“And she called his name Moses, and said: ‘for I drew him out of the water.'” — Exodus 2:10
Their exact age is unknown. One was found on the steps of the church, the other only knew about herself that she was raised by nuns. Born in Poland during the Second World War, Galina and Khrystyna did not know anything about each other for eight years. And then the results of the DNA test showed that they were sisters, and then there was a joyful reunion. And it also turned out that they were of Jewish origin, and this explained why they were thrown. Evil people were ready to kill newborns solely because of their nationality.
As I imagined a frightened mother leaving her babies at the church door, I remembered the story of Moses. The Jewish boy was also condemned to death (see Exodus 1:22). However, the mother thoughtfully put him in a basket and left him in a reed near the bank of the Nile (Ex. 2:3). God had a plan that she could not imagine: to save all His people through this baby.
The story of Moses points to the story of Jesus Christ. As Pharaoh killed Jewish babies, so Herod ordered the extermination of boys two years old and under in Bethlehem (see Matt. 2:13-16).
Behind this hatred (especially towards children) is our enemy – the devil. However, his attacks are unable to catch God off guard. He had a plan for Moses, and He also had a plan for you and me. And through Jesus Christ, He revealed to us His main plan: to save those who were once His enemies.
How have God’s plans been fulfilled in your life? How did He save you?
Heavenly Father, there is so much evil in the world! Thank You for salvation. Help me to trust in Your perfect plan.
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything let your desires be made known to God by prayer and request with thanksgiving.” — Philippians 4:6
Moving is considered one of the strongest stresses in a person’s life. We moved into our current house after I lived in the previous one for almost twenty years. For eight of them, I lived there all alone, and then I got married. My husband moved in with me with all his possessions. Then a child appeared, the property increased.
The day of moving to a new house was not without incident. Five minutes before the porters arrived, I was still working on the book manuscript. And in the new building there were several stairs, so it took twice as much time and as many porters.
But by the end of the day, I didn’t feel particularly stressed. And then I realized that I had spent many hours writing the book. By God’s grace, I meditated on His Word, prayed, and worked diligently to finish in time. This became the reason for my peace: I was immersed in the Bible and prayer.
The Apostle Paul wrote: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). When we pray and rejoice “in the Lord” (v. 4), our thoughts are reoriented from problems to the One who solves them. We can ask God to help us deal with the causes of stress, but at the same time we are also in communication with Him, thanks to which “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” comes to the heart (v. 7).
In what stressful situations do you need God’s peace? How can a prayer of thanksgiving change your inner state?
My Guardian and Guardian, I entrust my cares to You. May Your peace guard my mind and heart.
“And Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.” — 1 Samuel 18:3
In the north of Spain, they have come up with a great way to communicate and express friendship. There are many man-made caves in the countryside where farmers store their harvested crops. Every fall, a company of farmers gathered in a room above one of these caves and compiled an inventory of their products. Later, the room became known as the “talking room” – a place of communication where friends and relatives gathered to share stories, secrets and dreams. If you need a cozy circle of good friends, you can’t think of a better place.
If Yonatan and David lived in the north of Spain, then perhaps they too would have created such a “conversation room” for themselves. When King Saul wanted to kill David, his eldest son Jonathan began to protect him. The Bible says that “Jonathan’s soul connected with David’s soul, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Sam. 18:1). Although Jonathan was the rightful heir to the throne, he recognized David’s divine election to the kingship. He gave David his clothes, sword, bow and belt (v. 4). Later, David grieved bitterly after the death of Jonathan and sang of his friendship with him in a mournful song (2 Sam. 1:26).
May the Lord help us, Christians, to arrange our “conversation rooms” so that our friendship reflects the love and care of Jesus Christ. Spend time talking to your friends and open your heart to them.
What commitments have you made to your friends? How can you express your love for them this week?
Dear Lord, help me to maintain sincere and trusting relationships with my friends.
Today, a healing and deliverance service was held in our church. We are very grateful to the brothers and sisters of the “Salvation” Church who visited us and conducted a wonderful service. We thank God for all the new people who turned to Christ this Sunday, and we pray for a miracle of salvation and healing in their lives.
03/26/2023 10:01 a.m. #broadcast “Ministry of healing and liberation” published on the Church of God’s Glory channel:
“It is the Lord’s mercy that we have not perished, because His mercy has not ended, it is new every morning, because Your faithfulness is great!” — Lamentations 3:22-23
Over the past few decades, a new word has entered cinema: reboot. In cinematic language, it means a new retelling of an old story. Some reboots are remakes of well-known movies. Others take on a more ambitious task and retell the old story in a new way. But in any case, a restart is an attempt to redo or update something. This is a new beginning, a desire to breathe new life into an old story.
There is another story that could also see a reboot. This is the Gospel. In it, Jesus offers us forgiveness and eternal life (John 10:10). And in the book Lamentations of Jeremiah, the prophet reminds us that God “restarts” his mercy for us every day: “It is the Lord’s mercy that we have not perished, because His mercy has not ended, it is new every morning, for Your faithfulness is great!” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Through God’s grace, we can see each day as a new opportunity to see His faithfulness. If we are forced to deal with the consequences of our own mistakes or go through other difficulties, the Spirit can breathe forgiveness, new life and hope into each day of our lives. Each morning is a kind of restart, a new opportunity to follow the guidance of the heavenly Director, who weaves the story of our lives into the story of His great deeds.
How does thinking about and remembering God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials change our perspective on them? How has God’s faithfulness and grace made a “restart” in your life?
Heavenly Father, thank You for the grace and forgiveness that allow me to start anew every morning.
“And now I entrust you to God and the word of His grace, which has the power to build and give an inheritance, among all the sanctified.” — Acts 20:32
After many years of research, scientists learned that each wolf has an individual voice, thanks to which the animals can communicate with each other. Using a special sound analysis program, one of the scientists found that different levels of volume and pitch of wolf howls allow her to identify specific wolves with 100 percent accuracy.
The Bible contains many examples of God distinguishing the voices of His beloved creatures. He called Moses by name and spoke to him directly (Ex. 3:4-6). The psalmist David proclaims: “I call to the Lord with my voice, and He will call from His holy mountain” (Ps. 3:5). The Apostle Paul also emphasized how important it is for the people of God to recognize the voice of their Lord.
Saying goodbye to the Ephesian elders, Paul said that he was going to Jerusalem “moved by the Spirit.” He confirmed his willingness to listen to God’s voice, although he did not know what awaited him after his arrival (Acts 20:22). The apostle warned the brothers that “ferocious wolves” will come to the church, and “men will arise from among them who will speak twisted things” (vv. 29-30). And then he urged them to be vigilant and diligent in discerning God’s truth (v. 31).
Christians have the privilege of knowing that God hears them and answers them. And we also have the Holy Spirit. It helps us to recognize God’s voice, which is always consonant with the words of Scripture.
What false teachings has God helped you to recognize as you study the scriptures? When has He sent you encouragement through the Bible?
God, when the noise of this world tries to distance me from You, help me to hear Your voice and obey It.
“The Lord’s Law is perfect, it strengthens the soul.” — Psalm 18:8
One day I was helping my grandson, Logan, a sixth grader, with a difficult algebra homework assignment. During a short break, he said that he dreams of becoming an engineer. Then we’re back to the X’s and the Greeks again, and Logan angrily states, “Why do that? I’ll never need it!”
I couldn’t help but smile and said to my grandson, “Well, Logan, if you want to be an engineer, this is what you need!” He did not see the connection between algebra and his dream of a future profession.
Sometimes we look at Scripture the same way. Listening to sermons and reading some chapters of the Bible, we can think: “I will never need this!” The psalmist David had something to say about this. He wrote that God’s truth in Scripture “strengthens the soul”, “makes the inexperienced wise” and “rejoices the heart” (Ps. 18:8-9). The wisdom of God’s Word found in the first five books of the Bible, to which Psalm 18 refers (as well as throughout the rest of Scripture), helps us to be led by the Holy Spirit daily (Prov. 2:6).
And without God’s Word, we will lack the most important means that God has provided for our communication with Him, knowledge of His love and will. Why should you study the Bible? Because “the commandment of the Lord is pure, it enlightens the eyes” (Ps. 18:9).
Why is the wisdom of God’s Word relevant to you today? How can you grow in understanding it?
Loving God, make Your Word a light on my path. Help me use his wisdom to direct my steps and grow in love for You.
“And God finished His work on the seventh day… And He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done.” — Genesis 2:2
My friend Susie and I sat on the coastal boulders and watched the waves. Decorated with foam combs, they crashed one by one against the stones. “I love the ocean,” said Susie, “it’s always moving, so I can afford real estate.”
Some of us feel obligated to find some excuse for taking time off from work. After all, rest is a gift from God! For six days He created the world: He created light, land, plants, animals and people. And then, on the seventh day, He rested (Gen. 1:31-2:2). In the Ten Commandments, God laid down the rules of a righteous life that is pleasing to Him (Ex. 20:3-17). Among them was the commandment to remember the Sabbath, the day of rest (vv. 8-11). In the New Testament, we see how Jesus healed all the sick in the city (Mark 1:29-34), and the next morning he went to a desert place to pray (v. 35). Our Lord worked and rested, setting us an example.
The rhythm of God’s provision through work and His proposed rest resounds around us. Sown in spring, grows in summer, bears fruit in autumn and rests in winter. Morning, afternoon, evening, and then night. God has determined both work and rest for our lives, giving us permission for both.
How do you balance work and leisure? When and how can you take a break during the day to reflect on God’s example of work and rest?
God, thank You for calling me to follow Your example in work and in peace for Your glory and my good.
“Because even though our outer man is crumbling, our inner man is being restored day by day.” — 2 Corinthians 4:16
In Chinese medicine, ground pearls have been used as a scrub for thousands of years. With its help, dead cells of the upper layer of the skin were removed. And in Romania, rejuvenating medicinal muds are widespread, which are believed to make the skin healthy and shiny. All over the world, people use different body care methods that they believe can rejuvenate aging skin.
However, the means invented to support our material bodies can only provide temporary satisfaction. It is much more important to stay spiritually healthy and strong. We, believers in Christ, have open access to spiritual renewal. The Apostle Paul wrote: “For though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). Every day we face problems that weigh us down, bringing fear, anxiety and worry into our lives. But “when we look not at what is seen, but at what is unseen,” spiritual renewal takes place (v. 18). We do this when we bring our concerns to God and pray that the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which includes love, joy, and peace, will be manifested again in our lives (Gal. 5:22-23). When we surrender our experiences to God and allow His Spirit to shine through us daily, He restores our souls.
How can you ask God to restore your spirit? How does the Holy Spirit strengthen you?
Lord Jesus, I face things every day that try to break me. Sometimes I feel defeated. But I know that in You I can renew my spirit.
“My soul is taken away from me like a child.” — Psalm 130:2
In a newspaper article, a psychiatrist was giving advice to a reader named Brenda, who complained of dissatisfaction with her life. Her ambitious projects did not materialize, and she suffered from disappointment. In response, the psychiatrist wrote that a person should not be happy. By nature, she is destined “only to survive and reproduce.” We are doomed to run after the “attractive but unattainable butterfly” of happiness. “Very few,” he added, “managed to achieve satisfaction.”
I imagined how Brenda felt after reading the psychiatrist’s nihilistic reasoning, and how different she would feel after reading the Bible. In Psalm 130, David talks about how to be content. At first, he humbly puts aside his royal ambitions, decides not to enter into the great and unattainable (v. 1). Then he quiets his heart before God (v. 2), trusting his future in His hands (v. 3). The result is beautiful: his soul is calmed, as a child is finally calmed after being weaned from its mother’s breast (v. 2).
In a sinful and corrupt world, the feeling of contentment sometimes seems like an unattainable dream. The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:11-13 writes that he learned to be content. But if we believe that our purpose is “only to survive and reproduce”, then the search for pleasure is like chasing an elusive butterfly. David shows another way: finding contentment through rest in God’s presence.
When do you experience the most satisfaction? How can you set aside a special time to be quiet before God?
God, I rest in You, the deep source of my true contentment.
