1 Chronicles 29:3

Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house.

Today's Thought: The way you look at the house of God reflects the way you look at God Himself.


Title 4 of the United States Code is considered as the Flag Code of the country; other countries have their own flag codes or even laws. The Flag Code provides a comprehensive regulation and restriction on the use and display of the United States flag. This is specifically laid out because the flag represents the nation. If one disrespects the flag, it is a direct assault to the nation's honor.

In the final days of David, he reminded his son, Solomon, to build the house of God as he had already prepared the materials needed. In 1 Chronicles 29:3, David talks of his love for the house of God, that his heart years for the house of God. In one of the his psalms, David announces how he enjoys going to the house of God. This passage asks us how much reverence and love do we have for the house of God. The way we love and look at the house of God is also the way we love our God. Though God dwells in our hearts, all things that are holy to God reflects the majesty of the Lord.

In these days when people have already forgotten and neglected the importance of the house of God, Christians should be reminded on how we should behave in the house of God, as Paul said. We can only show our deep love for God whom we do not see by giving love and reverence to a tangible manifestation of God.

Exodus 6:30
And Moses said before the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

Today's Thought: It is through the Lord's strength we can continue serving Him. 



In the movie, The Accountant, Ms. Medina was introduced by her superior. She said: As much as I'd like to take credit for this, I can't. Because this was a team effort comprised of long hours of good old-fashioned investigative work. It was an acknowledgment that it was not through her work that something was accomplished. 

It should also be the attitude of Christians. We should always acknowledge who gives us the strength to speak, to work, to do something for the Lord. Like Moses, we should know that we are sinners and we do not deserve to be the bearers of the goodness of the Lord, as well as His Good News of Salvation. It would be impossible to imagine that sinners like us could be used by a Holy God. 

It is a privilege to be part of the ministry of reconciliation. It is a badge of honor. More than that, it is also a privilege to know that a sinful sinner like you and me could be used by God for His glory. It is a thought that should keep us in the will of God. 

John 20:29

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Today's Thought: Unbelief hinders us from seeing and knowing who our God really is.



The smart new science professor at the college scarcely bothered to conceal the fact that he was an agnostic, if not an atheist. “Unless you shake off old-fashioned views and act for yourself,” he kept telling his classes, “the world will leave you behind. Putting your faith in God may be all right, but you can’t stop there. Take rain-making. When the farmers prayed for rain, what did they get? The Dust Bowl. Now all they do is to send up a plane, drop some chemicals on a cloud, and it rains. No question about that, is there?” To the professor’s surprise, a drawling farm boy spoke up. “Sure, there’s a question. Who furnishes the cloud?” (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations - 13834).

Thomas doubted the reports on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was a man of physical evidence, as being the concrete expression of his belief system. In answering Thomas's unbelief, Jesus showed Himself. As much as faith is believing the unseen, it is the expression of our knowledge of who the Lord is. Faith is always the equivalence of how much and how intimate our knowledge of Jesus Christ. Only those who knows their Lord can have a strong faith in Him.

Christians, if you have doubts on Jesus Christ, on His promises, you should cultivate your trust in Him by knowing Him. A closer walk with Jesus is the only for us to dwell in His promises, and grow our faith in Him. Sadly, there are other Christians who only know Him in the sphere of the salvation of their souls, nothing more.

Habakkuk 3:18

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 

Today's Thought: As much as you know the Lord, you should rejoice always.

There was a fellow who was about to jump from a bridge. An alert police officer slowly and methodically moved toward him, talking with him all the time. When the officer got within inches of the man he said, “Surely nothing could be bad enough for you to take your life. Tell me about it. Talk to me.” The would-be jumper told how his wife had left him, how his business had gone bankrupt, and how his friends had deserted him. Everything in life had lost meaning. For thirty minutes he told the sad story—then they both jumped. (-Anonymous)

Sometimes life will overwhelm you with troubles and sufferings. Habakkuk fully understood the meaning of trusting the Lord and not being defeated by despair. The entire book was a song of praise and trust to the Lord. In the preceding verse, Habakkuk mentions that even if the fig tree does not blossom, the vines do not bear fruit, the olives do not anything or the field does not produce any food, the Lord is worthy to be praised.

You can only rejoice in the Lord always amidst of all these troubles when you are fully grounded in Him. If you do not know who the Lord is in your life in an intimate manner, you also don't know His majestic power. And by and by, despair will engulf your life and you cannot find meaning on why you should rejoice.

Exodus 5:22

And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

Today's Thought: We just need to trust the Lord in everything because He sees it all.


In warfare, any commanding general would look for a higher place wherein they could start their attack of the enemy. Hannibal Barca of Carthage almost crossed Rome because he defeated the Romans being at a higher place and being able to see what's on the ground. As much as he was able to see the Roman troops, he was able to regroup his men and spread the strength of the larger Roman army.

As we journey through life, let us remember who is on the top of the mountain. The Lord, our God. He is our commanding general and He sees it all. Moses was already disheartened at the fact that his actions just jeopardized the people of Israel. But the Lord is not man that His actions should be like ours. What Moses saw to be saddening, God intended to be good. Paul summarizes it that to them who love the Lord Jesus Christ, everything works for good.

There are things in life we couldn't understand. The reason - we don't have the picture of everything. But let us always trust that He who works in our lives sees the bigger picture and knows how to navigate through to lead us toward success and an abundant life.

Isaiah 2:17

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

Today's Thought: The Lord will always get our praise and reverence, whether we like or not.


Nebuchadnezzar is a classic example on how the Lord can do everything to make people acknowledge that He is God of their lives and the world. Nebuchadnezzar was known throughout history as the great conqueror who made Babylon a great civilization. He was known for his hanging gardens, for his colossal buildings, and his pompous living. But the Lord taught him a lesson he bore until his death - acknowledgment of God's power and might over him.

If we fight against God, are we going to win? No. In all things, if we go against the living God, we always suffer defeat in life. We have fully understood this, but more than often we are the ones digging our holes by which we fall. As if ignorance of what will happen, we fight against the will of the living God. As a result, God would do the worst scenario of our lives to bring out the best of our days and keep us near Him.

It is always a fearful thing to fall in the hands of the living God. He is a consuming fire. Let us always be reminded that those who fought against God lost their fight. You cannot fight against the Creator of everything, the Savior of the world, the King of kings.

1 John 5:21

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 

Today's Thought: Knowing the Lord Jesus Christ keeps us from following after idols and other things of the world.


Hideyoshi, a Japanese warlord who ruled over Japan in the late 1500s, commissioned a colossal statue of Buddha for a shrine in Kyoto. It took 50,000 men five years to build, but the work had scarcely been completed when the earthquake of 1596 brought the roof of the shrine crashing down and wrecked the statue. In a rage Hideyoshi shot an arrow at the fallen colossus. "I put you here at great expense," he shouted, "and you can't even look after your own temple." (Today in the Word, MBI, August, 1991, p. 23.)

We may not worship false gods, but we face false gods in our values - materialism, self image, security, leisure, sensuality, among others. If our lives revolve on something more than God, then we are worshiping idols in our lives. John the Beloved reminded Christian believers to keep themselves from all appearance of anything or anyone that may stop them from worshiping the true God.

Let us be diligent to consider the idols in our lives. Let us uproot them and shoot arrow at them before they take possession of our hearts and led us astray from the presence of the Lord.

Isaiah 65:2

I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

Today's Thought: Rebellion against the Lord is punishable, but several Christians are rebels without a cause.


Rebellion is an open resistance against established authority characterized by disobedience of orders and commands. In most countries, rebellion is a crime punishable with the highest degree including death by hanging or even firing squad. Because rebellion is an affront against the authority or the government, it should also be treated with graver punishment.

Several Christians are rebelling against the Lord, their God, the King of kings. They don't want to follow the orders given by the Lord. It is an affront to the authority and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. If earthly authorities punish rebellion with the gravest degree, the Lord also punishes rebellion accordingly. Rebellion against the Lord is punishable by death as shown by the example of Dathan and Abiram, or by exile and misery as experienced by Israel, or by emotional struggle as dealt by David, or even by a prolonged punishment up to sons and grandsons.

Rebellion is a serious offense that Christians should not take lightly. God is not mocked; His commands and orders are not vested only by temporal powers, but by the Might of all might. It is a fearful thing, as always, to fall in the hands of God for our rebellion.

Proverbs 31:32

If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine upon hand upon thy mouth. 

Today's Thought: Acceptance and humility is needed if you have mistakes, not explanations.


"You have the right to remain silent and refuse to answer questions. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law." This is part of the Miranda warning which is recited by law enforcers if they apprehended a criminal. It is part of the safeguard that most constitutions of the world provide.

This is also true in the sight of God. When we have done foolish things in the sight of the Lord, there is no need for us to explain ourselves and prove that they we are innocent. Job clearly understands that he could not hide any thought from the Lord. With the omnipresence and omniscience of the Lord, we should not try to press our explanations but acknowledge out mistakes and sins before the Lord. As much as this is true with us, men, the mercy of the Lord always comes when there is humility and acceptance.

Correction comes when we wholehearted accept our mistakes. It will never come if we try to reason out and blame others, consequences, or even the weather. Correction comes to the man who is willing to be corrected, but it will never be for the man who does not accept his failure.

Luke 23: 23

 And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

Today's Thought: If  you start listening to the world, you won't hear the voice of the Lord.


Vox populi vox dei. The voice of the people is the voice of God.  This Latin phrase is often used in election days. We are conditioned to believe that the voice of the majority is the will of God. And more than often, we are also led to believe that God is always with the majority.

In this passage of the scripture, it was the voice of the people that sentenced Jesus to the cross. But it was Pilate who heard the voice of the people. Prior to this verse, in Luke 23:9 (and in all other parallel verses), Pilate asked Jesus but He did not answer. And Pilate did not hear the answer of the King to his accusations even when he was desirous to see him - His answer of meekness and humility befitting only the King of kings. He did not hear Jesus for knowing the Lord is not a matter of the mind but of the heart. When Pilate failed to hear the voice of Jesus, he only listened to the world.

In our lives, the world always has a louder voice. God has a still small voice. If we don't turn out full attention to God, we will not hear Him. But even if we don't turn out whole attention to the world, its voice will ring our ears. Beloved, let us be sure to be diligent in listening to the voice of God to observe and to do all He says. Otherwise, we will hear the loud voice of the world, even when we are so near to the Lord. By and by, we will find ourselves crucifying again our Lord.

Ezra 5:5

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

Today's Thought: When God intends you to do something for His glory, nobody can stop you from fulfilling the will of God in your life.


William Booth is a constant reminder of doing what God has laid in your heart. He was a circuit preacher for the Methodist Church and his wife, Catherine, was a constant Bible study leader for rich women in West End of London. But everytime William Booth crossed East End to his home, he would see the drunkards, the vagrants, and the orphans without a single preacher. He applied to be released from his circuit for him to focus on open air evangelism among the poor and miserable in London. When he was denied, he resigned from circuit work, and just did the work without the support of his congregation. The Salvation Army was born.

The elders of the Jews were already set to work in rebuilding the house of God, but they had oppositions coming from powerful political leaders. But these earthly leaders and governors were nothing compared to the King of kings. As much as they knew that they were doing the will of God, they pressed on. When God laid something to be done, nobody can stop it. What the Lord shuts remains shut, but what the Lord opens, it shall remain so.

As long as you are doing the will of God in your life, do not be afraid of opposition. Let them come and let God do the work against them. Just press on, without distractions. That's what you are bound to do.

2 Kings 18:5-6

He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.

Today's Thought: Holding unto God brings blessings unto your life.


It is often said that you can judge a person based on the body of his work. A good actress is known for the movies she has done. A good architect is known for the iconic structures he has made. A pianist is known for the symphonies he has played. A Christian is also judged by the deeds he has done.

In 2 Kings 18, we found Hezekiah. There was none like him among kings of Judah for his trust in the Lord. He held unto God like there was no other that could help him. Of course, that;s true. Hezekiah held unto God and never departed. He just stayed. And in the succeeding verses of the same passage, we found Hezekiah winning battles for the Lord. He was a victor because he held unto God. But Hoshea, in contrast, the king of Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians because he did not did which was good in the sight of God.

We only have two choices. It is either we cling and hold unto God for his miraculous blessings or to leave him and be miserable, downtrodden, and defeated. The choice is up to you and me.

Proverbs 21:25

The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labor. 

Today's Thoughts: The Lord expects us to work and labor for His glory.


The orchestra is a perfect set of instruments beautifully producing a single music. One day, they got tired of entertaining people and they were on strike. When the pianist tipped the C, no music came out. When the violinist started to strike, no music came out. All other instruments produced nothing but silence. A week went by and the orchestra was silent. Then came the years. The orchestra instruments were now rusting and dusty. They ended their strike, but their music was not cranky and creepy.

We are saved by the Lord to work on His ministry of reconciliation. We are called to be part of His Church. We are called to labor. If we will not do our part on this laborious work of people, one day our desire will also die. We are not called to sit down and watch the sunrise to sunset. We are called to work for the Lord. As a father works for His children, he is doing it as unto the Lord. As a mother keeps the home, she is doing it as unto the Lord. As the children work, they are doing it as unto the Lord.  There is labor in the Lord, but rewards are also prepared.

The lazy has no room in the presence of the Lord. The lazy does not open his bible and meditate on the Word of God. The lazy does not pray. The lazy does not win souls. The lazy does not invite people. The lazy will never be available for the Lord. And one day, the lazy goes home to heaven early for he is bearing fruits.

2 Corinthians 3:5

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. 

Today's Thought: Only by the power of God can you and I do something for Him.


Have you ever played baseball as a kid? Have you experienced when you father or someone else held your hand and batted on the ball? All you have to do is make a home run. You beam with pride and joy as if you are the one who did the job of swinging the bat and hitting the ball.

It is the same with our Lord Jesus Christ. We should allow him to hold our hand, swing the bat for us, hit the ball. All we need to do is run the course set by the Lord. Paul put it simply as dependence on the sufficiency of the Lord's grace. We cannot claim anything, any success or forward achievement. All we do have is this filthiness within us that we are fighting by the power of God. It is the Lord's doing that we enjoy everything we have.

Have you depended on God to fight against the wiles of the devil? Have you depended on God in ridding of several forms of idolatry in your heart? Have you depended on God for the provisions everyday? Have you depended on the grace of God for new strength? Only through His power will you ever experience joy beyond compare.

Deuteronomy 29:5

And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

Today's Thought: The blessing of the Lord comes in unnoticeable things.


When we talk of blessings, we would often associate it with new good things given to us. While blessings do not just comprise tangible things, more than often these tangibles become the standard of how people gauge blessings from the Lord. And not only that, more noticeable things become standard of blessings.

But this was not the case with the nation of Israel during the wilderness journey. They experienced remarkable miracles from the Lord. They had seen it all.  But in this passage of the scripture, the Lord did not talk about the parting of the Red Sea, the plagues on Egypt or the manna from heaven. Instead, the Lord told them how their clothes did not wax old or their shoes worn out.

We may not have all new good things, but we always have the blessings of our Lord. A pair of shoes that should have worn out long ago still looks good. No need to buy a new one. A car that has thousands of mileage on its speedometer, though cranky, is still working.A savings from the Lord. A phone that has experienced several falls is still fine. No need for a new one. And a list of all others. The Lord has blessed us with all these blessings - but we just don't notice them.

Psalm 104:34

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

Today's Thought: It is always sweet to think of how gracious and merciful the Lord our God is.


It is often said that the one we think more is the one we love. They are the ones that make us smile and think of a better tomorrow. It is like a cycle that gets a person going. To think more of the person and thereby love the person even more as the days go by.

But none could ever be sweeter than knowing God and His unconditional love toward man. Because of what the Lord has done in our lives, our thought of Him will always be sweet. It is this knowledge of the Lord's love that should keep us going in our Christian life, that should be put fire in our service, that should warm our hearts for the future.

So much the more, the more we think of God, the more we become glad and in love with Him. It is His love that brings us closer to him, that makes us strong in our adversity, and hopeful in our pains. Let us not forget and turn away from this wonderful thought of the Lord's sweetness and His love.

Jeremiah 4:3

For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Today's Thought: God's Word and grace can only grow in our hearts if we are willing and ready for its nourishment.


One of the basics in farming is breaking the ground and preparing it for the sowing of seeds. A wise farmer would not plant on a hard ground, but will make sure that the ground is properly broken and soil nutrients are mixed and distributed throughout. It takes patience and labor to prepare the ground for the seeds.

This is also the process of our hearts for the Word of God and His matchless grace. We need to break our hearts, get rid of weeds of sins growing, thoroughly mix the soil, and make sure the sun and air are able to pass through freely. Only then will the Word of God can take root in our hearts. It will be a laborious process, for sure, but it will make sure that the Word of God can find a place in our hearts and grow thereby.

If we want to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, we need to labor. We need to rid of the sins growing in our garden. We need to labor in reading the Word of God. We need to be patient in our prayers. And we need to be open to the leading of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 29:18

Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

Today's Thought: Turning away from the Lord costs too much more than one can bear.


"Among the signs of backsliding are indifference to prayer and self-examination; trifling or unprofitable conversation; neglect of public worship; shunning the people of God; association with the world; thinking lightly of sin; neglect of the Bible; and often gross immorality." This how the old minister of times Charles Buck described the way of turning away from the Lord. It does not happen in an instant, it is a process. If you have these symptoms, you should be alarmed. Ask the Great Physician for healing.

Otherwise, when we turn our backs from following the Lord to serving other gods, the sure wrath of God is ready to consume us. The cost of turning away from the Lord is too much. Deuteronomy 29:18 talks about a man, a woman, a family and a tribe whose heart is turning away from Him. And when they turn away from God, even if they do understand the curse coming their way, they still think that they have peace (Deut. 29:19). And of all a sudden, the anger of the Lord is poured upon that man, woman, family or tribe. Add to that, the curse on a man, woman, family or tribe was also extended to the entire land, that other nations asked "what had been done by the Lord to this land?"

Before we turn our back from the Lord, let us remember that cost of backsliding. It will cause pain to our family, our church, our future children and so on. Much more, it will consume us to the very end. Let us always desire to seek God and Him alone. If we have the signs of backsliding, let us seek God's healing and let us not wait for the wrath of God. God's grace is always enough.

Romans 15:30

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

Today's Thought: Prayer is striving against two enemies - yourself and the devil.


"By profession, I am a soldier, and take pride in that fact, but I am prouder, infinitely prouder, to be a father... It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me, not from the battle, but in the home repeating with him our simple, daily prayer, our Father Who art in Heaven." These were the words of General Douglas MacArthur. He was a man who understood what is his priority in life - prayer.

It is hard to expect Christians to pray for bigger things when they cannot even pray for their meals, or even the brand new day the Lord gives them. Only few Christians pray because only few Christians strive to pray. Paul was asking the believers at Rome to strive with him in prayers to God. Prayer does not come with much enjoyment and ease, one must endure and strive to fight against his own flesh and against the devil.

If all aspects of our Christian lives are summed up, prayer would be the least. But of all aspects of our Christian lives, prayer stands lofty with the highest importance. We can do everything, create new programs, work on new inventions, but without prayer, everything we do is just for ourselves and through ourselves. Prayer puts us in the presence of God, to commune with Him, and ask for His guidance.

Nahum 1:6

Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

Today's Thought: Do not resist the power of God; those who are for Him are always victorious.


Isaiah 45:9 could be heard ringing with these words "Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!" One cannot fight against God and expects to win. He or she is just bound to lose and destruction. This is what happened to the pharaoh of Egypt who resisted the word of the Lord as spoken by Moses. The pharaoh even asked "Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go."

Yet, several Christians today are also bent on raising their will against the Lord, affronting the power and authority of God over their lives. They have clearly forgotten the truth of the Word of God - those who fought against God were destroyed, and utterly consumed. Nobody can stand before the might of God, even His voice roars the earth.

If you are fighting against God, consider your ways. You cannot strive against the King of kings. You can only ask favor from Him and He will bless you. Ask for God's grace and forgiveness in your life and do not wait for the fury of God to be poured on you.

Luke 9:23

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

Today's Thought: Following Jesus Christ is not easy, but a constant reminder of our death and Christ living in us.


The greatest denier of himself is the apostle Paul. He constantly reminded himself of dying daily for Christ to be seen in his life. He was a lawyer by profession, and he denied it - even considered all he learned as dung for him to know Christ. It was a life wholly dedicated to his Master - a life of Christ's.

Let us be reminded today that following Christ is about Christ and not us. There will be struggles along the way. It will be a constant fight against our flesh, against the devil. We should reflect the life of Christ, and it is only possible if we deny ourselves for Christ to take the pre-eminence in our lives.

Following Christ is not easy for true discipleship demands our nothingness and Christ's everything. Charles Spurgeon said, "Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else."

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy people, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

Today's Thought: You are saved to praise the Lord, none else.


When we buy things, we chose the best. The motivation behind is for the clothes to praise our body and reflect our desires. We don't buy and intend to look like clowns on our clothes, except for the Emperor who has new clothes of course.

In the same way with God, we are a chosen people. It is very important that we keep ourselves holy for the Lord. We are not chosen for any other thing, but for the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should always keep in mind that our salvation is for the Lord to be magnified in our lives.

Our lives are designed for God. We are also made for God. We are also saved by the Lord Jesus Christ for His glory and honor. Do not serve other gods.

Daniel 1:9

Now God had brought Daniel info favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

Today's Thought: Only the Lord can prepare favor among men for you.


Working in a company is not easy. You have to maintain a harmonious relationship with co-workers who may not like you. Conflicts arise in the workplace and it becomes the reason for the turnover among employees. As much as it is true with the workplace, it is also true with other aspects and areas of a person's life.

Daniel had just been taken captive from Judah as one of the chosen young men to be under the Jewish education program of Nebuchadnezzar. It was a new land with the eunuchs who didn't have affinity with the nation of Israel. It would have been already hard. And Daniel contended not to defile himself with the meat at the king's table - that would mean disaster. But Daniel found favor with the prince of eunuchs. It was the Lord who brought that favor, who worked in the heart of the prince of eunuchs for him to favor Daniel.

If we want to be favored at school, at the our workplace, or anywhere, let us first found favor in the sight of God. If we have an intimate relationship with God, surely all these things will He add unto us.

Job 40:4

Behold, I am vile: what shall I answer three? I will lay mine hand upon my head. 

Today's Thought: God knows the best for us; let us lay our lives before Him.


Throughout the preceding chapters of Job, Job reasoned and complained about the predicament he was in. He pleaded his cause before God and talked about the suffering he suffered from. It was so typical of us when we are struggling, we ask God for an answer, for an explanation.

And Job got his answer. God asked Job where was he when He made the world, or where was he when He did all the wondrous things - dividing the watercourse, causing rain to pour, and even giving strength to all creatures. With everything that God did, Job was silenced. All Job could do was close his mouth and humble himself before God.

In everything we are in, let us remember to give God the glory and praise. Let us keep the song of Horatio Spafford in our hearts, "it is well with my soul" for God is in control.

2 Chronicles 30:9

For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. 

Today's Thought: God is always willing to accept and embrace those who come unto Him with a humble heart.



In His omniscience God knows that one day man will turn away from Him. Before God created the world, He knew that Adam would fall, that Israel would fail Him, but God continued on. And because of God's unfailing and everlasting love, He did not just create the world, the sinful man, but He also designed a plan on how to rescue man. For me, it is the grandest expression of love.

As Christians, we are only trying to grow through God's grace, but we will still fail. And in our failure, there is a promise of God - that He will accept us. There is only one requirement to this promise - if we will turn again unto the Lord. In all our failures, we only need to come unto God as we are, no conditions, no pretension, no self righteousness. Just come.

The good thing about God is His promise of conditionally accepting us. Why? Because this is the nature of God. He is a gracious and merciful God.

Psalm78:58

For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. 

Today's Thought: God is of tender mercies and slow to wrath, but do not provoke him to anger.



One of God's attribute is his longsuffering and slow to wrath. Because God is a God of compassion and mercies, He is also patient and slow to wrath. A forgiving God who always provides chances to His children. In fact, it is because of His tender mercies and His unfailing compassion that we are not consumed.

However, let us not tempt the Lord and provoke Him to anger. The nation of Israel had been provided by the Lord with manna during the wilderness journey. They saw the wondrous things God did - the crossing of the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, water gushing from stones, and even the wonderful provisions. God recounted all the good things He did for His people, but God also lamented how they provoked Him to anger.

When we provoke God to anger by forgetting His commandments and serving other gods - physical or abstract - in our hearts, do we expect to stand before the wrath of God? After they provoked God to anger, "the fire consumed their young men."

Revelation 14:12

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 

Today's Thought: Serving the Lord is a long road to travel.


Foxe's Book of Martyrs is filled with accounts on how Christians of long ago endured pain and hardships as they serve God. It was not an easy road for them as they suffered persecution and even death. But they steadfastly continued in the commands of God and the faith of Jesus.

Christian service is not a holiday in the beach or a walk at the park. It is a life to be endured with joy and patience. You are going to fight against yourself and to die daily in suppressing the flesh wherein you dwell. You are going to fight the wiles of the devil seeking to devour you. You are going to be steadfast as others mock and speak of all manners of evil against you. This is the real Christian service.

But through all these, there is the promise of joy, the promise of companionship, and the promise of heaven. God rewards the service done unto Him for they are they not in vain.

Matthew 17:7

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 

Today's Thought: God is a God of love and not of fear.


When I was younger, I thought of God as a domineering tyrant who only wants to be obeyed. He was a distant God to me, whom should I fear and tremble. But knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and becoming a child of God changed everything. My Father in heaven is not a tyrant, but a loving and gentle God.

Our God is a God of love who constantly assures us of not being afraid of anything and everything, much more of His presence. This was the essence of the Garden of Eden - God wanted to commune with Adam. But Adam broke this sweet fellowship with God, and Christ reconciled us back to God for this sweet communion. We can now call Him Father and we can now present our sins for forgiveness, supplications for answers, and thanksgiving for His goodness before Him.

When Jesus came into my heart, He touched my life like never before. But everyday, Jesus touches my life and constantly tells me: Be not be afraid.

Nehemiah 9:2

And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. 

Today's Thought: Before confession, there should be a complete separation.


I grew up in a religion wherein I only needed to confess my sins to the person behind the wall. After wards, I needed to make amends by praying a litany of prayers. It was the kind of a confession that I knew until I found the Lord Jesus Christ. There was a separation between me and the priest behind the wall, but it was a superficial separation.

Confession is a vital element in forgiveness. There should be an acknowledgement of sins through confession for forgiveness to be effectual. Otherwise, forgiveness is a ready but rejected gift. Without separation, it is impossible to have a 180-degree turn away from sin making the confession process bogus, a sham, and a show.

If a gambler wants to confess his sins, he should stop associating with other gamblers. If a drunkard wants to stop drinking, he needs to stay away from bars. If we want to show the seriousness of our confession, let us begin with separation.

Lamentations 3:39

Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? 

Today's Thought: As much as we sinned against the Lord, let us be ready for the spanking.


The greatest problem of most Christians is the inability to know when God sends His trials and when He punishes us for our sins. Even if we are already rebuked by the Lord, we always say we are tested by God and we shall come forth as gold. It is a tragedy of self righteousness that God prolongs the punishment we are in.

When we are sinning against God, let us expect for the punishments of God as well. And when we are punished, the right response is to accept our shortcoming and ask God for mercy, rather than complain for what God has put us into because of our hardheadedness. It will not do us good, but only the acknowledgement of our sins and the forgiveness of God can put us through.

Even more, when we are punished and acknowledged our sins, let us remember that while God causes us pain in our punishment, the compassion and mercies of God are always enough.

Zechariah 7:12

Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts. 

Today's Thought: God will get our hearts by gentle kindness or by his loving harsh rebuke.


The diamond is considered the hardest natural material in the world (not until wurtzite boron nitride's superior strength is totally known). Diamond cutting is a specialization by itself as cutting nature's hardest material and polishing into the gem it should be takes knowledge, precision and the exactness of everything to be done.

But hearts of men are harder than the hardest natural material of the world. It is the seat of every good and evil thoughts that come into the mind of a person. As often said, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. Men decide not to hear the word of God, not that they cannot heart the sounds of it, but they determine not to hearken unto the word of God.

Let us remember that God reins and searches hearts of men. The Creator of everything, including you and me, can do whatever pleases Him to get you and me back to Him. While God is the still small voice of the beautiful day, He is also the God who sends gentle thunders to get our attention.