This is what the Lord says to Israel: “Seek me and live." Amos 5:4 (NIV) Most people perceive their lives as they live them. They don't consider that beyond their limitations, God watches over them and protects them from harm. They don't question the reasons for the events that happen to them, but when they witness them, they blame those around them or, if they acknowledge God's place in their lives, they place the responsibility on Him. Although they know God exists, they wi

Lord, words fail us to sing Your praises. Before Your holiness, our thoughts are limited in expressing our adoration. Though we are insignificant, You have chosen to give meaning and purpose to our lives. Who are we, Lord, that You turn to us and love us so much? Yet, because You created us for Your glory, You choose, out of love for Your holy name, to love and care for us despite our sins. The wicked reject You for prosperity and glory, and yet You grant them Your grace and

To You be the glory, Lord. To You be the praise of our hearts. We sing Your Name, Lord, for You have worked wonders for us. You have allowed us to enter this new month, the last of the year; it is a grace. You have done far more than we hoped for. In the midst of our sorrows, You give us peace and comfort. In the midst of our tears, You dry them and cause songs of praise and adoration to spring from our lips. We depend entirely on You; our joy comes from You, our hope comes f

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. Lamentations 3:25 (HCSB) What do you think happens when we act without God or refuse to wait for His intervention? Often, when we are impatient, we do things that displease Him or lead nowhere. In these cases, we feel like we're going in circles because our efforts are futile, and we always end up back where we started. This is a difficult reality to accept, especially when we want an immediate answer. Y

How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? John 5:44 (NIV) After 50 years of ministry, an 86-year-old pastor decided to retire. He convened the church committee to choose his successor from among the five most active and involved young theology students—those they considered truly called. During the interviews, four were rejected, all but one. Their failure stemmed from a single question they answered po

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. Titus 2:11-12 (NKJV) Many Christians believe in God's grace and use it to continue sinning, because they think that, having been saved by grace, nothing can hinder their salvation. This is the reality Paul faced in the early days of the Church, which led him to ask the following question

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7 (NASB) Faced with life's difficulties and God's apparent silence, our first instinct is often to believe that others are in the same situation. We don't want to see them progress. Their joy, happiness, and success make us jealous, even envious. This is a reality that David discovered deep within his heart.

And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near MeI must be regarded as holy;And before all the peopleI must be glorified.’ ” So Aaron held his peace. Leviticus 10:3 (NKJV) In Hebrews 11:6, the author tells us, “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” In other words, to draw near to God, one must acknowledge His character, His person, and His holiness. Those who do not

Our God, our Father, we come into Your presence this morning to entrust our day to You, to ask You to guide us and fill us with every spiritual blessing. May this day be the one You have prepared for us. Do not allow us to oppose Your plan by pursuing our own, for, Lord, we do not truly know what we want. Our desires are always drawn to those of the flesh, which constantly leads us to sin against You. Lord, You are master of our lives and our thoughts; we pray that You will a

Lord, thank You for this new day filled with joy and surprises that You have given us once again. We do not know what it holds, but we trust in You, knowing that You will never abandon us. You are the one who keeps us safe and protects us from danger. You are, Lord, the one who watches over us from morning till night. You are the one who shows us the right path and how to live according to Your will. For this, we thank You and entrust to You our lives, our desires, and our pl

Grandchildren are the crown of the old, And the glory of sons is their fathers. Proverbs 17:6 (NASB) I remember a seven-year-old boy who was so proud of his father that he wanted to be just like him when he grew up. Even as a child, he imitated him and repeated everything he said. This is a common phenomenon among children: they want to be like their mother or father. Moreover, even if we don't resemble our parents in every way, we tend to remember their actions and words in

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you. Philippians 3:14-15 (RSV) Every Christian should have one goal: to be like Jesus Christ in every way, without failing in anything. This isn't always easy, because as long as we live in this corruptible body, we will always be exposed to all kinds of temptations and evil

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:17 (NIV) Each of us is often faced with a choice between two options. No matter how long it takes to decide, an inner conflict is always at play within us. Countless reasons weigh on us when we make this choice. It is the value we place on these reasons and the weight they carry for u

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:24 (NKJV) Sometimes we pray for hours, days, even months, and yet God does absolutely nothing. Not only does He not act, but He says nothing. It is then that many Christians begin to doubt and question their faith. To justify God's silence, they offer all sorts of interpretations for their faith or their attitude. And when they run out of arguments, th

The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with Him. Proverbs 11:1 (NIV) What is an unjust scale in God's eyes? Some might see it as the measuring instrument used by humans to weigh things. That's true. But what God hates is not the instrument itself, but the intention of the heart of the one who uses it to deceive others. In reality, any evil intention aimed at manipulating, causing downfall, or leading astray is abominable in the eyes of the Lord. He