Weekend

DRW will return Monday morning.

James 1:27

"This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

"This is pure (katharos: no uncleanness, free from corrupt desire, sin and guilt) and undefiled (amiantos: unsoiled, free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed) religion (threskeia: worship, religious discipline) in the sight of (para: before, near, beside) our God and Father: to visit (episkeptomai: to look after, have care for, provide for) orphans (orphanos: fatherless, those without a teacher, guide, guardian) and widows (chera: deficient ones) in their distress (thlipsis: affliction, trouble, anguish, persecution, burden), and to keep oneself unstained (aspilos: unspotted, spotless, irreproachable) by the world (kosmos: the ungodly multitude; whole mass of men alienated from God and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ)."

SUMMARY

This is uncorrupted and undefiled religious worship in the sight of our God and Father; to care for the fatherless and widows in their distress and affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world that is alientated from God.

MEDITATION

Widows have no husband. Christ is our Husband. Orphans have no father. God is our Father. True religion, true worship is sharing our LORD with others who know Him not. Today, share the love you have been given with someone else who is in need of a Husband, a Father, a Saviour.

Romans 12:11

“Never be lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” (NKJV)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Never be lagging (okneros: slothful, grievous, sluggish) in diligence (spoude: care, striving after, earnestness), fervent (zeo: to boil with heat, be hot, metaphorical for boiling anger, love, zealous) in spirit, serving (douleuo: in bondage, do service, obeying, submitting, yielding to) the Lord.”

SUMMARY

Never be slothful and sluggish in striving after the LORD, but have boiling love, zealous in spirit, obeying, submitting, yielding to the LORD.

MEDITATION

Now here are some challenges for us. Never be lacking zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor. Serve, obey, submit and yield to the LORD. I don’t know about you but I often find myself coming up short on the diligence and zeal end of things. True Christianity, however, doesn’t take time off. Instance by instance submission leads to this boiling love that Paul speaks of here in Romans. It is here that we find the greater depths of intimacy with our Father. Today, remove all obstacles. Remove all distractions. Diligently pursue and serve your LORD.

Psalm 69:16

“Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness (towb: wellness, fairness, fine, beautiful, favor, bounty) of Your love; in Your great mercy (racham: compassion, pity, tender love) turn to me.”

SUMMARY

Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness and favor of Your love; in Your great compassion and tender love turn to me.

MEDITATION

It is not on the account of anything we’ve done that God rains His mercy and compassion on us. We, in ourselves, are undeserving. He is a gracious and loving God that does not give us what we deserve. Rather, He showers us with His love and favor out of His goodness and love for us. Today, receive His great love. Be careful not to reject it believing that you are unworthy. He has deemed you worthy. Receive His love and favor today.

Psalm 78:13

“He divided the sea and caused them to pass through, and He made the waters stand up like a heap.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“He divided the sea and caused them to pass through (`abar: pass over, bring, carry, march over), and He made the waters stand up (natsab: upright, erected, established) like a heap (ned: piled up).”

SUMMARY

He divided the sea and caused them to pass through and march over, and He made the waters stand upright, erect and piled up upon itself.

MEDITATION

Are the works that God performed in the days of old as real to you as they were to the Psalmists? Do you reflect upon the mighty acts of the LORD on the behalf of men? I believe that we must forever be mindful of all that God has done for those who have gone before us. In the biblical accounts, we see ourselves. We see that God, who never changes, will also be our Provider and our Strength. Today, take some time to remember what He has done on your behalf. Reflect on His faithfulness and goodness towards us all.

Isaiah 26:3

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“The steadfast (camak: upheld, put, sustained, established, supported) of mind (yester: imagination, purpose, intellectual framework) You will keep in perfect peace (shalowm or shalom: well, welfare, prosperity, safe, health, completeness, tranquility, contentment), because he trusts (batach: confidence, secure, bold, careless, hopes) in You.”

SUMMARY

The one who is established and steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect safety, health and peace, because he has placed his confidence in You.

MEDITATION

Do you walk in perfect peace? I don't. There are still times that I find myself rattled and distracted by events around me. This means that I have yet to place my complete confidence and trust in the LORD. Today, may we surrender our every moment to the LORD, with the mind of Christ as our goal. LORD, we place our trust in You alone.

Psalm 119:89

“Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Forever (`owlam: everlasting, perpetual, evermore, always, continuous existence, everlasting, indefinite or unending future), O LORD, Your word is settled (natsab: stand, set up, upright, appointed, established) in heaven.”

SUMMARY

Forevermore O Lord, Your word is set up and established in heaven.

MEDITATION

No matter what unfolds today, God truly is in control. He will not be caught off guard or surprised. He will never say, "Oh, I didn't see that coming". Remember this as you go throughout your todays and tomorrows, God is already there. There is great comfort in knowing time and space cannot hold my God. He has no beginning. He has no end. He alone is LORD.

Romans 15:2

“Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Each of us is to please (aresko: accommodate one's self to the opinions, desires and interests of) his neighbor (plesion: any other person, fellow man, irrespective of race or religion) for his good, to his edification (oikodome: building up, promoting another's growth).”

SUMMARY

Each of us is to please and meet the needs of his neighbor for his good in order to build him up, promoting his growth.

MEDITATION

The simple act of kindness goes so far. As I sat in a group of Believers recently, several of us shared how seemingly small acts of kindness led to great things in others lives. Taking the time to listen to someone. Financially assisting one in need. Telling another that they are valued and have purpose. These “small” things can lead to incredible results for others that we come into contact with. When was the last time you purposely edified someone else? Today, look for someone to encourage and build up. How knows what doors it might open.

Psalm 63:8

“My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“My soul clings (dabaq: follows hard, joined, stays with, pursues closely, cleaves) to You; Your right hand upholds (tamak: retain, grasp, held, support) me.”

SUMMARY

My soul is joined to you, I pursue You closely; Your right hand holds and supports me.

MEDITATION

At times we lose sight of our frailty. Perhaps we face sickness or some other occurrence that brings us back to reality – we are a fragile people upheld by the very hand of God. You do know this, right? I am incapable of even drawing a breath without the love and care of my Father. He upholds me and I will cling to Him. Today, see your reliance upon your Creator. Just as He breathed the first breath of life into our earthly father, Adam, He continues to sustain our every breath today. Praise be to Him for life.

Psalm 25:5

“Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Lead (darak: walk, lead forth, guide) me in Your truth ('emeth: truly, right, assured, established, faithful, verity, firmness, faithfulness, reliableness, divine instruction) and teach (lamad: learn, instruct, diligently, skillful, train) me, for You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait (qavah: look for, hope, expect, lie in wait for, longingly wait for) all the day.”

SUMMARY

Lead and guide me in Your established faithfulness and truth; Instruct and train me, for You are the God of my salvation; For You I longingly wait for all the day.

MEDITATION

When was the last time any of us were willing to wait upon the LORD all the day long? Oh how we fall short. Thankfully, God is gracious and full of compassion for us. But that does not excuse us from pursuing more of Him. In order to be led and taught truth, one must place his or herself in the presence of the Teacher. Today, turn everything off that distracts and listen to your Father. The question is never is He speaking, but are we listening?

1 John 4:11

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Beloved (agapetos: dearly beloved, well beloved, esteemed, dear, favorite, worthy of love), if God so loved (agapao: beloved, to love dearly) us, we also ought (opheilo: owe, be bound, one's duty, be a debtor, be indebted) to love one another.”

SUMMARY

I say to you, one who is worthy of my love, as God so loved us so dearly, we also are indebted to love one another dearly.

MEDITATION

What a challenge! Sure, I can have love for my wife, my family, my friends. Shoot, I can even show God's love to that nice cashier down at the grocery store. But what about the seemingly unloveable? What about the guy that cuts you off on your way to work? What about the one who sleeps in the park and smells of alcohol and cigarettes? We are called to love because we have been given immeasurable love. Today, make it a point to extend the love of God to all that you come into contact with in your day to day activities. One simple gesture of love just might change someone's entire life.

On Your Own

I've recently received several emails telling me how much people enjoy reading these every morning. I'm blessed and honored that others also see such value in God's Word. However, my purpose is not to supply anyone with their daily dose of the Word, so today I'm not doing a Rhema Word. I'd like to instead encourage you to take the time to research and word study a verse for yourself today.

Move deeper. Study and be approved. Create a habit of looking deep into God's Word. Thanks to all who encourage me and even let me know that they miss DRW when I'm out of town for a day. The Bible is truly living and active, full of wisdom that literally conforms us into the image of Christ.

Today, allow the LORD to be your Guide, your Teacher, your Everything.

John 12:43

“For they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“For they loved the approval (doxa: glory, honor, praise, dignity, worship) of men rather than (mallon: more, better, more readily, to a greater degree than) the approval of God.”

SUMMARY

For they loved the honor and praise of men to a greater degree than the honor and praise of God.

MEDITATION

Why do we care so much about what others think of us? Why do we wonder what someone else might think if we do a certain thing, whatever it may be? Why do we often do things in a way that contradicts what we personally believe or feel, just in order to please others? This can be summed up in one word – bondage. Too many times I choose to do what is easy and acceptable in the eyes of men rather than what I know would please my Father. May this not be so today. May boldness rise up within us as we stand on His Word and strive to please Him above all others. I’m not saying rebel and be rude, I am saying that the LORD must be pleased above men. Today, I choose to please my Father so that I may receive His approval, no matter what it looks like to those around me.

Romans 12:9

“Let love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Let love be without hypocrisy (anupokritos: without dissimulation, undisguised, sincere), abhor (apostugeo: dislike, have a horror of) what is evil (poneros: annoyances, hardships, perils, wicked); cling (kollao: join yourself with, cleave, keep company, be fastened) to what is good (agathos: well, beneficial, useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, distinguished, upright, honorable).”

SUMMARY

Let love be undisguised and sincere, have a horror of what is wicked and evil; join yourself with what is good.

MEDITATION

Today, may we, the Body of Christ, love as we’ve been loved – unconditionally and without limitations. May we despise and be disgusted by the wicked and evil ways and systems of this world. May we be fastened to what is honorable, pleasant, beneficial and excellent. LORD, show us how to live this verse.

Psalm 109:26

“Help me, O LORD my God; save me according to Your lovingkindness.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Help me, O LORD my God; save (yasha`: deliver, help, preserve, defend, rescue) me according to Your lovingkindness (checed: mercy, kindness, goodness, favor).”

SUMMARY

Help me, O LORD my God; defend and deliver me according to Your mercy and goodness.

MEDITATION

This verse always encourages me. I have not experienced salvation based upon anything I have ever done or ever will do. I have not been delivered because of any works of my hands. It is absolutely all based upon His kindness and favor. No man would ever stand before the LORD based upon their own merit. Today, rejoice in the fact that we have been rescued by a loving God Who moves on our behalf - based upon Who He is, not upon what I have or have not done to earn it.

Proverbs 4:25

“Let your eyes look directly ahead, And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Let your eyes look (nabat: behold, consider, regard, see, respect, pay attention to, show regard to) directly ahead, And let your gaze be fixed straight (yashar: direct, right, well, upright, level, just, lawful) in front of you.”

SUMMARY

Let your eyes pay attention to what is straight ahead, and let your gaze be fixed on what is level and upright before you.

MEDITATION

If we were looking for a verse that could be applicable every day, this one would be at the top spot. Walking in the reality of this verse would dramaticlaly change everything. Temptation, pride, false teachings, worry, sickness, anything that fights for our attention could be overcome by keeping our gaze upon the LORD and never looking back. Today, be mindful of your gaze. Don't look to the right or to the left. Do not waver.

1 Corinthians 3:16

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Do you not know that you are a temple (naos: shrine, sanctuary, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies) of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

SUMMARY

Do you not know that you are a temple, a sanctuary of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

MEDITATION

It would seem that so few Believers live with this as reality. God no longer dwells in temples and buildings made with brick and mortar. He has chosen to indwell His people. We are His holy dwelling. We are His holy place. In Christ, He deemed us worthy of His presence. Today, be careful not to defile the temple of God. Keep the corners swept out and the furnishings shiny and beautiful, for within you, God Himself dwells.

Psalm 91:4

“He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“He will cover (cakak or sakak: covering, defense, hedge in, fence about, overshadow) you with His pinions ('ebrah: feathers), and under His wings you may seek refuge (chacah: trust, have hope, protection); His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark (cocherah: buckler).”

SUMMARY

He will overshadow you with His feathers, and under His wings you may seek refuge and protection; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

MEDITATION

Where one chooses to dwell determines a lot about their life. We have been given free will to dwell in worldly fears and events. We can dwell in religious works and temporal fruits. We can dwell in self and our own insecurities and failures. We can dwell under the mighty wings of the LORD. I choose the latter. Today, allow the LORD to be your refuge, your shield. He is always faithful, steady and sure. He will cover you and hold you. Do everything today seated in this dwelling.

John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“I am the good (kalos: better, honest, beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable) shepherd (poimen: he to whose care and control others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow; the presiding officer, manager, director), and I know (ginosko: perceive, understand, acquainted with) My own (My sheep) and My own know (ginosko: perceive, understand, acquainted with) Me.”

SUMMARY

I am the most suitable, excellent Shepherd and I am acquainted with my own sheep - My own sheep are also acquianted with Me.

MEDITATION

Jesus Christ alone is the excellent Shepherd. When the majority of the masses are swayed by the enticing words of others, who will hear the voice of the true Shepherd? When the wolves come in to destroy, who will follow the voice of the Shepherd that is your protection? Today, know and be known by the most excellent Shepherd, Jesus, The Christ.

Psalm 115:12

“The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us...” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“The LORD has been mindful (zakar: remembered, mentioned, remembrance, record, call to mind, be thought of, to make a memorial, make remembrance) of us; He will bless us...”

SUMMARY

The LORD has made a memorial and remembrance of us, he has called us to mind and thought of us; He will bless us.

MEDITATION

I often wonder, why in the world does God even bother with us? Even we, who claim to know Him and live for Him, are often disappointingly disobedient and stubborn. We ignore His advice, forsake His plans and go our own ways. Yet He still, time and time again, remembers His people. LORD, You are truly astonishing. Today, in obedience or disobedience – in willingness or stubbornness – in right or in wrong, I praise You for Your remembrance of me. There is noone like You.

Isaiah 40:29

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“He gives (nathan: deliver, grant, yield, bring, cause, utter, send, appoint, bestow, permit, ascribe, devote, extends) strength (koach or kowach: power, might, force, ability) to the weary (ya`eph: faint, fatigued) and increases the power of the weak ('own: lacking strength, might and vigor).”

SUMMARY

God ascribes and sends power and might to the weary and fatigued ones and increases the strength of those lacking in might and vigor.

MEDITATION

When I walk with the simple knowledge that my strength and abilities are not my own, I don’t have to worry about stress and burn out. He knows I am weak and in need of Him. He is my Power, my Source. As with any power source, it is only beneficial when I am connected to Him. All that I do flows from His strength in my weakness. He is all in all! Today, allow His strength to become your only ability and source.

Ezekiel 11:14

“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying…”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Then the word (dabar: thing, matter, acts, chronicles, commandments, sayings) of the LORD came to me, saying ('amar: speaking, answering, commanding, telling, calling) …”

SUMMARY

Then the matters and sayings of the LORD came to me, calling and speaking…

MEDITATION

I ask you my friend, where has this simple phrase gone? Most often, if you ask Believers what the LORD is speaking to them personally, they look puzzled as if to say, “what do you mean, speaking to me?" God speaking to His people seems to have become a thing of the past. We read how He intimately interacted with Believers of old, yet somehow don’t expect the same in our own lives today. Has God changed? I ask you, do you hear His voice? When did the word of the LORD come to you last? How can we claim to be His representatives here upon the earth but never even hear what He is speaking? Today, make listening to the Father priority - force all else to wait. It is time the Body start expecting to hear the voice of Her Creator again.

Psalm 50:15

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Call (qara': call out, summon, invite, call for, cry out, commission) upon Me in the day of trouble (tsarah: affliction, adversity, anguish, tribulation, distress); I shall rescue (chalats: deliver, loose, prepare, remove, draw out, draw off, take off, withdraw, equip, arm for war, rescue, make strong, brace up) you, and you will honor (kabad: great, glorious, glorify) Me.”

SUMMARY

Cry out and invite Me in the day of adversity and tribulation; I will prepare you for battle and deliver you and you will honor and glorify Me.

MEDITATION

It is time for the Body of Christ to fully rely upon the LORD. Worldly circumstances, tragic events, pandemics, whatever may come, only those whose hope is in the LORD will not cower in fear. He is my Rescuer, my Strength, my Everything. Today, call out to Him and glorify His name.

Matthew 6:34

“So do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“So do not be anxious (merimnao: take thought, care, be careful, troubled with cares) for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble (kakia: malice, maliciousness, evil, wickedness, ill-will, desire to injure, wickedness, depravity) of its own."

SUMMARY

Don’t be troubled with the things of tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble and evil of its own.

MEDITATION

If you’re like me, you like to know where you’re headed. While a lot of times this is beneficial, sometimes you can get so fixated on what is to come that you lose sight of what is before you. Today, praise the Lord for where you are right now. We must remember that God is already in our tomorrow's and has all that is to come in His complete control.

2 Timothy 2:13

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“If we are faithless (apisteo: believing not, to betray a trust, unfaithful, disbelieving), He remains faithful (pistos: believing, true, sure, reliable), for He cannot deny (anemia: refuse, disregard his own interests or prove false to) Himself.”

SUMMARY

Even when we are unfaithful and untrustworthy, He remains always faithful for He cannot disregard and refuse Himself which indwells us.

MEDITATION

This gives the old adage, "God is faithful" such a deeper meaning, doesn't it? When we despised Him, He loved us. When we ran from Him, He pursued. When we break promises, He is faithful to His word. Praise God today for His faithfulness.

Mark 9:35

“Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.’” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, ‘If anyone wants to be first (protos: chief, first in time, place, rank or influence), he shall be last (eschatos: latter end, last in grade and rank, lowest) of all and servant (diakonos: minister, deacon, one who executes the commands of another, attendant) of all.’”

SUMMARY

Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first in rank and influence, he shall be the lowest of all and an attending servant to all.”

MEDITATION

It’s difficult sometimes in a world where your status defines you, to seek the lower place. Even in Christian circles we’re told that the more “power” we have, the more we can do for the Kingdom. This mentality just does not add up with me when I read Scripture. It is not about living in poverty or deliberately lacking influence with others, it is about what you seek and your motives behind it. It is about a desire to serve, expecting absolutely nothing in return versus gaining some sort of satisfaction from holding a position or title. Today, seek to be what the Word defines to be a “minister”… be a servant.

John 13:35

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (NASB)
STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“By this all men will know (ginosko: perceive, understand, get a knowledge of) that you are My disciples (mathetes: a learner, pupil), if you have love (agape: charity, dear, brotherly love, affection, good will) for one another.” (NASB)

SUMMARY

By this all men will see and know that you are Mine, if you have great love and affection for one another.

MEDITATION

How will others know that we are disciples of Jesus Christ? By how much money we donate to charities? No. By our love. By how many Christian gatherings we attend? No. By our love. By our ability to quote Scripture? No. By our love. We have been commanded to love, above all else. All men are created in the image of God and none is elevated above another. We are all one Creation, under Him. Today, seek to love all that you encounter. Overlook gender, race, ethnicities... and love.

Psalm 139:13

“For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.” (KJV)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“For Thou hast possessed (qanah: buy, get, purchased, possessor, owner, recover, create) my reins (kilyah: kidneys, seat of emotion and affection): Thou hast covered (cakak: defense, hedge in, joined or weaved together, fence about, overshadowed) me in my mother's womb.”

SUMMARY

For You created and possessed my innermost being – the real me – You have weaved me together and overshadowed me in my mother’s womb.

MEDITATION

Recently, I had the privilege of holding a dear friends newborn child. She was so small, beautiful and peaceful. As I thought of her throughout the next few days, I could not stop marveling at how she had just exited the Creator's absolute care. For nine months, He formed her. As she entered this natural world, she will never be closer to God than she is now, until she goes to join Him in eternity. Do you understand that your inception in the Father occurred eons ago? He has loved you since before time and space even existed. Today, seek to return to that place in Him. Live a life that is one overshadowed by the Father.

Hebrews 11:6

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“And without faith (pistis: assurance, belief, conviction of the truth, trust) it is impossible (adunatos: impotent, cannot do, weak, powerless) to please (euaresteo: well pleasing) Him, for he who comes to God must believe (pisteuo: commit unto, place absolute confidence and trust in) that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek (ekzeteo: seek after, enquire, search for, investigate, scrutinize, crave) Him.”

SUMMARY

Without faith, assurance and trust you cannot be well-pleasing to the LORD, for he who comes to God must place his absolute confidence and trust that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek after Him diligently and crave Him.

MEDITATION

Do you grasp the great depth of this verse? Christianity has been made into an empty faith only based on the recitation of a salvation prayer. God is somehow to be mysteriously pleased with a prayer being said once when we're a child. According to this verse, this is not the case. Absolute assurance and trust is well-pleasing to Him. He is a rewarder of who? Those who do good things and go through religious programs and services? No, my friend. He rewards those who diligently seek after His face. Those who investigate Who He is and have an insatiable craving for Him. Today, move past words and rituals! Start with the basics and establish an unshakeable foundation of faith.