Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes (Judges 16:28 NIV).
There is a God who remembers you when you cry out to Him. He is a God who … Read the rest
He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him (Judges 16:20b NIV).
There is great danger in allowing others to cut off your strength in God. Samson made this huge mistake. The secret of his strength was … Read the rest
But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy (2 Kings 5:11 NIV).
Man’s expectations and God’s methods may not always meet. They … Read the rest
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them” — (Ecclesiastes 12:1 NIV).
The Bible asks you to remember your Creator in the days of your youth. It warns that youth and its vigor will … Read the rest
He erected the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz (1 Kings 7:21 NIV).
These were the two impressive ornamental pillars that Huram completed for King Solomon. It stood outside at the portico of the temple. What was the exact … Read the rest
So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant (Joshua 24:13 NIV).
God loves to remind His people certain truths. One of them is the fact that God had … Read the rest
But David remained in Jerusalem. One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful (2 Samuel 11:1b,2 NIV).
This is how the most tragic moments of David’s otherwise glorious life comes about. These verses … Read the rest
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6 NIV).
Opportunities do not last forever. Favorable conditions may not last a lifetime. So it is wise to understand that there are seasons when God is much more near than otherwise.
He is patient; and does not give … Read the rest
I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, … (Isaiah 48:17b,18a NIV).
God makes known His concern for you by teaching you. He teaches you many things especially through His Word. … Read the rest
I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. … From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you (Isaiah 48:3,6b NIV).
This is not an encouraging message but a rebuke from … Read the rest
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5 NIV).
“Woe to me!” What other response is possible? The awesome majesty of God’s holiness cannot inspire any … Read the rest
What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it only bad? (Isaiah 5:4 NIV).
Listen to this complaint. The issue is “what more” had to be done. That implies that much had already been done. The vineyard is none else … Read the rest
You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance (Psalm 68:9 NIV).
When batteries run low, they need to be recharged. And when Christians are depleted of their spiritual strength, they need to be refreshed.
Long and intense spiritual battles can drain the strength of any Christian. It is then that he becomes … Read the rest
I cared for you in the desert, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me (Hosea 13:5,6 NIV).
Moving farther away from God is a process. Ironically, it begins at the time you experience God’s care. That means, a … Read the rest
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back later, I’ll give it tomorrow”–when you now have it with you(Proverbs 3:27,28 NIV).
The power to act is a blessing indeed. And God would like you to consider using that … Read the rest
Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help (Ezekiel 29:16a NIV)
God sets reminders in our lives. They are needed to remind us of our folly in not putting our confidence fully in God.
If … Read the rest
Make sure that there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison (Deuteronomy 29:18b NIV).
Times have changed. During the time of Moses it was obvious which were the other gods whom they would have chosen to worship. Today there are more dangerous gods.
Turning away from the Lord to worship them is … Read the rest
As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right (1 Samuel 12:23 NIV).
“Failing to pray” is a sin. Many Christians have not thought about failure to pray in this manner. … Read the rest
The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word” (1 Samuel 3:21 NIV).
These are days of signs and miracles and wonders. Most people think that God reveals Himself to them through such great happenings. It is true that God at times does reveal Himself in such … Read the rest
Should I not be concerned about that great city (Jonah 4:11z NIV)?
This question was originally addressed to Jonah. But God is asking you the same question today. You may ask why is God asking you this question. It is the same reason why God asked it to Jonah.
See, Jonah was concerned about a … Read the rest
Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it (Genesis 28:16b NIV).
The setting sun, sleep, a stone for a pillow and a strange place. These were the settings for Jacob’s encounter with God in a dream. It was quite different from modern stage-managed performances.
But God manifested His presence … Read the rest
The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! (2 Kings 13:17b NIV).
The first thing to note is that God has given the arrows of victory into your hands. You need to act with it now. They are meant to be used.
In this passage, Elisha the prophet asked the king of … Read the rest
Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel (Amos 4:12 NIV).
This is a direct challenge. It calls you to prepare to meet your God. He is going to strike in greater judgments than so far seen. The … Read the rest
“I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord (Amos 4:11 NIV).
What greater mercy can God show you than let you escape from His judgment? Others were taken away when He struck. … Read the rest
Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel (Jeremiah 7:12 NIV).
Shiloh was the first place of worship for the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land of Canaan. There stood the … Read the rest
Through your own fault you will lose the inheritance I gave you (Jeremiah 17:4a NIV).
Let us face the truth. We can lose what God has given to us to keep as our own. His blessings can be lost.
This is a possibility. There is no advantage in pretending that such a possibility does not … Read the rest
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain (Psalm 127:1 NIV).
We need God. The truth is as simple as that. When the master builder Solomon says it we need to take note. And when Solomon who never faced … Read the rest
Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria. You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, for the Lord has rejected those you trust; you will not be helped by them (Jeremiah 2:36,37 NIV).
Those who do not … Read the rest
My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water (Jeremiah 2:13 NIV).
It is amazing if you really look at the way people throw away the priceless things of life to settle for cheap things. Nowhere else … Read the rest
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14 NIV).
It is a safe and easy option not … Read the rest
