Psalm 55, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: Chapters in Life

Certain chapters in this life seem so unnecessary—like nostrils on the pre-born. Like suffering.  Loneliness.  Disease. Holocausts.  Martyrdom.  Hurricanes, earthquakes and monsoons.

If we assume this world exists just for pre-grave happiness, these atrocities disqualify it from doing so!  But what if this earth is the womb?  Might these challenges, severe as they may be, serve to prepare us, equip us for the world to come?

The apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Corinthians 4:17:  “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.”

Eternal glory?  I’d like a large cup of that,  wouldn’t you?

Everything in this life is preparing us for the next.

Psalm 55

A David Psalm

1–3  55 Open your ears, God, to my prayer;

don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking.

Come close and whisper your answer.

I really need you.

I shudder at the mean voice,

quail before the evil eye,

As they pile on the guilt,

stockpile angry slander.

4–8  My insides are turned inside out;

specters of death have me down.

I shake with fear,

I shudder from head to foot.

“Who will give me wings,” I ask—

“wings like a dove?”

Get me out of here on dove wings;

I want some peace and quiet.

I want a walk in the country,

I want a cabin in the woods.

I’m desperate for a change

from rage and stormy weather.

9–11  Come down hard, Lord—slit their tongues.

I’m appalled how they’ve split the city

Into rival gangs

prowling the alleys

Day and night spoiling for a fight,

trash piled in the streets,

Even shopkeepers gouging and cheating

in broad daylight.

12–14  This isn’t the neighborhood bully

mocking me—I could take that.

This isn’t a foreign devil spitting

invective—I could tune that out.

It’s you! We grew up together!

You! My best friend!

Those long hours of leisure as we walked

arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.

15  Haul my betrayers off alive to hell—let them

experience the horror, let them

feel every desolate detail of a damned life.

16–19  I call to God;

God will help me.

At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh

deep sighs—he hears, he rescues.

My life is well and whole, secure

in the middle of danger

Even while thousands

are lined up against me.

God hears it all, and from his judge’s bench

puts them in their place.

But, set in their ways, they won’t change;

they pay him no mind.

20–21  And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends;

his life betrayed his word.

All my life I’ve been charmed by his speech,

never dreaming he’d turn on me.

His words, which were music to my ears,

turned to daggers in my heart.

22–23  Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—

he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.

He’ll never let good people

topple into ruin.

But you, God, will throw the others

into a muddy bog,

Cut the lifespan of assassins

and traitors in half.

And I trust in you.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Sunday, August 02, 2026

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 10:6-14

Blessings accrue on a good and honest life,

but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

7  A good and honest life is a blessed memorial;

a wicked life leaves a rotten stench.

8  A wise heart takes orders;

an empty head will come unglued.

9  Honesty lives confident and carefree,

but Shifty is sure to be exposed.

10  An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead,

but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.

11  The mouth of a good person is a deep, life-giving well,

but the mouth of the wicked is a dark cave of abuse.

12  Hatred starts fights,

but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.

13  You’ll find wisdom on the lips of a person of insight,

but the shortsighted needs a slap in the face.

14  The wise accumulate knowledge—a true treasure;

know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste.

Today's Insights

In Proverbs, Solomon offers basic wisdom for life and often uses a Hebrew poetic device called parallelism, where two or more lines of poetry correspond with one another. Parallelism and other poetic devices are normal features of Hebrew poetry, which doesn’t operate with rhyme and meter like Western poetry.

In synonymous parallelism, the idea in the first half of the verse is repeated in the second half but with different wording: “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke” (3:11). Proverbs 10:9 is an example of antithetical parallelism, where two statements are contrasted with opposite language: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” Solomon exposes the folly of ignoring God’s wisdom and shows the consequences of that folly. Today, God will help us live by His wisdom and be marked as people of character who walk in integrity.

Walking in Integrity

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely. Proverbs 10:9

By Winn Collier

An Uber driver named Esbon Kamau picked up a sixteen-year-old rider who was on his way to purchase a motorcycle—a gift from his father. After Kamau dropped the passenger off, he noticed the teen had left a bag in the back seat. There was $8,000 inside—the cash needed for the purchase of the motorcycle. Kamau quickly contacted Uber to try and locate the passenger. Soon Kamau delivered the cash back to the grateful, relieved young man. “Do the right thing at the right time,” Kamau said, “and don’t let selfishness overpower [you]."

Kamau displayed integrity. He resisted making a fast buck or taking advantage of someone’s mistake. Instead, he chose to simply do the right thing. “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,” Proverbs says (10:9). When we practice integrity, we never have to worry about remembering what we said to whom, because truth is our only concern. When we practice integrity, we don’t have to fear for our reputation or that our schemes will catch up with us (v. 23). We don’t have to be concerned about being a person whose “crooked paths will be found out” (v. 9). We simply live true—displaying wisdom (v. 13) that comes from God. We’re secure and free in Him.

We face numerous temptations to lie or manipulate in life, but God calls us to walk with Him. And as we do, we can lead “blameless” (v. 29) lives of integrity.  

Reflect & Pray

When has your integrity been challenged? How have you experienced others’ integrity?

Dear God, I want to live with integrity. Please help me be blameless in You.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Sunday, August 02, 2026

The Discipline of Difficulty

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. — John 16:33

An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very different. If you are a child of God, there certainly will be troubles to face. Jesus says not to be surprised when they come: “In this world you will have trouble.” But he also says that troubles are no match for him: “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Sometimes people who never wanted to complain or go on about their troubles before they were saved become frail in the face of trouble afterward. This happens because they had the wrong idea of what salvation meant. They thought it meant that God would allow them to triumph easily over all adversity. But God does not give us overcoming life; he gives us life as we overcome.

Are you asking God to give you life and liberty and joy? He cannot—not unless you also accept the strain. The strain is the strength. Where there is no strain, there is no strength.

Overcome your timidity. Take the step God is telling you to take, and he will nourish you: “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life” (Revelation 2:7). If you push yourself to your physical limits, you will become exhausted, but if you push yourself spiritually, you will get more strength. God never gives strength for tomorrow or for the next hour, only for the strain of the minute.

Face your troubles with courage and gladness, remembering that you have nothing to fear. The saint is filled with hilarity when crushed by difficulties, because the situation is so ludicrously impossible to anyone but God. “If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’ and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you” (Psalm 91:9–10). No plague can come near the place where you are at one with God.

Psalms 60-62; Romans 5 

 

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

The place for the comforter is not that of one who preaches, but of the comrade who says nothing, but prays to God about the matter. The biggest thing you can do for those who are suffering is not to talk platitudes, not to ask questions, but to get into contact with God, and the “greater works” will be done by prayer (see John 14:12–13). 

Baffled to Fight Better, 56 R

Psalm 53, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: Jesus Knows Just How You Feel

The next time your world goes from calm to chaos-ponder this: Jesus knows how you feel. His eyes have grown weary. His heart has grown heavy. He knows how you feel. You're no doubt convinced Jesus is acquainted with sorrow and has wrestled with fear. Most people accept that. But can God relate to the hassles and headaches of your life? For some reason this is harder to believe.

Listen to Hebrews 4:15, ". . .he Himself has shared fully in all our experience of temptation, except that He never sinned." The writer of Hebrews anticipates our objections. "God, it's easy for you up there. You don't know how hard it is from down here." Listen again. He has shared fully. Not nearly. Not to a large degree, but entirely! In all our experience, in every hurt and every ache. Why? So that when you hurt, you'll go to Him-who knows how you feel!

From In the Eye of the Storm

Psalm 53

A David Psalm

1–2  53 Bilious and bloated, they gas,

“God is gone.”

It’s poison gas—

they foul themselves, they poison

Rivers and skies;

thistles are their cash crop.

God sticks his head out of heaven.

He looks around.

He’s looking for someone not stupid—

one man, even, God-expectant,

just one God-ready woman.

3  He comes up empty. A string

of zeros. Useless, unshepherded

Sheep, taking turns pretending

to be Shepherd.

The ninety and nine

follow the one.

4  Don’t they know anything,

all these impostors?

Don’t they know

they can’t get away with this,

Treating people like a fast-food meal

over which they’re too busy to pray?

5  Night is coming for them, and nightmare—

a nightmare they’ll never wake up from.

God will make hash of these squatters,

send them packing for good.

6  Is there anyone around to save Israel?

God turns life around.

Turned-around Jacob skips rope,

turned-around Israel sings laughter.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Saturday, August 01, 2026

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 11:8-16

By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.

11–12  By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That’s how it happened that from one man’s dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.

13–16  Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

Today's Insights

Hebrews 11 has been referred to as the “Hall of Faith” because everyone listed in the chapter is presented as a model of faith. This makes sense because verse 6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Because our human effort to do good will always fall short of God’s standard (Ephesians 2:8-9), we’re dependent upon Him by faith. By faith we trust God now, and one day we’ll be in His eternal presence (John 3:16).

God's Better Country

Heb. 11:16-They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world.

Michele experienced a mixture of emotions as her father neared the end of his life. She grieved when he said, “Honey, I won’t be here to walk you down the aisle.” But she assured him of her love, clinging to the hope she found in Hebrews 11 as she said, “You’re heading for a better country, a country in heaven.” Michele believed that her dad, when he died, would be with God forever. She reflected, “Heaven will be that good!”

The letter to the Hebrews was aimed at Jewish believers in Jesus experiencing persecution by state and religious opponents. Although it was written before the destruction of the temple in ad 70, the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans may have occurred soon after. In this climate of fear, the author urged the believers to hold firm to their faith as he highlighted a great “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). Each “did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance” (11:13). They lived by faith, “longing for a better country—a heavenly one,” and God was pleased to be called their God, and “prepared a city for them” (v. 16).

Although Michele ached with sadness when her father died, she embraced the promises of her heavenly Father. We too can welcome these same promises “from a distance” (v. 13), trusting in God.

Reflect & Pray

How can you embrace God’s help and trust Him more today? How does the thought of heaven inform your hopes, dreams, and actions?

Heavenly Father, please help me live knowing that You’re trustworthy and will one day welcome me home.

Learn more about God’s wonderful plan for heaven and earth.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Saturday, August 01, 2026

Something More about His Ways

When Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. — Matthew 11:1 kjv

He comes where he commands us to leave. If when God says, “Go,” you stay because you’re concerned about your people at home, you rob your loved ones of the teaching of Jesus himself. When you obey and go, trusting God with the consequences, the Lord himself ministers to those you leave behind, just as he came to “teach and preach” in the disciples’ cities after they’d set out in his service. As long as you refuse to obey, you’re in his way.

Watch out if your idea of duty begins to compete with your Lord’s commands. If you find yourself saying, “I know God told me to go, but my duty is at home,” it’s an indication that you don’t believe Jesus means what he says.

He teaches where he tells us not to. Are you teaching where God has told you not to, playing the amateur providence in other people’s lives? Are you so noisy in instructing others that God can’t get anywhere near them? We have to keep our mouths shut and our spirits alert. God wants to instruct his children in the ways of his Son. He wants to turn our times of prayer into mounts of transfiguration. We won’t let him, because we think we know what he’ll do. When we’re certain of the way God is going to work, he will never work in that way anymore.

He works where he sends us to wait. “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Wait on God, and he will work. But don’t wait sulkily just because you can’t see an inch in front of you! Are you detached enough from your inner hysterics to wait patiently on God? Waiting on him doesn’t mean sitting on the sidelines with your hands folded. It means doing what you are told, in joyful obedience to him.

These are phases of God’s ways we rarely recognize.

Psalms 57-59; Romans 4

 

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. We have to learn to abide in Him wherever we are placed.

Our Brilliant Heritage

John 18:1-18, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL HELP - July 31, 2026

In his fine book, The Dance of Hope, Bill Frey remembers the day he tried to pull a stump out of the Georgia dirt. One of his chores as a 12 year-old was to search for stumps of pine trees that had been cut down and chop them into kindling. But there was one root system he just couldn’t pull out of the ground.

He was still struggling when his father came over to watch. “I think I see your problem,” the dad said. “What’s that?” the son asked. “You’re not using all your strength.” Bill exploded and told him how hard he’d been working. “No,” the dad said. “You’re not using all your strength.” When Bill cooled down, he asked what his father meant and the dad said, “You haven’t asked me to help you.”

You don’t have to do it alone, friend. Present the challenge to your father and ask for help. Will he solve the issue? Yes, he will.

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World

John 18:1-18

Seized in the Garden at Night

1  18 Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.

2–4  Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

5–6  He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.

7  Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

8–9  “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”)

10  Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant’s name.

11  Jesus ordered Peter, “Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I’m not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?”

12–14  Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.

15–16  Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in.

17  The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?”

He said, “No, I’m not.”

18  The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Friday, July 31, 2026

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

2 Chronicles 20:14-19

 Then Jahaziel was moved by the Spirit of God to speak from the midst of the congregation. (Jahaziel was the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah the Levite of the Asaph clan.) He said, “Attention everyone—all of you from out of town, all you from Jerusalem, and you King Jehoshaphat—God’s word: Don’t be afraid; don’t pay any mind to this vandal horde. This is God’s war, not yours. Tomorrow you’ll go after them; see, they’re already on their way up the slopes of Ziz; you’ll meet them at the end of the ravine near the wilderness of Jeruel. You won’t have to lift a hand in this battle; just stand firm, Judah and Jerusalem, and watch God’s saving work for you take shape. Don’t be afraid, don’t waver. March out boldly tomorrow—God is with you.”

18–19  Then Jehoshaphat knelt down, bowing with his face to the ground. All Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping God. The Levites (both Kohathites and Korahites) stood to their feet to praise God, the God of Israel; they praised at the top of their lungs!

Today's Insights

The example of King Jehoshaphat is one that’s worthy of emulation. Not only does he go to God in prayer with his overwhelming concern, he also unhesitatingly trusts Him for the solution to the problem (2 Chronicles 20:5-12). This is wisdom indeed, for God said, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’ ” (Isaiah 46:10). Regardless of what challenges we face today, the one who knows the end from the beginning can be trusted to provide the help we need.

For further study, read Get Unstuck: Three Biblical Steps for Overcoming Anxiety.

The Battle Is God’s

Do not be afraid or discouraged . . . . For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chronicles 20:15

by Leslie Koh

Though she enjoyed befriending and helping folks in her church’s seniors ministry, Carol found herself being picked on by its domineering leader. She felt so bothered by it that she had to seek counseling. She was advised to quit the ministry, but she didn’t want to “abandon” the seniors. Feeling caught in between, she prayed to God for guidance, and He gave her comfort and assurance as she submitted her fears to Him. He showed her that she should talk to the leader but trust Him to resolve the issue.

When King Jehoshaphat heard of a powerful enemy approaching Jerusalem, his first response was to pray. Appealing to God’s sovereignty, he said, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). Instead of relying on their own strength, the king and people of Judah submitted themselves and their troubles to God (v. 18).

God’s answer to the king and people through the prophet Jahaziel was heartening: “Do not be afraid or discouraged . . . . For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15). God commanded Judah to march out, but to trust Him with the result. They did so in faith, praising God as if the prayer was already answered (vv. 20-21)—and found the battle already won (v. 24).

Whenever we face difficult situations, let’s pray and look to God for help. We may not always see victory, but whatever happens, we need not be afraid, for the battle is His.

Reflect & Pray

What difficulties are you facing now? How can you submit your troubles to God?

Mighty God, as I rest in Your sovereign hands, please help me to trust in You, for the battle is Yours.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Friday, July 31, 2026

Till You Are Entirely His

Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. —James 1:4

Many of us are all right for the most part, but we’re still lazy about certain things. It isn’t sin that makes us this way; it’s the remnants of our old carnal life, the life we led before we were born again in the Spirit. Carelessness and laziness are an insult to the Holy Spirit. There should be nothing careless about us, whether it’s in the way we eat and drink or the way we worship God.

Not only must our relationship to God be right; the way we express that relationship must be right, too. Ultimately God will let nothing about us escape his attention. He keeps every detail of our lives under his scrutiny. In numberless ways, God will bring us back to the same issue over and over again until we learn our lesson. The issue may be our impulsiveness or our independent individuality or our tendency to let our thoughts run away with us. No matter what it is, God will bring us back to it again and again until he has made us fully aware of the thing that isn’t right. He’ll never tire, and he won’t stop—not until he has achieved the finished work.

Thanks to God’s wonderful work in you, you know that you are all right in what matters most: your relationship to him. Now “let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Watch out when you start letting things slide, or when you hear yourself saying, “Oh, that will have to do for now.” Whatever the issue, God will point it out with persistent patience until you are entirely his.

Psalms 54-56; Romans 3

 

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

Beware of bartering the Word of God for a more suitable conception of your own. 

Disciples Indeed, 386 R

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Friday, July 31, 2026

No Secrets in the Throne Room - #10320

Scripture:  Hebrews 4:12

Man, everywhere you look guys are wearing baseball caps. And girls and women are wearing them too! More often than not, the caps really don't have anything to do with baseball! From school, to church, to everyday life you’ve got more and more people wearing those caps.

Every once in a while I would say to my sons, “Hey, guys, you look so good without a hat. You look better.” I usually got a simple explanation, (I’ll bet you know.) “Bad hair day, Dad!” Well, there are those days you don’t have time to wash your hair or get it to look right, so you just cover it with a hat, right? Which leads to an interesting moment in Christian youth meetings when it’s time to pray, because of course hats come off when you pray, right? No matter how bad your hair looks. I guess if you time it right, you can take it off after every eye is closed, hope no one peeks, and put it back on just before anybody’s got their eyes open.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “No Secrets in the Throne Room.”

Our word for today from the Word of God begins in Hebrews 4:12. It says, “The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” In other words, your hat is always off.

What we’ve managed to cover up from everyone else God sees. The covering comes off when you pray…or it ought to. But we have a tendency to get all dressed up for God, and we come to Him with this flowery prayer language. We talk to Him about religious stuff. But real prayer begins when you come into God’s presence with the real you; the one who isn’t together like everybody else thinks you are, the one who’s struggling and honest about it, the one who’s hurting, the one who’s doubting, or the one who’s grieving, the one who’s sinning. Maybe you’re falling. Maybe you’re giving out or maybe even giving up.

See, the first reason to come to God honestly is this: God already knows. That’s what this says, “All things are uncovered and laid bare.” There’s no point in coming to impress God. You come, not as you ought to be, but as you are. Then in verse 15 we’ve got a second reason we can come honestly to God. “We do not have a high priest who’s unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way just as we are yet without sin.” God really understands. You’re talking to the God who’s been here. He’s been hurt, He’s been lonely, exhausted, and criticized. Jesus was abandoned, slandered, tempted, betrayed, He was beaten, He was murdered. What a Savior! We can come uncovered to this Lord because He’s walked this road. Jesus gives us someone who laughs with us, who struggles with us, who cries with us.

And there’s one more reason to come honestly. God really responds to it. Verse 16 says, “Let us then approach the Throne of Grace with confidence that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” No condemnation; and not just understanding. God sends two supernatural resources in response to our honest sharing; mercy and grace aimed right at the honest need you just poured out to Him.

But God doesn’t impose himself. He only comes by invitation. You’ll only know the empowerment of God’s grace in an area that you have totally opened up to Him. Remember, bring the real you to God. Like the hymn says, “Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me.” The you that has been hidden from everyone else is the you God wants. He wants to carry and He wants to heal that person.

A bad hair day is one thing; it’s the bad heart days that Jesus is concerned about. And when you pray, would you uncover what’s really there?

Psalm 41, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: TURN TO YOUR FATHER - July 30, 2026

We can calmly take our concerns to God because he is as near as our next breath!  This was the reassuring message from the miracle of the bread and fish.  In an event crafted to speak to the anxious heart, Jesus told his disciples to do the impossible: feed five thousand people.

You aren’t facing five thousand hungry bellies, but you are facing a deadline in two days, a loved one in need of a cure. On one hand you have a problem. On the other you have a limited quantity of wisdom, patience, or time.  Typically, you’d get anxious. You’d tell God, “You’ve given me too much to handle.”

This time, instead of starting with what you have, start with Jesus. Start with his wealth, his resources, and his strength. Before you lash out in fear, look up in faith. Turn to your Father for help!

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World

Psalm 41

A David Psalm

1–3  41 Dignify those who are down on their luck;

you’ll feel good—that’s what God does.

God looks after us all,

makes us robust with life—

Lucky to be in the land,

we’re free from enemy worries.

Whenever we’re sick and in bed,

God becomes our nurse,

nurses us back to health.

4–7  I said, “God, be gracious!

Put me together again—

my sins have torn me to pieces.”

My enemies are wishing the worst for me;

they make bets on what day I will die.

If someone comes to see me,

he mouths empty platitudes,

All the while gathering gossip about me

to entertain the street-corner crowd.

These “friends” who hate me

whisper slanders all over town.

They form committees

to plan misery for me.

8–9  The rumor goes out, “He’s got some dirty,

deadly disease. The doctors

have given up on him.”

Even my best friend, the one I always told everything

—he ate meals at my house all the time!—

has bitten my hand.

10  God, give grace, get me up on my feet.

I’ll show them a thing or two.

11–12  Meanwhile, I’m sure you’re on my side—

no victory shouts yet from the enemy camp!

You know me inside and out, you hold me together,

you never fail to stand me tall in your presence

so I can look you in the eye.

13  Blessed is God, Israel’s God,

always, always, always.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Thursday, July 30, 2026

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

Colossians 3:1-4

He Is Your Life

1–2  3 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.

3–4  Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.

Today's Insights

In his letters, Paul frequently talks about how believers in Jesus have “died” (Colossians 3:3) to sin. In Romans 6, the apostle reminds believers that they’ve been united with Christ in His death and will be “united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that the old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with” (vv. 5-6). Because of Jesus’ death, sin is no longer our master. We no longer live to gratify our desires or “cravings of our flesh” (Ephesians 2:3) because we serve another master, Christ. Our sins are forgiven, and we’re alive in Him. He’s canceled the debt we owed and could never pay “by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). That doesn’t mean we no longer sin, but that God helps us in our struggles, transforming us to be more like Him.

New Life for Dead Hearts

You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

by Elisa Morgan

Heartwood is the central supporting pillar of certain trees. Although dead, it won’t decay or lose strength while the outer, living layers are intact. Composed of fibers bound together by a chemical glue called lignin, heartwood can be as strong as steel. This element of a tree’s structure enables it to survive nature’s travails.

When Paul encouraged the Colossians to live a resurrected life, he could have used the metaphor of heartwood to express how those who have been saved are transformed. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). While Paul’s reference to us as “dead” might seem discouraging, when understood from the perspective of the resurrection we grasp the hope of such a statement. God transforms the dead core of our beings, strengthening us in the power of the resurrected Jesus to endure the trials of this life.

Our prior inner beings are as dead as the heartwood of a tree. Yet we still exist as the unique people God created us to be—and more. We’re made new (Revelation 21:5). We’re new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). In Jesus “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

We see a living example of how the structure of trees represents our life in Christ. Thanks be to God for transforming us from death to life!

Reflect & Pray

What does understanding God’s heartwood in trees teach you about Him? How are you embracing His transformational power in your life?

Dear God, I pray You would strengthen my inner being, my life hidden in You.

To learn more please watch You're a Fixer Upper!

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Thursday, July 30, 2026

The Discipline of Disillusionment

Jesus would not entrust himself to them . . . for he knew what was in each person. —John 2:24-25

Disillusionment means that all our false and flattering ideas have been stripped away. Unless our human relationships are based in God, they will end in a disillusionment that makes us cynical, severe, and unkind in our judgments of others. But the disillusionment that comes from God brings us to the place where we see men and women as they are, and yet there is no cynicism in our hearts, nothing bitter or biting on our tongues.

Many of the cruel things in life spring from our illusions. We aren’t true to the facts of one another, only our ideas of one another. People are either completely delightful or completely terrible, depending on our idea of them. The refusal to have our illusions taken away is the cause of much of the suffering in human life. If we love another person and we don’t love God, we demand every perfection from that person, then become cruel and vindictive when we don’t get it. We are demanding from a human being what no human being can give.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters . . .” (Luke 14:26). What our Lord says here about human relationships may sound severe. He says it because he knows that every relationship not based on loyalty to him will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no human being, yet he was never suspicious, never bitter. His confidence in God and in what God’s grace could do was so perfect that he never despaired of anyone. If our trust is placed in human beings, we will end up despairing of everyone. There is only one being who can satisfy the deepest aching abyss of the human heart, and that is our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalms 51-53; Romans 2

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

The Bible is the only Book that gives us any indication of the true nature of sin, and where it came from.

The Philosophy of Sin, 1107 R

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Beyond Creation to the Source - #10319

Scripture:  Romans 1:19-20

Just when you think little kids are pretty much all about their toys, TV, and what’s to eat, they amaze you again. Our daughter had one of those times when our grandson was puttering around the house in his jammies one early morning, and he wandered over to an East window. He stared out at the brightening early morning sky for a few moments and then he suddenly launched a question Mommy’s way, “Mommy, who painted the sky?” Before his mother could answer, our grandson answered his own question, “Jesus did.”

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Beyond Creation to the Source.”

That little guy saw something in the beauty of creation that morning that many grownup people tragically miss: that there’s someone behind the beauty, and He is the point of it all! I mean, a two-year-old seemed to understand, in his own way, what many of us miss if we just admire the painting. The point is to know the Painter! If you consider yourself a spiritual seeker, it’s important to realize that God has, throughout your life and even now, been putting life experiences and life scenery in front of you for one reason. To get your attention, so you would give yourself to the One who does such awesome things. But so far, maybe you’ve missed Him.

In our word for today from the Word of God in Romans 1, beginning with verse 19, God says of us: “What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” God says here, “After all the ways I’ve displayed My greatness and My power to you, you have no excuse for not having a personal relationship with Me.” He then spells out the tragic mistake that so many of us have made without ever realizing it: “They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” We’ve gotten hung up on what He made for us and missed Him.

You’ve had a number of God-sightings in your life, even if you don’t realize it or acknowledge it. You got a glimpse of His power and love in the birth of a baby, in a time your life was spared, in encountering the amazing engineering of the human body, in the majesty of the ocean that you felt, the mountains, the skies, or some scenic rush you felt. You brushed close to your Creator when you were thinking about death and that it's inevitable; when you looked at the way a follower of Jesus lived or died, or in the question or insight of a little child.

Over and over, your Creator has been trying to get your attention, trying to direct you to the one way you can have a love relationship with Him that you were made for. The Bible says, “Christ died for sins…to bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

The ultimate reach of God for you was the sending of His one and only Son to love you enough to die for the sin that has been the wall between you and Him. You may say, “Well, I believe in God.” The Bible says, “Even the demons believe (in God) and shudder” (James 2:19). No, the issue isn’t believing in God - it’s belonging to God. He’s the belonging you’ve been looking for your whole life.

Here’s how it begins according to the Bible: “To all who received (Jesus)…He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). Imagine, born into God’s family, loved and protected by Him forever. That’s the possibility God’s putting in front of you today.

Your personal love relationship with Him begins when you tell Jesus that you're putting your total trust in Him to forgive your sin and to get you to Heaven when you die. He’s the only one with the power to walk out of His grave and He can deliver eternal life to your soul.

Tell Him today, "Jesus, I’m Yours.” I think our website might help you to that point. Would you go there today? It’s called ANewStory.com.

This painter of all that’s beautiful and awe-inspiring can make a masterpiece out of the rest of your life.

Psalm 40, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: GOD’S NEAR PRESENCE - July 29, 2026

God repeatedly pledges his presence to his people. To Abram, God said, “Do not be afraid…I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (Genesis 15:1 NKJV). God told Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

In the ultimate declaration of communion, God called himself Immanuel, which means, “God with us.” He became flesh. He became sin. He defeated the grave. He is still with us. In the form of his Spirit, he comforts, teaches, and convicts.

Don’t assume God is watching from a distance. Isolation creates a downward cycle of fret. Choose instead to be the person who clutches the presence of God with both hands. We can calmly take our concerns to God because he is as near as our next breath. And because the Lord is near, we can be anxious for nothing!

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World

Psalm 40

A David Psalm

1–3  40 I waited and waited and waited for God.

At last he looked; finally he listened.

He lifted me out of the ditch,

pulled me from deep mud.

He stood me up on a solid rock

to make sure I wouldn’t slip.

He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,

a praise-song to our God.

More and more people are seeing this:

they enter the mystery,

abandoning themselves to God.

4–5  Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,

turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”

ignore what the world worships;

The world’s a huge stockpile

of God-wonders and God-thoughts.

Nothing and no one

comes close to you!

I start talking about you, telling what I know,

and quickly run out of words.

Neither numbers nor words

account for you.

6  Doing something for you, bringing something to you—

that’s not what you’re after.

Being religious, acting pious—

that’s not what you’re asking for.

You’ve opened my ears

so I can listen.

7–8  So I answered, “I’m coming.

I read in your letter what you wrote about me,

And I’m coming to the party

you’re throwing for me.”

That’s when God’s Word entered my life,

became part of my very being.

9–10  I’ve preached you to the whole congregation,

I’ve kept back nothing, God—you know that.

I didn’t keep the news of your ways

a secret, didn’t keep it to myself.

I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.

I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth

For myself alone. I told it all,

let the congregation know the whole story.

11–12  Now God, don’t hold out on me,

don’t hold back your passion.

Your love and truth

are all that keeps me together.

When troubles ganged up on me,

a mob of sins past counting,

I was so swamped by guilt

I couldn’t see my way clear.

More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,

so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.

13–15  Soften up, God, and intervene;

hurry and get me some help,

So those who are trying to kidnap my soul

will be embarrassed and lose face,

So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable

will be heckled and disgraced,

So those who pray for my ruin

will be booed and jeered without mercy.

16–17  But all who are hunting for you—

oh, let them sing and be happy.

Let those who know what you’re all about

tell the world you’re great and not quitting.

And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing:

make something of me.

You can do it; you’ve got what it takes—

but God, don’t put it off.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 13:14-20

 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!

15  Sound thinking makes for gracious living,

but liars walk a rough road.

16  A commonsense person lives good sense;

fools litter the country with silliness.

17  Irresponsible talk makes a real mess of things,

but a reliable reporter is a healing presence.

18  Refuse discipline and end up homeless;

embrace correction and live an honored life.

19  Souls who follow their hearts thrive;

fools bent on evil despise matters of soul.

20  Become wise by walking with the wise;

hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

Today's Insights

The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings penned by several people. Today’s text comes from a portion of Scripture that King Solomon wrote. Tragically, the challenge was one that he himself failed to follow. He wrote, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20). Yet he’d surrounded himself with one thousand pagan wives and concubines (1 Kings 11:3), which was forbidden by God (v. 2), and they drew Solomon away from Him: “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites” (vv. 4-5). God desires instead that we surround ourselves with those who encourage us to love Him and others.

The Company We Keep

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20

by Marvin Williams

A scientific study revealed that watching TV programs featuring mean characters can actually lead people to be mean. Various forms of aggression—whether outright fighting or subtle gossip—primes viewers’ brains for similar behavior. This connection is often subconscious, meaning that even shows with seemingly “harmless” jokes at others’ expense can subtly influence how we treat others. So, too, the people we choose to spend our time with will affect our behavior.

Solomon provides timeless wisdom on this important subject: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20). He implies that individuals may not achieve this wisdom alone, so they should associate with wise, God-honoring people—teachers and friends—instead of those who are foolish. Surrounding oneself with wise individuals fosters “good judgment” and helps us steer clear of “destruction” (v. 15). One scholar calls this “education by friendship.” Regular companions inevitably influence each other, for better or worse. Solomon urges us to be aware of the company we keep, recognizing that “the teaching of the wise is a fountain of life” (v. 14).  

As God helps us, let’s consistently surround ourselves with people who will encourage us to revere Him, love others, and grow in wisdom.

Reflect & Pray

Why is it vital to learn from people who love others and act wisely? How can you encourage others to grow in love and wisdom?

Loving God, thank You for the people who’ve taught me wisdom, kindness, and love.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

What Do You See in Your Clouds?

Look, he is coming with the clouds. —Revelation 1:7

In the Bible, clouds are always connected with God. Clouds are those sorrows or sufferings or twists of providence that seem to challenge his rule. Seen apart from God, clouds look like accidents. But by these very clouds the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. Without clouds, we would not need faith.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds.” Clouds are nothing more than the dust of our Father’s feet; they are the sign that he is here. God never comes in clear shining. What a revelation it is to know that sadness and bereavement and suffering are the clouds that come along with God!

It isn’t true that God wants us to learn something in our trials. Through every cloud he brings, he wants us to unlearn the things that are keeping us from a simple relationship to him. Sometimes we have to leave certain forms of religious activity and testimony alone until our relationship to God is simplified—until we have learned to turn to God, not to other people, for all our needs. The thought I should have is, “God and my own soul; other people are shadows.” Until other people become shadows, clouds and darkness will be mine every now and again. Is my relationship to God getting simpler than it ever has been?

There is a connection between the strange providences of God and what we know of him. We have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Unless we can look the darkest, most atrocious fact in the face without questioning God’s character, we do not yet know him. “They were afraid as they entered the cloud” (Luke 9:34). Is there anyone besides Jesus in your cloud? If so, it will only get darker. You must get to the place where there is no one besides him.

Psalms 49-50; Romans 1

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

It is not what a man does that is of final importance, but what he is in what he does. The atmosphere produced by a man, much more than his activities, has the lasting influence. 

Baffled to Fight Better, 51 L

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Gospel Without Detours - #10318

Scripture:  John 4:20

Our friends Marv and Annie were with us at a convention in Chicago. They’re from Denver; I was in my hometown. Annie’s doctor had let her make the trip to Chicago even though she was eight months pregnant. Well, we had a reception our first night at the convention downtown. I jokingly told her, “Hey, if the baby decides to come tonight, just call our room. This is my city, girl. I’ll take care of everything!” Yeah, well, it didn’t turn out to be a joke. The call came in the middle of the night, and minutes later we had a lady in hard labor in my back seat. Oh, my goodness! I thought we’d have time to get out to our obstetrician in the suburbs. Not a chance! I had no idea where downtown hospitals were. I never needed one before. Oh, boy! I finally found one - a veterans’ hospital. No maternity ward! Well, eventually I found a hospital with great facilities - just in time. Today we all laugh about it, but it’s certainly not one of my proudest moments.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Gospel Without Detours.”

I almost messed up the beginning of a new life - all because I went in the wrong direction. That’s easy to do with what the Bible calls being “born again.” If you belong to Jesus, I’ve got to believe you know folks who don’t, and that you want them to be in heaven with you. That can only happen if they’re born into God’s family by putting their trust in Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for them.

But that rebirth can be aborted if you go the wrong direction in sharing Christ with someone. See, there’s a detour on the road to Jesus and you’ve got to avoid that detour at all costs. I call it the trap - one that is so easy to fall into when you’re having a spiritual conversation. When Jesus was talking with the Samaritan woman at the well, she tried to deflect Jesus’ claim on her life by using the trap.

In John 4, beginning with verse 20, she tries to get Jesus to start down that deadly detour. Here’s what it is - talking religion. She said, “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” In other words, “Jesus, the issue is we have different religions. Yours is good for you; mine is good for me.” Sound familiar? Jesus won’t go there. In verse 24, He says, “God is a spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” In other words, “This isn’t about what religion you are, Ma’am. It’s about your relationship with God.” Then Jesus introduces Himself as the looked-for Messiah. Jesus makes Himself the issue, and He still is today.

There’s just too much at stake for you to allow yourself to fall into the trap of talking religion with someone who needs Jesus. The issue really has nothing to do with religion. It’s whether or not you’ve had your sins forgiven so you can have a relationship with God. It’s really all about Jesus and all about his cross.

Paul said that in 1 Corinthians 2:2 when he said, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” It’s not about your religion. It’s not about your religious rules. It’s not about your rituals. It’s not about Christianity. It’s not about Christians. It’s not about attacking their lifestyle. It’s all about Jesus. So stick to Jesus. Keep bringing it back to Jesus; bring them back to His cross.

Your mission is clear. To take a person that you care about by the hand and lead them up Skull Hill to the foot of an old rugged cross, and point to the Son of God dying for them, and say, “Man, this is how much He loves you.” Any other direction is the wrong direction - one that leads away from the Jesus that they need. So, take them straight to Jesus.

Psalm 39, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: PURSUE GENTLENESS - July 28, 2026

How many disasters have been averted because one person refused to buckle under the strain? It’s this kind of composure Paul is summoning when he says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:5-6 NIV).

The Greek word translated here as “gentleness” describes a temperament that’s seasoned and mature.  It envisions an attitude fitting to the occasion, levelheaded and tempered. This gentleness is “evident to all.” Family members take note. Your friends sense a difference. Coworkers benefit from it.  The gentle person is sober minded and clear thinking. The contagiously calm person is the one who reminds others God is in control.

Pursue this gentleness. The Lord is near. You are not alone. You may feel alone. You may think you’re alone. But there is never a moment in which you face life without help. God is near—be anxious for nothing!

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World

Psalm 39

A David Psalm

1–3  39 I’m determined to watch steps and tongue

so they won’t land me in trouble.

I decided to hold my tongue

as long as Wicked is in the room.

“Mum’s the word,” I said, and kept quiet.

But the longer I kept silence

The worse it got—

my insides got hotter and hotter.

My thoughts boiled over;

I spilled my guts.

4–6  “Tell me, what’s going on, God?

How long do I have to live?

Give me the bad news!

You’ve kept me on pretty short rations;

my life is string too short to be saved.

Oh! we’re all puffs of air.

Oh! we’re all shadows in a campfire.

Oh! we’re just spit in the wind.

We make our pile, and then we leave it.

7–11  “What am I doing in the meantime, Lord?

Hoping, that’s what I’m doing—hoping

You’ll save me from a rebel life,

save me from the contempt of dunces.

I’ll say no more, I’ll shut my mouth,

since you, Lord, are behind all this.

But I can’t take it much longer.

When you put us through the fire

to purge us from our sin,

our dearest idols go up in smoke.

Are we also nothing but smoke?

12–13  “Ah, God, listen to my prayer, my

cry—open your ears.

Don’t be callous;

just look at these tears of mine.

I’m a stranger here. I don’t know my way—

a migrant like my whole family.

Give me a break, cut me some slack

before it’s too late and I’m out of here.”

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

Psalm 55:12-20

This isn’t the neighborhood bully

mocking me—I could take that.

This isn’t a foreign devil spitting

invective—I could tune that out.

It’s you! We grew up together!

You! My best friend!

Those long hours of leisure as we walked

arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.

15  Haul my betrayers off alive to hell—let them

experience the horror, let them

feel every desolate detail of a damned life.

16–19  I call to God;

God will help me.

At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh

deep sighs—he hears, he rescues.

My life is well and whole, secure

in the middle of danger

Even while thousands

are lined up against me.

God hears it all, and from his judge’s bench

puts them in their place.

But, set in their ways, they won’t change;

they pay him no mind.

20–21  And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends;

his life betrayed his word.

Today's Insights

David was in intense emotional anguish and was enduring devastating pain (Psalm 55:4-5) caused by the betrayal of someone he trusted, one whom he described in endearing terms: “my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship” (vv. 13-14). Initially, the psalmist had considered hiding in the desert to escape the storm, hoping to isolate himself from the pain. He pictures himself as a bird taking flight into the desert, which he thought would provide him with a safe place of refuge (vv. 6-8). Eventually, David chose to run to God instead, affirming that only He could rescue him and keep him safe (vv. 16-18). He says to “give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you” (v. 22 nlt). Just as God pursued David, He hears us and pursues us when we’re experiencing the pain of a betrayed relationship. He provides grace as we trust in Him for repentance and healing.

Recovering from Betrayal

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it . . . . But it is you, . . . my close friend. Psalm 55:12-13

By Sheridan Voysey

In one of her novels, Toni Morrison tells the story of Nel and Sula, friends since childhood. But the friendship frays as Sula’s self-centeredness grows, culminating in her seducing Nel’s husband. “Why didn’t you think about me?” Nel asks Sula. “Didn’t I count?” Sadly, Sula doesn’t even care enough to answer.

As anyone who’s experienced it knows, the pain of a friend’s betrayal is hard to rival. King David felt such “malice and abuse” when a political conspiracy of “threats and lies” engulfed him (Psalm 55:10-11). The worst part was who was behind it. “If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it,” he says. “But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend” (vv. 12-13).

How should we respond to such betrayal? While David takes his turmoil to God (vv. 16, 20), he prays retribution will fall on his betraying friend (v. 15). We see a different approach taken by Jesus. Faced with Judas’ betrayal, he says, “Do what you came for, friend,” refusing to retaliate in kind (Matthew 26:49-50).

Can a friendship recover from betrayal? Only if the offended can stay open to reconciliation and the offender proves their repentance over time. Sula’s lack of remorse means Nel must walk away. As God helps us, let’s treasure our friendships and swiftly make amends for any hurt we cause.

Reflect & Pray

Why would it have been wrong for Nel to stay friends with Sula? How can Jesus’ response to Judas help us keep reconciliation open?

Dear God, please empower me by Your Spirit to be a faithful, trustworthy friend.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

After Obedience, What?

Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. —Mark 6:48

We tend to imagine that if we obey Jesus Christ, he will lead us to great success. We must never confuse our dreams of success with God’s purpose for us. God’s purpose may be exactly the opposite of our dreams. We have an idea that he is leading us to a specific end, a desired goal. He isn’t. To God, the question of achieving a goal is incidental. What we consider training and preparation, God considers the end. It is the process, not the goal, which is glorifying to him.

What is my dream of God’s purpose? His purpose is that I depend on him and his power, and that I depend on them now. If I can stay calm and unperplexed in the middle of turmoil, I’ve already reached the end of God’s purpose. Amid life’s storms, Jesus wants me to see him walking on the water, with no shore in sight, no finish line, no promise of success, and to have the absolute certainty that all is well, simply because I see him walking.

God is training us to obey him in the present moment, and to leave all other considerations alone. We have no control over what happens after we obey; we go wrong when we start dwelling on the “afterward.” God wants us to see that he can walk on the chaos of our lives right now. If we have a further goal in view, we are not paying enough attention to the present. But if we make obedience the goal, we will find that each moment as it comes is precious.

Psalms 46-48; Acts 28

 

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

God created man to be master of the life in the earth and sea and sky, and the reason he is not is because he took the law into his own hands, and became master of himself, but of nothing else. 

The Shadow of an Agony, 1163 L

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Finally Clean - #10317

Scripture:  2 Kings 5:10

My wife and I had been on the road for quite a while, and company was coming as soon as we got home. Frankly, with the whirlwind that preceded our departure, there was some unfinished work that we left behind at home. And, thankfully, a friend came over while we were gone and pitched in. One job my wife had asked her to tackle was to get some stubborn food and melted wax spots out of our nice red tablecloth. Well, one of the first things we noticed when we walked in the door after our trip was that tablecloth spread out on the dining room table, looking as good as new. And it had a handwritten note on it. It simply said: “I’m clean. I’ve been washed, and all my dirty spots came out.” Pretty amazing - a note from a tablecloth. That could only happen at our house.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Finally Clean.”

Not long after I read that note on the tablecloth, I thought to myself, “Ron, you should have a note like that on you.” Because those words describe what Jesus Christ did for me; something no religion could have ever done. “I’m clean. I’ve been washed, and all my dirty spots came out.” You know, actually, that’s the testimony of every person who has ever trusted Jesus to forgive their sins, based on what He did on the cross for them. And you know, it could describe you before this day is over.

In 2 Kings 5, beginning with verse 10, our word for today from the Word of God, God tells the true story of a man who is a revealing example of how this dirty-to-clean miracle works. Naaman is a Syrian military leader who, for all his fame and success, can’t do a thing about the terminal leprosy he suddenly developed. Hearing about Elisha, God’s prophet, Naaman travels to Israel with his entourage to try to find a cure. He tries to buy the cure with the big money he brings with him, and the man of God won’t touch the money.

Then, speaking through His prophet, God tells Naaman, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” Naaman is not about to humble himself and bathe in the muddy Jordan River. He tells his servants he should just go home and do it his way. But they urge him to give this strange prescription a try, and here’s the outcome: “So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.” Wow!

Well, here’s the point: if you'll go to the place where God says you can be cured of your terminal sin-cancer and do what He says, He'll make you clean, He'll make you new. You can’t buy His forgiveness by giving Him money. You can’t earn His forgiveness by doing great things. You can only receive His forgiveness by going, in your heart, to Jesus’ cross and throwing yourself on His mercy and His love. He’s the only One who can make you clean because He’s the only One who could or would pay the death penalty for all your sin.

So, this can be the day you can bring to Jesus all those mistakes, all the wreckage, the regrets of a lifetime, so you can be clean inside for the first time in your life. Doesn't that sound good? He’s waiting to hear from you. You can talk to Him something like this: “Jesus, You died on that cross to pay for my sin, and you know, I have never really grabbed you in total trust to be my Rescuer from my sin. But beginning today, Jesus, I’m pinning all my hopes on You, because I know you're alive. Starting today, Jesus, I'm yours.”

You know, if you want that new beginning that only Jesus can give you, I urge you to go to our website and check out the information there from the Bible about how to know you have begun a relationship with Jesus and you belong to Him. It's ANewStory.com. And that's a pretty good name for it, because that's where your new story could begin.

See, there's no greater peace, no greater freedom than to be able to say from this day on, “I’m clean! I’ve been washed, and all my dirty spots came out!”

Matthew 27:51-66, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily: GOD’S PROVIDENCE - July 27, 2026

Sometime ago I made a special visit to the American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem. I wanted to see the handwritten lyrics that hang on the wall, framed and visible for all to see. Horatio Spafford wrote them, never imagining they would become the words to one of the world’s best-loved hymns.

On December 2, 1873, he received a telegram from his wife that began, “Saved alone. What shall I do?” The ship she was on had collided with another ship and had sunk. Their four daughters drowned and Anna survived.  While sailing on the ship to bring her home, Spafford wrote the lyrics to a song that would become an anthem to the providence of God. “Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say…It is Well with My Soul!”

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World

Matthew 27:51-66

At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)

54  The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, “This has to be the Son of God!”

55–56  There were also quite a few women watching from a distance, women who had followed Jesus from Galilee in order to serve him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the Zebedee brothers.

The Tomb

57–61  Late in the afternoon a wealthy man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, arrived. His name was Joseph. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate granted his request. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linens, put it in his own tomb, a new tomb only recently cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the entrance. Then he went off. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed, sitting in plain view of the tomb.

62–64  After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. They said, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance his disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then we’ll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first.”

65–66  Pilate told them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.” So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Monday, July 27, 2026

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

James 1:19-21

Act on What You Hear

19–21  Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.

Today's Insights

The book of James cycles through a handful of themes that are introduced in the first chapter and revisited throughout the letter. One of these themes is the tongue, which James compares to a rudder, a fire, a horse’s bit, and poison (3:1-12). The tongue is important to monitor, especially for teachers (vv. 1-2). It’s also difficult to tame, he says, and rare is the person who has control over it (v. 8). How refreshing it is, then, when a person is “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (1:19). Words that honor God are like a spring of water that overflows with “praise” rather than “cursing” (3:9-10) and “[produces] the righteousness God desires” (1:20). This kind of righteous life is characterized by heavenly wisdom that’s “first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness” (3:17-18).

For further study, read When Anger Burns.

Words That Honor God

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

By Karen Huang

My friend, Alex, a book editor, checked his inbox, anticipating an angry email from an author. He’d been working with a prominent business leader on the client’s manuscript for months. Unexpectedly, the publisher had decided to halt the publication of the book due to company problems. After emailing the author the bad news, Alex braced himself.

A week later a reply came. “I didn’t answer right away because I wanted to think first about my words and how to respond,” the author wrote. He expressed disappointment, then calmly stated how he thought the publisher could’ve handled the issue.

The author’s wise, measured response left a deep impression on me. His behavior reflected what the Bible says our communication should be like, especially when we’re angry. The apostle James tells us to keep “a tight rein on [our] tongues” because it’s easy to sin with our words (James 1:26; see 3:5-6). We’re to prioritize listening to others so we can understand them, choose our words, and consider whether it’s necessary to get angry (1:19).

Not only does restraint in speech help us to avoid sin and allow the Scriptures to change us (v. 21), but it also reflects who God is to others: “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8). Let’s model our loving God with our words—and our silences.

Reflect & Pray

When angered, how can you restrain your communication? How do your words reflect your faith?  

Wise Father, please help me to be quick to listen, and slow to speak and become angry.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Monday, July 27, 2026

The Way to Knowledge

Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out . . . —John 7:17

The key to spiritual understanding isn’t intellect; it’s obedience. If I want scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is my guide. But if I want insight into the teachings of Jesus Christ, I can only get it by obedience. If what Jesus taught is dark to me, I can be sure that there is something I will not do. Intellectual darkness comes through ignorance. Spiritual darkness comes because there is something I don’t intend to obey.

No one ever receives a message from God without instantly being put to the test. We fail the test by disobeying, and then we wonder why we haven’t progressed spiritually. “If you are offering your gift at the altar,” Jesus said, “and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, . . . first go and be reconciled to them” (Matthew 5:23–24). Our Lord’s teaching hits us where we live. We can’t stand before Jesus for a single second without our hypocrisy being revealed. His Spirit lays bare the spirit of self-justification that resides within us. He educates us down to the scruple, making us sensitive to things we never thought of before.

When Jesus brings something home to you through his teaching, don’t shrug it off. If you do, you’ll become a religious hypocrite. Examine the things you’re shrugging off now, and you’ll know why you aren’t progressing spiritually. Obey what God tells you to do, even if others might call you fanatical, and you will gain the understanding you seek. When God says go, go.

Psalms 43-45; Acts 27:27-44

 

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

No one could have had a more sensitive love in human relationship than Jesus; and yet He says there are times when love to father and mother must be hatred in comparison to our love for Him.  

So Send I You, 1301 L

A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft

Monday, July 27, 2026

Women Fighting for What They Love - #10316

Scripture:  2 Chronicles 20:15

It was a big deal when the Defense Department approved women being in combat roles. And however you feel about that, I’ll tell you this, women being in combat might be new for the military, but they’re not new at fighting a good fight.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Women Fighting for What They Love.”

I’ve been there when my wife brought a new life into the world. Believe me, she was a warrior. I’ve been close by when our daughter and daughters-in-law birthed our grandchildren. A battle they fought and won, big-time. I’ve joked that if men had to have the babies, the human race would probably be extinct in a generation.

I know women who refuse to cave in to the “everybody’s doing it” pressure to give up one of their greatest treasures – their virginity. They insist – against the tide – that they will keep sex special for the man they will commit their life to. In many cases, that’s a lonely stand – one that merits a moral Medal of Honor. Some will call them weird. I say they’re rare – and, like collectibles, the less there are of them, the more valuable they become.

There are the women warriors who fight for their marriage when others would have given up. They believe, as God does, that marriage is for life – while their world bombards them with the notion that marriage is until it gets hard. I just checked my Bible. It still says, “They are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Mark 10:8-9). No matter what the latest opinion poll says, it’s nice to know you’ve got God on your side.

Can raising a whole and healthy child in this culture be considered anything less than a battle? Today our kids are navigating a spiritual minefield, and it’s littered with moral IEDs that can blow up a life. But between many a child and those destructors stands a mom who’s fighting for them. Countering the lies of a deceived and deceiving culture with winsome truth about what’s really right and what really matters. Lovingly listening as a son or daughter grapples with the inconsistency between the lies they hear at school and the truth they hear at home.

This woman winsomely sows – and models day and night – God’s ways from the Bible. Because it’s “a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” the Bible says (Psalm 119:111). The child who makes God’s ways their way can say with the psalmist, “I run in the path of Your commands.” Oh wait, you mean all bound by rules, right? Hardly. It goes on to say, “For You have set my heart free” (Psalm 119:32).

And though the battle that rages for a child’s life can be scary, the medal-deserving mom doesn’t succumb to that paralysis of fear. She knows “God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). She refuses to just play defense, hoping she’ll raise a “survivor.” She plays offense, determined to raise a game-changer.

The ultimate woman warrior is not the one with the M-16 and the body armor. She knows the ultimate weapon for winning the battle for a life. She’s a woman, on her knees, crying out to her all-powerful God for someone she’s fighting for. Here’s our word for today from the Word of God, 2 Chronicles 20:15, “the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

This woman knows that prayer unleashes God’s power to, in the Bible’s words, “demolish strongholds,” to “destroy the Devil’s work,” to “remove a heart of stone” and “give you a new heart” (2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 John 3:8; Ezekiel 36:26). She releases the ones she loves to the One who loves them so much more.

Yes, women have been fighting life’s most decisive battles for a long time. And those who have embraced Jesus as the great love of their life fight their battles with His death-reversing, resurrection power on their side.

So if you know one of these women, honor her. Thank her. Treasure her. And pray for her. She, in the words of Scripture, “fights the Lord’s battles” (1 Samuel 25:28).

Psalm 38, Bible Reading and Daily Devotionals

Max Lucado Daily:Trust Him

In Mark 5:23, Jairus pleads with Jesus, “My daughter is dying.  Please come, heal her so she will live.”

He doesn’t barter with Jesus.  He doesn’t negotiate. He just pleads.  He asks Jesus for His help.  And Jesus, who loves the honest heart, goes to give it.  But before they get very far, they’re interrupted by emissaries who tell them, “Your daughter is dead.  There’s no need to bother the Teacher anymore.”

Get ready.  Hang on to your hat. Here’s where Jesus takes control.  The Bible says: “But Jesus paid no attention to what they said.” I love that line!  He ignored what the people said. Why don’t you do that?  When falsehood, accusations, or negativism come, just ignore it.  Close your ears. Walk away. Ignore the ones who say it’s too late to start over. Disregard those who say you’ll never amount to anything.

Jesus said to Jairus what He says to you: “Don’t be afraid—just believe!” “Trust Me,” Jesus is pleading. “Just trust Me.”

from He Still Moves Stones

Psalm 38

A David Psalm

1–2  38 Take a deep breath, God; calm down—

don’t be so hasty with your punishing rod.

Your sharp-pointed arrows of rebuke draw blood;

my backside smarts from your caning.

3–4  I’ve lost twenty pounds in two months

because of your accusation.

My bones are brittle as dry sticks

because of my sin.

I’m swamped by my bad behavior,

collapsed under gunnysacks of guilt.

5–8  The cuts in my flesh stink and grow maggots

because I’ve lived so badly.

And now I’m flat on my face

feeling sorry for myself morning to night.

All my insides are on fire,

my body is a wreck.

I’m on my last legs; I’ve had it—

my life is a vomit of groans.

9–16  Lord, my longings are sitting in plain sight,

my groans an old story to you.

My heart’s about to break;

I’m a burned-out case.

Cataracts blind me to God and good;

old friends avoid me like the plague.

My cousins never visit,

my neighbors stab me in the back.

My competitors blacken my name,

devoutly they pray for my ruin.

But I’m deaf and mute to it all,

ears shut, mouth shut.

I don’t hear a word they say,

don’t speak a word in response.

What I do, God, is wait for you,

wait for my Lord, my God—you will answer!

I wait and pray so they won’t laugh me off,

won’t smugly strut off when I stumble.

17–20  I’m on the edge of losing it—

the pain in my gut keeps burning.

I’m ready to tell my story of failure,

I’m no longer smug in my sin.

My enemies are alive and in action,

a lynch mob after my neck.

I give out good and get back evil

from God-haters who can’t stand a God-lover.

21–22  Don’t dump me, God;

my God, don’t stand me up.

Hurry and help me;

I want some wide-open space in my life!

Our Daily Bread reading and devotion

Sunday, July 26, 2026

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

John 4:7-8, 13-18, 21, 23-26

A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)

13–14  Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

15  The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!”

16  He said, “Go call your husband and then come back.”

17–18  “I have no husband,” she said.

“That’s nicely put: ‘I have no husband.’ You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now isn’t even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.”

21–23  “Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem.

But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.

23–24  “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”

25  The woman said, “I don’t know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we’ll get the whole story.”

26  “I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.”

Today's Insights

Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman is remarkable on two counts. When He asked her for water, she responded, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (John 4:9). Jews had no dealings with Samaritans because they were a people of mixed-race (see 2 Kings 17:24-41). The woman was also likely surprised that Christ, a man, would speak to her as a woman, for that rarely happened in a public setting. In both cases, Jesus displayed kindness that overruled man-made boundaries. As we encounter people today, God can help us share His love with humility and kindness.

Living Water of Christ

Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. John 4:14

by Lisa M. Samra

As I gazed at the intricate etching Christ and the Woman of Samaria by Dutch artist Rembrandt, two interesting details caught my eye. The first was Jesus’ humble pose—leaning over, with His hand over His heart—as he addressed the Samaritan woman. Due to centuries of hostilities between the two groups, Jews typically didn’t “associate with Samaritans” (John 4:9). Yet Jesus reached out with respect and dignity to a woman considered an outcast (vv. 17-18).

Jesus knew the woman’s struggles and offered “living water” (v. 10) to satisfy her deepest need—the gift of cleansing and life-giving grace available through a restored relationship with God.

The second detail that caught my eye was the dark shadow covering the woman’s face, symbolizing her initial struggle to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, or Israel’s promised rescuer. When the woman told Jesus, “I know that Messiah is coming” (v. 25) and He responded, “I am he” (v. 26), her eyes and heart were opened (v. 29). 

As we encounter people who are spiritually thirsty, Jesus’ example reminds me to speak with humility and kindness, praying for God to remove the shadow that “has blinded the minds of unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 4:4) so they can fully understand Christ’s life-changing offer of living water.

Reflect & Pray

How did you first experience Christ’s “living water”? Who can you pray for that needs Jesus’ gift of living water?

Heavenly Father, with Your kindness and humility, please help me share with the hurting Your offer of living, life-transforming water.

My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

Sunday, July 26, 2026

The Reckoning with Purity

Out of the heart come evil thoughts. —Matthew 15:19

We begin by trusting our ignorance and calling it innocence, by trusting our innocence and calling it purity. When we hear Jesus declare that “out of the heart come evil thoughts,” we shrink and say, “But I never felt any of those awful things in my heart.” We resent what Jesus Christ reveals.

Either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the human heart, or he isn’t worth paying any attention to. Am I prepared to trust his diagnosis? If instead I choose to trust my innocence, eventually I will come to a place where, with a shuddering awakening, I discover that what Jesus Christ says is true. Then I’ll be appalled at the potential for evil and wrong inside me. As long as I remain under the refuge of innocence, I’m living in a fool’s paradise. If I’ve never been a cheat or a menace, the reason is a mixture of cowardice and the pressures of human society. When I am undressed before God, I find that Jesus Christ is right in his diagnosis.

The only thing that safeguards the human heart is the redemption of Jesus Christ. If I will hand myself over to him, I never need to experience the terrible possibilities that lie within my heart. Purity is too deep down for me to get to on my own, but when God comes in, he brings into the center of my personal life the very same Spirit who was manifested in the life of my Lord: the Holy Spirit. From then on, the spotless purity of Jesus Christ is mine.

Psalms 40-42; Acts 27:1-26 

 

WISDOM FROM OSWALD

Both nations and individuals have tried Christianity and abandoned it, because it has been found too difficult; but no man has ever gone through the crisis of deliberately making Jesus Lord and found Him to be a failure.

The Love of God—The Making of a Christian, 680 R