How many movies have you watched that portray love as a warm and fuzzy emotion? We’ve probably all seen those sappy movies that depict how a couple “fell in love” after knowing each other for a few days, or even a few minutes. This is often what the world thinks of when they hear the word “love,” but the Bible speaks of a different type of love. 

First John 4:7-8 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” In this verse, John is writing to believers. He is exhorting them to love one another. The love spoken of in this passage is agapē, a self-giving love that is not selfish, but sacrificial. God demonstrated this kind of love by giving His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus demonstrated this type of love by willingly sacrificing His life. 

You see, love is not based on feelings like so many in our world are accustomed to believing. True love, like the kind spoken of in the Bible, is unselfish and giving. It puts others first. 

How can we demonstrate this type of love? First, it’s important to recognize that we can’t give what we don’t have. Our ability to love in the way the Bible speaks comes from having a relationship with God, the source of love. As believers and recipients of Christ’s love, we are called to allow His love to transform us and to willingly extend that love to others. 

Lord, I thank you that You are LOVE. That is the very essence of who You are. As a recipient of Your love, help me extend Your love to others. Help me love the body of believers as You have called me to do. 

Some of our key verses today are from John 15. Want to dive deeper? Watch Debbie’s full teaching on John 15 by clicking HERE.

“I need this. I need that.” Sometimes our human nature screams for what we want. We want a heavenly genie to grant our desires. We may be frustrated because God isn’t dropping from heaven what we envision to be a perfect life. 

What do we do when Jehovah Jireh, “The LORD will Provide,” doesn’t appear to provide exactly as we want? First, it’s important that we understand the context of Genesis 22:13 when God’s name, “The LORD Will Provide,” is introduced. The scene was when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as a test of his obedience. Abraham walked in faith, assuring Isaac that God would provide a sacrifice. The Hebrew name “Jehovah Jireh” means “the LORD will see to it.” In other words, Abraham believed that God would provide a substitute sacrifice in place of Isaac. It foreshadowed God seeing to our salvation by providing Jesus as a sacrifice for us. 

But it’s important to realize that God has seen to even more. He has provided us with abundant life by giving the Holy Spirit as a substitute for our fallen spirit. God has seen to our daily questions about how to do life by providing Biblical instruction as a substitute to cultural trends on marriage, sex, money, parenting, envy, anger, and more. Yes, God has seen to our eternal and daily needs by providing Jesus, the Bible, and Holy Spirit. The question isn’t if there is a heavenly God who hears and answers our prayers. Rather, it is whether we are walking in faith according to God’s instructions, as Abraham did. If not, begin today. 

Heavenly Father, I praise You, Jehovah Jireh, the LORD WHO PROVIDES. Help me not foolishly ignore the Spirit’s presence and Biblical truth but rather walk by both. 

Want to learn more about God’s provision? Read this related blog post. 

Following the Israelites exodus from Egypt, Moses recounted their conquests and urged the people to obey God’s Law. In his discourse, he spoke the poignant words in Deuteronomy 4:7. “For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him?”

Have you ever thought about his words in relation to our nation? The LORD our God is our God and whenever we call on Him, He’s near?

You may think that God has not heard our prayers for our nation. But, we have no idea the amount of evil that might have occurred had God not been answering our prayers.

Therefore, keep praying. Keep calling on God to raise godly leaders and to protect all who are standing for truth. What we see on earth is a reflection of the unseen spiritual warfare being played out in the heavenlies, so pray like never before, assured there is power in your prayers. And, remember to have a grateful heart for daily victories. 

Is there any good in your life? Is a family member standing strong for their beliefs rather than compromising them? Are you mindfully thanking God? If not, begin. It is important that our thanks reach God’s ears.

LORD OUR GOD, I shudder to think what our nation and world would be like if You removed Your restraining hand. Thank You for being near and hearing my prayers. I give You praise and glory. 

Would you like to grow your prayer life? Click HERE to explore our prayer resources, and be sure to check out our free Prayer Cards by clicking HERE.

Does the word “work” scare you in relation to serving the Lord? For instance, when a minister announces the need for more workers for Vacation Bible School or for volunteers to go on a mission trip, do you sink in your pew and hope your eyes don’t meet his? Do you shrink back from the idea of talking about Christ openly with friends and co-workers? If so, perhaps it’s because we haven’t yet gotten our minds around the incredible privilege and invitation Jesus invites us to. 

In Matthew 9:37-38 when Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the Harvest to send out workers into His harvest,” He wasn’t calling us to busy work. Rather, Jesus looked at the fields of people who were stressed and discouraged and had compassion for them. He invites us to share the good news that His Heavenly Father loves them, that sins can be forgiven, and we can live by Christ’s divine nature rather than by our flawed human nature. We have the hope of heaven and eternal life. What greater, more meaningful “work” could we be employed doing than joining Jesus’ team? 

If you want to be a part of something bigger than the daily grind of the earth–something heavenly and eternal, then pray and ask God to use you. Be open and sensitive when the Spirit prompts you to share Christ with others. Keep your heart open to ways God wants to use you. 

LORD OF THE HARVEST, thank You for coming to earth and telling me the way to eternal salvation. Use me to share the good news with others so they can have a relationship with you like I do. 

Want to learn more about living by Christ’s divine nature? Get Debbie’s Bible study on 2 Peter, Living by the Divine Nature Instead of Our Fallen Nature, HERE. You can also access the free accompanying videos and podcasts HERE.

Could you use a shot of hope that God sees and hears you? If so, consider James 5:4 where God is referred to as Lord of Sabaoth. 

“Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.”

In this passage, Sabaoth means host or hosts, especially in relation to warfare or service. It’s a reference to Jehovah Sabaoth’s reign over the host of angels, the air, nations, and demons. Praise God, He is in charge of all of that. But now take it down to a worker in a field. To think that the Lord of Sabaoth heard the cries of workers who were unfairly treated by their bosses is amazing. 

Are you being unjustly treated? Does it seem like no one notices what you are doing or hears your pleas for help? Rest assured that the Lord of Sabaoth notices you and hears you. Your hope is well placed in Him. We may seldom understand God’s timing, but we can always have confidence that the God who reigns over the host of angels, the air, demons, and nations hears our prayers.

LORD OF SABAOTH, I worship You and am humbled that You see me and hear my prayers. I place my hope in You knowing You will answer my prayers in Your perfect timing according to Your will. 

Do you commute to work and want to listen to some encouraging teachings by Debbie while you drive? Let her podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Podbean help you set your mind on Christ before you start your day!

Who do you call on when you’re anxious or scared and it seems there is no one who can help you? Who do you call on when you’re powerless to change a situation? Those times have a way of humbling us. Whereas we may have been too busy to pray, we suddenly find we’re continually praying. We’re crying out to God. Such was the case with King Hezekiah when Sennacherib, King of Assyria, threatened to overtake Jerusalem. Hezekiah prayed and prayed hard. 

“O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to reproach the living God. … Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, LORD, are God” (Isaiah 37:16-17, 20).

You can hear the plea in Hezekiah’s heart. He didn’t want to be defeated. He didn’t want Jerusalem to be overtaken by an enemy. But there is more to his prayer. There is a higher reason to pray for God to deliver you, a loved one, or our nation – so people will know that the Lord is God of all the kingdoms of the earth. When we pray, do we pray only for ourselves? Or, are we praying so God is glorified in and through us and our struggle or situation? 

LORD OF HOSTS who is enthroned above the cherubim, I worship You and recognize You as God alone over all the kingdoms of the earth. Your will be done in my heart and life so You are glorified. 

Need prayer? Just like Hezekiah cried out to the Lord when he was powerless to change his situation, we too are invited to call on the Lord of Hosts. If you’re facing a battle, feeling anxious, or need someone to stand with you in prayer, we would be honored to pray for you. Submit your prayer request HERE.

Throughout history, earthly rulers and leaders have ascended to positions of power, only for their authority to eventually be removed through the succession of another leader or by death. However, the Lord has always reigned over all the earth, and His reign can never be undone or overthrown. 

Joshua 3:13 confirms God’s unmatched position of authority: “It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth…” 

Psalm 24:1 also declares God’s supremacy: “The earth is the LORD’s and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.”

I often hear people say that it doesn’t matter who you worship, as long as you worship someone or something. But it matters to the Lord of all the earth. Why would the Lord of all the earth want His creation to bow to and follow another god? He doesn’t! He’s the One we’re to bow before, listen to, and follow—Him alone. Unlike earthly rulers, God is perfectly loving and just. We can trust His authority and leadership in our lives. 

Heavenly Father, I praise You, LORD OF ALL THE EARTH! Your majesty and power are glorious. You reign in perfect righteousness. 

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As we have studied the names of God, perhaps you’ve noticed that there are times when God announces, “This is who I am. This is My name.” Such is the case in Isaiah 42:8 when God announced, “I am the LORD, that is My name.”

He continues in the same breath, explaining what it means that His name is LORD. He states He will not give His glory to another. What does He mean? 

He means we are to praise Him and Him alone.

His announcement should cause us to think about our life and if we are giving praise to anything or anyone besides Him. In other words, are we making anything or anyone besides God the priority of our life? If we are, then we must bow before the LORD, repent, and profess Him as LORD. We must realign our life so it is a praise to Him. 

Consider: Is my life a praise to the LORD?

Heavenly Father, Lord God Almighty, You alone are LORD. Forgive me for putting anything or anyone before You. I bow in humble reverence and praise before You. Make my life a praise to You.

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Have you ever felt “tied up” spiritually, physically, or emotionally? Like you couldn’t get free and to a place in your life you desired? Or, are you concerned for a loved one who is in physical, emotional, or spiritual bondage? If so, call on the name of the Lord on the basis of Psalm 116:16 which says, “O Lord, surely I am Your servant, …You have loosed my bonds.”

This verse (and the whole chapter) reminds us that when we call on the name of the Lord, He can do what no one else can do. He has already loosed us from the bonds of death and given us eternal freedom. So why wouldn’t the Lord desire for us to be free from anything that binds us on earth? “Unbind him and let him go,” Jesus directed those who watched Him raise Lazarus from the dead. 

If there is an area where you’re seeking freedom in your life so you can run the race God has set before you (Ephesians 2:10), then know the Lord is on your side and wants to help you. Read Psalm 116. Notice how many times the psalmist tells us what he did in order to be free. 

Will you call on the name of the Lord, knowing that His name indicates His full power and provision for you? 

Lord, You are the great and mighty God who LOOSENS BONDS. I praise You for the bonds of death from which You’ve set me free. I call on You now to loosen emotional, spiritual, or physical bonds that hinder me from running the race You’ve set before me. I call on You trusting in Your all powerful name. 

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“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades’” (Revelation 1:18).

Death seems final, doesn’t it? I wept at my mother’s graveside even though we had known her death was near. Friends and families’ words, “You’ll see her again,” were comforting. But the reality was the casket. The shovel. The dirt.

During our lifetime, we’ll lose someone to death. Jesus’ disciple, John, saw Jesus die. The scourging. The nails. The cross. The sword in His side. The blood and water. The tomb. But then, John saw Him again! Can you imagine what it must have been like for John to not only see the resurrected Christ, but to see the glorified Christ in heaven?

John recorded his experience in Revelation 1. Jesus is glowing! His eyes are brilliant. His appearance is glorious. His voice tumultuous. Jesus had a message for John to take to earth—that He has the keys of death. In other words, you’re not staying in a casket or urn. The one who made Adam out of dirt is regenerating you to your glorified body for heaven.

In light of your eternal destiny, what is your response? Do you live in light of eternity? Do you share the good news with others?  Do you put God’s eternal will before your temporal desires? 

LIVING ONE, glorious One, even though I can’t see You, I believe in You. Help me love You more each day so my life shows forth Your glory; drawing others to You.

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