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Psalm 91 & John 16: The Protection of the Most High
Written by Jada Grace Wells

Psalm 91 says God will protect us, that no evil will conquer us.

I’ll be honest: this used to be hard for me to believe. After losing my mom to cancer a few years ago, I struggled to trust the promises found in Psalm 91, like “He will protect you from deadly disease” and “No plague will come near your home.”

But then Jesus spoke into this tension in John 16. He tells us we will face trouble and suffering of many kinds, but He says, “Take heart, I have overcome the world.”

That is the protection God promises, not that evil won’t touch us, but that it will never have the victory. Jesus has overcome the world.

“If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you, no plague will come near your home.” Psalm 91:9-10 NLT

My mom had to walk through cancer, but she was never conquered by it. In the last two years of her life, I never saw her more at peace, joyful, hopeful, and fearless. Evil may have touched her body, but it never touched her heart. She wasn’t conquered by cancer; she was protected by the Most High.

Psalm 91 and John 16 together give us a clear picture of God’s protection. It’s not protection from suffering, it’s protection from being defeated by it.

With that truth, I began reading Psalm 91 with new eyes:

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
His faithful promises will be your armor and protection.
You will not fear the terror of the night.
I will be with you in trouble.
No evil will conquer you.

This is the protection God promises us. This is why we can take heart in every trial of this life. We may face suffering now, but evil will never have the final word. Jesus has already won!

As we start this new year, let’s pray as a church for God’s protection—not from hardship, but from defeat. Ask Him to protect you and your family’s peace, hope, and joy, so that no matter what trials lie ahead, our hearts will not be defeated.

Father, 

I know I will face troubles of many kinds.
Just as Jesus wasn’t exempt from suffering, I know I will also face suffering by the hands of evil, and so I need Your protection to cover me.
Protect my peace.
Protect my joy.
Give me Your rest in the shadow of Your wings. Armor me with Your faithful promises.
Protect me from the traps I may be walking into. Give me hope and unshakeable courage in the face of uncertainty.
Do not let evil conquer me.
I choose to rest in the promise that no matter what I face, You will be with me.
You will uphold me. I can take heart, for You have overcome the world.
So I will not be afraid, for I dwell in the shelter of the Most High. You are my God and I trust You. 

Amen.

Abide in Me, By Pastor Steve Wells

Scripture: John 15:4-11 (ESV)
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me… for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Intuitively, this verse makes total sense to us! Jesus’ words are easy to understand. And I am convinced that all believers read these verses (15:4-11) and immediately want everything Jesus is offering us—fruitfull, answered prayer, deep joy, and the assurance of His love. But somehow, for many of us, this call to daily abiding is intermittent at best.

But why? Why do we get this right some days and not others?
Let’s begin by asking another question.

What does it mean to truly “abide”? Other translations use the phrase “remain in me,” and I believe those words can offer us some help. To “remain” implies that we stay close, that we don’t wander off, that we keep near and don’t move away from the source of our life – which is Christ Jesus.

Yet we often fail to remain close because of our distracted and wandering hearts. We get pulled in a hundred directions—notifications, worries, plans, pleasures—and before we know it, we’ve drifted.

Even more subtly, we don’t abide consistently because we are selective about when we feel we need to abide. Let’s be honest: there are areas of life we believe are under our control—our daily routines, work tasks, relationships, spending, conversations—and in those moments we quietly think to ourselves, “I’ve got this.” Then, when we face something that feels beyond our control—illness, crisis, big decisions—we run back to God for help. In essence, we decide to abide only when we sense a great need for His help, and we go it alone when we feel self-sufficient in our daily routine.

And lastly we struggle to abide because somewhere along the way we confused abiding with our the time we spend in prayer in the morning. It’s important to remember yes, abiding is a part of our morning prayer time with the Father, but abiding should not end when our morning prayer ends and our work day begins. True Abiding happens all day long.

Jesus wasn’t offering us partial connection. (Partial Abiding = Partial Connection) He said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” And while we have learned through experience that we can do some things on our own, the fruit that Jesus is speaking about is eternal. Apart from Him- you and I will not bear eternal fruit and our lives will lack joy and we will not see Him answer prayer in a way that demonstrates the power and authority of God working in our lives.

The Solution: Pre-Decide to Daily Abide (all day, everyday).
Make it a predetermined decision—before each day begins—to abide (remain) in Him. Start each morning by staying close, drawing near, remaining connected to the vine because you believe that you need Him for everything and in all things.

Think About it:
What would this week/month look like if you lived as though Jesus’ words were 100% true—that apart from Him you truly can do nothing of lasting/eternal value?

Imagine beginning each day surrendered, dependent, connected to Christ in the small things and the big things alike. Now imagine remaining in the heart of abiding throughout the day – for every single decision and choice you face. . What if that was the path for you to find the real fruitfulness and joy He promised in John 15. Read Psalm 63 and notice how King David understood the importance of daily & continual abiding with God. Notice how he sought after God day and night – like he was looking was water in the desert! Oh may we have a heart like King David to do the same.

Prayer:
Father, I confess that too often I wander, I drift, and I live independently, convinced I can handle much of life on my own. Forgive me for my distracted heart and my selective dependence. Today I pre-decide to abide in You—to remain close, to stay near, to draw my life from Christ alone. Guard my heart from distraction, wandering, pride, and the illusion of control. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I bear much fruit, so that I may prove to be Your true disciple, and experience the full joy that Jesus promised. I commit myself anew – to abide in you – daily.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Quinton Fitts

I believe Psalm 51 and John 14 hold some of the greatest encouragements for us.

In Psalm 51, when it’s boiled down, what we see is an imperfect person who loves God and is responding to the sin in his life. Throughout scripture, we see that God has preserved this description of David as a man after God’s own heart and yet we also see his tragic sin laid before us. It’s not until the prophet Nathan confronts David and the weight of his sin festers in his heart that we see David’s response in Psalm 51.

In John 14, Jesus first starts out by confirming for us that He is the only way denying all other religions and paths to heaven. I always find it so interesting that every other religion makes room for Jesus saying He is a good religious teacher or a very special profit or some kind of enlightened person, but when you look at the words of Jesus Himself in John 14:6, He denies everything and everyone else! We also read of an incredible promise in John 14 – the Holy Spirit. One of the things captured in this promise is that the Holy Spirit will “bring to remembrance all that I said to you.” This verse can give us full confidence that the testimonies of the Gospels are true and accurate because they were written by men “moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).

I think there is a neat linkage about the Holy Spirit and evangelism found between Psalm 51:10-13 and John 14:26-27.

In the Psalm we see this:
Verse 10 – repentance
Verse 11 – seeking the Father
Verse 12 – renewal
Verse 13 – obedience

Humility comes first in the pursuit of an intimate relationship with God. What is so beautiful though, is how God is able to transform us from the inside out and equip us through His Holy Spirit to accomplish His Kingdom work. We may feel ill equipped, unworthy, or uneducated theologically to share the hope of Christ with non-believers – but this a lie! God is able to use a contrite and willing heart to reach the lost. Like David, the Holy Spirit will give us the ability to sing to God that we will “teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.”

The profound love of God has no end. Not only does He go to the cross to wash us clean, but He sends us help to walk in this new life that He has called us to. Towards the end of John 14 where we see the promise of the Holy Spirit, there are two powerful attributes that stick out. First, that the Holy Spirit will “teach you all things”. The Spirit will help us discern the things of God, so we must lean on Him for understanding. Second, that the Holy Spirit will “bring to remembrance” all that He said. Like the disciples, we must store in our heart all of Christ’s teachings so that the Spirit can bring these things to remembrance.

I have a heart for evangelism, but there was a time where I had no idea how to talk about my faith and I was so scared to engage in spiritual conversations. But where do you even start? I think the scripture we looked at today is a great starting point. Realizing that God will equip us to do the things He has called us to do is so freeing! Its not our job to save people, its our job to proclaim the good news – God will save them! Don’t put all the pressure on your shoulders.

Where is our heart at though? Like David, there might be some unchecked sin in our lives that we need to address first and man it would be nice to have a Nathan to call us out so we knew! Well maybe there is something that comes to mind right now and the Holy Spirit is illuminating that thing for you to address.

Are you seeking the Father? There are so many distractions in our lives, but if you wrote down a priority list, where does God fall on that list? Is He your way, your truth, and your life? What is one step of surrender that you can do today to show God that you are ready for His renewal in your life and ready to experience His peace that He promises.

Lastly, do you have a Kingdom mindset? Reaching the lost does not need to look like you standing on a street corner, God has surrounded you with the people He wants you to reach, but do you trust that He can use you? Maybe you need to store the truths of His Word not only in your head, but also in your heart so the Spirit can bring these things to remembrance.

Lord thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. Help me to live by your Spirit and not by my flesh. Illuminate in me the things that are displeasing to you and help me to overcome them. Give me wisdom and discernment to know you more intimately so that I can share your light with others more accurately. I love you and praise you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Cameron Greenhaw

There are certain passages in Scripture that have had a profound impact on our lives. John 13 is one of those passages for me. To rightly apply this passage, however, it’s important to first understand what is happening in the text.

There is a clear shift in John’s Gospel between chapters 12 and 13. The first twelve chapters cover roughly three and a half years of Jesus’ life and ministry. Beginning in chapter 13, the pace slows dramatically, as the next seven chapters focus on the final twenty-four hours leading up to His crucifixion. These are Jesus’ last, intimate moments with His disciples—moments filled with deep emotion and intentionality. They would become memories the disciples would return to and reflect on for the rest of their lives.

At the opening of chapter 13, John highlights several important truths. First, Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to depart from this world. He was fully aware that His sacrificial death was imminent and that everything leading up to it was about to unfold. Second, having loved those whom the Father had given Him, Jesus loved them to the very end. Everything that follows in these chapters flows from that love. Third, Judas had already set his heart on betraying Jesus. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him and that others would deny Him and leave Him alone. He was not caught off guard by what was coming. Finally, Jesus understood that the Father had placed all things into His hands and that He was returning to the Father.

It is in this moment—when all eyes are on Jesus, waiting to see what He will do next—that He does something utterly unexpected. He gets up from the table, removes His outer garment, wraps a towel around His waist, and begins to wash the disciples’ feet. Foot washing was one of the most degrading tasks, reserved for the lowest servants. Yet Jesus willingly embraced this role, humbling Himself to serve others, much to the shock and discomfort of His disciples.

Jesus washed each of their feet—including Judas’—and then returned to His place to explain what He had done. He reaffirmed that He is their Lord and Teacher. And if He, their Lord, Teacher, and Messiah, humbles Himself to serve them, then they too ought to serve the needs of others. Jesus is not offering a kind suggestion; He is setting an expectation for those who follow Him to fill their lives with serving others.

While Jesus expects us to regularly serve others, He also gives us a promise: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” The blessing does not come from merely knowing what we should do, but from actually doing it—humbly serving others from a heart of love, even when it requires self-sacrifice.

When I first truly understood this passage, it began to have a profound impact on my life. I started intentionally looking for ways to serve the needs of those around me. It wasn’t easy. I often had to sacrifice my time, money, preferences, and plans in order to benefit others. But the reward has been great—seeing the kingdom of heaven advanced through simple acts of service.

How are you doing at seeing the needs of those around you and meeting them on a daily basis? How willing are you to volunteer for the tasks no one else wants to do? If Jesus—our Lord and Savior—paused in the most intense moment of His life to carry out a lowly, practical act of service, how can we not regularly seek opportunities to serve others?

Serving others is what Jesus expects from us. It reflects His heart and His life to the world around us. When we serve the people in our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, churches, and communities, we bring the presence and character of Jesus into those spaces. Today and throughout this week, look for opportunities to follow His example: washing dishes, cleaning floors, taking on an unwanted task at work, helping a neighbor, serving in KidMin, ushering during a service, or meeting any number of everyday needs. Remember Jesus’ words: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

Closing Prayer – Jesus, thank you for leading by example to lovingly serve the needs of those around me. Show me today where I can serve others in any fashion and any area of my life to reflect your love and goodness to them. Help me to serve humbly and with excellence as my service ultimately serves you today. Amen.

By Pastor Robby

What is your mission for your life? It’s a tough question to answer, and maybe not something we think about all that often. Jesus knew that how we answer this question matters, so he actually answered it for us in John 12:44-50. In this section, we actually learn a few key things about his mission that can help us answer this question for ourselves.

First, we learn that God the Father is the one who sent him on this mission, and a key part of this mission is to be light in the world. Light helps us to see and understand what is going on around us. Without it, we’re just lost in the darkness. That’s one of the things that Jesus does in his mission, he helps rescue us from the chaos and confusion of stumbling through the darkness

Next, Jesus tells us that he has not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He knows that his job is not to condemn people and inform them that they’re bad people. The thing is, we usually know we’re bad apart from Jesus, even if we would rather not admit it. Instead, Jesus has come to save us from our wickedness. That isn’t to say there isn’t judgement for some. In the very next verse is 48 Jesus tells us that those who do reject him and his message will face judgement on the last day, but that day is not today because today is the time for salvation.

Jesus finally closes this by saying that the things he is saying are not his own, but are the words he has received from the Father. He’s here to give life because our heavenly Father gives new life. We should walk away from this verse excited because this is all good news!

I noticed something about this verse, and I want to know if maybe you noticed it, too. As Jesus’ followers, his mission is our mission. We should be continuing his mission, the one he is laying out here, today. Did you notice that there is a challenge here in these verses? Jesus knows that our natural, sinful flesh wants to start by judging other people. Judging people is easy, and it makes us feel better about ourselves. It often elevates our view of ourselves over others. That’s not what Jesus says to do, though. We’re supposed to bring the light to people who are in darkness, not judge them. We’re called to point them to the salvation found in Jesus.

It’s time to ask ourselves some uncomfortable questions. Do I bring people light or darkness? Do lost people who encounter me see the light of Jesus in my life, or are they still left in the dark? Am I known by others as helping people find salvation through Christ, or am I known more by how I judge others? I know for me, I regularly find myself operating in the darkness and must constantly remind myself that I should be moving people towards the light of Jesus.

You might also struggle with this. Maybe your mission for your life has felt a bit aimless. If you answered honestly, you’d say you’ve been living your life in the pursuit of money, power, comfort, or something else. Your mission has been more about yourself and less about telling people how Jesus can rescue them from the darkness. That’s ok, though, because that’s what this fast is all about. We’re using this time to redirect our lives so we’re doing Jesus’ mission, not our own.

I know for me, I will be on the lookout today for whom I can have a gospel conversation with. It doesn’t have to be jumping right into sharing the gospel. It may just start with a conversation about their day, or what they believe about Jesus. You can do that today as well. That would be a great way to make Jesus’ mission your mission. Let’s pray now and ask for Jesus to help us do his mission.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the mission you gave your son, to be light in the darkness and save us instead of judge us. I am so grateful for all Jesus has done in pursuing me in that mission. I ask that you would help me to make that my mission, too. Help me to lay aside whatever mission my sinful flesh may desire and instead to boldly pursue Jesus’ mission of saving the lost with my life. Send me to someone today who needs to hear about your light, and empower me to boldly share the story of your Son with them. I know this mission is difficult, but if you are with me, then I can do it. Amen.

By Nina Ellis

Have you ever felt like the enemy was directly pursuing you – with no break in sight? A number of years back I was tested on every level: physically, spiritually, emotionally, even socially. Only a few months into a very bad divorce, bankruptcy came knocking at the door which resulted in losing my car. Then came robbery at gunpoint right in front of my apartment and viewing mug shots at work with the police. And afterwards a client threatening me with a knife. Yes, there were physical and emotional battles (even some PTSD) that ensued and “friends” that disappeared. Where was God? How can evil win? How do I survive it all?

David in Psalm 37 answers that age-old question about the wicked versus the righteous. As an old man he looks back on life and offers wisdom and instruction. From the time he was a shepherd boy facing scoffing brothers and an evil army with a giant champion, David knew battles with the world, the flesh, the enemy. He faced a mad, evil king, neighboring armies, wicked advisers, and even his own children! What would he say to us? Although he mentions “wicked” or “evil” in some form almost 20 times in Psalm 37, he offers us practical wisdom to stay on track: don’t fret; trust and do good; commit; delight yourself in God; be still; don’t be angry; wait for the LORD Yahweh – He will not abandon His faithful ones! In fact, He holds our hand (v24)!

David’s godly advice points toward a God who will destroy evil and give an everlasting inheritance to His own – guaranteed because our enemies are in fact His enemies. In the meantime we have a path to walk with Him.

When we turn to John 11, evil and death are front page news in Bethany, near Jerusalem.
This chapter has unexpected main characters: a corpse 4 days in a tomb, two grieving sisters, crowds mourning and crowds plotting evil. And then there’s Jesus, deliberately late to the event. He’s just told the religious people that He and the Father are One – a public declaration of “I AM”. Now He’s going to trigger the final event which causes His arrest and execution: the public raising of Lazarus from stench to life! “I AM the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live and never, ever die!”

All the goodness and life that David foresaw was wrapped in God’s best gift – His blameless, perfect Son. No more grave clothes. Victory over sin, flesh, and an evil world! Don’t fret, Mary and Martha, be still and wait for the LORD. Don’t fret, Christian, God is still on the throne! Delight in Him.

Prayer: LORD, I confess that too often I look at evil and fret – it’s not fair! I’m drowning! Turn my eyes towards Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith, the One who carries me and holds my hand when I’m facing evil. In the Powerful Name of Jesus, I pray.

By Kylie McCracken

As we hit the halfway mark of the first month of 2026 and halfway through this 21 Day journey together, how is it going? What is your heart longing for in this new year and in this season of prayer & fasting? I believe your true answer is probably found in today’s reading. (Did you read John 10 & Psalm 34 before ending up here? If you haven’t read it, go there first! God speaks to us through His living & active Word. Don’t skip the most important part.)

What are you praying or longing for:
Is it a rich & satisfying life? (John 10:10)
Is it knowing & being known by the Father? (John 10:14)
Is it hearing the voice of Jesus? (John 10:27)
Is it freedom from fear? (Psalm 34:4)
Is it joy? (Psalm 34:5)
Is it peace, help, rescue, protection? (Psalm 34:14, 17, 19, 22)

I believe your answer is on the list because the list describes the life Jesus died to give us. It also describes the life the enemy does not want us to experience. Many remain stuck in restlessness, anxiety, and a daily life that feels anything but rich & satisfying. The enemy’s lies and our own choices cause us to forget we are sheep who are known, protected, and led by the Good Shepherd. We try to be shepherds of our own lives. We don’t really trust our true Shepherd, so we have to depend on ourselves to figure it all out and hold together everyone & everything around us.

It doesn’t have to be that way!

I am a sheep. I can’t protect myself. I can’t carry heavy burdens. I can’t even lead myself without ending up needing rescued. I can stress and wear myself out wandering around in the dark all on my own, or I can choose to trust my Shepherd. We live in a broken world and we WILL face helplessness, shame, fear, desperation, and troubles. What we decide to do with those moments will determine if we get stuck, or if we walk in peace, joy, and freedom. The choice is ours.

“I sought the Lord and He answered me.” Psalm 34:4
“Those who look to Him for help are radiant with joy.” Psalm 34:5
“Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8
Our part is Seeking Him, Looking to Him for help & taking refuge in Him. And the result is Joy.
The hard part is, there is no need for help or refuge on an easy, boring road where everything goes right all the time. Trust me, I know none of us want to sign up for circumstances that will drive us to asking for help and seeking refuge. But the truth is, the hardest moments in my life have created the deepest confidence in me that the Father’s promises are true and His faithfulness is unwavering. Not just because I have heard He is faithful, but because:

He freed me from my fears.
He saved me from my troubles.
He surrounded me & defended me.
He has given me every good thing I need.
He heard me. He is near.
He rescued me – over and over again. He redeemed.
He knows me, and I hear his voice.
He has been my peace and He has given me joy.

At the end of John Chapter 10, the people wanted proof that Jesus is who He says He is. After witnessing wonders and miracles first hand and hearing Jesus’ words from His own mouth, they still had to make a choice. Was He a blasphemer or was He truly God? The chapter ends with “many followed Him…many believed…” that meant some still didn’t. Some wanted to arrest and stone him. I just want to stand on the side of the road pleading, “Look at how much proof you have already seen! How much more do you need?” But as I was reading this, I felt the Holy Spirit point me back to my own heart and ask me the same question. I still do that sometimes, too. I have seen His goodness, and I can still choose to hold on and not run to Him for help until after I have exhausted myself trying to handle it on my own.

What about you? What have you seen Him do? What proof is in your life that Jesus is who He says He is? Are you still looking for more when you have already seen Him at work? I can promise you, friends, He is faithful. And I can promise you that when you cry out to Him, call on Him for help, seek Him as your refuge – you will experience it for yourself. His Word says so. And all of His words are true.

As sheep, our job description is simple:
Trust our Shepherd. Believe. Listen. Follow.
This is the narrow path to the full, abundant life of being known, protected, and led by a loving Shepherd. This is the heart that is prepared and equipped to be part of His Kingdom work all around us. Radiant with joy. Walking in freedom. Guarded & Surrounded. Rescued & Redeemed. May this kind of life not just be the longing of your heart, but the reality of your days as you trust your Shepherd and listen to His voice more and more.

Father,
In our world, and in my life I am so grateful for the relief and peace that comes from knowing I have a Good Shepherd. Help me to fully trust you and to surrender daily to your loving guidance, your protection, and your voice that leads me. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for giving me the desire and the power to do what pleases you. I let go of all of the ways I try to shepherd myself. Help me to rest from all of the striving and figuring it out on my own. I choose to believe, to listen, and to follow you. Thank you for hearing me, rescuing me, freeing me, and being near. Amen.

By Phyllis Suske

Do we see with our eyes or with our heart?

John 9 is about Jesus healing a man blind from birth. The Pharisees question the man who insists Jesus healed him and is a prophet. They also question his parents who fear expulsion and say “ask our son” and then the Pharisees decide that the man is to be excommunicated from the synagogue. Jesus later finds the man and asks if he believes, and he declares that he believes and worships.

This verse shows me that you can claim to see but be spiritually blinded. You can have physical sight but not see the lessons that Jesus teaches us. Faith is following God’s plan without being able to physically see. We must learn to follow God’s word without seeing a miracle or physical proof. That is what God is truly asking of us.

I went through a very difficult time in my life and I asked God for a miracle. When that miracle was not granted I assumed that God didn’t hear me or just didn’t care. Nothing was further than the truth. He heard, he cared deeply, but had a different plan for me. I didn’t see with my eyes so I did not believe it.

God, I come to you today with faith so small that I can’t see a way. I want to believe you have everything under control and are able to see things that I can not. I know that you can do the impossible and I am trusting in your promises. Thank you for being a God that sees me and hears me. In Jesus name, Amen

By Pastor Robby

Right at the start of chapter 8, we read an interesting story about Jesus and a woman caught in adultery. The men drag this poor woman before Jesus and ask what should be done with her. According to the Law of Moses, she was to be stoned, but according to Roman law, which the Israelites lived under at the time, adultery was not a capital offense. Stoning this woman to death would have been considered unlawful and murder. Moreover, the law commanded that the man be stoned as well. Since he is not present in the story, we can assume he was let go.

Jesus recognizes this for the trap that it is. If he says that the woman should be let go, in accordance to Roman law, then he would be seen submitting to Israel’s oppressors and lose credibility with his Jewish followers. If he said that she should be stoned, then he could find himself in trouble with Rome for committing this extra-judicial killing. Jesus, instead, flips the script and embarrasses the men who try to trap him. He answers, “The person who is without sin should cast the first stone.” Of course, no one standing there, apart from Jesus himself, is without sin and is therefore in no position to judge another for their sin. One by one, the men drop their stones and leave. Once they have all gone, Jesus turns to the woman and asks her who is left to accuse her. She answers that no one is left. Jesus then tells her that he also does not condemn her and commands her to go and sin no longer.

This is a powerful story that can teach us about judgment and justice. I find it shockingly easy for me to look at those whose sin is so easy to judge and to look on them with a sort of smug self-righteousness. The drug addicts and alcoholic deserve the pain and misery of a life enslaved to addiction. Sex workers and exotic dancers deserve the ridicule and abuse that they receive for the life they have chosen. Criminals and felons deserve to be villainized and live as social outcasts. But, please, let’s not talk about what I deserve. That’s the issue. Like the men in this story, we don’t always apply God’s laws equally and often beg for mercy for ourselves while praying for others to be punished for their sins.

In this story, Jesus reminds us that the beauty of the gospel is we don’t receive what we deserve. Thank God for that because we all deserve death for our sins. Jesus, instead, offers us forgiveness and life. Do I go to those who are suffering in the consequences of their decisions and offer them forgiveness and life, or do I simply offer them more judgment and condemnation? Let’s pray that the Lord will open our eyes to the hurting and look past the fallout from their sin to bring them relief instead of judgment.

Father, I have sinned. The ways that I fall short of your standard is more than I can possibly count. Yet, in the darkness of my sin, you have shown your light. In Jesus, I have found forgiveness instead of judgment. Through your amazing grace, you have redeemed my sinfulness and made me righteous. Even though I didn’t deserve it, Christ was sacrificed for me, and you paid the price and purchased my soul. Lord, help me to bring that same relief, that same forgiveness to others that you have shown me. Remove from me a spirit of judgment or false, self-serving piety, and replace it with a spirit that loves the broken, like you have loved me in my brokenness. Amen.

Fresh Filling | James Nereim

John 7:37-39 During the Jewish festival of Shelters, on the last day and most important day, Jesus stood and proclaimed with a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

Being that, at the time you’re reading this you’re likely in the middle of a fast, you probably know a little bit about being hungry and thirsty. Similarly, I can relate. When I was in high school I was on the wrestling team (That’s important because wrestling is the first real sport mentioned in the Bible). Something that is often associated with wrestling is cutting weight and withholding food. I remember times where I’d be cutting weight to prepare for a coming weigh-in, exhausted, but still having to go and practice to prepare. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I know what it feels like to be thirsty.

That said, in high school, something I didn’t realize was that as thirsty as I was for my sport, my soul was even more thirsty for water that could satisfy it. The reality is, spiritually we all long to be filled. If you’re anything like me you have likely tried to find ways of filling that void within you. That ever growing thirst for something more. Whether that be through social media, binging tv, hidden sin, or eating to excess just to distract yourself. In my experience, pursuing vain pleasures and distractions such as these only emphasizes the need I have in my heart for something more. Something that can satisfy me.

So what can be done? Jesus lays it out for us here. Come to Him. Put your faith in Him. Trust in Him. When you do, not only do you receive the Holy Spirit which seals you for salvation, but you will also find what has been missing that your soul has been longing for. An everlasting spring of living water that will perfectly satisfy that thirst within you. But there is a difference between having the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit. The new testament teaches us this truth as we can see through the early apostles and disciples being filled with the Spirit, and God did mighty works through them. And they received this fresh filling of the Spirit the same way you can. Through spiritual disciplines that draw us closer to God. So, as we are in the middle of this fast, let’s be intentional about removing the barriers in our life that keep us from drawing closer to God. Those things which don’t truly satisfy us. Instead, during this fast, draw close to His Word, pray each time that craving comes back, and lean into Him to satisfy you. Then all of us, and those who bear witness to the mighty deeds God does in and through us, may also sing as they did in Psalm 24:8, “Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.”

Father, You are the king of glory, and You are strong and mighty! As we fast to kick off this new year, may our hearts grow ever more surrendered to Your Spirit’s direction. God, I ask that you would fill us fresh with your Spirit. May the longings of our souls find satisfaction in You. Lord, if there are barriers in my life that are drawing me away from You, distractions that captivate me in place of Your glory, may You reveal them to me and help me to take them down. Fix my eyes on You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.