to believe (Hebrews 11:11, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:18). God called them to go from their country and kindred to a land that He would show them, but after that, He didn’t have specific instructions. No doubt it made them wonder if they were supposed to do something, which is why Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a wife. Perhaps then she could bear a child through her servant. But that was not what God had meant. No, Sarah herself would bear a son. The Lord had spoken the word. No word from the Lord will return empty. It shall accomplish that which He has purposed and shall succeed in the thing for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11) and “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3 ESV). Pray with me: Dear Father, I thank You that Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). I confess I often doubt Your Word and want all the answers rather than trusting You to take the next step. When I am in a season of “fog” like Moses, help me to listen for Your voice. When I am in a season of “waiting” like Abraham, help me to trust Your timing over my logic. Protect me from taking matters into my own hands, and give me the grace to be still when You say “wait” and the courage to move when You say “go.” Thank you for keeping Your promises, even when I am weak. In Jesus’s Name, Amen Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

March 8, 2026Today's Reading: Luke 11:14-28Daily Lectionary: Genesis 27:30-45; 28:10-22; Mark 9:1-13“As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!' But he said, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!'” (Luke 11:27-28)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.What does it mean to “keep” God's Word? Indeed, there is some element of observing or obeying it. God knows what is actually good and bad for us, so when we follow God's Word, things go better for us. Things usually go better when we obey our parents than when we disobey them. If you can keep from stealing, you won't have as many troubles with the law. If you lead a chaste and decent life, your marriage will likely be smoother. If you can go without coveting, you'll be happier. Being content and happy with what God has given us is a blessing!But that's not all that it means to “keep” God's Word. Keeping it also involves guarding it and treasuring it. We guard and treasure things that are important to us. You don't want to lose your house keys or your wallet, so you keep them in a spot where you won't forget them as easily. You don't want to lose your passwords, so you choose something you can remember. You only have a certain number of hours in a day, so you guard your time to ensure you can accomplish what you would like to get done.In the same way, Jesus instructs us to guard God's Word. We should treasure it. We should place it in areas where we won't forget about it, such as near our beds or on the home screens of our phones. We should learn it by heart so that it's with us wherever we go. We should make sure to keep certain times of our day and week free for it, such as Sunday mornings for the Divine Service, a weekly time for Bible Study, and a daily time for devotions. Are we blessed because we do these things? Well, yes and no. We aren't blessed because we have somehow proved to God how faithful we are; We are blessed because that Word that we treasure is full of the promises of Jesus for you. That Word IS Jesus.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Rev. Daniel Burhop, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reese, MI.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.We wander through life looking for freedom, only to realize we have listened to the devil's call to serve our selves, our pleasures, and our lusts. Instead of freedom we find ourselves enslaved to sin. We wonder if we have sinned too often, too deep to ever be welcomed back to the Father's home, back into His loving embrace. Have we lost our inheritance as children of God?In this short book, author Bryan Wolfmueller digs into the popular parable of the Prodigal Son to bring hope and aid to our hurting conscience. Wolfmueller proclaims the freedom-giving Gospel that through Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, our place in the Father's house is secure, and forgiveness and welcome are ours in His outstretched arms. Fully Free, now available from CPH.

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 91:11 — Jesus, Assign Your Angels Over My Day and Guard My Mind From the Weight I Carry Recorded Live from London, England Brazil • Chile • Mexico • Argentina • Spain Psalm 91:11 (NIV): “He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Salmo 91:11: “Ele dará ordens aos Seus anjos… para o guardarem em todos os seus caminhos.” Psalm 23 Anchor (EN/PT-BR): “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” “Ele me faz repousar em pastos verdes.” Isaiah 26:3 (NIV): “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast.” Isaías 26:3: “Tu guardarás em perfeita paz aquele cuja mente está firme em Ti.” angelic covering • peace of mind • steady guidance cobertura angelical • paz da mente • direção firme Jesus, as the morning rises across Brasil, Chile, México, Argentina, España, and into every home listening from London outward across the world, we turn our hearts to You again. Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — place Your covering over this day. Let every step, every moment, every responsibility, every unseen battle be surrounded by Your strength. Speak peace where the mind feels heavy. Speak clarity where confusion tries to grow. Speak rest where the heart feels tired before the day has even begun. Your Word promises that You command Your angels to guard us in all our ways. So we receive that now. Guard our minds from the thoughts that run too fast. Guard our hearts from the fear that tries to return. Guard our homes, our workspaces, our families, our moments of weakness. Jesus, Tu cuidas de mim. Jesus, Tú envías tu protección. Let Your presence build a shield that nothing can break. “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” “Ele me faz repousar em pastos verdes.” Lead us, Jesus, into inner rest even while the world demands more than we feel we have. Quiet the noise inside us. Let Your peace fill the spaces where worry has tried to settle. Let perfect peace — paz perfeita, paz verdadera — meet every listener right now. And as we keep our minds on You, steady us. Fix our thoughts on Your faithfulness. Strengthen our resolve to trust You with what we cannot control. Let Your angels go before us. Let Your peace hold us. Let Your love carry us through the weight of this day. Jesus, guide us with a gentle hand and guard us with a mighty one. Psalm 91 angel protection, oração Salmo 91 anjos, Jesus guarda minha mente, Jesús oración de paz, Isaiah 26 perfect peace, Salmo 23 pastos verdes, dailyprayer.uk Reverend Ben Cooper, oração da manhã proteção, 9AM devotional Jesus, morning angel covering prayer Psalm 91 angels guard • proteção angelical oração • Jesús Jesus paz mente • Isaiah 26 perfect peace • Salmo 23 pastos verdes descanso • Chile México Argentina Spain Brazil devotional • London England prayer • dailyprayer.ukSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 91:15 — Jesus, Hear Me at Day's End and Bring Help, Peace, and Rescue Into My Evening Recorded Live from London, England Brazil • Mexico • Chile • Argentina • Cuba Psalm 91:15 (NIV): “He will call on Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble.” Salmo 91:15: “Ele clamará a Mim, e Eu lhe responderei; Estarei com ele na angústia.” Psalm 23 Anchor (EN/PT-BR): “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” “Tua vara e Teu cajado me consolam.” Hebrews 4:16 (NIV): “Let us approach God's throne of grace… to find help in time of need.” Hebreus 4:16 “Aproximemo-nos do trono da graça… para receber ajuda no momento da necessidade.” evening help • answered prayer • calm assurance socorro ao entardecer • oração respondida • calma segura Jesus, as the evening settles across Brasil, México, Chile, Argentina, Cuba, and across every listener joining from London and beyond, we turn our hearts to You. Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — the One who hears every cry, the One who stays close when the day has been long, the One who steps into the heaviness we carry. The sun may be lowering, but Your strength is not. Your presence fills the fading hours with hope that cannot be shaken. Your Word promises that when we call on You, You will answer, and that You are with us in trouble. So we call now. Hear the quiet prayer rising from a tired heart. Hear the whispered cry from someone who has carried far too much today. Hear the one who feels unseen, overwhelmed, or uncertain about tomorrow. Jesus, Tu me ouves. Jesús, Tú me escuchas. Bend low into this evening and meet every listener in the exact place where their soul needs You most. “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. “Tua vara e Teu cajado me consolam.” Bring that comfort now, Jesus. Let Your guidance steady every wandering thought. Let Your presence hold the heart that feels fragile. Let Your peace settle like soft light over the mind that has been wrestling through the day. Let Your voice quiet every fear and Your grace carry every burden. And as we draw near to Your throne of grace — graça suficiente, gracia abundante — let help come quickly. Let strength rise. Let clarity return. Let rescue be more than a promise; let it be an experience in this very hour. Jesus, fill the evening with Your nearness. Surround every listener with peace that cannot be explained but can always be felt. Stay close, answer quickly, and steady us gently as night approaches. Psalm 91 evening prayer, oração Salmo 91 noite, Jesus help me tonight, Jesús escucha mi oración, Hebrews 4:16 grace help, Psalm 23 comfort evening, dailyprayer.uk Reverend Ben Cooper, oração da noite Brasil, 6PM devotional Jesus, evening rescue prayer Psalm 91 evening rescue • socorro ao entardecer oração • Jesús Jesus escucha gracia • Hebrews 4:16 help in need • Salmo 23 consolo noite • Support the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 91:9–10 — Jesus, Be My Safe Dwelling Tonight and Keep Every Harm Far From My Home and Heart Recorded Live from London, England Brazil • Spain • Mexico • Colombia • Peru Psalm 91:9–10 (NIV): “If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,'… no harm will overtake you.” Salmo 91:9–10: “Se você fizer do Senhor o seu refúgio… nenhum mal o atingirá.” Psalm 23 Anchor (EN/PT-BR): “I will fear no evil.” “Não temerei mal algum.” John 10:11 (NIV): “I am the Good Shepherd… I lay down My life for the sheep.” João 10:11: “Eu sou o Bom Pastor… dou a Minha vida pelas ovelhas.” safe dwelling • gentle care • night protection habitação segura • cuidado suave • proteção da noite Jesus, as night begins to settle across Brazil, Spain, México, Colombia, Perú, and every home listening from London and beyond, we come to You again. Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — the One who watches when our eyes grow tired, the One who guards what we cannot see, the One who speaks peace into the quiet places where worry tries to rise. Tonight we ask You to be our safe dwelling. Build a shelter around every listener, around every weary mind, around every heart that longs for rest but still feels the weight of the day. Your Word says that when we make You our refuge, no harm will overtake us. So we choose that refuge now. We choose Your name — Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — spoken in three languages but carrying one power. Let that name settle over bedrooms, over living rooms, over families, over the person listening alone; let it settle over fears that have followed someone all day, over anxieties that whisper loudest at night, over memories that still ache, over futures that feel uncertain. “I will fear no evil.” “Não temerei mal algum.” Let that truth become the blanket of the soul tonight. Let Your Good Shepherd heart — o Bom Pastor, el Buen Pastor — guide every thought back into safety. Let Your presence stand at every door, every threshold, every unseen place in the home. Let Your peace move through the atmosphere, soft and steady, calming the restless places. Jesus, quiet every internal storm. Wrap every listener in gentle care. Let the night not be something to endure, but something to rest in — because You are here, guarding, watching, holding, protecting. Keep every harm far from the heart, far from the mind, far from the home. And as darkness settles, let Your light settle deeper still. Psalm 91 night protection, oração da noite Salmo 91, Jesús Buen Pastor noche, Jesus night safety prayer, Psalm 23 fear no evil devotional, proteção da noite Jesus, dailyprayer.uk Reverend Ben Cooper, 8PM evening prayer, Spanish Portuguese bilingual devotional, Christian night reassurance Psalm 91 refuge night • Jesus Jesús proteção noite • Salmo 23 não temerei • John 10 Bom Pastor cuidado • Brazil Spain Mexico Colombia Peru devotional • London EngSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Send us your feedback — we're listening Psalm 91:5–6 — Jesus, Calm My Night Fears and Stand Between Me and Every Shadow That Tries to Speak Recorded Live from London, England Brazil • Chile • Mexico • Cuba • Argentina Psalm 91:5–6 (NIV): “You will not fear the terror of night… nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness.” Salmo 91:5–6: “Você não temerá o terror da noite… nem a praga que se move na escuridão.” Psalm 23 Anchor (EN/PT-BR): “Goodness and mercy will follow me.” “Bondade e misericórdia me seguirão.” Psalm 46:1 (NIV): “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Salmo 46:1: “Deus é nosso refúgio e fortaleza, socorro sempre presente na angústia.” night calm • deep presence • storm-quieting peace calma da noite • presença profunda • paz que acalma Jesus, as the night deepens across Brazil, Chile, México, Cuba, Argentina, and every nation listening from London and around the world, we turn to You again. Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — the One who speaks peace to storms, the One who stands guard when silence grows heavy, the One who draws near when the shadows feel close. Tonight, many hearts come carrying unspoken fears. Some fear the darkness itself; some fear the thoughts that rise when the world grows quiet; some fear the future; some fear loneliness; some fear the memories that still echo; some fear the things they cannot name. But You, Jesus — Tu me acalmas; Tú me sostienes — step into this hour with presence stronger than fear. Your Word says we will not fear the terror of night. So we bring every fear into Your hands. Calm the racing mind. Quiet the inner noise. Place Your peace over the home, over the heart, over the breath of every listener. Stand between us and every darkness that tries to whisper its lies. Let Your voice be the only one we follow tonight. “Goodness and mercy will follow me.” “Bondade e misericórdia me seguirão.” Let that truth wrap around every room, every person, every family. Let goodness follow the one who feels forgotten. Let mercy follow the one who feels overwhelmed. Let Your refuge — refúgio, refugio — become the place where we finally exhale. Jesus, steady the anxious heart. Bring warmth where the night feels cold. Bring comfort where someone lies awake. Bring strength where someone feels fragile. Let Your peace settle softly, like a blanket over every soul listening now. Remind us that no shadow is stronger than You, no fear is louder than Your love, and no night is deeper than Your presence. Fill this hour with Your calm. Fill this night with Your nearness. And let every listener rest under the shelter of Your unfailing peace. Psalm 91 night fear prayer, Jesus calm my night, oração da noite proteção, Jesús calma mi corazón, Psalm 23 goodness mercy night, Salmo 91 terror da noite, dailyprayer.uk Reverend Ben Cooper, 10PM devotional prayer, night peace scSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Send us your feedback — we're listening Psalm 91:16 — Jesus, Fill My Final Hour With Long Life, Hope, Peace, and the Promise That You Hold My Tomorrow Recorded Live from London, England Brazil • Mexico • Colombia • Peru • Spain Psalm 91:16 (NIV): “With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” Salmo 91:16: “Com vida longa Eu o satisfarei e lhe mostrarei a Minha salvação.” Psalm 23 Anchor (EN/PT-BR): “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” “Habitarei na casa do Senhor para sempre.” Hebrews 10:23 (NIV): “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess… for He who promised is faithful.” Hebreus 10:23: “Apeguemo-nos com firmeza à esperança… pois Aquele que prometeu é fiel.” hope rising • gentle peace • faithful tomorrow esperança crescente • paz suave • amanhã fiel Jesus, as this final hour settles across Brazil, México, Colômbia, Perú, Espanha, and every home listening from London, we breathe deeply and turn our hearts toward You. Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — the One who holds time, the One who steadies the future, the One who stands faithful when everything else shifts. Tonight, we ask You to fill this hour with hope — real hope, rising hope, the kind that reaches into tomorrow and whispers that we are not alone. Your Word says You satisfy us with long life and show us Your salvation. So show it now, Jesus. Show salvation in the form of peace to the anxious heart. Show salvation in the form of rest to the tired soul. Show salvation in the form of clarity to the confused mind. Show salvation in the form of courage to the one afraid of what comes next. Let this hour become a doorway into Your presence — quiet, steady, life-giving. “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” “Habitarei na casa do Senhor para sempre. Let that promise settle over every listener like a soft covering. Let it remind them that they belong to You — in this hour, in this night, in tomorrow's unknowns, and in the forever beyond. Jesus, for the one worried about tomorrow — hold their future. For the one who cannot sleep — calm their breath. For the one fighting loneliness — sit close. For the one who feels forgotten — call their name. Jesús, Tú eres fiel. Jesus, Tu és constante. Let hope rise like dawn inside them long before the sun appears in the sky. As Cycle 19 comes to its final breath, let this prayer become a bridge — from weariness to strength, from fear to peace, from uncertainty to trust, from night to morning. And as we step toward tomorrow, Jesus, walk ahead of us. Guard behind us. Stay beside us. And let Your faithful presence carry every listener into the new day with gentle assurance that their life — their whole life — is held in Your hands. Psalm 91 long life hope, Jesus hold my tomorrow, oración noche esperanza Jesús, esperança em Jesus noite, Psalm 23 dwell forever devotional, Hebrews 10:23 hope faithfuSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 91:14 — Jesus, Lift My Strength at Midday and Renew My Courage When I Feel Worn and Weary Recorded Live from London, England Brazil • Peru • Colombia • Mexico • Chile Psalm 91:14 (NIV): “Because he loves Me… I will rescue him; I will protect him.” Salmo 91:14: “Porque ele Me ama… Eu o resgatarei; Eu o protegerei.” Psalm 23 Anchor (EN/PT-BR): “He restores my soul.” “Refrigera a minha alma.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV): “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Coríntios 12:9: “Minha graça te basta; meu poder se aperfeiçoa na fraqueza.” renewed strength • active courage • living hope força renovada • coragem ativa • esperança Jesus, as midday settles across Brasil, Peru, Colômbia, México, Chile, and as listeners join from London and beyond, we pause and come back to You. The hours of the morning have already taken their toll. The mind feels stretched, the heart feels thin, and strength feels smaller than it needs to be. But here we speak Your name — Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — the name that restores, the name that lifts, the name that breathes courage back into tired places. Meet every listener now with renewed strength and gentle power. Your Word declares that because we love You, You will rescue us and protect us. So, Jesus, come into the heaviness of this midday moment. Lift the one who feels they cannot continue. Strengthen the one who is quietly fighting battles others cannot see. Bring rest to the anxious heart and clarity to the overwhelmed mind. Jesus, Tu me fortaleces. Jesús, Tú renuevas mi espíritu. Let this moment become a turning point in the centre of the day. “He restores my soul.” “Refrigera a minha alma.” Restore us inwardly where fatigue settles deepest. Let hope rise again. Let the noise inside us quiet. Let confidence return. And in the places where weakness feels like failure, remind us that Your grace is sufficient — graça suficiente, gracia suficiente — more than enough for every demand, every pressure, every unseen weight. Jesus, breathe courage into this hour. Renew strength where it has been draining away. Lift weary hands, steady trembling hearts, and empower each listener to walk through the rest of the day with resilience shaped by Your love. Let this midday be covered with Your presence, crowned with Your strength, and anchored in Your sustaining grace. Psalm 91 midday prayer, oração Salmo 91 força, Jesus renova minha coragem, Jesús oración mediodía, 2 Corinthians 12:9 grace, Psalm 23 restores my soul, oração da tarde Brasil, dailyprayer.uk Reverend Ben Cooper, 12PM devotional Jesus, renewal and strength prayer Psalm 91 courage renewal • força renovada oração • Jesús Jesus gracia suficiente • 2 Corinthians 12:9 grace power • Psalm 23 restored soul • Peru Colômbia México Chile Brazil devotional • London England praySupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Send us your feedback — we're listeningRecorded Live from London, England Brazil • Mexico • Chile • Spain • Cuba Psalm 91:1 — Jesus, Cover My Midnight Hours Under Your Shadow and Break Every Fear Rising in the Dark Psalm 91:1 (NIV): “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Salmo 91:1: “Aquele que habita no abrigo do Altíssimo descansa à sombra do Todo-Poderoso.” Psalm 23 Anchor (EN/PT-BR): “The Lord is my Shepherd; I lack nothing.” “O Senhor é o meu Pastor; nada me faltará.” Luke 10:19 (NIV): “I have given you authority… to overcome all the power of the enemy.” Lucas 10:19: “Eu lhes dei autoridade… para vencer todo o poder do inimigo.” protective shadow • courage rising • midnight rest sombra protetora • coragem crescente • descanso da madrugada In this midnight hour, as the world around us quiets and fears try to rise, we turn to You, Jesus. Across London, across Brazil, México, Chile, España, Cuba, across every home listening in the stillness — we speak Your name. Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — You are the One who covers us with peace. You stand between us and every shadow that tries to whisper worry into the night. Under Your wings we rest. Under Your shadow we breathe again. Lord, Your Word says that whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Tonight we choose that shelter. We choose that shadow. We step out of fear and step into Your refuge. Jesus, break every rising anxiety. Quiet every racing thought. Push back the darkness that tries to creep in when the world is silent. Let Your peace settle like soft grace over the heart. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I lack nothing.” “O Senhor é o meu Pastor; nada me faltará.” Jesús, Tú eres mi Pastor. Jesus, You are my Shepherd in the night. Strengthen the one who feels overwhelmed. Calm the one who cannot sleep. Steady the one who fears tomorrow. Remind every heart listening right now that You — Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — have given authority to overcome every work of the enemy. No fear can stand. No threat can linger. No darkness can remain where Your presence rests. Jesus, cover this midnight hour. Fill this room, this heart, this mind with Your shadow of protection. Let rest come. Let courage rise. Let Your peace rule. And let the night be carried by Your faithful love. Psalm 91 prayer, oração Salmo 91 proteção, midnight prayer Jesus, Luke 10 authority prayer, Psalm 23 Shepherd prayer, oração da madrugada, Jesus proteção noite, dailyprayer.uk Reverend Ben Cooper, oração para dormir, Jesus calma meu coração Psalm 91 shelter • sombra protetora oração • midnight Jesus prayer • Luke 10 authority • Psalm 23 Shepherd • proteção noite Brasil • Jesus Jesús prayer bilingual • London England devotional • dailyprayer.ukSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 91:2 — Jesus, Be My Refuge in These Deep Hours and Strengthen My Heart When Fear Tries to Rise Psalm 91:2 (NIV): “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Salmo 91:2: “Ele é o meu refúgio e a minha fortaleza, o meu Deus em quem confio.” Psalm 23 Anchor (EN/PT-BR): “He restores my soul.” “Refrigera a minha alma.” Romans 8:26 (NIV): “The Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Romanos 8:26: “O Espírito nos ajuda em nossa fraqueza.” deep refuge • rising trust • quiet courage refúgio profundo • confiança crescente • coragem suave  Recorded Live from London, England Brazil • Colombia • Argentina • Mexico • Chile Jesus, as these deep hours surround us and the world sleeps, we come to You again. Across Brazil, Colômbia, Argentina, México, Chile, and every home listening in the quiet darkness, we speak Your name — Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — because Your name becomes the refuge the soul cannot find anywhere else. Fear may try to rise, anxiety may whisper, and the night may feel long, but You remain our fortress. Under Your covering we breathe again. In You we steady our thoughts and our trembling places. Your Word declares, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Tonight we lean into that truth until it fills every part of us. Be our refuge in the silent places. Be our fortress when the unseen battles feel close. Lift the heart that feels tired. Strengthen the one who feels overwhelmed. Calm the mind that rushes ahead into tomorrow. Jesus, Tú eres mi refugio. Jesus, Tu és o meu refúgio. Draw near to the one who feels far away from peace. You restore the soul. You touch the deep places that no one else can see. You understand the weakness we carry in these hours, and Your Spirit helps us — gently, quietly, faithfully. Where fear rises, let trust rise higher. Where thoughts race, let Your peace settle like a soft blanket over the heart. Where loneliness presses in, let Your presence fill the room with warmth and assurance. Jesus, be our refuge tonight. Wrap these hours in Your strength. Let courage return. Let peace return. Let the soul breathe again under Your faithful care. Psalm 91 prayer, oração Salmo 91 madrugada, Jesus refuge prayer, Romans 8:26 Spirit help, Psalm 23 soul restored, oração da madrugada Brasil, Jesus Jesús noite, dailyprayer.uk Reverend Ben Cooper, oração de confiança, 3AM prayer protection Psalm 91 refuge • refúgio profundo oração • Jesus Jesús Tu és meu refúgio • Romans 8:26 Spirit help • Psalm 23 restores my soul • madrugada prayer Brazil • London England devotional • dailyprayer.ukSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Send us your feedback — we're listening Psalm 91:4 — Jesus, Cover My Morning With Your Wings and Let This New Day Begin in Peace and Purpose Psalm 91:4 (NIV): “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” Salmo 91:4: “Ele o cobrirá com as Suas penas, e sob as Suas asas você encontrará refúgio.” Psalm 23 Anchor (EN/PT-BR): “He leads me beside quiet waters.” “Ele me guia a águas tranquilas.” Psalm 37:5 (NIV): “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will do this.” Salmo 37:5: “Entregue o seu caminho ao Senhor; confie nEle, e Ele agirá.” guided purpose • morning peace • safe refuge propósito guiado • paz da manhã • refúgio seguro Recorded Live from London, England Brazil • Spain • Peru • Mexico • Colombia Jesus, as the first light of morning breaks across Brazil, Espanha, Peru, México, Colômbia, and into every home listening now, we turn our hearts toward You. Jesus, Jesús, Jesus — You are the One who covers us with peace before the day even begins. Under Your wings we find the quiet that our minds have been searching for. Under Your covering, the anxious thoughts calm, and the new day becomes something we can face with purpose and confidence. Let this morning rise with Your presence leading every step. Your Word says You will cover us with Your feathers and that under Your wings we will find refuge. So we rest there now. We surrender the worries we woke up with. We place before You the conversations, the responsibilities, the unknowns, and even the things we are afraid to speak aloud. Jesus, Tú me cubres. Jesus, Tu me cobres. You surround us with a love that steadies the spirit. “He leads me beside quiet waters.” “Ele me guia a águas tranquilas.” Lead us, Jesus, into quietness on the inside even if the world around us is loud. Restore the soul before the day demands anything from us. Let Your peace govern the first hour so that fear has no voice and anxiety has no room. And as we commit our way to You, trusting that You act on our behalf, let the morning settle with assurance. Let purpose rise. Let courage take shape. Let the day ahead be carried not by our strength, but by Your faithful guidance. Jesus, cover this new beginning with Your wings and let peace be the first thing we breathe in. Psalm 91 morning prayer, oração Salmo 91 amanhecer, Jesus morning peace, Jesús oración de la mañana, Psalm 23 quiet waters, Salmo 37 confiança no Senhor, dailyprayer.uk Reverend Ben Cooper, oração da manhã Brasil, 5AM devotional Jesus, morning refuge prayer Psalm 91 wings refuge • manhã paz oração • Jesús Jesus morning prayer • Psalm 23 quiet waters • Salmo 37 confiar no Senhor • Peru México Colômbia Spain Brazil morning devotional • London England prayer • dailyprayer.ukSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Send us your feedback — we're listeningPsalm 91:1 — Jesus, Cover My Midnight Hours With Your Shadow of Protection and Push Back Every Fear Rising in the DarkRecorded Live from London, England — with Reverend Ben Cooper Psalm 91:1 (NIV) — “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Salmo 91:1 — “Aquele que habita no abrigo do Altíssimo descansa à sombra do Todo-Poderoso.” Luke 10:19 (NIV) — “I have given you authority… to overcome all the power of the enemy.” Lucas 10:19 — “Eu lhes dei autoridade para vencer todo o poder do inimigo.” sombra protetora • descanso na noite • coragem espiritual — protective shadow, night rest, spiritual courage sombra protetora • segurança • coragem na madrugada — protective shadow, safety, midnight courage This midnight devotional is crafted to meet you right where the night presses in, where the world grows silent, and where the mind begins to wander into places Jesus has already spoken over with His peace and authority. Live here from London, England, we stand together under the shadow of the Almighty — à sombra do Todo-Poderoso — the covering that no fear, no anxiety, and no darkness can break through. As the night deepens, Jesus, I rest beneath Your protective shadow. You are the One who covers, shields, guards, and calms. Draw close to every listener in this midnight hour. Let Your presence fill the atmosphere of every room, every home, every heart. Let no anxious thought move unchecked. Let no whisper of fear take root. Under Your shelter, we rest; under Your authority, fear loses its voice. You say in Your Word that we rest in Your shadow — not in uncertainty, not in loneliness, not in fear — but in Your shadow, which is protection, nearness, and strength. Tonight, Jesus, we lean into that nearness. We breathe under that covering. We take confidence from Luke 10:19 — that in Your name, every fear is pushed back, every pressure loses force, every unseen weight lifts from the mind. Jesus, eu descanso à Tua sombra. Tu és minha proteção na madrugada. Nenhum medo terá poder sobre mim. Eu confio em Ti. (Jesus, I rest in Your shadow. You are my protection in the midnight hour. No fear has power over me. I trust in You.) In this moment, Jesus, replace fear with calm, pressure with peace, heaviness with rest. Let the midnight become a sanctuary. Let this hour carry a holy stillness — the stillness of being held, covered, and protected by the One who never sleeps. What You speak over the night stands firm: “Rest in My shadow.” So tonight, Jesus, we rest, we breathe, we trust, and we sleep under Your covering. Jesus midnight prayer, Psalm 91 prayer, oração da meia-noite, sombra protetora oração, fear anxiety night prayer, Brazilian devotional midnight, Luke 10 authority prayer, proteção espiritual oração, Reverend BeSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

"The Bible is not a book of science." We hear and read that statement a lot these days. It's true that a surgeon will not be found peering into a Bible during surgery in order to perfect a surgical technique. But there is a deceptive lie hidden in the claim that the Bible is not a book of science.Back when Ignaz Semmelweis was a doctor, one out of every six women who gave birth in his hospital died of what was called "child bed fever." Dr. Semmelweis set out to discover why this was happening. He discovered that doctors were not cleaning their hands or instruments between patients. As a result, they were spreading germs from one patient to the next. Dr. Semmelweis instituted a policy requiring clean hands and instruments for each patient, and mortality rates dropped almost to zero immediately!But Dr. Semmelweis's discovery was not new knowledge. Thousands of years earlier, God had taught the Israelites, through Moses, that whenever they came into contact with a dead or diseased person, they were "unclean." Unclean people and their clothing had to be cleansed in clear running water. They also had to sprinkle their clothing with wet hyssop branches. Today, we know that hyssop contains a powerful antibacterial and antifungal agent.So when the Bible says something that touches upon an area of science, it is still technically accurate and correct. After all, the Author of the Bible is also the Author of everything that science studies!Numbers 19:18"And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:"Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, the world declares the Bible, Your Word, out of date and then ignores it, to its own great loss. I, therefore, ask you to forgive me for Jesus' sake, for my own neglect to make Your Word more a part of my life. Help me to abandon the world's way and make the Bible a practical part of my everyday life. Amen.REF.: Thompson, Bert. Dr. Semmelweis & the Bible. Reasoning from Revelation. Image: Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865), Ludwig Angerer, PD, Wikimedia Commons + Person washing hands. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Send us your feedback — we're listeningIsaiah 40:31 — Jesus, Renew My Strength Tonight and Prepare My Spirit for Rest, Restoration, and a New Beginning Recorded live in London, England with Reverend Ben Cooper Belo Horizonte, Brazil • Lisboa, Portugal • Huambo, Angola • Pemba, Mozambique • Los Angeles, USA força renovada • descanso seguro • fidelidade eterna renewed strength • safe rest • eternal faithfulness Isaiah 40:31 (NIV): “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles…” Hebrews 10:23 (NIV): “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Jesus, as these final hours draw in across Belo Horizonte, Pemba, Huambo, Los Angeles, Lisbon, and here in London with Reverend Ben Cooper, we come to You seeking força renovada—strength that rises again even when the soul feels weary at the end of the day. Tonight we ask for descanso seguro, the safe rest that comes from knowing Your faithfulness does not fade with nightfall. Where the body is tired and the mind overloaded, breathe renewal. Where hope feels thin, speak fidelidade eterna—Your eternal faithfulness that never breaks. Jesus, renova minhas forças. Jesús, renueva mis fuerzas. Jesus, renew my strength. Across Portuguese, Spanish, and English tongues, the cry is the same: We place our hope in You. Let this night gather every promise we have carried across all cycles—from Cycle 1's early foundations to Cycle 17's refined devotion. Let the full arc of Your Word rise here: the shelter of Psalm 91, the courage of Isaiah 41, the rest of Matthew 11, the help of Psalm 121, the presence of Isaiah 43, the peace of Philippians 4, the hope of Romans 15, and the renewal of Isaiah 40. Through these, lift the entire back library into fresh visibility, drawing every prayer upward as this final hour concludes the cycle. Jesus, as listeners lie down to rest, prepare their spirits for restoration. Heal what the day has strained. Strengthen what feels weak. Renew what has grown tired. Let hope return with the morning. Let peace settle over every home. Isaiah 40 prayer, força renovada oração, descanso seguro devotional, Jesús renueva mis fuerzas, Brazilian Portuguese night blessing, Latin American devotional, oração da noite Jesus, eternal faithfulness scripture, renewed strength prayer, esperança em Cristo, peaceful rest meditation, Christian night prayer Isaiah 40:31 • força renovada • descanso seguro • fidelidade eterna • Jesus renova minhas forças • Brazilian Portuguese devotional • Latin American night prayer • renewed strength scripture • esperança em Cristo • peaceful night meditationSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

Words That Outlasted Empires #RTTBROS #Nightlight"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."— Numbers 6:24-26You know, sometimes God does something so remarkable that it just stops you in your tracks and makes you shake your head in wonder.Back in 1979, an archaeologist named Gabriel Barkay was excavating a series of ancient burial caves just southwest of Jerusalem. His team figured the tombs had been picked clean by looters centuries before, and honestly, they weren't expecting much. But then a thirteen-year-old volunteer started poking around the floor of one of those caves with a stick, and that stick found a crack, and that crack led to a hidden chamber that every looter for a thousand years had walked right past without knowing it was there.Inside that little hidden room, tucked away like a secret God had been keeping, were two tiny silver scrolls, rolled up so small they looked like cigarette butts. They were so fragile it took the Israel Museum three full years just to figure out how to unroll them without turning them to dust.And when they finally opened those scrolls, they found words. Words scratched into ancient silver in a script 2,600 years old. Words from the time of the prophet Jeremiah and the First Temple. The oldest known portion of the Bible ever discovered. And do you know what those words were? The Priestly Blessing from Numbers chapter six: "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee."Friend, that blessing was being spoken over God's people before the Babylonians came. Before Rome rose and fell. Before the Middle Ages, before the Reformation, before two World Wars. And it is still true this very moment.Here's what hit me about this. Those scrolls were worn as amulets, meant to carry the blessing of God with them wherever they went, even into death. And isn't that exactly what God's Word does? It goes with us into every dark place, every uncertain cave, every moment when the world feels like it has been picked clean and there's nothing left.History is just HIS story, and He has been speaking this blessing over His children for a very long time."The LORD bless thee, and keep thee." He hasn't stopped saying it. He's saying it over you today.Let's pray: Father, thank You that Your Word has outlasted every empire and every enemy. Thank You that the same blessing You spoke over Your people 2,600 years ago still covers us today. Help us to rest in the fact that You are keeping us, right now, today. In Jesus' name, Amen.#Faith #BibleHistory #GodsWord #Archaeology #DailyDevotion #ChristianLiving #RTTBROS #NightlightBe sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe, it helps get the word out.https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Send us your feedback — we're listeningLamentations 3:22–23 — Jesus, As the Dawn Breaks, Let Your New Mercies Lift the Weight of Yesterday and Lighten My Spirit Live from Recife • Faro • Lubango • Pemba • Lima misericórdias novas • amanhecer suave • esperança renovada • new mercies • soft dawn • renewed hope Lamentations 3:22–23 (NIV): “Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Matthew 6:34 (NIV): “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Jesus, this early hour carries a different kind of quiet. It is not the heaviness of midnight and it is not the fear of the deep hours. It is the first breath of a new day, the moment when the night releases its grip and hope begins to rise again. Misericórdias novas. Amanhecer suave. Your Word tells me that Your mercies arrive fresh with every morning, not recycled, not fading, not weakened by yesterday's weight. They are new — as new as the sun that begins to climb over the horizon. And so I step into this dawn recognising that renewal does not come from my strength but from Yours. Jesus, I surrender the leftover anxieties of yesterday. I lay down every thought that tried to drain my confidence. I release every worry that attempted to carry itself into this morning. If yesterday felt heavy, Your faithfulness meets me here with the same strength that carried every generation before me. Let Your mercies wash over the tired corners of my mind. Let Your compassion settle beneath my breathing. Let hope rise slowly, gently, like the light spreading across the sky. Esperança renovada. Soft dawn. Renewed spirit. In this moment I receive what You are offering — a reset, a beginning, a new mercy for a new day. I pray for every listener across Brazil, Portugal, Angola, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, and the Americas who rises now with questions, concerns, or emotional fatigue. Let them feel Your nearness in the quiet spaces before the world awakens. Lift the guilt they carried from yesterday. Lift the fear they project onto tomorrow. Lift the pressure that sits on the shoulders before morning routines even begin. Great is Your faithfulness, and in that faithfulness, we anchor our dawn. Jesus, teach me not to borrow tomorrow's trouble. Teach me not to revisit yesterday's frustrations. Teach me to live inside today's mercy. With every sunrise You rewrite the atmosphere of the heart. With every dawn You remind me that no darkness can outlast Your compassion. Let this morning become a turning point — restful, hopeful, steady — as I begin this day in the safety of Your renewal. Amém. fé em jesus, oração de paz, descanso para alma, coragem espiritual, confiança em deus, renovo diário, cura interior, oração para dormir, oração matinal, paz de cristo, devocional diáSupport the showDaily Prayer with Reverend Ben Cooper now reaches 184 countries and 2,968 cities worldwide through the Global Blend Radio network. This is a listener-funded global ministry. If these daily prayers strengthen your faith or help you through difficult seasons, would you consider becoming a monthly prayer partner for just £3 per month? Your support enables us to continue recording, hosting, and broadcasting daily biblical encouragement across the nations — keeping this ministry free and accessible to everyone who needs it. You can support today at GlobalBlendRadio.com. Together, we can keep prayer moving across the world. To submit a prayer request or connect with our global prayer community, visit DailyPrayer.uk. Buy me a Coffee

March 04 | 2026 | Hukamnama Sahib |   ਧਨਾਸਰੀ ਭਗਤ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਜੀ ਕੀ ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ ਹਮ ਸਰਿ ਦੀਨੁ ਦਇਆਲੁ ਨ ਤੁਮ ਸਰਿ ਅਬ ਪਤੀਆਰੁ ਕਿਆ ਕੀਜੈ ॥ ਬਚਨੀ ਤੋਰ ਮੋਰ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨੈ ਜਨ ਕਉ ਪੂਰਨੁ ਦੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਹਉ ਬਲਿ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਉ ਰਮਈਆ ਕਾਰਨੇ ॥ ਕਾਰਨ ਕਵਨ ਅਬੋਲ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਬਹੁਤ ਜਨਮ ਬਿਛੁਰੇ ਥੇ ਮਾਧਉ ਇਹੁ ਜਨਮੁ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਰੇ ਲੇਖੇ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਆਸ ਲਗਿ ਜੀਵਉ ਚਿਰ ਭਇਓ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਦੇਖੇ ॥੨॥੧॥ ਅਰਥ: (ਹੇ ਮਾਧੋ!) ਮੇਰੇ ਵਰਗਾ ਕੋਈ ਨਿਮਾਣਾ ਨਹੀਂ, ਤੇ, ਤੇਰੇ, ਵਰਗਾ ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਦਇਆ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਾ ਨਹੀਂ, (ਮੇਰੀ ਕੰਗਾਲਤਾ ਦਾ) ਹੁਣ ਹੋਰ ਪਰਤਾਵਾ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਨਹੀਂ। (ਹੇ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਰਾਮ!) ਮੈਨੂੰ ਦਾਸ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਪੂਰਨ ਸਿਦਕ ਬਖ਼ਸ਼ ਕਿ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨ ਤੇਰੀ ਸਿਫ਼ਤਿ-ਸਾਲਾਹ ਦੀਆਂ ਗੱਲਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਪਰਚ ਜਾਇਆ ਕਰੇ।੧। ਹੇ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਰਾਮ! ਮੈਂ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਕੇ ਹਾਂ; ਤੂੰ ਕਿਸ ਗੱਲੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਬੋਲਦਾ?।ਰਹਾਉ। ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਆਖਦਾ ਹੈ-ਹੇ ਮਾਧੋ! ਕਈ ਜਨਮਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਮੈਂ ਤੈਥੋਂ ਵਿਛੁੜਿਆ ਆ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ (ਮਿਹਰ ਕਰ, ਮੇਰਾ) ਇਹ ਜਨਮ ਤੇਰੀ ਯਾਦ ਵਿਚ ਬੀਤੇ; ਤੇਰਾ ਦੀਦਾਰ ਕੀਤਿਆਂ ਬੜਾ ਚਿਰ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, (ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ) ਆਸ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਮੈਂ ਜੀਊਂਦਾ ਹਾਂ।੨।੧। ਭਾਵ: ਪ੍ਰਭੂ-ਦਰ ਤੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਅਰਦਾਸ। DHANAASAREE, DEVOTEE RAVI DAAS JEE: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: There is none as forlorn as I am, and none as Compassionate as You; what need is there to test us now? May my mind surrender to Your Word; please, bless Your humble servant with this perfection. || 1 || I am a sacrifice, a sacrifice to the Lord. O Lord, why are You silent? || Pause || For so many incarnations, I have been separated from You, Lord; I dedicate this life to You. Says Ravi Daas: placing my hopes in You, I live; it is so long since I have gazed upon the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan. || 2 || 1 ||

Timothy 3:14-17 …But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures …, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. (NLT) Wisdom. Inspiration. Teaching. Truth. Correction. What is right and what is wrong. Preparing us and equipping us for good work. We all need all these dynamics, all the time in our lives.Let's go back to the first sentence in the passage that states … “if we remain faithful to the things we already have been taught.” So much of our issue is not really reading the Word of God, but applying and obeying it, right? Reading words is easy but doing them is another matter entirely.I want to encourage you to find a Scripture that fits your family, that speaks to your family. If your single with no kids, one that speaks to your life and your goals. Pray and ask God to help you craft a statement using that verse that you can use to help you make decisions and live a life that will be pleasing to Him.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, give me a hunger and a thirst for Your Word. Help me to allow Your Spirit to show me truth, expose my places of rebellion, correct my mistakes, and train me and my family to live life Your way. As above, so below.”

Introduction: Introduction: Three Advantages of Being Single: (1 Corinthians 7:25-40) You're Saved from CERTAIN TROUBLES. (1 Cor 7:26-28) You're Saved from DISTRACTION. (1 Cor 7:29-38) Matthew 22:30 – For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. Colossians 3:2 – Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. You're Saved from OBLIGATION. (1 Cor 7:39-40) Matthew 19:10 – The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! AUDIO TRANSCRIPT 00:37-00:41Open up those Bibles to 1 Corinthians and chapter 7.00:44-00:49And while we do, I'm just going to ask that you would just pause with me here.00:49-00:58You pray for me, that I will communicate God's word as I should, clearly and accurately and straightforwardly.00:58-01:03I will pray for you, that your heart would be open to receive what God wants to teach us today.01:03-01:06All right, so let's just take a moment and pray.01:10-01:19Father, be glorified through the proclamation of Your Word, through receiving Your Word and being doers of Your Word.01:20-01:23Be glorified in all things, we pray in Jesus' name.01:24-01:41And all of God's people said, "Amen." Several years ago, a friend of mine told me about this single friend that he has who was sitting home one day and got a phone call.01:42-02:10The phone rang, he picked it up, and he's like, "Hello?" And the voice on the other end said, "Hi, would you be interested in meeting a lot of exciting available singles in your area?" And the man said, "I got enough problems." It's funny, but that's really the heart of this passage that we're looking at today.02:14-02:23See, in 1 Corinthians 7, we've seen that marriage is a gift, and God has given married people a wedding present that they are to use appropriately.02:25-02:29And we've seen that for some people, being single is a gift.02:32-02:37But each one brings their own set of issues.02:38-02:47And the Corinthians were writing to Paul, asking for counsel, and Paul was writing this letter back to them, giving them counsel.02:48-02:50Look at verse 25.02:52-03:15Paul says, "Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy." You see, he says, "Now concerning." We saw that again back in chapter 7 verse 1.03:15-03:20It seems that Paul was going through a list of things that they brought up.03:20-03:21He goes, "Okay, let me tell you about this.03:22-03:32Okay, now let me tell you about this issue you brought up." It's kind of a Q&A format, and he says the next subject here is the betrothed.03:32-03:35Some translations say virgins.03:35-03:38He's talking to the singles.03:41-03:42All the single ladies.03:44-04:08that song? Get your hand up. I studied that dance this week and I was going to do it for you, but I looked at myself in the mirror and I do not dance like Beyonce. So maybe Maybe some other time.04:12-04:17But last week we saw Pastor Taylor talked about commitment.04:17-04:19That was in the previous passage, commitment.04:20-04:22Trust God where He has you, right?04:22-04:24Bloom where you are planted.04:27-04:30And I was thinking about that through the context of the whole passage.04:31-05:08Paul's talking about marriage and sexuality and singles issues, and then he talks about contentment, and then in this passage he's addressing the singles. Like why that flow? Why did he insert contentment right in the middle of that? And I think it's because there are certain aspects of being single that make it hard to be content. And here's what I mean by that. I think especially in the church there difficulties in being single.05:09-05:13Because I mean, think about it, in church, marriage is exalted.05:15-05:19In church, you see many godly marriages.05:20-05:28You sit and you watch infant dedications, and I think for singles there's a real sense of FOMO, right?05:30-05:35So this passage we're looking at today, mostly, is for the single people.05:37-05:53And if you're tempted to be like, "Oh, this ain't for me, I'm tuning out." I would say, "You are forbidden to tune out of this message." We expect our single people to sit through series on marriage, series on parenting.05:54-06:00We're like, "You need to listen to this, you need to listen to this, you know married people, so you should listen to this." You know single people, all right?06:01-06:05And maybe the Lord will open a door for you to be able to encourage them with some things in here.06:05-06:06All right?06:07-06:09So if I see you tuning out, I'm gonna throw a Bible at you.06:12-06:12All right?06:12-06:18So Paul says here, don't worry, it'll be a soft cover, not like a MacArthur study Bible or anything.06:19-06:28But Paul says here, I have no command for the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.06:28-06:29We talked about this before.06:30-06:38All Paul is saying here is the Lord, Jesus Christ, did not specifically address these singles issues during His earthly ministry.06:38-06:41It wasn't...being single is not a moral issue.06:42-06:45Jesus didn't really go into depth in addressing this.06:46-06:46Right?06:48-07:03He says, "I don't have a quote for you from Jesus." When it comes to divorce, Paul said, "I got quotes for you from Jesus about divorce." Jesus was crystal on that, but I don't have a quote from Jesus really about these aspects of being single.07:03-07:08But Paul's like, "Hey, you can trust me." Right?07:09-07:24And he goes on in this passage to say, "It's good to be single." Actually, he says it's in many ways better to be single.07:24-07:27It's wiser to be single.07:29-07:37Right now the singles among us might have heard that last statement and thought, "What's so great about being single?07:39-07:40What's so great about it?07:42-07:44What is it, the loneliness?07:46-07:47Is that what's so great about it?07:49-07:54Is it the stigma that people put on you, like, "Oh, you're single.07:54-07:58What's wrong with you?" Is that the great part of being single, Pastor Jeff?08:00-08:05Is it going to the soda shop, Pastor Jeff, and eating the wet walnut sundae by yourself?08:12-08:14Is it all the people that try to play Cupid?08:15-08:16Is that the great part?08:17-08:21You know, I got this co-worker, it'd be great for you.08:22-08:24Both of his teeth are really clean," and whatever.08:28-08:30I can't wait to meet him.08:32-08:33Is that the great part, Pastor Jeff?08:34-08:35Is it the FOMO, Pastor Jeff?08:36-08:36Is it?08:36-08:38What's the great part, Pastor Jeff?08:39-08:40What's the great part?08:41-08:46Well, this is what the Lord said, okay?08:46-08:49This isn't Jeff's opinion, this is God's opinion.08:49-08:52So on your outline, I want you to jot some things down.08:53-08:55Here's three advantages of being single.08:55-08:57All right, three advantages of being single.09:01-09:03Oh, right, sorry.09:10-09:11I beg your pardon.09:12-09:13I have a disclaimer.09:17-09:20I have been happily married since 2002.09:27-09:32Despite what Paul says about singleness, I am very thankful for my beautiful, talented, and intelligent wife.09:33-09:35I acknowledge that I married up.09:36-09:40Her presence daily enhances my life in every way.09:41-09:46And then it says at the bottom, you better read this and sound convincing, love Aaron.09:47-09:48(congregation laughing)09:57-09:58I am thankful to be married.10:01-10:05That was what God had for me, but God might not have that for you.10:06-10:07All right, he gives different gifts to different people.10:08-10:11So if you're single, here's three advantages of being single.10:11-10:15Number one, write this down, you're saved from certain troubles.10:16-10:19You're saved from certain troubles.10:22-10:25And here's the point, I'm gonna give you the heads up and we're gonna see it in the text.10:25-10:34What Paul's saying here is there are troubles married people have that single people do not have, okay?10:34-10:36That's why the word certain is in there.10:37-10:40Not, save from all troubles, everybody's got troubles, okay?10:40-10:41Everybody's got troubles.10:41-10:47But there are certain troubles that married people have that single people have the luxury of not having, all right?10:48-10:53And he gives them in two categories, and the first one is present distress.10:53-10:57You can write that down on your outline underneath number one, distress.10:57-10:58Look at verse 26.11:00-11:13Paul says, "I think that in view of the present distress, It is good for a person to remain as he is, obviously, or as she is.11:14-11:15Okay, what's the distress?11:15-11:16What's the distress?11:16-11:21Well, some translations translate that violence.11:22-11:23Violence.11:24-11:28It's just simply hardships of living in a violent world.11:29-11:37And Paul's like, "Hey, hey, the world's a violent place, so it's probably better, single that you're not married for that reason.11:38-11:49See for the Corinthians, about 15 years after they would have received this letter, they endured horrible persecution that lasted for 200 years.11:51-11:52And I think Paul knew that.11:53-11:55Like, the world's a violent place.11:58-12:00But see, this principle isn't just for them.12:01-12:05I mean, isn't the world a violent and evil place today?12:06-12:08I mean, do I really have to sell you on that?12:09-12:14I mean, look at all the school shootings and sex trafficking, all the wars.12:15-12:20I wrote this before the events of yesterday, the events of yesterday happened.12:21-12:21The wars.12:23-12:33The war for your kids, all the gay and transgender stuff pushed in schools, the persecution for simply believing the Bible, Charlie Kirk, remember him?12:36-12:44So I would ask you, church, when Paul talks about violence to the Corinthians in our day, are we getting better or are we getting worse?12:45-12:46Which is it?12:48-12:54Can you really turn on the news and be like, oh yeah, there was violence back in that day, but I think things are pretty safe now, right?12:54-12:55Could you say that?12:56-12:57Of course not.12:59-13:01And I was thinking about this a lot this past week.13:02-13:05What era of human history was perfectly safe?13:06-13:07To have a wife and kids.13:08-13:09Is there any?13:09-13:27Can you point to an era and be like, "Yeah, this was the sweet spot right here in human history that it was…everything was safe." You see, such violence has extra implications if you have a spouse.13:28-13:32If you have a spouse, many times you also eventually have children.13:35-13:38Such violence has implications for spouse and kids, right?13:39-13:43What I mean is, look, I'm not afraid of being attacked personally.13:43-13:43I'm not.13:44-13:44Like, whatever.13:46-13:52I mean, somebody doesn't like the sermon and they slip past security and come up and shoot me or whatever.13:52-13:53Okay, whatever.13:53-13:54See you in heaven.13:56-14:03But I've got a wife and kids, and the thought of them being in danger is terrifying to me.14:04-14:08To think that they're in danger and I can't protect them and I can't be there.14:11-14:12That's what Paul's talking about here.14:13-14:20You see, if I suffer, whatever, but if they suffer, that is way more painful than any suffering that I can endure.14:22-14:30That's why Paul says there in verse 26, he says, "Remain as he is." That's better.14:30-14:32"Remain as he is." He clarifies that though.14:32-14:33Look, he clarifies.14:33-14:34Look at verse 27.14:36-14:39He says, "Are you bound to a wife?14:40-14:41Do not seek to be free.14:41-14:42Are you free from a wife?14:44-14:50Do not seek a wife." He says, "Married, stay married.14:50-14:51Single stay single.14:52-14:53Did you get a divorce?14:53-14:55Stay as you are.14:58-15:06He's saying singles might be wise to pump the brakes on getting married in view of just how violent the world is.15:08-15:08You see that?15:09-15:11There's a second category of trouble.15:11-15:12We saw the presence of stress.15:13-15:14The next one is that worldly troubles.15:15-15:16Look at verse 28.15:16-15:17This is a little different though.15:18-15:26Verse 28, he says, "But if you do marry, you have not sinned.15:27-15:31And if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned.15:32-15:39Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that." Stop there.15:40-15:41There's worldly troubles.15:42-15:53I mean, he says, "A marriage isn't sin, obviously." He goes, "But it brings trouble." There's conflict within marriage, right?15:54-16:00He already addressed there's conflict that comes from outside, but there's also conflict that comes from the inside.16:01-16:07What I mean is, you know, I have to deal with my own sin issues.16:08-16:09I am incredibly selfish.16:15-16:21I can be incredibly prideful, and I can be horribly irritable.16:25-16:27I got those issues going on.16:28-16:36Now, I get married and I got to deal with my wife's sin issues.16:36-16:38I mean, not my wife.16:38-16:43I mean, but you see the point.16:45-16:47You got your sin issues, whoever you marry is going to have sin issues.16:48-16:52The potential for misery in marriage is worse than for singles.16:53-16:58Like yeah, singles are going to deal with their own sin, married people, the amount of sin just doubled in the home.17:03-17:07people get married thinking it's going to fix everything, right?17:08-17:22People get married thinking, you know, "I have these physical urges, and if I just get married, all those urges are going to be fixed." It's not always true, right?17:23-17:25Or people are like, "I'm incredibly lonely.17:26-17:32I'm just so lonely, and if I get married, I won't be lonely." That's not always true either.17:37-17:40Sometimes these things just get worse, right?17:41-17:48Desire for intimacy gets worse when you have a spouse you want to be with but is unresponsive.17:50-17:53Loneliness gets worse when you live with someone who resents you.17:57-18:02So if you're single and you're on the fence, "Should I get married?18:03-18:05Maybe I'll wait till the end of the sermon to decide.18:05-18:11What should I do?" If you're single, "Oh, I wish I had a string.18:11-18:43My previous church, I had a string of marriage counseling sessions I was going through, and I so wish, single people, that I could take you into these marriage counseling sessions and have you sit in the corner and just watch." That would make up your mind for you because you would walk out of there going, "I am so thankful that I don't got to deal with that." Potential for misery in marriage is worse than the potential for misery in singles.18:43-18:44That's what Paul's saying.18:46-18:53I mean even if conflict isn't the big issue, I mean there's plenty of other worldly troubles, right?18:56-18:58like sickness, for example.19:00-19:04I mean, I remember back when I was single, and that was a difficult season in my life.19:06-19:08But do you know what's harder than being single?19:10-19:12You know what's harder is watching a sick wife suffer.19:13-19:13That's harder.19:14-19:20You know what's harder than being single is watching a sick child that you've prayed for for decades not get better.19:21-19:22That's harder than being single.19:24-19:26Now this is Paul's whole point here.19:26-19:27Look, life is hard.19:27-19:28Life is hard for everyone.19:29-19:31I mean, the Bible is crystal on that.19:31-19:38Life is hard for everyone, but getting married invites other elements of trouble.19:40-19:42The world is violent, my wife is violent.19:42-19:45Single people are saved from that.19:47-19:49I guess that's number one.19:49-19:53Number two, three advantages of being single, you're safe from certain troubles.19:53-19:55Number two, you're safe from distraction.19:57-19:58You're safe from distraction.20:01-20:07Marriage brings distraction, and he gives two ways that it does.20:07-20:15First of all, you lose your perspective on priorities, and second of all, you get distracted by the duty of taking care of a family, right?20:15-20:16So let's talk about these.20:17-20:17Let's break them down.20:19-20:21One distraction, losing perspective on priorities.20:21-20:25Look at verse 29, he says, "This is what I mean, brothers.20:27-20:29The appointed time has grown very short.20:30-20:41From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none." You've got to read it in its context.20:42-20:47If you pull that verse out of its context, you're thinking it says something way different than it does, okay?20:48-20:50So you've got to listen to the rest of us.20:50-21:00He is not saying…He is not saying…everybody say, "Not saying." He is not saying, "Detach from your wife." He's not saying that at all.21:00-21:02The context makes it clear what He is saying.21:02-21:20Look, verse 30, He goes, "And those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it.21:21-21:28For the present form of this world is passing away." See, what's he saying?21:28-21:29Look at the context.21:30-21:37Mourning, rejoicing, stuff, doing business, that's all earth stuff.21:39-21:39Right?21:39-21:43That is all stuff for here and now.21:45-21:57Paul's saying, "Don't live as if this is all there is." You realize so many people live as if they are going to be here forever, and you're not.21:58-21:59None of us are.22:03-22:05That's what Paul's talking about here.22:05-22:09You're mourning, you're going through a hard time, it's temporary.22:10-22:12You're not going to be mourning in heaven over that.22:12-22:14Oh, and you're rejoicing, you had the greatest day of your life?22:14-22:17Okay, that's not going to mean anything in heaven.22:18-22:18Right?22:19-22:20Oh, you're worried about your stuff?22:20-22:21He ain't taking it with you.22:22-22:24Earthly dealings, you're not going to be doing that in heaven.22:26-22:27It's all earth stuff.22:30-22:43And then he says, "Life as we know it on earth, it's all passing away, including marriage." I mean, all of these things in his list, he's saying these things all look different in light of eternity.22:44-22:48And don't let these things distract you from the big picture.22:49-22:50Do you know what the big picture is?22:52-22:59The big picture is you were created by God to spend a certain amount of time on this earth.23:04-23:09But you were born with a sinful nature we inherited from the first man.23:12-23:15You were born with a nature to rebel against your Creator.23:17-23:20Not to do what He wants you to do, but to do whatever you want to do.23:20-23:23You're selfish too, just like me.23:25-23:28And someday you're going to stand before that God who created you.23:29-23:32That God that you've rebelled against, someday you're going to stand before Him.23:33-23:37He just sang about what kind of God He is.23:37-23:38Holy forever.23:39-23:46You rebellious sinner are going to stand before the holy God that you rebelled against.23:49-23:58You deserve the worst that He could give you, which is hell, eternal separation from Him.23:59-24:07But because He loves you so much, He sent His Son to die on the cross on your behalf, to take your sin penalty on Himself.24:08-24:16When Jesus was on the cross, God was pouring out His wrath on Jesus, the wrath that I deserve and the wrath that you deserve.24:17-24:21Then Jesus rose from the dead so that we too can have the promise of eternal life.24:22-24:23That is the big picture.24:25-24:28So whether you buy or sell, you had a great day, a horrible day.24:28-24:34you get married or not, you're going to stand before a God who is going to judge you.24:35-24:38But if you are in Christ, there is no condemnation.24:39-24:40You are not guilty.24:40-24:41You are forgiven.24:43-24:44No sin will ever be held against you.24:44-24:45That is the big picture.24:45-24:55And Paul is saying, "Do not let the stuff of the earth, including marriage, distract you from that." He's just simply putting things into perspective.24:58-24:58Right?24:59-25:02Even marriage is not eternal.25:02-25:05Jesus said this in Matthew 22.25:06-25:18He says, "For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." Marriage is a "for now on earth" thing.25:20-25:20Right?25:20-25:21not for heaven.25:23-25:24We have it for now on earth.25:25-25:25Why?25:25-25:27For partnership, right?25:28-25:31For pleasure, for procreation.25:34-25:39All the purposes that marriage fulfill, those purposes aren't going to exist in heaven.25:40-25:44We're not going to need them fulfilled the way that they're fulfilled on earth.25:46-25:52I was thinking about this this week and I thought back to my days in elementary school.25:55-26:05I remember there were kids that would go skiing over the weekend and then they'd come to school on Monday.26:06-26:07Some of you remember this?26:07-26:09They'd come to school on Monday with their winter jacket on.26:09-26:11Remember what they still had hanging on their winter jacket?26:13-26:15Your lift pass, remember that?26:15-26:16They'd walk in.26:21-26:22(groans)26:27-26:29What'd you do over the weekend, Joey?26:33-26:35It was such a badge of honor.26:37-26:38You're like, why are you making fun of him?26:38-26:39Because I was so jealous.26:40-26:41That's why.26:43-26:46It was such a badge of honor, wasn't it, to walk into school.26:48-26:50You're not laughing because you were those kids, weren't you?26:52-26:54You were those ski lift tag kids.26:59-27:01I kind of laugh because you know what?27:02-27:05That lift tag was very useful for a time, wasn't it?27:06-27:09I mean, when you're skiing, that thing is super useful.27:09-27:11It has great purpose.27:11-27:16"Oh, you're skiing, it has great purpose." But then when you show up at school, what is it?27:16-27:18It's just a piece of garbage hanging from your coat.27:20-27:21It doesn't mean anything.27:22-27:24Like, dude, you don't need that.27:24-27:26You don't need to ride the lift to the cafeteria.27:29-27:31You don't need the ski tag.27:32-27:34And that's really, same thing with marriage.27:35-27:38Like, hey, married, I got a beautiful wife, she's awesome.27:38-27:45It's like, yes, but you're not going to need a wife in heaven, because every relationship is going to be perfect.27:50-27:53Paul's saying what he says in Colossians 3 too, right?27:53-27:57Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.27:59-28:02Don't let marriage distract you from your spiritual life.28:03-28:42Don't let marriage make you lose perspective on your priorities? Because it does. There are people, there are some people here that work more on their marriage than they do on their personal walk with Jesus Christ. That's a problem. That's backwards. If you worked more on your personal walk with Jesus Christ, things in your marriage would get a whole lot better. But marriage distracts us from focusing on eternity because marriage, as God's Word tells us, divides our interests.28:44-28:45Look at verse 32.28:49-28:52Paul says, "I want you to be free from anxieties.28:55-29:00The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord." How to please the Lord.29:01-29:06But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife.29:08-29:09And his interests are divided.29:11-29:20And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit.29:20-29:27But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.29:29-29:36Any single people can serve Jesus undistracted because the single person only has one set of cares.29:37-29:39The married person is divided.29:40-29:41That's what he's saying.29:41-29:47The married person says, "I really do want to serve Christ.29:47-29:58I really do want to give everything to Jesus, but I also have this God-given responsibility to take care of my family.30:00-30:07My interests are divided." So, singles better.30:09-30:11You're like, "Man, that sounds legalistic." Look at verse 35.30:13-30:38Paul says, "I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." See that's exactly what Paul is saying here, he says, "I'm not being legalistic." He says, "This is for your benefit." But don't think that married people are second-class citizens.30:41-30:41Right?30:42-30:55Verse 36, he says, "If anyone thinks he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes.30:55-30:57Let them marry, it is no sin.30:58-32:31But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity, but having his desires under control and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better." You're like, "What is he talking about here?" This would have made way more sense to the original audience of this letter. Understand here, Paul is talking specifically here to fathers of unmarried daughters. The fathers had decision-making power in the matter of marriage for their daughters. Like, well that sounds very weird. Not really. Even today, I mean, isn't there the custom of when you want to get married to a woman, don't you go to her father and ask for her hand in marriage? Where do you think that comes from. Right? Same principle. But understand, Paul's just, once again, even in that, he's laying out the same thing he's been saying through this whole chapter, specifically through this whole passage. He goes, "If they get married, great. And if they remain single," He's like, "That's even better.32:32-32:39It's even better." Paul says here in this section that when it comes to serving Jesus, single people have an advantage.32:42-32:54Now, understand, single people, single people understand before you go out and get your ski tag, understand he's not saying single people are more spiritual than married people.32:54-32:55He is not saying that.32:56-33:02Single people are not automatically more devoted to Jesus than married people.33:02-33:04He is not saying that.33:04-33:11You're like, "Well, what is he saying?" He's saying single people have the greater potential in their service to Jesus Christ.33:16-33:17All right?33:17-33:46people, consider how much of your resources goes to just taking care of your family, right? How much time does your family require? How much money do you spend on your family? How much energy does your family get? And the answer is Because they get all of all the above, right?33:49-34:04And Paul here is simply saying, "Single people, you have tremendous opportunity, capacity, and potential to serve Christ because you're saved from the distractions that come from having to take care of a family." Right?34:04-34:05Single people?34:07-34:07Single people?34:08-34:12You want to spend extra time in prayer and the Word today?34:13-34:30You can do that without a bunch of little people running up to you going...and you're like, "I fed you yesterday." Well, you've got to feed them today too.34:31-34:33Single people don't got to worry about that.34:34-34:36Single people, you want to go on a mission trip?34:37-34:42You know what, this Vision Appalachia thing, I'm about that, I'm gone.34:42-34:44I'm going to talk to Bob Brown, I'm gone.34:44-34:46Single people can do that, like at the drop of a hat.34:47-34:51Or hey, next trip to Thailand, I am there.34:52-34:53No problem.34:53-35:00Single people can do that because you don't have to factor in the schedules of several other people.35:02-35:02Right?35:04-35:17Single people, you're like, "Oh, it's a prayer service tonight at church." You don't have to worry if you're going to miss it because your spouse is working late or Joey has yet another lacrosse tournament.35:20-35:21That's like the fifth one today.35:24-35:26Single people don't got to worry about that.35:26-35:27That's all Paul's saying here.35:29-35:35Oh, and P.S., history is full of single people that God has used mightily.35:37-35:39I read about a whole bunch of them this past week.35:40-35:44I don't have time to get into all of them, but I will mention one.35:44-35:47How about Paul, right?35:48-36:12Paul himself being single allowed Paul the opportunity to evangelize the Roman world and write holy Spirit-inspired letters that guide, encourage, and bless the churches even until today." So I guess Paul being single adds quite a bit of credibility to this Spirit-inspired truth that he wrote.36:12-36:14He says, "Hey, are you single?36:15-36:21You're saved from a lot of distractions." All right, three advantages of being single.36:21-36:22You're saved from certain troubles.36:23-36:24You're safe from distraction.36:24-36:26Number three, you're safe from obligation.36:28-36:31One more, you're safe from obligation.36:33-36:36Paul says a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives.36:38-36:46But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.36:48-36:52Yet in my judgment, she is happier if she remains as she is.36:55-36:57And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.36:59-37:00I love that last statement.37:01-37:16Paul's like, 'cause you know that people are gonna be reading this and hearing this like, "Oh, come on, Paul, that's just your opinion." And he's like, "Yeah, I think I have the Holy Spirit too." So you're saved from obligation.37:16-37:22Paul says, "If your spouse dies, You can marry another believer.37:24-37:38Paul says, "Yet you'll be happier to stay single." But, Paul says, "Once you marry, you are bound as long as your spouse lives." He's talking about the obligation to the marriage.37:41-37:57The most important choice you will ever make for however long you have on the earth, the The most important choice is whether or not you are going to turn from your sin and turn to Jesus Christ and receive Him as your Lord and Savior.37:57-37:59That is the most important choice you will ever make.38:00-38:03Do you know what the second most important choice is that you will ever make?38:04-38:06Is the person that you decide to marry.38:11-38:12Because there's no going back.38:14-38:15At least not in God's eyes.38:16-38:17There's no going back.38:18-38:20It's more important than choosing a college major.38:20-38:23It's more important than choosing a career.38:24-38:26It's more important than choosing a tattoo.38:29-38:33More important than all these, who you marry, because it's a covenant before God.38:33-38:36It's a sacred thing in the eyes of God.38:36-38:47In the eyes of God, you're bound for life, and Paul's reminding, hey, when you're bound to a spouse, there is no more liberty that comes with being single.38:51-38:58You know, in Matthew chapter 19, Jesus was talking about marriage and divorce and adultery.38:58-39:03He was being challenged, and we've talked about that passage even very recently.39:04-39:12And Jesus gave his teaching on what it means to be married and defining divorce and adultery and all of that.39:12-39:18Well, the disciples heard all this, and this was their response to Jesus.39:18-39:24After hearing the Lord teach about marriage, this is what the disciples said in response to Jesus.39:25-39:41The disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, it's better not to marry." Go back and read that whole passage, and you'll see they got it.39:42-39:44They were not rebuked for this statement.39:45-40:03Jesus is like, "Yeah, but not everybody can receive that, but yeah, they got it." Marriage is not for everyone, but there is a special wisdom and dedication that single people are gifted, right?40:04-40:06Our worship team would make their way back up front.40:13-40:22Single people, do you have the gift of being single?40:23-40:24Do you have that gift?40:28-40:32You're like, "You know, I really think this might be God's gift for me, being single." Is that you?40:32-40:34Well, I want to say something to you.40:34-40:38On the authority of the Word of God, it is not inferior to being married.40:39-40:46In fact, God says very clearly, in a lot of ways, it is better.40:49-40:55But for those of you who are single and you're struggling to know, "Do I have the gift?40:55-40:57I'm not sure if I have the gift.40:57-41:12What does God have for me?" Today I just want you to consider the benefits that the Word of God laid out, that there are troubles, distractions, and obligations that you're going to be saved from.41:13-41:14Let's pray.41:15-41:48in heaven, we thank you for your Word. And I know this can be a touchy and emotional subject, but I thank you. I thank you for the tone in which you inspired Paul to communicate this, that it wasn't some hard-nosed, snarky, legalistic thing at all, but just an objective look at reality.41:51-41:52God, You give gifts.41:52-41:53Your Word is so clear.41:53-42:10You give gifts to each one of us, and for some, Father, You've given the gift of singleness, and I pray a special blessing on those that You have so set aside for specific types of ministry that married people are unable to do.42:11-42:28Father, for the single people here maybe who are struggling, not sure if it's their gift, I just ask, Father, that you would maybe use this message to give them direction on what it is exactly you do have for them.42:30-42:47For the rest of us, Father, show us how we can love and encourage our single brothers and sisters without making them feel like they're on a second tier path because according to your word, it's kind of the opposite.42:49-42:53Give us wisdom, Father, in all these things we ask in Jesus' name, amen. Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 7:25-40What was your big take-away from this passage / message?Give some examples of “troubles” that come in marriage (internal and external) that single people are spared.How exactly are single people able to serve Jesus without “divided interests” (1 Cor 7:33)?What are some ways the church can reach single people for discipleship (without allowing it to become just a “match-making ministry”)?BreakoutPray for one another.

LENTEN ANTIPHON- Mother Mary, walk with me this Lent that my heart may be one with yours. Lead me closer to God, that I too may say, “Let it be done to me according to Your Word.”SCRIPTURE- John 18:37"So Pilate said to him, ‘Then you are a king?' Jesus answered, ‘You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.'”REFLECTION- PeggyMUSIC- "Sleeping Peace" by Neil Cross - "Hands, Be Still" by Ólafur Arnalds- "Stay With Me" TaizeNOTES- Lent: Check out the LENT page on The God Minute website to find out more about our programming for this week.PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

In the tenth chapter of the book of Joshua, we read how, as Israel fought for occupation of the Promised Land at Gibeon, Joshua asked the Lord to stop the sun so that Israel could finish its battle. According to Joshua 10:13, the sun stopped in mid‑sky and did not set for nearly an entire day. According to the most accurate dating, this was about 1400 BC.Our modern scientific age knows that the earth, which weighs billions of tons, revolves around the sun while turning on its axis. In order for the sun to stand still in its apparent movement across the sky, the earth would have to stop spinning. The earth spins at a speed of about 1,000 miles per hour. If it were to suddenly stop, the force would rip the earth apart. All of this is what science tells us. And from these facts, science therefore concludes that the sun could not have stopped in its path across the sky. But this final conclusion is not scientific, even if all the other facts are true.Joshua 10 tells us that God made the sun stop in its apparent path. Science admits that it cannot tell us what God can or cannot do. Science can only tell us that it would be very unlikely for the sun to stand still in the sky. But Joshua 10:14 tells us this and more—this had never happened before and had not happened again at the time Joshua was written.It's not surprising, then, to learn that, according to Aztec lore from Mexico, virtually on the other side of the world, the sun failed to rise for an entire day in the City of the Gods around 1400 BC.Joshua 10:13"And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day."Prayer: Dear Lord, our age is a materialistic age where we deny what we cannot understand. I confess that I cannot understand how the sun could appear to stop in the sky, but I know that Your Word says that You did this great miracle. Grant me your Holy Spirit so that I may not be infected with the doubt that so permeates the world. Amen.REF.: Sitchin, Zecharia. How Jericho fell. The Christian News. Image: The Sun and the Moon Stand Still, Camden Press, CC0, Wikimedia Commons + Aztec calendar stone, Boston Public Library, PD, Wikimedia. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

LENTEN ANTIPHON- Mother Mary, walk with me this Lent that my heart may be one with yours. Lead me closer to God, that I too may say, “Let it be done to me according to Your Word.”SCRIPTURE- Acts 3:19-20"Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus,”REFLECTION- Sr. KaraMUSIC- Holy, Holy, Holy by Jay Stocker and O Salutaris Hostia instrumentalNOTES- Lent: Check out the LENT page on The God Minute website to find out more about our programming for this week.PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Stay the Course, Being Steady in the Lord in the Mist of a Volatile World • Sunday Service Website: www.PastorTodd.org To give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give We are living in a time when everything around us seems to be shaking. Nations are shaking, economies are shaking, families are under pressure, and even within the visible church there is instability and compromise. Headlines change by the hour, but the Word of God has not changed. The Lord is raising up a people who will not be driven by fear, trends, or the latest crisis, but who will stay the course and remain steady in Him even when the world is volatile. God is not surprised by this hour. He has already prepared a path for His people. He has given us His Spirit, His Word, and His promises so that we can stand firm, endure, and even flourish when others are losing hope. 1. Steadfast when everything is shaking First, God calls us to be steadfast and unmovable. He does not want a fearful, fragile church, but a steadfast people who know whom they have believed. 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 2. Running with patience, eyes on Jesus To stay the course in a volatile world, we must run the race God has set before us with patience and with a clear focus on Jesus Himself. Hebrews 12:1 2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 3. Guarding your heart and mind with peace In a volatile world, anxiety comes knocking each day. But the Lord has given us a way to walk in supernatural peace in the middle of chaos. Philippians 4:6 7 “Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee.” 4. God is our refuge when the earth trembles There are times when the shaking is not just emotional or personal, but global. Even then, God promises to be our refuge and strength. Psalm 46:1 3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.” 5. Trials that refine instead of destroy Some of the volatility we face is not just out there in the world, it is in the form of personal trials. But in the kingdom, trials are not just random attacks. God uses them to refine, mature, and strengthen us. James 1:2 4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” 6. Not troubled by the signs of the times The Lord even spoke about the volatility of the last days. He told us about wars, rumors of wars, and shaking, yet He also told us how to posture our hearts. Matthew 24:6 “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars see that ye be not troubled for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:13 “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”   7. Planted, not blown around In a volatile world, many people are tossed like leaves in the wind. But the righteous are called to be planted like trees by rivers of water. Psalm 1:1 3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Colossians 1:23 “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven whereof I Paul am made a minister.” We are living in a volatile world. There are shaking events, confusing voices, and real pressures on every side. Yet in this very hour, God is calling His people to stay the course. To be steadfast and unmovable. To keep our eyes on Jesus. To trade anxiety for prayer and thanksgiving. To let His peace guard our hearts and minds. To refuse to waste our trials and instead allow them to refine us. To endure to the end. To delight in His Word until we are like trees planted by rivers of living water. To stay steady in the Lord in this kind of world is not something we can do in our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit. We need the Word of God dwelling richly in us. We need fellowship with other believers who are also set on finishing well. So today, ask yourself, where have I been shaken. Where have I let fear, offense, or weariness push me off course. Where have I been listening more to the world than to the Word. Bring those areas back to the feet of Jesus. Surrender again. Say from your heart, “Lord, I choose to stay the course. Make me steadfast. Guard my mind with Your peace. Plant me deep in Your Word. Help me endure and finish my race well.” As you do, the same God who steadied Joseph in a foreign land, Daniel in a hostile empire, and the early church in a time of persecution will steady you in this generation. The world may be volatile, but your God is not. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in Him you can stand firm until the very end.

LENTEN ANTIPHON- Mother Mary, walk with me this Lent that my heart may be one with yours. Lead me closer to God, that I too may say, “Let it be done to me according to Your Word.”SCRIPTURE- Psalm 31:6"Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, God of truth.”REFLECTION- Fr. JimMUSIC- "Lord of All Hopefulness" by The O'Neill Brothers Group- "The Wishing Star" by Michael LogozarNOTES- Lent: Check out the LENT page on The God Minute website to find out more about our programming for this week.PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

LENTEN ANTIPHON- Mother Mary, walk with me this Lent that my heart may be one with yours. Lead me closer to God, that I too may say, “Let it be done to me according to Your Word.”SCRIPTURE- Proverbs 19:17"Whoever cares for the poor lends to the LORD, who will pay back the sum in full.”REFLECTION- Sr. M KarolynMUSIC- "Before the Throne of God Above" by Jonathan Roth- "Meditation" by Michele NoblerNOTES- Lent: Check out the LENT page on The God Minute website to find out more about our programming for this week.PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Welcome to Day 2804 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2804 – The Devil Never Made Him Do It – Luke 4:1-13 Putnam Church Message – 01/18/2026 Luke's Account of the Good News - “The Devil Never Made Him Do It.”    Last week investigated a prophet who was unmatched in all history, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, in a message titled “The Greatest Mortal Who Ever Died.” Today, we begin our study through the ministry of Jesus Christ in a message titled: “The Devil Never Made Him Do It.” Our Core verses for this week are Luke 4:1-13, found on page 1595 of your Pew Bibles. Follow along as I read. OPENING PRAYER Holy Father, we gather today in the name of Jesus, our victorious Savior. As we open Your Word, teach us to recognize temptation, to discern the lies of the enemy, and to cling to the truth that sets us free. Strengthen our hearts by Your Spirit, steady our minds by Your Scriptures, and shape our lives to reflect the obedience of Christ in the wilderness. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and forever. Amen. Today, we come to a moment in Luke's Gospel that occurs quietly, without crowds, without choirs of angels, without disciples watching in awe. There are no miracles, no sermons, no parables, and no healings. Instead, there is silence, sand, hunger, and a solitary battle in the wilderness. It is here that Jesus faces the enemy of our souls in a way no other human ever has — and He triumphs. And He does so not by leaning on His divine authority, but by walking in obedience as a human filled with and yielded to the Holy Spirit. Our preaching text this morning comes from Luke 4:1–13 (NLT). Luke writes: “Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.” (Luke 4:1–2) Luke wants us to see something right away: Jesus did not accidentally wander into temptation. He did not stumble into a spiritual ambush. He was led there. Led by whom? Led by the Spirit. And with that, Luke invites us into one of Scripture's most profound mysteries: God can lead His children into places of testing for the purpose of strengthening, purifying, and proving them. This is not new. Israel experienced the same. Moses reminded the people in Deuteronomy 8:2 (NLT): “Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you…” Jesus is reliving the story of Israel — but where Israel failed, Jesus prevails.     Context: Between Baptism and Ministry Before we move further, we must notice the timing: Just before the wilderness comes the baptism. Just before the temptation comes the affirmation. Just before the war comes, the voice from heaven. In Luke 3, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father declared: “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” (3:22) Immediately after that, Jesus is taken to the desert. This pattern is familiar to anyone who has walked with God: Mountaintops are...

Both archaeology and the Bible suggest that the world was once quite different from the world we know today. Each agrees that the earth's climate was once much more uniform than it is today.At one time the tropics may have extended into what are today polar regions. However, the Bible and evolutionary geology don't agree on how long ago that was. Bible-believing geologists, on the other hand, are reporting evidence to support the Bible's story of history.In the past years, scientists have been surprised to discover dinosaur fossils in Alaska. Dinosaurs need warm temperatures—warmer than Alaska was thought to have been. In 1986, on Canada's Axel Heiberg Island, only 600 miles from the North Pole, scientists found a huge, dense forest. Some of the trees were well over 125 feet tall. They have been snapped off at the stump and are neither fossilized nor petrified, but remain as fresh wood. Even some of the leaves are still intact. The area was filled with spruce, hickory, dawn redwood and cypress trees and was evidently a swamp, since tropical turtle and alligator remains have also been found. Tree rings show that the area was warmer in the recent past, while the size of the rings tell us that there were short, hot summers during which rapid growth occurred, followed by long, dark winters as there are today.The most interesting conclusion reached by the scientific team is that the entire region must have been subjected to a huge flood! This discovery tells us that all of geology must be restructured to present a history that agrees with the Bible's story of the earth's past.Psalm 119:89“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.”Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, I thank You that Your Word is true and trustworthy. Let my faith be more than a faith of words or simply comfort in bad times. Instruct me through the Bible so that my faith is a way of life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.REF: Search for a Tropical Arctic (Television documentary). Federal Department of Energy, Mines and Resources (Canada). Image: Strathcona Fiord Fossil Forest and fossil vertebrate site, Jaelyn J. Eberle, Wighart von Koenigswald snd David A. Eberth, CC BY 4.0. Wikipedia Commons, Changes made. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

SAINT PRAYER TO OPEN- Mother Mary, walk with me this Lent that my heart may be one with yours. Lead me closer to God, that I too may say, “Let it be done to me according to Your Word.”SCRIPTURE- Phillipians 4:6-7"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will protect your hearts and mind in Christ"REFLECTION- UmbertoMUSIC- City Lights by Gjeilo and Little Gentle SpiritNOTES- Lent: Check out the LENT page on The God Minute website to find out more about our programming for this week.PRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 5:13. Some threats don't walk through the front door shouting. They slip in quietly, sit in the pew, smile during worship, and destroy slowly. Paul ends this chapter by ripping the mask off one of the greatest dangers to a church's health: unrepentant sin that everyone sees but no one confronts. God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." — 1 Corinthians 5:13 Paul doesn't whisper this. He doesn't soften the command. He ends the chapter with a call so sharp we can feel the edge of it: remove what is destroying the body of Christ before it destroys you. He's not talking about someone who's struggling or fighting sin. He's talking about the person who refuses correction, rejects repentance, and insists on living in open rebellion while claiming the name of Christ. This kind of sin doesn't stay contained. It spreads. It shapes culture. It numbs conviction. It confuses new believers. And eventually it corrupts the whole church. First | Unrepentant sin isn't just harmful—it's contagious. This command echoes Jesus' words about cutting off a hand or tearing out an eye. Some things must be removed decisively because they can't be managed gently. If we don't cut out what kills us, it will cut out what's holy in us. And Paul draws a hard line that every believer must take seriously... Second | God judges the outside world. The church must judge what's inside. Our job is not to police unbelievers—God handles that. Our job is to protect the church. Not to condemn the world, but to guard the family of God. Not to rage at culture, but to confront the compromise within our own community. This means addressing sin when we see it—not ignoring it, excusing it, or hoping it disappears. When a believer we love is drifting into rebellion, we step in. We speak clearly. We call them back. We risk the awkward conversation. That's what love does. It also means raising concerns when leaders overlook sin. Paul's command applies to pastors, elders, small group leaders, and every believer in the house. If something poisonous is spreading, silence is not faithfulness. Silence is surrender. And sometimes—this part is hard—the right response is to leave. If your church normalizes what God condemns, if leaders minimize sin or celebrate what Scripture calls destructive, if purity is treated as optional and holiness is mocked as legalism, then the command of Paul lands on your doorstep... Third | Flee. Don't let corruption disciple you. Don't stay where sin is protected. Don't remain where truth is optional. Leaving isn't betrayal. Leaving is protection. Leaving is obedience. Leaving is spiritual survival. Paul ends the chapter with a decision-point: Will we be a church that trims sin—or a church that tolerates it? Purge what pollutes. Remove what corrodes. Cut what kills. Protect what's holy. Guard what Christ died to make clean. The world doesn't shape us. Sin doesn't define us. And compromise doesn't get a seat at the table. Christ leads us. Holiness marks us. Courage protects us. This is how chapter 5 ends—with fire and clarity. And now it's our turn to act. DO THIS: Ask God to reveal one area of compromise—personal or within your church—that needs decisive action. Speak up, confront it, or walk away if needed. Protect what's holy. ASK THIS: What sin have I tolerated that God wants removed? Where do I need to speak up instead of staying silent? Is my church confronting sin—or quietly accepting it? PRAY THIS: Father, give me courage to remove whatever harms my walk with You. Help me protect the purity of Your church and confront sin with boldness, humility, and conviction. Keep me faithful and fearless as I follow Your Word. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Clean Heart"

When Satan casts a fiery dart atus, the sword can be used defensively to deflect that dart with God's HolyWord. But it is also offensive—it can strike the enemy. Think about this: whenyou use the Word of God, you can defend yourself against temptation. But youcan also attack Satan's kingdom by preaching the Gospel, witnessing to thelost, and teaching the truth. My friend, every time a person is saved through theWord of God, the sword of the Spirit has cut through into the kingdom ofdarkness. I'llnever forget hearing a story years ago about an atheist who was being witnessedto by a believer. The believer kept trying to talk with him about the Lord.Finally, the atheist said, “Get out of here. Leave me alone. I don't want tohear any more Scripture. I don't want to hear any more of the Word. Just leaveme alone. Get out.” The Christian replied, “I just want to leave you with onethought: Luke 13:3 says, ‘Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.'” Theatheist said, “I told you I don't want to hear it. I don't believe in God orthe Bible! Get out of here!” The Christian said, “Just one more time—Luke 13:3:‘Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.'” As the Christian waswalking away, the atheist shouted again, “Get away from me!” And the believerresponded one last time, “Unless you repent, you will perish.” The nextday, as the story goes, the atheist called that believer and said, “Would youplease come talk to me about getting saved? All night long all I kept hearingwas, ‘Unless you repent, you will perish.' I don't want to perish.” Andhe gave his heart to Christ. People may brush aside your testimony, but the Word of God is “alive andpowerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).  Weneed to always remember that the Word of God is the best weapon—the greatestweapon—for every need we have! I love what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:3. Hereminds us, “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to theflesh.” And in verse 4 he continues, “For the weapons of our warfare arenot carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting downarguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”  TheWord of God helps us in every season of life. Do you feel downhearted? Have you beendiscouraged or even depressed? I'll never forget a lady calling just before Iwas about to preach on a Sunday night—back in the old days when all we had werelandlines in the church. There were no cell phones. She said, “I'm verydiscouraged. I need to talk to the pastor.” I picked up the phone briefly andsaid hello. She said, “I'm discouraged. I think I'm suicidal. I need help.” Isaid, “Ma'am, I want you to do something. Start reading the book of Psalmsright now. Just read the Psalms. As soon as this service is over, I'll call youback.” I'll never forget it. After the service, I called her back. She said,“I've been reading the Psalms, and guess what? I already feel so different.Thank you so much for helping me.” I didn't do anything. It was the Word of Godthat encouraged her. AWord for the downhearted and discouraged: Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your Wordswere found, and I ate them, and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of myheart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” Psalm 119:105says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm119:9 asks, “How can a young man cleanse his way?” And it answers, “Bytaking heed according to Your Word.” Do you feel empty? Do you feel weak? Matthew4:4 reminds us, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word thatproceeds from the mouth of God.” Whenyou have that intake of God's Word, you will discover it is not merelyinformation. It is nourishment. It is light. It is strength. It is direction. Itwill help you face every problem, every difficulty, every challenge of everyday—no matter how it comes. 

Did you know that the actual dust on the surface of the moon is thousands of times less than expected by those who think the earth is billions of years old?All of us know that if something has a lot of dust on it, it probably hasn't been cleaned in a long time. If something has very little dust on it, it may have been just cleaned—or it might be brand new. Since there is no such thing as a moon cleaner, if our moon doesn't have much dust on it, it must be fairly new.Before American astronauts landed on the moon in 1969, space scientists were worried that a moon landing would be impossible. By that time scientists knew how much dust there was in space, and they knew how fast this dust would accumulate on the moon. Since they figured that the moon was more than 3 billion years old, they reckoned that there could be as much as 150 feet of soft dust on the moon—so deep and so soft that a manned lander might sink into the dust and never be heard from again. For this reason, they designed the lunar lander with large pads to support the machine on the soft dust.But we all know what happened—there wasn't even enough dust to plant the American flag. The flagpole had to be supported with rocks! This is exactly what creation scientists told them they would find, since the moon has been accumulating dust for only a few thousand years and not billions or even trillions of years!Genesis 1:16"And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also."Prayer: Father, I thank You for the beauty of the sky, especially the moon, which dominates the night sky. Here I see Your power in the many objects You have created. Help them to remind me that this earth is not the only world where I shall live, and as a result, seek Your Word in Scripture that I might be better prepared for the New Heavens and Earth. In Jesus' Name. Amen.Image: Astronaut Aldrin stands looking at the lunar module at Tranquility Base, Neil A. Armstrong, PD, Wikimedia Commons + Project Apollo Archive (boot in moon dust), PD, Wikimedia Commons. Additional reading: Calais, R. Proof the Moon is Young. Creation Moments. https://creationmoments.com/resources/articles/proof-the-moon-is-young/ To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Spiritual danger isn’t always obvious. Just like something hidden in plain sight, the greatest threats to our faith are often unseen. Scripture reminds us that we have a real enemy who prowls like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. While we may not physically see spiritual warfare, it is very real. This devotional calls us to awareness—not fear. We are not left defenseless. God has equipped us with spiritual armor and given us His Word, His Spirit, and the advocacy of Jesus Christ. When the enemy whispers lies, Jesus stands as our Advocate, declaring us forgiven and redeemed. When accusations try to overwhelm us, Christ’s finished work silences them. Spiritual attacks can come through suffering, discouragement, temptation, doubt, or isolation. That’s why we are urged to stay alert and sober-minded. But vigilance doesn’t mean panic—it means standing firm in faith. The Lion of Judah has already triumphed over the prowling lion. We walk through life aware of the battle, but confident in the victory. God promises that after we have suffered for a little while, He Himself will restore, strengthen, and make us steadfast. We are protected, not because we are strong, but because He is. Main Takeaways Spiritual warfare is real, even when it is unseen. The enemy seeks to discourage, accuse, and weaken believers. God provides spiritual armor and calls us to stand firm in faith. Jesus is our Advocate, silencing the enemy’s accusations. God promises restoration, strength, and steadfastness after seasons of trial. Today’s Bible Verse “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:8-11, NIV). Your Daily Prayer Prayer excerpt for listeners: “Help me to stand firm in my trust in You, Lord, and to fight with Your Word against the lies of the enemy.” Listen to the full prayer here, or read the full devotional and complete prayer by visiting the links below. Discover more daily encouragement and faith-based podcasts: LifeAudio.com – Christian podcasts and devotionals Crosswalk.com – Articles, devotionals, and Bible study resources This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.orgTrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. https://trinitycredit.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It's Wednesday, February 18th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Iranian authorities killed 19 Christians Article 18 reports Iran's security forces have killed at least 19 Christians during recent anti-government protests. The Islamic Republic's security forces brutally cracked down on demonstrators, including Christians.  Believers already face persecution for participating in activities like prayer gatherings, baptisms, and Bible distribution. In December, five Christians received prison sentences totaling 50 years for such activities. Iran is ranked 10th on the Open Doors' World Watch List of the most oppressive countries to be a Christian.  Nuclear deal between America and Iran Speaking of Iran, the country sent representatives to meet with U.S. officials in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday. The two countries agreed to “guiding principles” for a potential nuclear deal. At the same time, the U.S. is conducting a military build-up in the region. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that striking a deal with Iran is difficult because of its commitment to radical Islam.  Secretary Rubio urged Europe to embrace Christian heritage Secretary Rubio addressed the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday.  He criticized Europe for embracing globalism, open borders, massive welfare states, and climate activism. Rubio said, “We in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West's managed decline.” Instead, he called for European countries to partner with the United States on the basis of their common heritage—Christianity. Listen. RUBIO: “America was founded 250 years ago, but the roots began here on this continent, long before the men who settled and built the nation of my birth arrived on our shores, carrying the memories and the traditions and the Christian faith of their ancestors as a sacred inheritance, an unbreakable link between the old world and the new. “We are part of one civilization, Western civilization. We are bound to one another by the deepest bonds that nations could share, forged by centuries of shared history, Christian faith, culture, heritage, language, ancestry and the sacrifices our forefathers made together for the common civilization to which we have fallen heir.” Jeremiah 6:16 says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.” Border Czar: We arrested 4,000 illegals & recovered 3,000 kids in MN In the United States, White House Border Czar Tom Homan announced the conclusion of Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota last week. Immigration enforcement officers are in the process of leaving the state after having made over 4,000 arrests since December. Homan noted that officers also recovered over 3,000 missing children. HOMAN: “I.C.E. is a legitimate federal law enforcement agency. We're not out scouring the streets to disappear people or deny people their civil rights or due process. In addition to taking public safety threats off the street, I.C.E., here in this state, have located 3,364 missing, unaccompanied alien children -- children the last administration lost and weren't even looking for.” Planned Parenthood closes Florida abortion mill Planned Parenthood announced Monday it will close one of its abortion mills in Florida.  The Lakeland, Florida killing center will fully close next month. This ends 50 years of the abortion giant's presence in the area.  Planned Parenthood locations have fallen from 567 in 2021 to 488 last month. However, Katherine Van Dyke with American Life League warned, “By shedding this ‘dead weight,' they're not retreating. They're regrouping to push the abortion pill regimen through virtual channels, streamlining abortion on demand.” 348th anniversary of Pilgrim's Progress And finally, this week is the 348th anniversary of the publication of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. His first volume of the book was announced on February 18, 1678. Bunyan began the work from prison. He was sentenced for holding unsanctioned religious services. Despite suffering for his faith, he produced a Christian classic that would influence the church for centuries.  The 19th century English preacher Charles Spurgeon, who read Pilgrim's Progress 100 times, said of Bunyan, “Read anything of his, and you will see that it is almost like reading the Bible itself. He had read it till his very soul was saturated with Scripture; and though his writings are charmingly full of poetry, yet he cannot give us his Pilgrim's Progress—that sweetest of all prose poems—without continually making us feel and say, ‘Why, this man is a living Bible!'” Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, February 18th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Welcome to Day 2799 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2799 – The Day the Pupil Stumped the Professors – Luke 3:1-38 Putnam Church Message – 01/11/2026 Luke's Account of the Good News - “The Day the Pupil Stumped the Professors.”    Last week was the first week of 2026. We explored the third and final story of Jesus's childhood. We will explore “The Day the Pupil Stumped the Professors.”  Today, we will investigate a prophet who was unmatched in all history, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, in a message titled “The Greatest Mortal Who Ever Died.” Our Core verses for this week are Luke 3:1-38, found on page 1593 of your Pew Bibles. Since this is a long passage and there is a lot to cover, I will include many of the verses during the message.  Opening Prayer Gracious and holy God, we come before You today not to be entertained, not to be affirmed by the world, but to be shaped by Your truth. You are the God who speaks in the wilderness, who calls Your servants when the times are dark, and who prepares hearts for the coming of Christ. As we open Your Word, strip away our need for approval, our fear of standing apart, and our temptation to measure faithfulness by success. Give us ears to hear, hearts willing to repent, and courage to live differently for Your glory. Prepare us, O Lord, as John prepared the way— that Christ may be clearly seen among us today. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lamb of God and Savior of the world. Amen. Introduction: When God's Best Doesn't Look Like Success We live in a culture that worships success. Success is measured in numbers—attendance, followers, influence, platforms, budgets, and visibility. We admire what is polished, efficient, impressive, and scalable. If something grows quickly and looks professional, we assume God must be blessing it. And if it struggles, suffers, or fails—well, we quietly wonder what went wrong. That mindset has seeped into the church. We speak of ministries being relevant, which often means marketable. We talk about impact in terms of reach. We measure faithfulness by results. And we subtly assume that if God is truly at work, it will look powerful, admired, and upwardly mobile. Then Luke introduces us to John the Baptizer. John doesn't fit any of our categories. He doesn't go where the people are; he goes where they aren't. He doesn't dress to attract; he dresses to repel. He doesn't soften his message; he sharpens it. He doesn't protect his influence; he surrenders it. And he doesn't end his life honored—he ends it executed. And yet Jesus will later say of him: “I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John.” (Luke 7:28, NLT) That's a shocking statement. Not Moses. / Not David. / Not Elijah. / Not Isaiah. The greatest mortal who ever lived—and ever died—was a wilderness prophet who never performed a miracle, never held office, never wrote a book, never founded a movement, and never lived to see the results of his ministry. Luke chapter 3 forces us to confront a hard truth: God defines greatness very differently from the way we do. Main...

“Boring isn't about making life smaller — it's about finally doing what I said I wanted to do.” —MiaMy highly passionate, creative, maybe ADHD, manifesting generator — or simply feeling scattered — sisters, I hope you find one piece in here that helps you.I've chosen “boring” as my word of the year.The need for boring energy has shown up through the health challenges of the past two years — a diagnosis that led to brain surgery, a series of illnesses, and recently falling and breaking my arm and sacrum.And surprisingly, saying boring has helped me finally follow through — actually doing the things I know will create the life and goals I want.As I lean into this word, I'm learning a lot. Here are some of the biggest lessons so far:1. Avoid Shiny ObjectsHave you ever gone to post something on social media and resurfaced 90 minutes later unsure what happened — and the post isn't even a thought anymore?Me. All the time.But I'm changing that. Boring means going in with intention, doing the thing I came to do, and leaving before the distractions take over.2. Notice the Negative Behaviors That Pretend to HelpI'm really good at rushing and multitasking — but I miss things, slip and fall, and lose focus.Sometimes what feels connecting or exciting is actually avoidance. Watching a show can feel cozy, but sometimes it replaces harder conversations or needed rest.Choosing boring brings me back to what I actually said I wanted.3. Follow My Own Needs (Not Outside Expectations)If you feel like you have to post constantly or send daily emails because “that's how business works,” you might be following someone else's priorities.Same with life. Sending kids to school sick because they're supposed to go? That's another outside rule that I choose to break. Working sick. I go inward before I decide what I'm going to do.Boring asks: what rhythm actually works for me?Choose alignment over expectation.4. Do One Thing Really WellAs a highly creative, multi-passionate person, this is hard — and it comes up constantly in coaching.But constraints are powerful. When you focus on one thing at a time and do it well, it's deeply satisfying — and often moves you forward faster.5. Simplify to Reduce Decision FatigueWhen you simplify your calendar and choose to do less, you remove constant decision-making.And when decisions decrease, energy increases — especially for the uncomfortable but meaningful work.6. Simplicity Is Hard — But TransformationalWe resist simplifying, even when we know it helps.But slowing down, simplifying, and focusing allow us to actually move forward instead of spinning in possibility.You might notice overlap in these lessons — and that's the point.Simplify.Slow down.Focus.Do the things that really matter.How could that serve you this year?7. What's Your Word?And if boring is not what you are here to play with. What are the big lessons you need to learn from your word of the year?DOABLE CHANGESIf any of this resonated, here are three ways to experiment with your own version of “boring” this week:SIMPLIFY YOUR CALENDARWhat's one thing you could remove next week? Where are the bottlenecks or overwhelm points? What could you decide in advance?PICK ONE THINGInstead of trying seven or eight things — even if you're great at multitasking — what happens if you choose ONE and do it really well?DOES THIS SERVE ME?Pause and ask: does this actually support what I want? Does watching a show create connection — or avoid...

I Will Restore You to Health and Heal Your WoundsJeremiah 30:17 “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast.”I was looking for a verse about restoration because one of my dear friends received a word from the Lord about it, and I wanted to share it with you. I know many of you who are listening are struggling. You have been struggling with your physical health for a long time, and you are wondering why the Lord hasn't healed you yet. You know He can, and you might even believe He will. Yet He hasn't yet, and you are wondering why and when.Some of you have been struggling financially for a long time, and you wonder when the struggle will end. You trust God to provide, yet you are really struggling right now. Your bills need to be paid, and there is no money. You are wondering when the provisions are going to show up and how much of yourself you are going to have to give away before reinforcements come. You might be struggling in your marriage or with parenting. It feels like the waves keep coming, and although you know the Lord is not going to let you drown in those waves, some days you come very close.I have been talking to a lot of people lately who are so tired of the struggle. They don't expect life to be easy, but they can't take all that is going on. They don't understand why God is not helping them. They don't understand why he is not taking this from them. They don't understand why he is not protecting them from some of this. They are tired and confused. They feel like they are running out of the strength and energy they need to keep fighting.I am in a Wednesday morning prayer group run by Rosa Rivas. She is also a wonderful friend of mine who agreed to read the Spanish Translation of the podcast so God's Word and His love can reach more people. Rosa started a WhatsApp chat for those in the prayer group. In this group, people place their prayer requests, support each other, and place any resources they have found that build their faith. Last week, many people in the group were struggling, so Rosa listened to the Lord and held a group call so we could all pray together. It was beautiful and definitely needed. I just want to pause to let you all know that you need people in your life like this. You need community, so when you are down, they can build you up!While Rosa was praying, she received this word, and I think it is not just for that group but for everyone who needs it. She heard the Lord say:“ I am restoring broken dreamsI am restoring broken promisesI am restoring broken plansI am restoring broken relationshipsI am restoring broken friendshipsI am restoring broken memoriesI am restoring broken heartsI am restoring the brokenness of all the things that have hurt you in your lifeI am restoring all the brokenness of your past and your childhoodI am restoring broken healthI am restoring everything just as I did with Job..”And then she said Declare this:In Jesus Name, I am restoredIn Jesus Name, all that has been lost and taken away from me has been restored, and I will receive double what was takenIn Jesus Name, my wounds have been healedIn Jesus Name, my joy is restoredIn Jesus Name, my strength is renewedIn Jesus Name, I am wholeIf you are tired. This message is for you. If you are struggling with broken dreams, broken promises, a broken heart, past trauma, current trauma, your health, your past, your childhood, your finances, whatever it is, this is for you. God is restoring you!I know it may not be in the way you want Him to. I know it may not be your timing. I know you feel you can't go on. I promise you, He will help you go on. I promise you, when you make it to the other side of this hill, the other side of this mountain, the other side of this ocean or cavern, it will be worth it. I am talking with many people who have been struggling for a long time. Most of them are really struggling to hold on to any hope that things will change.Is this you? Have you been down for the count so long that you can't even picture things getting better? Have you been so sick that you can't imagine a brighter future, one where you are healthy and can do all the things you want to do? I am not even talking about huge things. Some people I know have been so sick for so long that they can't even imagine a world where they can even go for a walk around the block without pain. They can't imagine a day that doesn't include all the medical appointments or treatments. Have you struggled with money so long that you can't imagine a time when you will be able to pay all your bills? If this is you, I want to assure you that there is nothing wrong. This doesn't mean you don't trust God or that you don't have enough faith. It means you are tired. You are worn down. You are weary. It is ok. I also want you to know you aren't alone. So many are suffering right now.This is why community is so important. Sometimes we need someone else to be praying for us when we just can't anymore. We need someone else to keep hoping for us when we are losing hope. Sometimes hope can be painful. It can hurt to keep hoping for something good, and yet we never see it. It is hard to hope for a husband when you don't have a boyfriend. It can be hard to hope for a healing when you just seem to be getting worse and worse. It can be hard to hope for provisions when your bills keep piling up.Hope take vulnerabitlity. Hope is believing in something that you can not see, and this is not easy when what you do see is overwhelming. It is not easy to have hope when you feel like the waves keep knocking you over. This is when it is important to have a community around you. Get involved in a Bible study or something else at your church. Or, if you can't get out of your house, find an online community. I am in two prayer groups, one at 6:30 on Wednesday morning and one at 10:00 on Thursday mornings. Both are on zoom and both are filled with powerful prayer warriors who would be happy to pray with you. I also have a Walk Boldly With Jesus Facebook group where wonderful people would be happy to pray for you.If you don't have a community and don't want to find one, at least find one person who can be your prayer partner. Someone who can hold you in prayer and who can hold onto that hope for you. Also, you can pray for them. Sometimes, it is easier to pray for others than for your own situation, because we are too close to it. Also, praying for someone else will give you a sense of purpose and, at least while you are praying, distract you from your troubles. I would like to challenge each of you to check out a Bible Study or a prayer group, or to find at least one person and ask them to be your prayer partner. We were not meant to do life on our own. God built us for community.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening to this episode. Lord, we thank you so much for Your Word above. We thank you for restoring us and healing us. We thank you that you love us so much that you meet us where we are, but then you don't let us stay there; you lift us up. Lord, we ask for that restoration and healing you promised above. We ask for the strength and perseverance to wait for it as we are growing weary, Lord. Help us to hang in there. Lord, I ask that you help each person listening find their community. Help them to find a prayer partner. Help them to not feel so alone. Bring the perfect person into their life, Lord! We love you, and we ask this in accordance with Your Will and in Jesus's Holy Name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. If you would like more info on either prayer group I mentioned earlier, please reach out. Also, if you are looking for a community, I invite you to join my mentoring community. We meet on Tuesday nights at 8 PM. There is a link for it in the show notes if you would like to join us. I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Remember, Jesus loves you, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in September 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “There are Jerichos in your life, in your family, in your ministry, in your neighborhood, in your world today, and in my church today. The walls will tumble. Obey me—Intercede for the graces that you will need. Use all the graces I have given you. My mother is at your disposal.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Many people think that faith is strictly a religious matter and concerns unprovable issues such as angels, heaven and, of course, belief in the creation story. They further feel that belief in evolution is more reasonable, since it is based upon hard and proven facts. But is this true?Faith is what we add to the evidences we have in order to provide our worldview. The less evidence there is, the more faith we need. Evolutionary scientists often admit that they, too, interpret the world in the context of their faith. Their faith is that everything and everyone got here by means of evolution.Prof. L. H. Matthews, a well‑recognized evolutionist, was honored by being asked to write a new introduction for the 1971 edition of Darwin's Origin of Species. In his introduction—speaking of evolution—he admitted, "Most biologists accept it as though it were a proven fact, . . . although this conviction rests upon circumstantial evidence, it forms a satisfactory faith on which to base our interpretation of nature."You see, this is nothing more than what Bible‑believing Christians do when they understand the world in the context of their faith. As Christians, we should not be intimidated into thinking that the faith of the evolutionist is somehow superior to ours for understanding the world!Hebrews 11:3"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”Prayer: Lord, the devil is not called the "Accuser" for nothing. He even tries to make the faith You have given me into a sin! Rather than being intimidated because I believe Your Word, I ask that You would give me a bold faith which does not shrink from speaking Your truth in love. Amen.Image: Human evolution gallery at Natural History Museum, Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Welcome to Day 2794 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2794 – The Day the Pupil Stumped the Professors – Luke 2:21-38 Putnam Church Message – 01/04/2026 Luke's Account of the Good News - “The Day the Pupil Stumped the Professors.”    Last week was the final Sunday of 2025, and we continued our year-long study of Luke's Narrative of the Good News in a message titled: “A Sacrifice, A Savior, a Sword.” Today, in the first week of 2026, we will explore the third and final story of Jesus's childhood. We will explore “The Day the Pupil Stumped the Professors.”  Our Core verses for this week are Luke 2:39-52, found on page 1592 of your Pew Bibles.  39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. The Boy Jesus at the Temple 41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?”[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Opening Prayer Gracious Father, As we step into a new year, we come again to Your Word—not simply to gain information, but to be shaped by truth. Open our eyes to see Jesus clearly. Open our hearts to receive what You are forming within us. And may Your Spirit teach us, just as He once taught in the temple courts long ago. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen. Introduction — The Childhood Stories We Never Get If you are curious about the childhoods of the significant figures of Scripture, you would think that you would find detailed accounts—stories of early faith, formative moments, maybe even mistakes that shaped future obedience. But what you would find in...

Daily Dose of Hope February 10, 2026   Scripture:  I Corinthians 13   Prayer:  Today, let's pray from Scripture.  Dear God,  Your Word says that, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  This is certainly who you are, Lord.  Help us live this kind of love out in ways that make a difference in the lives of those around us.  More of you, less of me.  We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.    Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are journeying through Paul's pastoral letters.  Currently, we are in I Corinthians.   Today's passage is I Corinthians 13.  This is going to be a pretty familiar chapter for many of you.  It's often called the "love" chapter and it is read at weddings and funerals.  It's absolutely beautiful prose but we often get Paul's intention wrong when we read it.   Remember, the Corinthian church was a total mess. They were arrogant, there were strong divisions between rich and poor, there were petty arguments and serious factions, and as we learned yesterday, they were holding up certain spiritual gifts as better than others.  Let's just say it wasn't a picture of Christ's love and grace.   It's in the middle of all of this that Paul tells them what it means to really love one another. This isn't romantic love (eros), brotherly love (philia), but rather agape love. What is agape love? It's the love that God demonstrated to us and calls us to demonstrate to others. It is unconditional, sacrificial love. There is no selfishness in agape but only a concern for the what is best for the other. Paul is outlining this love to the Corinthian church to give them a word picture of what it could look like. Agape is not a feeling or emotion but rather a choice. We make a choice to love others this way and it requires commitment, faithfulness, and sacrifice without requiring anything in return.   Paul, at the end of his discussion about spiritual gifts, wants to make a very important point.  Yes, you can have a gift of prophecy or a gift of tongues, but if you are using it without love, then it is totally useless.  And, you have missed the point.  These gifts were gifts of grace from the Holy Spirit to uplift and equip the body of Christ.  The body of Jesus on earth should be a picture of his love.  If it isn't, we have a really big problem.  Jesus is love and we are called to be as well.    One of my seminary professors, when teaching on agape love, encouraged all of us to do what he called the Wal-mart exercise (I've spoken of this in previous sermons). Really, you can go to any place the public gathers. It could be the mall, Target, or Publix. He suggested sitting down on a public bench and just watching people go by for five minutes. For every single person you see, say "Jesus died for this person. He/she is infinitely loved by God. I'm called to love this person as well." For me, this is challenging. I have to be very intentional about not falling into the trap of judging the person because of how they look but truly looking at them, trying to see them as God sees them, and then focusing on how God wants me to love them unconditionally too.   This has changed me. God's agape love for me is real. My love for others should be too. What would it look like if all of us who are part of New Hope started to "agape" each other? How would this change us as people? How would this change our relationships? How would this change us as a body of believers and our witness to the world?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Farming and gardening are said by evolutionists to be very advanced activities. They say that primitive humans did not do these things, and that gardening developed only recently in human history. But if there is a Creator, we would expect that He would have taught many kinds of creatures to care for plants or even trees.Guess what? There are even ants who garden. There is a particular type of fierce ant that cares for the South American bull's horn acacia tree. While the ants don't need the tree for their survival, they do eat portions of it. But they never eat enough to cause damage to the tree. In fact, the ants protect their tree—they snip off vines or other growth that comes too close to the tree, maintaining plenty of growing room for their tree. The ants are aggressive enough to keep other insects or even birds or larger animals away from their tree.In studying this amazing relationship, researchers have removed the ants from some of these trees. Within two to fifteen months, the tree is dead. Without the ants' care, animals eat off all the leaves and surrounding plants overrun it.Who taught these ants to be gardeners? How could two so very different kinds of life develop such a close relationship? This results in a great mystery for evolution. Without ants, you couldn't evolve the tree, and without the tree, the ants couldn't learn to care for it. You can't get around it. Both were created fully formed, and the Creator taught the ants how to care for the tree.Genesis 2:15"Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it."Prayer: Father; I see for myself that Your Word is true as I look around the world that You have made. I ask that You would show me what You want me to do as Your creation in bearing witness to the truth of the forgiveness of sins. which is ours through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.Image: Pseudomyrmex ferruginea (acacia ants) on acacia cornigera, Ryan Somma, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.  To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Getting closer to God often requires more surrender than we expect. In this episode, we talk about the quiet cost of spiritual growth... The things God gently asks us to let go of so we can mature, be refined, and walk more closely with Him.This conversation explores why growth with God isn't always comfortable, how consecration and sanctification shape our faith, and what it means to choose obedience even when it feels costly. If you've been sensing a call to deeper intimacy with God, this episode will help you discern what might be standing in the way.Whether you're navigating a season of conviction, spiritual pruning, or simply feeling the weight of growth, this episode is an invitation to trust that God's refining process is always purposeful.PRAYER OF SALVATION“HEAVENLY FATHER, I come to you in the name of JESUS. I acknowledge to YOU that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; and I recognize that I need YOUR forgiveness.I believe that YOU are the only begotten SON OF GOD, and that YOU shed YOUR PRECIOUS BLOOD on the cross of Calvary and died for my sins, were resurrected on the third day, and are seated at the right hand of GOD. I repent of my sins, and I turn to YOU.YOU said in YOUR Word that if we confess with our mouth, and believe in our hearts that GOD raised JESUS from the dead, we shall be saved.I ask YOU FATHER to forgive me of all my sins, and ask You to fill me with The HOLY SPIRIT. This very moment I accept JESUS CHRIST as my own personal LORD and SAVIOR and according to YOUR Word, right now I am saved. LORD have full control of my life and help me to serve YOU and glorify YOUR HOLY NAME and praise YOU forever. Amen.”~ welcome, homeTAGSChristian podcast, spiritual growth, getting closer to God, consecration, sanctification, surrender to God, Christian faith, obedience to God, spiritual maturity, letting go for God, Christian encouragement, walking with God, faith refinement

If you wake up when it's still dark, you know how overwhelming it can be to turn on the light. Your eyes may even hurt at first. If you've had this experience, you can understand one of the problems that had to be solved when radar was developed.Basically, radar is made up of two parts. The transmitter sends out a powerful beam of radar waves. But the other part of the radar system is a very sensitive receiver that cannot stand the powerful outgoing signal. One of the major technical problems to be overcome in developing modern radar involved sending out this powerful signal without overwhelming the sensitive receiver. What scientists finally developed was a fast switch that turns the sensitive receiver off every time a radar pulse is sent out.Bats, who have their own sonic radar, had this problem solved from the beginning. They have muscles in their ears that are the receivers for the echoes. These muscles close the ears for split seconds when the bats are sending out their high pitched signals.Without this feature, the bat's navigational system would be useless. How could a bat figure out that it needed this ability and then decide to grow the muscles and related tissue to do the job? When one decides to say that creatures, instead of the Creator, have made themselves, one can end up with some very silly conclusions!Matthew 6:27-29"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."Prayer: Dear Father; You have made all things well and with the good of the creation in mind. Help me to remember this when I tend to think of Your Word as separated from the realities of everyday life, thereby missing out on so many of the blessings You have prepared for me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.REF.: Henson, O.W. Journal of Physiology.  To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Mama, God knows you don't want to neglect His Word. We can ask Him to help us find the time to take in even bite-sized portions of the Bible. Oh God, give us hearts that approach Your Word with childlike enthusiasm! Join us for this refreshing time of encouragement today! "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word" Psalm 119:15-16✨ Important Announcement: Dear Mama, in 2026, the Lord has called us to step away from social media so we can go deeper with you in the Radiant Mom Sisterhood. Join HERE for just $4.99 a month or $50 a year, and walk this next season of motherhood with us! **And... we are offering the Radiant Mom Sisterhood for FREE in the month of January to welcome our new mamas! Use code JAN2026 For more information about our ministry, visit our website http://helpclubformoms.comCheck out our YouVersion plans HERE!Our prayer team prays for you every day! Send us your prayer requests at admin@helpclubformoms.com.

Deception rarely shows up looking dangerous. More often, it comes quietly—through questions, subtle doubts, and half-truths that feel reasonable in the moment. This devotional takes us back to Genesis 3, where the serpent doesn’t begin with a direct command to sin. He begins with a question that plants uncertainty: Did God really say…? That’s the first crack—inviting Eve to doubt God’s Word and, ultimately, God’s authority. As the conversation unfolds, we see how easily temptation can pull us closer rather than push us away. Instead of fleeing, Eve engages. Instead of ending the conversation, she stays in it. And in that exchange, God’s command becomes blurred. The devotional notes that Eve’s response adds something God didn’t say—introducing confusion about what’s true. That confusion becomes an opening for the enemy to exploit truth with a twist: a half-truth presented as wisdom. The result is devastating—deception leads to disobedience, and disobedience brings consequences that ripple outward. But the devotional doesn’t leave us in despair. It reminds us that we are just as vulnerable to the same pattern: it’s okay to look… it won’t hurt to touch… and eventually, we’re further than we ever intended to go. That’s why the call is not self-confidence, but spiritual vigilance—being rooted in God’s Word so we can recognize lies quickly and respond with truth. Scripture becomes our anchor, and the Holy Spirit helps us discern what’s off before it becomes destructive. And even when we do fall, God’s mercy is still present. The devotional points to the hope woven into Genesis: God makes a way for His people, ultimately through the Savior He promised. Our enemy desires destruction, but Jesus offers life—full, abundant, and freeing. The invitation today is to cling to Christ, soak in Scripture, and ask God for discernment that stops deception at the start. Main Takeaways Deception often begins with subtle doubt: “Did God really say…?” Temptation pulls us closer step by step—engagement becomes compromise. Knowing God’s Word clearly helps us recognize half-truths and shut down lies. We are all vulnerable to deception, so vigilance and humility matter. Even when we fall, God’s forgiveness and salvation through Christ remain our hope. Today’s Bible Verse “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” - Genesis 3:1 NIV Your Daily Prayer Here is a brief excerpt from today’s prayer: “Help me to be soaked in Your Word, to recall Your Truth so that I can quickly spot the lie… and shut it down with the Truth of Your Word.” You can listen to the full prayer or read the devotional at the links below. Looking for more daily encouragement and faith-filled content? LifeAudio – Find daily devotionals, Christian podcasts, and biblical encouragement at LifeAudio.com Crosswalk – Explore prayer, faith, and Christian living resources at Crosswalk.com This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.orgTrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. https://trinitycredit.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The woodpecker's tongue can stretch from three to five times its normal length in order to fish bugs out of trees. You would think that his tongue would have to be rooted in his tail to do that neat trick! This beautiful creation in which we live is not only filled with testimonies to the wisdom of God. It is also filled with special designs that deny the possibility that life in all its complexity developed entirely by chance.Consider the woodpecker. Incredibly, the woodpecker's tongue is rooted in his right nostril. Exiting the back of the nostril, his tongue spits into two parts, wrapping around his head between his skull and the skin, passing on either side of the neck bones, and then coming up through his lower jaw or beak. This gives the woodpecker a long enough tongue to stretch it out far enough to do an effective job of pest control on bug-infested trees!Now, how could this happen by blind evolutionary chance? Even evolutionists admit that it's silly to suggest that the woodpecker's tongue gradually got longer over thousands of year and began to grow under his skin. As one evolutionary scientist said about the woodpecker's tongue, "There are certain anatomical features which just cannot be explained by gradual mutations over millions of years. Just between you and me, I have to get God into the act too sometimes."Why wait to call on God as a last resort? Let's begin with our wonderful Creator!Deuteronomy 4:28"'And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hand, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.'"Prayer: Dear heavenly Father; through the instruction of Your Word and the guidance of Your Spirit, help me to be different from those around me who think that the creation itself made them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.REF.: Sunderland, Luther D. Miraculous design features in woodpecker. Bible Science Newsletter. Image: Woodpecker on tree, Envato. + Dendrocopos major skull, Jimfbleak, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia Commons. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1232/29?v=20251111

Read OnlineWith many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private. Mark 4:33–34Today's Gospel begins with two parables about the Kingdom of God, using the familiar image of seeds. Both of these parables point to the Kingdom of God as something that grows mysteriously and abundantly, often beyond human understanding or control.The first parable points to the mysterious growth of the seed that the sower scatters on his fields: “and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how” (Mark 4:27). This emphasizes the hidden and gradual work of God's grace. Like the seed that grows in the soil without the sower fully comprehending how, the Kingdom of God grows quietly and powerfully, primarily through divine initiative.The second parable is about the mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, which, when planted, “springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade” (Mark 4:32). This parable reveals the transformative power of the Kingdom, which begins from the humblest beginnings but grows into something expansive and life-giving. God often works through what appears insignificant to accomplish great things.Though these parables are important and provide us with spiritual nourishment through prayerful reflection, what the Gospel writer says next, as is quoted above, is just as important. Parables were meant to draw the listener into divine mysteries. We have to ponder the message prayerfully and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God's Word to us. Because Jesus spoke only in parables to the crowds, we must see ourselves among their number. However, we must also work to be counted among Jesus' own disciples: “to his own disciples he explained everything in private.”God's Word is alive. The Scriptures are not only like an ancient philosophy book that requires study and interpretation, which certainly play a proper role in understanding the Word of God. However, because God's Word is a Living Word, it is more than an intellectual exercise. When we read it or hear it proclaimed, God is present. It is God Himself Who speaks to minds and hearts that are open and attentive. When we approach God's Word in this way, God will “explain everything in private.”“Private,” in this case, means “personal.” Engaging God's Word draws us into a personal conversation with Him. It enables God to speak to us directly, revealing Himself in His Word, filling us with the spiritual gifts of Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, and Counsel. These Gifts of the Spirit are essential to our spiritual growth and are the primary way to grow in faith, hope, and charity.Do you see the Word of God as the Living Word, inviting you into a personal dialogue with God? Consider the depth of the invitation extended to you in this Gospel passage. Jesus desires to speak to you “in private,” unveiling the mysteries of His Kingdom in a way that is deeply personal and uniquely suited to your personal journey.Reflect today on how you approach the Word of God in your daily life. Take time to prayerfully ponder the parables and their meaning in your life. Consider setting aside a specific moment each day to read and meditate on a short passage from Scripture. Allow God to sow the seed of His Word in your heart and, like the farmer, marvel in wonder and awe as the Kingdom takes root and grows in your life. Trust that even the smallest acts of faith, like the mustard seed, can grow into something extraordinary when authentic and nurtured by God's grace. Open your heart to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, asking for Wisdom to discern God's voice, Knowledge to understand His will, Understanding to grasp the depths of His truth, and Counsel to act upon His Word. My Lord and intimate God, You desire to speak to me day and night, revealing the mysteries of Your Kingdom and communicating to me Your Living Word. Open my mind and heart to all You wish to reveal, so that, through Your Word, Your Kingdom may take root in my heart and bear abundant fruit. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Read Online“And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. Mark 4:8–10The Parable of the Sower is one of Jesus' foundational teachings. When preaching from a boat to a large crowd, Jesus used parables to reveal the mystery of the Kingdom of God. Afterward, His disciples questioned why He spoke in veiled language rather than directly. Jesus responded, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that ‘they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven'” (Mark 4:11–12).At first, this response might seem perplexing. Why would Jesus teach in a way that some would not understand, potentially hardening their hearts further? To understand this, we turn to the Prophet Isaiah, whom Jesus quoted (cf. Isaiah 6:8–13). God commissioned Isaiah to preach to a people who were stubborn and unrepentant, saying they would “look and see but not perceive” and “hear and listen but not understand.” Despite Isaiah's zeal, God permitted their hardness of heart so they could face the consequences of their refusal to repent. This prophetic action sheds light on Jesus' use of parables.God “wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). However, for those who refuse His Word, God sometimes permits their obstinacy as an act of mercy. Parables serve a dual purpose. For those open, they invite reflection and reveal deeper truths that lead to greater faith. For those closed, parables expose their resistance, deepening their awareness of spiritual emptiness. This process, though painful, is a merciful act, meant to confront individuals with the consequences of their sin and lead them to repentance.The Parable of the Sower, in particular, invites us to examine the “soil” of our own hearts. God, in His generosity, spreads the seed of His Word widely, offering grace and Truth to everyone. What kind of soil are you? Are you like the path, where the Word is quickly devoured by distractions, pride, or indifference, leaving no room for growth? Are you like the rocky ground, receiving the Word with enthusiasm but lacking the roots to endure trials and tribulations? Or are you like the thorny ground, where worldly anxieties, the lure of riches, and divided priorities choke the Word before it can bear fruit?Ideally, we are none of the above. Jesus calls us to cultivate rich soil—a heart receptive to His Word, where His grace takes root and bears abundant fruit. Only when we are receptive to grace and nurture the truths we have received through fidelity can we see God's Word flourish in our lives.This parable also teaches us how to respond to those who appear closed and obstinate. It is tempting to grow discouraged or angry and give up. But that is not what Jesus did, nor is it what Isaiah did. Isaiah fulfilled his mission to preach, even to those who rejected him. Similarly, Jesus continued to preach, using parables to reach all people, knowing that rejection would come. Reflect today on the soil of your heart and the hearts of those whom you are called to evangelize. Through prayer, nourish the Word of God within you so it can bear fruit. Persevere in sharing God's Word with others. When Isaiah asked how long he should continue preaching, God responded, “Until the cities are desolate, without inhabitants, Houses, without people, and the land is a desolate waste.” In other words, do not stop, even in the face of rejection. Even when all hope seems gone. Sow the seed of God's Word faithfully, trusting that even the hardened soil of obstinate hearts can one day bear good fruit. My relentless Lord, You sow Your Word with superabundant generosity, showering Your Truth upon all in the hope of their repentance. Grant that I may be among those who listen attentively, cherish Your Word, and nourish it within my heart. As my faith takes root and grows, use me as an instrument of Your grace to reach out to others, tirelessly sowing Your Truth in those You have entrusted to me. Strengthen me to persevere in this mission until the end of my days on earth. Jesus, I trust in You.  Image: Parable of the Sower by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.