Verse from Job

我知道我的救赎主活着，最后他必在地上兴起。(约伯记 19:25)

"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. (Job 19:25)

The famous statue Christ the Redeemer overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro. The statue is a model of Christ with His arms extended so that His body forms the shape of a cross. Brazilian architect Heitor da Silva Costa designed the figure. He imagined that the city’s residents would see it as the first image to emerge from the darkness at dawn. At dusk, he hoped the city dwellers would view the setting sun as a halo behind the statue’s head.

There is value in keeping our eyes on our Redeemer each day, during the good times and the difficult times. As he suffered, Job said, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth” (Job 19:25).

The cry of Job’s heart points us to Jesus—our living Savior who will visit the earth again one day (1 Thess. 4:16-18). Keeping our eyes on Jesus means remembering that we have been rescued from our sin. Jesus “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people” (Titus 2:14).

Anyone who has accepted Jesus as Savior has a reason to be glad today. No matter what we endure on earth, we can have hope today and look forward to enjoying eternity with Him.

Dear Jesus, 

You are my rescuer. 

Because You died and rose again, 

I am free from the consequences of my sin forever. 

Thank You for redeeming my life.

Through His cross and resurrection, Jesus rescues and redeems.

Verse from Genesis

罗得还在犹豫不决的时候，二人因为耶和华宽容罗得，就拉着罗得的手，和他妻子的手，以及他两个女儿的手，把他们带出来，安置在城外。(创世记 19:16)

When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. (Genesis 19:16)

When two angels sent by God came to rescue Lot and his family from the impending destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:12-13), they encountered resistance. Lot’s sons-in-law thought the warning was a joke (v. 14). When the angels told Lot to hurry and leave, he hesitated (v. 15). At that point, the two angels “took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters,” and led them safely out of the city because God was merciful toward them (v. 16).

In our journey of faith in Christ,  have we been and are we still reluctant and resistive to His efforts to rescue and help us? And yet, He has been and still is faithful in overcoming our reluctance and resistance to reach out to us. When we encounter people lashing out in spiritual desperation and fear, may we have God’s wisdom to show His love to them—and to every person who is reluctant to be rescued by Him. 

God’s mercy can overcome our resistance.

Verse from Psalms

你们要向圣所举手祷告，称颂耶和华。(诗篇 134:2)

Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the LORD. (Psalms 134:2)

Let's learn to find things to give thanks about in life, in whatever circumstances we are in!

Verse from Acts

腓利就开口，从这段经文开始，向他传讲耶稣。(使徒行传 8:35)

Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. (Acts 8:35)

When a man from Ethiopia asked Philip about a portion of Scripture he did not understand, Philip “opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35).

Tell others the good news about Jesus: that we are all sinners needing salvation; that the perfect Son of God died to save us; and that He rose from the grave, showing His power over death. Jesus, our Savior, is alive and is offering now to live His life through us.

Jesus said . . . , “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” John 11:25

Have u told the good news or have you yourself understood clearly and accepted, believe and trust the good news? 

Verse from 2 Kings

神人说：“不要惧怕，因为和我们在一起的比和他们在一起的更多。”(列王纪下 6:16)

So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (2 Kings 6:16)

Most of what goes on in the universe we never see. Many things are too small or move too fast or even too slow for us to see. Using modern technology, however, filmmaker Louis Schwartzberg is able to show stunning video images of some of those things—a caterpillar’s mouth, the eye of a fruit fly, the growth of a mushroom.

Our limited ability to see the awesome and intricate detail of things in the physical world reminds us that our ability to see and understand what’s happening in the spiritual realm is equally limited. God is at work all around us doing things more wonderful than we can imagine. But our spiritual vision is limited and we cannot see them. The prophet Elisha, however, actually got to see the supernatural work that God was doing. God also opened the eyes of his fearful colleague so he too could see the heavenly army sent to fight on their behalf (2 Kings 6:17).

Fear makes us feel weak and helpless and causes us to think we are alone in the world. But God has assured us that His Spirit in us is greater than any worldly power (1 John 4:4).

Whenever we become discouraged by the evil we can see, we need to think instead about the good work God is doing that we cannot see.

Lord, I’m tempted to fear what I cannot understand or control. But my security rests in You and not in what happens to me or around me. Help me to rest in Your unfailing love.

Eyes of faith see God at work in everything.

Verse from Psalms

你们要追求耶和华与他的能力，常常寻求他的面。(诗篇 105:4)

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. (Psalms 105:4)

This is true, especially when we grow weary. The best to do, is to seek Him, talk to Him, He is there and He will understand even if no one else does. He is always ready to listen and is committed to be there for us, if we allow Him to be and not shut Him off our lives. All He asks, is that we seek Him. 

Verse from Matthew

耶稣立刻对他们说：“放心吧！是我，不要怕。”(马太福音 14:27)

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)

Do you avoid taking risks at all costs? Many of us are reluctant to step out of our comfort zones in case we fail, get hurt, or look stupid. But if we allow that fear to bind us, we’ll end up afraid to do anything.

The story of Peter’s water-walking adventure and why it supposedly failed is a popular choice for preachers (Matt. 14:22-33). But so far, there doesn't seem to be one who has discussed about the behavior of the rest who were in the boat. Peter was a success. He felt the fear but responded to the call of Jesus anyway. Maybe it was those who never tried at all who failed.

Jesus risked everything for us. What are we prepared to risk for Him?

Father, 

thank You for stretching out Your hand and saying, “Come.” 

Help me to get out of the boat, knowing that it is totally safe to walk on water with You.

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” Helen Keller

Verse from Proverbs

敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端，认识至圣者就是聪明。(箴言 9:10)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

When we fear the Lord, we make it a point to not grieve Him by sinning. And by doing so, we can start to see that the more we want to obey Him, the more we can see things differently, in His perspective and experience life in a different way, a joyful and fulfilling way. 

Verse from Joshua

你只要坚强，十分勇敢，谨守遵行我仆人摩西吩咐你的一切律法，不可偏离左右，好使你无论到哪里去，都可以亨通。(约书亚记 1:7)

Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. (Joshua 1:7)

After former professional athlete Chris Sanders suffered a career-ending injury, he told a group of military veterans that although he had never experienced combat, “I understand the pressures of transitions.”

Whether it’s the loss of a job, the loss of a marriage, a serious illness, or a financial setback, every major change brings challenges. The former athlete told the soldiers that the key to success when you are transitioning into a new way of living is to reach out and get help.

The book of Joshua is recommended reading whenever we find ourselves in transition. After 40 years of wandering and setbacks, God’s people were poised to enter the Promised Land. Moses, their great leader, had died, and Joshua, his assistant, was in charge.

God told Joshua to “be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go” (Josh. 1:7). God’s words of direction were to be the bedrock of Joshua’s leadership in every situation.

The Lord’s charge and promise to Joshua apply to us as well: “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (v. 9).

He is with us in every transition.

Father, 

I’m bringing You my trials and frustrations. 

You know each and every detail. Please comfort me as only You can, and provide exactly what I need for today. 

Help me give my unfulfilled expectations to You, trusting You’re working out a plan for me.

God remains faithful in every change.

Verse from Psalms

父亲怎样怜恤儿子，耶和华也照样怜恤敬畏他的人；(诗篇 103:13)

Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. (Psalms 103:13)

The parents were obviously weary from dragging their two energetic preschoolers through airports and airplanes, and now their final flight was delayed.

When they finally boarded, the weary father say to his son, “Why don’t you let me read one of your storybooks to you.” And during the entire flight, this loving father softly and patiently read to his son, keeping him calm and focused. 

God longs for you to listen again to the story of His love for you when you are restless on your own journey through life. Your heavenly Father is always near, ready to encourage you with His Word.

God’s great love for His child is one of His greatest gifts.

Verse from Psalms

要知道耶和华是神；他创造了我们，我们是属他的；我们是他的子民，也是他草场上的羊。(诗篇 100:3)

Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. (Psalms 100:3)

Laura loaded a borrowed goat and sheep into a trailer to transport them to church for a rehearsal of a live nativity. The animals head-butted and chased each other for a bit and then settled down. Laura started for the church but first had to stop for gas.

While pumping the gas, she noticed the goat standing in the parking lot! And the sheep was gone! In the commotion of getting them settled she had forgotten to lock one of the latches. Laura called the sheriff and some friends who searched frantically along a stretch of businesses, cornfields, and woods during the last daylight hours. Many were praying that she would find the borrowed animal.

The next morning Laura and a friend went out to post “Lost Sheep” flyers at local businesses. Their first stop was the gas station. A customer overheard them asking the cashier about posting a flyer and said, “I think I know where your sheep is!” The sheep had wandered to his neighbor’s farm, where he had put it in the barn for the night.

The Lord cares about lost sheep—including you and me. Jesus came from heaven to earth to show us His love and provide salvation (John 3:16). He goes to great lengths to seek and find us (Luke 19:10).

When the sheep was found, Laura nicknamed her Miracle. And God’s salvation of us is a miracle of His grace.

Verse from 2 Chronicles

这称为我名下的子民，若是谦卑、祷告、寻求我的面，转离他们的恶行，我必从天上垂听，赦免他们的罪，医治他们的地。(历代志下 7:14)

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

God is willing to forgive and restores us, all we have to do is to repent by confessing our sins to Him and turn back to Him. The question is..are we willing to repent and accept His forgiveness and turn back to Him?

Verse from John

那看门的婢女对彼得说：“你不也是这个人的门徒吗？”他说：“我不是。”(约翰福音 18:17)

“You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter. He replied, “I am not.” (John 18:17)

We would all like to be remembered for our “finest hour.” Perhaps the apostle Peter’s finest hour was when he proclaimed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:69). Sometimes, however, we let our failures define us. After Peter repeatedly denied that he knew Jesus, he went out and wept bitterly (Matt. 26:75; John 18).

Like Peter, we all fall short—in our relationships, in our struggle with sin, in our faithfulness to God. But “failure is not fatal,” as Churchill also said. Thankfully, this is true in our spiritual life. Jesus forgave the repentant Peter for his failure (John 21) and used him to preach and lead many to the Savior.

Failure is not fatal. God lovingly restores those who turn back to Him.

Verse from Proverbs

有人说话不慎，好象利刀刺人，智慧人的舌头却能医治人。(箴言 12:18)

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)

What is the strongest muscle in the human body? Some say it’s the tongue, but it’s hard to determine which muscle is the most powerful because muscles don’t work alone.

But we do know that the tongue is strong. For a small muscle, it can do a lot of damage. This active little muscular organ that helps us eat, swallow, taste, and begin digestion has a tendency to also assist us in saying things we shouldn’t. The tongue is guilty of flattery, cursing, lying, boasting, and harming others. And that’s just the short list.

It sounds like a pretty dangerous muscle, doesn’t it? But here’s the good thing: It doesn’t have to be that way. When we are controlled by the Holy Spirit, our tongues can be turned to great good. We can speak of God’s righteousness (Ps. 35:28) and justice (37:30). We can speak truth (15:2), show love (1 John 3:18), and confess sin (1 John 1:9).

The writer of Proverbs 12:18 spells out one of the best uses of the tongue: “The tongue of the wise brings healing” (niv). Imagine how we could glorify the One who made our tongues when He helps us use it to bring healing—not harm—to everyone we talk to.

Please guard each word we say so we reflect You and Your love. Help our tongues speak words of healing and not harm.

Encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Verses from Isaiah

压伤的芦苇，他不折断；将熄灭的灯火，他不吹灭；他忠实地传出公理。他不灰心，也不沮丧，直到他在地上设立公理，众海岛的人都等候他的教训。(以赛亚书 42:3-4)

"A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. "He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law." (Isaiah 42:3-4)

God will not falter! In a world where justice so seldom prevails, God is our only real assurance that justice will ultimately triumph. The hope for all lands and all peoples is for Jesus to return and bring with him God's truth and justice. Let's continue to wait upon Him because one of His characters is that He is Just. 

Verse from Psalm

我的帮助是从造天地的耶和华而来。(诗篇 121:2)

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)

The psalms known as “Songs of Ascents” (Ps. 120–134) were sung by the people of Israel as they walked the road up to Jerusalem to attend the three annual pilgrim festivals. Psalm 121 begins, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From whence comes my help?” (v. 1). The answer follows, “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (v. 2). The Creator is not an aloof being, but a companion who is always with us, always awake to our circumstances (vv. 3-7), guiding and guarding our journey through life “from this time forth, and even forevermore” (v. 8).

Along life’s path, how we need to keep our eyes fixed on God, our source of help. 

When we’re feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, turn to Him for help. Listen to Him. He will speak as long as you are willing to listen. It can be a voice, an impression, a verse, an image..anything.

Verse from 2 Timothy

并且知道自己从小就明白圣经，这圣经能够使你有智慧，可以因信基督耶稣得着救恩。(提摩太后书 3:15)

and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)

Sheryl is a voracious reader. While others are watching television or playing video games, she is deeply engrossed in the pages of a book.

Much of this zeal can be traced back to her early childhood. Her family often visited a great aunt and uncle who owned a bookstore. There, Sheryl would sit on Uncle Ed’s lap as he read to her and introduced her to the wonders and delights of books.

Centuries ago a young man named Timothy had his steps guided on the road to learning. In Paul’s last recorded letter, he acknowledged that Timothy was first introduced to the Bible by his grandmother and mother (2 Tim. 1:5). Then Paul exhorted Timothy to continue in the Christian way because “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures” (2 Tim. 3:14-15).

Reading the Bible is meant not to inform but to transform.

Verse from John

耶稣回答他：“如果我要他活到我来的时候，跟你有甚么关系呢？你只管跟从我吧！”(约翰福音 21:22)

Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22)

Social media is useful for many things, but contentment is not one of them. Sometimes we use it to compare achievements when there is no need to do so. What we need to accomplish tasks is already provided by Him. He knows exactly what we need. We just need to learn to be content with what we have. 

Jesus and Peter had a conversation that got around to this subject. After making breakfast on the shore of Galilee, Jesus told Peter what would happen at the end of his life. Pointing at another disciple, Peter asked, “What about him?” Jesus responded, “What is that to you?”

That is the question we need to ask ourselves when we compare ourselves to others. The answer is, “None of our business.” Our business is to follow Jesus and be faithful with the gifts and opportunities He gives to us.

Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from looking at God.

Verses from Galatians

不要自欺，神是不可轻慢的。人种的是甚么，收的也是甚么：顺着自己的肉体撒种的，必定从肉体收取败坏；顺着圣灵撒种的，必定从圣灵收取永生。(加拉太书 6:7-8)

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

As humans, we think we can get away with not obeying His words and rather follow what the world says instead just because we don't see immediate consequences at times, but the truth is like what the passage says: God cannot be mocked. 

It's definitely not easy to not give in to the flesh, but in the bible, it is clear: For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

As long as we are willing, God will help us to not give in to the desires of the flesh which includes immorality, lust, gossiping, being unkind to others in words and actions, superstitious and turning to idols instead of acknowledging the one and only true living God. 

Verse from Isaiah

因为主耶和华以色列的圣者这样说：“你们得救在于悔改和安息，你们得力在于平静和信靠。”但你们竟不愿意。(以赛亚书 30:15)

For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing, (Isaiah 30:15)

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exod. 14:14 niv). These are the words Moses spoke to the Israelites when they had just escaped from slavery in Egypt and were being pursued by Pharaoh. They were discouraged and afraid.

“Be still, and know that I am God,” the psalmist says (Ps. 46:10). When we remain still, we get to know God, “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (v. 1). We see our weakness apart from God and recognize our need to surrender to Him. “When I am weak, then I am strong,” says the apostle Paul (2 Cor. 12:10).

Daily we grind through stress and other frustrating situations. But we can trust that He will be faithful to His promise to care for us. May we learn to be still.

The Lord may calm your storm, but more often He’ll calm you.

Verse from 1 Corinthians

但是神却拣选了世上愚笨的，使那些有智慧的羞愧。他也拣选了世上软弱的，使那些刚强的羞愧。(哥林多前书 1:27)

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

Fanny Kemble was a British actress who moved to America in the early 1800s and married a southern plantation owner named Pierce Butler. Fanny enjoyed the life afforded by the wealth of the plantation, until she saw the cost of that luxury—a cost paid by the slaves who worked her husband’s plantations.

Having written a memoir of the cruel treatment slaves often suffered, Kemble was eventually divorced from her husband. Her writings were widely circulated among abolitionists and published in 1863 as Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838–1839. Because of her opposition to slavery, the former wife of a slave owner became known as “The Unlikely Abolitionist.” 

In the body of Christ, God often wonderfully surprises us. He regularly uses the unlikely—people and circumstances—to accomplish His purposes. 

This reminds us that God, in His grace, can use anyone. If we will allow His work to be done in us, we might be surprised at what He can do through us!

Are you willing to let Him work through u? 

Verses from Deuteronomy

恐怕你心里说：‘这财富是我的力量，是我手的能力使我得着的。’你要记念耶和华你的神，因为得财富的能力是他赐给你的，为要坚定他向你的列祖起誓所立的约，像今天一样。如果将来你真的忘记了耶和华你的神，去随从别的神，事奉和敬拜他们，你们必定灭亡，这是我今日警告你们的。耶和华从你们面前怎样使万国的民灭亡，你们也必照样灭亡，因为你们没有听从耶和华你们神的话。”(申命记 8:17-20)

Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.' But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. It shall come about if you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 8:17-20)

In his book The Hidden Brain, science writer Shankar Vedantam describes the day he went for a leisurely swim. The water was calm and clear, and he felt strong and proud for covering a long distance so easily. He decided to swim out of the bay and into open water. But when he tried to return he couldn’t make any progress. He had been deceived by the current. The ease of swimming had not been due to his strength but to the movement of the water.

In our relationship with God something similar can happen. “Going with the flow” can lead us to believe we’re stronger than we are. When life is easy, our minds tell us that it’s due to our own strength. We become proud and self-confident. But when trouble hits, we realize how little strength we have and how helpless we are.

This happened with the Israelites. God would bless them with military success, peace, and prosperity. But thinking they had achieved it on their own, they would then become proud and self-sufficient (Deut. 8:11-12). Assuming that they no longer needed God, they would go their own way until an enemy attacked and they would realize how powerless they were without God’s help.

When life is going well we too need to beware of self-deception. Pride will take us where we do not want to go. Only humility will keep us where we ought to be—grateful to God and dependent on His strength.

True humility credits God for every success.

Verse from Genesis

神说：“带着你的儿子，就是你所爱的独生子以撒，到摩利亚地去，在我所要指示你的一座山上，把他献为燔祭。”(创世记 22:2)

He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." (Genesis 22:2)

Abraham bound his son and laid him on an altar, but then God provided an alternate sacrifice. Hundreds of years later, God would supply another sacrifice—the final sacrifice—His own Son. Think of how agonizing it must have been for God to sacrifice His Son, His only Son whom He loved! And He went through all of that because He loves you.

If you wonder whether you are loved by God, wonder no more.

God has already proven His love for you.

The question is: do you love God? How much? 

Verse from Luke

她有一个妹妹，名叫马利亚，坐在主的脚前听道。(路加福音 10:39)

She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. (Luke 10:39)

Distractions come in all shapes and sizes. For Martha, distraction took the form of cooking and cleaning—trying to serve Christ instead of listening to Him and talking with Him. Mary refused to be sidetracked. “Mary . . . sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word” (Luke 10:39). When Martha grumbled because Mary wasn’t helping her, Jesus said, “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (v. 42 niv).

Jesus’ words remind us that our relationship with Him is more important than any of the good things that might temporarily capture our attention. It has been said that good things are the enemies of great things. For followers of Jesus, the greatest thing in this life is to know Him and to walk with Him.

Is Jesus just a figure in your life or He is the main part of your life? He is fully committed to loving you for eternity. What about you? Is He your top priority? 

Verse from Acts

起来，进城去！你应当作的事，一定有人告诉你。”(使徒行传 9:6)

“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:6)

On June 6, 1944, three American officers huddled in a bombshell crater on Utah Beach in Normandy, France. Realizing the tide had carried them to the wrong place on the beach, the trio made an impromptu decision: “We’ll start the battle from right here.” They needed to move forward from a difficult starting point.

Saul found himself in a difficult place, needing to make a decision after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20). Suddenly, the location and direction of his life was revealed to him as a mistake, his prior life perhaps even feeling like a waste. Moving forward would be difficult and would require hard and uncomfortable work, perhaps even facing the Christian families whose lives he had torn apart. But he responded, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (v. 6).

We often find ourselves in unexpected places, places we never planned nor wanted to be. We may be drowning in debt, inhibited by physical barriers, or suffering under the weight of sin’s consequences. Whether Christ finds us this day in a prison cell or a palace, whether He finds us broken and broke or absorbed by our own selfish desires, Scripture tells us to heed Paul’s advice to forget what lies behind and to press forward toward Christ (Phil. 3:13-14). The past is no barrier to moving forward with Him.

Are you paralyzed by your past? Have you drifted away from Christ? Or perhaps never even met Him? Today is the day to begin anew with Christ, even if you’ve tried and failed before.

It’s not too late for a fresh start.

Verse from Psalm

耶和华啊！求你看守我的口，把守我的嘴。(诗篇 141:3)

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3)

How important is our speech? Jesus said it revealed what was going on in our hearts. Proverbs repeatedly tells us that our words can wound or heal. The apostle Paul tells us to speak only what will benefit those who hear us. In light of these Scriptures, this prayer of David is very appropriate. Only God can help us tame the tongue and use its power to bless. Let's invite Him into our world of speech and ask Him to take control of it!

Verse from John

看哪，时候要到，而且已经到了，你们要分散，各人到自己的地方去，只留下我独自一个人。其实我不是独自一个人，因为有父与我同在。(约翰福音 16:32)

Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. (John 16:32)

A lady struggling with loneliness posted these words on her Facebook page: “It’s not that I feel alone because I have no friends. I have lots of friends. I know that I have people who can hold me and reassure me and talk to me and care for me and think of me. But they can’t be with me all the time—for all time.”

Jesus understands that kind of loneliness. Imagine that during His earthly ministry He saw loneliness in the eyes of lepers and heard it in the voices of the blind. But above all, He must have experienced it when His close friends deserted Him (Mark 14:50).

However, as He foretold the disciples’ desertion, He also confessed His unshaken confidence in His Father’s presence. He said to His disciples: “[You] will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me” (John 16:32). Shortly after Jesus said these words, He took up the cross for us. He made it possible for you and me to have a restored relationship with God and to be a member of His family.

Being humans, we will all experience times of loneliness. But Jesus helps us understand that we always have the presence of the Father with us. God is omnipresent and eternal. Only He can be with us all the time, for all time.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise that You will never leave me or forsake me. When I feel lonely, help me to remember You are always with me.

If you know Jesus, you’ll never walk alone.

Verse from Ephesians

我们原是神所作成的，是在基督耶稣里创造的，为的是要我们行各样的善事，就是神预先所安排的。(以弗所书 2:10)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

It was only scrap wood, but Charles Hooper saw much more than that. Salvaging old timbers from a long-abandoned corncrib, he sketched some simple plans. Then he felled a few oak and poplar trees from his wooded property and painstakingly squared them with his grandfather’s broadax. Piece by piece, he began to fit together the old lumber with the new.

Today you can see Charles and Shirley Hooper’s postcard-perfect log cabin, tucked away in the trees on Tennessee Ridge. Part guesthouse, part museum for family heirlooms, the structure stands as an enduring tribute to Charles’ vision, skill, and patience.

Writing to a Gentile audience, Paul told the church at Ephesus how Jesus was creating something new by bringing together Jewish and non-Jewish believers as a single entity. “You who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ,” Paul wrote (Eph. 2:13). This new structure was “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (vv. 20-21).

The work continues today. God takes the brokenness of our lives, artfully fits us together with other broken and rescued people, and patiently chips away our rough edges (which includes unwanted behavior/speech such as vulgarities, selfishness and lust). The journey and molding process may be painful as we are changing ourselves for the better, but at the end of it all, we will be a beautiful masterpiece as we become Christlike.

Are you willing to let God work on you? 

Verse from Psalms

我要称谢你，因为我的受造奇妙可畏；你的作为奇妙，这是我深深知道的。(诗篇 139:14)

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. (Psalms 139:14)

We are among seven billion people who coexist on a tiny planet that resides in a small section of a rather insignificant solar system. Our earth, in reality, is just one miniscule blue dot among millions of celestial bodies that God created. On the gigantic canvas that is our universe, our beautiful, majestic Earth appears as a tiny speck of dust.

That could make us feel extremely unimportant and inconsequential. However, God’s Word suggests that just the opposite is true. Our great God, who “measured the waters in the hollow of His hand” (Isa. 40:12), has singled out each person on this planet as supremely important, for we are made in His image.

For instance, He has created everything for us to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17). Also, for all who have trusted Jesus as Savior, God has given purpose (Eph. 2:10). And then there’s this: Despite the vastness of this world, God cares specifically about each of us. Psalm 139 says He knows what we are going to say and what we are thinking. We can’t escape His presence, and He planned our earthly existence before we were born.

We don’t need to feel unimportant when the God of the universe is that interested in us!

 Lord, I look out into the vastness of the heavens and I see the grandeur of Your infinite power, yet You look at me from heaven and see someone You know, love, and care about. Thank You that You find value in me.

 The God who created the universe is the God who loves you.

Verses from John

虽然这样，官长当中也有许多人信了耶稣。但是因为法利赛人的缘故，他们不敢公开承认，免得被赶出会堂；因为他们爱来自人的荣耀，过于爱来自神的荣耀。(约翰福音 12:42-43)

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. (John 12:42-43)

Do you dare to admit your faith and stand by your faith? Or do you waver in front of others? What will you do if what you believe in is in contrast to the world? Do you crave for human acknowledgement and praise more than praise from God, so much so that you compromise your godly values in exchange for worldly values and compromise your faith in Him?