A young minister and a seasoned pastor were talking about serving the Lord. “When you were first beginning your ministry and were my age, what was your greatest desire?” he asked.

“To know the Scriptures and understand them to the best of my ability. If I could accomplish that,” said the seasoned servant, “I knew that I would know the Savior better and be able to serve Him more effectively.”

Our Lord wants each of us to have that same desire - to know Him personally, intimately. God is anxious to speak to each of us individually as He has always done. He called Abraham personally, wrestled with Jacob and addressed Moses from a burning bush. He spoke through prophets and priests, preachers and psalmists. Through inspired writers He gave us words of wisdom and volumes of knowledge. He even carried on a direct dialogue with David.

“I have seen violence done to the helpless and heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rescue them!” God has a special place in His heart for those who are poor and helpless. He heard their cries and promised to send a Messiah to rescue them from their oppressors - and He did. No one, even those who see themselves as insignificant, is beyond the eye or reach of the Lord.

Daniel was cast into a den of lions. Howl and cry as loudly as they could, they were not able to harm a hair on his head. As with Daniel, so with us. God will never allow His beloved to be destroyed by an oppressor.

Prayer: Lord, if we ever feel unimportant to You, help us to recall Your Word and know that You will rescue us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 12:5 “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”

Two merchants in a small community were fierce competitors. Their stores faced each other on opposite sides of the street. Drake’s Store was much larger than Albert’s Merchandise Mart. Each fought for the same customers. One day Drake put up a sign in his store that read, “If you want it, we’ve got it!” Not to be out done, Albert hung a larger sign across the entrance to his store that read, “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it!”

There is a vast difference between “a need” and “a want.” A “need” refers to the essentials in life, the things that we cannot do without. A “want” is something quite different. It is something that is not really essential.

Think of the importance of water and the pleasure of a soft-drink. We can do without soft-drinks, but water is essential. Jesus said, “Your Father knows what you need and He will give you what you need if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” When we make the Kingdom of God our primary concern, it means that God is first and foremost in our lives and that He is at the center of all that we do.

If we make His thoughts our thoughts, His desires our desires, His priorities our priorities and His ways our ways, He will meet our every need every day!

Prayer: Our Father, may we give You the place of honor that You deserve in our lives. May we always place You first in our lives and honor You in all that we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Matthew 6:31-34 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Read more…)

A young man, aspiring to become a great philosopher, went to Socrates and said, “I want knowledge. What must I do to get it?”

Socrates asked the young man to accompany him to a beach. After staring at the water for a few moments he asked the young man to join him and walk with him into the water. They waded slowly into the water until they were neck deep. After pausing for a moment he pushed him under the water and held him there. The young man struggled and finally, after becoming exhausted, Socrates allowed him to surface and take some deep breaths. After releasing him, Socrates asked, “While you were struggling underneath the water, what did you want more than anything in the world?”

“Air,” came the quick reply.

“When you want knowledge as much as you wanted air,” said the philosopher, “then you will get it.”

Whatever our hearts truly desire is what motivates us. Throughout the Bible we are reminded constantly of this irony. If we focus our attention on the things of this world, we will no doubt acquire many “things.” If, on the other hand we “Delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts” and good things will come to us as by-products of His grace and goodness. We have His promise and that’s all we need!

Prayer: Lord, we ask for Your Spirit to move in our hearts and create a deep desire within us that will encourage us to take delight in honoring You always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.