– Scripture:

Every person who believes that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah, is God-begotten. If we love the One who conceives the child, we’ll surely love the child who was conceived. The reality test on whether or not we love God’s children is this: Do we love God? Do we keep his commands? The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome. Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God.

                                1 John 5:1–5 MSG

– Reflection:

                 The Power That Brings the World to Its Knees

When I think about words like “Win” and “Lose,” my mind goes to everyday battles, to a world of winners and losers, to small wins for getting up and going on that walk, and on the days that can be called losses could be when you ate late at night when you knew you shouldn’t have because of what it is going to do to your sleep. I remember the old NBC music just before an NBA game came on followed by Bob Costas starting the commenting calls and introduction of the game. For us, as children of God, we win when we do what is asked of us by our father, just like any kid who denies peer pressure. Sure it is tough with all the trimmings and trappings of sin and how taking the easy route can seem faster. It isn’t really quicker to me which I call a loss, because many time taking the easy route or living the wrong way cause a lot of rework to be done. Christians care about the time they spend with GOD, family, friends, and their community that wasting anytime is considered a loss. A win for us is helping others reach their potential, and loving on our families close and far. Simple but true, I think.

Where do we go from here?

The person who wrote John wasn’t thinking about wins and losses the way we do today. We have to get on his level and understand what is being said in this book of the bible. I see the words that I read, and they tell me that when I believe Jesus is the Messiah that he is, I will be saved, meaning my sins will be beaten. Sounds simple, but in that time, things had to be simple for us to understand them quickly. Today, there are way too many words in play, which causes us to lose understanding by over-explaining something that is so easy. The words are easy, but as many of us know who are saved and Christians, the life of a Christian is not. We are challenged at every turn because of the ease of stepping into the wrong side of life. Instead, he is offering his readers the word that, despite the pressures of the world around them and despite the temptations inside them, they can hold onto their faith. He is saying, “You got this!” in the face of difficulty when they might feel like giving up. They can hold on because God will hold on to them.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for this day that you made, and I hope that all of us are happy to be in it. Thank you for making Love stronger than hate so that so many can be brought back from the terrible places they wind up in. Thank you for giving each of us who have strength now the ability to help bring others to the light for your love. Father, thank you for all you do for us each and every day. Amen.

– Scripture:

When Daniel learned that the decree had been signed and posted, he continued to pray just as he had always done. His house had windows in the upstairs that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt there in prayer, thanking and praising his God. The conspirators came and found him praying, asking God for help. They went straight to the king and reminded him of the royal decree that he had signed. “Did you not,” they said, “sign a decree forbidding anyone to pray to any god or man except you for the next thirty days? And anyone caught doing it would be thrown into the lions’ den?” “Absolutely,” said the king. “Written in stone, like all the laws of the Medes and Persians.” Then they said, “Daniel, one of the Jewish exiles, ignores you, O king, and defies your decree. Three times a day he prays.” At this, the king was very upset and tried his best to get Daniel out of the fix he’d put him in. He worked at it the whole day long.

                          Daniel 6:10–14 MSG

Key Verse – When Daniel learned that the decree had been signed and posted, he continued to pray just as he had always done. His house had windows in the upstairs that opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he knelt there in prayer, thanking and praising his God.

– Reflection:

              Honor God like Daniel

Daniel was serving the king of Persia and was noted as having an excellent spirit and great wisdom. He consistently maintained his faith while living in a foreign land and refused to waver even when the king issued a decree that no one could pray to anyone but him. Despite the threats, he kept praying to Jehovah and ended up being thrown into the lions’ den. But when you have this attitude of faith, God will fight your battles for you. He sent an angel to close the mouths of the lions. There were negative men that could not be what Daniel was to the king which was be faithful and loyal. They had all types of other vices in their lives and noticed Daniel had none. They searched for something horrible in his past but found nothing. The only thing they could find was his faith to GOD, so they tried to use that against him; we know how that turned out.

Where do we go from here?

When you’re in a difficult situation, you rest in faith knowing that the same God who kept Daniel safe in the lions’ den has put a hedge of protection around you. You don’t shrink back in fear with thoughts such as, “Why is this happening to me?” Instead, you rise up in faith and say, “I am lion proof. I am coming out stronger, increased, and promoted just as with Daniel. God is even in control of my enemies.” HAve this thought process everyday and you can overcome all of your issues when you truly believe in our Savior Jesus Christ. When we honor him with the smallest thing he comes through for us in a big way. Trust him and you will see too.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank You that You are the One who opens doors and gets us to where we want to be. Show us if there is anything that is holding us back from having an excellent spirit. We declare that we will be faithful and not shrink back and take the easy way out when pressure comes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 – Scripture:

One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.” Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone. Jesus instructed him, “Don’t talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed self to the priest, along with the offering ordered by Moses. Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.” But the man couldn’t keep it to himself, and the word got out. Soon a large crowd of people had gathered to listen and be healed of their ailments. As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer. One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and religion teachers were sitting around. They had come from nearly every village in Galilee and Judea, even as far away as Jerusalem, to be there. The healing power of God was on him.

                             Luke 5:12–17 MSG

Key Verse – As often as possible, Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.

 – Reflection:

Grabbing Some Solitude: Invitation to a Changed Life

Why are we so bad at solitude? Our king did it quite well. As a man, Jesus knew his limitations. He understood his need to connect with his father to his guidance and power. He knew how good that connection was. He wants us to know, too. If it’s so good, though, why do we struggle? Well, it’s because we’re busy. Solitude is hard when you’re working and/or married and/or have kids and/or have friends. And, it’s a little because we’re not well practiced. Our culture trains us for motion and multitasking, not for slowing and simplifying. And it’s a little because, deep down, we know solitude means confrontation. But if we avoid his confrontation, we’ll miss his companionship, counsel, comfort, restoration, and rescue. So, we must take courage. We must not worry that we don’t yet do it well. We must make solitude a priority, just as Jesus did.

Where do we go from here?

You see, solitude removes distractions and leaves us, for a few minutes, alone with God the Holy Spirit. Solitude is sometimes defined as being alone, but we aren’t. The Spirit dwells within us. God’s right there. And we never know what might happen when we’re alone with God. He might ask us to stop something we don’t want to stop or start something we don’t want to start. He might. He does that.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, allow us to start small. Allow us to find something that works for us. Let us turn off our devices and walk at work at lunchtime or during breaks. Allow us to get some air in our neighborhoods after dinner. Let us slip outside just before bed and sit quietly in the dark. And, when we’re ready for more, let us take a half-day, full-day, or overnight solo trip into the outdoors to be with you. With the grace and mercy you provide us every day. We can all say. Amen.

 – Scripture: 

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. We, though, are going to love; love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first. If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.

                          1 John 4:17–21 MSG

Key Verse – We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

 – Reflection:

              To Love, to Be Loved

We love because God loved us first. Do you know what we can do with that love? Pass it on! The very same love that comes from God is something that we could absolutely pass on to others. It’s the very best gift you could ever give OR receive. It’s free; there’s nothing we can do to get rid of it, and no strings are attached. God’s love is pretty amazing! Pass it on!

Where do we go from here?

The world would have us believe that status is more important than anything. TV is the big problem that spreads hate. The people we watch our shows on, no matter how clean-cut they seem, are very dark in real life. God’s love is out in the open, and so should ours be for our families, friends, and co-workers. How can a person that you have only seen on TV tell you how to vote, tell you that what they are doing is the correct thing to be doing. It is a hearding effect, for money, power and respect of this world. If the famous person tells you something it should be true by the worlds standards. Listen to the one thing that knows the true measure of a person, your heart which was filled to the brim with his love when you were made. Only his love can show you the true direction for your life.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, we thank you for your amazing love. Grant us the courage to be able to love one another in a similar manner, with the same type of all-encompassing love you have for us. Amen.