The Daily Dose

The power of agreement

Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.  Matthew 18:19

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you desperately needed God to intervene? Maybe you’ve prayed, fasted, and done everything you know to do, but you still haven’t seen the answer you were hoping for. This verse from Matthew is a powerful reminder that when we agree with others in prayer, we are tapping into a promise from Jesus Himself.

In Matthew 18:19, Jesus tells us that if two or more agree in prayer about anything, God will answer. What an incredible promise! But even more amazing is that this verse points out our role in the process—we are not just passive observers. Through agreement, we participate in God’s divine plan for our lives and the world around us.

The verse just before this, Matthew 18:18, says, “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” These are not just words—they are instructions. Jesus is telling us that we have a role to play in bringing heaven’s solutions into our earthly circumstances.

But what does it mean to “bind” or “loose” something in the spiritual realm? Simply put, it means we have been given the authority, through the name of Jesus, to stop (bind) what is against God’s will and release (loose) what is in line with His will. For example, if you are facing a financial struggle, and you come into agreement with someone else in prayer, you can not only ask God to meet the need, but also bind the enemy from stealing that provision. In the same way, you can loose the provision you’re asking for into your life, all in the name of Jesus.

When we accepted Jesus, we became part of God’s family, and as His children, we were given the authority that Adam lost in the Garden of Eden. This authority is not a distant concept—it’s the same authority that Jesus displayed throughout His ministry on earth. He was our perfect example of how-to bring heaven’s power into everyday situations, and He invites us to do the same.

So why aren’t we seeing more of this power in our world today? Why does the world seem to be in constant chaos? I believe part of the answer is that we’ve forgotten just how much authority God has entrusted to us. We often get bogged down in our own struggles and forget that God has given us the power, through prayer and agreement, to change the world around us.

Today, I want to encourage you to get into agreement with others in prayer. Find like-minded believers who are willing to stand with you in faith, not only for your personal needs but for the needs of the world around you. Bind the enemy’s plans, and loose God’s purposes over your life, your family, and even the global crises we face today. Remember, God is ready and willing to move, but He wants to work with us through our voice of agreement with others. So, let’s take hold of this promise today. Speak in faith, ask for heaven’s solutions, and watch as God opens the door to bring His power into our lives and our world.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 18:15-20

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 

16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 

17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Let Praise be your Weapon

But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. ~ Psalms 59:16

I grew up going to church with my family, and because we were there every time the doors were open, I’ve heard a lot of songs in my lifetime. It amazes me that even today, I can randomly remember a song I haven’t heard in years, and yet still know all the words. When I sing them now, these melodies carry a much deeper meaning. They remind me of everything I’ve been through in life and, more importantly, how my heavenly Father picked me up along the way. Singing about His mercy and grace hits differently now, and the message in those old songs speaks to my heart in ways I never fully understood before.

There have been moments in my life when I felt completely overwhelmed, like everything was coming against me at once. One instance that stands out is when I was a single mother, juggling work, raising children, and dealing with all the uncertainties of life. I remember one particular time feeling exhausted and vulnerable, wondering if I was strong enough to make it through. There were times I wondered if God even saw what I was going through, and whether He would help me overcome.

But in those moments, God’s presence became my refuge. Just like David in the Psalm today, I learned to turn my fear and anxiety into praise. When I felt surrounded by things I couldn’t control, I began to sing—sometimes out loud, sometimes just in my heart—trusting that God was my fortress. His strength became more real to me than the struggles I was facing. While the answers didn’t always come right away, I found peace in His presence. He became my shelter in the storm, and praising Him led me through every difficulty I faced.

Maybe you are in a crisis today and you want to be able to trust that God is your protector, even when it feels like you’re surrounded by enemies—whether those enemies are circumstances, fears, or even people who stand against you. The good news is that you can trust Him and when you remember that God is with you, you can find the strength to sing in the middle of the battle. You can face each new day with the assurance that His love and faithfulness will carry you through.

Here are the words to one of my favorites that reminds me that singing praise is a weapon that chases my enemies away:

So today I want to encourage you that whatever you are facing, remember this: God is your fortress. He sees you, and He is stronger than anything that comes against you. Even when you may not feel like it, ask for the strength to raise a hallelujah and just as He delivered David from his enemies, He will deliver you too. Take refuge in His strength, and let His love be the song you sing through every one of your troubles.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 59

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloodthirsty men.

3 For look, they lie in wait for my life; The mighty gather against me, not for my transgression nor for my sin, O Lord.

4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine. Awake to help me, and behold!

5 You therefore, O Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to punish all the nations; Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah

6 At evening they return, they growl like a dog, and go all around the city.

7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth; Swords are in their lips; For they say, “Who hears?”

8 But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision.

9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength; For God is my defense.

10 My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.

11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget; Scatter them by Your power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride, and for the cursing and lying which they speak.

13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be; And let them know that God rules in Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah

14 And at evening they return, they growl like a dog, and go all around the city.

15 They wander up and down for food, and howl if they are not satisfied.

16 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, my God of mercy.

Unjust

The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, so that men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.” ~ Psalms 58:10-11

 Yesterday I wrote about getting caught when I was guilty of doing something against the law.  Today the passage is about the opposite of that.  When injustice is done.  When wrong is done to us without cause, it can feel confusing, painful and deeply unfair.  Thankfully, I don’t have a lot of experience with this, but I do have some insight into it.  There were times when I had people come against me but I have faced moments where others came against me—not because of anything I did wrong, but because they didn’t understand God’s blessings in my life.

There was a season in my life where I faced resistance from people who didn’t understand the blessings God was pouring into my life. I remember a time when I was promoted in a ministry position. To me, it was a moment of joy—God was opening doors and expanding my reach to help more people. However, there were some who felt that I didn’t deserve it, that somehow it wasn’t “fair” for me to receive such favor. There were whispers, doubts cast about my character, and I could feel their jealousy. I was hurt, but I knew deep in my heart that this was God’s hand at work. I hadn’t done anything to cause their reactions, and no matter what I said or did, I couldn’t change their hearts. In those moments, I had to trust that God saw the injustice and that He would handle it in His time.

It’s comforting to know that no matter what injustice we face, God sees it all. He knows the hearts and intentions of people, and He doesn’t turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. Sometimes it may seem like evil is prospering, or that people who live unjustly get ahead, but this passage assures us that justice will come. God is not indifferent to our pain or to the corruption in the world. He is a righteous judge who will, in His perfect time, bring about the vengeance and justice that is needed.

While it may feel strange to talk about rejoicing in vengeance, this verse isn’t about celebrating someone else’s downfall. It’s about rejoicing in God’s righteousness. When God brings justice, it brings peace to our hearts because we know that wrongs have been made right. The “washing of feet in the blood of the wicked” symbolizes the complete victory over evil and the total deliverance from the oppression of the unjust. As believers, we don’t need to take vengeance into our own hands because we trust that God will do what is right and fair in His perfect timing.

The closing verse is a promise that should fill us with hope: “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely He is God who judges in the earth.” If you have been walking faithfully with God, trusting Him even in the midst of unfair treatment, know this: there is a reward for you. God honors those who follow Him, even when it’s hard, even when others mock, mistreat, or misunderstand you. You don’t have to strive to prove yourself or justify your actions—God will reward your faithfulness.

If you’ve been wronged or mistreated, remember that God is both your protector and your defender. It may feel tempting to get even or to seek revenge, but Psalm 58 encourages us to trust that God’s justice is perfect. He will take care of the wickedness in His time, and when He does, it will be complete. Your role is to continue walking in righteousness, knowing that God sees your faithfulness and that your reward is sure.

Today I want to encourage you to thank God for being your righteous judge. In times when you feel mistreated, overlooked, or wronged, trust in His justice. Know that He sees every injustice, and He will bring about the right outcome in His perfect timing. Ask Him for the grace to continue walking in righteousness and leave vengeance in His hands. Remember His promise that there is a reward for those who remain faithful. Then rejoice in His righteousness, knowing that He is the God who judges the earth and defends those who follow Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 58

1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?

2 No, in heart you work wickedness; You weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,

5 Which will not heed the voice of charmers, charming ever so skillfully.

6 Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!

7 Let them flow away as waters which run continually; When he bends his bow, let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.

8 Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes, like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the burning thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, as in His living and burning wrath.

10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,

11 So that men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.”

Busted

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. ~ Psalms 57:1

It feels fitting that today, of all days, I read this scripture. I made a mistake—and got caught. All day long, I’ve been beating myself up about it. This morning on my way to work, I was driving through a school zone, one I drive through almost every day. Normally, the flashing lights and the long line of cars in front of me make it impossible to speed, not that I ever would intentionally.

But today was different. I caught a green light, and there was no traffic ahead. As I neared the top of a hill, I saw rolling red and blue lights in my rearview mirror. My stomach dropped and I realized that it was that time of the day that I needed to be more cautious. I was busted. I hadn’t been paying attention, and I knew I wasn’t going the right speed.

I prayed for mercy as the officer approached my window, but deep down, I knew I was guilty. When he handed me the citation, he informed me that I could plead guilty or not guilty within ten days. As I sat there, all I could think was, “Lord, please don’t let this be too bad.”

I started searching for reasons why God should have mercy on me, but nothing I came up with felt like enough. I had been careless, plain and simple. However, as I thought more about it, something shifted in my heart. Instead of staying in that place of guilt and self-condemnation, I decided to be thankful.

Thankful that I didn’t hurt anyone. Thankful that the officer was there, doing his job, watching out for the safety of children on their way to school. Sure, it hurts to pay a fine, but I realized it could have been so much worse. It was a reminder that there are laws in place to protect lives, and it’s my responsibility to follow them. I don’t want to be reckless and endanger anyone, especially not those innocent lives crossing the street at that time of the morning.

Like David in Psalms 57, I cried out for mercy, and I found comfort in God’s protection—even in the midst of my mistake. David wrote this psalm while hiding from Saul in a cave, asking for God’s mercy and refuge from his enemies. While my situation wasn’t nearly as dire, the message still speaks to me. God’s mercy isn’t just for the big, life-threatening moments—it’s for the everyday moments when we mess up, when we fall short, and when we’re reminded of our need for His grace.

I learned a hard and humbling lesson, but I’m resting in the shadow of God’s wings, knowing that His mercy covers my mistakes, both big and small. Even when we are “busted,” His grace is available, and we can find refuge in Him until the storm passes.

If you’re feeling weighed down by mistakes or trapped in guilt, receive God’s mercy today. He is ready to welcome you with open arms, and He doesn’t hold your mistakes against you. Whether it’s a careless error like speeding or an intentional wrong choice, God’s forgiveness is the same. He died for all sin—there’s nothing He won’t cover with His grace. None of us are perfect, and that’s why we need our perfect Savior. He isn’t looking to condemn you; He wants to love you and set you free. But when we hold onto guilt, we close the door to the fullness of what God wants to pour into our lives.

So today I want to encourage you to let go of any mistakes or regrets that are weighing you down. Don’t let them keep you from running to your Heavenly Father. He already knows what you’ve done, so just confess it to Him and let it go. When you bring your shortcomings to God, it’s not when He finds out—it’s when He starts working through them with you. After you’ve let it go, ask Him to bring good out of the situation. That’s what God does best—He takes what the enemy intended to bring you down and turns it into something good!

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 57

1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.

2 I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.

8 Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations.

10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

When I am afraid

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? ~ Psalms 56:3-4

 Fear is something we all experience at one point or another, and it can creep into our lives in subtle or overwhelming ways. I used to be afraid of many things. Especially when I was a single mom, fear seemed like a constant companion. I was afraid that I wouldn’t have everything I needed to take care of my children. I worried about something bad happening to me or my kids, and sometimes, I was afraid to take steps toward something new, fearing the unknown.

One day I read this passage in Psalms, and it became a lifeline to me during the moments when fear tried to take over. In this Psalm, David declared his trust in God during his own time of fear, boldly stating, “What can flesh do to me?” Those words stood out to me. I realized that my fear, while real, didn’t have to control me. Like David, I could put my trust in God and release the fear that had weighed on my heart.

For many people who don’t have a relationship with God, fear often becomes the driving force behind their decisions. Without the assurance of a loving heavenly Father to guide them, they may live in a constant state of anxiety and uncertainty. Decisions are made based on what might go wrong, or how to avoid worst-case scenarios, rather than living with hope or purpose. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of loss—these fears can trap people in cycles of hesitation, inaction, or poor choices. The absence of God’s peace leaves a void, which fear eagerly fills. However, when we know God and trust Him with our lives, we can break free from the paralysis that fear brings and instead walk forward in confidence, knowing that God holds our future securely in His hands.

As I learned to trust God more, I began to see how He provided for me and my children in ways I couldn’t have imagined. When I was afraid that I wouldn’t have enough, God showed up as my provider. When I worried about something bad happening, He reminded me that His protection was over us. When I feared stepping out in faith, He gave me the courage to move forward, knowing that He was with me every step of the way.

God’s Word reminds us that fear doesn’t have the final say. We serve a God who is greater than our fears. When fear comes knocking, we have a choice—we can either let it paralyze us, or we can place our trust in God, by giving Him control of every area of life. It’s not about pretending we aren’t afraid; it’s about choosing to trust God despite our fear.

Today I want to encourage you if you’re struggling with fear, to meditate on Psalms 56:3-4. Let it remind you that God is with you, that He is trustworthy, and that He will be your strength in moments of weakness. No matter what you are facing, know that you don’t have to face it alone.  In those moments when fear tries to keep you from moving forward in life, use that as a reminder to walk in faith instead.  You only get one chance to make the most of the time you have in this world.  Trust God today in every step you take and leave fear far behind you.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 56

1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me.

2 My enemies would hound me all day, for there are many who fight against me, O Most High.

3 Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.

4 In God (I will praise His word), in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

5 All day they twist my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They gather together, they hide, they mark my steps, when they lie in wait for my life.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God!

8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?

9 When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.

10 In God (I will praise His word), in the Lord (I will praise His word),

11 In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

12 Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You,

13 For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Cast your Burden

As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. ~ Psalms 55:16-17

I’ll never forget the moment I truly understood that God hears me when I call on Him. That realization transformed my prayer life—knowing that God is always listening, ready to walk with me. For years, I would pray, hoping God was listening, but still feeling uncertain, never really knowing if I was being heard or that something was going to happen or change.  Even though by that time in my life I had already seen many prayers answered and had been calling out to Him often, I still didn’t have the assurance in my heart that He was listening.

Then once day I read a scripture that said: “When you call on Him, He will answer you.”  There was no guess work in that statement and no maybes.  It was a straight up promise, and something happened on the inside of my heart that day.  Suddenly, I realized that God is not too busy to hear my cry and He isn’t to far away that He cannot hear me whisper.  This realization was a game changer for me.  After that moment whenever I prayed, I remembered that my heavenly Father was hearing me and was on the move after He heard me.  I grew such a confidence in His ability to move on my behalf and change the world around me or just change my heart.  My faith stance took on a hole new posture in my time with my Father because now I knew that He was listening and wanted to be involved in every area of my life.

Today’s verse is one of those promises in the scriptures that confirms that He hears my voice.  Thank you, Lord! Then later on in this chapter verse 22 says to cast my burden on the Lord and He will sustain me and hold me up.  He will never allow me to be moved when I am standing in faith and not trying to carry my burden alone.  This means that whenever I am uneasy and having those anxious feelings of not being able to fix something or handle a situation, I can not only turn it over onto Him, but I can actually cast or throw it off like a heavy weight and feel the release of that stress and concern. When I give it over to my Father, He takes it from me, gets rid of it and holds me above the circumstances and gives me His peace in place of that stress.  Glory to God!

He will do the same thing for you, but the key is in believing that He does hear you when you call and then trust that He has things in His control.  You cannot cast your burden one minute and then start worrying all over again the next.  The key is to cast your burden and truly leave it with God. Don’t pick it back up through worry or doubt. Once you give it to Him, trust that He is handling it. Release the burden, and thank Him for already being at work—even when you can’t see it yet.  Don’t try to tell Him how to handle it, simply let Him handle it His way, because that will be greater than anything you could have come up with on your own. Trust Him today with whatever you are facing and let Him hold you up above the storms of life.

Today, I challenge you to take a step of faith: Identify one burden you’ve been carrying and cast it on God. After you’ve prayed, release it and stop worrying about it. Trust that He is at work, and every time anxiety rises, thank Him for handling it. Watch as He begins to transform both your situation and your heart.

God doesn’t wait until you call on Him to decide if He is going to help and He is not undependable.  He is faithful and you can count on Him always being faithful to help!  He will keep His promises and He promised that when you cry out to Him, He is right there ready to work on your behalf.  Once you have that settled, begin to cast every concern, fear, worry and doubt over Him and He will sustain you.  It may take some practice to fully trust that He is handling everything, but after you tell Him about what is going on, don’t keep telling Him over and over again.  Release your burdens into His capable hands, and then begin praising Him for His faithful provision—whether you see the outcome yet or not. He will take care of every concern and in the process, He will change you into a worry-free person.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 55

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,

3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

4 My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me.

6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

7 Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah

8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.”

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10 Day and night they go around it on its walls; Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it.

11 Destruction is in its midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him.

13 But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance.

14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng.

15 Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.

16 As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.

17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.

18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against me.

19 God will hear, and afflict them, even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God.

20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant.

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in You.

Don’t leave the ninety-nine

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? Matthew 18:12

We all need each other. In our journey of faith, we sometimes find ourselves drifting from the flock, like the one sheep in Matthew 18:12. But just as Jesus emphasized, every lost sheep matters, and it is our community that helps us stay grounded

Do you remember the old cartoons with the sheep and the wolf?  The wolf was always out to get the sheep to have for lunch, but the sheep dog, who watched out for the sheep would come along at just the right time to rescue the sheep.  The interesting thing was, the wolf was always getting the sheep that were off by themselves away from the rest of the flock. Much like those old cartoons where the sheep strays, making it an easy target for the lurking wolf, we too can become vulnerable when we wander away from the protective fold of believers. The wolf, representing life’s challenges and temptations, is always ready to devour those who isolate themselves.

It’s a similar picture of our walk through life.  We are to stay close with other “sheep” where the Shepherd is keeping watch.  We encourage and pray for one another and look out for each other.  It is a very important way of life for believers.  I know this from experience.  When I first started making my own decisions in life, I was headed in a direction that I thought was right to take care of myself.  My desire for independence tainted my ability to make good decisions.  In the process, I often found myself on the “edge of the flock” as it were.  Basically, I was out from under the protection and encouragement of the church and other believers.  Many times, I found myself vulnerable to the “wolves” of the world.  As I continued to go through life, often I felt the need to try to find my place in a body of believers, but because I didn’t want to take the time to invest in others or get to know other believers in my area, I didn’t stay on that path very long.  It was uncomfortable and awkward.

God was always so faithful to seek me out and come rushing in to protect me when I was in danger of being devoured. Much of my pain and lasting regrets from wrong choices could have been avoided had I stayed “connected” with God’s people.

Psalms 92:13-15 says:  Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

When you are rooted deeply into a body of believers, that is the place where you will flourish.  It is not just about going to church on the weekend because it is the right thing to do.  It is more about being growing where God has planted you.  That is why you find that mature believers are those who know where they are supposed to be and don’t jump around from church to church trying to find the place that is most pleasing.  Don’t be the sheep that leaves the flock and gets devoured off by themselves, stay right in the middle, serving and living in the place you were designed to fill.

Today I want to encourage you to stay connected with God’s people.  If you have a church you regularly attend and serve at, keep serving.  If you don’t, I strongly urge you to ask God to direct you to the church for you and to be planted there.  The place that He has planned for you to be “planted”.  It’s not always easy starting out, but it is the best place to stay accountable and to have a flourishing life.  If you find yourself on the edges, take a step today toward reconnecting. Find a small group near you, where you can build meaningful relationships and share your journey. It’s not always comfortable at first, but staying planted in a community is where growth happens.

Don’t wander away from the ninety-nine and find yourself distant from the flock where God has placed you. When you stay connected, you’ll soon realize how much you depend on the encouragement of others—and, in turn, you’ll be able to lift up and encourage those going through similar struggles that you’ve already overcome. In God’s eyes, life is all about relationships. He desires for us to remain connected—to Him and to each other!

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 18:6-14

6“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 

7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 

9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 

11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 

13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Child-like

And said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 18:3

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He began teaching about the kingdom of heaven.  It was a radical teaching in that day because He taught that you cannot see the kingdom of heaven on the outside, it is inside of each believer.  (Luke 17:21) This is an important detail to keep in mind when reading scripture, especially the words of Jesus.  Every time he talked about the kingdom of heaven; he was not talking about the place of heaven that we go to when we leave this body in this world.  He was talking about the kingdom of heavenly principles that we live by after we repent and turn our lives in His direction.  Or you could say the kingdom of heaven is God’s government and statutes that He set up for His people so they could succeed at what they do in this life.  Things such as Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, love one another, tithing, reaping and sowing just to name a few.  The kingdom of heaven is the citizenship with authority over the curse of this world that you receive at the point of inviting Jesus into your heart and life.  (See Gal. 3:13)

In today’s reading, the disciples are trying to figure out who will be the greatest in heaven, like they thought someone would be greater than Jesus?  I don’t know exactly what they were thinking, but the interesting part is the answer Jesus gave them.  He said you have to become as a little child to enter His kingdom.  I’m sure this was not the answer they were expecting.  Maybe they were thinking it was the high priest or one of the prophets of old? 

Jesus went on to unpack this idea.  He said you must humble yourself as a little child.  When you receive a little child like this in His name you are receiving Him and if you cause one of these little ones to sin there will be a terrible outcome for you.  Then He went on to teach about how precious and valuable the lost are to Him.

Some of the childlike mentality to consider in this teaching are: Loving God and people, innocence, sweet and pure, honest, energetic and eager to learn new things especially about God’s ways and love for others.  Not weighed down with the cares of life.  Always rejoicing and ready to face each day.  When you consider these attitudes, it is easy to see the difference between a grown up and someone with a childlike heart.  That is how you become great in God’s kingdom.

Today I want to encourage you to take a look at your heart and attitude in your life right now.  Are you heavy with things going on in this world?  Are you worried about the latest conflicts and inflation?  Do you carry this weight around with you and talk about it everywhere you go?  Change the direction of your heart and life today by looking at your heavenly Father and His word about this life.  Be eager to believe what you read in His book of promises.  Enjoy the blessings that He has graced your life with such as family, friends and employment.  Drop those cares and concerns that the news and media would have you focused on and admit that these things are no surprise to God, and He is bringing everything together for the good of those who love Him in agreement with the power that you fill your life up with. (Romans 8:28)  Take on the kingdom of heaven mentality today and walk out all the blessings and purpose God has for your life.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 18:1-5

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 

3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 

4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Hear my prayer

Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth. ~ Psalms 54:2

This chapter is so powerful and reminds me of how God is my refuge and deliverer in times of distress. It is a Psalm about David, surrounded by enemies, crying out to God for help: “Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth” (Psalm 54:1-2). Despite his dire situation, David placed his trust in God’s ability to deliver him. He didn’t focus on his circumstances but on God’s faithfulness and power.

I can personally relate to this psalm because of a time in my life when I felt completely overwhelmed and betrayed by some people, I thought I could trust. I was involved in a project that meant a lot to me, and I had put my heart into it, but things took a sharp turn. Suddenly, some of the people I was working closely with began to turn against me by turning others against the project and creating obstacles. I was left with feelings of isolation and felt very frustrated.

I remember feeling so helpless, unsure of how to fix the situation. Every attempt I made to reconcile or explain things, seemed to make things worse. Like David, I realized that there was only so much I could do in my own strength. I had to trust God to be my defender.

In verse 4, David declares, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” That verse reminds me that even though people might fail me or misunderstand me, God is with me, and He will sustain me through the difficult seasons.

As I pray and entrust every situation to God, He moves in ways I can’t possibly predicted. Not everything will resolve immediately, but I can begin to experience peace that I hadn’t felt before. He helps me to forgive and let go of the bitterness I try to hold on to. He even opens new doors and brings clarity to situations that may seem hopeless.

Today I want to encourage you that if you are in a time of betrayal or distress, God is your refuge too. He hears your cries for help, and He is faithful to deliver you—not always by changing your circumstances immediately, but by strengthening you and giving you, His peace. If you’re facing a situation where you feel surrounded or misunderstood, take heart. God is with you, and He will sustain you, just as He did for David—and just as He has for me. Trust Him to carry you through it every circumstance in your life. Only then will you have peace as you navigate life’s struggles.

 Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 54

1 Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your strength.

2 Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.

3 For strangers have risen up against me, and oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah

4 Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is with those who uphold my life.

5 He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth.

6 I will freely sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.

7 For He has delivered me out of all trouble; And my eye has seen its desire upon my enemies.

Do you seek Him

 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. ~ Psalms 53:2

 Psalm 53 paints a vivid picture of the world’s brokenness and reminds us that without God, we are lost. It speaks of the foolishness of those who say in their hearts, “There is no God.” Yet even in the midst of a world that seems distant from God, the psalm ends with a glimmer of hope: “Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!” (Psalm 53:6).

This Psalm is especially impactful to me because it mirrors a season in my life when I drifted from my faith. I never outright denied God, but I lived as if He didn’t play a central role in my life. Like the people described in Psalm 53, I thought I could navigate life on my own, relying on my strength and knowledge. But that was a lie and a deception I was believing instead of the truth of God’s love.

I wasn’t even pursuing success; I was running after survival.  I didn’t consider that there was more to it in life or that I could have a life of fulness. Instead, I always felt the emptiness of selfishness and living for the moment. At one point, everything I had worked for seemed to unravel—plans failed, relationships were broken, and I found myself isolated. It was in that loneliness that I realized I had been living in a way that excluded God’s presence and wisdom.  Worse yet, I kept Him in the dark instead of letting Him be the light that shines out to the world around me.

Psalm 53 made me reflect on the importance of acknowledging God, not just in words but in the way I live. The verse that says, “God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God” (Psalm 53:2) hit me the most. It was a wake-up call that I needed to seek Him again, not just when things were going wrong, but in all moments of my life.

When I humbled myself and returned to seeking God daily, I felt His peace and direction flood back into my life. It wasn’t about my circumstances suddenly improving, but rather about a shift in my heart. I was no longer trying to control everything on my own, and I was able to trust and commit all area to God’s plans for me that were better than anything I could manage on my own.

It can be the same for you today.  If you find yourself living this life for your own pleasure and fulfillment, you will discover that emptiness too.  Trust Him today with all areas of life and let Him guide you into His truth and blessings.  Seek Him first and the purpose He has designed for your life.  I promise you will not be disappointed when You follow His ways.  They are good and most of all, you will have His peace that passes all understanding.

Today I want to encourage you if you’ve ever felt like you’ve been living apart from God or trying to handle life’s challenges in your own strength, let Psalm 53 be a reminder that life without seeking Him is incomplete. Remember the good news that God is always ready to restore you when you turn back to Him. Even in the darkest moments, His grace and salvation are near, and He is ready to welcome you back to a place of joy and gladness. All you have to do is seek Him.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 53

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

3 Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, no, not one.

4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?

5 There they are in great fear where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; You have put them to shame, because God has despised them.

6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.