Lord, whatever life's difficulties, whatever our tears and sorrows, by faith we know that we must trust in You. Sometimes You leave us alone in our trials, You remain silent; and often, it is Your silence that becomes our trial. Lord, teach us to rely on Your faithfulness and Your promise. For Your silence, however long it may be, can be the deliverance we hope for. It is You whom we desire, and not the graces You grant us to live in this life. Help us to see Your favors as a

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NASB) After nine months of searching for a job, discouraged, young Leon went to see his father to explain his situation. His father's past experience allowed him to understand his son's frustration. He knew that a father has the responsibility to care for his children and provide for their needs. Having experienced similar hardsh

[...] we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Colossians 1:9 (HCSB) In this verse, Paul emphasizes the vital importance for the Colossians of knowing God's will. Thus, in his prayer, although he could have prayed for the material needs of these Christians, he clearly states that he is constantly praying for them, with one goal in mind: that they be filled with the knowle

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (ESV) I remember in my early twenties, a very good friend invited me to a meeting at her church about financial success. A businessman was scheduled to speak and share practical strategies for success. After the meeting, he made himself available to answer all the personal questions. Most of the attendees, in one w

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25 (NKJV) What prevents some Christians from progressing in their walk with God, despite their desire to grow in faith, is their lack of knowledge of the Word. They participate in all the activities of their church, attend spiritual revival conferences, and even Bible study and support groups, but they al

Our God, our Father, You chose to love us first. Not because we are perfect or our intentions are good, but because Your compassion honors Your name. If You love us so much, it is for the glory of Your name. You created us in Your image to praise and glorify You, just as the angels do day and night in Your presence. But we have chosen to disobey Your holy law, which was meant to protect us and keep us in Your presence. We are but dust and do not deserve Your grace. Yet, we co

Lord, You have taught us through Your Word that whoever keeps Your commandments will never know death. This is a sure hope You have given us. It reassures us, for even if one day we must leave this corruptible body, it does not mean that we will cease to exist. One day we will be reunited with You in eternity. Thank You, our Lord, our Savior, for this beautiful promise. Help us not only to keep Your words, but also to strive to submit to them fully, without wavering. Even tho

When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. Acts 18:5 (NIV) We often hear pastors urging their congregations to dedicate themselves fully to the Word. Yet, many don't always understand what dedicating oneself to the Word truly means. Some see it as studying the Bible to better understand it, while others perceive it as memorizing passages they deem important for defending themsel

And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:18 (NLT) When we sin, the questions that torment us all are along the lines of: How does God see us right now? Is He angry with us? Will He punish us? Will He forgive us this sin? The guilt we feel leads us to ask ourselves all these questions, and many more. Some of us feel so guilty that we don't even dare to beg His forgiveness. Even if the fear of God prevents us from

"But now bring me a musician." Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. 2 Kings 3:15 (NKJV) For years, I wondered about the role of singing in church services and prayer meetings. Although I always knew it was important, no one had ever explained why. After reading the story of David and Saul, I thought it was to calm troubled spirits. I knew that without songs of praise and worship, something would be missing from the service, but

So David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” 2 Samuel 6:9 (NASB) When faced with difficulties we believe are sent by God, the question that often comes to mind is: "Why did God allow this to happen to me?" In reality, we always know the answer, but we refuse to accept it or we expect God to act differently. This is what prevents us from accepting His will and understanding His teachings. Instead of considering the situation

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. John 17:8 (ESV) During a conference on developing a personal relationship with God, a participant asked me how one can know God if one cannot see Him. The answer seemed so simple that I hesitated to respond. My hesitation stemmed from the phrase "if one cannot see Him." He reminded me of Thomas's situation,

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