I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Philemon 1:7 The comfort of love rests on the evidence of service. Love is comforting only if we know it is real. In an age when we hear the word “love” … Continue reading
The concept of comfort combines the ideas of fellowship, community and companionship with the ideas of protection, strength and safety. When we feel hopeless because we can’t see the possibility of any good in our future, we need comfort so we have courage to take the next step. When we feel alone in the face … Continue reading
Miss Fanny Crosby (1820–1915), who wrote such popular hymns as “Blessed Assurance,” “Rescue the Perishing,” and “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior,” became blind when she was just six weeks old. At an early age she realized that, unlike other children, she would never see the faces of her friends, the flowers of the field, … Continue reading
Many people I have known over the years have confessed that they are saddened by the lack of affection they receive or express. As it turns out, few things express affection as satisfyingly as a kiss. Indeed, one of the wonders of creation is that God designed lips for kissing and for being kissed. Kissing … Continue reading
Call upon me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor me. Psalm 50:15 Because of my love for you, O God, I sought your help and you delivered me. Because I rely on your reputation, you set me securely in a place of refuge. As I walked through the … Continue reading
Be anxious for nothing, but by thankful prayer and supplication in everything, let God know your requests. Then the peace of God, which exceeds what human cunning can create, will keep your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 The prospect of answered prayer provides more peace to our anxious, apprehensive hearts than relying … Continue reading
Call to me, and I will answer, showing you great and otherwise inaccessible things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 Is this promise just for Jeremiah? No, it is for all of God’s people. The promise is part of a word from God that comes to Jeremiah, part of the message he must give … Continue reading
At all times you ought to pray and not act out of frustration. … God will bring about justice for his elect, who cry to him day and night. He will not delay long over them. He will bring about justice for them quickly. Luke 18:1 & 7–8 Few things are more irritating than delayed … Continue reading
When you pray, go into your closet, and once you’ve shut your door, pray to your Father who is in private and your Father who sees in private will give to you. Matthew 6:6 Prayer is not a performance. God prefers to answer private prayers because private prayers are humble and honest prayers. He does … Continue reading
If you then, being deficient, know to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? Luke 11:13 No human parent loves perfectly. Sadly, we do not always value our children as we should. We are not always able or eager to … Continue reading