Month: November 2025

To hear the Lord speak to you, dedicate time to meditating on His Word.

Psalms 19:7-14

Meditation means different things to different people. For some, it is a time of introspection and self-empowerment. To Christians, however, meditation has an altogether different meaning. Simply put, it is the practice of thinking about God in all of His fullness and asking questions like …

Who is God?

How does He work in my life?

What does Scripture say about Him?

How has He shown faithfulness to me?

When we meditate on God’s Word with a goal of knowing Him better, His Spirit will direct our thinking. Often, the discipline will include wrestling with spiritual principles, which the Lord uses to build a firm foundation in our life. It may even involve a time of repentance, as He reveals truth and moves us to yearn for a Christ-centered mindset (Romans 12:1-2). Meditation could also lead to healing if God shows us areas of our heart that need addressing.

This week, take some time to sit quietly or take a walk, and dedicate those moments to focusing your attention on God. Let Him speak to you. Giving yourself over to His presence will likely be a rewarding break in your routine.

Adversity can be a burden we carry or a bridge to a glorious future.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

How would you describe adversity? As Christians, we have the opportunity to see it as a bridge leading to an eternal future.

Our perspective is the determining factor in how we view hardship. If we focus only on the negative, we’ll be drawn into despair. But if we look at problems from an eternal standpoint, our thinking will be transformed in three ways:

We won’t lose heart, because we know we’re being renewed from within. As we respond in submission to whatever God allows in our life and trust in His good purposes, our character is shaped into Christlikeness and our hope is restored.

The Lord will give us strength to endure. Paul said he was afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, and constantly threatened with death, yet he called it all “light and momentary” compared to eternity (2 Cor. 4:8-11; 2 Cor. 4:17 NIV).

Let’s not view adversity as a thief of all joy and a hindrance to a good life. Instead, we should look beyond the present to what the trial is producing for us—“an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (v. 17).

Viewing troubles through an eternal lens is an act of faith. It increases our trust in God, gives us greater passion, and strengthens us to victoriously cross the bridge of adversity.

When we are faithful to the Lord, our actions will point others to Him.

Matthew 5:14-16

If you’ve ever looked at a photograph of earth at night taken from space, it’s easy to see urban areas because they’re so brightly lit. You can’t miss them.

The same is true for believers. We are called to “shine” like the city on a hill that Jesus spoke about—to live in such a way that others will observe our good works and see evidence of God in our life (Matthew 5:14-16).

A Christian’s faith is made evident through his or her deeds. We want coworkers, friends, and others in our sphere of influence to notice how we live. Why? So they might gradually begin to understand that God is worthy and good. That means we can be effective witnesses both through the words we say and the things we do.

To balance this command, however, the Lord gives us an admonition in Matthew 6:1: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them.” In other words, we must be mindful of our motive. If we’re performing to get the attention of others, we will lose out on a heavenly reward.

We are to be a reflection of God’s light and glory. It is He who not only gives opportunity to shine but also equips us with the strength and gifts to work for the kingdom.

Have you spent time alone with the Lord today?

Psalms 131:1-2

Have you ever wanted to strengthen your prayer life? Let’s look at what Jesus modeled for us by spending time with His Father:

Solitude. The Lord was constantly surrounded by people as He tended to their needs. But He also understood His own need for seclusion and would often retreat to pray in private.

Time. No matter what else was going on, Jesus intentionally protected periods of time so He could rest in the Spirit, focus on His relationship with the Father, and build up His physical and emotional strength.

Stillness. What does it means to “be still”? Psalm 46:10 calls us to stillness with these words: “Cease striving and know that I am God.” To learn this boundless inner peace, periodically stop everything you’re focused on doing and simply let your soul become aware of the Holy Spirit’s presence. In today’s reading, David describes this calm state as that of a “weaned child” who is at perfect rest and happy just to be in his mother’s arms.

Make these essentials a priority each day, and you’ll reap tremendous benefits in your walk of faith. Doing so may seem challenging at first, but when you quiet your heart before the Lord, you’ll discover how much you need the peace of His presence. It is truly a priceless gift.