Luke 13:10-13 “On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God!”

Upon reading this text, it made me wonder, “How do we determine if physical problem is caused by an evil spirit or is an illness is with a different cause?” After studying the Bible to learn the answer this question, I thought, “Does it matter, the cause of the ailment?” What matters is that God is the cure.

When we or others face ailments, our hope should be in God for relief, cure or restoration. There is nothing, including death, that is beyond his power.

Dear Lord, You have power over all. No sickness, malady, or demon is beyond your control. Help us remember to put our faith and hope in your saving and restoring power. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Psalm 40:4 says, “Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who trust in idols.”

I think a modern day description of the “proud or those who trust in idols” may be, “the brilliant people and their awesome technologies.”

I am as fascinated as anyone by the incredible discoveries being made by brilliant people, and the amazing technologies they are developing. For some people following these smart people and their technologies can become like worship. It is important for us to remember to put our trust in the God who created these people and the wonderful inventions. As the verse says, our joy comes from putting our trust in the Lord.

Dear Lord, thank you for the brilliant people you put in the world, and for the amazing technologies they have developed for us. Help us remember to put our trust in you as you work through them to bring us joy and bring you glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Do you ever wonder how people who have been victims of terrible crimes can forgive those who committed those crimes? We know that the Bible tells us we should forgive, but in some cases it seems almost impossible.

Proverbs 10:12 says, “..love covers all wrongs.” and in 1 John 4:8, John writes, “…God is love.” It is God’s love working through us that allows us to forgive those who seem un-forgivable, and to overcome those seemingly impossible conflicts we encounter.

Dear Lord, It was ultimately your love for us that covered our wrongs through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Help us draw on your love to overcome conflicts in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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He is risen.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.”

Jesus told us in John 14:19, “Because I live, you will live also.”

He is risen indeed.

As the hymn says, “Oh what sweet joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives.”

Dear Lord, Your sacrifice was the price for our sin, and your resurrection is our victory over death. Oh what joy this brings!. Amen.

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I saw a short video of some “bully-proofing” techniques a martial arts organization was teaching young children. The technique began with looking the bully in the eye, and telling him or her that they are not going to let themselves be bullied. Their training went on to include other defensive techniques, but it started with displaying resistance and confidence.

This is somewhat like how the Bible tells us to act in the face of the devil’s temptation.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

James 4:7 tells us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ”

With God, we can overcome anything the devil may throw at us.

Dear Lord, you have power over all things, including the devil. Help us have the confidence in your power and support to stand firm and resist the devil, so he will depart from us as promised. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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