From: March 29, 2026
“I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!” (Psalm 70:5 ESV).
David wrote this psalm to the people of God as a desperate cry for help in a time of pressing trouble. He confessed his condition not as strong or self-sufficient, but as “poor and needy,” expressing total dependence on the Lord. He urgently called on God to act without delay, showing both the intensity of his distress and the depth of his faith. David declared that God alone was his help and deliverer, revealing confidence in God’s character even while circumstances were overwhelming.
This theme echoes throughout Scripture. In the Gospel of Matthew 5:3, Jesus declared that the “poor in spirit” are blessed because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. In the Gospel of John 9:39, He explained that those who know they are blind receive sight, while those who claim to see remain blind. In the book of Revelation 3:17, Jesus rebuked the church at Laodicea for claiming to be rich and self-sufficient, not realizing they were actually poor, blind, and needy. In each case, the danger was not the condition itself, but the failure to recognize it.
We must resist the pull toward pride and self-reliance. The greatest danger is not being poor and needy, but not knowing that we are. When we think we have no need, we shut ourselves off from God’s grace. But when we confess our need, we open our lives to His help. In seasons where trouble is pressing and strength is gone, we can urgently call on Him with confidence. He alone is willing and able to deliver.
Will you admit that you are poor and needy today? Admitting you are low is the first step to receiving from on high. Grace flows down.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we come before You confessing that we are poor and needy. Forgive us for trusting in ourselves instead of You. Open our eyes to see our true condition and give us humble hearts that depend fully on You. Teach us to cry out to You with urgency and faith, trusting that You are our help and our deliverer. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 29, 2025
‘“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him’ (Luke 8:39 ESV).
When Jesus freed the man living in the tombs of the Gerasenes of demon possession, he begged to go with Jesus. The man had been living in terrible misery, possessed by so many demons that they answered, “Legion” when Jesus asked their name.
Yet Jesus instructed him to go home and bear witness to his family of what great things God had done for him. Luke’s gospel shared that the man obeyed Jesus and “proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.” Mark’s gospel further noted that the man “began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed” (Mark 5:20). The “Decapolis” referred to the “Ten Cities” largely inhabited by Gentiles on the East side of the Sea of Galilee. So the former demoniac became a great evangelist for Jesus among his people.
The instruction to “return to your home” is similar to what Christ told His disciples on the day of His ascension. As He departed from them, He told them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the whole world (Acts 1:8). In other words, Jesus told them to begin their gospel witness at home and then work outward to the whole world.
Jesus still commands His followers to be witnesses for Him. Yet, many are quiet, saying they’re afraid or that they don’t know what to say. However there is one topic in which you are an expert and that is what God has done for you! No one knows more about what God has done for you, than you!
So let us go forth, in the power of the Holy Spirit, beginning at home, telling everyone what God has done for us!
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for saving us and setting us free from sin’s wages. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit and help us to boldly bear witness to what great things You have done for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 29, 2024
‘And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”’ (Luke 8:25 ESV).
A fierce storm blew down onto the Sea of Galilee threatening to sink the boat with Jesus and His disciples aboard. Even the professional fishermen like Peter, James and John were afraid. Yet, Jesus remained asleep, untroubled by the storm. The disciples woke Jesus with shouts of “Master, we are perishing!” Jesus awoke from His nap, rebuked the storm with a word and an immediate calm fell upon the sea. The disciples were amazed. Their fear of the storm outside the boat was replaced by fearful awe of the One inside the boat!
Having Jesus in our life doesn’t mean that storms won’t come, but it does mean that we no longer have to fear them. In fact, it is often during life’s storms that we grow in understanding who Jesus really is.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for the peace that we have in You when storms come. For Christ Jesus is our peace. He commands the storm to be still and it obeys. Help us to keep our eyes on Jesus, rather than life’s storms. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 29, 2023
“And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake” (Luke 8:37 NLT).
The people in the region of the Gerasenes, on the Eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, begged Jesus to leave. He had only just arrived when he encountered a demon possessed man who lived in the tombs. Running towards Jesus and shrieking at the top of his lungs, the demoniac fell at Jesus’ feet begging that Jesus not torture him. However, it wasn’t Jesus who tortured the man, but the demons, for they were many, going by the name “Legion.” Jesus commanded the demons to leave the man, sending them into a nearby herd of pigs as they requested. The pigs immediately plunged themselves into the water and drowned. The herdsmen who saw this, ran into the town, spreading the news as they went.
A great crowd came out to see the man freed from demons, fully clothed and sane, sitting at the feet of Jesus. This sight along with the news of how Jesus had freed the man and sent the demons into the pigs, caused a “great wave of fear” (“megas phobos”) to sweep over the crowd. So, they begged Jesus to leave. But the man freed from demons begged to go with Jesus.
Which are you? Have you heard about the life-changing power of Jesus, yet in fear of surrendering control to him, you have turned him away? Or are you like the man who once lived among the tombs? You have decided to follow Jesus and tell everyone what great things he has done for you.
PRAYER: Father, may we never be guilty of turning Jesus away. Yet, we confess that every time we deny the urge to speak on his behalf or to stand in the gap for him, we have turned him away in that place. Forgive us. We welcome Jesus into our homes, our schools, our workplace and our very lives. We want to tell everyone what great things Christ has done for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.