Would you rather God contend—plead a cause—for you or would you rather Him contend against you? If you answered that you would rather God contend “for you,” then you have reason to jump up and down for joy. Why? 

Isaiah 51:22 states, “Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your God who contends for His people, ‘Behold, I have taken out of your hand the cup of reeling, the chalice of My anger; You will never drink it again.’” 

Did you catch Isaiah’s words? “Your God who contends for His people.” Yes, God contends for, not against us. 

A “hallelujah” with hands raised in praise is appropriate because as God has dealt with Israel, so He deals with those who place their faith in Christ. 

Lord, I thank You that You are a God who CONTENDS FOR—not against—Your people. I praise You with hands raised high. 

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Heavenly Father. Lord. Savior. You’re familiar with those descriptions of God. Shepherd. Love. Peace. The list goes on. But what about Consuming Fire? Are you familiar with Deuteronomy 4:24 that warns, “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God”? 

Where in the Bible do we find the Lord showing forth that aspect of His nature? In Genesis 18:20, the Lord said to Abraham regarding Sodom and Gomorrah, “their sin is exceeding grave.” Genesis 19:24 records that after rescuing Lot and his family out of the cities, He “rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire out of heaven.”

The New Testament reinforces the holy, consuming fire of God’s nature. Hebrews 12:29 states, “our God is a consuming fire.” Revelation 20:9 speaks of a future day when fire will again come down from heaven and devour those who fight against Him and His saints. “And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them.” 

Yes, our God is a consuming fire before whom sin cannot remain. 

Lord God, CONSUMING FIRE, burning in righteousness and purity, I worship and praise You. 

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When Simeon, anointed by the Holy Spirit, saw the infant Jesus at Christ's presentation in the temple, he knew He was seeing the long awaited Messiah. Jesus is the Consolation of Israel, but He is also the Consolation for any person who turns to Him for salvation.
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Could you use some compassion? Does it seem like everything is going wrong? Are you trying your best but it never seems to be enough? Are you on a treadmill of bad habits that you’re trying to break but haven’t been successful? Do you feel like a failure? If you’ve ever felt one of those ways, then you know how our soul longs for compassion when we’re going through those times. 

Exodus 34:6 is an incredible word from God if you could use some compassion. “Then the LORD passed by in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.’” 

Those are wonderful words to hear any time, but do you know when God expressed His compassion to Moses? It was on Moses’ second trek up Mount Sinai for a “redo” of the Ten Commandments. Why a redo? Because when Moses saw the Israelites worshiping the golden calf he angrily shattered them. Yes, God called Moses back up the mountain and showed him compassion. Our Heavenly Father is compassionate. Go to Him. Call on Him. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me, forgiving me, and being COMPASSIONATE toward me. Help me gratefully receive Your compassion and then extend it to others. 

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Are you familiar with the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20:1-17? How many of them do you know by heart? Before reading the following list, jot down from memory as many as you can. 

“You shall have no other gods before Me.” 

“You shall not make for yourself an idol…” 

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” 

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” 

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.” 

“You shall not murder.” 

“You shall not commit adultery.” 

“You shall not steal.” 

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” 

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife …or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 

How many of the ten did you recall? Which do you need to ask God to help you better remember and keep? The Lord is the Commander of our lives. Are we following His commands? 

Lord, You are a holy COMMANDER. Forgive me when I ignore Your commands. Help me be more faithful to live in a way that honors You.

Have you ever struggled to find the right words to pray? In those times, it can help to pray God’s Word. Click HERE to discover prayers for discernment, discouragement, knowing God’s way, and forgiveness.

Did you play the game, Hide and Seek, when you were a child? The familiar, “Ready or not, here I come” warns the person who is hiding to be ready. 

Did you know that the Lord gives us a, “Ready or not, here I come” that is not child’s play? It is a serious warning that Jesus is coming and we need to be ready. 

Revelation 1:5-7 records the warning. “Behold, He is COMING with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.” 

Jesus is coming…again. The word, “amen” in verse 7 means there’s no discussing it. It’s happening. We will either be ready for Christ’s appearing because we’ve repented of our sins or Jesus will come and find us in our sin. 

If you’re not ready for Christ’s coming, respond to His gift of salvation today (John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, and Romans 10:8-11). Repent of your sins. Confess Jesus as Lord. Receive His gift of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. Today is your opportunity. Prepare to meet Jesus. Ready or not, He’s coming. 

Lord Jesus, COMING KING, as You came to earth once, You are coming again. Thank You for cleansing me of my sin so I am ready to meet You. Stir the hearts of the unsaved to realize that ready or not, You are coming.

Have you or are you currently experiencing heartbreak? Perhaps your loved one is deceased, cheated on you, or you’ve experienced a different type of tragedy. Maybe you’ve experienced deep loneliness, depression, or you’re feeling crushed in spirit.

Our Heavenly Father knows there are times in our life like that, which is precisely why He wants us to know that we are not alone and He is close. As Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” 

Yes, even when there is no one in our life who is close or who can comfort us when we are broken hearted or crushed in spirit, our Lord is close and can save us. 

Our Heavenly Father has sent a loud and clear message that far outweighs any human expression. “I love you,” our Heavenly Father repeatedly says to us, with Jesus echoing His love and expressing it by sacrificing His life for us. Receive the Lord’s love and comfort today. 

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and being CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED.

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Jesus asked His disciples who others said He was. Then He asked the more important question, “But who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:16 records Simon Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

Jesus’ question to the disciples is a question every one of us must answer. Have we replied to Jesus as Simon Peter did? 

Jesus affirmed Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). 

Did we catch that? Jesus did more than affirm that Peter answered correctly. Jesus said Peter was blessed. Not that he would one day be blessed, but that he was already blessed. Peter’s understanding that Jesus was more than a good man, He was God’s Son who had come to bring salvation, brought the blessing of his sins being forgiven. 

So too, you are blessed if you have confessed Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are blessed because your sins are forgiven. You are blessed with the Holy Spirit. You are blessed with new life in Christ. In case you haven’t thought about it lately, let your blessings sink in. 

Jesus, You are the CHRIST, the son of the living God. I praise and worship You. Thank You for blessing me for eternity. 

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