Watching Daily At Wisdom's Gates

   I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;     I have no good apart from you.” Psalm 16:2 ESV David could have counted his blessings and assumed that he had good apart from God. He had the kingdom of Israel at his fingertips. He was the commander in chief of Israel, a mighty warrior. He had wives and children in that polygamous society. One might have assumed that David didn't need God. He had everything he could wish for humanly speaking. Yet he never forgot where God had taken him from. David had been a humble shepherd boy when the Lord had him anointed as the next king of Israel. He knew that every good thing he enjoyed was ultimately a gift of God. He also knew that the Lord was his Shepherd: not just the inanimate Source of all goodness, but his good, good Father God in heaven. What of us? Are we so preoccupied with God's gifts that we're ungrateful for Himself? God forbid that we would be so blind to the reason we have anything to be thankful for at all. 'LORD, Yo...

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19 ESV Taken in isolation, this verse seems like a blank cheque. If we were to agree that we'd win the lottery, surely we would according to the Lord Jesus? That's to twist Scripture and to rip it from its context. In the context, Jesus is talking about how sin is dealt with amongst God's people. It's not to be swept under the carpet. Neither is the blatant sinner to be executed! Thankfully, the aim of this passage of Scripture is restoration. God doesn't want His professing people condemned for eternity. He wants us to be restored to fellowship with the rest of His people. So if sin is confronted in a godly way, and restoration is agreed upon, then there is hope for such reconciliation. If the sinner repents and the wronged party forgives, there's opportunity to a healed relationship. That is the perfect will of God. 'Heavenl...

   Let peoples serve you,     and nations bow down to you.   Be lord over your brothers,     and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.   Cursed be everyone who curses you,     and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” Genesis 27:29 ESV I'm reminded of Solomon's proverb that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Of course, we can't absolutise this proverb. If I curse you undeservedly, it will be like water off a duck's back. Likewise if I bless you when you've done nothing to deserve it. Isaac inadvertently blessed Jacob, even though he meant to bless his elder son Esau. Yet even though it was a case of mistaken identity, the blessing still stood. Even though Jacob weaselled the blessing out of his dad, it was still valid. This incident just goes to show how powerful our words are. Of course, there is a limit to what we say. If I condemn someone to death, my words have no weight. If the American legal system for example condemn...

Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.  Genesis 25:1 ESV He shouldn't have bothered! He had a right to remarry because Sarah had died. Yet one of Abraham's children with Keturah was Midian. The Midianites would become a thorn in the side of the children of Israel. There's nothing in the Bible to forbid remarriage after widowhood, but it's best if we don't bother. I suspect Abraham should have been content with his lot. Just because we have a right to do something doesn't mean to say it is right. We may have a right to divorce, but separation is preferable. When we marry, we become one flesh with our partner. To tear apart a marriage in divorce is a last resort. Jesus permits it in cases of adultery or even sexual immorality (Greek porneia - from which we get our word 'pornography'). Yet in an ideal world, the guilty party will repent, change and be reconciled to the wronged and hopefully forgiving partner. 'God Almighty, we thank You for ...

  if the foundations are destroyed,     what can the righteous do? Psalm 11:3 ESV The ESV offers an alternative translation, 'for the foundations will be destroyed; what has the righteous done?' The sense is similar. There's a sense of helplessness. There's a sense of inevitability in this verse. I think I prefer the alternative translation (although I'm no Hebrew or Greek scholar) because the main translation comes across as too fatalistic. The alternative suggests that if we're righteous we should be edifying to society, and not deconstructive. Deconstructionism is popular nowadays, and there is a place for it. There's a need to demolish wrong ideas. Yet deconstructionism alone isn't enough: alone, it leaves us in the rubble. We need an alternative vision to what society tries to sell us. We need God to make us righteous, through faith in Christ crucified. Though we're naturally in the rubble of our own making, God can help us to 'build back be...

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;     forget not the afflicted. Psalm 10:12 ESV Sometimes, it might feel like God is reclining. Sometimes, we may want God to get up and to do something on our behalf. If we know the God of the Bible, we know that He cares for the afflicted, so we can hold Him to it. 'God helps those who help themselves' isn't necessarily Biblical. This verse for example suggests that 'God helps those who are helpless'. The afflicted are powerless to help themselves, but if God lifts up His hand, He can help them. The Bible emphasises that God is on the side of the marginalised and needy. Widows and single mothers have an Advocate in Him. Orphans and looked after children are looked out for by Him; and immigrants have Him on side. If we're afflicted, we should cry to God to be merciful to us. We can ask Him to arise and to lift up His hand. We can plead with Him to remember us in His graciousness. 'O LORD our God, please arise and lift ...

Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” Genesis 18:25 ESV I love Abraham's importunity with the Judge of all the earth. He was privileged to have an audience with His Master and Maker. He didn't pass up the opportunity to plead to his Lord for his nephew Lot. Sadly, Abraham was optimistic about the impact Lot had made in evil Sodom. Lot's impact had been minimal. Even his wife and daughters don't come across as righteous. If the Apostle Peter didn't tell us that Lot was righteous, we could be forgiven for assuming that he wasn't. Yet we're told that Lot was tormented in his righteous soul at the wickedness of Sodom. Sadly, his anguish wasn't enough to prompt him to speak out and to have a positive impact on that doomed city. When Jesus returns, this world will suffer the same fate as Sodom. T...

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NIV) Peace is unnatural. Anxiety is our default, considering all the conflict and turmoil in the world today. Yet God can give us serenity in the face of all the difficulties that life throws at us.  God's peace transcends all understanding. It is counter-intuitive. Yet if He's looking after us, we'll be alright. Life is full of strife. We need God to guard our hearts and our minds. He does so by His Son, Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus is our peace. By His sacrifice on our behalf we can be at peace with God. We can surrender from our rebellion against Him. 'God of peace, please give us serenity in the face of all the troubles we face in life. Please help us to trust in Jesus, in whose name we pray, amen'.

And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.  Matthew 13:58 ESV At first glance, this makes Jesus seem like He isn't mighty. If He can't do mighty works because of His townsfolks' unbelief, that doesn't seem impressive. Yet I suspect that's a misreading of this verse. We already know from Matthew's account of Jesus's life that He was able to do mighty works elsewhere. Yet Jesus isn't some magician who performs 'miracles' to satisfy people's curiosity. Jesus didn't owe it to the Nazarenes to do mighty works for them. He refused to 'throw His pearls before swine'. The Apostle John describes Jesus's mighty works as 'signs'. He didn't just do them for the sake of the people who needed healing. He did them to point to His own Divinity. As Jesus said in an indictment against His townsfolk, 'A Prophet is not without honour, except in His hometown'. We have a similar saying in English: ...

 Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34 ESV This is a provocative statement by Jesus. Wasn't He meant to bring peace on earth, as Christmas cards proclaim? Yet here He is saying He came to bring conflict! The angels announced peace on earth 'to those on whom God's favour rests' at the birth of Christ. So Jesus didn't come to bring universal peace. If He had have done so, He clearly would have failed miserably. Jesus does bring peace to those on whom God's favour rests. Yet those favoured people are opposed by everyone else, who are hostile to the idea that they need to make their peace with the God who we are all naturally at enmity with. The enemies of Jesus's people become members of their own household, if they're not all united in faith in Him. The conflict Jesus refers to is, counterintuitively, most clear in religious households. Religious people don't like the idea ...

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11 ESV I love how honest Jesus is with His followers. He doesn't flatter us that we're good. He's honest with us that we're naturally evil! This verse isn't exactly 'how to gain friends and to influence people'. It's seemingly how to lose friends and to alienate people. Yet Jesus's followers stuck with Him. I'm sure they appreciated His honesty. Jesus didn't just call His followers evil. He acknowledged that they knew how to give good gifts to their children. He wasn't unremittingly negative; giving credit where credit was due. If we know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our Heavenly Dad give good things to those who ask Him. If we ask God for the gift of faith and His Holy Spirit, He will give them. He will empower us to live for Him. 'Heave...

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NLT) On the night of His arrest, Jesus wasn't selfish. He wasn't thinking of self preservation. His concern was for His followers. Even though Jesus Himself needed encouragement that was sadly lacking from His followers, He provided it for them. He told them about the fact He was going to prepare a place for them in glory. There's hope for us, even if we face death (unless Jesus returns first). Jesus didn't flatter His followers, but He did encourage them to find peace in Him. He didn't make out life was going to be easy for them for following Him. He didn't promise health, wealth and happiness. Nevertheless, Jesus encouraged His followers that despite the trials and sorrows of life, He has overcome all that would assail us. We can easily forget that this world isn't all there is. Ther...

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10 (NIV) God doesn't call us to run around like headless chickens in the face of the chaos in the world. Neither does He expect us to bury our heads in the sand. Instead, He calls us to be still and to know that He is God. We can be at peace in the face of conflict and turmoil within and without. God is sovereign. He's in control of this world. As things stand, God doesn't seem exalted. He seems despised. Yet a day is coming at the return of the Lord Jesus when God will be exalted amongst the nations. Nations will pass away. Yet the Lord will reign over His Kingdom for all eternity. There will come a time when the earth is filled with the knowledge of the glory of God, as the waters cover the sea. 'God, help us to be still and to know that You are Lord. May we reflect upon Your sovereignty, and let that give us confidence in the face of all the uph...

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) It comes naturally to people to be discontented. Yet God's grace is sufficient for us. We have no right to be dissatisfied. Maybe we're frustrated by our weaknesses. That's understandable. Yet it's not about us, but the power of God. As people we're weak. We shouldn't get hung up about it. We should focus on the power of God to be revealed in our lives. I am weak. Yet my God is strong, and His grace is sufficient for me. May He be glorified in my life. 'God, may You be glorified in our lives. Please be gracious to us and exert Your power on our behalf. In Jesus' mighty name, amen'.

 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11 (NIV) Imitation, so they say, is the highest form of flattery. Children imitate parents, for better or worse. The Apostle John commands us not to imitate what is evil but what is good. John seems to be stating the obvious. Yet sadly, it's often all too easy to miss the wood for the trees. Parents aren't perfect: children are as likely to imitate evil traits of their parents as virtuous characteristics. Maybe we have evil parents. If that is the case, we are to seek adoption into the family of God. With God as our heavenly Father, we have no excuse but to imitate His perfection. If we do good, we can't be all self congratulatory. We're to give God the glory for any goodness in us. Our goodness is thanks to God's work in our lives. 'Heavenly Father, please adopt us into Your family and help us to imitate Y...

 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15 (NIV) St. Francis of Assisi famously quoted this and added, 'where necessary, use words'. In reality, it's always necessary to use words. As the Apostle Paul said, 'how can people believe in someone they've never heard of?' If we expect our lives alone to preach the gospel, how are people to know they need a Saviour? If we are Christlike but don't give Him the glory, people will just think well of us without knowing our righteousness is the work of God in our lives. It's not enough to have a form of godliness but to deny its power. If Jesus truly rose from the dead, as He did before He spoke these words, then we ought to joyfully obey Him. Mark records Him as commanding us to go all around the world to tell the good news to everyone. We're not to be stingy with the gospel. Because Jesus has defeated death, we can too, through faith in Him. Though we face death ...

 For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty Saviour. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) The Lord our God isn't some distant, uncaring force way out there in the universe. He came down to earth in the person of His Son. He has poured out His Holy Spirit upon His people. He's living amongst us. The LORD Jesus is a mighty Saviour. Not only did He die in our place, but He now ever lives to make intercession for us. We have a powerful and compelling Advocate before Father God. God doesn't begrudgingly save us. He gladly takes delight in us. We are to fear Him, but He calms our fears with His love. Music is divine. Even God Almighty rejoices over His people with joyful songs. Wayward though we are, He draws us back with the beauty of His voice. 'Lord our God, we're so grateful for Your presence among us. Please continue Your love towards us,...

 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV) There's another proverb that says that a friend nearby is better than a brother far away. My mum has a saying that we can pick and choose our friends, but we're stuck with our siblings for life, so we should make extra effort to be on good terms. For many people, friends are closer than siblings though. A true friend isn't a fair weather friend. A good friend isn't just a mate you meet down the pub. They're someone you can rely on through thick and thin. Amazingly, Jesus Himself, the Holy One, described Himself as a 'Friend of sinners'. Even though we deserve His condemnation for our sinful rebellion against Him, that doesn't have to be our destiny. We can be befriended by Almighty God! When we trust in Jesus, we're adopted into God's family. He's like our elder brother spiritually. Instead of picking on us like the worst of older brothers, He...

for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Hebrews 4:10 (ESV) The writer to the Hebrews suggests that Jesus has fulfilled the Sabbath command. We don't have to get all legalistic about it. We just need to rest from trying to earn God's acceptance. God accepts us because of Jesus. He doesn't accept us because of our attempts at law keeping. It's by His grace that we're saved, through faith. Because salvation is 100% of God, we can rest. We don't have to strive to justify ourselves before God. We just need to trust in Him. God has set us an example. Jesus has entered into heavenly rest. By faith, we're with Him spiritually; so we don't need to try and add to His finished work. 'Dear God, please help us to rest in You, and in Christ's finished work on our behalf. In whose name we pray, amen'.

bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Luke 6:28 (ESV) Our gut reaction when someone curses us is to curse them back, maybe with interest! If someone abuses us, we may well be tempted to seek revenge. Jesus calls us to another way. Instead of cursing back, Jesus commands us to do the opposite. We're to bless those who curse us. When people want to kick us when we're down, we should seek to edify them. A blessing can diffuse conflict. Even if it doesn't, it's the right thing to do. We're to be the change we want to see in the world. Instead of abusing abusers back, we should pray for them. We can pray for them to get their comeuppance. It's even better to pray that they would repent and be transformed. 'Lord our God, please help us to emulate Christ Jesus and not to retaliate against those who offend us. In His name, amen'.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 (ESV) When Jesus says 'truly, truly', He's underlining the importance of what He's saying. Everything He says is true; this verse is especially so. We need to hear the word of Jesus. Having heard, we need to believe in Father God. If we do so, we gain eternal life. We all face judgement. Yet if we plead the blood of Jesus, God's judgement doesn't have to be our destiny. We can be acquitted of our iniquitous sins. When we trust in God, we pass from death to life. We all face death, unless Jesus returns first. Yet if we trust in Him, we will enjoy eternity with Him. 'Abba God, we trust in You. Thank You for sending Jesus for our salvation. Please don't judge us as we deserve. In His name we pray, amen'.

There's an ancient Greek saying, 'Trust Athena, and move your arms'! Aesop's story goes that a shipwrecked man prayed to Athena to save him. All other survivors were swimming to safety and told him, 'trust Athena, and move your arms!' I guess a secular understanding of this parable would be 'by all means have a bit of faith, hope and love, but be practical!' To be honest, other, true stories come to my mind. A man on the shipwrecked Titanic gave his life-jacket to someone else. He said, 'I'm going up, not down!' He knew that this life isn't all there is, there's an eternity to come. Even as he began to sink, he asked another man, 'are you saved?' and urged him to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Another story comes to mind. Perhaps apocryphally, Oliver Cromwell, a key figure in the civil wars in the British Isles in the 17th Century ordered his troops, the New Model Army, 'Trust God, and keep your [gun]powd...

 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) We're to keep our minds stayed on God, because if we get distracted by anything else, we're going to get troubled. Of course, this doesn't mean to say that we have to become hermits. We should though have a consciousness of God's trustworthiness through all the changing scenes of life. If we focus on worst case scenarios, we're likely to worry and to become anxious. God wants us to trust in Him, and therefore to find peace. Even if we're optimistic, we're likely to become disillusioned if our hopes are dashed.  It's best to leave the outcome to God. There's no point worrying or boasting about tomorrow. Instead we should commit it to God in prayer. God doesn't want us troubled. Life is troublesome, yet we can have serenity in knowing God's sovereign care of us. We can have confidence in Him. 'Abba in heaven, please help us to have ...

 'I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. ' 1 Timothy 1:12-17 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1TI.1.12-17 Here is the Apostle Paul summing up his testimony of faith in Christ Jesus to his mentee, Timothy. Paul didn't blo...

 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 (NIV) Evil is prevalent in the world today. A Russian writer famously said that the dividing line between good and evil runs directly through every human heart. None of us can honestly say that we're good. If we claim to be naturally good, we're liars, which is evil. Yet we don't have to be defeatist and fatalistic. We can overcome evil with good. If there's anything good in us, it is because of the work of God in our hearts. If we're empowered to forgive or not to take revenge, that's because of God's grace in us. We don't have to be bitter and vengeful. If we're honest, we struggle with evil, not just in the world, but in our hearts. We must cry out to God to enable and empower us to be and to do good, in His strength, not our own. Nothing is impossible for God. 'Our Good God, we're so grateful that we don't have to be overcome by evil. Please help us to overcome evi...

 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) God's grace is powerful. It's not just a nice thought. It's His undeserved kindness to us in Christ crucified on our behalf. Anyone can be saved. It doesn't matter who we are or what we've done. We're not too bad that God's grace cannot deal with our wrongdoing. If we are saved, God's grace will teach us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions. We don't have to give in to sinful desires. God gives us the power to say No. Instead of being lustful or greedy or proud for example, we are to live differently, by God's grace. We're to be self-controlled, upright and godly. If we are, there's no room for pride, because it's down to God's graciousness that there's any good in us. 'Gracious God, please...

 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) The tongue is powerful. We have a famous saying in English: 'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me'. It isn't true! If someone in authority uses their tongue to condemn us, their word has power. In countries with the death penalty, death and life are literally in the power of the tongue. If some ruler declares war with his tongue, he's demonstrating the truth of this proverb. The tongue is powerful, but it's not something to be afraid of. If we recognise its power and seek to harness it, we'll do well out of it. Many people make a living by their spoken words. We ought to be slow to speak and quick to listen. Our words can inadvertently do a lot of damage. Let's make sure our words are life giving and edifying for people. 'Dear Lord, we praise You for the words of Your mouth, which are a blessing to us. May we fear ...

 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7 (ESV) It's a common call in Scripture, to tell us to be encouraged. In fact, Revelation goes as far to say that the cowardly won't inherit the kingdom of God. We have to be brave. God gives us every reason to be encouraged. He rewards faithful work for Him. When we're tempted to give up, we just need to stay strong in His strength. Maybe we're feeling weak. Maybe we feel like giving up. We must persevere, because in the end God promises to reward our work for Him. We don't deserve a reward from God. In the end, we will plead the blood of Jesus for our acceptance by Him. We're unworthy servants who simply did our duty. 'Lord our God, please help us to be courageous. Don't let us give up, but encourage us with the prospect of our eternal reward. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen'.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (NIV) God doesn't necessarily expect us to run or to fight all the time spiritually. We need to keep in step with the Holy Spirit of God though. Otherwise, we'll go astray. I love a famous quote by pioneering cobbler turned missionary William Carey. He was asked what the secret of his success was. He humbly replied, 'I can plod'. The Christian life is a battle, to overcome the desires of the flesh, which are contrary to our souls and spirits. At times, we do need to run, to flee temptation; and to fight, to resist the devil. Generally though, we simply need to walk by the Spirit. We don't need to rush ahead. We mustn't lag behind. 'Father God, please help us to keep in step with Your Spirit. Thank You for Him, in Jesus' name, amen'.

 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV) Our gut reaction when someone speaks evil of us, is to speak evil of them. Naturally, when someone insults us, we want to insult them back. The Apostle Peter commands us not to do so. If we repay evil for evil and insult with insult, we're no different than a pagan. If we want to follow Jesus, we have to live differently. He repaid evil with good, and insult with forgiveness; so should we. Peter commands us to repay evil with blessing. To do so seems counterintuitive. Thankfully, he gives us reason to do so. If we repay evil with blessing, God will bless us. We deserve to inherit nothing but condemnation for Him. Yet we can be blessed with eternal life through faith in Him. 'Father God, we trust in Christ crucified for evil, insulting people like us. May we become blessings to Yourself and others. Fo...

 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ' James 1:17 NIV God is the Source of every good thing we enjoy. Even the faith we may have in Him is from Him. There's no room for boasting. Even the good works we do for God are empowered by His gifting of us. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. God has prepared these works for us to do in advance. God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we indulge in anything dark and shadowy, we need to forsake it and come into the Light. We must renounce all darkness. God isn't like us. We're changeable. We're not consistent and everlastingly faithful like Him. 'Heavenly Father, we praise You for every one of Your gifts that we enjoy. Please help us to come into Your Light and become conformed into Christ's likeness, in whose name we pray, amen'.

 ' Give us today our daily bread. ' Matthew 6:11 NIV I'm sure Jesus isn't just talking about our need for food. If we go without bread for a day, we'll survive. If we go without the Bread of life who is the Lord Jesus Christ for one day, we won't survive. It's not even Bible reading that saves us. It's certainly not typing about the Bible that saves us. It's about trusting in Bread of life, broken for us on the cross. We find out about the crucifixion of Christ on our behalf in the Bible, so it is important. Yet it's only if the Holy Spirit applies it to our hearts that we get to digest the Bread of life. We need Him not just daily, but every moment of our lives. There's a sense of urgency about this request. We need the Lord every day. We can't go a day without Him. 'Heavenly Father, please provide for our needs, and help us to rely on You for everything. In Jesus' name, amen'.

 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) The Hebrew Christians were tempted to throw in the towel. Persecution was hotting up. It would have been easier for them humanly speaking to give up on their faith in God.  Even the shaky Hebrew Christians could approach God's throne of grace with confidence. Our ability to approach God's throne isn't based upon our performance, but upon His grace. If we're trusting in our performance, we'll be lost for eternity. Not everyone who says to Jesus 'Lord, Lord' will be saved. Only those who trust and obey Him as Lord will be saved. We are always in need. Whether we realise it or not, we need God's mercy and grace 24/7. Every breath we breath is a gift of God, out of His merciful and gracious heart. 'God, we approach Your throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to he...