2026-03-13
Colossians 3:13 NKJV
When you study the lives of those who were greatly used by God in the Bible, you see that they were not spared from hurt, disappointment, or even betrayal. The truth is, if you live long enough, you’ll be wronged by someone. The question is, how will you react? The apostle Paul tells us how we should react: “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
The story is told of two friends who were walking through the desert when they got into an argument. One friend slapped the other in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt. But without saying anything, he wrote in the sand, “Today my best friend slapped me in the face.” They kept walking until they found an oasis. Since they were thirsty, they stopped for water. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire, fell in, and started to drown. His friend then reached out and saved him. That night, he etched this in a stone: “Today my best friend saved my life.”
The friend who had first slapped him and then saved him asked, “After I hurt you, you wrote in sand. And now you write on a stone. Why?” He replied: “When someone hurts us, we should write it in sand, where the winds of forgiveness can blow and erase it. But when someone does something good for us, we should engrave it in stone where it will be long remembered.” Mercy forgets wrongs and remembers rights!
Soul food: 2 Ki 24-25; Luke 16:19-31; Ps 24; Prov 7:24-25
2026-03-12
Psalm 39:8 KJV
After his violation of Bathsheba, King David finally got honest and confessed his sin to Nathan the prophet. “Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However… by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme'” (2 Samuel 12:13-14 KJV). Later, David would write in the Psalms: “Deliver me from all my transgressions; make me not the reproach of the foolish.” Let’s take a moment and consider the “downside” of immorality when it is found out:
(1) Your mate experiences shame, rejection, betrayal, and heartache. No amount of repentance or asking forgiveness can soften the blow. Suspicion replaces trust.
(2) The innocence and trust of your children are dealt a devastating blow. Their healthy outlook on life is likely to be severely damaged.
(3) The heartache experienced by your parents, family, and peers is indescribable. And you are likely to be embarrassed in facing other Christians, especially those who have openly appreciated, respected, and trusted you.
(4) Your fall may be perceived by others as a license for them to do the same.
(5) Your inner peace will be gone.
(6) Your confidence before God will be forfeited.
(7) Your enemies will have further reason to jeer and sneer, and the cause you represent will suffer harm.
What a high price to pay. What’s the answer? Be filled and stay filled with the Holy Spirit. Here’s why: “The fruit of the Spirit is… self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV).
Soul food: 2 Ki 21-23; Luke 16:1-18; Ps 135; Prov 7:21-23
2026-03-11
Deuteronomy 28:2 NKJV
An observant Jew says a minimum of one hundred blessing prayers each day, beginning with the Hebrew formula: Baruch Atah Adonai. Practicing Jews bless God when they see or experience something for the first time. They bless God for smells and tastes. And if something is pleasurable, they bless God. If you enjoy something without saying a blessing, according to the Talmud, it’s as if you had stolen it. “All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.” Note the words “come upon” and “overtake.”
You never know how or when His blessings will overtake you. But unlike His goodness and mercy, which “follow” us all the days of our lives (See Psalm 23:6), the blessings of God are tracking you down like a heat-seeking missile. They’re hot on your trail. And one day they’re going to overtake you.
Now God doesn’t bless us so we can raise our standard of living; He blesses us so we can raise our standard of giving. The greatest blessing is the ability to bless others. Have you been blessed? That’s where you need to flip the blessing. Where has God shown you favour? That’s where you need to return the favour. There is no greater joy than being on the giving end of a gift. Isn’t that what Jesus said? “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35 NIV).
There are hundreds of blessings in Scripture, each with your name on it. If you are in Christ, the blessings belong to you. “No matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV). So, count your blessings.
Soul food: 2 Ki 18:17-20:21; Luke 15:11-32; Ps 27; Prov 7:10-20
2026-03-10
Philippians 1:3 NIV
Paul takes one entire chapter in the book of Romans to name the people who helped him and to express his appreciation for them. Showing that you care about people beyond what they can do for you lets them know you truly care about them. Sincere praise can energize others and cause them to spring up like wilted flowers that have just been watered. Oh, the dividends that a husband or a wife (or anyone else) would reap from expressing appreciation for the little things.
Just in case your gratitude muscle has grown weak, and you take most kindnesses and efforts for granted, read the following list of tasks and responsibilities that you should show appreciation for: Cleaning the house. Preparing meals. Paying the bills. Going to work. Spending wisely. Buying groceries. Washing and folding the clothes. Bathing the kids. Taking out the trash. Filling the car with gasoline. Being on time. Watering the grass or plants. Sending out Christmas and special occasion cards. Selecting family birthday presents. Supporting your career. Being accountable. Listening. The list could go on and on.
Why not set a goal of appreciating at least one thing per day for a particular person in your life? If you are a man, don’t be so insecure that you fear you will appear weak if you start to notice the little things. It takes a real man to look beyond his needs and recognize the efforts of another. When you are secure in your own identity, you are able to give people more power by keeping them informed, trusting them, caring about them, and appreciating them.
Soul food: 2 Ki 16:1-18:16; Luke 15:1-10; Ps 112; Prov 7:6-9
2026-03-09
James 5:11 NIV
We often think of great artists and musicians as having “bursts” of genius. But more often, they’re models of painstaking patience and perseverance. Their greatest works tend to have been accomplished over longer periods and through extreme hardships.
Beethoven is said to have rewritten each bar of his music at least a dozen times. Joseph Haydn produced more than 800 musical compositions before writing The Creation, the oratorio for which he is most famous. Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment is considered one of the twelve master paintings of the ages. It took him eight years to complete, producing more than 2,000 sketches and renderings in the process. Leonardo da Vinci worked on The Last Supper for ten years, often working so diligently that he forgot to eat.
When renowned pianist Paderewski was quite elderly, an admirer asked him, “Is it true that you still practice every day?” He replied, “Yes, at least six hours a day.” The admirer said in awe, “You must have a world of patience.” Paderewski said, “I have no more patience than the next fellow. I just use mine.”
It is said that in the Kentucky Derby, the winning horse effectively runs out of oxygen after the first mile and runs the rest of the way on heart. Basketball legend Michael Jordan says, “Heart is what separates the good from the great.”
In the Bible, James wrote, “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.” Those who are “blessed” with success are those who keep persevering and refuse to quit.
Soul food: 2 Ki 13-15; Luke 14:25-35; Ps 106:24-48; Prov 7:3-5
2026-03-08
Song of Songs 8:6 NKJV
If you’re dealing with an insecure mate, you must make every effort to be accountable. It’s important to voluntarily provide adequate details. After all, he or she is looking for assurance. Learn to explain your whereabouts in a casual but thorough manner. Short, one-syllable responses will provide more insecurity and leave the person to imagine various negative scenarios. A jealous person is insecure and thus has doubts about having what it takes to maintain the relationship.
Do not make the mistake of thinking or saying, “Tough – you just need to get over your insecurity.” If it were that easy, your mate would have done it by now. Continue to pray for their healing from this debilitating mindset, but do your part not to exacerbate the problem with vague communication.
Most of all, encourage your partner to talk about his or her fears. Listen without being critical or judgmental. Seek first to understand. Make it clear that you love your mate and have pure intentions regarding your relationship.
But here is something important to keep in mind: Stay balanced in your interaction. You must also make it clear that you will not be forced into an emotional prison by having to account for every moment of the day. This too could exacerbate the jealousy and set up unrealistic expectations.
Trust is a two-way street. And one way to build trust is by praying together. In prayer, we become honest and transparent, realizing that God already knows every detail about us. When your mate hears you share your heart in prayer, it relieves unfounded fears and creates security within them.
Soul food: John 1:1-5; Matt 5:14-16; 1 John 1:1-10
