ChristRise

"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...

"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...

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...

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...

The story of Jesus’ birth, as recorded in Luke 2:12, is one of the most cherished accounts in the Bible. The angel told the shepherds, "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." While this scene may seem simple and peaceful, it carries a deep and powerful message about God’s love for us. The Manger and Its Meaning A manger is a feeding trough for animals, and in Jesus’ time, it was often made of stone. Imagine the Savior of the world, not born in a palace, but laid in such a humble place. This setting reminds us that Jesus came to identify with the lowly and the ordinary. His humble beginning points to the kind of life He would lead—a life of service and sacrifice. But the manger also holds a deeper meaning. It foreshadows what was to come. When Jesus died, His body was laid in a tomb carved out of rock, similar in appearance to a stone trough. Just as He was wrapped in swaddling cloths as a baby, His body was ...