What if following Jesus is all about delivering the unexpected routines of life with moments of love, kindness, and generosity? 

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”

It is tough to gain perspective and take time to express praise and gratitude to God when our business and busyness control us. We can learn much by considering prayer and praise David experienced in the passage for today.

Yes, Psalm 119 is about the law, but it also alludes to the good news of freedom in Christ. It’s a life of joy, inside the guardrails.

Even on the other side of the valley, you will still find at least one enemy. But relax. God wants to nourish and protect you there.

The psalmist was overwhelmed by the reality of the many blessings that had flowed from God’s throne. We can have the same experience.

Even when we have made the mistake of doing things our way, we can turn things around by returning to God and surrendering our will back to him.

Our confession of Jesus changes how we are to think, how we are to love, and how we are to interact with people and stuff. To follow Jesus means the systems of this world are not our priority. Jesus is our number one.

If we are seeking success in our kingdom living, both in daily life and with specific projects, I believe it would be a huge mistake not to seek wisdom and guidance from the people God brings into our life.

Maybe our best prayers are the ones we pray anxiously when we realize we have no control over some situations and only God can provide what we so desperately need.

Dead dark—each of us will endure it sometime in life. Psalm 23 assumes that, and then tells us we will not walk alone.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ’Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

Jealousy is a slow, silent, and wicked master. If left unchecked it can destroy you.  Jealousy can trick you into thinking your actions are justified and your motives are honorable. This is what happened with King Saul.

The story of David’s victory over Goliath gives a burst of confidence that God can equip the unlikely or the underdog to do what appears impossible.

Time and time again we find that nothing we have done, are doing, or plan to do—either good or bad—surprises God. He has promised to direct our paths.

My great-great grandmother was ‘catchable but not fetchable.’ And we can find a place where the enemy won’t grab us, either.

Starting with the pandemic, and in the time since, many have longed to get back to “normal.” But we will not find life by looking for it.

In the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus was already acting as a Shepherd who provides for the needs of his sheep.

As is true with so many others, I have prayed some prayers over and over again for many years. I pray because I believe God is listening and will answer.

The book of Ruth offers us a picture of the pattern God has used again and again to bring his people close to him.