July 19, 2022

Tuesday

Prayer That Heals

1 Kings 17: 17-24

16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual

fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

James 5:16

Five times in biblical history we find an abundance of miracles: in the days of Moses, the

prophets like Elijah and Elisha, Christ, the apostles, and during the coming Tribulation. That

doesn’t mean that miracles can’t happen in other instances. But if we need God’s

intervention, the focus should be where we find it in Elijah’s life, and later in the apostle

James’ life.

When the son of the widow who fed Elijah fell ill and died, Elijah cried out to God three

times for his healing and restoration to life. And God answered Elijah’s fervent prayers. But

when Paul needed a miracle of deliverance from some situation in his life, he prayed

fervently three times and his “thorn” wasn’t removed—and Paul was satisfied with God’s

answer (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Both men prayed but God’s answer differed. When it came

to praying for God’s intervention, James exhorted the Church to follow Elijah’s example and

pray, saying the “fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

James says to confess our sins, then pray fervently. And then be ready to praise God

whatever the answer.

A point to ponder…

Fervent prayers produce phenomenal results.

Woodrow Kroll

Read the Bible through in a year

Proverbs 19-21

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 18, 2022

Monday

Study the Evidence

1 Corinthians 14: 22-25

³⁹ And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.”

1 Kings 18:39

Christian apologist Josh McDowell published his first major book in 1972—Evidence That Demands a Verdict. It was a compendium of evidence supporting the trustworthiness of the Bible and the authenticity of its message about Jesus Christ.

Any courtroom judge will tell you: Evidence demands a verdict! We face evidence every day in a variety of matters; every decision (verdict) we render in life is based on evidence of some kind. When we encounter the evidence for the reality of the God of the Bible, we are called upon to make a decision. As Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:20) Evidence demands a verdict. And the evidence God presented of His power and reality on Mount Carmel caused all the people of Israel to shout, “The Lord, He is God!” Many of them had been following Baal, but the evidence of God’s power through Elijah changed their minds.

The more you study the Bible, the more evidence you will have that God can meet every need. Let Him prove Himself to you (Malachi 3:10).

A point to ponder…

Faith must have adequate evidence, else it is mere superstition.

A.A. Hodge

Read the Bible through in a year

Proverbs 16-18

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© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

July 16– July 17, 2022

Friends Who Hold You Down

And the LORD sent Nathan to David. . . 

2 Samuel 12:1

Here’s an uncomfortable thought: A genuine friend will restrain or correct you at times. Not only does a biblical friend hold you up when you stumble, but that friend also holds you down when you stray. We stumble under the heavy pressures of life, but we’re led astray by our own, wicked, rebellious hearts—and then we really need a true friend.

In 2 Samuel 11 and 12, we read about the darkest days of David’s life, when he strayed far from God, though he had faithfully followed the Lord for years. David saw a married woman, Bathsheba, and lusted for her, sent for her, and slept with her. (As king, he got what he wanted.) Bathsheba conceived a child. David “covered up” and compounded this messy string of sins by arranging her husband’s murder and hiding his treachery for more than a year.

As we read this story, we might wonder where David’s friends were during this debacle. Where were the truth-tellers who would boldly say, “What are you thinking? Why are you destroying your life?” Well, Jonathan had been killed in battle. General Joab was off fighting David’s war (and didn’t challenge the command to have Uriah killed). Any so-called friends who were left must have been arguing, “Wait, I’m not telling him. You tell him.” How tragic that David didn’t have any old friends who could have seen his decline and intervened before he crashed and burned.

After a whole year of this mess, God actually sent someone to David—a new friend, a prophet who would tell it like it is. “And the LORD sent Nathan to David” (2 Samuel 12:1a). Some hard things needed to be said, and God chose Nathan to say them.

Nathan made his point in the form of a brutal story told in love. The full story is found in 2 Samuel 12, but here’s the summary of Nathan’s words: “Hey David, let me tell you a story. Once there was a guy who had sheep and more sheep and herds of sheep and barns full of sheep and sheep stacked upon sheep. And there was another guy who had one little lamb, and he loved that lamb and treated it like a child and fed it from his own table. And the guy who had all the sheep was out cruising one day and saw the little lamb and decided, ‘I want that one too.’ So instead of being satisfied with all he had, he took the poor man’s lamb.” Here comes the savvy set-up. Nathan asked, “So David, what do you think of that?”

And as we often do when we’re covering our own sin, David felt very self-righteous and said, in paraphrase, “That thief deserves to die! Execute him!”

Nathan looked right into David’s eyes and said, “You are the man” (2 Samuel 12:7)!

At that moment you could have heard a pin drop in the palace. All those who had winked at David’s sin for a whole year were standing there in the public court. No doubt they were thinking, I can’t believe he said that. The king will explode. Watch out!

Nathan wasn’t even finished. The prophet went on to pronounce a heavy judgment on David for his wickedness. He detailed the consequences David should expect—starting with the death of the son born from adultery (12:10–12, 14).

How did David respond? “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die’” (12:13–14).

Then Nathan went home. Mission accomplished, message delivered.

That is biblical friendship—a friend who tells you the truth for your own good. Too often we come up with a variety of excuses for not speaking the truth. Nathan could have said,

• “There’s somebody closer.”
• “I’ll lose my position or even my life.”
• “Let God tell him.”
• “I’m afraid.”
• “I’ll do it later; we’re just getting acquainted.”

Instead, Nathan said, “Even if this is the last conversation we ever have, I’m going to tell you the truth.” Nathan cared enough about David to speak the truth in love. He was willing to risk the whole relationship to help David get to a better place with God and with others. In friendship, love is what we need when we stumble, and truth is what we need when we stray.

Points to ponder…

• Why is it important to have a friend who will tell you the truth? How is truth-telling a sign of love?
• What cost must we be prepared to pay if we choose to be messengers of truth in our closest relationships? What is the hardest thing you’ve ever had to tell a friend—or hear from a friend?

Saturday’s Reading

Proverbs 10-12

Sunday’s Reading

Proverbs 13-15

 I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 15, 2022

Friday

Remembering His Goodness

Psalm 13: 1-6

¹⁸ And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?”

1 Kings 17:18

Some of history’s most agonizing words are those whispered by Jesus Christ in His final minutes of life: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) Those were the very words spoken by David when he felt God had abandoned him to his enemies (Psalm 22:1).

It is not unusual for us to express our frustration toward those to whom we are closest—those who we expect will be there for us—when we feel they have let us down. Even if that person is God Himself. The widow for whom God miraculously provided a perpetual food supply (1 Kings 17:8-16) suddenly doubted God when her son died. She thought that the very God who had blessed her with food was now judging her sins by killing her son. How easily we forget the goodness of God when our circumstances change.

A good way to remember the goodness of the Lord is to thank Him daily, preferably at the beginning of your day, for the blessing of knowing Him—for His mercy, love, power, and more that covers the pathway of our lives and the day that is just beginning.

A point to ponder…

The Lord’s goodness surrounds us at every moment.

R. W. Barbour

Read the Bible through in a year

Proverbs 7-9

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© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 14, 2022

Thursday

Unlikely Likeables: John the Eccentric

Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6

⁶ And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;”

Mark 1:6

The patience of parents is often tested during their children’s teenage years. But what if that teenage child never grows out of his or her eccentric ways and becomes a young adult who just doesn’t seem to fit in? That was the challenge faced by the parents of John the Baptist.

The angel Gabriel appeared to John’s father, Zacharias, and told him of the special role his son would have. He would bring “joy and gladness” in the role to which God would call him, but his role would be different: He would be like Elijah the prophet as a forerunner to the coming Messiah (Luke 1:13-17). Prophets were a breed apart in Israel, often living lives of exclusion and even danger. When John entered into the fullness of his ministry, he lived in the wilderness and wore a prophet’s garb and ate strange foods. At some point, John’s parents were forced to let go of their child and let him fulfill God’s call.

God’s creation is filled with uniqueness and variety. Surely that applies to those called to serve Him as well.

A point to ponder…

Conformity to the world can be overcome by nothing but conformity to Jesus. 
Andrew Murray

Read the Bible through in a year

Proverbs 4-6

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 13, 2022

Wednesday

Generosity

Philippians 4:10-19

⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

2 Corinthians 9:8

For many years, analyses have shown that middle- and low-income people tend to give a greater percentage of their income to charity than high-income people do. The difference isn’t huge—three-plus percent to charity for middle-/low-income families, one-plus percent for high earners. It seems the more we have, the less we are willing to part with it.

Jesus made a point of praising people who give sacrificially instead of giving out of their abundance (Mark 12:41-44). And Paul praised the Macedonian churches who gave out of their poverty to help the church in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:1-4). Behind every instance of sacrificial giving is the promise that God’s grace will provide “sufficiency in all things.” Because giving is God-like, God’s abundance undergirds it.

Giving sacrificially and generously is a way to grow faith. God can’t fill a hand that has a tight grasp on money. God moves money into and out of our open hands.

A point to ponder…

The church treasurer counts what we give; God counts what we keep.

John Blanchard

Read the Bible through in a year

Proverbs 1-3

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

August 12, 2022
Friday

F.A.T. People
Psalm 89: 5-9

8  O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?”
Psalm 89:8

God is surrounded on all sides by His quality of faithfulness, so His people should be faithful, trustworthy, and true. At Billy Graham’s funeral, his son, Ned, put it like this, “My father was F.A.T. He was Faithful. Available. Teachable. May we all be that way.”

Faithfulness isn’t quaint morality or old-fashioned virtue. It is the core of integrity, sincerity, and dependability. It’s the glue that holds our culture together. Without it, relationships cannot survive, and society cannot function.

Without the faithfulness of God, the universe would be erratic and unpredictable. The planets would wobble in their orbits, the laws of nature would be unreliable, and the sun would shine or not as it wished. Without the steadiness of God, there would be chaos in the universe. The Bible says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together”
(Colossians 1:17).

Because of the faithfulness of God, we have confidence when we pray. We can trust His promises, depend on His consistency, rest in His unchanging love, and search His Word of truth. In the process, we will increasingly become F.A.T. people—Faithful, Available, and Teachable.

A point to ponder…

Be firm and be faithful; desert not the right; / The brave become bolder the darker the night.
From an anonymous hymn

Read the Bible through in a year
Jeremiah 1-3
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© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 12, 2022

Tuesday

Choosing God

Joshua 24: 14-15

²¹ And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

1 Kings 18:21

Computer operating instructions are written in ASCII binary code—the arrangement of zeros and ones to represent a piece of instruction. For example, the letter “W” is written as 01010111 and the letter “a” is written as 01100001. Behind the symbols and words in which software is written are strings of zeros and ones.

Any time we are faced with an “either/or” situation, we say it is a binary choice. Zero or one; open or closed. When it comes to life, every person has a binary choice to make: God or not-God. Joshua challenged the Israelites to choose between God and Baal, and Elijah issued the same challenge. Jesus put it in terms of serving God or money (Matthew 6:24). And Peter and John saw the choice as between obeying God or man (Acts 4:19-20). All those challenges represent binary choices. There is only one God, so our choice is whether to serve Him or not.

When making a choice, choose God. Make sure your actions reflect Him and what He has taught us to be true. It is a binary choice.

A point to ponder…

The essence of faith lies in the heart’s choice of Christ.

Charles H. Spurgeon

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 146-150

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© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 11, 2022

Monday

God Makes a Way

1 Kings 17: 8-16

³⁶ Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.”

Psalm 18:36

When Moses led the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt, and headed for the Promised Land of Canaan, it could have been a short trip: follow the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea into Canaan. They would have immediately encountered the war-like Philistines who lived along the coast of Canaan and then fled straight back to Egypt. And there is no record of Moses telling the Hebrews this reasoning. They didn’t understand what was happening, which ultimately led to much grumbling after they tired of the Sinai Desert (Exodus 13:17).

Whether in daytime or nighttime, we like to see as far into the future as possible. But there is no light that will give us that kind of vision. The equivalent of modern flashlights in the biblical world was an oil lamp. They would illuminate, at best, a few feet ahead of one’s steps at night. The psalmist used an oil lamp as a metaphor for God’s Word to say that we are given as much light as we need or can use. Sometimes all we need is enough light to take just the next step—to do the next right thing. The apostle Paul called it walking by faith, not by sight.

Do you need light on your path? Turn to God’s Word for light enough to take the next step.

A point to ponder…

Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.

V. Raymond Edman

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 140-145

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

July 9– July 10, 2022

Friends Who Hold You Up

David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home 

1 Samuel 23:15–18

Because of the pressures of life—stress at work, turmoil at home, a health problem, a financial crisis—sometimes we stumble. Sometimes the weight on us is so heavy that we can’t help but stumble.

That’s when we need a biblical friend or two to hold us up, as Jonathan did for David during a crisis in his life.

David was being hunted again by King Saul. This wasn’t a game; Saul wanted to kill David. “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh” (1 Samuel 23:16a). Jonathan was taking his life into his hands by even speaking to his friend, who was number one on Saul’s most wanted list. As we examine this scene, let’s notice five ways Jonathan held David up. These translate into five ways we can support our friends and receive their support.

1. Their Presence
A biblical friend shows up. Jonathan arose “and went to David” (23:16a). Jonathan had many reasons for staying away. Personally, he had everything to lose and nothing to gain. He risked his father’s wrath. In fact, when he got up to leave the table in the palace, his father threw his spear at him, trying to kill his own son (1 Samuel 20:30–33), which showed how Saul had slipped into insanity. In siding with David, Jonathan also risked his own royal position. After all, if Jonathan just let his dad kill David, then Jonathan would become the next king.

But David was alone and afraid, and there was no way Jonathan was going to let David down. He went to David.

2. Their Prayers
A biblical friend prays with you. When Jonathan arrived at David’s hideout, he “strengthened his hand in God” (23:16b). Even though David was a man of deep faith—author of most of the Psalms, a man after God’s own heart, a giant-slayer—he was hurting and disillusioned. Jonathan didn’t show up with shallow comments or advice, nor did he present himself as the solution. He helped David take his problems to God.

Notice what Jonathan didn’t say. No cheap encouragement, like, “Dad will come around soon, Dave,” or “Don’t worry so much. It’s not as bad as it seems. Let’s look on the bright side while you hide here in this damp, dark forest without food or hope.” Often when we show up for our friends who are hurting, there’s nothing to say. The burden is too big, the hurt too deep. It’s about presence and prayer. We need friends who will take us to God, and we need to be that kind of friend when others stumble. Christian friendship isn’t about sitting in the same pew at church on the weekend. We need friends who will get on their knees, pray, and discuss the things of God with us. Biblical friends “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24b).

3. Their Protection
A biblical friend protects you. As soon as Jonathan showed up, he reassured David, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you” (23:17a,). Think of what these words meant to David. David was an emotional guy—he’d have to be to write the kind of moving poetry found in the book of Psalms. It’s not hard to imagine that as he saw Jonathan approaching, David might have questioned his friend’s loyalty. He didn’t have to wonder long. Apparently Jonathan sensed that David’s meter was redlining, so he quickly reassured him. “My dad won’t find you. Of course I won’t tell him where you are. Relax.” When David heard those words of support, he felt strengthened.

4. Their Personal Loyalty
Biblical friends confirm their personal loyalty. Jonathan told David, “You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you” (23:17b). Even though Jonathan was the prince, David had been anointed to be the next king, and Jonathan didn’t contest God’s decision. In fact, he painted a picture of the future for David, essentially saying, “You will be king—not me—and that won’t sever our relationship. I’m content with being number two as long as you’re number one.” No wonder David loved him.

When our hearts feel like tornadoes, the last thing we need is for a so-called friend to show up and fan the storm. Instead, biblical friends protect us, speaking words to soothe our troubled emotional state.

When we stumble, we need friends who protect us with their fierce allegiance, not someone who turns against us and kicks us while we’re down. We need friends who will come to our aid and lift us up with their life-giving loyalty.

5. Their Promise
A biblical friend confirms the friendship with a promise. “And the two of them made a covenant before the LORD” (23:18a). Some men might balk at that idea, claiming it sounds girly or weak. Actually, what a sign of strength that two warriors stood together, admitting they couldn’t be all that God wanted them to be without the other. They communicated, “I really need you! Let’s stand together in this.” That kind of committed friendship lifts those who stumble.

When we slow down in life, get off track, feel discouraged, lose focus, want to quit, or fall flat, we need this kind of friend.

And we need to be this kind of friend.

Points to ponder…

• Consider these five ways a biblical friend holds you up in support. Do you have a friend like that? If not, ask God for this kind of friendship.
• Are you that kind of friend? Do you show up for, pray with, protect, show loyalty to, and pledge your commitment to your friend?

Saturday’s Reading

Psalm 120-132

Sunday’s Reading

Psalm 133-139

 I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 8, 2022

Friday

School of Faith

1 Kings 17: 1-6

¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

¹² For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

Proverbs 3:11-12

Usually, the trials and chastening we experience are directed at us. But other times, we suffer the results of chastening directed by God toward others. That may not seem fair, but God is there to meet our needs even when we suffer from the result of others’ actions.

That happened to the prophet Elijah. The northern tribes of Israel were deeply involved in idol worship and refused to repent. So God sent Elijah to King Ahab and warned him that rain would cease upon the land. That meant streams and springs would dry up, resulting in no agriculture or livestock. In short, a drought means no food for man or beast. As food dwindled in the land, God directed Elijah to set himself apart by a brook in the Cherith Ravine. There Elijah drank from the brook, which later dried up, and ravens brought him bread and meat every morning and evening. The drought wasn’t Elijah’s fault and God provided for him until it was over.

Chastening is a school. Whatever its cause, God will use it to build our faith in Him.

A point to ponder…

God’s house of correction is his school of instruction.

Thomas Brooks

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalm 119: 89-176

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 7, 2022

Thursday

David the Young

1 Timothy 4:12

¹¹ And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.”

1 Samuel 16:11

When does one become an adult? Upon getting a driver’s license? High school graduation? The right to vote? Turning 21 and college graduation are final transition points—at least chronologically. But God is not afraid to call young people to significant tasks.

The prophet Samuel visited the house of Jesse to anoint the successor-king to Saul. Jesse had seven of his sons appear before Samuel, presumably beginning with the oldest first. But after interviewing all seven, Samuel had not seen the next king. Upon inquiring, Jesse said there was one more son, the youngest of the eight, who was tending the sheep. When Samuel saw him—probably a boy barely a teen—he anointed him as king. David was young as was Timothy in the New Testament when Paul made him a pastor. Paul had to remind Timothy not to let others look down on his youth (1 Timothy 4:12).

Don’t let age—whether the lack of years or the lack of years remaining—keep you from serving God. The heart for God knows no age.

A point to ponder…

He that was our Help from our birth, ought to be our Hope from our youth. 
Matthew Henry

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 119: 1-88

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© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 6, 2022

Wednesday

Presentation

1 Samuel 16:7

⁸ And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.”

2 Kings 1:8

In many ways, appearance has become a dominant factor in our age. Cosmetic surgery, various physical activities to become thinner, starvation diets, the latest clothes and cars. And smartphones haven’t helped—selfies have become a compulsive way for some people to show themselves to the world.

But from God’s point of view, appearance seems to matter less. Take Elijah, for instance—“a hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist.” He was known as a troublemaker (1 Kings 18:17) and eccentric. John the Baptist was a type of Elijah and seems to have mirrored his style: “John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey” (Mark 1:6). When looking for the successor to King Saul, Samuel was told by God that appearance didn’t matter (1 Samuel 16:7). And Isaiah the prophet said there would be nothing about the Messiah’s appearance that would make Him stand out (Isaiah 53:2).

We may be described by our personal appearance, but the most important part of our presentation to others is the “fragrance of Christ” as His life radiates through ours (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). What scent is being diffused through you?

A point to ponder…

Some flowers must be broken or bruised before they emit any fragrance.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 115-118

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 5, 2022

Tuesday

Hidden Dimensions

Romans 3:21-26

²⁴ Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

Psalm 31:24

When the woman at the well spoke of physical water, Jesus reminded her of His spiritual water. It was the only water needed to quench the thirst in her soul permanently. We are multidimensional people, living in the physical world even as we are rooted and connected to the spiritual world.

When Jesus came, He healed and addressed physical problems, but He knew physical healing was not enough. His forgiveness and spiritual renewal were of greater importance. Without them, physical healing only touches the surface. His greatest gift of forgiveness and redemption offers a rebirth: new heart, eyes, and intimate connection to God. We are made new through Him.

At times, physical healing arrives, and situations change for the better, but sometimes our situations remain the same. God is still working, inviting us closer in the spiritual realm. We can be comforted, lifted, and healed from within, even when nothing in our physical situation changes. Whether God is saying “Yes,” “Wait,” or “Not Yet” to your prayers, you can trust that His compassion and power are working on your behalf.

A point to ponder…

Our salvation is fastened with God’s own hand, and with Christ’s own strength, to the strong stake of God’s unchangeable nature.

Samuel Rutherford

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 108-114

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 4, 2022

Monday

Small Space

Psalm 94

¹⁹ The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.”

Isaiah 60:19

There’s nothing worse than being stuck in a small dark place. Whether we are trapped in a physical location or feeling intense internal pressure and chaos, discouragement sets in the moment we believe we are all alone and trapped indefinitely. We want a timeline for rescue and freedom. Thomas had given up hope. Even after he saw the other disciples’ enthusiasm and confidence in the Resurrection of Christ, he had doubts. It was not until Christ appeared personally to him that his faith and courage were renewed.

God is not held back by physical barriers or internal darkness. He spoke the entire world into existence. Just as Christ appeared before Thomas, He longs to be with you, regardless of how dark your discouragement and circumstances are. Take a moment to invite Jesus to meet you. He cares for you. No place within you or surrounding you is too dark for God’s light to shine.

A point to ponder…

No other religion, no other, promises new bodies, hearts, and minds. Only in the gospel of Christ do hurting people find such incredible hope.

Joni Eareckson Tada

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 106-107

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

July 2– July 3, 2022

The Warrior Mindset

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God 

1 Peter 4:1–2

Suffering will come. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). All will be persecuted? Yes, all.

Because God loves us, He warns us that pain is coming so we aren’t blindsided by it. If you’re driving down the freeway, a car cuts in front of you, and you see a collision coming, you brace yourself. If you stumble down a flight of stairs, you instinctively throw out your hands to break the fall. God’s Word repeatedly, lovingly warns us that suffering is God’s number one tool for chiseling our character so that we have realistic expectations and can brace ourselves for what’s to come.

Since suffering is coming (or for some of us, is already here), we also need to know what to do, and God’s Word gives us practical advice. It begins with the right mind-set. “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking” (1 Peter 4:1). How did Jesus think like this? From the moment His ministry began, He knew where it would end. At the right time, He turned His face to Jerusalem, knowing exactly what awaited Him there. He chose the cross. He willed Himself to be our sacrifice.

We need to arm ourselves with the same mentality. Rather than scratching our heads, wondering why we’re going through hard times, we should be thinking, I’m one of God’s children, so I’m not surprised by suffering. God has this planned for me, so I’m staying under it. With God, I’m going to get through this.

Along with these realistic expectations, we also need to guard our behavior. Often when we’re going through difficult times, we are more vulnerable to sin. We stand at a crossroads and either get bitter or get better. Either we move forward/upward, or we drift backward/downward. Trials present a watershed moment.

During a time of real hardship, you become a target. Peter warns, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8b). Satan sees God’s children going through hardship, and he’s waiting for an opportune time to pounce. What God allows for your good, Satan wants to twist into evil. Sin that hasn’t tempted you for a long time can crush you during a trial, when all your energy and resources are directed toward surviving. That’s when Satan rushes you. You can find yourself falling into patterns you thought were gone forever. An unsuspecting person might lament, I thought I’d never touch that bottle again, but here it is, empty. Satan wants to shame you and make you think you haven’t made any progress at all. But as a blood-bought son or daughter of the living God, you were chosen for something better!

Arm yourself for the onslaught. Guard your behavior “so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (4:2). We only have a few more years, if that. We’re in a free fall. Life is short, fleeting, like a vapor—gone. God forgive us for the months and years we’ve spent with our pleasure at the top of our agenda. What a shallow existence! Instead of pursuing personal passions, go hard after the will of God in your life. It’s not the hardship but your response to it that really matters.

Though temptation to sin can sometimes be heightened in trials, suffering can also make you more focused in your walk with Christ. Pain in one area can sensitize you to other parts of your life. Suffering teaches you in new ways that life isn’t a series of random, unrelated events; it’s all connected. As you formulate urgent prayer requests, you examine your life for anything that would prevent you from being heard. You might ask, “God, what do You see in my life that needs to be dealt with? Anything I need to get right with You about? Have I been ignoring You about something?” You get the mind-set of a warrior, not wanting to carry anything extra into the battle. “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). Arm yourself like a warrior.

Points to ponder…

• For many of us, our default is not a warrior mentality. What’s your natural response to suffering?
• “It’s not the hardship but your response to it that really matters.” What trial are you facing now? Are you getting bitter or better? Are you falling prey to old sin patterns, or are you more focused in your walk with Jesus?

Saturday’s Reading

Psalm 96-102

Sunday’s Reading

Psalm 103-105

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

July 1, 2022

Friday

What a Rush!

1 John 4: 7-11

⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

1 John 4:8

Levi Bliss, 23, found a scenic location and arranged to have the words “MARRY ME” displayed on the side of a large hill. Taking his girlfriend on a drive, he paused where she could see the letters. Just as he knelt to propose, the girl’s father, knowing of the plan, stepped out with a large sign with the words: “SAY NO!”

It was a joke, and the fiancée said “Yes.” But it’s a reminder to us of the devil’s ploy. The Gospel is God’s proposal to us, His expression of love. Satan is always standing nearby telling us to “SAY NO!”

D. L. Moody said, “It would not take twenty-four hours to make the world come to God, if you can only make them believe God is love. If you can really make a man believe you love him, you have won him; and if I could only make people really believe that God loves them, what a rush we would see for the kingdom of God!”

God loves you; it’s His nature to love—and that’s a proposal that deserves full acceptance.

A point to ponder…

If I thought I could only make the world believe that God is love, I would only take that text and go up and down the earth, trying to counteract what Satan has been telling them.

D. L. Moody

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 90-95

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

June 30, 2022

Thursday

Father Figures: Joseph

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

²⁴ Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:”

Matthew 1:24

When one’s spouse does something that seems wrong or out of the ordinary, it takes faith to love anyway, to love unconditionally. It takes faith to say, “I’m going to assume the best; I’m going to wait to discuss this until the right time; I’m going to give my spouse the benefit of the doubt.” Loving unconditionally means seeking the best for another person even when feelings might dictate otherwise.

Think about Joseph of Nazareth and the difficult situation he found himself in when he discovered his beloved Mary was pregnant—before they were married. His first inclination was to do what was best for Mary which meant ending their relationship privately to avoid any public shame or embarrassment for Mary and her family. Then, when he discovered the reason for Mary’s pregnancy, he stood by her completely during her pregnancy and after.

Joseph stood by Mary in every way, even when he didn’t understand completely.

Love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7).

A point to ponder…

We are called upon to reflect the love of God as much in trial as in tranquility.
John Blanchard

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 86-89

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

June 29, 2022

Wednesday

Take Seven Times Daily

Psalm 119: 164-168

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.”

Psalm 119:164

One day when missionary physician Harold Adolph was walking through his house, he saw a verse on the wall of his daughter’s room. It was Proverbs 17:22: “A cheerful heart is good medicine”.  Adolph thought, “If only I could harness the secret of that cheerfulness and share it with my patients, a great deal of physical and spiritual suffering could be avoided.” Another verse came to mind—Psalm 119:164: “Seven times a day I praise You.” That verse, he thought, was like a prescription off a medicine bottle.

Most patients resist taking a medicine seven times a day, which is why pharmaceutical companies develop pills to be taken only once or twice daily. But Dr. Adolph suggests we try the remedy exactly as God prescribed it. You might set your phone alarm to remind yourself to praise God seven times throughout this day. The goal isn’t legalism, but to learn to praise God continuously and to keep our hearts cheerful all day long

Life is a good gift from God and we must treasure it.

A point to ponder…

If we are praising Him continuously we’ll discover just how difficult it is to keep on complaining.

Harold Adolph

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 80-85

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

June 28, 2022

Tuesday

Far Better

Philippians 1:21-26

²³ For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

Philippians 1:23

Washington’s National Gallery of Art has four paintings by Christian artist Thomas Cole, entitled, “The Voyage of Life.” Each of the four panels shows a different stage of life—childhood, youth, manhood, and old age. The last is particularly tranquil: an older person on a boat accompanied by a guardian angel under the dark skies pierced by brilliant sunbeams.

We never know if we’ll make it through these stages, for life is uncertain. But Cole understood that for the believer, death wasn’t something to be feared but anticipated. While we want to tarry on earth in service to God, the voyage of life inevitably takes us upward into heaven, “which is far better.”

Death is certain for all. Denying it does no good; it doesn’t change the reality. We must be ready at any moment. Jesus came for one great purpose: “that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

How important to know Him as our Savior and Lord! How wonderful to enjoy His presence throughout the voyage of life!

A point to ponder…

Christians never say “good-bye”; just “until we meet again.”

Woodrow Kroll

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 78-79

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

June 27, 2022

Monday

Leave It There

1 Peter 5:1-7

⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

Charles Tindley lived a remarkable life. Born into slavery in 1851, he taught himself to read so he could read his Bible. He had a special heart for the Lord. After emancipation, he moved to Philadelphia and found a job as a church janitor. Eventually he became the church’s pastor. One day a Christian came to him overwhelmed with worry and asking what to do. “Put all your troubles in a sack,” said Tindley, “take ‘em to the Lord, and leave ‘em there.” Later, Tindley composed a popular hymn, “Leave It There.”

That requires faith, but it also takes humility. First Peter 5:5 says, “God… gives grace to the humble.” Verse 6 says, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.” And verse 7 says, “Casting all your care upon Him.”

When we bring our burdens to the Lord and leave them there, we’re acknowledging that we cannot solve every problem. We look in humble faith to Him who can do more than we can and who cares for us more than we know.

A point to ponder…

Just remember, in His Word, how He feeds the little bird / Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Charles Tindley

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 74-77

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

Weekend Wisdom

June 25– June 26, 2022

Trust + Wait

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Psalm 37:3, 7

Rest is such an elusive thing. Our bodies and souls desperately need it, which is why God gave us command #4: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). As our Designer, God knows how much we need a break, and He even modeled it for us on the seventh day of Creation. But some of us act allergic to slowing down. We can hardly manage to stop working and to sit still, and even when our bodies are still, our minds and souls are still frenzied. We need rest.

Psalm 37 is likely the main passage in Scripture that describes rest. David wrote this psalm, but it’s unique. Almost everything David wrote was addressed to God—conversations with God, thoughts about God, worship of God. Psalm 37, however, is written to God’s people. This psalm is for us.

The theme of Psalm 37 is trusting God during a difficult season of perceived injustice. Perceived is a qualifier, because in the end, nothing will remain unjust. God will balance the books of justice. But until then, we have to trust God.

“Fret not,” David tells us repeatedly in this psalm. “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers” (Psalm 37:1)! The word fret literally means don’t get heated up. Don’t kindle yourself. Don’t get worked up about the person who seems to go unpunished and succeeds by doing wrong. We can’t help but think, Look how she acts! Look how he cheats and steals! Look how she slanders and betrays!

Rather than fret—rest. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (37:7a). So what does it mean to be still and rest in the Lord? It means to be at peace without resolution. You may not be able to fix your problems anytime soon, and you can’t put your life on hold. Without tidy solutions, during a seemingly unending season of turmoil, you can be at peace and rest in the Lord.

If you read through the rest of Psalm 37, you could write beside almost every verse one of two words: trust or wait. For example:

“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” (37:8). Trust.

“For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land” (37:9). Wait.

In your time with the Lord this week, you could go through the whole psalm and write these words, trust and wait, right in your Bible. It’s the refrain of this psalm: trust and wait, trust and wait, trust and wait.

Trusting is leaning on God. Specifically, during a season of injustice, trusting means confidently expecting that at the right time, God will act, and you will have a front row seat to your own vindication (see Psalm 23:5, 27:13).

Waiting is accepting God’s timing, knowing that you have to go through this season of hardship. You have to stay in this difficult place and feel this pain. You can’t go around trials, only through them.

Sometimes we don’t experience rest in life because we’re trusting but not waiting, or waiting but not trusting. Trusting without waiting is striving. Do everything you can do, and then trust that God will come through. Waiting without trusting is worrying. Yet God reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:6a). Trusting and waiting have to go together. Combine them, and you’ll have peace even without resolution. You’ll have rest.

Points to ponder…

• In your life, what does it look like when you trust but don’t wait? What does it look like when you wait but don’t trust?
• In what hardship in your life do you need to experience God’s peace and rest?

Saturday’s Reading

Psalm 66-69

Sunday’s Reading

Psalm 70-73

 I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

June 24, 2022

Friday

Tending to Our Future

Proverbs 16:9

¹⁴ In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.”

Ecclesiastes 7:14

In 1636, a devout Baptist Christian named Roger Williams was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony in New England for views differing with the Puritans. He founded the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, so-named by Williams because of what he saw as “God’s merciful providence,” which he believed guided him there. Providence became the capital of Rhode Island.

Providence is not only a biblical word, it also reflects biblical ideas. The word comes from the Latin word for “foresee or attend to,” an appropriate way to think of God’s knowledge of the future as He attends to the needs of His people. In the midst of a difficult situation, Williams credited God’s providence with leading him to a new location for pursuing Christian religious freedom. It suggests to us the same: Regardless of today’s trials, God knows the future and is tending to our life to meet our needs.

Whatever your need today, trust in the providence of a good and gracious God.

A point to ponder…

Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to God’s love, and the future to God’s providence.

Augustine

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 58-65

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

June 23, 2022

Thursday

Father Figures: Job

Job 42: 7-17

⁵ And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.”

Job 1:5

There is no end of worrying by parents on behalf of their children—especially after they have left home and are living their own adult lives. Parenting never ends. In spite of the many ways to communicate electronically, parents no longer see their children daily.

Parents want to know how their children are doing, especially how they are doing spiritually.

The best way for parents to safeguard their children’s lives no matter where they are is by intercessory prayer. The father and patriarch, Job, maintained a steady practice of intercession on behalf of his seven sons and three daughters. He offered sacrifices and prayers for them in case they had stumbled and sinned against God (Job 1:1-5). Just as Jesus Christ intercedes for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25), fathers and mothers can intercede for their children.

If you have children and grandchildren, let intercessory prayer be your lifeline to heaven on their behalf.

A point to ponder…

We are never more like Christ than in prayers of intercession. 
Austin Phelps

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 51-57

I love you!!!

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich

June 22, 2022

Wednesday

The Wise Doctor

Proverbs 1: 1-7

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

Alexander Grigolia emigrated to America from Soviet Georgia, earned three doctorates, and started teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. Despite his achievements, he was unfulfilled. One day while getting a shoeshine, he noticed the worker went about his task with joy, and Grigolia asked, “Why are you always so happy?” The bootblack replied, “Jesus. He loves me. He died so God could forgive my badness. He makes me happy.” Those words brought Grigolia to the Savior. He later became one of Billy Graham’s professors at Wheaton College.¹

According to the Bible, wisdom transcends intellect and education; it’s a mindset that adopts God’s view of the meaning and morality of life. It’s the skill of living. Without God’s wisdom, we’re without purpose or direction.

To make the best decisions, speak the best words, and understand situations from the best perspective—ask God for daily wisdom and seek out His Word for His will. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and Jesus alone can make us happy.

A point to ponder…

Wisdom is always associated with righteousness and humility and is never found apart from godliness and true holiness of life.
A. W. Tozer in The Divine Conquest

Read the Bible through in a year

Psalms 46-50

I love you!!!

¹ Ruth Bell Graham, Legacy of a Pack Rat (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), 187.

© 2000-2022 B. Michael Goerlich