The Power Of Prayer

In the morning . . . He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35.

W hen we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we can be certain that God hears our prayers. He Himself gave us the example of true prayer Father in Heaven. The Bible tells us that Jesus prayed hours before breakfast, rising a great while before daybreak. The precious hours of fellowship with Father meant more to Him than sleep (Luke 6:12). Jesus would leave the great crowds gathered to hear Him preach and go to the wilderness so that He could spend time in prayer (Luke 5). How different our world would be if people were committed to do the same. God blesses those who commit themselves to prayer. Noah prayed, and God him a blueprint to build the ark. Moses prayed, and God delivered the Israelites bondage. Daniel prayed, and the mouths of the lions were closed. Elijah prayed, the fire of God consumed the sacrifice in the presence of the prophets of Baal. David prayed, and he defeated Goliath on the Philistine battleground. The disciples prayed, and three thousand people were added to the church in one day. Remember that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. We must ask God to help us pray with our hearts and minds centered on Him. This is the power of prayer. to the His gave from and
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-29 20:57:07.

Directing Our Emotions

A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. Proverbs 29:11.

God’s anger is always just. Even His anger is righteous because it is directed solely against evil. Jesus forcefully drove out from the temple those who were callously making money (Matthew 21:12– 13). In much the same way, when we see children abused, we should speak out and pray that righteous anger will lead to solutions to protect the helpless. We must be careful, however, that our anger is not a cover for lovelessness or self-­ righteousness. Anger and bitterness (as well as hatred, jealousy, and resentment) aren’t identical, but they are closely related. Bitterness is anger gone sour, an attitude of deep discontent that poisons our souls and destroys our peace. Paul’s anger against Christians was replaced with a burning passion to spread the gospel. Peter’s anger was channeled into boldness for Christ. Our goal should be to reflect Christ in all that we do. The heart is the center of our emotions and the seat of decisive action. Our emotions can lie to us, and we need to check our emotions against the Word of God. While we strive to live as Jesus would have us live, He will help us direct our emotions. His great, all-­ prevailing truth stands for time and eternity.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-29 20:54:27.

He Lives

“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.” Revelation 1:18.

Alexander the Great’s biography was written four hundred years after he died, so its author obviously never knew him. But Alexander’s legacy lives on, while people doubt the life of Christ as documented by those who walked with Jesus. Many people down through the centuries never had a record of their own births. Yet the existence of Jesus is still called into question despite the intricate genealogy found in Scripture. Some question whether Shakespeare wrote the plays that bear his name because none of his original manuscripts survived. Some see Shakespeare as a pseudonym because there are no documents dating his birth. His biography is peppered with suppositions, yet it’s said that Shakespeare is the second most quoted writer in the English language— after ­ the various writers of the Bible. We’ll never meet Shakespeare in this life because he’s dead. But today every person can meet Jesus Christ in this life because He lives! The marks of His sacrifice on cross are found in human hearts. Gravestones often bear the words: “Here lie the remains of . . .” But from Christ’s tomb came the living words of an angel, declaring: “He is not here, but is risen!” (Luke 24:6). Jesus’ tomb is empty. The resurrection of Jesus is an attested fact of history and a fact to be proclaimed as truth. Jesus lives. the
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-29 20:51:55.

Live Soberly

To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6.

The Bible teaches that sin is transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). This word transgression could be translated “lawlessness.” Jesus indicated that as men approached the end of history there would be a worldwide rebellion against law and order. Rebellion and lawlessness are present on a scale such as the world’s never known. Children rebel against parents until many parents are actually afraid of their children. University students rebel against society. People corrupt themselves by worshiping “self.” But most of all, transgression of God’s law is sin against Him. The world today is on an immoral binge much like it was in ancient Rome. Before Rome fell, her standards were abandoned, the family disintegrated, divorce prevailed, and immorality was rampant. We’re in a hedonistic society watching human nature expressing itself without God. While we often think of outward rebellion as sin, we fail to look inward. But God can break the chain of every transgression that binds us if we repent and follow the Savior. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ . . . that He might redeem us from every lawless deed” (Titus 2:11– 14).
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-29 20:48:42.

Sadness Into Joy

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand. Ephesians 6:11.

Not one account in the Bible tells us that living for God will be easy. Look at Joseph. He did the right thing and fled from temptation and ended up in prison. Look at the three Hebrews in the book of Daniel. They refused to worship anyone other than almighty God and they were thrown in the fiery furnace by a pagan king. David the shepherd boy stood before the great giant Goliath and said, “I come to you in the name of the Lord” (1 Samuel 17:45). When we encounter difficulties, if we rely on the Lord to strengthen us and teach us, He will be with us through it all and victory will be won. There is nothing easy about the Christian life. It doesn’t mean that Christians cannot have fun times, but for Christians, life is more about living joyfully no matter our circumstances. This is where we have the opportunity to show others that our strength comes from the Lord. Ask the Lord to change your sadness into joy because He will use everything in your life to make you fit to serve Him faithfully. God can take anything that happens to us— even ­ bad things— and ­ use them to shape us and make us into the person He desires— ­ if we will let Him. Walk with Him and let your light shine.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-22 13:31:01.

The Powerful Scriptures

The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-­ edged sword. Hebrews 4:12.

W hen we approach the Bible as history and biography, we approach it in the wrong spirit. We must read and study the Bible as men and women seeking God. The Old Testament predicted Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection, and the New Testament documents the fulfillment of these prophecies, yet many people reject its truth. God has revealed Himself in the pages of Scripture, yet the truth about God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit are often debated and disbelieved. While the Bible is much more than a book of history, it’s interesting to go back through the centuries and consider what others have said about Jesus. Skeptics claim that the Scriptures are not believable, yet testimonies about Jesus’ life and resurrection come from historians, philosophers, scientists, churchmen, and yes, even atheists. Evidence is substantiated in scrolls of antiquity, quill-­ stained parchments, and modern communications. But the most compelling evidence is seen in those whose lives have been transformed by Christ! God gave the books of the Bible to us because He wants us to know Him and to love and serve Him. Most of all, He gave us His Word with a command to obey it so that we can become more like Christ. The Bible is trustworthy because it points man to the most important events in human history: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-22 13:29:16.

Unity In Christ

He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. Ephesians 2:17.

T here are many groups that espouse the brotherhood of man and make appeals on behalf of peace. In times past, mighty leaders such as the Caesars, Constantine, Charlemagne, Napoleon, the czars of the East and the kings of the West each in turn promised peace. But they all failed. Bold schemes for global unity and brotherhood are still proclaimed. It’s always good to work for peace, but true peace will come only when Christ returns to bring lasting peace. He alone transcends the political and social boundaries of the world. But can we know His peace in our own hearts today? Yes. When we are brought into the family of God through the Fatherhood of God, we enjoy the brotherhood of man. God is not our Father automatically when we are born; He must become our Father spiritually. The Bible teaches that we can experience unity through the cross of Jesus Christ because of His perfect obedience to His Father in Heaven. Apart from this, we see only a world filled with bitterness, intolerance, hatred, prejudice, lust, and greed. Within the powerful working of the cross grow love, new life, and true brotherhood. The only human hope for these lies at the cross of Jesus, where all people— no ­ matter what their background of nationality or race— can ­ become one in Christ.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-22 13:27:22.

A Consecrated Life

Hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:16 nlt.

W e live in a hostile world that constantly seeks to pull us away from God, and sometimes its pressures are enormous. Trouble seeks out weak places lives. dam can hold enormous amounts of water back; it can be 99 percent solid, 1 percent is weak, eventually the whole structure may give way. This is why must fortify ourselves by the Word of God. His promises strengthen us and prepare us for times when the dam breaks, whether through the loss of a loved one, illness, mental anguish, or a host of other calamities that assault us. The Bible tells us to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10– 18). It also tells us that when we are weak, our God is strong and shows Himself to us in remarkable ways, strengthening our faith— even ­ though we live in a dark and sinful world (2 Corinthians 12:9– 10). Worldliness is an inner attitude that puts self at the center of life instead of God. God’s people should live consecrated, Spirit-­ f illed lives because Christ lives in us and is victorious over the world, the flesh, and the devil. It is the Holy Spirit who goes before us to make our pathway sure. We must lift our eyes above our circumstances and “lay aside . . . the sin which so easily ensnares us . . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1– 2). in our A but if we
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-22 13:25:33.

Grounded In Truth

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18.

T he story’s been told of engineers who made plans to construct a suspension bridge over a deep river gorge. The first problem was how to get the heavy cables from one side of the gorge to the other. Helicopters hadn’t been invented, the turbulent river below made it too dangerous to transfer the cables by boat. day, the engineers flew a kite over the gorge and grounded it, which meant two sides of the river were now linked by a thin kite string. They tied a slightly heavier string to one end of the kite string and carefully hauled it across to the other side. Once it was in place they tied a still stronger cord to the end of that string and pulled it across. They repeated this process several more times until eventually they were able to pull the heavy steel cables across the gorge and construct the bridge. By grounding the kite, their work continued with success. Spiritual growth is like the construction of that bridge. Becoming a Christian is the work of a moment; being a Christian is the work of a lifetime, and it must be grounded in God’s truth. God’s will isn’t simply our conversion but our spiritual maturity. Nothing strengthens us more than immersing ourselves in God’s Word, fixing our eyes on Christ, and praying for His guidance. steel and One the
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-22 13:23:40.

Spread The Word

According to His mercy He saved us. Titus 3:5.

T here’s a wonderful story about Paul and Silas in Acts 16:16– 34, who were thrown in a Philippian prison for preaching. Instead of complaining, they sat damp dungeon listening to the groans from others in chains. But the jailer night heard a strange sound that drowned out the wailing. Paul and Silas were having a song service at midnight, praising the name of their great and mighty God. They used their imprisonment to proclaim the news that Jesus had come to free people from the chains of sin. What was Heaven’s response? The prison walls shook on their foundations and crumbled, giving the chance for prisoners to escape. The jailer was about to commit suicide because of a mass escape. Paul glanced in the jailer’s direction and said: “Don’t kill yourself; we’re still here!” The jailer fell upon his face and said, “Sir, what must I do to be saved?” Paul didn’t answer, “Join the church and thou shalt be saved.” Oh no! “Live the best you can and thou shalt be saved.” Oh no! The answer that rang through the jail that night is the same message that’s been ringing down through the centuries: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (v. 30– 31 kjv). It is faith placed in Christ alone that assures the soul is saved, and we are surrounded by those who need to know Christ as Savior.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-22 13:17:58.

Guilt And Forgiveness

Guilt and Forgiveness “I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions.” Isaiah 44:22.

Guilt is inescapable. The Bible proclaims that we all have broken God’s laws. Therefore, guilt rests upon the entire human race. Some people may feel it more intensely than others, but the guilt is there, whether in the conscious or the subconscious realm. It must be dealt with before we can become fulfilled personalities. This is why Jesus died. He shed His blood to purge our dead consciences. So guilt is not all bad, for without it there is nothing to drive a person toward self-­ examination and toward God’s forgiveness. The human heart is empty; hearts that are not attuned to God will become catch basins for every device of the devil. Satan has control over multitudes whose hearts have never been captured by Jesus Christ. The devil has hundreds of agents writing pornographic literature and producing immoral movies to pollute human minds. He has intellectuals in high positions teaching a hedonistic and permissive philosophy. While the culture has had great success in infiltrating people’s minds, it is possible to overcome. The Bible is filled with testimonies of those who, by God’s grace, were victorious over Satan’s power. John Newton was a slave trader. One day in a storm at sea, he met Jesus Christ and it changed his life forever. He will always be remembered for writing the hymn “Amazing Grace.” No one is beyond the reach of the loving arms of the Savior.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-22 13:05:40.

Our Full Attention

Behold, to obey [the Lord] is better than sacrifice. 1 Samuel 15:22.

Mankind has always worshiped things: status, fame, popularity, people, money, and security. Anything that comes between God and man is idolatry. Many believe that pagan worship is a thing of the past, but it is ever present. We have just given it a new name: pop culture! Daily we are called to make choices. When it comes to whom or what we worship, we have two choices: bow to the things of this world and spiritually die, or bow down before the true God and live. Worship in the truest sense takes place only when our full attention is on God— on ­ His glory, His power, His majesty, His love, His compassion. If people are really honest, this doesn’t happen very often, because even in church or in our times of quiet devotion, we get distracted and fail to see God as He truly is. Those who worship God first of all recognize that God is the Lord, the Sovereign and all-­ powerful God of the universe. Worship is acknowledging God as Creator. True worship should come from God’s people because He has made them part of His family. We must learn to shut out the distractions that keep us from truly worshiping God. We must turn our minds and hearts to Him every day, praising Him for who He is and what He has done to save lost souls.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-14 14:47:00

Standing Strong

Hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught. Titus 1:9 esv

It’s well and good when a person’s convictions are based upon the “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots” of Scripture rather than individual ideas. The Bible tells us to hold fast the faithful Word of God with sound doctrine. His truth becomes the foundation of everything we believe, and to live by His commandment to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37), He provides the strength to live for Him without compromise, because we’re putting Him first in all things. People generally respect a person of convictions, and many of them wish they the moral stamina to stand alone. But when a Christian compromises, often the ones who cause Christians to compromise will despise them for it. Returning to biblical conversion, faith, and conviction would have a great impact on society, and God gives the strength to individuals to do this. When faith in Christ is anchored in Him alone, men and women can withstand peer pressure. God often gives us an inner conviction or prompting to confirm which way He wants us to go. The prompting comes from the Holy Spirit. When we put Christ first in life, we will be walking with Him every step. May the Lord give added courage for His people to be witnesses for Him, even in hard places. had very
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-14 14:45:13..

Reaching The Lonely

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24.

Loneliness can bring solitude. The sentry standing duty alone at an outpost, the thousands in mental institutions, and those in solitary confinement in prisons and concentration camps know the meaning of the loneliness of solitude. In his fascinating book Alone , Admiral Richard E. Byrd told about the time he spent in bewildering and soul-­ shattering darkness. He lived alone in a shack buried in the great glacial ice cap that covers the South Pole. The days were as black as the nights. No living creature existed within a hundred miles. The cold was so intense that he could hear his breath freeze and crystallize as the wind blew it past his ears. But he kept his mind challenged by thinking on good things. There are some who never hear one word of encouragement. Loneliness comes to shut-­ ins and wealthy society personalities. Some hide behind smiles and others are left with vacant eyes. We may not be able to go to the lonely, but the joy of the lonely receiving handwritten letters in the mail can be better than a spoonful of medicine, especially when the message tells of a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. Jesus Christ is that Friend who wants to come near and abide in the hearts of those who will receive Him as Savior and Lord. Nothing dissolves loneliness like reading God’s love letter, the Bible.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-14 14:41:58.

Our Codebook

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1.

The authoritative source for mankind is the Holy Bible. Its wisdom is both ancient and relevant, historic and prophetic. Above all, it is the Word of God. It is our codebook and its message is the key to life. The Bible has come down to us through the ages. It has passed through so many hands and survived attacks of every kind. Neither barbaric vandalism nor civilized scholarship has touched it. Neither the burning of fire nor the laughter of skepticism has accomplished its annihilation. History recounts the true story of the British and Foreign Bible Society during World War II. When the Germans began bombing the city of Old Warsaw, the wife of the director went to the storeroom and carried some two thousand Bibles to the basement. She was trapped by the bombing and later captured by the Germans and put in a prison camp. She managed to escape, and after the war was over she was able to retrieve the Bibles and distribute them to people in need. Warsaw was flattened, but one wall of the Bible Society remained standing. On it were these words, painted in large letters: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Oh, that people would retrieve their Bibles and open their pages of truth. It’s the indestructible Book written by God Himself.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-14 14:40:20..

Where Fulfillment Is Found

“Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22.

Mankind is on a great quest from birth. Sometimes many years pass before people realize they are on a constant search for something. Others have felt freed from the need to go on seeking this nameless thing, almost dismissing the quest. Some find fulfillment in marriage and family living. Others achieve fame and fortune in other parts of the world, while many stay close to home and prosper. At a glance it appears they have found their way, leaving those who don’t “find it” forlorn— still ­ asking, seeking, and stumbling along. No one is alone in this quest. All mankind travels the same road, noticing the emptiness that oppresses the world, crying out for guidance, for comfort, and for peace. For generations the human race has been on the great quest, trying every pathway. One path is political freedom. When found it still does not achieve a better world. Another hopeful path is education, and many put complete faith in it, since it seems a sensible path to travel. We are the most informed society in the history of civilization, yet the most confused. The solution to satisfying this great quest is putting faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the blessed hope. Do not cease to seek out the Lord, for you will find Him and be satisfied.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-14 14:38:19.

The Heart Of God

O LORD , You have searched me and known me. Psalm 139:1

The word heart is used in different ways all through Scripture. The Bible says that man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). When God looks at man He doesn’t look at the color of his skin or what kind of house he lives in. The Bible says simply that God looks upon the heart to see what we are on the inside— the ­ thoughts, motives, and intents of the heart. The Bible speaks of the heart that is full of evil imaginations. It tells us that our hearts are deceitful and wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Jesus said in Matthew 15:8 that our hearts are far from Him. The Bible says that our hearts are dark (Romans 1:21) and rebellious (Jeremiah 5:23). God’s Word also informs us that our hearts can become hardened (Hebrews 3:15). That’s the bad news. Now here is the good news. God knows our hearts and searches our hearts. When we open our hearts to Him and read His Word, He reveals His heart to us. Christ revealed His heart to us on the cross when He shed His blood to cleanse mankind from the stain and destruction of sin that has darkened the hearts of people. His pure heart, His perfect heart, His glorious heart, His loving heart, His tender heart, His compassionate heart, calls out to us today.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-14 14:13:15.

The Search For Freedom

“The Spirit of the Lord G od is upon Me, because the L anointed Me . . . to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Isaiah 61:1.

People seek freedom in various ways, not realizing that the freedom they seek is often the pathway to bondage. Einstein said, “I feel like a man chained. If only I could be free from the shackles of my intellectual smallness, then I could understand the universe in which I live.” My, what insight into a man who is considered one of the most brilliant minds. Freedom for the scientist, he thinks, is found in seeking truth about the physical universe. The philosopher tries to discover truth about human existence. The psychologist looks for truth about the action and reaction of the human mind. At the end of his life, Buddha said, “I am still searching for truth.” We say we want freedom from prejudice, freedom from ignorance, and freedom from poverty. We even say we’re searching for religious freedom; yet even in America there are groups that want to throw out religious symbols. They wish to be free from bondage while throwing away the symbols that speak of true freedom. Jesus is Truth— a ­ ll psychological truth, all sociological truth, all scientific truth, all philosophical truth, all religious truth (John 14:6). He came to deliver the most freeing message of all and to rescue mankind from bondage and bring peace and freedom to weary souls.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-14 13:59:22.

A Spirit Of Discernment

“Take heed that no one deceives you.” Matthew 24:4.

Many years ago a distinguished Methodist minister was preaching on sin. Some deacons approached him afterward and said, “We don’t want you to talk so plainly about sin; if you do, our people will more easily become sinners. Call their sin mistakes if you will, but do not call their mistakes sin.” The minister picked up a small bottle and showed it to the group of deacons. bottle was clearly marked “Poison.” “Would you like me to change the label?” minister asked. “I can mark that this strychnine is the essence of peppermint make you feel better, but if you take it you will still die. Don’t you see that the milder you make the label, the more dangerous you make the poison?” Satan is the great deceiver. He is crafty and clever, disguising his lies as truth. For his deceptions to be successful, they must be so cunningly devised that his real purpose is concealed. This is manifested even in the spirits of people. We see ourselves as self-­ sufficient, self-­ important, and self-­ sustaining. God sees us as dependent, self-­ centered, and self-­ deceived. One of Satan’s greatest feats is to portray evil as good. But it is the people who listen and follow his pathway that will ultimately pay the awful price. Jesus came to rescue us from Satan’s terrible grip. We must pray for God to give the spirit of discernment. The the to
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-09 14:58:50.

The Giver Of Hope

My flesh also will rest in hope. Psalm 16:9.

Good things can come out of bad situations. While it is wise to be realistic, we must be careful not to dampen the spirit of hope due to lack of faith in what God wants to accomplish in each person’s life. After all, hope is a gift. What is hope? Some equate it to a fanciful wish. But the word explodes with confidence to believe in something greater than ourselves. Hope is not found in things but in God who is the Giver of hope. We know that darkness does not remain, for the sun breaks through the night. God is the Light and creates the light, whether in the flicker of a flame, a sunray, a moonbeam, or the twinkle of the stars. And the flicker of life in the soul is hope. A contemporary philosopher, the late Richard Rorty, claimed that hope placed in the promise of Jesus Christ returning to Earth has failed because He has not returned. This philosopher believed a new document of promise is needed for hope to exist again. But there is a document of promise that has never grown old. It is new every morning. The Bible says that Jesus is the very hope that lies within. He is our only hope. Hope is an unseen commodity that pays dividends while we still live. God bless those who live in hope and with hope.
Graham, Billy. Truth for Each Day : A 365-Day Devotional, Thomas Nelson Incorporated, 2023. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=30516542.
Created from liberty on 2025-04-09 14:56:12.