ExpressYourself4Him

Passage of the Day:

How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.²⁰ In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.²¹ Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love  when I was in a city under siege.²² In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. ²³ Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. ²⁴ Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord, Psalm 31:19-24.

Reflection:

As a former shepherd, David was forced to rely on the Lord when grass pastures dried up or when predators sought to devour one of his sheep. Another Psalm of David reveals his degree of hope, Psalm 18:33, trusting in the Lord with each step taken so that not even his ankles are twisted by the rocky terrain. As I still try to recover from the aftermath of Helene, I will not treat God any longer like a light switch that I turn on and off. Not having power for almost a week has taught me to trust God in the dark of night. This is what it means to place your hope in God.

Prayerful Action:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight, Proverbs 3:5-6.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

Taking shelter has a new meaning for me, running down the stairs to hide in our basement before Tropical Storm Helene passed. Rather than move to a secure location, David writes about taking spiritual shelter from life by placing your hope in God. Perhaps, David is referring to the time when he was forced to take shelter in the Cave Of Adullam, 1 Samuel 22, as King Saul sought to take David’s life. Whatever truly inspired the words of Psalm 31, don’t forget to take shelter in God this fall when future storms catch you off guard.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

One of the illustrations in the Old Testament compares God to the anchor of our faith. Therefore, whenever storms and trials enter your life, remember that God’s anchor still holds.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews^[b] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹ and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”^{[c] 10} Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”^{[d] 11} And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”^{[e] 12} And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”^{[f] 13} May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, Romans 15:7-13.

Reflection:

I was one of many residents of the southeast impacted by Hurrican Helene. A tornado came through my neighborhood early Friday morning snapping one large tree in two and knocked down 4 other trees. Although I was scheduled to work, my wife Leanne talked me out of leaving the house. If I stubbornly left, I wouldn’t be here today to write about my experience, probably crushed by one of the thousands of trees that took out power lines, houses and cars in Aiken County. Despite being without power for days and likely another week without modern necessities that I have taken for granted, the God of hope has a new meaning for me this morning.

Prayerful Action:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, Romans 12:12.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

As a Roman citizen, I’m assuming the apostle Paul appreciated the newly established Church in Rome. As Paul continued to spread the good news about Jesus Christ daily, not everyone was excited or receptive to this message. As Paul was beaten, imprisoned and persecuted for fulfilling the Great Commission, Acts 1:8, Paul reminds first century Christians of the role that hope and prayer plays in daily life. One of my spiritual mentors in college once shared, “God doesn’t call us to be successful, but faithful to God’s calling.” When you have the opportunity to share, seize each day to tell this world about the God of hope.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

My struggles to sleep without central air or ceiling fan pale in comparison to what the apostle Paul endured. May the lyrics to The Struggle inspire you to cling to the God of hope this fall.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[b] Since we have that same spirit of^[c] faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal, 2 Corinthians 4:13-18.

Reflection:

One of the themes throughout the New Testament of the Bible is the hope found in Jesus. Serving as an atoning sacrifice for sin in exchange for the free gift of eternal life, Romans 6:23. This passage is the inspiration behind the Bridge Illustration used in Evangelism Explosion. This analogy is designed to help good people realize that they can’t earn their way into heaven, Ephesians 2:8. According to the apostle Paul, while your earthly body gradually wastes away, hope is found in the promise of eternal life in heaven, 1 John 5:13. Therefore, don’t let present circumstance steal your joy for life, John 10:10. Rather, seize each new day God gives you with the hope of making spiritual progress.

Prayerful Action:

I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.²¹ Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Lamentations 3:20-21.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

Biblical hope is an optimistic state of mind fueled by expectations of positive outcomes grounded in the promises of God. Moses reminds the Israelites of this biblical truth in Deuteronomy 28:1-3 as obedience to God’s commands result in spiritual blessings. Although there is a modern belief that good guys finish last in today’s culture. Whenever I cling to God’s promises, my hope is strengthened by the thought of making spiritual progress daily as I walk with God.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

I know from experience how one bad day can rattle your soul and shatter your confidence. May the hope of making spiritual progress give you the strength to press on.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

But when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love, 1 Corinthians 13:10-13.

Reflection:

Mere Christianity is what introduced me to the concept of theological virtues. Reading this C.S. Lewis book for a Youth Ministry Trade School more than 30 years ago inspired curriculum for an 11th grade Bible class that I taught for a decade. However, within Lewis’ chapter entitled Theological Virtues, love is replaced with charity based upon the King James Version of the Bible. Subsequently, the final 3 months of 2024 will be devoted to hope, faith and charity. According to one of Jesus’ disciples, these 3 virtues can only be accessed by the power of the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:3-4.

Prayerful Action:

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires, 2 Peter 1:3-4.

Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:

One of the most profound statements made by C.S. Lewis is “success is the process of arriving.” Like David after slaying Goliath, Moses parting the Red Sea and Elijah calling fire down from heaven, human nature has a way of convincing individuals that they’ve arrived. Yet, the words of King Solomon provide a serious warning, “pride comes before the fall.” So where does hope, come into play? As the apostle Paul writes in a letter to the Church at Corinth, hope is found in the process of arriving. If 2024 has caused you to fall back into bad habits, Christian maturity takes time. May hope and faith come together to form belief so that one day you will put childish ways behind you.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Hope or a lack of hope can be the difference between success and failure. May the lyrics of today’s song provide a glimmer of hope to rest upon this fall.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. ⁹ Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” ¹¹ Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹² The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted, Acts 20:7-12.

Reflection:

I was introduced to this passage at a Youth Ministry Conference 30 years ago. On the surface, Luke recalls a teenager who fell asleep at a church lock in. However, the speaker was vivid about the conditions of an attic in the middle of summer. Eutychus actually went to sit by the window to get some air, likely soaked in sweat. As Paul went on and on, rambling on all night long, Eutychus simply couldn’t fight off the urge to sleep. Subsequently, Eutychus fell asleep, exited this building through a window and died. The call to action at this conference was to reach teenagers who are spiritually asleep before they leave church for good.

Prayer Action:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up, Galatians 6:9.

Developing the Spiritual Guts to Press On:

We all get discouraged at some point of time in life. Whether this is due to a lack of productivity, results or a sense of purpose, you give up. This could be a job, relationship or something you always wanted to do. Paul urges Christians in Galatia to hold on as you seek to do good. Progress takes time to see the fruits of your labor of love. If you don’t stick it out through the trials you’re currently facing, you’ll miss out at the life lesson God is trying to teach you, James 1:2-4. As you mature spiritually, God will fill you with the fortitude to assist those who are on the verge of falling asleep spiritually.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Letter of Love is a pray for people who share a different worldwide view. As this devotion transitions from fortitude to hope tomorrow, may the words of the Bible speak to your heart and encourage your soul.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. ¹⁹ They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. ²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. ²² When he landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch. ²³ After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples, Acts 18:18-23.

Reflection:

A spiritual mentor once told me that ministry is an interruption from your busy life that makes you aware of the people in your life who need the Lord’s help. Unfortunately, in this age of technology, cell phones, the internet and streaming services serve as daily distractions. Whenever I tend to get into a good groove spiritually, I find myself losing time to entertainment and sports on television. Instead of reaching out to encourage others in my free time, I’m self-absorbed, obvious to how the Holy Spirit wants me to spend my day. While today’s passage doesn’t have any life changing events from the Bible, this demonstrates how the apostle Paul kept in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25. Based upon Luke’s account, Paul’s daily prayer was what is the Lord’s will for me today? This is why Paul was always on the move, traveling to help those in need of God’s help.

Prayerful Action:

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh, Galatians 5:16.

Developing the Spiritual Guts to Press On:

The most productive times in my life as an adult have been when I didn’t have cable or a television. I once spent 2 months teaching at a boarding school in West Virginia. Every day I was searching for opportunities to help one of my students. I lived in a cabin with my students and my only day off was Sunday. Perhaps, part of walking by the Spirit of God is focusing on the people around you. If you offer yourself up each new as a servant of God in prayer, your mind won’t be focused on how to gratify the desires of your flesh. May the apostle Paul’s example in today’s featured passage inspire you to search for those who need the Lord’s help.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Today’s song has helped me deal with my failures after moving to South Carolina. Whenever I’m depressed at work, I start singing the lyrics of I Give Myself Away. This helps shift my focus from self-pity toward those individuals who need God’s help.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. ¹⁸ A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰ You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” ²¹ (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) ²² Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you, Acts 17:16-23.

Reflection:

While Luke only details Paul and Silas praising God inside a prison in Philippi, there was likely discussions between other prisoners prior to singing. During a visit to Athens, Paul carefully studied Greek culture. Waiting for other missionary partners to arrive, Paul was searching for a way to appeal and relate to this part of the world. Unfortunately, Paul found himself surrounded by idols dedicated to pagan gods. This search for common ground broke Paul’s heart, worried that he wouldn’t be able to connect with local residents. However, Paul didn’t give up, looking for something positive to start a conversation in the marketplace. This careful observation uncovered a poem, and an altar dedicated to an unknown god. Rather than turn people off by telling them that they were going to hell, Paul begins with a compliment followed about a declaration, excited about introducing the Athenians to the living God. This is how you talk to lost people.

Prayerful Action:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15.

Developing the Spiritual Guts to Press On:

Few Christians possess the gift of evangelism, sharing Christianity with the spiritually lost. However, anyone who claims to be a Christian possesses the light of Christ inside their heart, Matthew 5:14-16. This is the passage that inspired the famous children’s song This Little Light of Mine. You don’t have to be an ordained preacher or teacher to illuminate God’s love. The key to winning people over is consistency, genuineness and a respectful spirit that meets others where they are in their lives. If you start with what you have in common, this may lead to earning someone’s trust for you to be heard.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

I started writing letters to friends in college. Since I was never eloquent, writing in a much more effective manner for me to share my faith. May the lyrics of today’s song inspire you to start thinking about ways you can begin sharing your faith with non-Christians in your spheres of influence.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. ²³ After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴ When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. ²⁷ The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” – Acts 16:22-28

Reflection:

During his trip to Philippi, the apostle Paul encountered a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. While Paul attempted to share the good news about Jesus to citizens of Philippi, this woman kept interrupting Paul. After displaying patience initially, Paul cast out this demonic spirit within this woman. When the owners of this slave realized that the great deal of money earned by fortune-telling was now gone, Paul was arrested. This is the context of how Paul and Silas ended up in prison. Despite freeing an enslaved woman, Paul and Silas were punished. Yet, each maintained a spirit of fortitude, making the best of their unfortunate situation.

Prayerful Action:

 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil, Ephesians 5:15-16.

Developing the Spiritual Guts to Press On:

Instead of complaining about being unjustly placed in prison, Paul and Silas started a worship service in their own cell. According to Luke who was outside at the time, this singing and praising of God coincided with a major earthquake. Under Roman law, if any of the prisoners at this prison escaped, the guard would have been executed. Rather than be self-absorbed, Paul immediately turned his attention to the jailor who was about to commit suicide. This divine intervention opens the door for Paul and Silas to lead the jailor and his entire household to faith in Christ in Acts 16:34. This is what can happen when you stay positive despite your circumstances.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The words of James 1:2-4 highlights the lyrics of Praise You in This Storm. May this song move you to embrace the trials that confront you so that you’ll become more mature in your faith. Then, you’ll be able to stay positive despite the circumstances facing you.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. ¹² From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district^[a] of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. ¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us, Acts 16:11-15.

Reflection:

In the first century, Jewish synagogues were required to have a minimum of 12 men to establish their own house of worship outside of Jerusalem. Luke indicates that the Roman colony of Philippi did not have enough Jewish men for a place of worship. Subsequently, Paul, Silas and Luke held services outside of town, along the banks of a river. Unfortunately, when these men looked for a group to share the good news about Jesus, the only one’s present were women. Luke mentions a woman from Thyatira who accepts Jesus into her heart along with her household. Lydia is so moved following her baptism that she opens her house to establish the Church in Thyatira. This is how one first century woman provided leadership in the absence of Christian men.

Prayerful Action:

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate, Proverbs 31:30-31.

Developing the Spiritual Guts to Press On:

In a rare first century move, Luke does not mention Lydia’s husband. Luke uses a blanket statement, “along with her household.” While it’s assumed that everyone living in Lydia’s house enters into a personal relationship with Jesus, Luke is likely referring to her husband and children. Yet, it is apparent that Lydia is the spiritual leader of her home and a woman of prayer. To all of my female readers, this is how you provide leadership in the absence of Christian men by hungering and thirsting for righteousness, Matthew 6:33.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The female band Fireflight possesses a modern-day Pat Benatar sound. As you listen to the lyrics of Core of My Addiction, may you be inspired to make seeking God’s first a main priority.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. ³ When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. ⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. ⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. ⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him, Acts 12:1-10.

Reflection:

As Luke recounts the angel encounter in today’s featured passage, Peter gives the impression that he is experiencing some sort of a vivid dream. Perhaps, Peter was thinking, “is this really happening?” It wasn’t until this angel suddenly disappeared when Peter realized that was a supernatural prison breakout. When one of the members of Jesus’ inner circle was killed, King Herod targets Peter who is arrested and about to face trial. Like a scene from a movie with a prison break, this angel of God pulled off a miracle worthy enough for the Bible.

Prayerful Action:

Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. ²¹ Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will, Psalm 103:20-21.

Developing the Spiritual Guts to Press On:

One New Testament author reminds readers to entertain angels or be open to the possibilities of some sort of divine intervention, Hebrews 13:2. Meanwhile, David reminds Israel of the role that God’s angels play in life, serving the kingdom of God to fulfill the Lord’s will. Unfortunately, when doubt enters the minds of Christians, this diminishes God’s power to perform miracles in your life. May today’s devotion open your mind to the possibility of God performing a similar miracle in your life today.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

One of my favorite discussions as a Bible teacher was sharing angel stories from family members and relatives. May today’s song refresh your memory of times when God actually sent an angel to you in your time of need.

by Jay Mankus