2026 Wk 10
Altered LIFE • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Intro
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.
Song Set 1
Counting on God
Song Set 2
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
God is our strength and He wants the weary to come to him
Maybe that is you this morning — Know that God is for you.
He will see you through every turn of the enemy in our lives.
29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Receive His strength today as we worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
SONG:
Medley: It’s So Sweet / Softly and Tenderly / Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Generosity
The generous will prosper;
those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Update
MidWeek
Our Daily Bread
Easter is coming — Jesus, the Storm Chaser
begin to talk and invite your friends, neighbors, family
Pop Up Easter Egg Hunt at Creek Forest
please bring bags of candy for an Egg Stuffing Party
hot dogs and fun for the families
Next Week:
Pastor Edwin and Debbie will be here!
Lesson
I had a challenging moment this week that left me weak and undone…
Marcie put on some worship music at my bedside, prayed over me, and a friend brought me some 7Up. Thank you!
Yes, my strength retuned, but not until I went through some stuff.
I know, you have been there too.
It’s like you are not in control, and that you could be overtaken so easily—
BUT GOD!
Upon regaining my strength I read a devotion that captured my attention…
It’s where Israel had to go to the enemy to have their gardening tools to be sharpened. As I read this, I was amazed of the spiritual implication.
Go with me to first Samuel today and let’s glean from these old testament verses about where we are living today.
19 There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews. 20 So whenever the Israelites needed to sharpen their plowshares, picks, axes, or sickles,* they had to take them to a Philistine blacksmith. 21 The charges were as follows: a quarter of an ounce* of silver for sharpening a plowshare or a pick, and an eighth of an ounce* for sharpening an ax, a sickle, or an ox goad. 22 So on the day of the battle none of the people of Israel had a sword or spear, except for Saul and Jonathan.
The necessity to rely on the Philistines for sharpening these tools not only signifies economic and technological dependence but also a spiritual metaphor for the dullness of Israel's faith and obedience.
1. The Philistines Controlled Blacksmithing
1. The Philistines Controlled Blacksmithing
The main reason was strategic military control by the Philistines.
Verse 19 explains:
“Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears.”
The Philistines removed or prohibited blacksmiths in Israel. This meant:
Israelites could not forge weapons
They could not sharpen tools themselves
They had to travel into Philistine territory to maintain even basic tools
This was an intentional disarmament policy.
2. Economic and Political Control
2. Economic and Political Control
The Philistines didn’t just disarm Israel; they profited from them.
Verse 21 mentions a fee for sharpening tools. So Israel had to:
Pay their oppressors
Depend on their enemies for basic agricultural survival
This created economic dependence.
3. Israel Was Militarily Weak
3. Israel Was Militarily Weak
Later in the passage we see the result.
In First Book of Samuel 13:22:
Only Saul and Jonathan had swords or spears.
This means:
The entire Israelite army was mostly unarmed
They fought largely with farm tools
4. The Spiritual Context
4. The Spiritual Context
This period was one where Israel was spiritually unstable and often under oppression.
Their enemies dominating their tools shows:
National weakness
Political oppression
Spiritual decline in the era before the kingdom fully stabilized
Later in First Book of Samuel 14, God gives Israel victory despite their lack of weapons, showing that deliverance came from God, not military strength.
✅ In simple terms:
Israel had to go to the Philistines because the Philistines banned blacksmiths in Israel to keep them from making weapons, forcing them to rely on their enemy even to sharpen farming tools.
This dependence can be contrasted with the prophetic vision found in
The Lord will mediate between nations
and will settle international disputes.
They will hammer their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation,
nor train for war anymore.
Beating swords into plowshares, symbolizing peace and divine provision.
The tools themselves can be seen as types of spiritual readiness, where believers are called to be sharp and prepared for the work of God, much like the tools needed to be effective for agricultural purposes.
Here are 4 key takeaways from the devotional based on 1 Samuel 13:20
1. We are in a real spiritual battle.
The Christian life isn’t passive.
We are called to actively resist evil
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We are called to stand for what is good. Here is what Paul said to Timothy…
But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
2. Every gift and opportunity matters.
No ability is too small.
And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
WHAT—
REWARDED because of giving a cup of water to someone?
Giving a simple cup of cold water is such a basic gesture of hospitality and care. It symbolizes the importance of small deeds done with a pure heart. It reflects the biblical principle that God values the intentions behind our actions, not just the outward actions.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Whether public or unseen, polished or ordinary, every talent and moment can be used for God’s purposes.
So ask yourself…
“What type of small cup of water are you giving from a pure heart?”
Delivering food to someone recovering from surgery?
Cutting someone’s grass or hair?
Serving in Children’s ministry?
No ability or gift is too small.
Let me add—every opportunity matters!
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.
At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
So, keep sowing seeds of kindness, cups of cold water, and words of encouragement— the harvest is coming!
3. We need to stay sharp and prepared.
They say that using a dull knife is a great way to injure yourself.
The double knife requires more force which can lead to lack of control— and greater chance of injury.
Dull tools don’t accomplish much.
Sharp knife cuts more easily, more control, and is more predictable
Likewise, being dull spiritually can lead to missing The Holy Spirits leading, getting caught in led astray by lying spirits, and “being double minded in all your ways.”
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Spiritual effectiveness requires growth—greater wisdom, energy, discernment, and practical action—FAITH in God alone!
I believe this is the working of the Holy Spirit in our life.
25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
How do we grow in the Spirit? (4 suggestions)
Ministry gifts brings maturity
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Persecution and Trials cultivates Endurance
2 Dear brothers and sisters,* when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Connections with Followers of Christ
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Be Prepared
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous.* Be strong.
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers* all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
Don’t grow stagnant… Movement is your friend so continue to grow in the Lord and be prepared in season and out of season.
4. We should match (or exceed) the zeal of others.
People often show greater dedication for lesser causes than following Jesus or preaching salvation from hell and deliverance from demons.
We should have a ZEAL about us that convicts the world of SIN.
LOVE, joy, peace, kindness, forgiveness SHOULD be soooo great in the Christian’s life that alter calls are happening in the parking lot at Walmart - the ball field - McDonalds and even at the lake!
Don’t be lazy or idle with your ZEAL!
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.*
Jesus had zeal or ambition to do the Will of Father and it fed him?
Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.
Jesus had a good self -esteem because of pleasing his Father. He felt nourished. Full!
Be smart with your ZEAL
I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.
As followers of Jesus, we should be united, purposeful, and even more earnest in doing good…and do it ZEALOUSLY!
REFLECTING ON PSALM 23 with a focus on verse 4 and 5… asking “how can we see the ‘readiness’ of our Faith move us forward along our journey with the Shepherd?”
Last week we saw…
That the Shepherd leads us so he can provide and protect us —
still waters, not turbulent dangerous streams,
he provides NOURISHMENT for us in the comfort of green pastures.
Plus, the psalmist says that the Shepherd wants to MEND our souls—
strengthen, reestablish, rebuild —
to RESTORE our souls as He CHASES us with goodness and mercy —
All for Him and His Name Sake…NOT ours .
So, Hear it again please? Reading from the Message.
Listen for what we already have discovered but then lean into our focus on verses, 4 and 5, as we Awaken from our slumber and see Father’s heart with clarity today.
1–3 God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
Our Take Away Based on 1 Samuel 13:20:
Summary:
We are in a spiritual battle, so we must stay sharp using every gift and opportunity we have to serve God with wholehearted zeal everyday.
Turn to the Shephard- trust him, follow him, and have faith in the midst of the storm.
PRAYER:
“Lord, I want to hear Your voice. Please quiet my mind and help me to recognize Your guidance today…
Give us wisdom to understand what is right, and courage to follow Your direction—as we Awaken from our slumber to see your heart with clarity today.
Lord, let us see the spiritual battle we are in. That isn’t a political fight nor a war between flesh and blood (🎶 it’s a battlefield brother not a recreation room it’s a fight and not a game🎶)
Lord, let us surrender every gift we have to Him- great or small.
Lord, let us be awaken to be prepared for battle, maturing and growing in every way
Lord, let us use our ZEAL, for the Love of Christ, in ways that convict the world—that they would come to Christ to be followers and walk in His ways.
In Jesus Name, Amen.”
PtL
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ME 3-1-26 AM Summarized
Based on Song of Solomon 4:16 the devotional teaches that it is better to experience hardship or comfort than to remain spiritually indifferent. Both trials (the “north wind”) and encouragement (the “south wind”) can awaken and strengthen our faith. God uses different seasons—difficulty and joy alike—to draw out the “fragrance” of our spiritual growth. Even our small acts of faith and love matter to Jesus, and every circumstance He allows can help our lives become a pleasing offering to Him.
Awake, north wind! Rise up, south wind!
Blow on my garden and spread its fragrance all around.
Come into your garden, my love; taste its finest fruits.
ME 3-2-26 AM
ME 3-3-26 AM
“I have chosen you in the furnace of suffering.” — Isaiah 48:10
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
Take comfort in this, weary believer: God says, *”I have chosen you in the furnace of suffering.”* Let those words fall over you like cool rain on burning skin. They are protection when life feels unbearable. Whatever you’re facing, this truth stands firm—God has chosen you.
Let hardship come—God has chosen me.
Let financial stress knock at the door—God is already in this house, and He has chosen me.
Let illness interrupt my plans—I have a deeper healing to lean on: God has chosen me.
No matter what happens in this fragile, tear-filled life, I hold on to this certainty: He has chosen me.
And if you need even greater reassurance, remember this—you are not alone in the fire. The Son of Man is with you there. In your quiet, lonely room, there is Someone beside you. You may not see Him, but you love Him. Often, without you even realizing it, He is the One giving you rest, easing your pain, and carrying you through the night.
You may feel poor, but your home is visited by the Lord of glory. He is drawn to broken places. He stays close. You may not see His hands, but you can sense His steady grip. Listen closely—can you hear His voice?
Even in your darkest valley, He whispers, “Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t be overwhelmed—I am your God.”
There’s an old story of a ruler who told a frightened sailor, “Do not fear—you carry Caesar and all his fortune.” How much more can you take courage, knowing you carry Christ with you?
So do not fear. Jesus is with you. In every burning trial, His presence is your safety and your peace. He will never abandon the one He has chosen. His promise still stands:
“Do not fear, for I am with you.” Isaiah 41:10
So hold tightly to Him and say with confidence:
“Through floods and flames, if Jesus leads, I’ll follow wherever He goes.”
SUMMARY WITH PERSONAL THOUGHTS of ME 3-3-26 AM DEVOTIONAL:
Like, a couple taking their wedding vows (“for richer or poorer…”) This devotional of Isaiah 48:10 “I have chosen you in the furnace of suffering.” (taken from Morning and Evening) reminds believers that suffering is not a sign of rejection, but of being chosen by God. In the middle of hardship—whether poverty, sickness, or deep sorrow—we can find comfort in knowing that God has deliberately chosen us and remains with us. We are not alone in the “furnace” of affliction; Christ is present, offering peace, protection, and strength. Because He is with us and will never leave us, we can face every trial without fear and trust Him through whatever comes— even “hell or high water.” Hopefully, the couple will choose each other again and again.
ME 3-4-26 AM — Wednesday MidWeek
“My grace is sufficient for you.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
If God’s people never struggled, we wouldn’t fully understand how powerful His grace really is.
When someone has no place to call home but still says, “I trust the Lord”…
When a person has almost h when the beauty of the gospel shines the brightest.
God’s grace stands out most clearly in weakness, not comfort. It’s in hardship that His strength becomes visible. Believers endure discouragement because they trust that God is working everything—even what looks painful or unfair—for their good. They believe He will either rescue them at the right time or give them the strength to endure until He does.
Their steady faith proves that God’s grace is real.
Think of a lighthouse. On a calm night, you can’t really tell how strong it is. But when a storm hits—when waves crash and winds howl—and it still stands firm, then you know it’s solid. The same is true of God’s work in a person’s life. It’s the storms that reveal how strong His grace truly is.
God’s finest work is seen in people who remain steady in the middle of chaos—calm, confident, and unshaken because they trust Him.
If you want your life to honor God, expect challenges. Great faith is formed in real battles. No one grows strong without resistance.
So if your path feels especially hard right now, don’t lose heart. Instead, see it as an opportunity for God’s all-sufficient grace to be displayed in you. And never imagine that He will fail you. Reject that thought immediately
The God who has carried you this far will carry you to the end. His grace is enough—today, tomorrow, and always.
SUMMARY: (This devotional teaches)
Would you agree that God’s grace is most clearly seen in times of weakness and hardship.
If so, what are some examples?
Believers who endure poverty, loss, and trials while still trusting Christ demonstrate the strength and reality of His sustaining power.
and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen.
I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness.
Like a lighthouse proven strong in a storm, faith is revealed as genuine when tested.
What are some examples of tested faith?
Who hasn’t had a difficult path?
Let’s wrap up with these scriptures that reflect ow difficult paths are not signs of God’s absence but they are paths to opportunities for His sufficient grace to shine?
Here are key passages that support that truth:
1️⃣ God’s grace is sufficient in weakness
“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul’s suffering became the setting where Christ’s power was most visible.
2️⃣ Trials produce growth and maturity
“Count it all joy… when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” James 1:2–4
Hardship is presented as a tool God uses to strengthen faith.
3️⃣ God works through all circumstances
“All things work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28
Even painful situations are woven into God’s good purposes.
4️⃣ God is especially near in trouble
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1
Trouble does not drive God away—it reveals Him as present help.
5️⃣ Walking through dark valleys with God
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” Psalms 23:4
The valley is real—but so is God’s nearness.
6️⃣ Refining through affliction
“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”
Isaiah 48:10
Affliction is pictured as a refining fire, not abandonment.
7️⃣ God’s promise of constant presence
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5
Difficulty does not cancel God’s covenant faithfulness.
Our Biblical Conclusion
According to Scripture…
difficult paths are not evidence that God has stepped away. Rather, they are often the very places where:
His strength replaces our weakness
Our faith is refined
His presence becomes more precious
His grace shines most clearly
The Bible’s consistent message is this: God does some of His deepest work in the furnace, not outside of i on the counter.
The God who has sustained His people so far will continue to uphold you to the end.
ME 3-5-26 AM
“Let us not sleep, as others do.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:6
So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
There are many ways to stay spiritually awake as a Christian. One very important way is by talking with other believers about God and the things He is doing in our lives.
In *The Pilgrim’s Progress*, two travelers named Christian and Hopeful were walking toward heaven. To keep themselves from becoming sleepy on the journey, they said, “Let’s talk about the things of God.” Christian asked where they should start, and Hopeful replied, “Let’s begin where God began with us.” Then Christian sang a song reminding believers that when Christians share fellowship and encourage each other, it helps keep their faith strong and alert.
When believers isolate themselves and try to walk the Christian life alone, they often grow spiritually tired and distracted. But when we spend time with other Christians, we encourage each other and stay focused on the path toward heaven.
As you talk with other believers, make sure your conversations center on **Jesus**. Keep your eyes on Him by faith. Let your heart be filled with love for Him, and let your words speak about His goodness and worth.
Stay close to the cross. When you remember the incredible future God has prepared for you, it helps you stay alert and faithful. If you truly remember that heaven is ahead of you, you won’t grow careless on the journey.
Think about it: if someone were running for safety while being chased, would they stop to sleep? Of course not. In the same way, we shouldn’t grow spiritually lazy when heaven is before us and the dangers of sin are behind us.
Christian, the gates of heaven are open. Angels are ready to welcome you, and a crown is waiting for you. So stay awake. Encourage one another, pray together, and remain watchful so that you do not fall into temptation.
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shorter version...**Stay Spiritually Awake**
*”Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:6*
One of the best ways to stay spiritually alert is by spending time with other believers and talking about God’s work in your lives. When Christians encourage one another and share what God is teaching them, it strengthens faith and keeps hearts focused on Him.
When we try to live the Christian life alone, it’s easy to grow distracted or spiritually tired. But when we walk together with other believers, we help each other stay focused and keep moving forward in our faith.
Make sure that Jesus is the center of your conversations and your thoughts. Keep your eyes on Him, remember the hope of heaven ahead of you, and stay close to the cross.
Heaven is before you, and God has prepared something greater than you can imagine. So stay awake spiritually—encourage one another, pray often, and keep your heart fixed on Christ so you will not fall into temptation.
ME 3-6-26 AM
“You must be born again.” — John 3:7
So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You* must be born again.’
Being “born again” is at the very heart of salvation. Because of this, we should honestly examine our lives to make sure this change has truly happened in us. Many people assume they are Christians when they are not. Simply being called a Christian, growing up in a Christian country, or identifying with the Christian faith does not make someone truly a Christian. Something deeper must take place—we must be “born again”.
This new birth is mysterious. Jesus compared it to the wind: you hear it and see its effects, but you cannot control it or fully explain where it comes from or where it goes. In the same way, the work of God’s Spirit in a person’s life cannot be fully described by human words.
Even though it is mysterious, it is **real and noticeable**. It is known by a life that begins to pursue holiness, and it is felt as a genuine change in the heart. This transformation is supernatural. It is not something we create for ourselves. God plants a new life within us—a new principle that reshapes our heart, renews our soul, and changes the whole person.
Being born again is not merely changing a label; it is a “change in our very nature”. We are no longer the person we used to be—we become a new person in Christ. Dressing up a lifeless body is very different from giving it life. People can improve appearances, but “only God can give life”.
If you have been born again, your heart will respond with gratitude:
“Lord Jesus, you are the source of my spiritual life. If your Spirit had not breathed new life into me, I would still be spiritually dead in my sins. My new life comes entirely from you, and all the glory belongs to you. My life is now hidden with Christ in God. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
May God help each of us be certain about this essential truth. To remain **unborn again** is to remain unsaved—without forgiveness, without God, and without hope.
SCRIPTURAL SUPPORT OF BEING “Born Again”:
Many passages in the Bible support the truth that a person must be “spiritually reborn and changed by God”, not merely religious in name. Here are several key scriptures that reinforce the ideas in the devotional.
1. The Need for New Birth
**John 3:3**
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
**John 1:12–13**
“But to all who did receive him… he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
2. It Is God’s Work, Not Ours
**Ephesians 2:4–5**
“Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ.”
**Titus 3:5**
“He saved us… by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
**James 1:18**
“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth.”
3. A New Heart and New Nature
**2 Corinthians 5:17**
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
**Ezekiel 36:26–27**
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.”
**Colossians 3:3–4**
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
4. True Change Shows in a New Life
**1 John 2:29**
“Everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.”
**1 John 3:9**
“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning.”
**Galatians 2:20**
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
5. Warning Against Mere Religion
**Matthew 7:21**
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
**Romans 2:28–29**
“A person is a Jew who is one inwardly… by the Spirit.”
✅ Summary:
The Bible consistently teaches that salvation involves:
A “spiritual rebirth” (John 3)
“God giving new life” to the spiritually dead (Ephesians 2)
A “new heart and new nature” (Ezekiel 36; 2 Corinthians 5)
A “changed life that shows the work of God” (1 John)
———PtL
ME 3-7-26 AM
Here is a shorter devotional version suitable for a bulletin or daily reading based on Gospel of Mark 11:22:
Have Faith in God
Have Faith in God
(Mark 11:22)
Faith is what carries our soul forward in following God. Love may inspire us, but faith gives us the courage to move, trust, and obey even when the road ahead feels uncertain. Small faith may bring us safely to heaven, but strong faith enables us to live with confidence, joy, and bold trust in God’s promises. If we want a life marked by peace and hope rather than fear and hesitation, Jesus gives us the simple invitation: “Have faith in God.”
ME 3-8-26 AM
Summary
Summary
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Paul reminds us in verse 22 that trials are a normal part of following God.
Throughout Scripture, faithful people like Job and Abraham endured hardships that strengthened their faith. In the same way, our struggles are not meaningless—God uses them to shape us.
The encouragement is that Jesus Christ has walked this path before us and walks with us now, giving us grace to endure until we reach His kingdom… “All who are weary come Home.”
