Daily Word Capsule

DATE - March 30th, 2022 TOPIC - Passing It On BIBLE TEXT - I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, for I am overwhelmed by how much you have done for me. I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just and good. O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I have constantly told others about the wonderful things you do. - Psalm 71:15-17 The psalmist, now old, is looking back on his life and the history of his people. Although he has been assailed by the wicked and seen troubles, many and bitter, his first resource has always been God. He is confident that the same God he trusted as a youth will lead him through his present trials to restoration and blessing. Woven throughout Psalm 71 is a theme of gratefulness for God’s faithfulness and protection in the past, even when the psalmist was suffering loneliness, betrayal, and great hardship.  However, the psal

DATE - March 29th, 2022 TOPIC - A Living Faith in the Living God BIBLE TEXT - [Moses said,] “Commit yourselves completely to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. - Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Parents often spend energy and time helping children develop in sports, academics, and the arts. These are valuable activities, but from God’s perspective, helping children develop a living faith in the living God is far more important than anything else. In Deuteronomy 11:21 the Lord tells the Israelites that only when they love and worship him wholeheartedly will he bless them and

DATE - March 28th, 2022 TOPIC - Good Soil BIBLE TEXT - “The seed is God’s message. The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but then the Devil comes and steals it away. . . .  The rocky soil represents those who hear the message with joy. But . . . their roots don’t go very deep. . . .  They wilt when the hot winds of testing blow. The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. . . .  But the good soil represents . . . people who hear God’s message, cling to it, and steadily produce a huge harvest.” - Luke 8:11-15 Farmers scattering seed by hand were a familiar sight in Jesus’ time. The soil was rich for the most part, but there were thornbushes and fields full of stones. Travelers walked through the fields, beating down the ground and disturbing the seeds. Some seeds fell on thin soil that hid the stones underneath. Ot

DATE - March 26th, 2022 TOPIC - Inherit the Wind BIBLE TEXT - Those who bring trouble on their families inherit only the wind. The fool will be a servant to the wise. - Proverbs 11:29 It’s not difficult to imagine receiving your grandmother’s treasures or a piece of vintage from your grandpa, but what would it be like to inherit the wind? Think about it!  It sounds grand until you consider the magnitude of the gift you received as a result of ignorance and arrogance. The wind is forceful, unruly, and can strike without warning. It may only whisk your hat off your head, but it also has the power to send ships careening off course. It goes where it wishes, whipping the small, the fragile, and the unrestrained where it will.  We risk danger when we open the door and allow trouble to march in to our homes. Unwelcome guests with names such as unrestrained anger or petty arguments can whip through our homes and drive family members apart. Selfishness nudges joy out the window

DATE - March 25th, 2022. TOPIC - Be Glad in God’s Presence BIBLE TEXT - Let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy. Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord—rejoice in his presence! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy. - Psalm 68:3-5 The Lord is infinitely worthy in so many ways that we will never plumb the depths of his nature. Whether our situation puts us in the brightness of sunshine or in darkness of shadow, we are to be glad in God’s presence, for he has created us and given us new life in Christ Jesus. He has provided for our needs and made us part of his eternal family.  In the midst of the psalmist’s praise of God, he proclaims one of God’s most precious attributes: The Lord is a father to those without fathers and a strong defender of widows. The same God who reigns over the universe, rides the clouds, and defea

DATE - March 24th, 2022 TOPIC - Jesus, Friend of Sinners BIBLE TEXT - Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough.” - Luke 5:31-32 Isn’t it great that our lives don’t have to be fixed up, patched up, and cleaned up to have a relationship with Jesus? He came to call people who were broken and needy and whose lives were a mess to turn from their sins. He didn’t have time for the self-righteous Pharisees, who thought they were already good enough and had no need of what he offered: a brand-new life and salvation from their sins. He was reaching out to those who were humble enough to honestly admit their need. When Christ calls us out of darkness into his marvelous light, he wants us to tell others that there is hope for them. If a great doctor’s skills had healed us of a life-threatening illness, we wouldn’t fail to share t

DATE - 23rd March, 2022 TOPIC - Please Wait . . . BIBLE TEXT - 15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on her name will be Sarah.  16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.”  17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?”  18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!”  19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant.” - Genesis 17:15-19 (Read Genesis 15:1–17:27) More often than not, when we hear “Please wait,” we want to say, “No, thank you.” We are often

DATE - March 22nd, 2022 TOPIC - Confidence in Prayer BIBLE TEXT - You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength. - Psalm 65:5-6 When we pray, we are talking to the all-powerful God, our Heavenly Father, who created the Heaven and the earth by the power of his word, whose wonders fill the earth—and who faithfully answers our prayers with awesome deeds! Prayer is how he has designed his mighty power to be released on the earth, in our lives, and in the lives of those who desperately need God’s help. It’s like the huge generator generating sufficient electricity to power up an entire building. The power flows along the cord as we pray!” Realizing God’s awesome power changes the way we pray and the way we live. His power is available for every situation and need so that we “can do everything with

DATE - March 21st, 2022 TOPIC - Amazed at Jesus BIBLE TEXT : Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at the things he said, because he spoke with authority. . . . Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him and flee at his command!” - Luke 4:31-32, 36 [Simon] was awestruck by the size of their catch, as were the others with him. - Luke 5:9 Throughout today’s passage in Luke, Jesus taught in the temple, delivered people from demons, and healed Simon’s mother-in-law and scores of others. Everywhere he went, those who were paying attention and heard him were filled with amazement and wonder at his authority and power. Later, when Jesus told Simon to take a different approach and cast the fishing net into deeper water, the attempt produced a catch so huge that it almost caused the boat to sink, and Simon was awestruck. Al

DATE - March 19th, 2022 TOPIC - Quietly Waiting BIBLE TEXT - I wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. - Psalm 62:5-7 In this psalm David pours out his heart to God, describing his difficulties, the enemies that are trying to kill him, and the lies and curses others have spoken against him. But on the battlefield of life, in the midst of every trouble, David has a Godward focus. He is honest about his complaints and problems, but he has purposed to direct his gaze to the God of all faithfulness, putting his trust in the One who alone is his rock, salvation, fortress, and refuge.  He then can wait quietly before God because he has put his hope, and his very life, in the Lord’s hands. He doesn’t trust in human nature because it is no more secure than a breath. He doesn’t put his hope in ric

DATE - March 18th, 2022 TOPIC - The Shelter of Your Wings  BIBLE TEXT - Psalm 61:1-4 KJV Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. [2] From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. [3] For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. [4] I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. In contrast to yesterday’s verses from Luke 2:36-38, this psalm was not penned by someone in the safety and comfort of the temple’s walls but by one who was surrounded by his enemies or perhaps even imprisoned in the midst of a war. As he longs to escape to the rocky wilderness, he feels overwhelmed and weak. But instead of focusing on his inadequacy and spiraling into despair, he focuses on God, cries out to him, and finds strength in who the Lord is—his refuge, his fortress, his towering rock of safety.  But the psalmist didn’t seek God’s protection a

DATE - March 17th, 2022 TOPIC - Wholehearted Devotion BIBLE TEXT - Anna, a prophet, . . . was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about Jesus to everyone who had been waiting for the promised King to come and deliver Jerusalem. - Luke 2:36-38 Anna was wholehearted in her devotion, her worship, and her witness. For decades she had waited with hope. She worshiped the Lord with fasting and prayer. Though she was in one of the outer courtyards where women were allowed, not in the inner circle of priests, she was in the temple at the very hour and moment when the Christ child was dedicated. When she saw Jesus in the temple, she burst out with joy and praise, telling all who were waiting for the King about his coming. We need to submit everything to Jesus today. Stop serving Him with half

DATE - March 15th, 2022 TOPIC - God’s Will God’s Way BIBLE TEXT - [The angel said to Balaam,] “I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away. . . . ” Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will go back home if you are against my going.” But the angel of the Lord told him, “Go with these men, but you may say only what I tell you to say.” - Numbers 22:32-35 In today’s reading Balaam was going forth to do as God had instructed him, but he was going with the wrong motives. His wholehearted obedience turned halfhearted because of his greed for wealth and prestige. His covetousness blinded him to the angel of the Lord who was blocking the path on which he traveled, because his eyes were focused on hoped-for riches and not on the hope-filled mission.  Balaam ceased to reside in prayer—in a conscious awareness of God’s

DATE - March 14th, 2022 TOPIC - A Heartfelt Cry BIBLE TEXT - I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. - Psalm 57:2 The idea of crying out to God usually implies distress, great need, testing, or simply a strong desire to experience or hear from God in a specific way. That was exactly where David found himself, surrounded by enemies who set a trap for him, fierce as lions whose tongues cut like swords. However, he directed his heartfelt cry not to just any god, but to the God who had proven himself faithful again and again and who would fulfill his purpose for David.  In this psalm David proclaimed his confidence that God would “send help from heaven” to save him (v. 3). Just as David did, we are meant to build on every experience of God’s help and faithfulness in the past so that our hearts will be confident in him and sing his praise (v. 7). What are you facing today? Give it—along with the burden and worry you feel—to the Lord, and trust

DATE - March 12th, 2022 TOPIC - He Will Take Care of You BIBLE TEXT - Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. - Psalm 55:22 There are times when, like the psalmist, we feel pursued by enemies or surrounded by difficulties. Our enemy may be financial trouble, ill health, or a person who misjudges or opposes us so that our “heart is in anguish” (v. 4). At that point we may be tempted to run away, retreat, or give up. But the Lord offers us something better.  In this psalm, trials and problems cause us to cry out to him. Someone once said, “If you are swept off your feet, it’s time to get on your knees.” God encourages us to turn to him and call on him in our distress so that he can rescue us and keep us safe in the midst of the trouble. He may not immediately take us out of the situation, but he will guide us through the circumstances.   He gives us a wonderful promise: If we give our burdens to him, he wi

DATE - March 11th, 2022 TOPIC - Pleasing the Crowd BIBLE TEXT - They shouted back, “Crucify him!” “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the crowd only roared the louder, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, anxious to please the crowd, released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify him. - Mark 15:13-15 Pilate knew that an innocent man stood before him. He knew that the true instigators were the chief priests and that their motivation was envy. He also understood that Barabbas was a convicted, dangerous criminal. Yet he went against his own instincts, his responsibilities as an official, and the facts before him. Pilate sold out, and he knew it. When he handed Jesus over to the guard, Pilate set into motion events that would likely haunt him for the rest of his life. He not only killed an innocent man and endangered the safety of his community, he also betrayed himself. He appease

DATE - March 10th, 2022 TOPIC - Through the Eyes of Faith BIBLE TEXT - Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. They said to the community of Israel, “The land we explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey, and he will give it to us! Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” - Numbers 14:6-9 Certain reports came into the camp concerning the Land God had already given to the children of Israel but it was the voice of 10 men against 2 men. The negative report had the whole crowd and Satan easily sowed his seed of doubt amongst God's children. But Joshua and Caleb were instruments of faith and saw things through the eyes of God and sp

DATE - March 9th, 2022 TOPIC - Like an Olive Tree BIBLE TEXT - I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God. I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever. - Psalm 52:8 In Bible times the olive tree was considered the most valuable of trees. Throughout Scripture it symbolizes value, prominence, peace, and a promise of better times to come. The olive tree was also known as a tree that persevered, for it stood with great endurance under any adverse condition.  The man who is secure in God’s presence is a symbol of God’s power. When David compared himself with an olive tree, he was declaring his faith and trust in God as the One who enabled him to be strong, not only to survive but also to thrive and bear fruit no matter how his enemies pursued him. He voiced, through the symbolism of the olive tree, his determination to grow in God’s presence and live a life of faith, seeking only to fulfill the will of God and become his alone.   In whatever circumstances you

DATE - March 8th, 2022 TOPIC - Living as a Broken Jar BIBLE TEXT - Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over his head. - Mark 14:3 As we read this description of exorbitant devotion, so often we hone in on the fact that this was a costly, dear, and precious thing, a fragrant, expensive perfume worth more than a year’s wages, that Mary lavishly sacrificed in reverencing her King. Yet her extravagance moves us to ask ourselves, What thing that we consider costly and dear might the Lord want us to offer up to him: a relationship? a habit? a cherished possession? Perhaps it is one of the gifts God has given us that lies hidden or saved for use for a time that never comes.  These very treasures could bring light to restore someone’s faith, to touch someone’s heart, to change a life. One of these important things could be the very “ja

DATE - March 7th, 2022 TOPIC - He’s Coming Back BIBLE TEXT - [Jesus said,] “Since you don’t know when [these things] will happen, stay alert and keep watch. The coming of the Son of Man can be compared with that of a man who left home to go on a trip. He gave each of his employees instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. So keep a sharp lookout! For you do not know when the homeowner will return— at evening, midnight, early dawn, or late daybreak. Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning.” - Mark 13:33-36 Christ compared his return with that of a businessman who went on a trip. The businessman left specific instructions on how to take care of matters while he was away. It was clear that this was a task for which he would hold the employees accountable. He instructed them to watch for his return, though they were not sure what hour or moment he would arrive. We must watch and pray brethren for

DATE - March 6th, 2022 TOPIC - Giving All to Him BIBLE TEXT - [Jesus] called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” - Mark 12:43-44 When Christ said that she “has given everything she has,” he was specifying more than a monetary sacrifice. He was drawing our attention to the woman’s life sacrifice, her practice of living in complete surrender and loyal devotion to God. The story of the poor widow teaches more than just how to sacrifice through our monetary offerings. Her sacrificial giving is a demonstration of a life fully offered into the loving care of the Master’s hands. Why is it so difficult for us to yield all that we have and are to God? Is there fear that we’ll be left without? It is only as we yield ourselves to him in complete faith and trust that we can experience true oneness with the Father

DATE - March 5th, 2022 TOPIC - The Greatest Commandment BIBLE TEXT - [A teacher of religious law asked Jesus,] “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus replied,” . . . ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” - Mark 12:28-31 As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the religious leaders were watching and waiting to confront him with their manipulative questioning and to attempt to trap him by hypocritically challenging his authority. Nonetheless, one religious leader, noticing that Jesus was giving them good answers, asked him which was the most important commandment. Jesus did not answer with a complicated code of laws, rituals, and customs. Instead, he reduced their binding law to two simple ideas—loving God and loving others—and focused on the one thing central to the Christian life:

DATE - March 3rd, 2022 TOPIC - From Grudges to Grace BIBLE TEXT - [Jesus said,] “Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” - Mark 11:24-25 God’s Word reveals what is necessary for effective prayer, and these verses point to the key of forgiveness. Although it is contrary to the world’s pattern, it is at the heart of the life Jesus calls us to. Christ explained that holding grudges proves detrimental to our oneness with the Father, hinders our prayers, and causes God to withhold forgiveness from us. Our fellowship with God is restored through our own repentance and confession. Jesus provided for this through his finished work on the cross. He died so that we would be pardoned and restored to the Father. When we come to Jesus, he forgives our sins of the past and all the sins we will ever commit. B

DATE - March 2nd, 2022 TOPIC - Praying Specifically  BIBLE TEXT - “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Teacher,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way. Your faith has healed you.” And instantly the blind man could see! - Mark 10:51-52 When the blind beggar Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was nearby, he cried out for mercy and compassion. But as soon as Bartimaeus came to Jesus, Christ led him to be even more specific in his request by asking, “What do you want me to do for you [italics added]?” The blind man, in only a few words, prayed the most heartfelt prayer: “Teacher, I want to see!” In complete faith he asked for God’s healing because the Lord had led him to ask. Jesus prompted the man’s request by asking him to speak his heart’s desire. Christ asks you the same question: What do you, [your name], want me to do for you? When we approach God in prayer, he wants us to come with as much wholehearted desire and longing as Ba

Date - March 1st, 2022 Topic - Keep Asking Bible Text - [Jesus said,] “Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds.” - Matthew 7:7-8 God is seeking people who will give themselves to earnest, persevering prayer. In these verses Jesus instructs us not to pray just once or twice for what we desire but to repeatedly come to him in the same way the persistent widow in Luke 18 did—to ask and keep on asking, to look and keep on looking, to knock and keep on knocking—and we will receive, find, and experience the opening of doors.  If we could simply kneel down, ask for what we want, instantly get what we prayed for, and then run back to our own pursuits, our spiritual life and interaction with God would be superficial and minimal, and we would experience little growth. It is in the places where we have to persevere in prayer t