Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you” (Isaiah 35:3,4 NIV).
Fear! There might be no Christian who at some point in his life … 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
He relents from sending calamity (Joel 2:13z NIV).
Are you fearful of God’s judgment falling on you? If yes, then there is still hope. God can relent from sending calamity. The word “relent” means agreeing to something finally after initially refusing.
It also means a softening of attitude. So, there is a possibility that God … Read the rest
Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth (Hosea 6:3 NIV).
PRESS ON. These two words hold in them the essence of effective Christian living. … Read the rest
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence (Hosea 6:2 NIV).
When you return to the Lord, He welcomes you back in very special ways. There is a initial waiting period that marks this occasion. This is a kind of second … Read the rest
Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds (Hosea 6:1 NIV).
There is always the welcome opportunity to return to the Lord. You should not wait any longer to go back to Him. His … Read the rest
This is from the Lord (Genesis 24:50b NIV).
There is perhaps no other chapter in the Bible where God’s personal loving guidance is seen with greater clarity than in this chapter. When Laban and Bethuel had heard the story of how God had guided Abraham’s servant to Rebekah, they said: “This is from the Lord.”… Read the rest
After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah (2 Chronicles 32:1a NIV).
After something done well, people are usually rewarded. This should be especially true when you do something faithfully. But contrary to expectations, Hezekiah finds himself in a difficult situation.
He might have wondered why God … 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
This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine (Genesis 41:36 NIV).
God gave Joseph knowledge about the coming famine and the specific number of years it would last. … Read the rest
There above it stood the Lord …. (Genesis 28:13a NIV).
Jacob’s dream of a ladder or stairway is famous.
To kids, the ascending and descending angels on the ladder holds great fascination. Even when they grow old, the childhood memories are not forgotten. That is the reason why so many people remember the angels when … Read the rest
Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north, south, east and west. All the land you see I will give to you and your offspring forever (Genesis 13:14b, 15 NIV).
Lot, Abram’s nephew and traveling companion, had just parted company. He had chosen a well watered land. And Abram was now standing … Read the rest
Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard that I have spoken against this place and its people … and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord (2 Kings 22:19 NIV).
“Because your heart was responsive!” Can God … 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
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9 NIV).
If this call never came! What would have happened? Think about it. Hope would die; killed instantaneously and without mercy.
“Where are you?” Most of us would dread such a call from God. It is true that He calls out to … Read the rest
Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man (Genesis 2:22 NIV).
“He brought her to the man.” This is a simple truth to be remembered. It was God who brought the woman to man. There is a solemnity about … Read the rest
Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need (Psalm 79:8 NIV).
We need to think much about this. Especially when we find certain kinds of illnesses or afflictions of both body and mind continue to torment families from generation … Read the rest
But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory (1 Chronicles 11:14 NIV).
Sometimes, it so happens, that all desert you when the enemies come. So it happened with David and Eleazer, one of David’s mighty men.… Read the rest
Then the Lord shut him in (Genesis 7:16b NIV).
This is the secret of survival when the floods arise. To be shut in inside the ark by God. How thoughtful of God to have shut the door of the ark!
We do see husbands who are thoughtful of their wives closing the doors of the … Read the rest
This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them (Ezekiel 37:12b NIV).
This is God’s response to those who say that their hope is gone. He is not going to be challenged by the fact that your bones are dried up. … Read the rest
Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple (Psalm 65:4 NIV).
There is a dwelling place of God. We have not seen it yet. But we have little sanctuaries built here on earth where we meet … Read the rest
When I act, who can reverse it (Isaiah 43:13b NIV)?
We need to be sure about Who is on our side? Let us for a moment forget about our wins and losses. Let us set them all aside. Let us also forget those on our side and those against us.
Let us bring the equation … Read the rest
I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing (Ezekiel 34:26b NIV).
There is a season for showers. We think more about them when they are delayed. We are much concerned when it does not come in its scheduled time. Then we long for it. Every little cloud in the sky … Read the rest
Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders (Numbers 13:2 NIV).
God sends us to explore only those things that He has already given to us. That means that even though it is not in our hands now, … Read the rest
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence (Psalm 90:8 NIV).
With God there is forgiveness. There need be no doubt about it. But for that a person needs to seek God’s forgiveness.
Before doing that he needs to be made conscious of sin in his life … Read the rest
O Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle(Psalm 140:7 NIV).
“Is the Bible really relevant to our times?” This is a question that rises in the minds of any sincere Christian at some point of his life. Entertaining such a question in your mind does not mean that … Read the rest
Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NIV).
There are sure laws of success. One of them is listed here. This law calls for effort on … Read the rest
But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned” (Genesis 21:12 NIV).
Do not be so distressed. What was born out of your human decision has to be got rid of. … Read the rest
Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried (Genesis 47:29z, 30a NIV).
Jacob has given us a great example in his dying moments. He is looking ahead in expectation. Though now in circumstances not of his choosing, he … Read the rest
There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope (Hosea 2:15a NIV).
There need be no doubt in your heart: God can create good out of the trouble you are passing through now. For Achor means trouble.
The valley referred to here is the place … Read the rest
