“Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.” (Psalms 143:7 NLT).

June 25, 2022

DAVID’S RESPONSE TO DEEP DEPRESSION David prayed that the Lord would give a quick answer to his need. For he was in a deep depression. David despaired that God would either wait in answering or even worse, turn away from him. Depression can make even the most committed believer feel that God has forsaken them.

“Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work” (Acts 15:37-38 NLT).

June 24, 2022

THE DISAGREEMENT OVER JOHN MARK  Paul wanted to travel to check on the new believers that had come to faith on their first missionary journey. Barnabas agreed. However, they disagreed on taking John Mark with them again. Apparently, Paul considered the young man unreliable after he had “deserted them” and went home early on their

“We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 15:11 NLT).

June 23, 2022

ONLY ONE WAY OF SALVATION After certain Judaizers came to Antioch, teaching that circumcision was required for salvation, Paul and Barnabas were sent to bring the question to the apostles at Jerusalem. After much deliberation, Peter stood and reminded everyone that he had been the first one chosen to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength” (Proverbs 17:22 NLT).

June 22, 2022

THE OFTEN OVERLOOKED MEDICINE Solomon was given wisdom from God to write many proverbs on many topics. Among them, is this proverb on the connection between body, mind, and spirit, and how the health of one affects the other. Modern medicine attempts to treat the body absent the soul and spirit, often failing to recognize

“Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God” (Acts 13:43 NLT).

June 21, 2022

RELY ON THE GRACE OF GOD, NOT MEN  In town after town, as people came to faith after hearing the gospel proclaimed by Paul and Barnabas, they would begin to follow them. But the two men always urged the people to rely on the grace of God, not men. For Paul and Barnabas wanted them

“The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever” (Psalm 138:8 NLT).

June 20, 2022

WHOSE PLANS ARE YOU TRYING TO FOLLOW? Even in the midst of troubles, David trusted that the Lord was at work in his life. For even when things didn’t go according to his own plans, he believed in the faithful love of God to work out His plans for his life. David trusted that God

‘One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them”’ (Acts 13:2 NLT).

June 19, 2022

A PRAYER SERVICE THAT BECAME A COMMISSIONING SERVICE Five key leaders in the Antioch church were fasting and praying one day when the Spirit spoke to them. The Scripture does not say how the Spirit communicated. Did all of the men or only one hear the instruction? Was it an audible voice or an internal

“Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. …Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die” (1 Kings 19:3-4 NLT).

June 18, 2022

BEWARE THE VALLEY THAT FOLLOWS THE MOUNTAIN TOP Elijah, in the power of the Spirit, called fire down from heaven and defeated the 450 prophets of Baal. He called on God to break a 3-year drought and the rains came pouring down. He pulled up his robe and outran King Ahab’s chariot in sandaled feet.

“Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel” (1 Kings 18:46 NLT).

June 17, 2022

RUNNING LIFE’S RACE WITH GOD’S STRENGTH After using Elijah to defeat the prophets of Baal in a fire from heaven contest, and sending rain in response to the prophet’s prayer, the Lord strengthened Elijah to outrun Ahab’s chariot. Some have suggested that he ran the 16 miles from Mount Carmel to Jezreel before the king’s

“And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42 NLT).

June 16, 2022

MOBILIZED FOR MISSION The apostle Peter told the Roman centurion named Cornelius that Jesus had ordered the apostles to “preach and testify that Jesus is the one.” He was appointed by God to be the “judge of all” and everyone who believes in Him will be forgiven their sins. Hearing this message, Cornelius and his