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...