Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help.
Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and a roaring lion.
I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death.
For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.
— Psalm 22:11-18
Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and a roaring lion.
I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death.
For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.
— Psalm 22:11-18
❤6
June 29: Behind the Scenes
#Devotional
Esther 3:1–7:10; 3 John 1:1–4; Psalm 117:1–118:16
Sometimes life can look so bleak that it seems as if all hope is gone. This was the situation for Esther and Mordecai:
“Letters were sent by couriers to all the provinces of the king to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children” (Esth 3:13).
Genocide was upon Esther, Mordecai, and their people, and it seemed that little could be done.
Yet God unexpectedly used Esther to do His work and made Mordecai a hero for thwarting the enemies’ plan to destroy God’s people (Esth 5–7). As a result, the people who wanted to kill Mordecai ended up dead (Esth 7:7–10). But these events depicted more than poetic justice; they provide an example of hope in the midst of adversity. This story shows that God is at work even when we don’t realize He is there—when even prayer feels like a waste of energy.
While God is not a “character” in the book of Esther, His presence is implicit in every scene of goodness coming out of chaos. We may not see Him talking in a burning bush, but we feel His concern in the tension; we note His love and compassion through His orchestration of events. These actions aren’t credited to God directly, but that, too, shows something about His character. He doesn’t need the praise that we so often do, so we need to acknowledge how praiseworthy He really is. Even when we don’t know how to pray, or don’t pray at all, God can still answer. And that’s goodness, above all else.
How is God at work in your life in ways you may not realize—even at this very moment?
#Devotional
Esther 3:1–7:10; 3 John 1:1–4; Psalm 117:1–118:16
Sometimes life can look so bleak that it seems as if all hope is gone. This was the situation for Esther and Mordecai:
“Letters were sent by couriers to all the provinces of the king to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children” (Esth 3:13).
Genocide was upon Esther, Mordecai, and their people, and it seemed that little could be done.
Yet God unexpectedly used Esther to do His work and made Mordecai a hero for thwarting the enemies’ plan to destroy God’s people (Esth 5–7). As a result, the people who wanted to kill Mordecai ended up dead (Esth 7:7–10). But these events depicted more than poetic justice; they provide an example of hope in the midst of adversity. This story shows that God is at work even when we don’t realize He is there—when even prayer feels like a waste of energy.
While God is not a “character” in the book of Esther, His presence is implicit in every scene of goodness coming out of chaos. We may not see Him talking in a burning bush, but we feel His concern in the tension; we note His love and compassion through His orchestration of events. These actions aren’t credited to God directly, but that, too, shows something about His character. He doesn’t need the praise that we so often do, so we need to acknowledge how praiseworthy He really is. Even when we don’t know how to pray, or don’t pray at all, God can still answer. And that’s goodness, above all else.
How is God at work in your life in ways you may not realize—even at this very moment?
June 29 - Two Destinations
#LifeOfChrist
“‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it’” (Matthew 7:13–14).
Both the broad and narrow ways point to the good life, to salvation, heaven, God, the kingdom, and blessing—but only the narrow way actually leads there. The broad way doesn’t have a road sign on it with hell as the destination. Jesus’ point is that this way is marked “heaven” but it doesn’t lead there.
That is the great lie of all false religions. The Lord makes clear the ultimate destinations of these two ways: the broad way leads to destruction; the narrow way leads to life. Every religion except Christianity follows the same spiritual way and leads to the same spiritual end, to hell.
There are many of those roads, and most of them are attractive, appealing, and crowded with travelers. But not a single one leads where it promises, and not a single one fails to lead where Jesus says it leads—to destruction, to total ruin and loss. It is a complete loss of well-being and the destination of all religions except the way of Jesus Christ.
But God’s way—the way that is narrow—leads to eternal life, to everlasting heavenly fellowship with God, His angels, and His people. Everlasting life is a quality of life, which is the life of God in the soul of man (see Ps. 17:15).
Ask Yourself
Celebrate today the eternal life promised to those who embrace the call of the narrow gate and the narrow way. Be grateful that none of the carry-ons and extras will ever give us the satisfaction we hope to find in them, but that in the wake of their emptiness we will be drawn ever deeper into the One whose way is both single and secure.
#LifeOfChrist
“‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it’” (Matthew 7:13–14).
Both the broad and narrow ways point to the good life, to salvation, heaven, God, the kingdom, and blessing—but only the narrow way actually leads there. The broad way doesn’t have a road sign on it with hell as the destination. Jesus’ point is that this way is marked “heaven” but it doesn’t lead there.
That is the great lie of all false religions. The Lord makes clear the ultimate destinations of these two ways: the broad way leads to destruction; the narrow way leads to life. Every religion except Christianity follows the same spiritual way and leads to the same spiritual end, to hell.
There are many of those roads, and most of them are attractive, appealing, and crowded with travelers. But not a single one leads where it promises, and not a single one fails to lead where Jesus says it leads—to destruction, to total ruin and loss. It is a complete loss of well-being and the destination of all religions except the way of Jesus Christ.
But God’s way—the way that is narrow—leads to eternal life, to everlasting heavenly fellowship with God, His angels, and His people. Everlasting life is a quality of life, which is the life of God in the soul of man (see Ps. 17:15).
Ask Yourself
Celebrate today the eternal life promised to those who embrace the call of the narrow gate and the narrow way. Be grateful that none of the carry-ons and extras will ever give us the satisfaction we hope to find in them, but that in the wake of their emptiness we will be drawn ever deeper into the One whose way is both single and secure.
“The cross is so offensive because it is the declaration that you can’t, as a fallen human being, get right with God by any efforts of your own through law-keeping.” —John Piper
❤5
God is so sovereign over the disasters and disappointments of our lives that he is able to make all of them serve our everlasting joy.
❤3
Fear him, ye saints, and ye will then
Have nothing else to fear.
Have nothing else to fear.
❤2
Many people do not want a God of love. They want a god of permission.
They want a god who never says no, never judges sin, and never calls for repentance. But God's love is holy. He corrects, transforms, and calls us to follow Christ. A god of permission cannot save.
They want a god who never says no, never judges sin, and never calls for repentance. But God's love is holy. He corrects, transforms, and calls us to follow Christ. A god of permission cannot save.
👍4
The most influential sermon your family hears is your life.
June 29 (Monday)
Dear Daughter,
Final Monday of June: Lock in godly habits 🔒
Daily prayer. Daily respect. Daily pursuit of Christ together.
Consistency builds legacy.
'Let perseverance finish its work' (Jas 1:4).
Which habit will you carry into July?
#DearDaughter #LockInHabits #StrongMarriage
Dear Daughter,
Final Monday of June: Lock in godly habits 🔒
Daily prayer. Daily respect. Daily pursuit of Christ together.
Consistency builds legacy.
'Let perseverance finish its work' (Jas 1:4).
Which habit will you carry into July?
#DearDaughter #LockInHabits #StrongMarriage
❤3
“God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” —2 Timothy 1:7
❤8
June 29 (Monday)
New week, new strength in Christ! 💪🌟
Begin this Monday with fresh vision and deeper love for your spouse! Isa 40:31 ❤️
What strength are you claiming this week? #StrongMarriage #June
New week, new strength in Christ! 💪🌟
Begin this Monday with fresh vision and deeper love for your spouse! Isa 40:31 ❤️
What strength are you claiming this week? #StrongMarriage #June
❤2
“They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.” Nehemiah 12:43
God made them rejoice.
God made them rejoice.
❤3
“He who believes that it's harder for a rich man to enter Heaven than it is for a needle to go through the eye of a camel, doesn't know his Bible.”—Ray Comfort
❤3
I have toiled in vain,
I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity.
— Isaiah 49:4a
I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity.
— Isaiah 49:4a
❤1
Lift up your heads, Christian. The King is coming.
The skies will not remain silent forever. The trumpet will sound. The dead in Christ will rise. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
No more sin. No more sorrow. No more death. No more tears.
The crucified Lamb will return as the conquering King of Kings, and His kingdom will have no end.
Come, Lord Jesus!
The skies will not remain silent forever. The trumpet will sound. The dead in Christ will rise. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
No more sin. No more sorrow. No more death. No more tears.
The crucified Lamb will return as the conquering King of Kings, and His kingdom will have no end.
Come, Lord Jesus!
❤6
The most influential sermon your family hears is your life.
Instead of browsing social media in bed at night, open your Bible app and read God’s Word before you go to sleep. You won’t regret it.
❤14🔥2
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you” Lk 22:19
The Lord’s Supper gives the best image of a Christian: one with empty hands coming to receive Jesus, freely given.
The Lord’s Supper gives the best image of a Christian: one with empty hands coming to receive Jesus, freely given.
❤5