Daily Truth

Today's truth from God's Word is in 1 Peter 4:12-19. Faithful Creator (19), Teach me not to be surprised by suffering that comes my way to test my faith (12). Grow me up in You. Jesus suffered to bring people to God. Let me share in His suffering to bring people to You (13). Let me live for the joy of seeing Christ's greatness (13). Help me to put my trust in God in the middle of suffering (19). Sent from my iPh...

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Daily Truth

Today's reminder of God's way of thinking is in 1 Peter 4:7-11. God, Clear my mind so I can be consistent in hearing You (7). Let Your love flow through me at full strength with no complaining, even to those who are strangers (9), and help me bend mercy toward others (8). Don't let me waste the gifts you have given me, and let the use of those gifts point to Your orchestra of grace (10). Let my words be nothing more or less than...

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Daily Truth

Today's mind-altering truth is in 1 Peter 4:1-6. Lord, Let my suffering kill off sin in my life so that the rest of my life on earth will be directed by what You want, not what I want (1-2). I confess that I have wasted too much time idolizing what the world chases (3). Let me be slandered because I reject the world's idols (4). And let me tell those who slander me the gospel today so that You, God, may become their life (5-6)....

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Heading Home

The puritan Thomas Watson said, “Affliction may be lasting, but it is not everlasting.” Peter reminds his readers that their suffering is for “a little while” (1 Peter 1:6; 5:10). The trouble is that when we are going though it, it seems like forever. In saying this we do not wish to minimize the daily slog of unrelenting illness or the...

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Daily Truth

Today's perspective-altering truth is in 1 Peter 3:13-22. Lord, Help me see suffering as an opportunity to tell others about my hope in You instead of just being scared or bothered as if You were not in control (13-15). Help me speak in such a way that those who accuse me will be ashamed of accusing me (16). I know that it is Your will that I suffer sometimes for bringing people to You just as Christ suffered to bring me to You...

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Ace of Aces Prayer

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker was the Ace of Aces during World War I. When he was promoted to Captain and placed in command the famed 94th Fighter Squadron he wrote in his diary, “I shall never ask any pilot to go on a mission that I won’t go on. I must work now harder than I did before.” He backed up those words with selfless and courageous...

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Labels

Many times, those who reject theological labels do so out of ignorance or indifference. Others stealthily adhere to and teach a definite theological system but refuse publicly to acknowledge it out of fear of repercussion or other more spurious reasons (like trying to get hired). Some use labels as a weapon to accomplish their own version...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being changed by the Word is in 1 Peter 3:1-12. Lord, Help me live today so that unbelievers around me see me enduring hardship the way Christ did and are "won over" to following Jesus (1). Help me see beauty in things like: purity, reverence for You, a gentle and quiet spirit, holiness, hope in God, doing good for others, and courage in Christ (2-6). Help me be compassionate and look out for those who can't look...

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Our Heritage

For several years, I have wanted to learn my lineage.  All I knew was that one side of the family is from McDowell County and the other side is from Roane County.  I had no idea how far back or how deep my West Virginia roots go.  I was also more than a little curious as to what kind of people my ancestors were.  So,...

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Daily Truth

Today's life-altering truth is from 1 Peter 2:16-25. My Shepherd, Thank You for freeing me from having to earn Your favor by being good. Help me be like You just because You love me (16). Teach me how to honor people as Your creations, love Your church as Your children, fear You as my righteous King, and honor those who lead this nation because You put them there (17). Lead me into such holiness that accusations against me will...

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Daily Truth

Today's life-changing Bible reading is in 1 Peter 2:11-16 Lord, When people accuse me today, help me resist responding according to my fleshly desires (11) but instead, let them see the good You do through me so they will be silenced (15) and declare Your greatness when You come back (11-12). Help me submit to all earthly authority You have put in my life (13-14). Don't let me abuse my freedom from condemnation as a license to...

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Our Own Storms

Until we see God-sent storms as interventions and not punishments, we’ll never get better; we’ll only get bitter.  Some difficult circumstances you’re facing right now may well be a God-sent storm of mercy intended to be his intervention in your life.  You’re in danger, and either you don’t realize it or you’re living in denial. ...

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Daily Truth

Today's day-altering truths are in 1 Peter 2:1-10. Lord, Help me be honest and kind in my relationships today (1). Develop in me such an appetite for Your Word that I fuss and cry when I am not being fed with it. I know i will not grow toward maturity (the fulness of Christ) without it (2). Help me value what You value (4). Thank You for giving me: 1) a new identity (i'm now part of the chosen race that is more important than...

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Beautiful Diversity

What a joy it is to travel throughout the nine counties of Southeastern West Virginia on a weekly basis. I never fail to be amazed at the beauty and diversity of God’s creation—and it seems He was at His best in West Virginia!  The beauty of our creeks and streams, hills and mountains, and the blooming dogwoods and rhododendrons...

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Grumbling

Now if the devil caused grumbling during the apostles’ time, what about today, when we have so many troubles and quarrels and offences among us?  We are still far from achieving the kind of perfection they had, for they had such order and such regulations among them that they are like angels.  And yet when we hear that there arose...

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Lessons from the Dungeon

What do you do when you are forgotten by people? What do you do when you have taken a few too many blows to the shins, too many elbows in the ribs as you’ve run the race of life? Where do you turn when you are so weary you feel you cannot run another step? What you do is look away from people and look up. When I am weary and disappointed,...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being transformed by the Truth is in James 4. Lord, Conform my cravings to what You crave (1-3). Don't let me think like the world, want like the world, or work like the world (4-5). All that is good in me is from You (6). I draw near and submit to You today with ALL my mind (7-8). Break me over my sin (9). Show me the good I need to do today (13-1...

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Daily Truth

Today, be reminded of the mind of Christ in James 3. Lord, Don't let me forget the great responsibility of teaching and of those who teach me(1). Reveal my maturity in Christ-likeness by the control I have over my mouth (2). Don't let my mouth boast except about You(5) or be destructive (6). Cause all that comes out of my mouth to reveal that You live in me (8-12). Let my conduct and gentleness reveal Your wisdom in me (13)....

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That Others May Live

During my time in the Air Force, I was blessed to work with some of the finest men and women this country has to offer.  Out of all those people, one group of men stood head and shoulders above the rest.  That’s an odd thing to say, because they referred to themselves as Quiet Professionals.  If anyone shunned the spotlight,...

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Daily Truth

Today's life-altering text is in James 2. Lord, let me never judge someone by what they have or don't have (1-7). I am a lawbreaker without excuse because I don't love You or others like I should (8-11). Let me judge mercifully and be judged mercifully (12-13). Cause my faith to have a ton of evidence in works today (18). Faith is more than believing You exist, it is believing I exist for You (19). Don't let my faith be useless...

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Daily Truth

Today's time being transformed by the Word is James 1:19-26 Lord, Make me quick to hear, slow to open my mouth, and ready to bend Your grace toward others rather than be angry (19). Fulfill Your purpose in me as I follow You (20). Shape my life by planting Your Word deep in my heart (21). Don't allow me to hear Your Word without submitting to it (22-24). Control my tongue so my work for You will not be useless today (26). Use...

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Assurance from Endurance—1 John 5:18-21

John reminds his readers that the one who is truly born of God will endure in holiness, gradually being purified from sin and untouchable by the evil one. Children kept by the King ought to look drastically different than those who are under “the sway of the evil one.” God has enabled us to serve the one true God. So God’s children must not allow anything to rule them but the Lord. Are our spiritual children being purified from...

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Daily Truth

Today's time letting the Word change our minds is 1 John 5:18-21. True God, Kill off sin in my life as evidence that I have been born of You. Thank You that my holiness endures because You keep me (18). Make Your rule in my life so obvious that my life is in sharp contrast with the world's submission to the evil one (19). Open my mind to know and trust You in all that happens today (20). There is only One true God. Jesus, because...

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Freedom Is Imminent!

Imagine American prisoners of war held behind barbed wire in a camp with little food and filthy conditions near the end of the Second World War. On the outside of the fence the captors are free and go about their business as though they don’t have a care. Inside the fence the captured soldiers are thin, hollow-eyed, unshaven, and dirty....

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Daily Truth

Today's time letting God's truth change us is in James 1:1-18. Lord, I am Your slave (1). Thank You for growing me through every struggle (2-4). Give me wisdom so Your will may be done in me (5). Don't let me be drawn away by my own selfish wants (14). Thank You for being an amazing Giver who will never change (17). Make me a giver like You today, giving Your truth to people around me (1...

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Daily Truth

Today's time re-forming our minds and lives to Christ's is Hebrews 13. Great Shepherd (20), Equip Your sheep to do Your will (21). Work through us to bring glory to Jesus (21). Make my love continue (1). Grant me empathy (3). Satisfy me (5). Help me imitate those who lead me (7). Thank You for never changing (8). Make me a joy to those who lead me (17). Lead me out of my comfort zone today to bring people to holiness (12-1...

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Daily Truth

Today's time letting our minds be shaped by God's truth is in Hebrews 12:14-29. God, You are a consuming fire (29) and judge of all (23). Thank You that the kingdom You are bringing us into by grace and growing through us is unshakable (28). Help me be a worthy citizen in that kingdom by pursuing peace and holiness, no matter how difficult (14). Let me not be bitter, but help me bend kindness toward those who attack me (1...

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