Writing On Eagles Wings

Scripture:  “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”- Psalm 46:1

Examination: This psalm is written to comfort and reassure us of who God is and what He can do. The author reminds us that despite all the hardships we encounter in life, God is with us through every one. We are reminded that God is truly our refuge, and He is faithful to deliver us from every trial and tribulation we face.

Application: On this date in 1971, I lived in southern California just north of Los Angeles. That morning in the pre-dawn hours, I was jolted awake by a severe earthquake that registered 6.6 on the Richter scale and lasted approximately 60 seconds. My bed felt as though it had turned to Jello and was being violently shaken by an unseen intruder. To this day, I can still hear myself screaming for my dad. Somehow, he made it to my bedroom and hurried my mom and me out of the house to the safety of our front yard.

As the sun rose, the damage in my neighborhood became apparent. Parts of homes had collapsed; stone walls had tumbled into pieces, and parked cars had been tossed against other cars or structures. We had no power, no water, no communication with the outside world (there were no cell phones back then!), and I was terrified!

Along with our neighbors, we “camped” out on the front lawn for several days as the massive aftershocks kept all of us from reentering our houses for fear of becoming injured or trapped inside. Later we found out how extensive the damage was, including the collapse of one hospital in which I frequently volunteered. With each passing hour, we learned more and more about the devastation from the earthquake. Despite my fears with each tremor, I was comforted by the presence of my father. I knew he would take care of me… and he did.

Tragedies in life happen to all of us at one time or another. A terminal diagnosis, the loss of a long-held job, a fatal accident, a random act of violence… there are so many devastating events that leave us frightened and uncertain of what the future holds. In order to get through these situations, some individuals resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as alcohol or drug use, social isolation, or even running away from God.

When terrible things happen in our lives, it doesn’t mean that God is angry with you or has forsaken you. We live in a sin-cursed world, and unfortunately, bad things still happen to good people. Ecclesiastes 9:2 confirms, “All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.” However, when challenges come into our lives, we can always run to our heavenly Father. Nahum 1:7 assures us, “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

As a Christian, I am not immune to adversity in life, but when it comes, I can go to the Lord knowing that He is with me. He is my Father; I am His child, and He will take care of me always. He hears me when I cry out to Him, and He promises to help me. Psalm 34:4 states, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” He promised in Psalm 23:4 that He would walk with me through every valley that I face. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me...” Deuteronomy 31:8 records the promise, “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

Jesus is my peace through every trial or tribulation, and I can trust Him completely regardless of the outcome because He promises in Romans 8 that in His time, He will make everything good according to His purpose. His promises come from His great love for us. He does not love us when it is convenient for Him; He loves us deeply and sacrificially always and forever. Because of that, we know we can cling to Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Be sure the next time you are experiencing life’s most difficult situations, you run to your heavenly Father. He has promised to take care of you, and He will do exactly that.

Memory Verse: “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” – Psalm 9:9

Be still, my soul! the Lord is on your side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul! your best, your heav’nly friend
Thru' thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

 (from “Be Still My Soul” by Kathrina von Schlegel)

Scripture:  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Examination: This chapter has three key issues to which Jesus speaks. The first centers on the ministry of John the Baptist. The second, Jesus warns of the punishment to come to those who have not accepted Him for who He is. Lastly, near the end of this chapter, He reminds His followers that what He is asking of them will be possible, and that they will find relief in coming to Him.

Application: When my son was a little boy, he would often come in after a full day of playing with his friends and cuddle up next to me. It didn’t matter if I was watching a television show, reading a book, or chatting with my husband, my son would wiggle as close as he could to me and lay his head on  my shoulder or lap. I would pull him a bit closer and hold onto him as he rested himself against me. I loved those moments of togetherness.

There are many times in my life when I need to snuggle closer to my Saviour. Sometimes the challenges and struggles I face are overwhelming, and I need to experience the nearness of God to me; I need the reassurance that He is with me and will help me through whatever is happening. James 4:8 explains how to become closer to God. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

How do I do this? To get close to anyone, it is imperative to spend time together! Share yourself, your hopes, your fears, your thoughts. When we open ourselves up… even becoming a bit vulnerable… it cultivates a stronger emotional bond and creates intimacy. To become closer to God, we must spend time with Him. This is done in two ways.

First, know who He is by getting into the Scriptures. This is His Word that He gave to us, so we could know Him. 2 Corinthians 4:6 states, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the Word of God as explained in John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” By reading the Bible, we learn of God’s identity and deep love for us from Genesis to Revelation.

Second, we must make time to talk with God. The Bible clearly shows how much God desires to hear from us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 commands us, “Pray without ceasing.” Philippians 4:6-7 explains the rest that God will provide when we draw near to Him, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Resting in Him, being held in His embrace fills me with an unexplainable peace… the Bible calls it, “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Resting in His unending love, I can breathe once more as my anxieties and troubles fade. I know the problems are still present, whether they be health issues, financial upsets, relationship concerns, or a myriad of other issues that come with life, but I know I can trust my Father to handle them all, and in that, I experience His perfect love and peace.

Memory Verse: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice, and it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith, and be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side.

There are depths of love that I cannot know till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach till I rest in peace with Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to Thy precious, bleeding side.

(from “Draw Me Nearer” by Fanny Crosby)

Scripture:  “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  – 1 Corinthians 15:57

Examination: The apostle Paul recounts the entire gospel in this chapter. He reiterates that it is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus that provides salvation for all mankind. He then encourages the believers in Corinth with the truth that we can live victorious lives through the Saviour, and the end result will be our own resurrection to an eternal life with the Lord.

Application: Last night, the 2026 Winter Olympics had its opening ceremonies. Athletes from around the world marched the parade of nations proudly waving their countries’ flags. All of the competitors are hoping to stand on the podium as an Olympic champion, representing their country by being the best in their sport.

In today’s reading, Paul is writing to the believers in the Greek city of Corinth. It is in this land that the Olympics began, and the Greeks could easily relate to the victory of physical competitions. Paul compares our Christian lives to a race and instructs us to run to win. 1 Corinthians 9:24 states, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

In our race, our opponents are quite formidable. Ephesians 6:12 describes the competitors we face, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Our fight is a spiritual contest between Team God and Team Satan, and the ultimate prize is the souls of men.

While our calling is high, we are assured of the victory through the cross of Christ. His crucifixion and glorious resurrection triumphed over sin and death. Colossians 2:15 speaks of Christ, “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Through the Lord, we have the power to live the victorious life of which Paul writes, sharing the gospel of Christ to the world and leading others to the saving grace of our Saviour.

As followers of Christ, each of us can be assured that one future day, when we cross the finish line, we will be standing on the podium of faith and be able to say as Job did, “… I shall come forth as gold.” (23:10) Let us run to win!

Memory Verse: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”  – Romans 8:37

I heard an old, old story how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins and won the victory

O victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever!
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.

(from “Victory in Jesus” by E.M. Bartlett)

Scripture:  “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” – John 10:29

Examination: In chapter 10 of the book of John, Jesus explains who He is, His relationship with His Father, and the security we have in Him. These truths that He shares provide the assurance of our relationship with God and His great love for us.

Application: When I was a little girl, I always felt secure when my father held my hand. His fingers seemed as thick as tree trunks, and when they wrapped around my hand, I knew nothing could pry me away from him. I felt loved, protected, and safe with my dad.

My heavenly Father also loves me and provides protection and security for me. He showed His love on Calvary when He allowed His beloved Son to be sacrificed on the cross to reconcile mankind to Himself. This gift of salvation is available to anyone who places their faith and trust in Christ. Neither God’s love nor His salvation is revocable. 1 John 5:13 states, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” Once saved from my sins, I belong to God forever, and no man can remove me from God’s grasp…not even myself! My salvation can never be lost… God’s love assures me of that.

Being secure in someone’s love, knowing you are in their heart forever, removes any fear of abandonment or rejection and gives emotional comfort and peace. Because God has promised in His Word to hold us forever in His hand, we need not fear being forsaken if we should fall into sin or fail to do that which is right in the sight of God. Instead, we have the assurance of His forgiveness and restoration every time we go to Him with a penitent heart. 1 John 1:9 assures us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  

The assurance of our salvation and everlasting life is also found in Romans 6:23 and 11:29. The first verse states, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” With salvation comes the gift of everlasting life. The latter verse states that when God gives a gift, He doesn’t renege on it. “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Salvation and eternal life are gifts that we cannot ever lose, no matter what we think, say, or do.

To know I will forever be held in the hand of my heavenly Father is love beyond comprehension, but I trust in God’s Word. Romans 8:38-39 states, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is such blessed assurance to know God’s got a tight grip on me forever!

Memory Verse: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” – Ephesians 2:8

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

(from “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny Crosby)

Scripture: “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” – Psalm 34:14

Examination: In Psalm 34, David is writing about the goodness of God, and that He listens to His children. Several times he mentions that the Lord listens, and of course, that He delivers!

Application: Sometimes life gets so busy that it seems like no one has any time for anyone else. People ask, “How are you?”, but they don’t really want to know; they’re simply engaging in polite societal greetings. Maybe you’ve felt like others hear you, but they’re not really listening to you. When it seems like no one is in our corner, thoughts of unworthiness and rejection creep into our psyche, and we begin to believe the lies our heart tells us in that no one cares.

When someone is fully present for us, a loving, supportive relationship begins to be established. When someone listens when we need a sympathetic ear, it creates an emotional connection that fosters trust and security. However, juggling a busy lifestyle makes it difficult for many to give the time needed to develop those caring relationships that we all need. This can lead to feelings of sadness and social isolation.

Fortunately, it is so different for God. He has the time, the ability, and the desire to build a strong and personal relationship with us. He watches over us always. The Bible tells us in Job 34:21, “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.” He watches not some of what we are doing, but all, and He does it every moment of every day!

God also listens to us. In Psalm 116, the Psalmist wrote, “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” God hears us every time we pray, and when we do, He gives us His full attention.

Psalm 95:7 explains, “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” We belong to God. He is our Shepherd. He is devoted to us. He knows each of us by name! He listens to each of us as if we were the only one calling out to Him. He watches us as if we were the only one for Him to keep an eye on. That is the love that God has for you and me. All encompassing, unconditional, and everlasting!

Memory Verse: “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.” – John 15:9

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus
Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true;
I would tell you how He changed my life completely -
He did something that no other friend could do.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There's no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me -
O how much He cared for me!

(from “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus” by Charles Weigle)

Scripture: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” – Psalm 103:12

Examination: Written by David, this beautiful psalm tells about the wonderful attributes of God, His mercy and forgiveness, His holiness and righteousness, and the benefits we have as His children.

Application: Yesterday, I went to donate blood. On my way to the facility, I thought about the possibility that my blood could save someone’s life, and as I prayed for who might receive my blood, the parallel between my blood helping save someone’s life and Jesus’ blood saving me came to mind.

It is so easy to say that Jesus bore my sins on the cross, but when I really think about what happened that dark day on Calvary, my heart is overwhelmed with sorrow. The ramification of what Jesus took upon Himself is much deeper than “the sins” of the world.

On the cross, He bore every depraved thought, every pornographic activity, every lie spewed out, every baby murdered, every illicit affair, every act of corruption, every vile word spoken against His beloved Father, every bit of filth that could ever be imagined… Jesus bore it all… every bit of the world’s evil and wickedness. All of these listed, and so much more, He was punished for on the cross. He paid the price for our sins with His blood.

The cost was so far beyond the physical beatings and torture. It was the first and only time in all of eternity that the Son was truly separated from the Father. Think about that for a moment. For all of eternity, the Father and the Son never knew one moment of separation, but that all changed as Jesus hung on the cross. He cried out in unimaginable agony, “…Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Why? To pay the price for our sins.

It cost me nothing to donate a pint of blood so that another person could have a chance to live. It cost Jesus everything to shed His blood so that you and I could have a chance to live eternally.

1 Peter 3:18 states, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” The next time you thank the Lord for forgiving your sins, take a moment to reflect on the cost and remember that He chose to do it because He loves us more than anyone could ever fathom.

Memory Verse: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

King of my life I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn-crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony,
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

(from “Lead Me to Calvary” by Jennie Evelyn Hussey)

Scripture: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39

Examination: Paul is writing to the Christians in Rome about their standing with God. He explains how they are part of the family of God… a joint-heir with the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and how the Spirit of God indwells each believer. Their eternal security is found in God and His promises.

Application: I recently attended a wedding where vows of love were spoken between the bride and groom. It made me reflect on my own wedding nearly 50 years ago. I remember promising to love my husband as long as I lived, and he made the same promise to me. Sadly, according to some studies, 34% (1 in 3) marriages end in divorce these days. Those declarations of long-lasting love are long forgotten as couples go their separate ways.

In a world where vows of love are only pie-crust promises – easily made, easily broken, there is a love that will last forever. It is a love made in the throne room of heaven by God Himself and declared constantly through the pages of His Word to all people. Not only does God state His love for us, He has proven it as well… again and again. Here are a few of my favorites verses about the divine love of God.

• Sacrificial Love
  • “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16.
• Personal Love
  • “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
• Saving Love
  • “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” – 1 John 4:9
• Unlimited Love
  • “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” – Ephesians 2:4-5
• Parental Love
  • “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” – 1 John 3:1
• Everpresent Love
  • “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” – Romans 5:5

Once a person has accepted Christ as Saviour, every promise in the Bible becomes theirs. In Jeremiah 31:3, God promised He would love us forever. He will never break His vow to us; it has been sealed by the precious blood of His Son at Calvary. Other loves may fade away, but the love of God will endure forever!

Memory Verse: “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” – Jeremiah 31:3

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?’
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

(from “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” by Charles Wesley)

Scripture: “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17

Examination: The prophet Zephaniah speaks to a time when God will restore Israel, and all nations will know God for who He is. It is at this time that the Lord will judge and punish the enemies of Israel, and He will rejoice over the restoration of His people to the land with great joy.

Application: When I first met my husband, I was in high school, and not really interested in having a boyfriend, but my heart was smitten soon after we met. I wanted to learn everything about him, so we had many long talks after work. The more I learned, the more I was drawn to him. We were so different, but it didn’t matter. Before I really grasped what was happening, I had “fallen in love” with him. From then on, every moment I could, I spent with him, and it was glorious!  

God’s love is like that. When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, all of heaven rejoices! Our heavenly Father rejoices with singing and great joy! While He knows everything there is to know about us, He still wants to spend time with us cultivating a deep personal relationship that is built upon a foundation of divine love. He cherishes the moments we spend in prayer and in His Word. God rejoices when we learn more about Him because He loves us with such intensity and wants us to fall head over heels in love with Him, spending every moment we can with Him! Jesus told us what God desires of us in Matthew 22:37, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

Isaiah 62:5 tells us this about God’s love for us, “… as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” I remember seeing the joy on my husband’s face when I walked down the aisle to become his wife. The love reflected in his eyes remains etched in my memory. That is how Christ feels about each one of us! We are His bride, and He love us with an everlasting love! (Jeremiah 31:3).

As we meditate on that love, remember that nothing can separate us from it. Even our sin, intended to be an unbreachable barrier to the Lord, was destroyed at Calvary. Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross to pay for our sins, providing the only way of reconciliation. Ephesians 5:2 states, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Before we could ever love Him, He loved us.

 Memory Verse:  “We love him, because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19

In letters of crimson, God wrote His love
On the hillside so long, long ago
For you and for me Jesus died
And love's greatest story was told

"I love you, I love you"
That's what Calvary said
I love you, I love you
"I love you" written in red

(from “Written in Red” by Gordon Jensen)

Scripture: “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” – Psalm 3:4

Examination: David was familiar with the storms of life for he experienced many troubles during his lifetime. In this particular psalm, David was fleeing from his son, Absalom, and he cried out to God for deliverance. Regardless of whether his storms of life centered around wars, relationships, personal sin, etc., David always turned to God for his salvation.

Application: In the region where I live, we recently experienced two intense winter storms, back to back. The first brought ice and the threat of power outages; the second brought snow and frigid temperatures. We had only a week between them, and many people were scrambling to be prepared for both bouts of wintry weather.

Life can be like that.  Storms may come and go in our lives without much of a reprieve between them. As we learn from studying the life of David, regardless of the frequency or intensity, it is God to whom we can trust for our deliverance.

While most Christians believe and will affirm that God loves them, it’s important to take a moment to stop and grasp the gravity of what that exactly means.

The One who created everything that exists, the One who sustains all life, the One whose power knows no bounds, the One who sacrificed Himself to restore humanity’s relationship with Him… this is the One who loves each one of us AND knows us by name!

God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee…” (1:5). This means that we all were conceived in the mind of God before we were ever conceived physically! He loved us then; He loves us now, and He will love us forever! Jeremiah 31:3 records God’s profession of love for His children, when he tells the prophet, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

Because of His steadfast love, we can know that we will face no storm in life without God at our side. Deuteronomy 31:6 provides us that blessed assurance, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

In Psalm 46:1, David records that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” We do not need to allow anxiety or fear to overwhelm us. While those emotions are normal, we need not become enslaved to them. We must remember that God is always with us. He will never abandon us. He is a God in whose Word we can trust. If He promised to take care of us, He will do it. I Peter 5:7 reminds us the reason why, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

The next time a storm is bombarding you with troubles that seem overwhelming, remember that you are not alone. God is with you in the storm… as well as before and after!

 Memory Verse: “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” – Psalm 107:29

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,
While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.
'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more,
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky;
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,
Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

(from “Till the Storm Passes By” by Mosie Lister)

Scripture: – “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” – 1 John 2:6

Examination: John writes about the character of a true Christian and how it should manifest itself through love. He goes on to explain that the love of God should flow from us to others, and that if we truly belong to God, we will strive to obey His Word.

Application: Loving others doesn’t come easy for many people, even Christians. The reasons are many, but to God, none of them matter. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus told us, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”. He tells us the reason why in the next verse, “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven…”

Jesus is our example to follow. As we let Him lead us, we must strive to be like Him. This is exactly what the Father is making us into… the image of His Son. In Romans 8:29, Paul states this about God, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” This is an ongoing process as Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” God is transforming us into the image of His beloved Son so that we can reflect Him to a lost and dying world. Our reflection needs to be one of godly love.

Jesus told His followers in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The more we devote ourselves to prayer and Bible study, the more we learn what it means to follow Jesus. However, it doesn’t just happen. It is a decision each one of us must make. As Joshua said, “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve;” (Joshua 24:15)

As January comes to a close, and we look forward to the rest of 2026, let us determine to pray a little more, study the Scriptures a little more, and let God lead a whole lot more! Let’s dedicate the rest of 2026 to be more aligned to the will of God by following Him faithfully, reading His Word, and spending more time on our knees.

Memory Verse: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” – 1 John 4:11

More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do.

Take Thou my heart, I would be Thine alone;
Take Thou my heart and make it all Thine own.
Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore,
Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore.

More like the Master I would live and grow;
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be.

Take Thou my heart, I would be Thine alone;
Take Thou my heart and make it all Thine own.
Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore,
Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore.

(from “More Like the Master” by Chas. H. Gabriel)