Written by TWFYT
Sunday July 12

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace." Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

When Martin Luther's coworker became ill, the reformer prayed boldly for healing "I besought the Almighty with great vigor...quoting from Scripture all the promises I could remember...and said that He must grant my prayer, if I was henceforth to put faith in His promises." As John Wesley was crossing the Atlantic Ocean, his ship encountered a great storm. He was reading in his cabin when he learned that the winds were knocking the ship off course, so he responded in prayer. Adam Clark, a colleague, heard the prayer and recorded it: "Almighty God, thou hast swat everywhere, and all things serve the purpose of thy will...Command these winds and waves that they should obey thee, and take us speedily and safely to the haven whither we would go." Wesley stood up from his knees, took up his book, and continued to read. Adam Clark went on deck where he found calm winds and the ship on course. But Wesley made no remark about the answered prayer. Clark wrote, "So fully did he expect to be heard that he took it for granted that he was heard." Boldness in prayer is an uncomfortable thought for many. Pounding on the door of the Most High? Wrestling with God? Is such a a prayer irreverent? Presumptuous? It would be, had God not invited us to pray as such: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Are you in a
"time of need"? "Come boldly to the throne of grave," believing God to answer your prayer and move on your behalf.

Written by TWFYT
Saturday July 11

"The tongue has the power of life and death." Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Something powerful happens when we vocalize God's Word. "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Sometimes you have to say it like you believe it! Jesus literally spoke to the wind and the waves, right? He rebuked storms. He rebuked demons. He rebuked fevers. He even told us to tell the mountains to move! (See Mk 11:23). When you verbalize faith, you give it power. There are some things you should not say. When Jeremiah used his age as an excuse to sat no to God's call, the Lord rebuked him: "Say not, I am a child" (Jer 1:7 KJV). In other words, don't disqualify yourself if God has called you! Instead, speak life-giving, faith-filled. grace-laced words. Mark Batterson says: "There are some things I refuse to say because it gives them power. I call it my 'Say Not' list. What words need to go on your 'Say Not' list? I'm not just talking about four-letter words. Jesus said we'd give account for every idle word. The word idle means unemployed. An idle words is a useless, worthless word—a word that doesn't accomplish anything." Jesus also said in Matthew 12:34 (TLV) ,"For from the overflow of the heat the mouth speaks." so our words are x-rays of what's the inside. That's where the battle is won or lost. If we want our words to reflect His Word, that's where we've got to drop anchor. And when we do, the mind of Christ becomes our mindset too.

Written by TWFYT
Friday July 10

"Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!" Jos 6:16 NKJV

Jericho represented the greatest stronghold in Canaan, and it had to be conquered before Israel could move in and possess the land. So God told them to march around its walls once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. On the seventh day, "Joshua said to the people: "Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!'" Is there a stronghold in your life? Are you discouraged, thinking you've been battling for a long time with no sign of victory? It may have seemed that way to the Hebrews too. Notice that God told Joshua the walls would fall down on the seventh day, but Joshua didn't tell the people. They just had to keep walking. And the Lord doesn't tell us everything either! Through the pen of Paul, He urges us to "be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1Co 15:58 NKJV). So keep walking, keep praying, and keep believing. For all you know, this may be the day when the walls of your Jericho come down. You may be only  steps away from a moment like this: "And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell dow flat. Then...they took the city" (Jos 6:20 NKJV). The very walls that kept them out become stepping stones to victory. So keep marching and believing. Defeat your strongholds with the spiritual weapons of worship. Scripture and prayer. It's just a matter of time before your Jericho comes down.

Written by TWFYT
Thursday July 9

"If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew 10:42 NLT

Les Goldberg's friends thought he was crazy when he cashed in his personal investment to buy a home for the homeless. A retired engineer, Les felt it was the only decision he could make. He had spent a minimum of one hour each day with his homeless friends and had helped renovate several properties on their behalf. In all his efforts, Goldberg never regarded the homeless as irresponsible to unreliable; he only saw them as people. Hurting people! He figured the house he purchased could be used as both temporary shelter and a drop-in center—a place where homeless people might pick up mail, make phone calls, follow up on job leads, and receive donated commodities. Four homeless men lived at the house, paying minimal rent to offset expenses. House rules were strict: no alcohol, no drugs, no loitering. Goldberg has never been rich. For twenty years he ran his own business, making about $25,000 a year designing and installing fire sprinklers. He simply was a man who saw an unmet need and found a way to help meet it. Mother Teresa said: "We cannot all do great things, but we can all do small things with great love." Jesus put it this way: "If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." As you go through this day, keep your heart open and ask God to make you a solution to someone else's problems. When you do, "You will surely be rewarded."

Written by TWFYT
Wednesday July 8

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you...plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Nothing more gratifying than knowing one's purpose—even when opposition seems unbearable and other distractions threaten to overshadow it. Often when people say they don't have a passion for anything, they mean they don't have faith to believe they could actually do what they really desire in their hearts. Jesus refused to let anyone pull Him away from His purpose. "Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.' Jesus replied, 'Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?'" (Lk 12:13 NIV). In essence, Jesus was saying, "I'm not about to get distracted by conducting an arbitration hearing between you two. That's not part of My purpose for being here on earth." Even up to the day that Jesus gave His life on the cross, there were many sick people needing healing and a myriad of other  impossible situations, all could be addressed. So, despite unresolved problems, He confidently gave His Heavenly Father this report on His ministry: "I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do" (Jn 17:4 NLT). Jesus refused to let His disciples, Satan, well-meaning family members, needy people, to anyone else distract Him from His purpose. And you must learn to do that too. This raises the question: Can you state your God-given purpose in a single sentence? Are you pursuing it?

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday July 7

"Whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6

The Bible clearly teaches that those who give generously to God's kingdom purposes will receive something back in return for participating. Furthermore, there's a correlation between how much you give and how much you get back. "Whoever sows generously will also reap generously." This is good news for reluctant givers. When you give away something valuable, it can feel like a loss. You had something; now you don't. And that can be a tremendous disincentive to give more. But Paul put this concept in a completely different light. He said that giving to God's work is not giving something away. It's an investment, not a loss. The farmer who sows doesn't lose seed; he gains a crop. No rational farmer would say, "I'm afraid to sow my seed because then I won't have the seed anymore. What will happen if I need this seed?" Ant farmer knows that if he wants a crop, he must sow his seed. This is powerfulness for anyone who's afraid to give because of financial seed. When we do, God gets involved in our finances. And that's the most financially secure place we cold be. Why? Because when we give, it enables God to return to us more than we've given, to entrust more to us in this life. This in turn enables us to give more. "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion" (v. 11 NIV). That means if you give like you're supposed to, God will give you more.

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Monday July 6

"The wisdom from above is first of all pure." James 3:17 NLT

The Bible says that the wisdom that comes from this world is "earthy, sensual, demonic," because it comes from "envy and self-seeking" and "confusion and every evil thing" (vv. 15-16 NKJV). The wisdom you need comes from a different source: "The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere" (v. 17 NLT). People today have access to more knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts and information. Anyone can accumulate facts. Our problem is our lack of wisdom; we aren't able to take the facts we've learned and put them into practice in real-life situations and at points of need. If we're to put our faith into action, we'll need "the wisdom from above." As couples, we need it to build string marriages (see 1Pe 3:7). As parents, we need it for leading our children in the way they should go (see Pr 22:6). As Christian businesspeople, we need it to succeed in the marketplace (see Isa 48:17). If you're wise, you'll pray: "Lord, I invite You to work with me, to work in me, to work through me, and to work for me." That's a prayer He will answer.

Written by TWFYT
Sunday July 5

"Do good and...share with others." Hebrews 13:16 NIV

In the following Scriptures, the Bible teaches that God requires us to meet the needs of the less fortunate: "If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites...give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your and in everything you put your hand to" (Dt 15:7, 10 NIV). "Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. The Lord protects and preserves them—they are...blessed in the land—he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them form their bed of illness" (Ps 41:1-3 NIV). "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshed others will be refreshed" (Pr 11:24-25 NIV). "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need" (Ac 2:44-45 NIV). "Since you excel in everything...see that you also excel in this grace of giving" (2Co 8:7 NIV0. "Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Heb 13:16 NIV). "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?...Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (1Jn 3:17-18 NIV). So give to meet the needs of others.

Written by TWFYT
Saturday July 4

"Let us choose justice for ourselves; let us know among ourselves what is good." Job 34:4 NKJV

When you make a mistake or a bad decision, if you're wise, you'll learn from it by asking, "Where have I gone wrong?" Here are three ways to avoid making a bad decision: (1) Don't get involved where you don't belong. "Helping" without an invitation is called "meddling." No matter how well qualified you are, no matter how badly other people may be messing things up, stepping in where God hasn't called you to go never turns out well. Ask yourself, "What am I trying to avoid in my own life that makes me want to take over somebody else's life?" (2) Stop, think, and pray before you decide. "He who answers a matter before hears it, it is folly and shame to him" (Pr 18:13 NKJV). If you're an achievement junkie—someone who thinks that doing something, anything, feels better than waiting—you can make kneejerk choices that make things worse rather than better. Include key people in your decision-making and listen to the counsel of the Holy Spirit before taking action (see Jn 16:13). (3) Don't wait too long to decide. If you're a perfectionist, you're at risk here. You become so concerned about making the wrong choice that you make none at all. Making no choice is actually a choice. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (Jas 1:5 NKJV). Best case? You'll show courage and concern for others and improve things. Worst case? You'll make a mistake and grow wiser because of it.

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Friday July 3

"[God] has given each one of us a special gift." Ephesians 4:7 NLT

Paul said that when Jesus "ascended to the heights, and led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people" (v. 8 NLT). He used the metaphor of a victorious king. It was common in Paul's day for the conquering monarch to return to his palace with prisoners and treasures in tow. He celebrated his conquest by giving gifts to his people. So did Jesus. Having defeated sin and death on the cross. He ascended to heaven, took His rightful place at the right hand of God, and "gave gifts to His people." What a delightful thought! Jesus, eternally crowned, distributing abilities and skills: "Joe, take your place in the domain of medicine. Mary, your territory is accounting." Each person is given something to do that shows who God is" (1Co 12:7 MSG). Our inheritance is grace-based and equal, but our assignments are tailor-made. No two snowflakes are the same. No two fingerprints are the same. Why would two skill sets be the same? No wonder Paul said, "Make sure you understand what the Master wants" (Eph 5:17 MSG). Do you understand what the Master wants? If not, you'll lead a dull, joyless, and fruitless life. You'll never sing the song God wrote for your voice and never cross the finish line with heavenward stretched arms and declare, "I was made to do this!" That's why the Bible says: "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that" (Gal 6:4 MSG).

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Thursday July 2

"May I never forget the good things he does for me." Psalm 103:2 NLT

It's the bad days that help us to appreciate the good days. Without them, we'd have no comparison point. David was talking to himself one day, and he recorded his thoughts for us: "May I never forget the good things he does for me." Here are six "good things" worth thinking about: (1) If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week. (2) If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are better off than five hundred million people in the world. (3) If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. (4) If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of the world. (5) If you have money in the bank or in your wallet, or spare change in a dish someplace, you rank among the top 8 percent of the world's wealthy. (6) If you can read this devotion, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all. There is always someone who is worse off. That doesn't mean to revel in other people's misery. But it ought to heighten your Christ-like compassion and give you a sense of gratitude that spills over into thanksgiving each day.

Written by TWFYT
Wednesday July 1

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 NIV

Some of the world's most successful people were told by so-called experts that they didn't have what it took to be a success in the professions they had chosen. In 1927, Lucille Ball was told by an art instructor at the John Murray Anderson Drama School, "Try any other profession. Any other." Universal Pictures dismissed both Client Eastwood and Burt Reynolds, claiming that Reynolds had no talent and Eastwood talked too slowly. Malcom Forbes, the late editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, failed to become part of the staff of his school newspaper when he was an undergraduate at Princeton University. Decca Recording Company executives responded negatively to the audition of four young musicians, saying, "We don't like their sound. Groups with guitars are on the way out." So the Beatles took their sound elsewhere. For seven years, a young inventor named Chester Carlson took his idea to twenty corporations, all of which turned him down. The Haloid Company finally purchased the rights to his electronic paper-copying process. And Haloid became Xerox. Don't be discouraged you are not finding the acceptance and success you desire right now. Your story is still being written! The Bible says, "Do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Heb 6:12 NKJV). Faith and patience are the two qualities that will bring you success. This is why the apostle Paul wrote: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Written by TWFYT
Tuesday June 30

"Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?" 1 Samuel 17:26 NKJV

Fourteen generations before David fought Goliath, God told Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse" (Ge 12:3 NIV). Later, God extended this covenant to Abraham's descendants and inserted a key provision: "You are ti undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you" (Ge 17:11 NIV). Apparently, no on in Saul's army, including Saul himself, remembered they had a covenant with God, which led David to ask, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" David was asking, "How could this man, who has no covenant with God, even think about conquering us?" How strong is your faith in God's covenant to bless, protect, and prosper those who are in right standing with Him? If you continue to run from the giants in your life, you won't tolerate any giant in your life. Did you know that you're an heir to the same covenant of blessing that God gave Abraham? "If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal 3:29 NIV). David rested on a covenant of protection that was fourteen generations old and is still good today. The story of David and Goliath is representative of the many battles we face on a regular basis: good over evil, God's power over man's strength, and faith over fear. Whatever the situation, we can rest on God's Word: "We who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said" (Heb 4:3 NIV).

Written by TWFYT
Monday June 29

"Christ...entered...into heaven...to appear in the presence of God for us." Hebrews 9:24 NKJV

Growing up, many of us had no clue what our parents did forty hours a week. We might have known where they worked, but we weren't altogether sure what they did. In much the same way, most of us don't really know what Jesus does all day. And our lack of holy confidence stems from that very fact. So what does Jesus do all day, every day? He's pleading your cause. All you have to do is plead the blood. That phrase has fallen out of circulation in some circles. In part because of its misapplication. Let's see if we can revive it. Pleading the blood is not some superstition. And it's not an abracadabra; it's an awareness of your authority in Christ. It's an understanding that your forgiveness has already been paid for in blood money. It's coming to terms with the fact that we overcome Satan by the blood of the lamb (See Rev 12:11). Christ is in your corner, which means you have the full backing of the King and His Kingdom. His full blessing—His full authority! Satan would like to make you doubt that. Remember what he said to Eve in the Garden of Eden: "Has God indeed said...?" (Ge 3:1 NKJV). Translation? "God is holding out in you!" If Satan can get you to distrust God's goodness, he wins, and you lose. Is it possible that because you're holding out in God, you think God is holding out on you? Go all in with God! If you don't hold out on Him, He surely won't hold out on you.

Written by TWFYT
Sunday June 28

"If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1 NKJV

You might not know the name Angelo Dundee, but you've undoubtedly heard of world champion boxer Muhammed Ali. For more than two decades, Angelo was in Muhammed Ali's corner—literally. He was Ali's corner man! He also trained other world boxing champions. One of the great descriptions of Jesus is, "He's our "Corner man!" "If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." In his letter to Timothy, Paul exhorts us to "fight the goo fight" (1Ti 6:12 NIV). And you're going to get knocked down a time or two. But you've got a Corner man who once went three rounds with death itself. He got knocked down at the cross, but He got back up three days later. He walked out of the tomb, winning the fight against sin and death. Where is He now? He's at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you. In other words, Christ is in your corner! And He's not the only one. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the "paraclete," which translates English as comforter and counselor. Paraclete is a military term referring to Roman soldiers who would fight back-to-back when they got into hand-to-hand combat. They protected each other's blind side, and that's what the Holy Spirit does. The Holy Spirit has got your back. And Christ is in your corner. The prophet Isaiah calls Him our rear guard: "The Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard" (Isa 52:12 NIV). You don't just have one member of the Godhead interceding for you—you have two!

Written by TWFYT
Saturday June 27

"Whatever things are...praiseworthy—meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Experts estimate that we have 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts a day. So let's use 60,000 as a happy medium. And let's observe four important things about our thoughts: (1) Psychologists say that 98 to 99 percent of our thoughts are habitual. In other words, they are basically the same thoughts we had yesterday, and the day before yesterday, and the day before that. Your mind must be renewed day by day (see Ro 12:2). You can't keep thinking the same things and except a different outlook. What's the answer? Take on a learning mindset! "In all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you" (Pr 4:7-8 NKJV). (2) Only 12 percent of our thoughts are focused on the future. But faith, by definition, is future oriented. "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for" (Heb 11:1 NLT). (3) A Harvard University study found that the average person spends 46.9 percent of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they are presently doing. And psychologist say, "A wandering mind is an unhappy mind." Of course, the most obvious culprits are the digital devices that keep us disengaged. Nothing dumbs down our ability to dream like our so-called smartphones! (4) The Cleveland Clinic estimates that 80 percent of our thoughts are negative. That's 48,000 negative thoughts per day! And when we verbalize those thoughts, it compounds the problem. What's the answer? "Whatever things are...noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (NKJV).

Written by TWFYT
Friday June 26

"Bringing every thought into captivity." 2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV

Author Max Lucado wrote: "Some time back, a mother asked me to pray for her eight-year-old son. He was troubles by a constant barrage of images and scary visions that left him withdrawn and timid. They even took his sleep at night. On the day we met, his eyes filled with tears, and he clung to his mother. She had taken him to doctors, but nothing had helped. I told him that the devil had no authority over his life. That the real battles are fought in the mind. That God will help up tae every thought captive. I urged him to memorize a Bible verse and quote it each time the fearful thoughts came to his mind. 'Reach up with your hand,' I urged, 'and grab the thought and throw it in the trash. And as quickly as you do that, replace it with a verse of Scripture.' We then anointed him with oil and prayed for him. Five days later, his mother reported great progress. 'Since last week, the images are gone; he is no longer seeing them. He recited this Scripture from Psalm 25:5 NKJV nightly: 'Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation.' I believe this has brought him closer to Christ. He uses the strategy of throwing the fearful thoughts away in the trash can. He said when he tried to throw them away, his head would hurt. I asked, 'What made them go away?' He smiled and said, 'I know God made them go away.'" So the word for you today is—"Grab it, and throw it in the trash."

Written by TWFYT
Thursday June 25

"Pray for one another, that you may be healed." James 5:16 NKJV

Christian cardiologist Dr. Randolph Byrd had a great interest in knowing if prayer had a "scientifically measurable" impact on healing. He has said, "After much prayer, the idea of what to do came to me." Over a ten-month period, a computer assigned 393 patients in the coronary care unit at San Francisco General Hospital to one of two groups. The first group was prayed for by home prayer groups. The second group was not remembered in prayer. The home prayer groups were from various Christian denominations. They were given only the first names of the patients and brief descriptions of their diagnoses and conditions. They were prayed for each day. They prayed-for patients differed from those not prayed for in these ways: (1) They were five times less likely to need antibiotics. (2) They were three times less likely to develop fluid in the lungs. (3) None required an artificial attached to a ventilator. (4) Fewer died. If the technique being studied had been a new drug or procedure, it would have been heralded as a breakthrough. Even Dr. William Nolan, the author of a book denouncing faith healing, said, "It sounds like this study will stand up to scrutiny...Maybe we doctors ought to be writing on our order sheets, 'Pray three times a day.'" In the Old Testament, we read: '"For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,' says the Lord" (Jer 30:17 NKJV). In the New Testament, James wrote: "The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up..Pray for one another, that you may be healed" (Jas 5:15-16 NKJV). 

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Wednesday June 24

"Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" Amos 3:3 NKJV

It's not secret that today, the majority of marriages fail because of financial issues. Other relationships can also be threatened when we fail to repay a personal loan or meet our financial expectations. The following three strategies will go a long way in mitigating these pitfalls: (1) Discuss with your spouse the maximum amount each of you may spend without getting the other's permission. Any amount above this limit will be considered "major" and will require complete agreement. Every couple defines a "major" purchase differently, depending on their household income, so stick to what has been agreed on. This is important. If you do not agree in a transaction, when the deal goes bad, the tendency is to point fingers. (2) Advise your family that personal loans are against your "house policy." Should you decide to make an exception to the policy, make sure your spouse is in compete agreement. If you are wise, you will put the terms and the due dates in writing. (3) Don't enable your child, spouse or anyone else to remain irresponsible by bailing him or her out or always being their safety net. Just say no. By not saying no, you interrupt one of God's most effective principles—sowing and reaping the consequences of individual behavior. Real maturity occurs when this lesson is learned. Love must be tough! If you are an enabler, ask God right now to give you the strength to stop being so. For example, insist on that rent check from your still stay-at-home adult child. This demonstrates character-building love, which is genuine love. If you need to set financial boundaries, do it!

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Tuesday June 23

"Go...teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV

The words Jesus spoke changed the world forever. These were the last instructions to His disciples: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (vv. 18-20 NKJV). Jesus' followers took this seriously: "Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ" (Ac 5:42 NKJV). They remembered that they followed a man who taught everyone, and who commanded them to teach all peoples. So they did. They began to teach both men and women, both slaves and free. Some of the world's greatest teaching institutions were founded by followers of Christ. Oxford and Cambridge Universities began in the thirteenth century. (The motto of Oxford University is: "The Lord is my light" Psalm 27:1). George Marsden noted: "One of the remarkable facts about American history is that within six years of landing in Massachusetts, Puritans established what would soon become a reputable college." These words are from a student handbook: "Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life (John 17:3), and therefore to lay Christ...as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning." That was Harvard University! And 92 percent of the first 138 colleges and universities founded in America were begun by followers of Christ. His words not only inform us; they also transform us.

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Monday June 22

"Only the Lord gives wisdom." Proverbs 2:6 NCV

Here's Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church: "That...God...may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation" (Eph 1:17 NKJV). For the Colossian church, he asked that God would fill them with "the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Col 1:9 NKJV). James wrote: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God...and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting" (Jas 1:5-6 NKJV). Godly wisdom also comes to us by Bible reading. This is why Paul, in his last letter before being beheaded for the gospel, wrote to his successor Timothy and said, "From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are unable to make you wise for salvation" (2Ti 3:15 NKJV). How would you know that the wisdom you're walking in comes from God? "God's wisdom begins with a holy life...characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced" (Jas 3:17 MSG). As young Solomon took the throne of Israel God asked him, "What shall I give you?" (1Ki 3:5 NKJV). Solomon answered: "'Give to Your servant an understanding heart.' The speech please the Lord, that Solomon has asked this thing" (1Ki 3:9-10 NKJV). As a result, Solomon became known as one of the wisest men who ever lived, and hr wrote three of the books of the Bible. And the God who gave him wisdom will give it to you too. All you have to do is pray for it and open your heart and mind to His Word.

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Father's Day - Sunday June 21

"The children whim God has graciously given." Genesis 33:5 NKJV

When we hear the phrase "empty nest," we often think of mothers going through pain and depression as their children move away. But research shows that fathers feel the pain as well—in many cases more intensely than their wives. The movie Father of the Bride is hilarious. But it's also a touching tribute to the love of a father for his daughter. When George, the dad, sits across from his daughter at the dinner table and learns that she's engaged, he takes the news hard. He can't believe what he's hearing. He has to clear his vision because he sees her as his baby girl, then as the tomboy of eight or ten years, and finally as a beautiful young woman of twenty-one. His little girl has grown up, and she's leaving him. He will never agin be the main man in the life of this baby, this little girl, or this beautiful young adult. A part of his life is over, and there's grieving to be done. George's experience is not so unusual. A study asked 400 parents of college freshmen to report their feelings when their son or daughter left home. Surprisingly to some, the fathers took it harder than the mothers. Why? One of the chief explanations was regret. These father had been so busy, working so hard, that they suddenly realized it was too late to build relationships with their grown children. So if you still have teenagers at home, make a decision to regularly enjoy your remaining time with them. Those days will be gone in the blink of an eye.

Written by TWFYT
Saturday June 20

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'" Isaiah 6:8 NKJV

Do you remember the ten spies who doubted God's ability to deliver on His promise and dissuaded the Israelites from entering the Promised Land? Their doubt was so offensive to God—He had already revealed His power to them through the exodus from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea—that God executed judgement on the spot. The very next day, the Israelites did an about-face. They changed their minds, but it was too little, too late. One day's delay cost them forty years! They missed out on the Promised Land because their reaction time was too slow. Now that doesn't mean you should live in fear of missing out. After all, God is the God of second chances (see Jnh 3:1). But please understand this: inaction is an action, and indecision is a decision. When you're dealing with God, your response time is all important. Paul's ministry began when he had a life-changing encounter with Christ on the Damascus road. Immediately he fell to his knees and cried out: "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Ac 9:6 NKJV). In the book of Isaiah, when heaven opened and God said, "'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" immediately the prophet Isaiah said, "'Here am I! Send me.' And He said, 'Go, and tell this people'" (Isa 6:8-9 NKJV). You don't want to get ahead of God, and you don't want to lag behind Him. What you want to do is seize the opportunities He gives you as quickly, as decisively, and as boldly as you possibly can. Your reaction time matters.

Written by TWFYT
Friday June 19

"The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God." 2 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV

Today's problem is not necessarily tomorrow's problem. Don't incarcerate yourself by assuming it is. Resist self-labeling: "I'm just a worrier." "Gossip is my weakness." My dad was a drinker; I guess I'll carry on the tradition." Stop that! These words create alliances with the devil. They grant him access to your spirit. It's not God's will that you live a defeated, unhappy life. Turn a deaf ear to the old voices and make new choices. "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance" (Ps 16:6 NKJV). Live out of your inheritance, not your circumstances. God has already promised you victory and provided you with weapons for the fight. "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (2Co 10:3-4 NKJV). How did Joshua conquer Jericho? By using God's strategy: "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord" (Jos 6:6 NKJV). The ark of the covenant was the symbol of God's presence. Joshua placed it in the middle of the procession. Every activity orbited around God. The secret of victory is to keep God center stage in your life, using the weapons of worship, Scripture, and prayer. Employ every tool God offers: Scripture memorization and petition. Turn off the TV and open the Bible more. Worry less and pray more. You can conquer your hang-ups by drawing daily on the presence of God.

Written by TWFYT
Thursday June 18

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed." Jeremiah 17:14 NKJV

Dr. A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, was plagued with poor health. Two nervous breakdowns and a heart condition led to a physician telling him—at age thirty-eight—he wouldn't live to be forty. The diagnosis was no surprise to Simpson. Preaching was agonizing for him; even climbing a slight elevation left him breathless. in desperation, he went to his Bible to find out what Jesus had to say about disease, and he became convinced that Jesus wanted to heal him. Shortly after, he went for a walk in the country. Coming to a pine woods, he sat down on a log to rest and pray. He asked about Christ to become his physical life until his life's work was accomplished. He later said, "Every fiber in me was tingling with the sense of God's presence." Days later, he climbed a 3,000 sermons in the next three years, sometimes holding twenty meetings a week. He became a prolific author whose books are still blessing the world. And he died—at the age of seventy-six. In the Bible, Jeremiah prayed: "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed." David said, "O Lord my God, I cried out you You, and You healed me...You brought my soul up from the grave" (Ps 30:2-3 NKJV). Isaiah said, "You will restore me and make me live" (Isa 38:16 NKJV). So pray and believe God for healing.