Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”—Luke 17:19 (NIV)— Years ago I studied the following passage with a small group of friends: Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had…
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.—Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) I didn’t know Charlie Kirk. I never attended one of his rallies or listened to any of his debates….
She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”—2 Kings 5:3 (NIV) I stood in the playground trying to have a conversation with my rebellious student. Instead of answering my question, he simply turned around and walked away. “Hey,” I…
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.—Proverbs 21:31 (NIV) Her crossed arms, scowling face, and the tears streaming down her cheeks all told the same story. This little kindergartner wasn’t having it. Exhausted and overstimulated, she communicated contempt for our graduation celebration. Her presence sharply contrasted…
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.—James 5:17-18 (NIV) Housecleaning is my secret super power. Not because…
Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.—Proverbs 12:16 (NIV) Her words pierced my heart. For days I’d been happily planning for her annual visit—down to the last perfect detail. But she had other ideas, and some of them didn’t include me. Her agenda did more than crush my expectations, it…
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth—John 16:13 (NIV) “You’ll like this better,” he insisted as he brushed away my concerns, “you’ll see.” The nail technician then proceeded to apply the product—which I don’t like—to my nails. This was now the third time he had confidently…
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) My barely-awake eyes finally focused on the number on the scale. The realization hit hard. Despite all of my efforts, the scale had barely moved from…
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.—Deuteronomy 8:18a (NIV) Leaning back in my chair, I sighed with contentment. It always encourages me when I cross items off my to-do list. But for days I had avoided addressing these particular items. They involved untangling complicated…
