MAR. 3, 2026

Embrace "the whole counsel of God"

"I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God." Ac 20:27 NKJV

More than a hundred years ago, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, spoke prophetically when he said, "The chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell."

That's as true now as it was then. Paul exhorted the leaders of the Ephesian church to declare, "The whole counsel of God." He said: "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears" (vv. 28-31 NKJV).

On the eve of his execution, Paul handed off the baton to his successor Timothy with these words: "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine...they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables...be watchful...fulfill your ministry" (2Ti 4:2-5 NKJV).

Embrace "the whole counsel of God" Forgiveness without repentance

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MAR. 2, 2026

Having a Spirit-controlled tongue (2)

"The tongue is a flame of fire." Jas 3:6 NLT

The Bible says, "A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And...the tongue is a flame of fire" (vv. 5-6 NLT). People living in hot climates know the danger of ravaging bushfires driven by desert winds and can readily identify with these words: "See how great a forest a little fire kindles!" (v. 5 NKJV). A single spark from a match has started many massive fires. Spreading faster and farther than we might ever imagine, that kind of fire destroys homes and businesses worth millions of dollars, leaving a scorched landscape and devastated lives. Similarly, how many reputations have been ruined by a careless word? The impact of our words spreads far and fast, especially in our digital age. Words published on any social media platform can be shared all over the world in seconds. Like a fire, that word can get out of control and do irreparable damage. Hence James wrote: "No man can tame the tongue" (v. 8 NKJV).

But God can. "The fruit of the Spirit is...self-control" (Gal 5:22-23 NKJV).

The Holy Spirit can take a tongue that peddles gossip and turn it into one that brings glory to God. He can take a tongue that spews bitterness and turn it into one that speaks blessing. Gossip is saying something behind someone's back that you would never say to that person's face.

Flattery is saying something to someone's face that you would never say behind the person's back. And both are wrong. So let's join the Psalmist in praying: "May these words of my mouth...be pleasing in your sight, Lord" (Ps 19:14 NIV).

Having a Spirit-controlled tongue Reputations have been ruined by a careless word.

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FEB. 23, 2026

Stay true to the truth of God's Word.

"Go after them." Jas 5:19-20 MSG

The Bible says, "If you know people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction" (vv. 19-20 MSG).

That means it's possible for a true believer to do this. It also means we must never put our convictions on the shelf. If we don't make a deliberate effort to stay close to the truth of God's Word, we will wander from it.

After all, we live in a world with lots of distractions. Today many people are on a quest for "unity at all costs" and are therefore devaluing the importance of the truth as revealed in God's Word. Knowing he would soon die as a martyr for his faith, the apostle Paul wrote to his successor Timothy: "Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of" (2Ti 3:14 NIV).

Then in 2 Timothy 4:2-5, he encouraged Timothy: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage-with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship...discharge all the duties of your ministry" (NIV). So the word for you today is-stay true to the truth of God's Word.

Stay true to the truth of God's Word

The importance of the truth

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FEB. 24, 2026

Learn to listen to God.

'''Speak, for Your servant hears.' Then the Lord said to Samuel." 1Sa 3:10-11 NKJV

If you are serious about having a truly interactive relationship with the Lord in which you speak to one another and hear from one another, you will need to spend quality, uninterrupted time opening your heart to Him.

When Samuel finally answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears," the Bible says, "Then the Lord said to Samuel." All too often, our prayer is "Listen, God, for Your servant is speaking." Listening to God can involve a variety of practices: reading His Word, spending time in solitude and silence, and hearing from God just like a seasoned friend you trust. Here's an example: "As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, 'Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.' And he went on. 'But you stand here awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God'" (1Sa 9:27 NKJV).

One of the most effective ways of hearing from God is through meditating on His Word. You say, "But I don't know how to meditate." If you know how to worry, you know how to meditate. In both worry and meditation, your thoughts and focus are given to a certain thing. When you meditate on God's Word, you're focusing your thoughts on the right thing! God told Joshua: "This Book...shall not depart from your mouth [speak it regularly], but you shall mediate [focus] in it day and night, that you may observe to do [act on it] according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (Jos 1:8 NKJV).

Learn to listen to God Meditate on God's Word.

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FEB. 25, 2026

Overcoming envy.

"Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?" Pr 27:4 KJV

Unlike jealousy, which is the fear of being displaced, envy is ill-will toward those who possess something you want. Jealousy says, "I'm afraid you are going to take what I have." Envy says, "I want what you have, and I resent you for having it!" Envy is one of the most frequently concealed emotions. You may be more likely to admit to an

uncontrollable temper, a phobia, or any other negative emotion than to acknowledge that you are envious. Envy inevitably leads to resenting and criticizing the person you envy. And once you allow envy and resentment to enter your heart, they act like free radicals producing an emotional cancer.

Eventually they will manifest themselves in some destructive way, whether it is in the form of taking mood-altering substances, overeating, shopping excessively, lashing out, being sarcastic, or physically harming others. If you harbor envy toward someone, it's time to deal with it. David wrote: "You desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Ps 51:6-7 NIV).

If you covet what someone else has, ask yourself, "Am I willing to pay the price they paid to obtain it?" The world has a saying: "There is no such thing as a free lunch." Everything-except salvation-has a price tag. So whether you want to be thin, rich, educated, or whatever, stop envying the success of others, and ask God to help you succeed in the assignment He has given you for your life.

Overcoming envy Everything has a price tag.

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FEB. 26, 2026

Rely on God, not yourself.

"As a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God." 2Co 1:9 NLT

Several men went on a mission trip to Haiti where they met a nineteen-year-old young man who loved Christ deeply. So they invited him to visit them in America and paid for his trip. The young Haitian felt as if he were in another world. He'd never slept between sheets, had three meals a day, used indoor plumbing, or tasted a hamburger. When it was time to return to Haiti, they asked him for his impressions of what he'd experienced, and he replied: "I have really enjoyed my time here with you. But I am also very glad to be going home.

You have so much in America that I'm beginning to lose my grip on my day-to-day dependency on Christ." Paul spoke of a time of trouble in Asia in which he was "crushed and overwhelmed" (2Co 1:8 NLT). Then he wrote: "As a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God" (v. 9 NLT). And God wants to bring you to that place also. Yes, He wants you to use the gifts and resources He has provided, but His desire is that you rely completely on Him.

Only then can He provide everything He desires to give you, because then you will be open, ready, and mature enough to receive it. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear [reverence, respect, obey] the Lord" (Pr 3:5-7 NLT).

Rely on God, not yourself

"He will show you which path to take."

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FEB. 4, 2026

Humble yourself, and try to make it right.

"If you have been snared with the words of your mouth… Go, humble yourself." Pr 6:2-3 NAS (1995)

In 1755, a twenty-three-year-old army colonel was running for a seat in the Virginia assembly, when he made an insulting remark as part of a campaign speech. It was addressed to a hot-tempered man named Payne, who responded by knocking the colonel down with a hickory stick.

Soldiers rushed to the colonel's assistance, and it appeared a full-blown fight would ensue. But the would-be politician got up, dusted himself off, called off the soldiers, and quietly left the scene. The next morning, the colonel wrote to Payne requesting his presence at a local tavern.

Payne obliged, but he wondered what motives and demands the colonel might make-perhaps an apology or even a duel.

To Payne's surprise, the colonel met him with an apology, asking forgiveness for his derogatory remarks and offering a handshake. Others may have viewed the move as politically expedient, but Colonel George Washington considered it personally imperative if he was to enjoy internal peace as he continued with his political campaign on his way to becoming America's first president.

Jesus said, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Agree with your adversary quickly" (Mt 5:23-25 NKJV).

Solomon said, "If you have been snared with the words of your mouth...Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor" (Pr 6:2-3 NAS 1995).

The word for you today is: Humble yourself, and try to make it right.

Humble yourself, and try to make it right

Be reconciled to your brothers and sisters.

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FEB. 3, 2026

Healing for your mind.

"Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind." Eph 4:23 AMPC

We are three-part beings: spirit, soul, and body. When we make Jesus Lord of our lives, our spirit receives healing from spiritual death. But there are still two areas that need Christ's healing touch: our souls (mind, emotions, and will) and our physical bodies. God's Word teaches us that physical health and mental health are irrevocably linked. "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Pr 23:7 NKJV).

What we think about ourselves is inevitably what we become. Unhealthy thinking produces unhealthy living. John wrote: "I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers" (3Jn 1:2 NKJV).

For any area where our souls are sick-whether it be low self-esteem, negative thoughts, or destructive habits-the Word of God is the answer to nourishing us into a balanced and healthy state. The majority of Satan's attacks begin in the mind. He uses wrong thoughts and images in our minds to lead us away from God's best. The only way to counteract this is to stand on God's Word and allow His healthy thoughts to permeate our thinking daily.

• Thoughts of fear can be replaced with thoughts of faith.
• Thoughts of lack can be replaced with thoughts of provision.
• Thoughts of failure and depression can be replaced with thoughts of success and joy.

How does this happen? Paul answered: "Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image" (Eph 4:23-24 AMPC).

Healing for your mind Unhealthy thinking produces unhealthy living.

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