Month: February 2026

The Lord wants us to walk wisely so we can enjoy the blessings He longs to give us.

Ephesians 5:15-17

In today’s passage, the apostle Paul is teaching how to develop a lifestyle of righteousness. He gives three instructions about making godly choices. He says to … 
1“Be careful how you walk” (Eph. 5:15). Unless we deliberately choose to guard ourselves, we will simply do what comes naturally without thinking through our actions.
2“Make the most of your time” (v. 16). God has entrusted each of us with the time and opportunities to participate in His plans for us. But we are tempted to squander our time and energy on other pursuits without considering what our heavenly Father may have in mind for us.
3“Understand what the will of the Lord is” (v. 17). In its broadest sense, God’s will for us is that we would each become the person He created us to be and that we’d do the work He has planned specifically for us to carry out (Eph. 2:10). Knowing this, we should evaluate our choices through a spiritual “filter” and ask ourselves if they’ll further our Father’s purposes.
The Lord wants us to walk wisely so we can enjoy all the marvelous benefits that He’s promised in His Word and longs to give us. Let’s commit to make each and every day count for Jesus Christ instead of merely living for ourselves.

If you want God’s peace, spend time in His Word and align your choices with His will.

Colossians 3:15-17

Many Christians believe a sense of peace is a sign that they’re following God’s will. But sometimes tranquility is actually due to us feeling satisfied about a choice we have made. How can we tell the difference?
Today’s passage talks about letting “the peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (v. 15). This kind of settledness originates from Jesus. The word peace means to be bound or woven together in harmony and oneness. So to have God’s peace about a matter means your decision must be aligned with His will. The only way to determine this is by comparing your thoughts and choices with His Word. Are you thinking the same way He does? Did you make your decision using scriptural principles or your own human understanding?
We may want a quicker method for finding an answer, but God molds us gradually, day by day, as we read the Word and let its truths sink into our mind.
Building a foundation of God’s truth takes time and consistency. With His instructions as your basis, you can make decisions with confidence, knowing you are following His will. Then you’ll have a sense of oneness with the Lord, and His peace will guard your way.

How does a believer hear God’s voice?

Psalm 25:12

How can you know you’re making the right decision? Sometimes it may feel as if God is keeping things from us when we’re trying to know His will, but that’s not how He operates. He wants to give us clear direction. So what must we do to hear His voice?
Clear the pathway. To receive the Lord’s guidance, we must repent of all known sin and make our desires secondary to His.
Exercise patience. Sometimes it takes great strength to stand still when everything within you is shouting, “Hurry! Time’s running out!” But if you rush ahead of God, you may miss His will.
Persist in prayer. The Bible instructs us to keep bringing our concerns to the Lord (Luke 18:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). As we continue to pray, He will gradually weed out anything confusing until we come to understand His thoughts about the matter.
Search the Scriptures. The Word of God provides wisdom for all of life’s challenges (Psalm 119:105), and the Holy Spirit points us in the right direction.
So often when we’re faced with a critical choice, all we want from the Lord is a quick answer. But He desires something so much greater—to deepen our relationship with Him. Don’t let the urgency of your need keep you from enjoying the intimacy of God’s presence as you seek His will.

When life feels overwhelming, God remains present and provides what we need for endurance.

Matthew 14:22-34

None of us likes suffering. But in God’s hands, trials can become tools that shape us into the people He created us to be.
In our own strength, we often lack the resources and abilities to meet life’s big challenges. So God provides just what we need and gives us an awareness of His presence. In today’s reading, the disciples thought they were alone in a storm. When they initially spotted the Lord, they were afraid because they mistook Him for a ghost. To quickly calm their fears, Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). During a crisis, we may not sense God’s presence, but He’s promised always to be with us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Assurance of His presence provides immediate comfort and a sense of confidence that helps us endure.
Another promise God makes is to provide a path through trials. The disciples must have wondered if they’d make it safely to shore. But had they somehow avoided this storm, they would have missed the demonstration of Jesus’ power. God wants to reveal His might to us as well.
Ask the Lord to let you experience His abiding presence. He will provide strength to endure and wisdom to identify the way through your troubles.

Are you serving the Lord with the gifts He’s given you?

2 Corinthians 11:22-31

In today’s passage, Paul’s description of his suffering is remarkable. He faced considerable hardship for his faith, but he refused to whine or seek pity. If this was the price for passionately serving Christ, Paul was willing to pay. The apostle’s commitment can teach us important lessons about our own walk of faith: 
•We serve according to God’s will, not our own.On the road to Damascus, Jesus said to Paul, “It will be told you what you must do” (Acts 9:6). We are to seek the Lord’s direction and timing. Committing to do whatever He asks requires courage; instead of placing limitations on our obedience, we must be brave.
•We serve according to our gifts, not our talents.A spiritual gift is the special endowment God gives us to serve where He calls. Talents may be useful in His work, but His gifts equip us. Natural skill wasn’t what made Paul a powerful preacher. In fact, he spoke of the uselessness of his abilities and pedigree in comparison with knowing and serving Christ (Philippians 3:4-9).
Even when we stay focused and serve using our gifts, there may be moments when service feels hard or draining. Yet it will, overall, be filled with joy and satisfaction. Are you serving the Lord with the gifts He’s given you?

Each follower of Christ is called to serve.

Psalms 100:1-2

Who is a servant of God?  We are! Some people think that believers are separated into two groups: servants (individuals in full-time ministry) and laypeople. The Bible makes no such distinction. Instead, Paul—a tentmaker by trade—reminds the Ephesians that believers are saved so that they might serve (Ephesians 2:10).
If there were no other reason to serve God besides gratitude for salvation, that would be cause enough. We are rescued and given eternal life along with the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. Our service is an acknowledgment of all the Father did for us by sending His Son.
Many people, believers included, serve the big “I.” In other words, they’re continually thinking, What do I find satisfying and pleasing? What do I need to be happy and prosperous? Here’s a harsh reality and a simple way to remember it: If “I” is our master, we are committing I-dolatry. Anything given first place over God—including selfish desires—is an idol.
Service isn’t just a good idea. God calls us to be servants so we can each invest our life in an eternally valuable purpose: the salvation of others and their subsequent discipleship for His glory. Our job may seem small or our limitations great, but the truth is that we’re all servants of Christ with a role in the kingdom.

Obedience to God often collides with reason.

Genesis 22:1-24

Abraham faced one of the greatest tests of obedience recorded in Scripture: God asked him to sacrifice his son. It’s hard to imagine the confusion and pain this must have caused. However, Abraham set out to comply. His response teaches us some important lessons about trusting our heavenly Father:
Obedience often collides with reason. After telling Abraham he’d have descendants too numerous to count, God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, the boy who was to be the father of the promised line. Though the instruction seemed illogical, Abraham trusted God to keep His word (Hebrews 11:17-19).
Obedience means leaving the consequences to God. Abraham’s words and actions indicate he believed in divine sovereignty. On taking Isaac to Mount Moriah, he told his servants, “I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you” (Gen. 22:5). He didn’t say, “I will return” but expressed the sure hope that both would come back. He fully expected that the Lord would somehow restore the boy in order to keep His pledge (Gen. 22:13-14).
Have you faced any tests of obedience in your life? Pray for help to trust God, no matter what the outcome may be.

If we trust our sovereign Lord and wait for His timing, we will see His faithfulness revealed.

Genesis 16:1-16

The Old Testament gives us the account of Abraham’s life. He had a special relationship with God, but his faith was not perfect. Over the years, he came to understand the cost of disobedience, learning the hard way that manipulating circumstances can bring heartache.
For example, God promised that Abraham and Sarah would have a child, but they were still waiting for that blessing when they were elderly. Already in her 70s, Sarah suggested that Abraham produce an heir by having a child with her servant Hagar. The result was jealousy, family strife, and conflict with long-lasting repercussions.
Obedience will bring the Lord’s best, but it sometimes requires waiting on Him. Abraham was an old man when God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). This would not be fulfilled until he was 100 and Sarah was well past childbearing age, which meant that the glory for Isaac’s miraculous conception and birth was the Lord’s alone (Genesis 21:1-7).
One reason the Father has given us His Word is so that we might learn from the saints. Abraham’s life teaches us that obedience is essential. When we choose to trust our sovereign God and yield to His timing, we discover firsthand how faithful He is.