Author Archives: expressyourself4him

Passage of the Day:

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” ¹⁶ Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. ¹⁷ Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. ¹⁸ If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you, Luke 11:14-20.

Reflection:

Following the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800’s, America had the technology to create a light bulb that would last 100 years like the Centennial Light. Meanwhile, in the early 1900’s, doctors and scientists joined forces to develop vaccines for diseases which once was a death sentence to those who contracted it. Unfortunately, in this age of political correctness, modern medicine isn’t what it once was. While there may be some birth related conditions that cause children and adults to stutter, Jesus shines light on the spiritual realm in today’s passage. If a demonic spirit was preventing a first century individual from speaking, perhaps a similar spirit may be the root cause for those battling stuttering today. This may be what’s got your tongue.

Prayerful Action:

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. ¹¹ What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them,” Matthew 15:10-11.

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

Stammering or Stuttering is one of those childhood conditions that has a tendency to stick around into adulthood. While there are breathing exercises that have helped slow stuttering fits, this is one of the most frustrating disabilities for those who love to talk. Despite my initial fears of embarrassment, I continued to volunteer to pray at public events or meetings. I recall numerous Christians who placed their hands on my shoulder as I wrestled to get a word out of my mouth. If you surround yourself with caring and loving believers, may the root of what’s got your tongue is brought to light. Pray for the loosening of these tongues and if necessary, the casting out of the demon/spirit preventing you from expressing yourself.

Song of the Day:

Desperate times call for desperate measures. May the words of today’s song give you hope to help you better understand what’s got your tongue.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

A man with leprosy^[h] came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹ Jesus was indignant.^[i] He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. ⁴³ Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴ “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵ Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere, Mark 1:40-45.

Reflection:

If you thought the lock downs and quarantines of the Coronavirus was bad, put yourself in the shoes of a leper living in the first century. Due to the fear of others catching leprosy, these individuals were not allowed to reside within city limits. Instead, lepers were banished to rural areas outside of town. Making matters worse, lepers were required to shout, “unclean, unclean” as others passed by. These strange looks as others hurried by was par for the course. This is the context of the leper who approached Jesus, begging to be set free from this rare disease.

Prayerful Action:

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well,” Luke 17:15-19.

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

Over my 55 years of life on earth, I’ve met several Christians who have been healed by God. Unfortunately, their healing was temporary as cancer, illness and pain returned after a season of rejoicing. Perhaps, these individuals fall into the apostle Paul category, left to endure thorns in their flesh, 2 Corinthians 12:7. Based upon the words of Jesus, belief and faith are crucial to staying well. Yet, when you find yourself losing hope, in desperate need of attention, turn to Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30, and the body of Christ to lighten the burdens on your soul.

Song of the Day:

If you see someone is in desperate need of attention, may the lyrics of Voices in the Night inspire you to be the hands of feet of Jesus to touch those in need. This starts with one soul at a time.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” ²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” ²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into^[a] the village,” Mark 8:22-26.

Reflection:

Today’s passage is one of the most unique healing passages in the Bible. Similar to the woman suffering from a bleeding disorder, all this blind man wanted to do was touch Jesus. This desire came from a first century ungodly belief that if you touched the cloak or robe of a rabbi, you could be healed. To correct this man’s understanding of where healing is derived, Jesus uses his own saliva. Like getting prescription glasses from an eye doctor, Jesus’ first attempt opened his eyes, but his sight wasn’t clear and in focus. The second attempt involved Jesus touching this man’s eyelids as if to massage and rub his saliva to every part of each eye. Similar to the demon possessed man in Mark 5, Jesus wanted this blind man to immediately return to his family, telling them what God has done.

Prayerful Action:

Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis^[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed, Mark 5:19-20.

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

Similar to the paralyzed man in yesterday’s devotion, concerned friends brought this blind man to Jesus. Not only should Christians surround themselves with positive and uplifting individuals, but you also need vocal servants who are looking out for your best interest. Typically, home church groups play this role in your life. These individuals may notice things that you don’t see or realize. Subsequently, the more you get into the habit of meeting in fellowship, Hebrews 10:25, you’re establishing a support group to provide the weekly spiritual therapy that you need.

Song of the Day:

There have been several moments in my life when I’ve become spiritually blind, not knowing where God wants me to be or do. Becoming part of home groups in Delaware and South Carolina has brought clarity to my life, even when my prayers have gone unanswered. Therefore, if you are in need of advice, guidance or therapy, turn to a local church group to help you find your way.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ² They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” ⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, ¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ¹² He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” – Mark 2:1-12.

Reflection:

After spending time with Peter in the ministry, John Mark was fascinated by one of the stories he heard about Jesus. Rather than describe the condition of the man in need, Mark is struck by the sense of urgency within the four men who brought a paralyzed man on top of a roof. This group convinced the paralyzed man that Jesus had the power to do the impossible. What doctors failed to accomplish; nothing could stop these men from seeing their friend walk again. When you give up hope that your condition will never change, the Holy Spirit may bring a group of Christians into your life. While I can’t guarantee you a miracle, Jesus blessed the faith of these 4 men by restoring their friend’s ability to walk.

Prayerful Action:

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins,” Mark 11:24-25.

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

In my first few years as a Christian, I tried to change my life without the help and support of a local church. After I joined the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in college, several of these new friends became like a spiritual family to me. I can relate to the paralyzed man in today’s featured passage as I had given up hope of ever being able to express myself verbally without stuttering. Yet, just like the 4 men who believed in the power of God, two of my roommates were convinced that God was going to heal me of my stuttering. Rather than accept defeat, I too become optimistic about God’s power to heal me. While my healing wasn’t immediate like the paralyzed man, a spiritual retreat a few months later set the stage to remove all doubt from my mind. As I shared my testimony at church that Sunday morning in Friendship, Maryland, God set me free from a stuttering spirit. This miracle was only made possible by surrounding myself with like-minded believers who believed and walked with the God of Miracles.

Song of the Day:

I stumbled upon this video during Covid-19. While this song was inspired by the death of a child, may the lyrics fill you with the confidence in God to change and transform your life for the better.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ¹² It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” ¹⁴ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. ¹⁵ See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. ¹⁶ For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess, Deuteronomy 30:11-16.

Reflection:

As I was walking my dog Akira this morning, the Holy Spirit filled me with a vision for the final 2 weeks of August. According to the gospel authors, Jesus encountered numerous lost souls. If you read between the lines, several of these individuals struggled with temperance. Perhaps, some of these were prodigal sons and daughters who reached a low point in their lives. According to Luke 15:16-17, these are the crossroads in life that bring about change. The prodigal son came to his senses and realized the error of his way. This is the first step toward spiritual change in your life.

Prayerful Action:

But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess, Deuteronomy 30:17-18.

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

Today’s featured passage comes from a portion of Moses’ farewell address to Israel. As he passes the baton of spiritual leadership to Joshua, Moses condenses life into two choices. The decision to choose obedience leads to blessings and life. The latter choice is essentially rebellion against God, leading to death and destruction, Matthew 7:13-14. Jesus points this out near the end of His Sermon on the Mount. As the summers slowly fades away into fall, make an effort to make Jesus the top priority in your life so that this next season in 2024 will result in spiritual change.

Song of the Day:

May the lyrics of Supernatural inspire you to place your full faith and trust in the Lord, Proverbs 3:5-6. While change does take time, making godly decisions will result in a season of change in 2024.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” ³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^[a]” ⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^[c] must be born again, John 3:1-7.

Reflection:

I was introduced to the term teetotalism while reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Teetotalism is a principle which practices complete abstinence to overcome a specific temptation. During my first health class in Junior High, I was taught if you want to assure yourself to stay clear of any sexual transmitted diseases, don’t have sex. Forty years later, birth control, condoms and other drugs are encouraging teens to participate in sex without all the consequences I feared. Despite this obvious cultural shift, the key to fulfilling teetotalism is becoming born again.

Prayerful Action:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

When you meet someone who tells you that they are a Christian, this doesn’t mean anything. According to the apostle Paul, genuine Christians seek to become a new creation in Christ Jesus. One of the concerns about teetotalism is that you can become so consumed by avoiding sin that you could end up like the Amish, Puritans or become a modern-day Pharisee. The legal aspect of following the Bible lead religious leaders to focus on holiness rather than embrace God’s love. However, when Christians shifts their focus toward becoming more like Christ, the Holy Spirit will guide and teach you, Galatians 5:25. If you feel called to pursue teetotalism, draw closer to the Lord as a new creature in Christ.

Song of the Day:

Sometimes your friends may confuse religion with faith. May today’s devotion inspire you to rely on teetotalism to help others draw closer to the Lord.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods^[a] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” ² Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,^[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” ⁵ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.” ⁶ So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. ⁷ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt, Exodus 32:1-7.

Reflection:

After introducing Israel to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, Moses spends the next 10 chapters of the Bible listing specific commands, decrees and instructions from God. However, as Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving this information, the nation of Israel begins to panic. Rather than display self-restraint by remembering God’s first commandment, the people wanted a God that they can see and touch. Subsequently, the concept of a golden calf is conceived.

Prayerful Action:

Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. ² Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you, Deuteronomy 4:1-2.

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

Depending upon how close you are to keeping in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25, will often dictate the self-restraint that you display daily. When I’m on fire for God, my sinful nature is on the back burner. One night I gave a female friend a ride home from a camp reunion in college. When she told me that her seat belt was stuck, I simply unhooked it and hugged her good night. The thought that she wanted to kiss me never entered my mind. However, when I ran into this same girl a few years later on campus, I was spiritually bored. Subsequently, when she made a pass at me, I wasn’t able to keep my flesh in check. After a week of living in sin like Israel, I had a Christian brother walk me to her front door and end this relationship. When you don’t set clear boundaries in your relationships, self-restraint can be like day and night.

Song of the Day:

One of my spiritual mentors in college urged me to let your actions speak for your faith. If you are able to display self-restraint daily, you’ll won’t need to tell people that you’re a Christian, they will see this for themselves. Therefore, rather than set yourself up to be a hypocrite, live your life like you’re preaching a silent sermon.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. ¹³ You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also, 1 Corinthians 6:12-14.

Reflection:

While the context of this passage leads into sexual desires and the lust for more, James 1:14-15, the apostle Paul begins talking to Corinthian Christians about moderation. Due to free will, you have the right to do whatever you want. However, if you break the law or give the Devil a foothold, Ephesians 4L27, there will be consequences. Understanding the law of human nature, Paul makes one thing clear, “don’t let yourself go by allowing your flesh to become a slave to addiction.

Prayerful Action:

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people, Ephesians 6:17-18.

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

As freshman college students leave home for the first time, free will is available every moment. From curfews to eating and extra-curricular activities, there is no one to hold your hand. Perhaps, this is why new college students end up joining a popular group, the freshman fifteen. I joined a more exclusive group, gaining 25 pounds during my first semester on campus. When you have access to unlimited food, going the right distance and no further was too much for me to handle. After winning a cheese steak eating contest on my floor, I realized that I had to cut back, or my weight would continue to spiral out of control. This is where setting clear boundaries before you eat will be beneficial to prevent yourself from becoming addicted to certain types of food.

Song of the Day:

Dear X is a great song for anyone struggling to control their eating habits. While the lyrics refer to a number of different situations, the key theme is that you belong to the Lord, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20. Although you may be fighting a losing battle with some sort of addiction, don’t let yourself go. Lean on the Lord’s strength to take back any spiritual ground that you’ve lost this summer.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father^[d] is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever, 1 John 2:15-17.

Reflection:

I attended a family reunion last month. While at the Charlotte airport, I began people watching. Ninety percent of the travelers were either captivated by their phones or memorized by music playing on their ear buds and headphones. You can’t compete with conversations, content on the internet or easily accessible games. If Christians don’t have a set time to study the Bible, pray and spend time with fellow believers, captivated minds will quench the desires of the Holy Spirit to draw closer to the Lord.

Prayerful Action:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will, Romans 12:2.

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

Early on in His ministry, Jesus found that waking up before anyone else, Mark 1:35, set the tone for each day. Jesus led by example, fulfilling the words of the apostle Paul above. If you can’t find or don’t have a quiet place, start eliminating the things of this world that are captivating your mind. This may include getting rid of the television from your bedroom, turning off the radio or television or purging your home from tempting possessions. If you take the words above seriously, renewing your mind with the Bible, prayer and worship will guide you toward God’s will for your life. This is how you start breaking free from loving lust more than the Lord.

Song of the Day:

Sometimes we all need individuals who challenge us in life. When your mind is captivated by the world, you need an accountable partner to point out your flaws and shortcomings. May the lyrics of Nice Guy inspire you to flee from the lusts of this world.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. ³⁰ And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, ³¹ whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” ³² Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. ³³ He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon. ³⁴ When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. ³⁵ When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break,” Judges 11:29-35.

Reflection:

When I was a young boy, I became cocky and overconfident. Perhaps, trying to teach me a valuable life lesson, my father bet me a dollar that the football team I was cheering for would lose. This was before I knew that my dad was a star linebacker in high school, receiving a full ride to play in college. Every time I bet my father; I lost each one. It didn’t take long to help me realize that betting was not for me. Despite being filled with the Holy Spirit, Jephthah made a foolish decision without thinking about the consequences. This dumb bet cost his own daughter her life.

Prayerful Action:

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. ⁵ It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it, Ecclesiastes 5:4-5.

Setting Clear Boundaries to Live By:

King Solomon suggests that sometimes vows are confused with making a confident bet. Based upon a recent study, there are more than 57 million active gamblers in the United States today. While there are some who are effective, most end up losing more than they win. As Jephthah left a victorious battlefield, he felt like he could do anything. Rather than think about the best way to honor God, Jephthah made a vow when he was caught up in the adrenaline of the moment. This is what fuels gamblers, believing in their minds that they can’t lose. Subsequently, once hard-working Americans end up betting their lives away.

Song of the Day:

The first time I visited Atlantic City, New Jersey after casinos were built, I noticed several homeless individuals hanging out along the side streets. During one encounter, I heard the sad story of a man who lost his life savings, financially strapped. May the lyrics of today’s speak to your heart and compel you to reach family, friends or neighbors betting their lives away.

by Jay Mankus