“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18). Have you ever seen someone walking down the street and been prompted to pray for them? I have. I bet you have too. Perhaps you discounted the feeling as just a fleeting thought. But what if that was … Continue reading Praying for strangers right then and there
Jesus’ disciples, Scripture’s pupils
This week I’m leading a Bible story centre at our church’s Vacation Bible Camp. It’s always a lot of energy, music and laughter! I consider it a profound and meaningful privilege to teach the Bible. Within its Spirit-inspired pages, people of all ages start to know more about God, his promises, and his loving plans … Continue reading Jesus’ disciples, Scripture’s pupils
Go out of your way to say it
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Go out of your way to say, “Way to go!” You’re right. Seems a bit gimmicky, doesn’t it? Perhaps. But hear me out. Jesus often taught about the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is where and when God rules as King … Continue reading Go out of your way to say it
Blessing God and bending the knee
God blesses us in many ways. But in Psalm 103:1 (ESV) we are encouraged to bless him back: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” But what does that mean? The Hebrew word for bless is “barach.” It is sometimes translated as “praise.” So blessing God … Continue reading Blessing God and bending the knee
Follow your… head
“Follow your heart!” We hear that a lot. I’m sure it’s well-intentioned: our instincts and feelings are important. But our hearts can often lead us astray since (a) we are sinful by nature, and (b) our hearts are heavily influenced by the non-stop negativity around us. Wouldn’t it be better to “follow your head” insofar … Continue reading Follow your… head
Talking to your own soul
David begins Psalm 103 like this: “Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” Have you ever noticed that David is speaking… to himself? That’s right. He’s speaking to his own soul. Seems strange, right? Why would he do that? We can learn a lot of things in a single … Continue reading Talking to your own soul
Not one extreme, but both
In the previous devotional I encouraged you to pray for “anti-lukewarm-ness” in North America. We need less apathy and more commitment. That sentiment was based on Jesus’ words to the church in Laodicea from Revelation 3:16: “because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Yikes! Today I … Continue reading Not one extreme, but both
Comforts can have casualties
Open Doors Canada raises awareness about persecuted Christians and provides support. In 2020 one of their workers posted this statement on Instagram: “I remember visiting the believers in China. They didn’t have a building to worship in, so a few of them would gather in their homes instead. Sometimes they would travel across the mountains … Continue reading Comforts can have casualties
Confessing sins: Life, hope, freedom
When you think about friendship, what comes to mind? Similar interests, laughter, or support? Those are all good things. How about confessing your sins? If you think that sounds like a downer, I hear you. But when it comes to supporting one another, speaking openly and honestly about sin can be very helpful. One psychology … Continue reading Confessing sins: Life, hope, freedom
Well done, good and faithful servant
In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a parable about some people who were entrusted with some wealth by their master. Those who invested it well were greeted with a compliment: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (verse 23). This statement is sometimes quoted at funerals. When someone has tried to live faithfully toward God and as … Continue reading Well done, good and faithful servant
