Episodes
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Daily Devotions - Revive Us Lord
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Mark 10:46-52 NIV
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
If Jesus asked you ‘what do you want me to do for you?” what would you do?
Lord, sometimes my prayers are more like casual wish lists than a serious conversation with You. I find myself shooting up prayers for good weather for a party, for the team I am rooting for to win, or that I make traffic lights when I'm in a hurry. Before meals and before bed I recite memorized prayers that ask You to be my guest for dinner or to keep me safe until morning light but that is sometimes just familiar words. It is such a privilege to speak directly to the God of all creation but sometimes I take that privilege for granted. Forgive me, Lord. I do spend time daily in prayer asking for healing for those who are sick, those who are lonely or grieving, for those who have been hurt or otherwise need Your care, and pray for relief from my ills, aches, and pains. I pray for salvation for my kids and grandkids, that they accept You as Lord and will dwell in Your house for eternity. I ask for wisdom and faith and for You to direct my path. But if You would ask me what one thing, I want You to do for me, as You did to Bartimaeus, I would look You in the eye without hesitation and ask for revival. A global revival to bring people to see Your Glory and have faith in You. As part of the revival, I would pray that my church would be on fire for You. That Your Spirit would fill people's hearts, including my family's, with Your love. I would pray that with the revival people will not only know You as Lord but their lives would be transformed with the biblical principles of integrity, morality, respect, and honor. I pray that the gospel message of Your love, grace, and salvation spreads like wildfire. I pray that eyes are opened to see Your Glory and people are released from the grips of hatred and evil. Revival starts with me. Let my prayers be personal conversations for You so that I grow in righteousness as I spend quality time with You. Strengthen my relationship with You as I share my heart with You and then share You with others. Lord, open the eyes for all to see You and to understand all that You have done through Your death on the cross. Let a revival bring unity and give us a foretaste of the joy of heaven on earth. Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Daily Devotions The Son of Man came to serve
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Mark 10:32-45 NIV
Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time
32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
The Request of James and John
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Do you resist following the servant’s path to greatness?
I would like to think I don’t resist following the servant's path to greatness. Sometimes I may spend too much time looking at what it might “cost” me. Then I realize how much it cost Jesus to cover my sin and realize my sacrifice is really minuscule.
Lord, how great you are!! You knew what you had to do for me and you did it, help me Lord to always be able to be your willing servant. You have modeled perfect love and leadership for everyone but sometimes my pride gets in the way of doing the right thing. I pray that I would always be aware of your Holy Spirit trying to be at work within me filling me with strength, grace, and kindness to do all I can to bring you glory. Amen
Today's prayer submitted by Jo Schneider
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Daily Devotions - Accept the Gift
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Mark 10:13-31 NIV
The Little Children and Jesus
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone, who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them, and blessed them.
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man, this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
What has helped you to see the impossibility of earning the kingdom?
I am a doer. I like to work and I enjoy accomplishing things. There were times when I checked off lists of things I needed to do for You. I was enthusiastically trying to show my love for You by trying to make You happy, but in the process, I got bogged down with the details. Instead of nurturing my relationship with You and absorbing Your wisdom through reading the Word, praying, and loving others, I was getting burned out and tired. It has never been about what I can DO to earn salvation. Instead of focusing on how much I can accomplish, help me to accept Your gift of salvation as openly, freely, and willingly as a child. Let me step outside of my orderly box and enthusiastically accept the mysteries and wonders of Your mercy and grace. Change my focus of serving from being a chore to conquer to an opportunity of sharing Your love as a response of compassion. Although You paid the price for my salvation, there is a cost to follow You. Let me accept the cost. The reward of heaven is greater than anything I can achieve, possess, or may lose because of my faith in You. Lord, I humbly confess my sinfulness and submit completely to Your sovereign Lordship of my life. Your grace is not based on what I do, what I have, or who I am but it is only based on what You have done. Let me enthusiastically accept Your gift of salvation. Amen
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Daily Devotions - What God has joined together
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Monday Apr 26, 2021
Mark 10:1-12 NIV
Divorce
10 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them. 2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied. 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5 “It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,” Jesus replied. 6 “But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, 8 and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11 He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”
-- Do you think Jesus would respond in the same way to someone in a troubled marriage who was sincerely asking the question?
In the beginning, You created men and women and You saw that marriage was good. But sin entered the world and men and women developed hard hearts against You and each other and then there was divorce. Sin was also in the Pharisees when they tested You about divorce. John the Baptist denounced Herod Antipas for his unlawful divorce that cost John his life. They were within Herod's jurisdiction and the wrong answer could have gotten You seized. Divorce was a very controversial question as husbands who did not strictly follow the law to limit divorce to defined conditions, divorced their wives for anything that displeased them. The law was given to unveil sin and to drive us to grace. Law can never heal the problem, but it points it out. It reveals hard places in our hearts to soften them and make us the people You intended us to be. Divorce is a violation of Your intention for marriage. It always is, and it always involves some form of sin. We have all sinned and have all done wrongful and hurtful things to one another in our marriages as well as outside them. But thank You that grace comes in to tell us that sin can be forgiven. Through You, there is the possibility of restoration and healing. You begin the work of creating oneness again as lessons learned can facilitate the beauty of a relationship that You had in mind. Lord, I pray for a soft heart. Help me to rely upon Your wisdom and power in the difficult situations in my marriage. Always keep my heart tender, mellow, flexible, and reasonable out of my love and obedience to You. All marriages have problems, but I pray that we face up to our problems, discover where the hardness of heart exists, and learn how You can soften it. Thank you for your cleansing, forgiveness, and willingness to put it all back together. Through Your love, we are healed. In your loving name, Amen.
Saturday Apr 24, 2021
Daily Devotions - The Lord is in every season
Saturday Apr 24, 2021
Saturday Apr 24, 2021
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 NIV
A Time for Everything
3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. 15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before, and God will call the past to account.
-- How do you differentiate enjoying yourself from going too far?
Everything in the world and in life is subject to change. There are 4 different seasons in each year where I see how changes in nature transform around me right before my eyes. The same is true in life. There are multiple seasons of transformation between birth and death. Each season has its own character, benefits, and challenges. You have appointed the times and seasons, the events of my life, the happy and the sad, the easy and the difficult. Change has helped me to learn to adapt to new situations and to grow inside. Change stretches me. It challenges me by causing me to grow through the trials and tribulations of life. Some changes are out of my control and I feel helpless. Health issues, crime, national debt, abortion, murder, and hate are on the rise, and changes in the country and the world seem to be spinning out of control. It can be pretty discouraging. Some changes are not from You and I need to reject them. Help me to know the difference in what changes I need to accept from those that I need to reject. You have set eternity in my heart as my guide. Help me to remember that at all times You are in control. You have a purpose in what You do even if I have a hard time understanding what that purpose is. Help me to trust that You are not surprised by the changes I experience. They may be new to me, but they are not new to You. You know the beginning and the end and I am where You want me to be right now. You will provide all of my needs in every season because You love me so much. I thank You, God, that You are unchangeable. I can count on You to always be there. You won’t’ change Your mind about me. You have made everything beautiful in Your time. Thank You, Lord. Amen
Friday Apr 23, 2021
Daily Devotions - Put your hope in God
Friday Apr 23, 2021
Friday Apr 23, 2021
Psalm 42 NIV
For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah.
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him,
my Savior, and my God.
-- What causes God to feel far away at times?
Lord, I love You. I trust You. When life is going well, I go to church and soak up Your Word and sing your praises and feel content. But life is not always comfortable. Sometimes there are health problems, relationship challenges, financial struggles, or personal conflicts. There are daunting situations that shake me to my very core. There are times I am puzzled about what You are up to and wonder if You haven't forgotten me because nothing seems to be happening in the way I expect. My first response is to pray to You and believe that You hear my prayers. But as time goes on and I have to wait for answers, my trust falters, my strength weakens and my hope begins to crack. I cry out and beg for Your intervention but You are quiet. I need to wait. Waiting is the most difficult time, it is unsettling. Even if You would tell me, no, at least I know what I am dealing with and can move on. But when I wait I feel alone. It feels like You have left me. I know that Your plan is best and Your timing is perfect but the waiting time is crippling. I become restless and discouraged. Though it feels that You have forgotten me, I know the reality that You are the greatest security on which I can stand. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and keep trusting and obeying You through all the struggles, trials, and temptation. I hold fast to my hope in You and continue to praise You even when You seem far away. I need to remain in Your Word and cling to You in my times of waiting. Give me the patience. Open my eyes to see what You are doing in my life as I wait. Thank you that even when I doubt Your goodness, You direct your love towards me. Help me to keep trusting and obeying you in good times and in bad times and in all times. I rejoice in what you are doing, whether I like it, and understand it or not as an act of obedience and a sacrifice of praise. You are my Savior and my God. Amen
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Daily Devotions - Use my hands and feet for You
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Thursday Apr 22, 2021
Mark 9:42-50 NIV
Causing to Stumble
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
-- Short of amputating body parts, what do you need to cut out of your life in order to avoid sin?
Holy Father, thank You for Your grace and Your gift of salvation through the cross. There is nothing that I can do to make You love me less and nothing I need to do to make You love me more. But there are many stumbling blocks in life that can hinder my faith in You. It could be events, practices, attitudes, pet causes, habits, a relationship, or a career. It could be belonging to an unreligious group, reading books or watching programs that promote sin, attending an unbelieving school, or having close friends who are unbelievers. If I am tolerating sin, tolerating relative prayerlessness, tolerating a lack of urgency over lost souls, it is an indicator that something is wrong. If I notice a diminishing of my healthy fear of You or the loss of a sense of Your holiness, it is the time to take action. Lord, I plead with You to restore my heart. It is better to believe in You by having cut out things that detract from my faith than to keep those things that separate me from You. I ask You to prune faithless behaviors off of me and replace them with eyes that see those in need of help, hands willing to serve, and feet to run and tell someone the good news of Your salvation. Amen
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Daily Devotions - In Jesus' Name
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Mark 9:33-41 NIV
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
-- What does it mean to do something ‘in Jesus’ name”?
To do something in Jesus' name means that you are acknowledging that there is nothing we can really do without the strength or power of the Lord.
Lord, it is in you that I have my being! Every day you are my portion and my strength. You know when I go in and when I go out. I cannot hide from your Holy Spirit and your love is everlasting. Lord, there is nothing I can do apart from you and I am humbled that you have allowed me to access your great power and love to minister to those whom you love. You oh Lord are truly for me and with your strength, I shall not be afraid. May I always be prepared to serve anyone you would send my way. May your name be glorified forever! Amen
Today's prayer is submitted by Jo Schneider
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Daily Devotions - Love is greater than evil
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Mark 9:14-32 NIV
Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit
14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”
Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
-- How can you live with the full reality of evil and yet with the strong awareness of God’s transforming power?
Evil is real. The biggest power of evil is fear. The devil has used fear as his weapon to control and manipulate. What we tolerate is going to grow and as a result, fear has grown in our society today. In 2 Timothy it says God has not given you a spirit of fear but of power and love and of a sound mind. Fear is not an emotion, it is a demonic spirit. The spirit of fear is the enemy of power, a sound mind, and Your love. Any demonic fear makes me a powerless Christian. Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear is the number one enemy of Your love. When I give fear any place in my heart, I will not be able to feel Your love or operate with a sound mind. Your transforming power is crippled by my fear. But Your Word teaches me how to fight fear. 1 John 4:18 tells me that there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. There is no fear in love. You have not given me a spirit of fear but of power and love and of a sound mind. Help me to replace fear and negative what if's with faith in Your transforming love. You died for my sins and there are many stories in Your Word that prove how Your love transforms people and situations. I have seen Your transforming power in my life. Help me to remember these things and to trust that Your power is transforming the situation today. Peace comes through trusting in Your sovereign control and submitting to You in the midst of circumstances and believing that You will work it out for our good and Your glory. I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! You are a mighty and loving God. Everything is possible for one who believes. Your Word tells me that You are my refuge and strength, a very help in trouble! Lord, I receive Your love. I am a child of God. Your love is a transforming power. Let me boldly live in love and share Your love with others. Transform the fear in this world with Your powerful love for all people. Let Your great love spread like wildfire and burn out the demon of fear. You are sovereign over every situation and will bring about Your good purposes through Your love. Let me not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with Your good and perfect love. Amen
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Daily Devotions - God's glory in me
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Monday Apr 19, 2021
Mark 9:2-13 NIV
The Transfiguration
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
Where have you grasped a bit of the glory of Jesus in a special way?
God, You are omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, holy, and glorious. The magnificence and splendor displayed in the heavens and the earth point to Your glory, simply from the works of Your hands. Your glory isn’t dependent on anyone or anything else. Your glory reflects Your essential nature. You gave a glimpse of that physical glory to reinforce the disciples' faith after they learned about Your pending death. After Your resurrection, You actually shared Your glory with us when You sent Your Holy Spirit to dwell in our heart. This means Your strength, wisdom, love, peace, joy is present inside of each of us. When Your presence shows up, it makes You real and personal. You are no longer just the God who exists in the heavens, but You are the God who comes down wanting to dwell among us. You want to be with me. As I yield more to the Holy Spirit, I experience more of Your glory flowing in my life. There is no greater place than to be in Your presence, sensing the warmth of Your love and the joy of Your Spirit. When it shows up, all pride, ego, and boasting simply go out the window. Your glory is just too great. I experience how wonderful, majestic, and holy You are and how sinful and unworthy I am. I kneel before Your presence in honor and praise. As I surrender more to Your Holy Spirit the evidence of Your glory within me radiates to those around me. Today, I pray that Your glory invades my heart, my home, my church, my country, and the world. I boldly pray for a revival so that Your glory is visible for the whole world to see and experience. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.