ChristRise

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. — 2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV) When someone is hurt deep inside, it can affect everyone around them. It might change how they interact with others, making it hard to trust or form healthy relationships. This can be especially tough for wives and mothers because their past pain can influence their relationships with their family. It's tough to think about, but when one person is hurt, their pain can cause others to hurt too. However, the good news is that when we heal, our healing can positively impact those around us. Relationships are incredibly important in our lives. We have many kinds of relationships, from acquaintances to close friends and family. What we share with the people in our lives depends on what's inside us. If our hearts are filled with negative emotions like pain, anger, or fear, that's what we give to others. But if we're filled with positive feelings like peace, love, and joy, t...

Whenever someone goes out of their way to make me feel special, it inspires me to do something nice for them in return. I think this is similar to how our heavenly Father feels. When we show our love to Him and to others, it moves Him. It touches His heart and He blesses us even more. When we tell God, “I’m not just praising You with my words, but I’m also showing my gratitude through my actions toward others,” it pleases Him deeply. There's nothing closer to God's heart than seeing His children doing good for others. This idea is found in the Bible: "The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped" (Proverbs 11:25). God blesses us so that we can bless others through our actions and words. When you help someone—take them to a doctor’s appointment, pick them up when their car breaks down, call them, cheer them up, do something unique for them—God will do special things for you in return. When we brighten someone else's day, we...

"Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, You have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with Your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of Your purpose; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen." As we journey through life, each day we wake up is a precious gift from God. He faithfully brings us to each new day, reminding us of His constant love and protection. God’s power is a fortress against sin and adversity. When we seek His strength, we find ourselves not overwhelmed by the temptations and trials that come our way. Instead, we are preserved by His might (Psalm 46:1). This mighty protection allows us to focus on fulfilling His purpose for our lives (Philippians 2:13). In every decision, let us ask God to direct our paths in ways that align with His will. When we trust in His guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6), our actions become a reflection of His love and grace (Ephesians 2:10). Reflec...

A few years ago, I decided to switch my smartphone for a simpler “dumb” phone. Before that, I remember the anticipation of seeing those little three dots, indicating the person on the other end was typing a response. Now, imagine multiplying that anxiety over a long, arduous 900-mile camel ride.  Nehemiah 1:2–3 Let's travel back to December of 445 BC. Meet Nehemiah, a trusted advisor to the king in the Persian capital, Susa (modern-day Shush, Iran). You might recall Susa from the book of Esther, which took place about 20 years earlier. Nehemiah had been waiting for news, and it was worse than expected. His brother Hanani, whose name means “The Lord Is Gracious,” informed him that “those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace” (v. 3). Even Jerusalem’s wall lay in ruins. The people Hanani referred to were those left in Jerusalem and the surrounding area when the rest were exiled to Babylon (see 2 Kings 24–25). As we’ll learn later, not e...

Sometimes, when we pour out our hearts in prayer, we might feel like our words don’t get past the ceiling. But take heart, for God listens to every prayer, even those whispered in sorrow. Nehemiah 1:4–11   The Book of Nehemiah offers us profound lessons on prayer. First, Nehemiah shows that we should pray to God even in our sadness and mourning (v. 4). God desires to hear from us in every season of life. Second, just as Jesus taught His followers, prayers should begin with worship and honor toward the Lord. Nehemiah acknowledges God’s greatness and faithfulness saying, “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love” (v. 5). Third, Nehemiah seeks God’s attention, presenting his requests humbly (v. 6; Phil. 4:6). Third, our prayers ought to include genuine confession and repentance (vv. 6–7). Nehemiah openly confesses, “the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.” There is no pretense, only an hones...

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments." - Deuteronomy 7:9 Our God is full of love, and He cares deeply for us. He described Himself to Moses as "the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7). God's love is reliable, abundant, dynamic, radical, and eternal. Knowing we are loved by God is the best feeling ever. It's wonderful to start each day knowing God's love is with us and to keep that thought in our hearts all day long, no matter what happens. Love gives us strength and helps us relate better to others. Sharing God's love is a powerful testimony. God's love in us shapes how we treat others. The Spirit of God guides us to be patient and kind, not boastful or rude, not s...

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”  As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:14-18) Message for Today: Even though speaking people can be silenced, the Gospel—the message of God—cannot. The Gospel must reach the whole world so that people can learn to truly live. This is the essence of today’s devotional. The Gospel reaches us and opens a path for the Kingdom of love and mercy in our world. We are living in God's time now. The time of waiting is over, and God's closeness is more relevant than ever. Overcoming Evil: The reign of evil is finished. Anyone can free themselves from evil through the Gospel. Sadly...

"Not one of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." - Joshua 21:45 (NIV) By the time this verse was written, Joshua had taken over from Moses to lead the Israelites. With God's help, he guided them into the promised land and made sure each tribe got their share. God had been very kind and caring throughout their journey—from Egypt, through the desert, and into the promised land. Psalm 105:39-45 tells us about all the wonderful things He did for them during their travels: “He spread a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. They asked, and He brought them quail; He filled them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert. For He remembered His holy promise given to His servant Abraham. He brought out His people with rejoicing, His chosen ones with shouts of joy. He gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled...

Thanksgiving is a wonderful way to begin our prayers, grounding us in gratitude before anything else. As 1 Chronicles 23:30 highlights , praising the Lord every morning and evening is crucial . One effective practice is to initiate every prayer with thanksgiving. For instance, you might say: “Thank You, Father, for all You have done in my life; Your love and grace truly amaze me, and I am deeply grateful.” Reflecting upon our lives, it’s essential to observe the nature of our thoughts and words, noting how often we express gratitude. Are we prone to complaints, or do we genuinely appreciate what we have? Consider setting a personal challenge: go through a whole day without voicing a single complaint. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude in every circumstance can profoundly enhance our connection with God, leading to greater blessings and a strengthened relationship. Prayer of the Day: Thank You, Father, for guiding my prayers. Help me to bring a heart of thankfulness to every prayer, ...

Many people mistakenly believe that God controls everything in the world and blame Him for disasters, accidents, and illnesses. Some even turn away from faith, thinking a loving God couldn't allow such suffering. But what they don't realize is that there is a very real and destructive force in the world: the devil. God is not behind the calamities and sicknesses. Jesus came so that we might have life abundantly! The devil, however, comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). The world we live in is fallen. God gave Adam and Eve authority over the world, but when they disobeyed by eating the forbidden fruit, sin and death entered. They handed control over to the devil, who is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4), and “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31). This doesn't mean Satan has unlimited power. Believers in Jesus Christ are no longer under his dominion. In Christ, we may be in this world, but we are ...

Let’s think about the Bible verse from 1 John 4:10 (KJV): "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." This shows us God’s incredible love for us. Imagine the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). The son mistreated his father, wasting his inheritance. When he finally returned home, it wasn’t because he loved his father; he was simply hungry. He thought he could at least work as a servant to earn his keep. But God wants us to know that even when our reasons are selfish, He still welcomes us with open arms. He doesn't wait for us to be perfect; He runs to help us in our time of need and showers us with His undeserved love. The Bible teaches us that it’s not about our love for God, but His love for us. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10 KJV). Some people think that God only accepts us if we are...

May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loves us and gives us everlasting comfort and encouragement, strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17) It is God’s love for you that helps you overcome every mistake, failure, and sin. The Bible says, “Sin is no longer your master, because you live under God’s grace, not the law” (Rom. 6:14). Isn't that wonderful? Today, you live under the freedom of God’s amazing grace—His unearned favor. Grace gives you freedom from lack, fear, addictions, guilt, and sin. The more you experience the love and grace of your heavenly Father, the more you will love Him and turn away from sin. The enemy has no power over people who know their Father loves them. If Adam and Eve had believed in God’s love, the devil wouldn’t have been able to tempt them. Sadly, they believed the serpent's lie that God was withholding something good from them. That's why I want you to be strong in the Father’s love. You will be ...

"The king’s anger is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like gentle dew on the grass."   Proverbs 19:12   Today, God gives us His favor because His anger at our sins was taken away at Calvary. The word for “favor” in Hebrew is ratsown, which means His happiness, delight, goodwill, and acceptance. Jesus Christ bought our place of safety with His blood. In Him, we are made righteous, and all blessings for the righteous—such as protection, provision, and a long life—are ours now. Isn’t that wonderful? That’s why the Scriptures say, “The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1) and “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person has great power” (James 5:16). You are righteous in Christ, and when you pray the prayer of protection found in Psalm 91, your prayers are powerful because God listens to them! Here’s a story from Sally in South Africa about God’s protection: "I was driving a rental car when...

Ruth 2:3 KJV: "And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on the part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." The story of Ruth, a Moabite woman, is a testament to the transformative power of God's unmerited favour. In a world where she had everything against her, Ruth's faith and loyalty led to extraordinary blessings. Despite being a poor widow and a Gentile in the Jewish nation of Israel, Ruth chose to remain with her mother-in-law Naomi after her husband's death, leaving her own family to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem. Ruth made Naomi's God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—her God. Naomi and Ruth couldn't afford to buy grain in their poverty, so Ruth went out to the fields to glean what the reapers had left behind. Ruth placed her trust in God's favour, expressing her hope to Naomi by saying, "Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him...