From: January 15, 2024
“But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” (Genesis 32:12 ESV).
When Jacob heard that his brother Esau was approaching with 400 men, he was afraid. So, he prayed to the Lord for protection. In his prayer, he admitted his fear, yet clung to God’s promises, quoting them back to the Lord word for word. Praying out his worries, he declared his faith in God’s promises saying, “But You said.” Jacob decided to believe what God said above what others, including his own heart, might say.
Isn’t this how we should pray? When we are afraid, we can lean on the promises of God, repeating them word for word back to the Father. Where are you afraid? Where has anxiety stolen your joy? Search out the promises of God. Meditate on them. Stand on them. Pray them back to the Father. His Word never returns void.
PRAYER: Dear Father, when our hearts are fearful, when the voices around us are filled with woe, we will choose to believe what You have said. We will stand on Your promises and declare them back to You in prayer. For Your Word is the final word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: January 15, 2023
“I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps!” (Genesis 32:10 NLT).
As Jacob returned to the land of Canaan with his wives, children, servants and flocks, he remembered how he had left there with only the clothes on his back and the staff in his hand. His prayer reflected that it wasn’t only the outward blessings that were different. His heart was changing too. He credited God’s “unfailing love and faithfulness” for all that he had, not his own scheming or self-effort. The Hebrew word, “chesed” (חָ֫סֶד – kheh’-sed), is the word translated, “unfailing love.” It is the Hebrew word that comes closest in meaning to the New Testament Greek word “agape,” which speaks of God’s unconditional love. Jacob recognized that it was God’s faithful and unfailing love that had brought him thus far.
When have you had a moment like this, when you became aware that it was God who has blessed you with all that you have? Think back to when you first started. Look how far God has brought you!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we remember how we began. Help us not to forget how far You have brought us. Father, we give you all the credit for our lives. We are thankful for Your unfailing love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: January 15, 2017
Did God really “forget” David? Was He really hiding his face from him? This was the language of David’s heart. This was how David felt and so he expressed his feelings to God through questions. Psalm 13 is a short prayer. It begins with David’s questions and ends with David’s firm resolve to keep trusting, rejoicing, and singing in and to the Lord. David was going through a season of spiritual dryness. He didn’t sense the Lord’s presence. Yet, he still believed in God’s mercy and salvation, and he knew that God had always “dealt bountifully” with him in the past. David prayed out his doubts by asking questions, but he also prayed out his firm faith. Have you ever gone through a spiritual dry spell? Have you ever prayed like David?
From: January 15, 2016
As Jacob returned to the land of Canaan with his wives, children, servants and flocks, he remembered how he had left there with only the clothes on his back and the staff in his hand. His prayer reflected that it wasn’t only the outward blessings that were different. His heart was changing too. He credited God’s “steadfast love” and “faithfulness” for all that he had, not his own scheming or self-effort. The Hebrew word, “chesed” (חָ֫סֶד – kheh’-sed), is the word translated, “steadfast love.” It is the Hebrew word that comes closest in meaning to the New Testament Greek word “agape,” which speaks of God’s unconditional love. Jacob recognized that it was God’s faithfulness and favor that had brought him thus far. When have you had a moment like this, when you became aware that it was God who has blessed you with all that you have?
From: January 15, 2015
This statement from Jesus to His disciples is very disconcerting, until you understand it’s significance. Jesus is claiming the priority love that belongs to God alone. He is not saying you cannot love your family and be His follower too. No, far from it. He is saying that we must love Him above all others, even our very families. Since Jesus is God, He appropriately claims our first devotion. Yet, choosing to love Christ first, above all others, we are actually filled with the love of God which causes us to truly love not only our families, but our neighbors and even our enemies. The thing that grieved Christ about the church of Ephesus was not that they had fallen into sin, or that they had become heretics. No, He commended them for their faithfulness in these areas. What grieved Christ is that they had “forsaken” their “first love” for Him (Rev. 2:4). Following Christ is a commitment of the heart as well as the head. We are called to a love relationship with the One who redeemed us.