Daily Word Capsule

DATE July 26 TOPIC A Prayer for God’s Presence BIBLE TEXT In times of trouble, may the Lord respond to your cry. May the God of Israel keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary. . . . May he grant your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory, flying banners to honor our God. May the Lord answer all your prayers. Psalm 20:1-2, 4-5 When David was in trouble, he didn’t just think about how nice it would be if God showed up and helped him out. He didn’t just put his request on a prayer chain or whisper a polite little prayer: “God, if you’re not too busy, I’d like some help when you get a chance.” No, he cried out—meaning literally that he shouted or pleaded loudly and fervently for God’s help, believing that the Lord would hear and respond to his cries—and he did. There are times when we also need to cry out to God, storming his sanctuary for much-needed help. Crying out to the Lord brings us his h

DATE July 25th, 2022 TOPIC PRAYER COVER BIBLE TEXT When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the Temple of the Lord to pray. And he sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, all dressed in sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. They told him, “This is what King Hezekiah says: This is a day of trouble, insult, and disgrace. . . . Oh, pray for those of us who are left!” 2 Kings 19:1-4 What did King Hezekiah do when the going got tough? He ran for cover—prayer cover, that is! Not only did he go to the temple to pray, but he also sent his own dream team of sorts to beg the prophet Isaiah to pray for him and his people. It’s not always easy to ask for help, is it? Our tendency is to wring our hands with worry by day and to toss and turn by night. Or, fearing others might think less of us if we admit our desperate need for help, we smile and say, “Fine, thank you,” when th

DATE July 23rd, 2022 TOPIC Abba, Father BIBLE TEXT Romans 8:15-16 KJV For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: “God’s very own children, adopted into his family.” What an amazing thought, especially for those of us who are fatherless or have been abandoned or abused by our earthly fathers. We tend to see God through the filter of the dad we’ve known in our growing-up years. If our father was loving, affectionate, and accepting, we picture our Heavenly Father the same way. But if our earthly father was harsh, critical, or unloving, it’s doubtful we’ll want to jump into God’s lap or rest in his love. Our view of God may cause us to run from him or to close off our hearts. But God tells us to call him “Father, dear Father,” not to cower or withdraw like fearful slaves but to behave like children

DATE July 22nd, 2022 TOPIC Spirit-Controlled Life BIBLE TEXT Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6 There are so many forces in the world that aim to control our minds: the media, trends and advertising, secular philosophy, and materialism. Yet none of these brings us real life. Through computers, television, malls, and music, the enemy comes in like a flood to distract us, capture our minds, and dominate our thoughts. There’s also our own sinful nature, which today’s verses say will lead to death if we give over the controls of our life to it.  But the good news is in the last part of verse 6: “If the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.” Yielding (submitting) our minds and thoughts to Christ Je

DATE July 21st, 2022 TOPIC Let It Shine BIBLE TEXT Solomon then cast ten gold lampstands according to the specifications that had been given and put them in the Temple. Five were placed against the south wall, and five were placed against the north wall. 2 Chronicles 4:7 The lampstands in the temple were merely golden ornaments until the priests poured the oil, trimmed the wicks, and lit the lampstands for the first time. Then light flooded the Holy Place and illuminated the temple. A hush came over the priests as the glory of God hovered over the temple and then filled the Holy of Holies. Thousands upon thousands stood outside—dancing, singing, and cheering as they celebrated the arrival of Jehovah to the place where he would dwell among his people.  Today we who are Christians are the lampstands in a nation looking for spiritual truth. Christianity can be reduced to just one more religion, a mere ornament among the many religions the world offers, or it can burn brightly

DATE July 20th, 2022 TOPIC Master? Master! BIBLE TEXT Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. - Romans 6:18 The word slavery conjures up images of drudgery, menial tasks, and the forfeiture of self. It reminds us of people bent to the will of another, suffering abuse at the hands of those who have complete power over them. Why then would the Apostle Paul describe both sin and righteousness in such terms? Paul knew what it was like to live in bondage to sin. Yet he had also watched as his new master tore off his chains. Sin offered to destroy his purpose. Yet Jesus reached out to him when Paul was blinded and humbled on the road to Damascus and set him on a different path—the path of life and freedom.  Sin enticed Paul with pride and promises of power. Yet Jesus freed him from the confines of his self-made prison to embrace the destiny God intended for him from the beginning. Having served both masters, Paul h

DATE July 19th, 2022 TOPIC A Reason to Rejoice BIBLE TEXT Romans 5:10-11 KJV For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. [11] And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. This passage reminds us that our reason to rejoice is not only that our future salvation is assured, that we’ve been delivered from eternal punishment, or that Christ died for us while we were still his enemies. Certainly that would be reason enough! But we also rejoice because in the present, right here on earth in the midst of where we are—today, tomorrow, and all the days we are alive—we can enjoy a wonderful new relationship with our Heavenly Father.  This is not a distant relationship but a close, intimate one. We are blessed with this intimacy because the finished work of Christ removed every barrier standing between the Lord and us and

DATE July 18th, 2022 TOPIC Beyond Mere Words BIBLE TEXT -  If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you! Proverbs 19:17 It is a recurring theme through both the Old and New Testaments: God cares about the needs of the poor. In the Old Testament he reminds Israel through the counsel of the prophets to remember the needy, the orphan, and the widow. In the New Testament Jesus showed the disciples that the crowd could better grasp spiritual food when their need for physical food had been met. Jesus set aside the disciples’ concern and pulled little children onto his lap. He ignored the cultural prejudice of his day to offer living water to the woman at the well. Each of those acts demonstrated a love that went beyond mere words. A sermon means very little to those who are physically hungry and offers scant warmth to the one suffering in the cold, but a hand extended in compassion and love speaks volumes. One lost man once said, “Don’t tell me that yo

DATE July 16th, 2022 TOPIC I Have Good News! BIBLE TEXT All have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. Romans 3:23-24 As the song “Amazing Grace” resounded in the sanctuary, a woman on the front pew wept with joy. It seemed only yesterday that she had sat in a prison cell, shaking as her body suffered from withdrawal. She remembered crying out to a God she didn’t know, hoping that someone would hear her prayers. In that dark hour God sent women from a local church to tell her the good news that Christ could heal her and take away her sins. One year later she was not only free from the four walls of prison, but God had healed her of a ten-year addiction. When the women entered the prison that first day, they felt shy, inadequate, and unsure in that environment but confident in God. And they were God’s answer to the prisone

DATE July 15th, 2022 TOPIC The Price Is Never Right BIBLE TEXT Proverbs 19:11 TPT A wise person demonstrates patience, for mercy means holding your tongue. When you are insulted, be quick to forgive and forget it, for you are virtuous when you overlook an offense. When we place an item on a scale, it is the moment of truth, whether we are measuring fruit, a bouncing baby, precious metals, or our own body weight. The scales measure loss or gain with unflinching accuracy. How do we weigh the value of self-control? It might be measured by calculating the losses. What is the cost when we unleash anger without restraint? Self-control is the act of hesitating and counting the cost before we speak a word or carry out an action. How many times have we fallen at the Savior’s feet and asked him to cover our shortcomings with his grace? Each time he has forgiven us and brought us back into fellowship with him. Counting other’s wrongs seems natural—until we measure them against our own

DATE July 14th, 2022 TOPIC Godly Success BIBLE TEXT King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?” 1 Chronicles 17:16 When two children climb onto a seesaw in a playground, there is only one rule: to go up, you have to go down. True humility is the ability to look up, no matter how high the mountaintop on which you stand. Just as children work in tandem to soar high in the sky on a seesaw, God lifts us to higher places when we push our pride, our ambition, our thoughts of grandeur down and lift His name for all to see.  King David was a shepherd boy when God plucked him from the green pastures to rule a kingdom. It must have been a heady experience to have riches, servants, and power at his fingertips. Yet David never lost sight of the fact that God was the resource behind all his triumphs. Even amidst the afterglow of a successful battle, David humbled himself and lifted the name of G

DATE - July 13th, 2022 TOPIC - Seek the Lord BIBLE TEXT - O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most? - Psalm 10:1 The psalmist’s question is not an uncommon one to ask when our lives turn upside down. It is difficult to grasp the idea that a loving God might hide away while chaos seems to be reigning. The psalmist was honest with God. He didn’t conceal his fears or the feeling that he was alone in his battle. Yet he also encouraged himself with these words: “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:17, niv, niv). This assurance was birthed out of past experiences when God heard him in his time of need and responded. Sometimes we are frustrated or overwhelmed when we cannot fix the battles that threaten us or our loved ones. Honesty with God is not a lack of faith but rather an admittance that we are powerless to turn the situation around. The good news is that producing

  DATE - July 12th, 2022 TOPIC - Seeking God’s Agenda BIBLE TEXT - The Philistines had arrived in the valley of Rephaim and raided it. So David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will give you the victory.” . . . But after a while, the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind them and attack them near the balsam trees.” - 1 Chronicles 14:9-10, 13-14 Instead of making plans and asking God to bless them, David sought the Lord. Although he was a great leader who had enjoyed many successive victories, he took time to seek the Lord about how to proceed when facing his enemy. When he had soundly defeated the Philistines, he didn’t attack the same way again just because it worked the first time. Each attempted victory had a different plan. Often, however, we devise a plan or f

DATE - July 11th, 2022 TOPIC - A Shelter and Refuge BIBLE TEXT - The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you. - Psalm 9:9-10 Oppression and trouble are not pleasant things to encounter. Nevertheless, we do experience both of them in our lives. Oppression pushes us down and hinders our ability to grow and to be all we were meant to be. Trouble harasses and inconveniences us and causes worry to creep into our lives. Oppression and trouble try their best to keep us from enjoying our days. A small dose of either can send us into a tailspin. We need a solution—a solution that can give us hope—a solution that can come against oppression and give us protection in times of trouble. The psalmist declares that the Lord is the solution. Knowing his name means understanding, declaring, proclaiming, and confessing who God is and what he does. It means di

DATE - July 9th, 2022 TOPIC - Opening Our Minds and Hearts BIBLE TEXT - End the wickedness of the ungodly, but help all those who obey you. For you look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God. God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right. . . . I will thank the Lord because He is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High. - Psalm 7:9-10, 17 Have you ever imagined someone looking deep within your mind and heart? The thought may actually be a little frightening. We don’t typically open our minds and hearts to others. Often we imagine that the thoughts and memories buried there are hidden from everyone else. We determine that no one will ever know what is truly in our hearts or what we are thinking unless we choose to allow it.  This kind of thinking is not completely accurate. The psalmist reveals the actual truth. The truth is that God not only looks into our hearts and minds, but he looks deep within. We might as well extend an

DATE - July 7th, 2022 TOPIC - A Simple Prayer BIBLE TEXT - There was a man named Jabez who was more distinguished than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request. - 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 What a powerful prayer and witness God put in the book of 1 Chronicles. Each of us can identify with one or more of the requests Jabez made. He asked for God’s blessing and the extension of his lands. He prayed for God to be close to him. And he asked that no trouble or pain enter his life. If God had chosen to grant any one of those requests, Jabez would have been a blessed man. But God gave an answer for each of these petitions and in doing so, fulfilled his plans for this man. We can learn many things from Jabez and his prayer. Perhaps one o

DATE - July 6th, 2022 TOPIC - Banishing Fear  BIBLE TEXT - You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and wine. I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. - Psalm 4:7-8 The September 11 hijackings and terrorist assaults were a shock and a tragedy for USA and many nations. The magnitude of the attacks cut to the soul of Americans, bringing trauma and panic. The following summer, multiple children were abducted, some from their own homes . . . their own bedrooms. It would seem that the safety of the people of America has been under attack. Likewise various violence, death and destruction happening globally. Nigeria recently has suffered many attacks, religious fears, kidnapping, terrorism and political fears. In many people’s lives, fear has taken the place of peace and safety. Moms, dads, grandparents, and youth wonder, How can I ever feel safe and secure again? Just as the psalmist reminds us in these ve

DATE - July 5th, 2022 TOPIC - Knowing God BIBLE TEXT - You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high. I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. . . . Victory comes from you, O Lord. May your blessings rest on your people. - Psalm 3:3-5, 8 At times the world paints a distorted picture of the Lord. In fact, misrepresentation occurs more often than not. In order for us to get a clear picture of God, we must read the Bible. In his Word, we are able to get an accurate representation of who he is and of how he operates. For instance, in this one passage from Psalm 3 we learn the following: These are true statements about the Lord and his character on which our confidence can rest. As we internalize these and other truths about God that we find throughout the Scriptures, we gain a deeper knowledge of who he is and how he operate

DATE - July 4th, 2022 TOPIC - Getting the Facts BIBLE TEXT - What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!Proverbs 18:13 This proverb tells us how important it is to listen to the facts before giving advice—and how easy it is to give advice before listening. We are not alone in this dilemma. The Bible gives examples of times when people attempted to take action before they had all the facts. Paul was nearly flogged because the magistrates didn’t know that he was a Roman citizen (see Acts 22). The jailer in Acts 16 almost took his own life because he didn’t know that no prisoners had escaped during the earthquake that freed Paul and Silas.  On the other hand, Jesus continually gave facts to his disciples so that they would be able to give accurate advice. You and I can do a great deal of harm when we jump to conclusions and give advice before we listen to the facts. Advisors must have adequate information if the advice they give is to be useful.

DATE - July 2nd, 2022 TOPIC - Pray from the Heart BIBLE TEXT - When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the Lord: “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord.’ ” - 2 Kings 20:2-5 Have you ever been so upset about something that you couldn’t even find the words to pray? Hezekiah was. News of his impending death was more than he could handle. When he tried to talk to God about it, his emotions got the best of him. He was too choked up for the words to flow, so his tears gushed out instead. But look wh