2026-10-03
Psalm 103:3 NLT
The psalmist wrote: ‘Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies’ (vv. 2-4 NLT). David reminded himself of these four things, and you should too. God had forgiven all his sins. God had healed all his diseases. God had redeemed his life from death and destruction. God had crowned him with love, kindness, mercy, and favour.
The Bible records: ‘A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all’ (Matthew 15:30 NLT). Were these born-again Christians that Jesus healed? No, this took place before the cross. Think about it: if Jesus was willing to heal all of them, then as a redeemed child of God who has put your trust in Christ for salvation, He can heal you too.
Are you a believer? Yes? Then read this Scripture and stand on it: ‘These signs will follow those who believe… they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover’ (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV). James wrote: ‘Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up’ (James 5:14-15 NKJV). If you are sick, stand on God’s Word and believe Him to heal you.
Soul food: 2 Cor 11:16-13:14; John 1:14-28; Ps 51; Pro 25:23-25
2026-10-02
Matthew 8:3 NLT
The Bible says: ‘A man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me.”…Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared’ (vv. 2-3 NLT). God does not want us to go through life wondering if it’s His will to heal us. That’s why He graciously gave us His Word. David said: ‘O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health. You brought me up from the grave’ (Psalm 30:2-3 NLT).
God is so serious about our healing that He connected it to the death of Jesus on the cross. ‘Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed’ (1 Peter 2:24 NKJV). We don’t doubt Christ’s triumph over death at the cross or our salvation because of it. Neither should we doubt the Father’s will to heal us. Note the words, ‘By whose stripes you were healed.’ That’s past tense. From God’s perspective, all that’s required for your healing was accomplished at the cross.
This leper knew that Jesus could heal him; he just didn’t know if He would. Jesus cleared up his doubt with three powerful words: ‘I am willing.’ And then He said, ‘Be healed!’ (Matthew 8:3 NLT). The Bible records that the man’s leprosy disappeared instantly. It also says: ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8 NKJV). That means you can go to Him with confidence and believe for your healing.
Soul food: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15; John 1:1-13; Ps 60; Pro 25:21-22
2026-10-01
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
Feeling tired tells you: 1) that your body needs to rest, 2) to take life at a more normal human pace, and 3) to take time to just abide in the presence of God. God ‘rested on the seventh day’ (Genesis 2:2 ESV). Think about that. God – the One who transcends all things, knows all things, and has all power – rested! What makes you think you don’t have to? Now if you’re wired to work, not working will be a difficult habit to get into, even for a few hours.
But rest is a secret weapon God gave you to help you defeat the enemy. When you’re exhausted, you’re of little use to God or anyone else. This is one of the main reasons Satan has you running here and there, doing, doing, doing. If he can’t tempt you with addictive substances, wrong relationships, and bad habits, he will tempt you with overdoing good deeds. He wants you to exhaust yourself so that when the real battle – the one you were meant to fight – comes along, you’ll be too tired.
John wrote: ‘I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers’ (3 John 2 NKJV). But your soul is not prospering when it is exhausted and stretched to the max, with little time for rest or restoration. What to do? Lay your schedule at the feet of Jesus, including any new projects. Wait for His direction. If it seems slow in coming, stand on this Scripture: ‘Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.’
Soul food: 2 Cor 5-8; Mark 16:9-20; Ps 68:19-35; Pro 25:17-20
2026-09-30
James 5:16 KJV
It seems that everywhere you turn today, somebody is making an excuse for his or her poor choices, performance, or behaviour, or failing to admit a weakness or shortcoming. Yet we all make mistakes. One of the best examples of admitting a mistake is found in the account of David being unjustly pursued by King Saul. David became a fugitive, and in the process unknowingly jeopardized the lives of certain priests when he asked for their help.
Ahimelech the priest gave him food and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf. Doeg, King Saul’s chief herdsman, witnessed the whole thing and squealed on the priest. Saul confronted Ahimelech, accused him of conspiring with David, and ordered Doeg to kill him and eighty-five other priests and their entire families.
“Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David. When he told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord, David exclaimed, ‘I knew it! When I saw Doeg… there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family'” (1 Samuel 22:20-22 NLT).
What an admission! No excuses, just an acknowledgement that he had made a terrible mistake in seeking their help. His next statement shows his commitment to not repeat the mistake and to making amends whenever possible: “Stay here with me… I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both” (1 Samuel 22:23 NLT). Humans make mistakes. They have blind spots. God is present to support our every weakness. Peace comes when we admit our shortcomings to one another.
Soul food: 2 Cor 1-4; Mark 16:1-8; Ps 68:1-18; Pro 25:13-16
2026-09-29
1 Samuel 17:30 NIV
The first person who tried to discourage David from fighting Goliath was his own brother. “Eliab… burned with anger at him and asked, ‘Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are… You came down only to watch the battle.’ ‘Now what have I done?’ said David. ‘Can’t I even speak?’ He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter” (1 Samuel 17:28-30 NIV).
Don’t fall into the trap of giving too much thought and consideration to a discourager. Spend your time with those who add to you, not detract from you. Even King Saul told David, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth” (v. 33 NIV). But David wasn’t concerned about how much experience Goliath had, because he knew that his God was all-powerful.
How tragic it is when we limit our faith only to what we can see. To think we are inadequate for a task is to engage in self-centeredness and focus on our own capabilities apart from God. This independent mindset shuts God out of the equation and ignores that fact that He has declared that His strength is made perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV).
The name “Eliab,” David’s older brother, means “God is my father.” How ironic, because he had no confidence in God at all. So in order to experience victory, you may first have to overcome the doubts and unbelief of those closest to you.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15-16; Mark 15:33-47; Ps 91; Pro 25:9-12
2026-09-28
Romans 8:28 NCV
The Bible begins with these words: “In the beginning God created the sky and the earth. The earth was empty and had no form. Darkness covered the ocean, and God’s Spirit was moving over the water. Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good” (Genesis 1:1-4 NCV).
Even when your life seems like a jumbled mess, you can trust the God who brought order out of chaos and light out of darkness to help your life make sense. When you believe that “All things work together for good” (Romans 8:28 NKJV), it redefines the bad things that happen. The worst day of your life can turn into the best day. There’s a silver lining to every cloud, and every downside has a potential upside. When you interpret life through this prism, it gives you confidence that everything is going to be alright. It reassures you that the best is yet to come because God said, “For I know the plans I have for you… they are plans for good” (See Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).
But sometimes you have a part to play. God is setting up divine appointments, but you must keep them. God is a gift-giver, but you must fan your gift into flame. God is calling, but you must answer (See Isaiah 6:8). God is ordering your footsteps, but you must keep in step with the Spirit. If you faithfully do your part, you can count on God to do His part – which is to work on your behalf.
Soul food: 1 Cor 12-14; Mark 15:21-32; Ps 13; Pro 25:4-8
