Devotional

April 22, 2024 by Oliver Hoffmann

Count your Blessings

Give thanks and count your blessings! This month Passover is celebrated, and it is a reminder to us that we have so much for which to be truly grateful. I would like to share with you the following:

“If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend a church or synagogue service, without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. If you are able to read, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.”

Have a wonderful day, and count your blessings, with peace and gratitude. We are praying for you. Much love to you from our family.

December 23, 2022 by Support Staff

Merry Christmas!

Thanks to the overwhelming goodness of God and your faithful giving, in this year of 2022, food and supplies were sent to Cuba, Honduras, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Malawi, Ukraine, Florida and right here in Michiana. In addition, your donations helped to purchase a van to transport Ukrainians across the border into safety in Poland. You also helped families from Ukraine immigrate to Israel and begin a new life in safety.

Orphans were fed, families were given HOPE. Refugees were shown God’s love and told they are not forgotten. Hundreds of thousands of meals were fed to people in desperate circumstances, and the Good News of the Gospel shared.

Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus and brining His love and His hope to the hopeless. We’re looking forward to 2023 and the lives that will be changed through your generosity and compassion. We pray you have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from Feeding The Nations!

November 17, 2022 by Support Staff

Gratitude

For thousands of generations, the word of God has taught us how to live. One of the greatest lessons is thankfulness. There are many interpretations of the holiday we celebrate called Thanksgiving. Some are more myth than fact, but we do know that in 1863, with his Thanksgiving Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday.

The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica and admonished them to “Thank God in everything (no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks), for this is the will of God for you (who are in Christ Jesus the Revealer and Mediator of that will.)” The Lord understands the power of gratitude and God wants His children to live under the covering and the blessing of a thankful heart.

Gratitude and selfishness cannot coexist. When we are self-absorbed our worldview narrows, and our perspective is distorted. When “self” rules and becomes our focus it leads to discontent and a feeling of never having enough. Recently I read a wonderful quote from author Melody Beattie who said, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, and confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Well said and an excellent thought to ponder and take to heart. Thankfulness is showing gratitude, being aware of, and appreciating God’s benefits. It remembers His goodness. “Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me bless His Holy Name! Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all His benefits.” Psalm 103

Stephen Post is a professor of bioethics and has conducted research and tested the effects of love, caring, gratitude, and other positive emotion on human life. His research concluded that “love-related qualities such as gratitude can actually make us physically healthier.” Dr. Post states that taking just 15 minutes a day “focusing on the things we are grateful for will significantly increase our bodies natural antibodies.” He also found that gratitude calms the system “inducing a state called resonance, that is associated with healthier blood pressure, and heart rate.” Dr. Post has discovered that those who have grateful attitudes heal faster.

God knows this and that is why He encourages His children to find their rest and peace in Him. A grateful heart is a humbly thankful heart that realizes, “the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 are words that give us confidence and encourage peace and gratitude.

This is the season for Thanksgiving. Determine in your heart and with your mouth and in your action to demonstrate gratitude. Sing the song of thanksgiving found in Psalms 75 “We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks! For your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

August 9, 2022 by Support Staff

Prayer: The Great Equalizer

Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake. why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” ~Psalm 79:9, 10

Prayer is communication with the Creator of the Universe. He is God and above Him there is no other. Understanding the prominent, or actually the preeminent place, prayer must have in the life of the believer is essential for spiritual growth, stability and balance. Our relationship with God is established through our communion with Him and our prayer life is the strengthening foundation of that relationship.

The Father always has the highest resolve for any earthly problem or situation, and thankfully He is accessible and available. Paul put it this way, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15, 16)

Throughout the history of our nation both corporately and individually, in extraordinary ways God has intervened in the affairs of men and women. In times of trouble and in times of great need, He has promised to be with us. “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble.” (Psalm 91:15)

Because of God’s amazing love and mercy, we can communicate directly with Jesus and should we feel unworthy, we are told in the scripture “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1)

If we feel far away from God—perhaps because of a sense of mistakes we have made, poor decisions, disobedience or sin—a simple prayer for forgiveness will end that feeling of separation. God does not want to condemn us. He loves us and longs to communicate with us through His word and our prayers. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17) The mercy of God and His faithfulness to forgive is something we can be certain of and prayer enables us to realize that. “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:2-23)

History is an amazing teacher. If we are willing, we can learn powerful lessons by studying the life of wonderful men and women who lived before us. One such person is Samuel Brengle who was quoted as saying, “The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office he has held, but only the quality of his deeds and the character of his mind and heart.” I firmly believe, including prayer in our daily routine, will encourage faith in our hearts and Godly character and integrity in our dispositions and ultimately our behavior.

Henry Benjamin Whipple is another example of a life well worth studying. Prayer changed the way Whipple saw the world and caused him to be a compassionate advocate in defense of the oppressed. One remarkable statement he made among many is this: “All we want in life, we shall find in Christ. If we want little, we shall find little. If we want much, we shall find much; but if in utter helplessness we cast our all on Christ, He will be to us the whole treasury of God.”

Blaise Pascal, the brilliant mathematician, said, “The strength of a man’s virtue should not be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts.” Making prayer a daily habit will reap marvelous benefits and the beautiful truth about prayer is that the rewards are eternal. A determination is a decision reached after considerable consideration. It is a purposeful act to decide change in the outcome of a particular situation. One definition described determination as “having the power or quality of deciding.” So determination is powerful and God is limitless and prayer connects us to the source of all that is good. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” (James 1:17, 18)

Remember some simple truths. Determine to let go of the past and get rid of any un-confessed sin. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66:18) Be honest. Humble yourself before the Lord and walk in love and forgiveness. This brings peace and joy. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (Proverbs 8:17)

Talk to God. He is listening.

(Photo credit: ©iStockphoto.com/kjekol.)

April 14, 2022 by Support Staff

Reflections

Beautiful Jerusalem and the Eastern Gate! The clouds look like an Aleph to me; which is the first letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.

“A point above, a point below, and a line of The Word between! Whatever we may understand of Him is but an infinitesimal point above. The only way we can join with Him is an infinitesimal point below. And what empowers us to become this zero point below that resonates with the infinite point above? Our awe of Him, a line that connects below to above!” Tzvi Freeman.

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, Yeshua Hamashiach.

December 19, 2021 by Rachell Page-Wood

The Season of Miracles

December is not the time of year for feeling hassled stressed or sad. This is a season of miracles; hope should abound at Christmas time!

The miracle of Christmas is that Christ loved us and was willing to give His life for us, even when we were without knowledge of Him. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Jesus is the Promised One! He is Emmanuel, “God with us.” The prophets spoke of His coming centuries before it happened: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)

The Book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, and the last time God spoke to His people through prophecy until John the Baptist. For four hundred years, God was silent. This great silence was finally broken when Christ came. Silent no longer and ever present, He has promised not to leave or forsake us, and that is reason for hope!

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

God has always had a plan. He made a promise, recorded in the book of Genesis, One was coming who would crush the head of the serpent. Isaiah prophesied Messiah would come. He had a perfect name for the mission he was given, Isaiah translated, “Yahweh is Salvation.” When God speaks, what He says He will do, He will do! “The zeal of the Lord of Host will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)

May our hearts heal, and His joy and peace be ours as we contemplate the wonder of God’s unfailing love. As Phillips Brooks said, “The silent skies are full of speech for those with ears to hear. The winds are whispering each to each and stars their sacred mission teach of faith and love. The sky can still remember it, the earliest Christmas morn…God reached down to take our hand and Christ the Lord was born.”

(Photo credit: © losw / Fotolia)

October 23, 2021 by Rachell Page-Wood

A Change of Season

Seasons are fundamental to how we understand climate and our environment. There are differences of opinion concerning the start of autumn. “In meteorological terms autumn begins September 1st, as each season is defined in a three month period.” Astronomers have another perspective based on the date of the seasons of celestial events, placing the official start of autumn on September 22. There is a third definition of the beginning of autumn which comes from Phenology. The National Wildlife Federation describes Phenology as “the study of periodic plant and animal life cycles. These are the changes in the natural world, such as the turning of the trees and the ripening of autumn fruits.”

When September comes and the apples ripen, leaves begin to change color, the sun sets sooner and the air is cooler, I feel autumn in the atmosphere and welcome the change of season. Our lives are constantly changing. We experience different seasons emotionally, physically and spiritually. Change can be sudden and dramatic, or come gradually with time. One thing is for certain: change will come! It may come as a welcome respite from the demanding cares of life or an unexpected challenge.

Most of us are familiar with the saying, “When it rains, it pours!” Difficult situations can follow one another in rapid succession. “Yet man is born to trouble as sure as sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:7) Thankfully there is a remedy for troubling thoughts and circumstances. Practicing the presence of God through prayer, reading the word and worship change our thoughts. Though our circumstance may not change, our perspective and our hearts can be altered. In the realm of the spirit—where our mind, our will and our emotions function—prayer and the presence of the Lord alter everything!

We are influenced by what we practice daily. As a result of that, we need to change our thoughts and practice developing a pattern of thinking and behavior that is beneficial. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.” Again, the first step in positively adjusting to change—with the ability to overcome challenges and introduce solutions—is to change the way we think. What we believe is very powerful; it influences our thoughts and ultimately our actions.

As believers of God and followers of Christ, what we think and say will affect how we live. To live life victoriously and overcome the challenges of change, we must acknowledge the Sovereignty of God in our lives and be willing to surrender to His Lordship. (Philippians 4:13) Worship is essential, as is prayer. Connecting with God on a daily basis, trusting in His word and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide our thinking are paramount when adjusting to change. There are days when my heart is troubled and just being in the Lord’s presence, meditating on His love and faithfulness, singing songs of worship and sometimes being still before Him fills my heart with peace, strength and courage. In the middle of change, even upheaval and turmoil, Christ is constant and His presence brings stability, peace and confidence.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23) It is wonderful to realize that the love of God never alters. He has pledged His eternal love and faithfulness forever. “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Practicing His presence and allowing His thoughts to influence ours is healing and liberating. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Change is inevitable, but how we respond to the changing seasons of our lives is our decision and our choice. Dr. Lester Sumrall, our papa, used to say, “You make your decisions and your decisions make you.” I pray we choose wisely and learn to listen to the guidance and the instruction found in scripture. The counsel of the Lord is the best way to overcome; it will give us wisdom, direction, strength, peace and courage for our journey through life.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

Walk into the changing seasons of life with hope and renewed strength and confidence. “Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:24)

(Photo credit: © Subbotina Anna – Fotolia.com.)

July 3, 2021 by Rachell Page-Wood

Freedom: Remember Who We Are

There are fundamental issues that must be addressed by those of us who claim to be believers and followers of Christ. Webster defines fundamental as “anything that serves as the foundation or basis of a system of belief, as a truth, law, or principle; a primary and necessary truth; an essential.” David who replaced Saul as the new king over Israel wrote in Psalm 138, “for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!” Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” (John 14:21) Again, he said, “if anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words.”

Have we forgotten who we are? Thousands of years have passed since the Lord spoke those words. Times have changed. Has God changed? As believers living in this 21^st century we must settle in our hearts and minds the question: Is the Bible still relevant for us today? Did God intend for the scriptures to communicate His heart to people in this 21^st century?

I believe He did, and that He still does intend for His Word, and His instruction to guide our lives. The apostle Paul wrote, “And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit…[that His glory may be both manifested and recognized] .” (1 Corinthians 2:13, Philippians 1:11 AMP) In Paul’s letter written to the church in Galatia, he said, “Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling and disturbing and bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as gospel] and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah). (Galatians 1:10-12 AMP)

We must not forget who we are! It is essential that we remember we are children of God and we are obligated to respect and obey Him. Our founding fathers knew who they were. Indeed, they staked their lives on it! “And for support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on Divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” (Thomas Jefferson, 1776) John Hancock is recorded as saying, “His majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can double the reward on my head!” It is said that Hancock told the other delegates, “we must all hang together.” To this Benjamin Franklin responded, “we must all hang together, or we most assuredly will hang separately.” The men who drafted our constitution understood the enormous responsibility they had to “establish justice” and “secure the blessings of liberty” for all men. They believed it was a God-given human right and they were prepared to defend it. In 1808 John Adams said, “Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.”

The prophet Micah was an advocate of social reform. He strongly denounced anyone who would also use social or political power for personal gain. The meaning of Micah’s name is “who is like God.” He demonstrated deep concern for the suffering of his people and a burning desire to see them turn from idolatry and immorality. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God? The Lord’s voice cries to the city—wisdom shall see Your Name.” (Micah 6:8, 9) Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it.” (Proverbs 9:10-12) As children of God may we remember who we are, and the great price that was paid for our liberty and for our freedom. Our allegiance belongs to God. Remember to pray for our country. Let us resolve to educate ourselves concerning our heritage and our responsibility to God and to our nation.

On June 8, 1775, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John: “Dearest friend, The day, perhaps the decisive day is come on which the fate of America depends. My bursting Heart must find vent at my pen. I have just heard that our dear friend Dr. Warren is no more but fell gloriously for his country. Great is our loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement, by his courage and fortitude. Almighty God, cover the heads of our countrymen, and be a shield to our dear friends. How many have fallen we know not. The constant roar of the cannon is so distressing that we cannot eat, drink or sleep. May we be supported and sustained in the dreadful conflict. I shall tarry here till it is thought unsafe by my friends, and then I have secured myself a retreat at your brother’s who has kindly offered me part of his house. I cannot compose myself to write any further at present. I will add more as I hear further.” Abigail Adams included in her letter to John a passage of scripture, “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but the God of Israel is He that gives strength and power unto His people. Trust in Him at all times, ye people pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us.”

We must not forget who we are. Paul poured his heart and soul into encouraging believers at Ephesus. He wrote to make believers aware of “who they were in Christ.” Who are we in Christ in this 21^st century? The phrase “in Christ” or the equivalent to it, meaning belonging to Christ, is mentioned 35 times. This is more than in any other New Testament book. Paul was determined to emphasize to the believers living in Ephesus who they were in Christ and what could be done through their faith. He gives them clear advice on how to stay strong in the Lord. (Ephesians 6) I appreciate his words and believe they apply to my life today. I pray they minister to you also.

“[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him. By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set apart ones), and [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.” (Ephesians 1:17, 18, 19 AMP)

April 2, 2021 by Rachell Page-Wood

The Symbol of the Cross

Justice Jackson stated, “A person gets from a symbol the meaning he puts into it.” What defines a symbol? Webster’s dictionary says, “A symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention; a visible sign of something invisible.”

As we near the celebration of Easter and focus on the message of the cross, can the church be relied upon to stand for truth? Do believers today demonstrate allegiance to the cross? What is allegiance? According to Webster, it is “The obligation of fidelity. It is faithfulness, loyalty, devotion: Adherence to truth or fact; and reliability.” Are we who call ourselves Christians faithfully loyal and wholly devoted to the call of Christ? The cross is our symbol of freedom. There the Lord paid the price for our deliverance, dying so that we might live.

Matthew wrote, “Then Jesus said to His disciples ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'” (Matthew 16:24) Jesus also said that it is impossible to serve God and live like the world. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

It seems the pressure of our changing culture has influenced many to relinquish their devotion of adhering to the teachings of the Bible as truth. Jesus addressed this issue of taking Him at His word saying, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23) The Lord requires our allegiance. Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46-49)

The church is the conscience of society. When God’s order is disregarded, it leads to the downward spiral explained by Paul to the church in Rome. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:20-21)

Our redemption was purchased with the price of our Savior’s blood and intended to forever end our separation from God. Accepting forgiveness and salvation frees us from the bondage of sin. Through His word, He has empowered us to live free, but it is necessary to submit to His authority to remain free. We are instructed to act as free men and women, “Yet not using your liberty as a cloak for vice, but as servants of God.” (I Peter 2:16) Infidelity to the Lord and His word causes compromise and deception soon follows.

Paul told the church in Galatia, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery… You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:1,13)

The cross is our symbol of freedom and Jesus told us that serving Him and receiving His words of life bring joy and peace. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” (John 15:11) In a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty, we can be certain of this:

“That in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

January 26, 2021 by Support Staff

Where do we go from here?

For too many in our world, this past year has been one of great disturbance and epoch-making upheaval. Cataclysmic events have led to incomprehensible sorrow. We have experienced happenings around the world that have tested our credulity and sorely tried our faith.

2020 was so intense, we find ourselves asking “What will 2021 bring?” Our prayer is, what will we give to this New Year?

With God’s help—through prayer and a determination not to “grow weary in well doing”—we can bring a positive influence for good to our world by giving and sharing our faith. (Galatians 6:9) Every child of God can spread hope and share a legacy of faith that will heal.

What is faith? Faith is complete trust and confidence in our God. What is a legacy? “Anything handed down from the present and past, as a gift.” In this New Year we can give the gift of faith, hope and love.

How can we be light in the world? Shine! One small candle dispels even the darkest room. Edith Wharton said, “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

What we require is tenacious faith and determined effort. We need the kind of indefatigable faith and courage that the early church demonstrated. The apostle Paul encouraged believers with these words, “Therefore do not cast from you your confident hope, for it will receive a vast reward.” (Hebrews 10:35)

We must not lose hope! John was a pillar of strength to the church in Jerusalem. Later in life John wrote beautiful encouraging epistles to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor. His words are timeless. Believers today can take them to heart and receive renewed hope and purpose. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” (I John 5:4)

This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith! Thank God relationship brings revelation. We read so many stories in scripture that tell us how God’s revelation and intervention changed circumstances. Daniel and his companions are a powerful example of this. Daniel purposed in his heart to serve the God of Israel. He was submitted to God’s word and His will. Daniel prayed, walked in humility, and remained faithful even under extreme circumstances. He said this of His God: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever… He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:22)

Daniel had a great name: God is my judge. A name in the Bible many times is a description of the person, or of what God would do through an individual. Daniel’s friends had good names, too! Hananiah means: grace, mercy and gift of the Lord. Mishael is: who is like God! Azariah means: Yaweh has helped! What’s in a name? Plenty! God knew what Daniel and his three Hebrew friends would face. He gave them good names, and He gives a good name to us, also.

A quote from Max Lucado that I appreciate: “God loves us as we are but His love won’t leave us as we are. He is changing us everyday.” So true! If we will allow Him, God wants to change us into His image. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

We know His name, and thankfully, He knows ours. David wrote a Psalm of praise saying, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” (Psalm 9:9,10)

The Word tells us He takes pleasure in those who respect Him, in those who hope in His mercy and trust in His unfailing love. (Psalm 147:11) God has made this promise to those who are called by His name. He said, He will hear from heaven, and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

In the coming months, we will have many opportunities to pray and do good. Let’s make the most of them! This year give a legacy of love, encourage hope and share faith. Remember, if we know Him, our names are written in the book of life. Where do we go from here? The best is yet to come! “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” (Revelation 3:12)

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