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Psalm 23 A psalm of David.
1 
The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
2 
He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 
    He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.

In our passage today, we can clearly see God deeply loves us and cares for our souls (mind/will/emotions). This passage brings a loving affirmation from our Lord, as well as encouragement for his followers during the difficult seasons we face in life. The Lord takes us to peaceful resting places and he restores to us a sense of well-being. Our restoration is based on our willingness to follow our Shepherd back onto the path of righteousness where grace is abundant. Every step we take, as we follow our Shepherd, leads us into a more holy and intimate place in his love.

Life can really drain us, can’t it? Well, today, if you are feeling drained by life, then please follow your Shepherd because he desires to lead you into peace and restoration. Jesus is the Shepherd humanity needs and, according to God’s Word, believers know his voice (John 10:4). So, stop worrying about all the wrong and confusing voices you hear in the world, focus your attention on the One who really loves you, and invite the Lord to renew your strength and sense of wellbeing. You are made whole in the Lord and you have all that you need.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for leading me beside peaceful streams and restoring to me a sense of well-being each day. The world can never bring me peace or a sense of well-being; everything the world offers is merely a counterfeit that in a moment is gone. Only you can provide the eternal restoration I need. I love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 150 Praise the Lord!
1 
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heaven!
2 
Praise him for his mighty works;
    praise his unequaled greatness!
3 
Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
    praise him with the lyre and harp!
4 
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
    praise him with strings and flutes!
5 
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
    praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
6 
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

The Book of Psalm—the Psalter—begins with chapter one proclaiming two choices for humans to follow as a path for life: 1) a righteous path which God watches over, or 2) a foolish path that leads to destruction. A wise person should view the two choices and know exactly which path to follow. However, throughout the next 149 chapters we see in reality the human heart is easily deceived, as well as inclined toward rebellion against God’s Word. With divine guidance, humanity must face and acknowledge its fallen state, bow humbly, and invite God to restore what the enemy stole—our innocence before God and our devoted worship of his holy presence.

Along with the psalmist, we must also cry out to God and lament our rebellious ways. Because of his agape, he comes as our Shepherd to rescue, redeem, and lead us back into righteousness. The Lord establishes and directs our steps. As we taste the goodness of God and his righteousness, praise fills our lips, joy fills our hearts, and soon we realize the contentment and satisfaction we experience and share when God watches over our lives. So, the psalmist ends the Psalter with our passage today as he calls all of creation to Praise the Lord for his mighty works. Let praise fill your soul!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have laid out the Truth before all your children—sons and daughters. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, help me stay the course with you on the path of righteousness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

2 John 1-6 Walk According to His Commandments
1 The elder [John—of the church addresses this letter] to the elect (chosen) lady and her children [spiritual family], whom I love in truth—and not only I, but also all who know and understand the truth— 2 because of the truth which lives in our hearts and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy, and peace (inner calm, a sense of spiritual well-being) will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, in truth and love.

4 I was greatly delighted to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. 5 Now I ask you, lady, not as if I were writing to you a new commandment, but [simply reminding you of] the one which we have had from the beginning, that we [believers] love and unselfishly seek the best for one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should [always] walk in love.

Conditional love—which reflects terms on the giving of love—never stands the test of time in a fallen world. An example of conditional love would be one person or group (A) requiring or demanding another person or group (B) to live with the purpose of keeping (A) happy. Conditional love is all about pleasing flesh and feelings. Therefore, there is no room for correction of (A) because it brings offense and hurt feelings. Conditional love [an antichrist counterfeit] is about manipulation and control and in time will destroy relationships; it is like building a relational house on sand knowing storms are coming. Conditional love between believers is not and has never been biblical.

As believers, the love we are to share is actually called ‘agape’ which is a sacrificial love. This love is not earned and is given freely because Christ has given every believer his sacrificial love (1 John 3:16). Love flows from our holy Source—agape has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit—rather than the worldly bottomless pit of our feelings (Romans 5:5). Agape is an act of the will for the purpose of healing others—having a high regard for their overall welfare. In fact, Jesus teaches [all his disciples] that loving our enemies is acting as children of the Most High (Luke 6:32-36). In Christ, we are to speak the Truth in agape because we desire the welfare of others even above our own. We share agape knowing it may produce positive or negative consequences for us. Agape is not sappy or prone to feelings; it’s the compassionate move of God to heal and redirect a sinful and selfish world that needs to know the Truth of The Creator in order to live by His precepts/commands. This certainly gives us something “unsappy” to think about, today, doesn’t it?

Prayer: Father, thank you for your agape love for me; I don’t deserve it and yet am so grateful for the love you gave for my well-being. Help me to spill forth into the lives of others that agape which you have poured into me, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 John 3:9-10 (MSG)
9-10 People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they? God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-born to practice and parade sin. Here’s how you tell the difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: The one who won’t practice righteous ways isn’t from God, nor is the one who won’t love brother or sister. A simple test.

In our passage today, the Apostle John shares a straightforward or simple way to know who belongs to God and who belongs to the devil. He maintains it is a simple test. When we are born of God, we become a part of his family. We desire to honor his Word and name; to reflect his character by honoring his laws of love. The Holy Spirit brings a rebirth that causes us to receive new hearts that are inclined toward love and obedience, as well as a new mind that desires to become more like Christ. If we do not desire to grow in Christ’s love and righteousness, we reveal the truth about who has the greatest authority over our lives. If we find ourselves speaking against another brother or sister in Christ, guess who is wrong?

Prayer: Father, may each day I be willing to allow you to work righteousness in my life; I desire to stay on that path with you. Continually fill me with a desire to serve you wholeheartedly and cause me to spill forth love to my brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 John 2:26-27 (VOICE)
26 I also am writing to warn you about some who are attempting to deceive you. 27 You have an anointing. You received it from Him, and His anointing remains on you. You do not need any other teacher. But as His anointing instructs you in all the essentials (all the truth uncontaminated by darkness and lies), it teaches you this: “Remain connected to Him.”

According to our passage, we need to remain connected to the anointing of the living Christ. The Holy Spirit has poured the anointing into us; we have the indwelling Christ if we have invited Jesus to be our Lord and seek to follow his ways. The anointing brings eternal life, illumination, wisdom, the ability to produce spiritual fruit, as well as the grace and power outflowing Christ’s resurrection.

What does the Apostle John mean by, “You do not need any other teacher?” He means we do not need to listen to the deceptive opinions of false teachers in the world, because God has placed anointed teachers in the church that will instruct and equip his children in the Word of God in order to bring us into the fullness of Christ. As the bride of Christ, we will always need anointed teachers who shine the light of Truth, so we can obediently follow Christ’s ways with our lives. So, stay connected to Him!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for placing the anointing upon your children and helping us to learn to live with this abundant and extravagant gift of grace. May all of your children press into the anointing and learn from you as we love and listen to one another. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 4:6-8 TPT
6 
There are many who pray:
    “Give us more blessings, O Lord.
    Look on us with kindness!”
7 
But the joy that you have given me
    is more than they will ever have
    with all their grain and wine.
8 
When I lie down, I go to sleep in peace;
    you alone, O Lord, keep me perfectly safe.

In our passage today, we continue reading King David’s prayer. David faces distressing circumstances, but he turns his gaze from focusing on his external problems and instead begins to praise and thank God for that which is eternal. David contrasts two kinds of blessings: eternal inward joy and temporal external happiness. Every child of God can know eternal inward joy no matter what is going on around us.

Our external circumstances may bring fleeting happiness—and I welcome these times in my life—but God’s eternal inward joy is full, healing, and entirely satisfying. When we choose to remain in the joy of our salvation, by enjoying fellowship with God and trusting him to deal with the very things that distress us, we can experience eternal peace. I cannot answer for you, but for me I want to live each day unafraid in the loving care of God. Never forget true J.O.Y—Jesus Occupies You!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the joy your presence brings to my soul. I want to live fully and unafraid in the joy of my salvation. When the world retreats fearful; may your children arise faithful and filled with joy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 4:1 (TPT)
God, you are my righteousness, my Champion Defender.
    Answer me when I cry for help!
    Whenever I was in distress, you enlarged me.
    I’m being squeezed again—I need your kindness right away!
    Grant me your grace, hear my prayer, and set me free!

In our passage today, King David prays such a transparent and real prayer. David finds himself squeezed by life. Can you relate? David begins his prayer by acknowledging and praising God for his faithfulness to be his Defender in the past. God spiritually ‘enlarged’ David to deal with things when he struggled before. That word ‘enlarged’ translates “You created room for me!”

When I think of God spiritually enlarging me, I think about how he desires to make room for new things in my life and I must allow that expansion. It may seem painful for a time, but in the end God really desires to fill that new space with more of himself; more blessing. Wouldn’t this be the “kindness” of God we all desire? So pray and ask God to provide you with the grace you need. Invite the Lord to spiritually enlarge you and fill that space with his perfect shalom—wholeness.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many blessings you have always brought into my life. Continue to enlarge my capacity to trust you and depend upon your strength. When life squeezes me, may I pray for you to enlarge me so I can supernaturally deal with what is before me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 John 2:12-17 (NLT) Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Sunday evening, as I looked into fixing dinner, nothing in the refrigerator or pantry really sounded good or was just too much work to prepare. I was tired, but hungry. Sigh. When John said, “Hey, let’s go to Untouchables Pizza,” a powerful craving for an Italian calzone rose up in me! I was just thrilled and within thirty minutes we were on our way to enjoy dinner with some great friends!

Our passage today is a powerful message of truth for me and I hope for you. Although I crave a vibrant relationship with God and daily discipline myself to grow in the love and grace of the Lord, I can never forget I am a human with cravings for earthly pleasures that are real and powerful with my soul. I don’t think craving a calzone on Sunday evening is an evil thing and I don’t feel guilty in any way. (Laugh with me) But, this natural world brings some cravings to our souls that are evil and certainly not of God. So, we must be on guard and ask ourselves, “What is my greatest craving each day? To please God or to please myself?” Because we live in a fallen world, every day a platter of worldly cravings will be served to our senses. We must allow the Word of God to satisfy us first thing each day, so we will not yield to unrighteous cravings.

Prayer: Lord, your Word is satisfying and your grace provides eternal blessings galore. Thank you for meeting my needs and giving me wisdom to handle the cravings the world serves up. May my life please and glorify you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

1 John 2:1-5 Christ, Our Answer for Sin
1 You are my dear children, and I write these things to you so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we continually have a forgiving Redeemer [ends the curse] who is face-to-face with the Father: Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice [satisfaction] for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

A New Commandment
3 Here’s how we can be sure that we’ve truly come to know God: if we keep his commands. 4 If someone claims, “I have come to know God by experience,” yet doesn’t keep God’s commands, he is a phony and the truth finds no place in him. 5 But the love of God will be perfected within the one who obeys God’s Word.

Just believing God exists and that Jesus is the Son of God does not bring redemption. In our passage today, John reminds us that not living under the authority of God’s Word is sin—rebellion against God. Keeping God’s commands is the proof and evidence of coming to know God. God’s forgiveness of our sins, the shalom that we share together, and the ongoing resurrection of Christ in our lives is the foundation for our witness as the Body of Messiah. May we continue to seek the perfection of God’s love in us as we live the Word.

Prayer: Lord, through your Word, you help me understand my sin, your sacrifice, and humanity’s invitation into eternal salvation. Help me proclaim the forgiveness of sins by living the Truth in your Love, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Acts 4:23-24, 29–31 The Church Prays
Just prior to our selected passage for today from the Book of Acts, Peter and John are brought before the council of religious law. They are ordered to stop spreading their salvation propaganda about Jesus any further. Peter and John reply to the demands of the legal council, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” The council threatens them, again, but cannot stop them, because since discovering the empty tomb people are experiencing the love of God, praising him for salvation, and living in the Spirit of Truth which changes lives!

23 As soon as they were released from custody, Peter and John went to the other believers and explained all that had happened with the high priest and the elders. 24 When the believers heard their report, they raised their voices in unity and prayed, “Lord Yahweh, you are the Lord of all! You created the universe—the earth, the sky, the sea, and everything that is in them.

29 So now, Lord, listen to their (the law council) threats to harm us. Empower us, as your servants, to speak the word of God freely and courageously. 30 Stretch out your hand of power through us to heal, and to move in signs and wonders by the name of your holy Son, Jesus!”

31 As they prayed the earth shook beneath them, causing the building they were in to tremble. Each one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they proclaimed the word of God with unrestrained boldness [translates freedom of speech—flowing from the heart].

The disciples choose to remain devoted to God and speak from their hearts whatever God inspires. This delivering of words is not tailored to make everyone happy, but to speak the Truth in Messiah’s Love regardless of the cost because people need to hear it. The believers pray for holy boldness to fill them and God answers their prayers. The disciples are not disrespectful or unloving to anyone, but they are purposeful and honest about sharing what they have experienced. People around them can see the Truth changing these believers; a spirit of love permeates them. May we pray for such boldness knowing God desires to answer our prayers and empower us to share the Truth in Messiah’s Love, as well.

Prayer: Lord, it is a sensitive balancing act to communicate the Truth in Love; however, you are both and, as believers, we need to become One with you. For us to speak the Truth of Your Word without Messiah’s holy love comes across legalistic and harsh. To think we are sharing holy Love without standing on the foundation of the Truth is heresy. You empowered the early disciples to speak the Truth in Messiah’s Love and I pray for myself and all believers to rise up to do the same every day. Our world needs to hear and experience both. In Jesus’ name. Amen.