After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:12 (NIV) In our fast-paced, noise-filled world, silence often feels uncomfortable. A constant barrage of sounds,…
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) God’s battle plans often challenge our human understanding. When Joshua received instructions for conquering…
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 (NIV) Waiting on God can sometimes feel like watching paint dry—in slow motion. We know we’re supposed to be patient, but let’s be honest:…
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 (NIV) Words repeated in Scripture often carry special significance. In Psalm 27:14, we see a beautiful symmetry: “Wait for the Lord” bookends the verse,…
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36 (NIV) Faith isn’t always a sprint; sometimes it’s a marathon. The Israelites learned this lesson as they…
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.” Hebrews 11:30 (NIV) Sometimes, our efforts seem to lead nowhere. The Israelites at Jericho might have felt this way. For six days, they…
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the…
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? James 2:14 (NIV) Faith and obedience are like two wings of a bird. One without the other…
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV) Obedience to God often comes at a price. It’s not…
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;” 1 Corinthians 1:27 (ESV) God’s methods often perplex us. When we look at His instructions…