Matthew 5:23-24 New Living Translation “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God." For meditation How would you feel … Continue reading Get Reconciled and Come Back

Job 42:10 New International Version After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. For Meditation What would have happened if Job had refused to pray for his three friends when God directed them to him? They had called him everything from self-righteous to a … Continue reading Forfeited Blessings

Proverbs 17:14 New International Version Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. Your Encouragement Going on the offensive is an excellent strategy for physical warfare. The most lethal blow is always the sneak attack. In relationships, however, it is destructive. You build distrust and dismantle … Continue reading Don’t Start It!

But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her—2 Kings 4:30. She did not ask for any favors when she hosted Elisha whenever he came by (2 Kings 4:10). It was just an act of hospitality. When the man … Continue reading Hearts of Gold

John 12:10-11 New International Version So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. For Meditation Foolishness! All is foolishness. For who can remove the evidence God has given of Himself in Christ Jesus? Better believe … Continue reading Get It Right For Once

Ezra 6:7-8 New International Version Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God… Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so … Continue reading They Cannot Prevail.

Ruth 1:19 New International Version So, the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” For Meditation The ravages of misfortune! It disfigures some people to the point of nonrecognition. Imagine Naomi after her long … Continue reading Can This Be Naomi?

Ruth 1:7 New King James Version Therefore, she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. For Meditation Three women—widowed and clinging to each other for support and encouragement. Moab has dealt them with three cruel … Continue reading The Three On the Road to Bethlehem

Luke 7:20 New Living Translation John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’” For Meditation Sometimes certainty and conviction desert us when we most need them. We know the truth and we … Continue reading When Doubt Assails