Today’s Reading: Psalm 119

How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. — Psalm 119:103

I fell in love with the Bible at a young age. I have my first Bible, and I can still remember the excitement of searching to find the text for the sermon or the verse for the Sunday School lesson. Later, I got involved in Bible quizzing and my love for the scriptures intensified as I spent hours memorizing the scriptures and perfecting my recall. God’s word is still a big part of my life today. It’s my favorite way to spend my morning and I find myself hungry for a word from the Lord.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. — Psalm 119:105

The Bible is unlike any other book we can read because it is alive. When we spend time soaking in the scriptures, it changes us. It is God-breathed and powerful. The Spirit accompanies God’s word and speaks to us through the ancient writings. We gain an understanding of who God is and what His plan is for our life, and the Spirit reveals the areas in our life where we are falling short of fully letting God have control. The moment we read the word, it becomes active in our life.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. — Hebrews 4:12

It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it. — Isaiah 55:11

When we long to hear from God, the first place we should go is to the Bible. God uses His written word to speak into our lives, to answer our questions, and to guide us through even the most difficult of situations. When we need Him most, He is there for us. If you seek Him in the Scriptures, you will find Him.

Do not snatch your word of truth from me,
for your regulations are my only hope.
I will keep on obeying your instructions
forever and ever.
I will walk in freedom,
for I have devoted myself to your commandments.
I will speak to kings about your laws,
and I will not be ashamed.
How I delight in your commands!
How I love them!
I honor and love your commands.
I meditate on your decrees. – Psalm 119:43-48

May God bless your time in His Word this morning! May you hear from Him in a special way as you open up your heart to all He wants to teach you today.

Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide…
I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word.
I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well.
How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.
Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. — Psalm 119:97-98, 101-104

Today’s Reading: Psalm 29, 46 & 95

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. — 1 Kings 19:11-13

HAVE YOU EVER LONGED TO HEAR THE VOICE OF THE LORD?

When Kari Jobe came out with her song “Speak to Me”, it resonated with my heart. There have been so many moments in my life when I longed to hear from God; there have been times when I prayed for a word from the Lord to get me through a situation or to lift my spirits. God is faithful and He speaks to us in so many ways — sometimes audibly and sometimes in a gentle whisper.

The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.
The God of glory thunders.
The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;
the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf;
he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord strikes
with bolts of lightning.
The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks
and strips the forests bare.
In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” — Psalm 29:3-9

Years ago, I heard the voice of God loudly say, “Stop!” I was driving home from church and all three of my girls were buckled into their car seats behind me. We were approaching one of the busiest intersections in town, and I stopped at the red light. When the light turned green, I took my foot off the brake and applied pressure to the gas pedal. As I started to roll forward, I heard an audible voice tell me to stop. As I slammed on the brakes, a semi-truck came barreling through the intersection just inches from the nose of the van. I did not see it until it was right in front of me. I have no doubt that God spoke to me that day in order to save all four of our lives — it was not a gentle whisper, but a loud voice.

“Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. — John 12:27-30

Most of the time, God speaks to us through other people or through His written word — the Bible. But there are times in our lives when God allows us to hear His voice in order to teach us or to strengthen our faith. There are times when He clearly instructs us, like He did for Moses on Mount Sinai:

“Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the Lord called out to him, ‘I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with terror and did not dare to look.

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.’” — Acts 7:30-34

I encourage you to spend time this week listening for the voice of God. Spend time in His word; find a quiet place to sit and wait on the Lord. Seek Him and He will be found — sometimes in a gentle whisper and at times in a loud voice; sometimes through a verse of scripture and at times through a preacher or friend who has been given a word for you. Give God your attention and listen for the voice of the Lord.

The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts! – Psalm 46:6

Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over,
the flock under his care.
If only you would listen to his voice today! – Psalm 95:6-7

Today’s Reading: Psalm 25 & 26

O Lord, I give my life to you.
I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you. — Psalm 25:1-5

I am so thankful this morning that I serve a God who sets a path before me, even when I am not sure where the road will take me. When we put our trust in the One who created us, allowing Him to use us for the purpose for which He created us, we can know that He will be with us every step of the way. And when we stray from the path He has planned for us, He is there to guide us back. He does not leave the journey unfinished and He does not leave us where He found us. If we will humble ourselves before the Lord in repentance, He will lead us back into a right relationship with Him.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
which you have shown from long ages past.
Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
for you are merciful, O Lord.
The Lord is good and does what is right;
he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
He leads the humble in doing right,
teaching them his way.
The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
For the honor of your name, O Lord,
forgive my many, many sins. — Psalm 25:6-11

This Psalm, written by King David, shows the repentant heart of a man who had strayed far from the path God had laid out before him. He had seen the generous provisions of God, yet reached beyond what was His to take what was someone else’s. This reaching caused him to get completely off balance with God and he quickly lost his way. One sin covered up another sin, which covered up another sin, until the multitude of bad decisions overwhelmed him. He found himself off course and cried out for God to rescue him from the mess he had made. “Lord, I give my life to you…point out the road for me to follow…forgive my many, many sins.”

The same grace displayed towards David is available for us today. Have you gotten off course? Perhaps today is the day to pray Psalm 25 and allow your Creator to get you back where you need to be — back on the path He planned for you long ago. God is ready to give you a fresh start so that you can live with integrity, standing on the solid ground of a right relationship with the Lord. When those around you try to point out the sins of your past, your God can declare you innocent. Put your trust in the Lord and do not waver from the path He has set out for you.

Who are those who fear the Lord?
He will show them the path they should choose.
They will live in prosperity,
and their children will inherit the land.
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
He teaches them his covenant.
My eyes are always on the Lord,
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.
Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.
O God, ransom Israel from all its troubles. — Psalm 25:12-22

Today’s Reading: Psalm 24 & 104

Let all that I am praise the Lord.
O Lord my God, how great you are!
You are robed with honor and majesty.
You are dressed in a robe of light.
You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.
You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind.
The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants. – Psalm 104:1-4

Those who know me well know that autumn is my favorite time of year. I love the cooler temperatures, the smell of backyard fires, and the fall decorations. I love going to Friday night football games and Saturday fall festivals. I love the anticipation of Thanksgiving and Christmas that we often feel in the fall, but most of all I love the beauty of the changing leaves on the trees.

Fall is also fundraising season for the nonprofit I work for, so I have the privilege of doing a little extra traveling as I try to make it to as many banquets as I can. A few years ago, I was driving to Jacksonville, Illinois, for their Annual Fundraising Banquet, and I chose to cut through Spoon River territory in order to enjoy the beauty of the fall leaves. Typically I map out the route that will take me the least time, but that year I decided to take the scenic route, and I was not disappointed.

The weather that day was gorgeous. The temperature was comfortable and the sun was shining down on the trees. You could see all the gorgeous colors of the changing leaves. Red, yellow, orange and purple mixed in with so many shades of green. The beauty was breathtaking! Every time I came up over a hill, I would anticipate what the next mile was going to look like and I was rarely disappointed.

To make it even better, there was just a slight breeze that caused the leaves to slowly drift down across the road. It was raining down the colorful leaves around me and I was caught in the beauty of the season. I found myself praising God for the beauty of the leaves and the grand effect the sun had on the leaves as it shone brightly down.

The next day I drove to Shelbyville, Illinois, for another banquet, but the weather that day was much different than it had been the day before. It was cold and rainy, and clouds covered the sky. I have to admit there was very little beauty to be in awe of that day. The clouds were blocking the effect of the sun and the result was that the scenery was much less breathtaking.

Now, consider this. Were the trees any less beautiful on Friday than they were on Thursday? Did they have less color or less variety of colors? No, the trees themselves were the same. The difference was in the lack of sunshine. It is amazing the difference it makes to have the sun shining down on or shining through the trees. The beauty is still there, God’s creation is still quite gorgeous, but its beauty is hidden or veiled by the clouds and the rain on the windshield.

God spoke to me on that second day of traveling. He showed me that there is beauty in every circumstance of life and in every person I come in contact with. But He also showed me that, just as the beauty of the fall colors is dimmed by the lack of the SUN, the beauty of people is often dimmed by the lack of His SON — the lack of Jesus in their life. Their potential remains the same; their beauty is there but waiting for the enhancement of God’s son, Jesus Christ, to shine down and make a difference in the appearance of their life.

When we think of autumn, we often think of it as being a season of change. The temperatures are changing, the leaves are changing, and the foods are changing. This is probably what I love so much about this time of year. And more than ever, this has been a season of change for Scott and I. We are once again living in a new community and looking forward to being available for God to use during this next season of our lives.

What change is the Lord leading you through in this season of life? Is the SON shining down on your circumstances and showing you the beauty all around you, or do you find your blessings hiding under the clouds that today has brought? Perhaps this morning would be a good time to look for the beauty of the season and intentionally list out all the good that God is surrounding you with. Look at your day through a different lens — a lens of acceptance and submission, a lens of optimism that sees the beauty surrounding you. Ask God to make His presence known to you as you give Him praise for the season you find yourself in today.

May the glory of the Lord continue forever!
The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
The earth trembles at his glance;
the mountains smoke at his touch.
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord…
Let all that I am praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord! — Psalm 104:31-35

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas
and built it on the ocean depths.
Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols and never tell lies.
They will receive the Lord’s blessing
and have a right relationship with God their savior.
Such people may seek you
and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. — Psalm 24:1-6

Today’s Reading: Psalm 37

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act. — Psalm 37:7a

This morning I am overwhelmingly grateful for a God whose presence is available for us to experience every day. On the good days, He is present; on the hard days, He is faithful. What has God done for you this week? In what ways has God provided for you over this last year? With intentionality, let’s consider what the Lord has brought us through and give Him the glory. Perhaps it was comfort that you received from God, or perhaps peace when it did not make sense to be calm. If God has answered your prayers, take a moment to thank Him again and give Him glory by sharing your story of God’s faithfulness with someone today.

Now, from a place of recognition that God has been faithful in your past, let your requests be known to the Lord. What do you need Him to do today? Take all that is heavy on your heart and place it in the hands of the Father who loves to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11). When sorrow is pressing in, find your way back to gratitude and then be still in His presence, waiting patiently for the Lord to act.

Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. – Psalm 37:3-4

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. – Psalm 37:5-6

At times, we are faced with situations that cause us to question God’s presence. Perhaps you are even now praying for healing for yourself or a loved one, or perhaps you are suffering an injustice or your motives have been misunderstood. Let’s sit in a place of trust this morning, knowing that God is in control and He is aware of all the details of our lives. He will never leave us; never will He forsake us. He will never fail us or abandon us (Deuteronomy 31:6).

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread. — Psalm 37:23-25

This morning let’s soak in these promises found in scripture and know that God is present in our lives — during the good and the bad times. Know that God will never abandon us. We can trust the Lord, we should trust the Lord, and we must trust the Lord. Walking in faith requires it, even when it is easier said than done.

Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough. – Psalm 37:18-19

Put your hope in the Lord.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed. – Psalm 37:34

The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.
The Lord helps them. Reducing them from the wicked.
He saves them, and they find shelter in him. – Psalm 37:39-40

I encourage you this morning to soak in the lyrics of the Elevation Worship song by Steven Furtick and Chris Brown titled “Won’t Stop Now” [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjoA6n5GfXs ]. The lyrics to the song go so well with the promises found in Psalm 37. I pray the Lord encourages you today. I pray you are able to trust Him with everything going on in your life and with your loved ones for whom your heart is heavy. May you be reminded this morning of His faithfulness as you wait patiently for the Lord to move on your behalf. Rest in the truth that God has not abandoned you and He never will.

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act. — Psalm 37:7a

Today’s Reading: Psalm 56

Have you ever felt alone? Have loneliness and fear ever pressed in, trying to convince you that you are all by yourself — that nobody is paying attention to you because nobody cares? My friend, that is exactly what the Father of Lies wants you to believe. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44b).

But Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). As he was ascending into heaven, Jesus said, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He also told his disciples that the Father was sending another Advocate to them, one that would never leave them. “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth” (John 14:16-17).

So take time this morning to allow the Holy Spirit to remind you that God is with you, that God is for you, and that God will never leave you. No matter what is ahead, God loves you enough to stay with you.

YOU ARE WITH ME

In time of famine, when everything he built kept getting taken away from him, God told Isaac, “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you” (Genesis 26:24).

When life as he knew it was changing, and Jacob was on the run from the decisions he had made, God spoke up: “What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you” (Genesis 28:15).

When Moses was overwhelmed with what God was asking him to do, he heard God say, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

YOU ARE FOR ME

Even in his grief, David knew that God was for him:
You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help.
This I know: God is on my side! – Psalm 56:8-9

In misery, Micah cried out, “As for me, I look to the Lord for help.
I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.
Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him.
But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness.
Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side” (Micah 7:7-10a).

YOU’LL NEVER LEAVE ME

No matter what you are facing, know that God is with you, that God is for you, and that God will never leave you alone. No matter what is ahead, know that God loves you enough to stay.

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” – Hebrews 13:5b-6a

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” – John 14:15-17

Let’s make Psalm 56 our prayer this morning, trusting that God is faithful and that He is present. God is aware of what we are going through and He loves us enough to stay by our side.

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me? – Psalm 56:3-4

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6:24 – 7:20

Some time later, however, King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army and besieged Samaria. As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver. – 2 Kings 6:24-25

Same city, same enemy, different king. The memory of Israel’s kindness to the Aramean army was long forgotten, and the new king of Aram now had the Israelites trapped within the walls of Samaria. The people had run out of food and were starving. Women were even killing their babies in order to have something to eat.

What a difficult time to be a leader! The king of Israel was powerless to help his people. An authority stronger than his was now in control and the king was grieving what his people were going through. He tore his clothes in despair and wore burlap under his robe in mourning. And as often happens to us, his grief turned to anger and he lashed out at the man of God for not rescuing the city of Samaria.

“May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t separate Elisha’s head from his shoulders this very day,” the king vowed. – 2 Kings 6:31

It seems unfair, doesn’t it? It was not Elisha’s fault that famine had hit the city of Samaria, and yet he was getting the blame for it. He, too, was being impacted by the actions of King Ben-hadad, yet there was this expectation on him that he was somehow supposed to provide a way out from under the circumstances of battle.

Elisha replied, “Listen to this message from the Lord! This is what the Lord says: By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, six quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver, and twelve quarts of barley grain will cost only one piece of silver.” The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, “That couldn’t happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven!” But Elisha replied, “You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won’t be able to eat any of it!” – 2 Kings 7:1-3

HIS LACK OF FAITH KEPT HIM FROM ENJOYING GOD’S PROVISION.

Four lepers were tired of starving and decided to give themselves up to the Aramean army. As they walked towards the enemy camp, the Lord caused their footsteps to sound like chariots and galloping horses to the ears of their enemy. In their panic to run from what they thought was an attacking enemy, they left behind all of their livestock, food, gold & silver. The lepers went from tent to tent enjoying the wine and food left behind. They went back to Samaria and announced the news that their enemy was no longer there.

The king did not recognize God’s provision at first, and feared it was an ambush. But when some of his soldiers came back confirming the good news, he announced it to the city and all the people rushed out to fill their arms with the plunder. So Elisha’s prophecy came true. The king’s servant was skeptical and chose to be pessimistic about the possibilities of the future. For his lack of faith, he missed the opportunity to enjoy God’s provision when he was trampled by the hungry crowd running out of the city. With his own eyes, he saw God’s generosity but he did not get the opportunity to experience it himself.

OPEN YOUR EYES AND BELIEVE THAT THE LORD WILL PROVIDE; EXPERIENCE HIS FAITHFULNESS.

Father God, I do not want to miss a moment of the miracles you have in store for your people. Give me eyes to see you glorified in situations where people are hungry; give me ears to hear your people praising you in the midst of their pain. Forgive me for my complaints and my cynicism, and fill my heart with the kind of faith that believes you can turn our famine into feasting.

My prayer for you this morning is that you will feel the presence of God, and that you will see Him working on your behalf WITH YOUR OWN EYES. He loves you, and He sees what you need. May He give you faith today to believe that He will provide tomorrow.

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6:8-23

Yesterday we studied how Elisha prayed for God to open the eyes of his servant, and God answered his prayer. Moments later, Elisha prayed for the eyes of his enemies to be blinded, and God again answered his prayer.

The king of Aram had sent a large army of horses and chariots to surround the city of Dothan because he was tired of Elisha thwarting his plans to attack the nation of Israel. He sent his army to seize Elisha so that he could silence him. Knowing that the God of Israel had protectively surrounded him with horses and chariots of fire from heaven, Elisha prayed, “Oh Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness just as Elisha had asked (2 Kings 2:18).

When his enemies were pressing in, God surrounded Elisha with His heavenly forces — an army only seen by those to whom God reveals His presence. When the king tried to silence the man of God, Elisha was given peace and courage to step forward. In a moment when it would have been easy to react in fear or retaliation, Elisha instead responded with wisdom.

Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria. — 2 Kings 6:19

Elisha had his enemies strategically positioned for defeat. The king of Israel was there and eagerly asked the man of God if he could kill the Aramian soldiers. But instead, Elisha prayed for God to open the eyes of his enemies. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master” (2 Kings 6:22). So the king ordered a great feast for the soldiers and sent them home, and they stayed away from the land of Israel.

HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US OR WHO TRY TO BRING US HARM?

What is our reaction to those who want to take away our freedom and silence our voice? It is easy to respond out of fear or hurt, but God wants us to trust Him during the most difficult moments of our lives. We can pray for God to open our eyes to see that He is present with us on the battlefield. We can pray for the eyes of our enemies to be opened so that they, too, can experience God. Instead of wishing them harm, we can pray for their salvation.

“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” — Matthew 5:38-48

Serving God is not always the safest choice, nor is it always the easiest, but it is always worth it. And God is going to be faithful, because God is ALWAYS faithful. It is not enough that we win an argument or a battle, it matters that we all make the journey.

Father God, open my eyes to your presence today. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear your heart for the lost. Give me wisdom to know when to pray for eyes to be blinded and when to pray for eyes to be opened. May I see those who hurt me through your eyes of love, and may my response to them strategically position me to be used by you in their lives. I want my actions to be a perfect reflection of your heart towards the prodigal.

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6:8-17

This last summer, pregnancy help organizations in Illinois had to deal with legislation describing our efforts to help women as deceptive and manipulative. Regardless of there being an abundance of positive patient reviews and zero complaints against pregnancy centers, the bill was signed into effect. We longed for the truth to come out — truth about the motives behind the legislation and truth about the authentic heart behind our efforts to help women who find themselves pregnant. We found ourselves putting the whole situation in the hands of God and trusting Him with the results. One week after the bill was signed, a federal judge ruled the bill as unconstitutional and described it as stupid. An injunction was granted, and God was glorified!

HOW DO WE HANDLE THE BATTLE WHEN IT SHOWS UP ON OUR FRONT DOOR?

When the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he would confer with his officers and say, “We will mobilize our forces at such and such a place.” But immediately Elisha, the man of God, would warn the king of Israel, “Do not go near that place, for the Arameans are planning to mobilize their troops there.” So the king of Israel would send word to the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he would be on the alert there. The king of Aram became very upset over this. — 2 Kings 6:8-11a

The attack of the enemy on God’s people was not a once and done occurrence, it was consistent. Over and over again, the king of Aram would plot against the nation of Israel. Each time, God would warn His people of the coming danger so that they could be prepared for the potential battle. But the king of Aram got tired of losing, and his frustration grew. He narrowed his attention on the prophet Elisha and set out to destroy him.

So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” — 2 Kings 6:14-16

What a great reminder during these difficult days! Standing on the foundation of biblical truths can draw a lot of negative attention, and we can find ourselves surrounded by those who oppose us. No matter our efforts to live out the love of God, we are accused of building a culture of hate. We strive for holiness and excellence in all that we do, yet we are bombarded by criticism and lies. When the enemy is pressing in, we need to hear the words, “Don’t be afraid.” When it seems like we are outnumbered, we need to be reminded that there are more on our side than on theirs.

Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. — 2 Kings 6:17

Elisha prayed for God to open the eyes of the young man and God answered his prayer. Father God, when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances, open our eyes to see your faithfulness. When it feels like we are losing the battle, give us eyes to see your army surrounding us. When we are prone to fear, give us peace. When we feel like the burden to win rests on our shoulders, remind us that the battle belongs to you. Your mercy is new each morning, so we wait quietly for you as we place our hope in you and you alone.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is His faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
Therefore, I will hope in him!”
The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord. — Lamentations 3:22-26

Today’s Reading: Psalm 116:1-9

Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth. – Psalm 116:7-9

In September of 2015, my mother was diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia. Her stomach, pancreas and part of her intestines had passed through the tear into her lung cavity making it difficult for her to breathe. The surgery was risky and the surgeon warned her that she might not survive. After much prayer, a peace settled over my parents and the surgery was scheduled for April 6, 2016.

On the way to the hospital that morning, my parents turned on the radio as KLOVE played Lauren Daigle’s song “Trust in You”. They knew in that moment that they would trust in God even if He didn’t move the mountain they were asking Him to move.

Initially it seemed as if the surgery had gone well, although the surgeon found more damage than he expected to find. The next few days, my mother’s health continued to decline. Early on the morning of April 10th, we received the call that she was unresponsive. We rushed to her side and spent the day watching her condition worsen. My father, sister and I said our goodbyes as they rushed her back into surgery on that Sunday afternoon.

Here is my mother’s story in her own words of what happened over the next few days (written in 2017):

I remember getting on the surgical table on April 6th but I do not remember the days following. The doctors and my family say it is best that way. I will tell you that the surgeons have heard my testimony and did not dispute any of my experience. On April 10th, I was rushed back into surgery. I was bleeding internally. And that is where my story begins.

I saw a veil come down that separated me from everyone. I could hear my family and friends talking but I could not respond. The veil had a small ring at the top and a larger one that held the veil from touching me. I could feel my body shutting down. My skin seemed to draw tight and my joints felt stiff. Suddenly I was being spun very fast – first one way and then another. There were loud, horrible screeching sounds, high-pitched like metal on metal, and the heat was so intense.

After what seemed like a long time, the others with me went to the right and I was sent to the left alone. I could not see the faces of the others and I don’t know where they went. The fast movement slowed to a normal pace. It was still very hot and loud. I came to what appeared to be a red wall. It melted and became orange, which also melted. The things I saw on and between these walls were so horrible; I have shared those details with only a few people.

The walls held the image of faces. There was only one that I could identify even though I feel like they represented people from my past who had rejected God. The look on each face was terrifying, and it still haunts me to this day.

Once past the walls I was in an area of pure white. Everything was so bright – not like any light we have on earth and the white was more white. It amazes me that the light didn’t hurt my eyes as I looked right at it. There appeared something that looked like shiny porcelain. Could it have been the gates of pearl? I don’t know. I was led to an area filled with white fabric. It was beautiful, soft, flowing. Again, not like anything I had ever seen.

Next I was led to 6 figures. They were clothed in the same fabric I had just seen. The fabric covered the back of each head and draped over everything except the face. Even though I couldn’t see their faces I knew who they were. I was with my mother who died in 1957, my father who died in 2003, my brother who died in 1991, and there were three grandchildren who were lost before birth. There was no communication with any of them. It was here that Jesus became clear to me in the form of a great glowing light. He said, “Not yet. I’m not done with you yet. There is still work I want you to do.”

At some point while I was still under the veil, I was aware of a presence on my left side. A voice said, “We have to do it now.” The hand of that presence pierced my left side. The pain was so intense. That hand went between my ribs into my inner being. It was so real that even yet I look for a scar. There isn’t one.

Time is totally lost to me. Some time later, still in the hospital, there was an image before me that said, “In the beginning, I created the heaven and the earth.” Suddenly a great deal of clear refreshing water washed over me. It was so realistic that I felt my clothes and bed for moisture. They were dry.

An intense heat had been with me all this time. A wet cloth and fan did not help. After this encounter with the water, the heat was gone and has not returned. I feel like God knew I needed to be baptized again because I had literally been in or through hell and needed to be cleansed.

As I began to get better, I noticed that my right hand was no longer misshaped. I could open it all the way until it was straight and I could almost make a fist. I have had high blood pressure since 2010. Now I am off the medication.

God, I don’t know what it is You want me to do – the “work” I need to be doing. I don’t know why You chose to heal me and send me back to life with my family. All I know is that I’m telling my story to anyone who will listen. And I know when You tell me what I am to do, I will do it and ask no questions.

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy… “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the world.” – Romans 9:15-17

God was speaking to Moses but He is also speaking to me. I keep thinking, “I don’t know why He chose to let me live after my surgeries.” God is saying to me, “Don’t question God.” It was His choice to make. Rejoice and do whatever He directs. It isn’t for me to understand but to use this experience to glorify God. I’ve been home for over a year now but these experiences are just as real as can be. I love the Lord and I will serve Him until my work here is done.