ChristRise

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...