ExpressYourself4Him

Passage of the Day:

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.² Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—³ who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,⁴ who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. ⁶ The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. ⁷ He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: ⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. ⁹ He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; ¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities, Psalm 103:1-10.

Reflection:

Blessings are God’s intention and desire to bless humanity. Blessings are a central focus of God’s covenant relationships beginning back in the Old Testament with Abram. When individuals like Enoch, Noah and Joseph habitually walked with God, their lives were filled with blessings. Blessings are part of God’s sowing and reaping principle. The blessing of your soul is dependent upon your obedience to God’s commands, decrees and precepts. As Moses shares in his farewell address to Israel, the choice of life or death is in the decisions that you make in life, Deuteronomy 30:15-16.

Prayerful Action:

Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord,” Joshua 24:14-15.

Refreshing Your Soul:

Psalm 103:10 and Romans 5:8 both highlight God’s unconditional love, treating us not as our sins deserve. The gift of God is eternal life, Romans 6:23. As human beings make the decision to publicly confess their need for a Savior, Romans 10:9-11, the salvation of your soul has guaranteed a place in heaven, 1 John 5:13. Yet, it’s when new converts begin to draw close to the Lord when the blessing of your soul can be experienced and sensed daily. May today’s post inspire you to choose life, John 10:10.

Song of the Day:

Don’t wait for Thanksgiving every year to recognize God’s blessings in disguise. May the attached song open your eyes, heart and mind to the numerous blessings you often fail to see.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls, 1 Peter 1:3-9.

Reflection:

After the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Genesis 3:6-19, salvation was God’s plan, Romans 5:12-21. Since death came through one man, Adam, God sent a second Adam in the person of Jesus to seek and to save that which was lost, Luke 19:10. As Peter writes the words above to first century Christians scattered throughout the Middle East due to Nero’s persecution, he is a recipient of God’s promise, John 3:16-17. Just as Jesus details how and why angels celebrate in heaven, Luke 15:7, Peter reminds Christians of the end goal: the salvation of your soul.

Prayerful Action:

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain, Philippians 4: 14-16.

Refreshing Your Soul:

Adults have a tendency to make things more complicated than they really are. What the apostle Paul illuminates in the call above is simply the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 5:13-16 uses salt and light to illustrate the role Christians should play throughout their lives. First, you should add flavor to the lives of the people that you come in contact with, pointing to God and turning your conversation to biblical promises. If the love of God is inside of your heart, you have the power to share and shine the of light Jesus to others. When the salvation of souls burns deep inside your heart, you’ll make the most of every opportunity, 1 Peter 3:15-16, that God gives you to share your faith with others.

Song of the Day:

When the body of Christ, the modern-day church, become the hands and feet of Jesus, the salvation of souls becomes a daily calling card to reach the lost.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ³ He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; ⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. ⁵ The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; ⁶ the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. ⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; ⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore, Psalm 121:1-8.

Reflection:

Today’s featured Psalm points to God’s omnipresence to protect human beings. This song of ascent uses imagery similar to a hedge of protection placed around followers of God as a result of prayer. The Psalmist doesn’t take any credit on his own. Rather, his help comes solely from the Lord. Despite the promises of this encouraging chapter of the Bible, the apostle Paul warns human beings that keeping your soul from evil isn’t easy, Romans 7:14-20.

Prayerful Action:

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it, ” Matthew 7:13-14.

Refreshing Your Soul:

According to Genesis 4, Cain wasn’t able to resist the soul crouching at the door of his soul. Meanwhile, Jesus suggests that more people go to hell than enter heaven. Only those who chose the road less traveled keep their soul from evil. If the Devil knows all of our weaknesses, James 1:13-15, this fishing expedition for your soul continues today. Don’t face this spiritual battle on your own. Rather, place your help, hope and trust in the Lord.

Song of the Day:

The attached soul has been used by numerous drama teams to illustrate the importance of keeping your soul from evil. May the lyrics of Everything inspire you to stay on the narrow path.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ² Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, ³ those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.^{[a] 4} Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. ⁵ They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. ⁶ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. ⁷ He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. ⁸ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, ⁹ for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things, Psalm 107:1-9.

Reflection:

Keith Richards rolled out of bed and noticed something strange in the spring of 1965. After the cassette tape in his hotel room broke, Richards tried to fix this by rolling up one of the spools. Richards had apparently woken up with a melody in his head for I Can’t Get No Satisfaction, recorded it with his acoustic guitar and then fell back asleep. While Paul Harvey would end this saying “now you know the rest of the story,” the human soul tends to be restless throughout life. Subsequently, the goal for any Christian is to satisfy your soul.

Prayerful Action:

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own, Matthew 6:31-34.

Refreshing Your Soul:

The second chapter of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is often classified as Proper and Improper Attitudes and Motives. After touching on giving, prayer, and fasting, Jesus turns his attention toward priorities and worry. To conclude this middle portion of His speech, Jesus points toward how to satisfy your soul. As Christians focus on seeking first God’s kingdom and righteous, God will give you everything you will need in life. This is how you can satisfy your soul.

Song of the Day:

One of Jesus’ disciples also touches on how to satisfy your soul, 2 Peter 1:3-4. When you invite the Holy Spirit to enter your life, God will provide everything you need to satisfy your soul.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God? ³ My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” ⁴ These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One^[d]with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. ⁵ Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. ⁶ My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.⁷ Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. ⁸ By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life. ⁹ I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” ¹⁰ My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” ¹¹ Why, my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God, Psalm 42:1-11.

Reflection:

Feeling despondent is a symptom of a downcast soul. The director of music who is mentioned as one of the sons of Korah wrote this Psalm. This musical piece appears to have been inspired by a difficult period in this individual’s life. You may experience days, weeks, months or years where nothing seems to go right. In these moments of spiritual unrest, you may question if God is out there as this storm continues. If doubt begins to consume your soul, the suggestion of the Psalmist involves placing your hope in God.

Prayerful Action:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. ¹⁸ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit, Psalm 34:17-18.

Refreshing Your Soul:

God warns Cain in Genesis 4:6-7 about the downcast expression on his face. This passage serves as a warning to anyone who seeks rebellion due to envy or jealousy in their heart. If sin is crouching at your door when your soul is downcast, it’s essential that you don’t let your emotions influence your actions. Rather than take things into your own hands, place your hope and trust in the Lord.

Song of the Day:

Jesus shares His plan to bounce back from a downcast soul in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 6:33. When Christians get their priorities in order by seeking first righteousness, everything else will fall into place. This is how you can bounce back from a downcast soul.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. ¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”^{[f] 20} Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” ²² All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. ²³ Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” ²⁴ “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown, Luke 4:14-24.

Reflection:

I was introduced to Soul-Spirit Hurts in a Sunday School class more than a decade ago. This class studied the book Restoring the Foundations which has now evolved into a ministry. Whenever you endure wounds to your soul in the form of tragedy, unhealthy relationships or an ungodly upbringing, this pain sticks with you. Soul-Spirit Hurts are often the root cause for ungodly beliefs developed by Christians over the course of their lives. Until ungodly beliefs are exposed, Christians carry around these lies throughout life affecting how you see life, react to others as well as your attitude towards God. In today’s featured passage, Jesus knew that going back to his hometown wouldn’t change people’s beliefs who knew Him as a child. When you expect a certain action, behavior or response and don’t receive this, this failed expectation can conceive a Soul-Spirit Hurt.

Prayerful Action:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,” Matthew 11:28-29.

Refreshing Your Soul:

Restoring the Foundations devotes an entire chapter to Soul-Spirit Hurts. Soul-Spirit Hurts can open the door to demonic oppression as the apostle Paul mentions in Ephesians 4:26-27. However, Soul-Spirit Hurts can also be a byproduct of sins of the father and or generational curses. Overcoming Soul-Spirit Hurts start with a spirit of confession, James 5:16. As Christians come to God with their hurts, you can lay all of your burdens at the feet of Jesus. Healing Soul-Spirit Hurts is a long process, but if you surrender yourself with like-minded believers, you can overcome Soul-Spirit Hurts.

Song of the Day:

Stuttering for more than 20 years from birth led to my major Soul-Spirit Hurt. One of the ungodly beliefs that I developed as a teenager is that I would never be able to fully express my thoughts or verbalize what was on my heart. Accountability partners, Bible Studies and prayer groups eventually led me to finally overcome stuttering. While I can’t promise complete healing for your own Soul-Spirit Hurt, lay down all of your burdens at the feet of Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹ What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[b] Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 6:19-23.

Reflection:

Horatio G. Spafford is the creator of the famous hymn, “It is Well With My Soul.” This wealthy lawyer from Chicago received news in 1873 that all four of his daughters died when their ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean. In this moment where Spafford’s faith was challenged by personal tragedy, the lyrics to It is Well With My Soul were conceived. A Christian’s faith isn’t based upon how you feel. Rather, Horatio’s testimony serves as a reminder to modern day followers of Christ that the state of your soul is based upon biblical promises like Romans 6:23.

Prayerful Action:

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness, Romans 6:17-18.

Refreshing Your Soul:

As a former student of Evangelism Explosion, Romans 6:23 is the basis to the Grand Canyon analogy. This diagram serves as an icebreaker to share the gospel with unchurched individuals. I was taught to compare this with track athletes seeking to set the world record in the Long Jump. While high school athletes may break 20 feet, college participants and Olympians are nearing the 30 feet mark. Despite this remarkable feat, no one is good enough to clear portions of the Grand Canyon, Romans 3:9-12. This is where the Gift of God steps in, laying down a cross to bridge the gap to the other side. May today’s devotion remind you that the state of your soul is fueled and renewed by the promises in the Bible, 1 John 5:13.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

The reality of a sudden death in your family or to a close friend can knock the wind out of your soul. This spiritual gut check provides you the opportunity similar to what Horatio G. Spafford faced. In your time of need, may the Holy Spirit minister to your heart so that once this storm subsides, you’ll be able to proclaim, “all is well with my soul.”

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him, Colossians 3:12-17.

Reflection:

The apostle Paul is in the middle of explaining to members of the Church at Colosse how to transition from their previous way of living into what it means to become a follower of Christ. After concentrating on adopting the mind of Christ in Colossians 3:1-4, Paul turns his attention toward putting to death attitudes, behaviors and cravings that please your flesh and not the Holy Spirit. Today’s portion of Scripture is a call to action which begins with clothing yourself with Christ like qualities. Yet, peace only arrives as a byproduct of breathing life into your soul.

Prayerful Action:

Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him, 1 Samuel 6:23.

Refreshing Your Soul:

Several Bible translations of the above passage point to an evil spirit that tormented Saul during his reign as King of Israel. Meanwhile, a few translations point to the spiritual concept that music has the ability to soothe your soul. If Lucifer, an archangel kicked out of heaven in Isaiah 14:12, was indeed the angel of song, it’s possible that music can be used for good and evil. However, as Christians begin to sing songs in your heart to God, the Holy Spirit breathes life into your soul.

Song of the Day:

Breathe You In was a song I included on the final CD mix I made before moving to South Carolina in 2022. This 11-hour journey required several mixes for my car stereo to keep me awake on this half day trip. As you listen to the lyrics of Breathe You In, may the Holy Spirit breathe life into your soul.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[a] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” ²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. ²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. ³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” ³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵ Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread, Luke 24:13-35.

Reflection:

The Walk to Emmaus or Emmaus Walk Movement was inspired by today’s featured passage. The modern Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual retreat developed by the United Methodist Church and The Upper Room in the 1960’s. While living in Delaware, the high school version of Emmaus called Chrysalis began. Although I was too old to attend, I joined an accountability group with men from my Walk to Emmaus Retreat. This weekly meeting was a chance to reflect upon your previous week and open up to the various struggles that you were going through. Whenever I was overwhelmed by a spirit of conviction, I poured out my soul, laying everything out in the open.

Prayerful Action:

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy, Proverbs 28:13.

Refreshing Your Soul:

There is something about talking a walk which opens the door for individuals to pour out their souls. I remember talking a walk with two friends during a mission trip and by the end of the evening, each of us revealed a secret sin that we were afraid to tell other Christians. I experienced a similar walk one night in college where a friend opened up about being raped. If it took a teenager publicly confessing their sins in front of a church to ignite the First Great Awakening, then it’s time for another movement of God to begin by pouring out your soul to a trusted friend or neighbor.

Song of the Day:

Pouring out your soul is something that requires the right timing. While in high school, a few people from my youth group would pour out their souls just to have a meeting’s agenda shift to focus on their own life. The next time you sense the Spirit of God moving you to share, don’t miss the opportunity to pour out your soul.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, ³ because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. ⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it, 2 Corinthians 5:1-9.

Reflection:

In the previous chapter, the apostle Paul compares God to a heavenly potter who molds and fashions human beings like clay. When water is added to clay, this can be molded into the image within the mind of its creator. Paul communicates to the Church at Corinth that Christians are under construction, working things out daily through trial and error. However, as minds are renewed by Scripture, souls are awakened to God’s purpose for their life on earth, Romans 12:1-2.

Prayerful Action:

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you, 2 Corinthians 5:10-12.

Refreshing Your Soul:

Good artists have the ability to take an idea or image in their mind and transfer this on to a piece of paper or painting canvas. Whether you’re an artist or not, God possesses spiritual powers that are beyond belief, Luke 1:37. When Christians overcome doubts that exist in their minds, hearts and souls become open to the possibility. This is the challenge and call of Jesus in Matthew 21:21-22.

Song of the Day:

I read a book in 1993 called the Master of All Trades. The author uses the miracles in the Gospel of John to illustrate that Jesus is the master over the elements on earth. When Christian hearts, souls, and minds seize this biblical truth, lives will be transformed, full of belief and faith.

by Jay Mankus