So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak (Genesis 32:24 NIV).
There are God-impact moments in the life of His children. These can happen anywhere, anytime; since God is not limited by circumstances. But if you desire to have a God-impact moment in your life, better get alone with God.… Read the rest
In that day, declares the Lord, you will call me `my husband’ ; you will no longer call me `my master’ (Hosea 2:16 NIV).
When God restores, He does it in a magnificent fashion. He surpasses all expectations when He brings back His people to Himself.
He forgives their wanderings and sinful backsliding. He brings … Read the rest
The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time (Genesis 22:15 NIV).
The first call was to show Abraham God’s provision of a ram. It was sacrificed instead of his son Isaac. And Abraham acknowledged that by naming that place The Lord Will Provide.
Then came the second call. This time … Read the rest
The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14 NIV).
This ultimately refers to God’s providing of Jesus, the Lamb of God, for us. But it can be applied to all life situations provided you have accepted God’s provision of the Lamb.
The context of this verse is the testing of Abraham. God asked him to sacrifice Isaac. … Read the rest
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city (Proverbs 16:32 NIV).
Losing temper is not so uncommon today.
Caught in a traffic jam and moving at snail’s pace, walking into your office or workplace to find yesterday’s work pending, or even naughty children at … 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
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence (Daniel 7:13 NIV).
Time is ticking to its end. Here, in one glorious unveiling, the manner of Jesus’ Second … Read the rest
Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before (Daniel 6:10b NIV).
Cultivating the habit of prayer is very important. Many people do not understand its importance until very late in life. The reasons for this are many.
So many think … Read the rest
So where the river flows everything will live (Ezekiel 47:9z NIV).
The water flows from the temple. The Bible speaks of your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus talked about streams of living water flowing out from within the one who believes in Him. He said that this would be fulfilled … Read the rest
Instead of carrying out your duty in regard to my holy things, you put others in charge of my sanctuary (Ezekiel 44:8 NIV).
Evasion of responsibility is not good. It becomes doubly sinful when you evade a God-given responsibility. Added to that when you put others who have no relation to God in charge of … Read the rest
Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to beg the king for her house and land (2 Kings 8:5a NIV).
It is all about divine timing! When people of the world strain and strive to make … Read the rest
Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens, could this happen? (2 Kings 7:2b NIV).
Here is an example of a man who can’t believe good news. Such people are so much influenced by the negative circumstances that they can’t believe that God is bringing good out of it even when … Read the rest
They spoke against God saying, “Can God spread a table in the desert?” (Psalm 78:19 NIV).
Can God? This is a question that many ask even today. When such a question is asked man tries to think in terms of his own limitation. And not in terms of God’s limitless possibilities and infinite wisdom and … 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
So he did what the Lord had told him (1 Kings 17:5a NIV).
God will provide. Even though it is true, there is more to be said about it. God’s provision becomes visible and reachable to those who do what the Lord tells them to do.
Let us look at Elijah. He was a mighty … Read the rest
The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her … (Judges 7:2 NIV).
The world has great confidence in numbers. So they have coined terms like “vast majority,” “overwhelming majority,” … Read the rest
The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice (1 Kings 11:9 NIV).
The Lord can become angry. He can get angry when there is disobedience. But why angry with Solomon? Was he not one who was blessed with … Read the rest
Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it (Judges 8:4 NIV).
Here the pursuit of enemies and oppressors are described. In the process of pursuit Gideon and his men became exhausted. But there was more.
They had to face criticism from their own countrymen. … Read the rest
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out (Isaiah 42:3a NIV).
“Will God forsake me?” This cry shakes a Christian when sin, doubt, failure or discouragement comes to his life. And God’s answer points to His servant Jesus whose character is portrayed here.
He does not try … Read the rest
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14 NIV).
When you have an intense desire to know God, He promises to bless you with His Presence. This enables you to have continual favor with God.
And the Presence of God with you is the most unmistakable … Read the rest
The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers (Joshua 21:44a NIV).
God promises rest to His children. This is far greater than physical rest. Though physical rest is sweet, what God promises has deeper and more significant meanings. It is rest on every side: that is, comprehensive, … Read the rest
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4 NIV).
This is a bold promise from God’s Word. It talks about our desires. We all have desires in life. But we often doubt whether they will be fulfilled.
One reason for the doubt is the wrong nature … Read the rest
As soon as you hear the sound of the marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army (2 Samuel 5:24 NIV).
God signals to you. This is your time to move. Do that quickly. For … Read the rest
There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! (Joshua 10:14 NIV).
The miracle recorded here is unique in world history. The sun stood still and the moon stopped its movement. This happened at the prayer and … 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
Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth (1 Samuel 23:28 NIV).
The right moment. That is when God acts. Even when every trouble that you are facing seems to close in on you, know that at the right time … Read the rest
You will forget the shame of your youth (Isaiah 54:4b NIV).
The dark secrets of your youth are known to God. He also knows how much your heart grieves over your past mistakes.
He also knows the constant accusation you are enduring in your mind over those shameful moments of sin. His heart grieves too. … Read the rest
But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall (Malachi 4:2 NIV).
The sun referred to here cannot be anybody other than the Son whose face is “like the sun shining in all … 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
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far has the Lord helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12 NIV).
Our God is our helper. And there are times in the life of every believer when God comes to help in a mighty way. Ebenezer is … Read the rest
