The story of Rebekah and Isaac is a fascinating one. After Sarah’s death, Abraham wanted to ensure that his son would marry someone who worshipped the one true God, Jehovah. To accomplish this, Abraham sent his servant to Nahor in Mesopotamia to find a bride among his relatives. After praying for guidance, the servant found Rebekah and received confirmation that she was the one chosen by God to marry Isaac. Rebekah was willing, and the beginnings of their marriage became a wonderful story of faith, adventure, and romance in Genesis chapter twenty-four.

1 Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.

2 So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh, 

3 and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; 

4 but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

5 And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?” 

6 But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there. 

7 The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.

~ Genesis 24:1-7

Our Father in heaven, there is no one like You. Thank You for all Your provisions, especially Jesus, who sacrificed His life for my sins. Holy God, I am certain that meeting my wife was a providential blessing from You. She is a faithful Christian and has brought many blessings to me, spiritually and physically. I thank You, God, for bringing Keri into my life, and pray that You will continue to bless our marriage and help it grow stronger. Furthermore, I pray for Your guidance and care for my three daughters. They are godly young women, and I understand that choosing the right partner will be one of the most important decisions of their lives. I pray that You will guide them and help them to make wise choices in choosing a husband. May they be directed by You in all things, and may they especially choose to marry the one You have approved for them. All of this I pray, for the betterment of our lives, spiritually. Amen.    

God was with Abram, guiding and blessing him, as Abram proved himself to be a faithful worshiper of God. However, Abram had his weaknesses, which were reflected in his lying to Pharaoh about Sarai. Despite his flaws, God bestowed grace upon Abram (Genesis 12:1-20). Abram’s wisdom was evident in his conflict resolution with Lot and their herdsmen. Additionally, Abram demonstrated his willingness and ability to fight for the safety of his nephew, after Lot was taken captive (Genesis 13:1-18). Furthermore, we see Abram’s strength of conviction in his refusal to accept goods as a reward from pagan neighbors, after he honored the priest Melchizedek (Genesis 14:1-24). Ultimately, Abram’s exemplary faith and character were the result of his trust in God.

4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 

5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. 

6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.

7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

~ Genesis 12:4-7

Holy God in heaven. I want to be faithful to You in all things. May I worship You as a faithful man, and may You have mercy on me when I succumb to weaknesses. I do not want to continue making the same mistakes because of weakness, though. I want to take every opportunity to grow, and at times when conflicts arise, I want to be a stable force in bringing about peace, especially when it comes to family disputes. Enable me the strength to stand up for what is right, and even fight for the physical and spiritual well-being of my loved ones. Give me the courage of conviction to not only do what is right in honoring spiritual leaders but also refuse fellowship with those who reject Your ways. Increase our faith, and please let these things be, O God. 

After delivering His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus concluded by emphasizing the importance of putting His teaching into practice. Those who witnessed Jesus noted the authority with which He spoke. When the leper and the centurion approached Him, they appealed to His ability, willingness, and authority (Matthew 8:1-13). Jesus is both willing and able to provide for us, but He demands that we leave behind all worldly things and commit ourselves to Him! Even the winds and the sea obey Him (Matthew 8:14-17). The decision to willingly obey Him now is left to us, but there will come a day when all will indeed obey His words (Philippians 2:10-11). For example: In the country of the Gergesenes, there were demons who begged Jesus for mercy, but He cast them into swine, which then violently ran down the steep place into the sea and perished in the water (Matthew 8:28-34).

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 

25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 

27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 

29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

~ Matthew 7:24-29

Holy God… You are too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard. Father, not everyone recognizes the need for a Savior. Some do, yet are unwilling to make Jesus their Lord! I understand that for me to receive healing, Jesus must be willing; I also understand the need for His being the Master of my life. May I properly submit to You, and may I truly be willing to sacrifice my own will, even the comforts of this life, to serve You more appropriately. I see that the winds and waves are obedient to You more than I have been in my own life, and for that I am ashamed. There will come a day when every knee bows before Jesus. I want to willingly make Him my Master, now! Please help me to properly understand Your words in Scripture and give me the courage to live by every word that comes from Your mouth! Amen.

The promise in Genesis 3:15 is very important as it shows the beginning of God’s plan of redemption. Appearing to refer to the enmity between humans and serpents, its deeper meaning is the conflict between the seed of woman, who is Christ, and Satan. Through His death, Jesus Christ defeated the power of Satan (Hebrews 2:14-15). Though the forces of evil killed Jesus, it was in accordance with God’s plan and foresight. Death was temporary as Christ rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). On the day Eve sinned, Satan appeared victorious. However, the promise was that a descendant of Eve would one day triumph over Satan, a battle Eve had lost that day.

9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 

10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.

15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

~ Genesis 3:9-15

O God in heaven. I have disgraced myself due to the sins I have committed against You. There is no place where I can hide from You, as You know everything. I am confessing my wrongdoings and asking for Your mercy and grace. I am grateful for the people You have placed in my life and appreciate their companionship. That said, I want to be a good leader for my family and aim to do what is right despite my past mistakes. I am grateful that You’ve revealed Satan as a real threat to my fellowship with You; and that Your wisdom and foresight provide us with a chance for true redemption through Your Son. I pray that I may always be thankful for Jesus and look up to You with a grateful heart. Help me to see Christ more clearly in the prophecies of Scripture. And I pray that others will see Jesus in the way that I devote my life to You. Amen.

The image of God, and His likeness, both refer to the spiritual essence of God. God gave man a high level of intelligence, willpower, consciousness, and a soul – all of which distinguish man from other creatures. These characteristics also enable mankind the ability to worship God. However, people do not automatically resemble God in their lives and character. God has given us the POTENTIAL to be like Him, yet it is regrettable when people waste their gifts and live like animals.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. 

25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 

27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 

28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 

30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 

31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

~ Genesis 1:24-31

Holy God and Father in heaven, I am grateful to You for blessing me with life, and for giving me the ability to experience all the wonderful things this world has to offer. I pray that You grant me the wisdom and strength to be a good steward of the things You have entrusted to me. Many in this world have rejected the knowledge of You as our Creator, and as a result, they live their lives like mere beasts. I don’t want that for myself! I want to emulate You in every possible way and appreciate You teaching us of our origin. I promise to seek You with my whole heart and strive to acceptably worship You. Amen!

Standing up for truth and justice is crucial, no matter how challenging the circumstances may be. The saints who stood up against the immoral leaders of Rome serve as a powerful reminder that we should never be afraid to stand against oppressive forces. Rome had instituted emperor worship; their leaders endorsed gross immorality and imposed punitive repercussions on anyone who did not conform to their ways. They even resorted to economic discrimination to force submission, but many saints were not intimidated by the deceptions of those in power. These lessons are still relevant today when a government turns its power over to Satan to persecute God’s cause. Even if we are in the minority, we must always strive to do what is right. Ultimately, God has the power to overcome any evil in the world and bring justice to those who have been wronged.

2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 

3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!

4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.”

~ Revelation 15:2-4

Holy God in heaven, You are too marvelous for words. Thank you for the systems of government and the freedoms we enjoy in this country. We are fortunate to have access to food, clothing, and other comforts that many people in other parts of the world do not have. I pray that we can continue to live peaceful lives and that Your word may spread. However, I am aware that many of our leaders publicly endorse immoral behavior, and many of our neighbors do not know You. Our comfort has allowed us to let our guard down against spiritual dangers. I have also become too comfortable and want to focus on growing stronger in You. May Your people everywhere stand for what is right in Your eyes. We will all be accountable for how we conduct ourselves on this earth. Please guard and direct me towards You. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. I look forward to singing praises to You, with the redeemed, in eternity. Amen.

Satan was thrown down to earth, and there was rejoicing in heaven? What does this mean? Satan attempted to resist God’s forces, yet he was overpowered and cast down. He was unable to thwart Gods plan. The time of this occurrence is mentioned in 12:10-12, which signals the moment when Jesus received His kingdom and authority. The victory of Jesus through His death, resurrection, and ascension was a crucial part of the vision. However, it is important to remember that the final victory is yet to come, and Satan can still create obstacles for God’s people on earth. Nevertheless, it is comforting to know that Satan was defeated when Christ offered the sacrifice and made salvation available to all men. This is indeed a great victory!

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 

8 but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 

9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

~ Revelation 12:7-12

Father in heaven, hollowed be Your name. I am grateful to be informed of Satan’s plans and his defeat. It brings me comfort to know that Your Son was victorious through His resurrection. Please strengthen my faith so that I remain faithful to You during times of trial and temptation. This world can be cruel and heartbreaking. I long for the day when I will be in Your presence, free from guilt, shame, and hurt. I pray that all Your people draw closer to You, and that the truth of Your word finds receptive ears among those seeking refuge in this world. Amen!

In the book of Revelation, chapter seven, John describes seeing four angels holding back the winds of destruction until another angel seals the bondservants of God on their foreheads. The total number of those sealed is 144,000, which is a symbolic representation of the saints of God on earth at any given point in time. These individuals are the true Israel, God’s holy nation. John then sees another group, an innumerable host, standing before the throne. They belong to every nation, wear white robes, and sing praises to God and the Lamb. These individuals are already beyond danger as they are dead and no longer on the earth. Thus, they are before the throne, with God!

11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,  

12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”

14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 

16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 

17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

~ Revelation 7:11-17

Holy God, I know that You are merciful and just. While living on this earth, my desire is to faithfully serve You, regardless of the circumstances. Although there may be peace and prosperity here, many people in the world are facing economic hardships, natural disasters, wars, and societal upheavals. I pray that You will be with Your people during these challenging times, providing them with comfort and hope. I believe that You are currently reigning over the whole earth, even from Your throne in heaven, and I hope to be a part of that innumerable host that dwells with You. Please help us to remain faithful to You while we are here. Thank You for Your promises and for the hope that we find in Jesus. Amen.

It’s interesting to read John’s words and see how they still hold true today. He warned his readers not to be led astray and to remember that denying Christ also means denying the Father. John emphasized the importance of acknowledging the deity of Christ and not rejecting the evidence that God has given. It’s important to take John’s warning seriously and not be swayed by scholars who seek to undermine our faith.

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 

21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 

23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

~ 1 John 2:18-23

Holy God in heaven, You are worthy of all praise and adoration. Thank you for sending men like John to proclaim Your word. I am grateful for his examples of both love and stern warnings. Because of his warning, I am now keenly aware that there are those in this world who oppose Jesus. Not only that, but there are many who believe that there is no such thing as objective truth. However, You have revealed to me that I can know the truth by first acknowledging Jesus as Deity. Thank You for providing me with all the evidence in Scripture and through Your providential care. I love You, Father, and ask that You continue to protect me from evil men. Please grant me the blessing of growth in and through Your Son. Moreover, help me to be an effective communicator so that I can guide others to a full knowledge of Your truth. Please, let these things be, O’ God.