Today's Verse: And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. ~Numbers 21:23   What is the most gigantic problem you have ever faced? Whatever it may have been, it stood between you and success. This morning, let us see an incident that teaches us the importance of not letting the giants in our life intimidate us or cause

Today's Verse: What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?  ~Psalm 34:12 People, as they get older, will sometimes tell their family and friends, “I’ve lived a good life.” By what means are we qualifying a good life? Is it our comfort level? Is it our success? Is it our career achievements? Is it our travel? David gives us the biblical perspective on what constitutes a “good life.” Everyone wants a good life and Psalm 34 tells us how it is a

Today's Verse: Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ~Hebrews 4:14   A few years ago, I took members of my family out of town for a family trip. On the first day of our arrival, I took my granddaughter to see the ocean waves. As I knelt down holding her to touch the water on the shoreline, we both were surprised by a rogue wave about two feet high that got both of us wet. She was v

Today's Verse: My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. ~Psalm 31:15   Have you ever been involved in a life-or-death situation where your ultimate fate was in someone else’s hands, and you said, “I’m putting my life into your hands”? This is absolute trust. It is when your input, ideas, and know-how are useless and only the person who is stronger and more knowledgeable can get you through your situation. David was a

Today's Verse: And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. ~Exodus 30:1     And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. ~Revelation 8:3   The burning of incense was an integral part of worship after the building of the altar of incense. Incense was composed of

Today's Verse: Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. ~Isaiah 35:6   Death Valley is said to be the largest national park outside of Alaska, covering 3.3 million acres of land. It is primarily a desert location with extreme conditions and weather. Death Valley is the hottest and driest place in America, with summer temperatures peaking above 120 °F and average rainfall

Today's Verse: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. ~Isaiah 61:3   Several years ago, an area three hours north of us was completely ravaged by a wildfire. This fire devastated over 151,000 acres, decimated an entire city, displaced thousands of survivors,

Today's Verse: The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. ~Psalm 28:7   Psalm 28 was written either during David’s flight from Saul or Absalom. There were moments when the closeness of his adversaries made him think life was over. He was overcome with incredible fears. Yet, as this psalm progresses, there is a major shift in his tone and outlook. As we meditate on t

Today's Verse: I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: ~Psalm 26:6   There was a time many years ago when doctors were concerned about the high mortality rate of babies who died shortly after birth due to infections. They learned that these deaths could have been avoided by simply washing their hands before touching a patient. Today, it is a standard practice for doctors and medical professionals to wash their hands with bacterial soap unde

Today's Verse: And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. ~Matthew 26:40-41   What time of the day do you consider your energy and strength levels to be your best? For me, it is the early morning hours after I have had a good night’s rest. I try to do my most vigorous physical exercises during

Today's Verse: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. ~Isaiah 26:3   There is one thing many adults are seeking in their lives, and that is peace. We live in a world of unrest, strife, conflicts, and cumbersome burdens. I meet many people each week whose lives are in conflict and anxiety. Isaiah experienced what it was like to have unrest and anxiety, but the day came when he discovered that God wants us to have peace,

Today's Verse: Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. ~Genesis 42:1-2   Our devotion this morning takes us to a famine in Egypt and the surrounding areas. A famine is when there is a scarcity of food. Famines result in food shortages, hunger, loss of jobs, large-scal

Today's Verse: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: ~Job 19:25   In life, we will face difficulties and suffering that will push us to the extreme when it comes to patience and resilience. When these difficult times come, how will you respond? Will you succumb and give in, or will you be unbroken and strong? This morning, let us see how Job encourages us to be unbroken in faith and spirit when we have a very trying affl

Today's Verse: But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. ~Acts 16:28   From the moment a little child is able to crawl, all of our lives revolve around being safe and careful. When a novice and unskilled person first learns how to use sharp instruments or a firearm, the one teaching him will usually tell the student, “Don’t hurt yourself.” This morning, we see Paul shouting out a command to a man who thought that the only way out of a

Today's Verse: And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: ~Acts 20:22   In the area of executive compensation, profitable corporations look for ways to keep their best executives from leaving. One tactic that is used is called “golden handcuffs.” This is a compensation package that promises to pay out an exorbitant amount of money to the executive as long as he contractually agrees to stay with the company and

Today's Verses:  And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil. Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. ~Deuteronomy 33:24-25   One of our current health trends is the benefit of essential oils. From soothing sore muscles and relieving chronic pain to promoting restful sleep and overall health improvement, essence oils are recognized as a natural means of s

Today's Verse: Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. ~Ezekiel 37:9    Several years ago, I was returning from preaching at a revival conference, and I needed to make a connecting flight in Dallas, TX. I got into the terminal at 5:40pm, and I needed to make it to another terminal that was at least 15-20 minutes away.

Today's Verse: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. ~Job 13:15   “In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States of America and of the state of Florida. It was adopted as the nation's motto in 1956 as a replacement to the unofficial motto of E pluribus unum , which was adopted when the Great Seal of the United States was created and adopted in 1782 (Wikipedia). This morning, we reflect on a powerful decision by

Today's Verse: Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. ~Proverbs 19:2   Your soul is the real you. The soul is the most important thing about you. Your soul is eternal. Jesus said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). This morning, let us consider some valuable things that Solomon had to say about the soul.    Let us see the building of the soul.  “A

Today's Verse: Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. ~Psalm 37:1   A few years...