Nearer My God

Thursday, July 30, 2026

The Power of Life and Death

The Power of Life and Death Think of a time you said something you regret, or were the target of undeserved gossip. Now, reflect on a situation where you encouraged a friend who was hurting, or felt the life-giving effects of someone else’s words. Words matter. Your words matter. And God has given you the freedom to choose how you use them. Are you using your words to tear down or build up? To provoke destruction or stimulate restoration? Do your words stir up drama or encourage peace? “What you say flows from what is in your heart,” Jesus explained in Luke 6:45. Fruit reveals the health of a tree, just as a tongue reveals what is happening in the heart. Most of us want to use our words for good and not for harm. We don’t want to be unkind or critical. But James 3 tells us that the tongue is unstable and cannot seem to be tamed. So, what can we do? Is there a way to control it? Self-control is a fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us, which means we can’t manufacture controlling our tongues on our own. But, we do have a part to play in the process: we need to stick close to Jesus. When we read His Word, seek His face, and walk in His ways (no matter how many times we mess up and have to begin again), love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control begin to grow in our lives. The biblical term is abiding: staying, continuing, or remaining in Jesus’ presence. As we abide with Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to curb the way we speak and change the way we act. When that happens, our words start to bring life and hope to the people around us. So this week, how will you use your words to bring healing and hope to people? If this isn’t something you’re used to doing, it’s never too early to speak words that spark life.

https://www.bible.com/stories/39476

We Are Living in Intense Times...

We Are Living in Intense Times.... “Oh man, we really are living in intense times!” Is that a sentence you also find yourself saying more and more often? And what if God had placed something in you that is meant to make a difference in exactly this time? We don’t think about that very often, do we? 😉 Gideon had the exact same thoughts: “Oh man, we are really living in intense times. Why is God allowing this?” Yes, that’s exactly what he thought! You can read it in Judges 6:13, where he says, “...but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about?” (Judges 6:13 NIV) And then suddenly an angel appears and says, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14 NIV) Do you think Gideon was aware of that? Maybe he was standing in front of a mirror at the gym, flexing his muscles, hoping others would notice and admire him. But that he actually had a mission connected to his strength? That apparently wasn’t clear to him. Just imagine it—a strong guy standing in front of you—and it actually takes an angel for him to realize: “Oh right, I actually am strong.” And maybe, just a different example, you have an incredibly warm voice and always seem to find the right words to comfort people. Are you using that regularly? Or does that voice too often say: “Oh man, we are really living in intense times. Why is God allowing this?” 😉 It doesn’t take an angel, like with Gideon, saying: “Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14 NIV) You are able to look at your own life and ask: “What am I really good at? Let me use that even more from now on! In these intense times, I want to use my gift to pass on God’s love!” We are living in intense times… And right here, God wants to reveal Himself through YOUR GIFT! You are a miracle! Déborah Rosenkranz

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Proverbs 18:21 NLT

I'm reading the @YouVersion plan 'Get Your Joy Back: 12-Day Devotional to Renew Your Joy in God’s Presence'.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

This Teaching Clip made me think of you. Watch WEDNESDAY NIGHT PRAYERS - LECTIO 365 by 24-7 Prayer:

Why Your Life Matters!

Why Your Life Matters! Head shake. I really wanted to read Moses’ story again, which starts in the second book of Exodus, but I already got stuck on the first page. It says: “Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power over Egypt.” (Exodus 1:8 NIV) Joseph had an incredible story! God was with him. He saved his family and an entire nation! A story worth telling! And yet—as we see here a few generations later—it no longer mattered. The new king doesn’t know Joseph. And Israel’s situation changes radically. The Bible shows us something we somehow tend to overlook: Faith cannot be inherited. You can live off the experiences of others, but God wants us to experience Him ourselves. Because every generation, every person, needs their own faith. Their own relationship with God. That’s why God calls Moses. Not to repeat Joseph’s story, but to experience God’s possibilities in a new way. And Moses also wrote an incredible story! God was with him just as He had been with Joseph! He also saved an entire nation! Yes, another story—like Joseph’s—worth telling. But generations later… today… it no longer matters… Or could you go to your coworker and say: “Hey, do you know what Moses did?” What did God do after it says, “Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power over Egypt” (Exodus 1:8 NIV)? He called Moses. What do you think God does after people today say: “We don’t want to hear old Bible stories anymore”? Exactly: He calls people. He calls you. People don’t just want to hear about faith anymore—they want to see it! And you are the face that represents faith here on earth! Are you aware of that? “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14 NIV) Jesus doesn’t say here that you will be light some day, but that you already are! Your story, your life, all of it matters—in exactly a time like this! You are a miracle! Déborah Rosenkranz