Lord, help us to know You better and to develop a personal relationship with You. Jesus taught us the words You entrusted to Him so that we might know Your will and believe in Him. You sent Him among us to reveal Your plan of salvation and lead us to You, but often we doubt Your grace and Your love. Despite our doubts, You do not abandon us; You do not give us over to our fears and anxieties. You always use the best means to convince us of Your presence and Your faithfulness.

Our God, our Father, we cry out to you in the remorse of our hearts, asking forgiveness for our sins. You have given us everything we need to live according to your will; you have given us the Holy Spirit to guide us, but despite this, seeking to satisfy our own desires, we allow ourselves to be influenced by the lusts of this world. Forgive us, Lord, our impure thoughts; forgive us our actions contrary to your will; forgive us our disobedience to your word. Help us, Lord, to

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:8 (NKJV) It often happens that church members come to me after the sermon to ask questions about certain points we've discussed. Most of the time, their questions concern their lifestyle and how to live according to God's will. These are the kinds of questions most believers ask themselves, even those in positions of responsibility. For them

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) Sometimes, we trust someone because they're always there, no matter what we're doing. We consider them family, sharing our joys and secrets, because we think we can rely on them. This reassuring closeness prevents us from seeing that they aren't a true friend, but rather someone who manipulates us and uses us as a resource during their difficult time

And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 1 Kings 19:7 (NKJV) During an evangelism class, I was teaching the practical method for sharing the Gospel. A student remarked that the practical exercises in class weren't enough, that we needed to go out into the field and do it for real. He felt that all the students already knew each other and understood what we were doing. He believed

Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 (NASB1995) God created us in a wonderful way, each with our own personality, character traits, strengths, and weaknesses. He loves us just as we are. He knows where we will stumble and where we will rise again. He also knows how we will interact with one another, who will support others, and who will struggle to do so

Blessed are You, Lord our God. Our lips will never cease to sing Your praises and proclaim Your goodness. We rejoice in Your word, for it is the source of all life. In it, we find the joy of living, the happiness and peace that You alone can give. Blessed are those who meditate on Your word and put it into practice, for they are close to You and know perfect peace in You. We feel lost when we stray from Your word, for it is our shield. It is in Your word that we find protecti

Thank you, Lord, for Your grace that You have poured out into our lives, even when we rebel against Your will. You have saved us and given us Your Son as an example to follow, so that we may better walk in Your ways. Teach us Your ways, Lord, so that we may abide in them and be pleasing in Your sight. Grant us understanding and discernment to better comprehend Your word and discern Your will. Turn our eyes away from evil and from the desires that can cause us to stumble and s

He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Philippians 2:8 (NLT) Humility, although a virtue approved by God, is a quality or attitude that we all struggle to adopt, not because we are incapable of it, but rather because we don't want to be despised or feel inferior to others. We are too proud of ourselves and our worth to humble ourselves before others, even if it is for their good or to avoid a worse situation. It is this refusal to humbl

As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NIV) Becoming a Christian to receive forgiveness for our sins and be saved is not the end of the salvation process that God has offered us in Jesus Christ. Although He has declared us righteous and holy, this does not make us perfectly holy, that is, without sin

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV) Contrary to what many believe, leading them away from the faith, the Bible does not forbid desiring wealth or possessing material possessions. Nor does it say that we shouldn't have great ambitions. On the contrary, it contains numerous examples of men of faith whom God Himself chose to enrich, notably S

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV) When I was a child, I often saw people in my neighborhood taking care of one another. When a family was going through difficulties, the neighbors would comfort them and help them meet some of their needs. If there was a death in a family, the children would go to other families' homes to give the adults the time and space they needed to grieve. It was a practice I didn't understand a

O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him! Psalm 34:8 (RSV) After spending a month in the hospital with little hope of survival, a man in his sixties went to a public square to celebrate his recovery from a heart condition that had nearly cost him his life. An elderly person suffering from the same ailment approached him and asked how he had recovered. He praised the cardiologist who had shown such patience during his hospitalization and

When we reflect on the reality of our lives and see that our actions and thoughts are constantly contrary to Your will, we have reason to marvel and wonder: Why did God love us so much that He left His throne to die in our place? This is what makes us understand that You are truly a holy God who cannot tolerate sin. The cross is proof of Your holiness. Because You cannot tolerate sin, You chose to die to forgive us, when You could have simply annihilated us and started over.

Lord, help us to overcome the trials that frighten us. Often, when faced with danger, fear overwhelms us to such an extent that we seek help elsewhere than from You, because we want to escape quickly. We often forget that You are in control of all circumstances. We forget that trials sometimes come from You to transform us and strengthen our faith. Therefore, God our Father, we ask You to help us by reminding us that You are with us. Help us to understand that difficulties ar