Verse of the Day
Psalm 119:105 (New King James Version)

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Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Focusing on Heaven - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith [Abraham] lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Heb. 11:9-10).
Focusing on Heaven is the best way to endure difficulties on earth.

Following God's call isn't always easy. He expects us to trust Him explicitly, yet doesn't ask our advice on decisions that may impact us dramatically. He doesn't tell us His specific plans at any given point in our lives. He doesn't always shelter us from adversity. He tests our faith to produce endurance and spiritual maturity—tests that are sometimes painful. He makes some promises that we'll never see fulfilled in this life.

If following God's call is a challenge for us, imagine how it was for Abraham, who had no Bible, no pastor, no sermons, no commentaries, and no Christian encouragement or ac

How to Apply God’s Principles - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Living the Word rather than just reading it is how we’re able to see God work.

Psalms 119:17-24

The process for applying scriptural principles is often misunderstood. It’s not simply three steps: hear, believe, apply. We must also explore and discover before we take action.

To explore a biblical principle means studying Scripture to understand what the surrounding context is, what its lesson means for your life, and what it reveals about God. Furthermore, we must consider how all this relates to the rest of the Bible. Digging into the Word softens our hearts and minds so that the new doctrine gets planted deeply.

As we journey further into Scripture to explore, the new concept rises off the page and becomes real to us. We discover how the principle works and how to apply it to our life. As we do, God’s rich truth becomes our own. The more we take into our heart and mind, the better they can impact us

Verse of the Day
Psalm 119:18 (New King James Version)

Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.

Stepping out in Faith - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going" (Heb. 11:8).
The life of faith begins with a willingness to forsake everything that displeases God.

Abraham is the classic example of the life of faith. As the father of the Jewish nation, he was the most strategic example of faith available to the writer of Hebrews. But the people to whom Hebrews was written needed to understand that Abraham was more than the father of their race; he also was, by example, the father of everyone who lives by faith in God (Rom. 4:11).

Contrary to popular first-century Jewish thought, God didn't choose Abraham because he was righteous in himself. When called by God, Abraham was a sinful man living in an idolatrous society. His home was in the Chaldean city of Ur, which was located in ancient Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphr

Wandering From the Word - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

The Bible is our most reliable source of information and inspiration for living.

Psalms 119:9-16

Imagine a man has bought his grandchildren a new toy. After a brief glance at the directions, he sets the booklet aside and gets busy building. A few frustrating hours later, he humbly opens the instructions again and follows the steps to put the toy together. Soon he is done, and the grandkids are playing happily.

The grandfather knew that the manufacturer had a plan for assembling the toy, but he assumed he could figure it out on his own. Many of us approach Scripture the same way. Instead of treating God’s Word like a manual to live by, we’ll glance at it only when we’re at a loss over what to do next.

The Bible teaches believers who God is, what He thinks, and how He acts. Knowing the ways of the Lord ensures that we can make wise decisions that honor Him. The Bible is also God’s instruction book for living

Verse of the Day
Psalm 119:143 (New King James Version)

Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights.

Rebuking the World - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Noah . . . condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Heb 11:7).
Your actions and words should rebuke our godless society.

Genesis 6:5 says, "The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Before moving in judgment against the most evil and corrupt society in history, God appointed Noah to build an ark, which became a symbol of life and salvation to all who believed God. For those who disbelieved, it represented impending death and judgment.

Concurrent with constructing the ark, Noah preached about coming judgment. Peter called him "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Pet. 2:5), and every board he cut and nail he drove in was a living illustration of the urgency of his message.

God's warning was stern and His message horrifying, but His patience and mercy prevailed for 120 ye

Our Personal Accountability - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Ask the Lord to help you find a godly friend who will love, encourage, and challenge you.

Romans 14:10-12

Being involved in an accountability relationship is one of life’s greatest gifts. Consider some of the excellent examples from Scripture: Jesus is accountable to the Father (John 8:28-29), the church is subject to Christ (Ephesians 5:24), and Paul felt beholden to the church at Antioch (Acts 14:27). When we have someone with whom we can share our failures, weaknesses, successes, and longings, we benefit in several important ways.

For one thing, accountability helps us develop a sense of responsibility. It also promotes integrity and protects us from making poor decisions. What’s more, learning to examine ourselves keeps us honest and humble.

Because an accountability partner can see our weaknesses, he or she is in a good position to offer counsel, encouragement, or a loving rebuke. To choose the rig

Verse of the Day
1 Peter 3:18 (New King James Version)

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

Building a Picture of Salvation - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household" (Heb. 11:7).
The ark is a beautiful picture of salvation by grace through faith.

God called Noah to a gargantuan task. Conservative figures estimate that the ark was about 438 feet long, 73 feet wide, and 44 feet high. That makes it almost one-and-a-half times the length of a football field and more than four stories high. Its three decks totaled almost 96,000 square feet with a total volume of about 1.3 million cubic feet. Naval engineers concur that its shape and dimensions constitute an incredibly stable ship design.

But beyond the enormity of its size and precision of its measurements, the ark is a wonderful illustration of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. For example, Noah was instructed to cover the ark inside and out with pitch (Gen. 3:14). The Hebrew word for pitch has th

The Power of Prayer - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

When scary challenges come, ask your heavenly Father for help.

2 Chronicles 20:1-15

Yesterday, we looked at how Elijah boldly challenged the prophets of Baal. Today’s passage focuses on King Jehoshaphat, who learned an army was coming, sought God for direction and strength, and then called upon the nation to do likewise. Their examples teach what is required for prayer to be powerful:

Dependence on God. Their petitions showed deep reliance upon the Lord. Knowing that victory was beyond their own abilities, they asked God to intervene.

A focus on His plan. Elijah did things God’s way against tremendous odds and at great personal risk (1 Kings 19:1-2). Jehoshaphat called for the nation to fast as he sought the Lord’s plan. Because they looked to God for a strategy, both men had a clear goal that led them through the difficulties they faced.

Purity of motive. The two leaders had God-centered intentions and a g

Verse of the Day
1 Peter 2:15-16 (New King James Version)

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

Obeying Faith - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Heb. 11:7).
True faith works.

When James said, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26), he stated a principle that's consistent throughout Scripture: True faith always produces righteous works.

The people described in Hebrews 11 made their genuine faith known in the things they did. The same applies to us today. Paul said, "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age" (Titus 2:11-12).

Perhaps better than anyone else in history, Noah illustrates the obedience of faith. Scripture characterizes him as "a righteous man, blameless in his time . . . [who] walked with God

Praying With Authority - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

God always listens to His children and responds—with power and wisdom.

1 Kings 18:19-39

God has given us the privilege of calling on Him for all we need— what’s more, He’s promised to respond. He also encourages us to petition Him on behalf of others. And Scripture tells us that the prayers of a righteous person can accomplish much (James 5:16).

To pray powerfully, we must first accept God’s offer of salvation. Before redemption, we were unrighteous people under His judgment. But through faith in Jesus, we are made new and declared holy. Second, we must align our prayers with His will.

Let’s look at Elijah. The Lord sent him to defeat and humiliate the evil king Ahab and the 450 prophets of Baal. This was a spiritual conflict to prove who was the real God—Baal or the Lord of Israel.

Elijah’s weapons were his knowledge of the Father’s plan and the authority he had in prayer as a prophet of God. His request

Verse of the Day
Colossians 1:9 (New King James Version)

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Seeking God's Reward - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).
All who come to God in faith will receive the reward of eternal life.

We've seen that without faith it's impossible to please God. And the first step in faith is believing that God exists. In addition, we must also believe that He answers our prayers—more specifically, that He redeems those who come to Him in faith.

Scripture repeatedly tells us that God not only can be found, but also desires to be found. David said to his son Solomon, "If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever" (1 Chron. 28:9). The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jesus said, "Everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened" (Luke 11:10).

At first glance those verses may seem t

Strength Comes With Waiting - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Access to God's power is achieved not by moving faster but by going slower.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Exhaustion is a by-product of overcommitted schedules and endless responsibilities. That’s not what our Father wants for us. He offers a radically different mode of living and gives His followers renewed strength.

Those who wait on the Lord are promised His supernatural energy. In fact, Scripture says it will surpass the natural strength and endurance of the young (Isa. 40:29-30). Contrary to what we might think, access to this power is achieved not by moving faster but by going slower—taking the time to focus on God, seek His direction, and ask for His strength to accomplish what He’s calling us to do. There is no earthly explanation for what God is willing and able to achieve in and through a yielded human being. His Holy Spirit is like a powerful and refreshing gust of wind that enables us to soar like eagles (Ps

Verse of the Day
1 John 2:15-16 (New King James Version)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Believing in God - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is" (Hebrews 11:6).
Nothing you do can please God apart from faith.

Throughout history, people have tried everything imaginable to gain favor with God. Most turn to religion, but religion apart from Christ is merely a satanic counterfeit of the truth.

Many trust in their own good works, not realizing that even their best efforts are offensive to God (Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:8). And the more we try to justify ourselves, the more we offend God, because "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight" (Rom. 3:20).

Some trust in their family heritage or nationality. The Jewish people thought they were pleasing to God simply because they were descendants of Abraham. But John the Baptist warned them, saying, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentanc

When God Makes Us Wait - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

God is always working for our good—even when it seems as if nothing is happening.

Psalms 25:4-5

On the road of life, decisions are like intersections; we must choose which way to go. If we barrel through without seeking Jesus Christ, the road we pick may lead to regret and hardship (Matthew 7:13-14). Although the Lord is ready and willing to offer direction, He doesn’t always give it when or how we expect.

At times, this is because He wants to get our attention. When everything is running smoothly, we might be tempted to forget God. But uncertainty draws us back to Him like a magnet. By aligning our steps with His and walking in submission to the Spirit, we open our ears to hear His voice.

Our waiting period is God’s preparation time. He may be coordinating events to line up with His will. Sometimes He has work to accomplish in us before we can handle what He’s planned for our future. Waiting helps strengthe

Verse of the Day
Job 37:5-6 (New King James Version)

God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.

Walking with God - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"Enoch walked with God" (Genesis 5:24).

Walking with God includes reconciliation, obedience from the heart, and ongoing faith.

When Scripture speaks of walking with God, it's referring to one's manner of life. For example, Paul prayed that the Colossian believers (and us) would be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so they could walk (live) in a manner worthy of the Lord (Col. 1:9-10). To the Ephesians he said, "Walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind . . . [but] be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you" (Eph. 4:17; 5:1-2).

The Old Testament describes Enoch as a man who walked with God. Though relatively little is said about this special man, we can derive implications from his life that will help us better understand what it means to walk with God.

First, Enoch's walk with God implies recon

The Grace to Keep Going - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Through our weaknesses, we can discover God's all-sufficient power and love.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

When you listen to someone speak, what gives his or her words weight? Most often, we measure a message against the person’s experience and dismiss the thoughts and ideas that don’t seem genuine. So, when we come to Paul’s discussion of God’s sufficiency, we ask, “Is this something he can really talk about?” And we are able to read the Word and see from the apostle’s life that the answer is a resounding yes.

Paul’s testimony contains accounts of many hardships that confronted him (2 Corinthians 11:22-28). He was imprisoned, beaten, threatened, stoned, shipwrecked, and robbed. On top of all this, he had a persistent, unrelenting “thorn” (12:7-8).

You’d think God would keep His servants in perfect condition and health. Yet, when the apostle prayed for relief, God’s answer was not what he expected: “My grace is su

TRUMP DERRANGEMENT SYNDROME IS BACK!!! X

Verse of the Day
Isaiah 1:18 (New King James Version)

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Walking by Faith - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God" (Heb 11:5).
When you walk by faith, you enjoy intimacy with God.

Our second hero of faith is Enoch. Genesis 5:21-24 records that "Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."

What a wonderful epitaph: "Enoch walked with God." His life exemplifies the walk of faith. Adam and Eve had walked with God in the Garden of Eden, but their sin separated them from such intimacy. Enoch experienced the fellowship with God they had forfeited.

Enoch's faithful walk pleased God grea

The Faith to Press On - In Touch Ministries - Charles Stanley

Persevere and honor God through hardship—reward is on the other side.

James 1:2-12

When difficult times come into your life, what is your response? It may seem tempting to look for a way out of the discomfort, but that’s not the attitude God desires from us. He wants His children to press on and trust Him, even though that may not end the affliction.

This comes as a shock to many new believers. They are often surprised when a hardship appears. However, it’s a misconception to expect an easy life once we trust God’s Son as Lord. In fact, Jesus Himself said that the world will give us great trouble (John 16:33).

In James 1:2, we are instructed to consider our struggles as a source of “pure joy” (NIV). This makes sense only when we see our difficulties through God’s eyes, as opportunities for growth. When we face trials with wisdom and endure them with godly perseverance, we will find blessings we never thought

Verse of the Day
Joshua 24:15 (New King James Version)

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The First Disciple - Drawing Near - John MacArthur

"Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel . . . brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard" (Gen. 4:3-5).
True discipleship is characterized by obedience to God’s Word.

In John 8:31 Jesus issued an important statement to a group of people who were showing an interest in Him: "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine." Sadly, they rejected His words, proving themselves to be less than true disciples. Jesus went on to explain why: "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God" (v. 47). They listened but didn't really hear. They were interested but not truly committed. They were hearers of the Word but not doers (James 1:22).

In contrast, Abel did what God told him to do. He was, in effect