He Heals The Bruised The Heart of Jesus The proximity of your brokenness is close to the heart of Jesus. Bruises Beneath the Surface The Bruised Healer

When Fear Tries to Rule Your Tomorrow THIS WORLD IS DESPERATE

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways." Psalm 91:11 We live in a world where heartbreaking news is constantly at our fingertips. Before we even begin our day, we can hear about another tragedy: a shooting, a natural disaster, a devastating diagnosis, a financial crisis, or another painful event happening somewhere in the world. The headlines can shape our hearts if we allow them to. But instead of allowing the stories of suffering to produce fear, let them move us to prayer. Pray for the grieving. Pray for those facing impossible situations. Pray for our leaders and communities. Pray that God would dispatch His angels to keep His people, because His Word is still true. Several years ago, I attended General Conference in Florida shortly after Hurricane Ian. When I walked into Walmart, I noticed empty shelves where there was normally an abundance of food and supplies. There was no produce, no eggs, and no water. Without anyone saying it, I could sense the heart cry of people: "We don't know what the future holds." Fear has a way of exposing where we place our trust. When storms come—whether natural storms, financial struggles, family trials, or personal battles—we are reminded that our security cannot be found in what we can control. Our security is found in the God who holds us. People are searching for peace, hope, and security, but many are unaware of their deepest need: the presence of God. When the "what ifs" of life begin to overwhelm us, we must remember that God does not promise we will never walk through valleys. He promises He will walk through them with us. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." Psalm 23:4 It would be amazing if the verse said we could fly over the valley, but it says we will walk through. Why? Because the greatest promise is not the absence of the valley; it is the presence of God in the valley. Thou art with me. My Savior is with me. My King is with me. My Healer is with me. My Provider is with me. My Shepherd is with me. Fear has the ability to immobilize us. It causes us to live in tomorrow instead of trusting God today. But faith reminds us that God is already present in every moment we are afraid to enter. Matthew 6:33–34 reminds us: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you… Take therefore no thought for tomorrow." I love this passage because it reminds us: IF YOU HAVE TIME TO WORRY, YOU HAVE TIME TO PRAY. We should be wise, and prepare for our future and care for our families, but we cannot allow fear to rule our lives. The world may become more uncertain, but God remains unchanging. The headlines may shift, but His promises remain. So when fear tries to rule your tomorrow, remember: God has not given me the spirit of fear. I am kept by Him, guided by Him, and I will walk through every valley with His presence beside me.

He Heals The Bruised The Heart of Jesus The proximity of your brokenness is close to the heart of Jesus. Bruises Beneath the Surface The Bruised Healer

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:18 Several years ago, I walked through one of the deepest valleys of my life. The enemy wanted me to believe that my pain was evidence that God had forsaken me in my loneliest season. But looking back, I can see something entirely different. My brokenness did not prove God's absence; it revealed the depth of His love. There is a place on my couch that I affectionately call "God's lap." It is where I would curl up in the fetal position with a blanket and pour my heart out to Him in tears. Time and time again, I felt His presence surround me. It was as if His loving arms wrapped around me, bringing a peace that no words could explain. When Jesus stood in the synagogue and read from Isaiah, He described His mission. He came to preach good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, restore sight to the blind, and set at liberty those who are bruised. Every phrase of Jesus is beautiful, but today I want us to linger on that last one. Jesus is anointed to liberate those who are bruised. Unlike a cut or a scrape, a bruise hides beneath the surface. It is the result of trauma, yet often no one else can see it. Sometimes I don't even realize I have a bruise until I catch a glimpse of it in the mirror or accidentally touch the tender spot. The deepest wounds in our lives often look the same. Anxiety. Depression. Heartache. Shame. Unforgiveness. Fear. The lies we have believed. The sins we carry in secret. These are the bruises no one else sees. They may be hidden from people, but they are never hidden from Jesus. Jesus was bruised so that you could be healed. Isaiah 53:5. The One who bore bruises in His own body now draws near to every bruise hidden in yours. Perhaps no one else can see the wounds you carry, but Jesus can. He knows every hidden pain, every silent tear, every disappointment, and every battle you've fought alone. He doesn't ask you to hide your bruises or pretend they're not there. Instead, He lovingly invites you to bring them into His presence. Don't allow your hidden bruises to become permanent prisons. Lay them at the feet of the One who was bruised for you. His wounds purchased your healing; His love is greater than your pain, and His power is still setting the bruised at liberty today. The Savior who was bruised for you is also the Savior who heals you.

Carried By The Wind The Reach Of The Spirit

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." John 3:8 (KJV) Here in the Washington, D.C. area, we have been under a high-air-quality alert due to wildfires burning in Canada. What amazes me is not just that there is a fire, but how far the smoke has traveled. When I look outside my window, I see a haze hanging over the skyline, and I can smell the smoke in the air. Though I am thousands of miles away from where the fire began, I am experiencing its effects. As I stood looking outside, I thought of Jesus' words: "The wind bloweth where it listeth." No one can see the wind itself, yet everyone can witness where it has been. It carries things farther than we could ever imagine, and in much the same way, the Spirit of God moves beyond the places we can see and beyond the people we can reach. When the fire of the Holy Ghost begins to burn in our hearts, our homes, and our churches, we often have no idea how far its influence will travel. A prayer whispered in a prayer room may strengthen someone you have never met. A worship service filled with God's presence may inspire a missionary across the globe. A testimony shared in your neighborhood may echo into generations yet unborn. The disciples experienced this very thing in Acts 2. What began with about 120 believers gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem seemed small and hidden. Yet when the Spirit was poured out, the sound was heard throughout the city, and people from many nations were affected. That one moment of obedience became the beginning of a revival that spread across the world. The Spirit's reach is far greater than our vision. We may think our acts of obedience are insignificant, but once surrendered to God, the wind of His Spirit carries them wherever He desires. That is why Scripture reminds us: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." Zechariah 4:6 Revival is not produced by human strength, talent, or strategy. It is produced by the moving of the Spirit. Our responsibility is not to control the wind, but to respond to it. So, let the fire burn today and pray with expectation, worship without reservation, and witness with boldness. Let's pray to be sensitive to the moving of the Holy Ghost because we may never fully know whose life is changed because we simply obeyed God. The wind is still blowing, and its reach is farther than you can imagine.

Reunion Day Is Coming THE REUNION BE READY PERSONAL REFLECTION

"Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13, NKJV) Many things in life excite us — a birth, a first date, reconnecting with an old friend, a wedding, or going on a special vacation. We dream about it, talk about it, and plan for it. The anticipation leading up to that event only adds to our enjoyment. Our family never took fancy vacations. Most of our trips were to visit family. But each year all the aunts, uncles, and cousins would gather for a reunion. Details are fuzzy about those childhood times, but I still remember the feel of a hot summer day, the sounds of laughter, fun with the cousins, and the aroma of good home-cooked food. We all looked forward to this summertime ritual with anticipation. We were surrounded by people who loved us. The Bible tells of a coming event that should cause each of us to live in a state of longing and expectancy. We call it the rapture, when "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye . . . we shall be changed" (I Corinthians 15:52). Each day we should wake with the question, "Will this be the day You are coming for me, Lord?" Or does the frenzied pace of our lifestyle crowd out thoughts that the Lord could appear at any time? A co-worker once shrugged and commented, "I've heard it all my life and it hasn't happened yet." He didn't realize that his words echoed those of II Peter 3:3-4. "Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" (NKJV) A friend once stated that he did not want the Lord to come anytime soon. "I've got a lot of things I want to see happen before then." He wanted to see his daughters grow up, marry, and give him some grandchildren. His words revealed that the temporal outweighed the eternal in his life. He was not looking for or desiring "that blessed hope" anytime soon. Throughout the New Testament the Lord admonishes the believers to watch and be ready. He desires us to live in a state of excited anticipation. Does it really matter if we don't? The answer is yes, it matters. The parable of the ten virgins, found in Matthew 25, illustrates the necessity of constant readiness. Those who anticipated the arrival of the bridegroom had enough oil for their lamps and immediately rose to meet him. The foolish five rushed out at the last minute to find oil. Why were they so distracted and unprepared? If we lose the element of expectancy in our walk with God, it is easy to let the important things slip. We become engrossed with day-to-day living and become attached to this present world. "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless." (II Peter 3:14, NKJV) Have you ever heard someone scoff at the belief of a rapture? How did that make you feel? Is the rapture something you eagerly anticipate? Or fear? What preparations have you made in preparation of the Lord's return? Devotion by Mary Loudermilk

Just One Came Back INTERRUPTED LIVES A BIT OF SELF REFLECTION A LIFE OF GRATITUDE

Then Jesus answered, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:17-18, ESV) Luke 17 tells the story of ten lepers and the encounter that changed their lives. To understand their plight, we need to understand the cruel effects of the disease. Leprosy was an infectious skin disease (or possibly a group of skin diseases). It was painful, disfiguring, and isolating. Those affected became outcasts of society because of their contagion. As Jesus traveled toward Jerusalem, He entered a certain village. The ten lepers stood at a distance from the crowd, but they raised their voices to call out to Jesus as He passed nearby. "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" The Lord did indeed show them mercy that day. The ten men received their healing from the terrible disease that had sidetracked their lives. "When he saw them he said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went they were cleansed." (Luke 17:14, ESV) Their healing happened as the men began their journey to present themselves to the priests as was required by Old Testament Law. But one man turned back. He felt compelled to return to Jesus and thank Him for this amazing miracle. Luke tells us that he "turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks" (verses 15-16). No one observing this could doubt the depth of his gratitude. That is when Jesus questioned, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (The man who returned was a Samaritan, not a Jew.) Nine men did not turn back. The Lord had given them a wonderful gift, a healing that would take away the stigma of their disease. Now they could return to their families and once more enjoy the fellowship of others. But they left without any words of thanks to the One who made it possible. Before we become critical of the nine who did not return to thank the Lord, perhaps we should ask ourselves a simple question. Have we disappointed the Lord by forgetting to thank Him for His many blessings? Is it possible that in the busyness of daily life we have become as thoughtless as the nine lepers? Do we take God's blessings for granted or feel entitled to them? It is so easy for us to focus on what we do not have rather than showing our appreciation for the abundance we do enjoy. The words of II Timothy 3:1-5 serve as a caution and a reminder. Showing ingratitude is more than just a little oversight. It is sin. "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy . . . having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." (verses 1, 2, 5) How do we live a life of gratitude? We can begin by recognizing and valuing the blessings God sends our way. Each evening before bedtime, write down at least three things from your day that are causes for gratitude. What happened that made your day brighter? What prayers did God answer for you today? What words of encouragement or compliments did you receive today? Once you have written your list, if you have not already thanked the Lord for today's blessings, do so then. Do not end your day without showing your gratitude. "The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more things you will have to express gratitude for." – Zig Ziglar "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (I Thessalonians 5:18, ESV) Devotion by Mary Loudermilk