False Prophets

July 22, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

Genesis 12:1-3

Today antisemitism is on the rise; we read of incidents in the newspaper and scenes of horrific persecution challenge our belief in man’s humanity to man – how can people of the same human race treat one another so badly?

Recently I was shocked to hear antisemitic thoughts expressed by a person openly professing to be a Christian. How sad it is that the man had not understood the magnificent promise God made to Abram:

“I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you, I will curse”. ____________________

The reason for such a strict injunction is that God had just promised Abram that He would make his name great. Why? Because God was going to use Abram.

“All peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).

God’s blessing through the Jewish people is the gospel – the good news of Messiah’s coming in the person of Jesus Christ! He died for the sins of all mankind, yours and mine. All we are required to do is to receive

and believe (John 1:12-13).

Directly contradicting what God prophesied to Abram, the man I was listening to declared that all the troubles of our present age can be attributed to the Jews. How had he been taught? Where had the church failed, where is it failing, to let such a theme prevail among those who call themselves Christian? Sadly, he is not alone. Hitler propagated this lie of Satan, and was followed by millions.

Jesus Himself warned: “False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – it that were possible. So be on your guard” (Mark 14:22-23a). Is it possible to deceive the elect? Consider that Jesus promised: “I give them eternal Life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28). Eternal life cannot be taken away from God’s children. Therefore those who claim to be His, but do not walk in His Word, are among these false prophets.

The question for us might be “Are you on your guard?” Do you know scripture well enough to recognize a false prophet? We hate to pass judgment on anyone, but there again a mis-understanding of what it means to discern truth from lie, renders the church weak at a time when it needs to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!

Reflection:
I’m reminded of how patriotic it feels to sing “O Canada…we stand on guard for thee”. Could we sing a similar refrain regarding our determination that the gospel is not diluted because we stand on guard?

Devotional

Show Us the Father

July 14, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

John 14:6-14

Jesus was disappointed. He had been working and walking, eating and drinking with His disciples for three years. They were His intimate friends. As such He expected them to know Him very well, yet here was Philip asking Him to show them the Father. Why did that matter?

Jesus had talked about God the Father continuously throughout His ministry, primarily to identify Himself with His Father in heaven. He even taught His disciples to pray to God as “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). Now, in the present moment Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure to God the Father. The crucial message He was leaving with them was that no one could get to God in heaven unless they followed the Way, the Truth and the Life, new names He gave to Himself.

In the face of Philip’s question Jesus patiently explained again that “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (14:9). John the Baptist had already prepared the way, years before, by preaching that “No one has ever seen God [in His invisible Spirit-being], but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known” (John 1:18). Jesus declared to Philip and the other disciples: “It is the Father, living in Me, who is doing His work” (14:10). The mystery of how He is in the Father and the Father is in Him needed explanation once again, since Jesus’ purpose was to bring glory to God the Father.

Let’s consider briefly the life of Jesus. In His ministry He was often prophetic about His immediate future, things fulfilled in His life-time, as well as events to which we still look forward (i.e. John 6:62). He demonstrated His foreknowledge when He saw Nathanael under the fig tree, prior to speaking with him )John 1:40). Jesus declared God to be a loving Father, challenging His followers to love one another as a sign they were Christ-followers (John 13:34-35).

Jesus Himself was an emotional being, weeping at the grave of Lazarus, angry with the moneychangers in the temple, compassionate towards sinners, loving people who didn’t always respond to Him such as the rich young ruler. If nothing else, Jesus showed us the Father is a relational Being. Created to be like God, people need to be secure in relationship with Him. Within that significance and security, all our relationships benefit.

Then there were the miracles which Jesus often used to illustrate His Divinity. He healed the sick, raised the dead, fed thousands with few resources, made the blind to see, lepers clean, and the lame walked. His disciples witnessed how the winds and waves were subject to His voice, this One who is also Creator God (John 1:1, 2). He escaped out of crowds who sought to kill him and walked on water. God doesn’t call us to walk on water; He just calls us to love! Perhaps the greatest miracle of all was the forgiveness He freely extended towards the very folks who nailed Him to the cross.

If in three years of talking about His Father the disciples still didn’t ‘get it’, its impossible for us to exhaust the riches of scripture, in our search for understanding of an Omniscient, Almighty, Eternal, Omnipresent, and Infinite God. Do we still ask “Show us the Father” when doing our daily devotions? Shouldn’t that be our prayer? It will take eternity for us to fathom the riches of His grace and mercy, to see clearly the mind of God in all its justice, and to interpret His wisdom.

Reflection:

Since man was made in the image of God, its important to understand God’s heart and mind. How often did Jesus talk about doing the will of His Father? Are we challenged to do the will of “Our Father”?

Perhaps the greatest demonstration of the heart of God was when Jesus wept over Jerusalem. If He is in the Father and we are in Him, do we weep over our Jerusalem? Where has God planted us? Why, how and when do our lives, yours and mine, reveal the Father to these dear people?

Devotional

Infinite Wisdom

July 8, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

1 Kings 3:5-14

You are faced with a major decision. It is hugely important and will affect not only you and your family, but the future of others in your church and community. There are several options, one of which will mean you will be answerable to people who are neither Christian, nor guided by Christian principles. At such times we long for someone to tell us what to do.

Wisdom is defined by the dictionary as “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.” Solomon is known as the wisest man who ever lived. Ruling the nation of Israel he was faced with many major decisions. He had the opportunity to influence his family and his nation by the choices he made.

He started his reign with the realization that he was inadequate. “I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties” (1 Kings 3:7). Think of leaders today who almost sell themselves to get votes. They become the great “I am….”. Not too many would get far suggesting they were vulnerable and unqualified for the post. Whether he recognized it or not, God had already given Solomon wisdom to know he couldn’t do this job alone; he needed Divine help!

Solomon also knew that sibling rivalry placed him at the low end of the totem pole. Why David chose him to succeed as next king might have been a mystery, if Solomon had not known that God was in charge. “Oh Lord, my God, You have made your servant king” (:7). Now he appeals to God for the ability “to distinguish between right and wrong” (:9).

God is pleased! His answer gives hope to us all. If we ask “Thy will be done” God Himself will give us a wise and discerning heart, just as He did for Solomon (:12). Why is this the key to decision-making? It is because we acknowledge the supremacy of Infinite, found in God alone. Solomon discovered what God meant when He said “….and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33, 1 Kings 3:13, 14).

In Solomon’s mind the kingdom of God came first, not the kingdom of Israel. He could not govern without God’s infinite wisdom. Why do we suppose we can run our own lives without the wisdom of God? He who placed us in a given environment, longs to give us the resources with which to cope, and not only that, but to distinguish what is pleasing in His sight.

God wants to have control of my life, because He can fill it with worthy thoughts and feelings. His provision comes to those who believe, who are then indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We need to pray for one another, “Asking God to fill you [us] with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9) Why? Because God is limitless in His ability to fill us with all wisdom.

Reflection:

When faced with issues of right and wrong, how do we proceed? Does the culture of our day dictate our decisions? Are we led by our feelings? Do we consult Sovereign God, the One infinite in wisdom? Is my number one priority to please God by the choices I make?

Do we believe the words found in James 1:5?

Devotional

Impatience

July 4, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

Matthew 5:11-12

Have you ever felt like kicking the cat, or someone else, when you got up in the morning? Why does such a mood prevail on a new day, fresh with promise? Perhaps this is why God included patience in the list of fruit the Holy Spirit produces in the children of God.

What does impatience say about you and me? First of all, it is me-centered. I am exasperated. Perhaps my comfort has been compromised. Possibly my will has been thwarted. Certainly my self-control is being tested! Surely I am in danger of becoming a victim of my own expectations! Someone or something owes me; I am entitled to better treatment. How easy it is to excuse ourselves on the basis of our circumstances.
“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen!”

What does Jesus warn His disciples to expect in this life? Persecution? How does He view such an experience? The reality is people will insult you, persecute you, say all manner of evil against you, but Jesus knows we can respond with gladness and joy. How is that possible? We are given all the tools we need by God the Holy Spirit.

Impatience tests our belief. Is God able? Is God willing? What is God trying to teach me? To whom can I go for help? To whom will I go for help? How often we take our troubles to another human being for comfort. We look for them to agree with our perspectives, don’t we? How troubling it is when our real friends speak truth into certain situations! Do we receive their words, knowing they come from a heart of love or do we still seek justification for our anger and fear responses?

In reality God Himself is patient. How often has He endured my wayward thoughts and actions? He doesn’t call us to be more than He exemplified in the life of Christ, seen here on earth. His patience shows up in acts of kindness, in an attitude of forgiveness, in peacefulness and joy. These are all possible as we face times of testing, for those in whose hearts the Holy Spirit dwells.

The result? We not only lift our own spirits, but the name of Jesus is lifted high by people made nicer to be with. Our families and friends will not dread personal encounters with someone they once needed to be so careful with, when together.

Reflection

God gets the glory for changes in our thoughts and behaviours! We live out the truth of what we say we believe when we let God handle our tendency towards impatience. Praise God! He doesn’t leave us to flounder alone, but has given us the Holy Spirit to bring peace within, and to provide kindness towards others who may also be hurting themselves, with an impatient attitude.

Devotional

Who is Your Father?

June 22, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

John 8:34-47

In the one of Jesus’ discourses He talks about the father of the Israelites…they, like most, resembled their father and Jesus was displeased. He calls upon them to consider Abraham – the founding father of the nation (John 8:39-40).

Before we go on – a little background is needed. Jesus had spent the night on the Mount of Olives, where He often went to talk with His Father. At dawn He appeared in the temple courts, where he taught early morning worshipers. During this service a woman who was caught in adultery was brought before Jesus and His judgment is known to this day. Deserving death under the law, He calls on anyone who was without sin to cast the first stone. They left the scene, one by one, and Jesus tells the woman to go and sin no more. These folks who stood in judgment over the woman who had been “caught” in her sin, did not resemble Abraham. They were his natural descendants but because of their own disobedience and unbelief many could not claim to be his spiritual descendants (8:39).

When He next spoke to the people Jesus claimed to be the Light of the World (John 8:12); the Pharisees took offence because He had no witnesses to verify His claim. Jesus called God the Father His witness (:16-18) and a lengthy discussion ensued.

Key points in His discourse included the fact that the truth would set these people free (8:32). Later in John 14 Jesus identified Himself as the “Truth”. He goes on to say that “…if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (8:36). Now it becomes apparent how crucial His identification with the Father is, because Jesus said “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God” (8:42). Jesus then accuses His listeners of not understanding what He is saying because “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire” (8:44). Pretty strong language!

What made His message so urgent? Jesus said He was going away and these people would not be able to follow him. He says this twice (8:21 & 22). Why? He warns them four times that they would die in their sins (8:21, 22, 24). This presents us with a conundrum. These folks apparently were identified with the devil by Jesus, so therefore they were not welcome in heaven. It is crucial that our family, friends and workmates recognize that the one who longs to be their heavenly Father sent Jesus to tell them the truth about their eternal destiny. We do not get to choose our earthly father, but we do have that opportunity when it comes to our heavenly Father. It is a choice every person must get serious about, or face the consequences.

Reflection:

This choice frees us from the grasp of the one who is the father of lies (8:45). The devil is the father of all unbelievers. Tragically many do not hear the truth, not because they are intellectually deficient, but rather because they do not wish to follow Jesus’ teachings. They prefer to follow their father, the devil. How then might they claim God as their heavenly Father? Who is your father?

Devotional

Nicodemus

June 16, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

John 3

Who was Nicodemus? John tells us he was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish ruling council. The Sanhedrin was made up of 70-72 elders and teachers of a nation governed by religious rule. By law the Sanhedrin could not meet at night so when Jesus was brought before them, prior to His crucifixion, they had to wait until daybreak (Luke 22:66). However, under Roman rule the Sanhedrin lost its clout….they had no power to carry out a capitol sentence.

Perhaps Nicodemus, lost in a maze of religious bureaucracy was unable to satisfy his curiosity. We know he came to Jesus at night. Imagine how risky this was for one of the key leaders of the people. He must have been truly desperate to get answers for questions he may never have dared to ask before.

Immediately he told Jesus what he knew. “You are a teacher come from God”. Was that flattery? How could he make such a statement to an unlearned carpenter? He, himself, was of the educated elite. Years of studying the law qualified one to become a Pharisee. At their zenith Josephus tells us there may have been 6,000 Pharisees throughout Israel, known by the way they dressed. They were also known to be chasidim – “loved of God” or “loyal to God”. Study of all that entailed is for another day.

How did Nicodemus recognize that Jesus came from God? By His miracles. Jesus’ response was rather odd. “I tell you the truth”…..confidentially, let Me let you into a secret….”no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again” (John 3:3). Jesus understood Nicodemus’ heart. He knew the man before him was deadly serious about matters of faith. His commitment to God was real, sincere.

Besides telling Nicodemus he must be born again, Jesus also told him He had come from heaven, something no other person could say (:13). He prophesied about his death on the cross, but it is unlikely Nicodemus understood the analogy about being lifted up like the serpent in the wilderness. Did Nicodemus understand that this act, Jesus’ sacrifice would provide those who believed with eternal life? (:14).

Based on God’s love for the whole world, not just the Jewish community, salvation would provide eternal life to all who believed in His Son….Jesus revealed His deity to Nicodemus that night (:16). Taking this man into His confidence, Jesus shared a new way to God that would supersede the sacrifices Jews were required to make in worship. This news was “light” that God had sent into a world darkened by sin.

John doesn’t tell us what Nicodemus did with the information Jesus shared that night. He does report that Nicodemus spoke out against the illegal conviction of a man [Jesus] who was convicted but had not yet been tried and proven guilty (John 7:50-51). His commitment to Jesus was proven by the provision he made of 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes, when he and Joseph of Arimathea buried the body of their Lord in Joseph’s tomb (John 19:39-40).

Reflection:

Deep thoughts! The Holy Spirit has been sent to convict us of sin and to reveal truth to our spirits. The life of Nicodemus challenges us with his willingness to take risks for Jesus’ sake. Perhaps by working quietly in the background he earned for himself the reputation of being a secret believer, but His love for Jesus is tenderly visible in the last rites performed over His dead body. How does God perceive your love and mine for the Saviour who died to give us eternal life?

Devotional

Rachel Weeping for Her Children

June 9, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

Jeremiah 31:15

Today there are many women weeping for their children. Have you seen the suffering of the refugees around the world? It’s pretty hard to imagine what it would be like to be displaced from everything we once held dear, from our intimate families and friends. Some of us have held our little ones in our arms while they struggled, but most of us have no idea what it would be like to face death by hunger. Facing death by every other means is unfortunately common in certain areas of our world today.

Death! This is why Rachel was weeping for her children. Death had come to Ramah, just as the prophet had predicted. Ramah is a city in Benjamin’s tribal territory; Rachel was his mother. The prophet Jeremiah applied great sorrow to Rachel who would have wept if she had known that her children, her progeny would be swept into exile. Ramah was the city to which the captives were taken on their way to Babylon.

A second tragedy befell Ramah when Herod, sought to get rid of the baby “King of the Jews”, announced suddenly by the arrival of the Magi from the east. Babies under two years of age were slaughtered recklessly because of King Herod’s fear. Once again Matthew remembers how Rachel longed for children. She would prefer to die; in other words, life was not worth living if she did not bear children (Genesis 30:1). Now more of her descendants were being killed. We can just envision the pain in her heart had she known. We must be ready to leave the future in God’s hands, and praise Him for the gifts of the present.

However, in the present there are people who are grieving the death of their little ones. Are we feeling compassion in our hearts? Does God have compassion for these people? “This is what the Lord says: Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears….there is hope for your future” (Jeremiah 31:16-17). “I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow” (31:13).

Comfort came through the very one that Herod sought to kill. Jesus Christ came to restore man’s relationship with God the heavenly Father. God has made good on His promise. Today as we weep it is not without hope. Certainly we weep. God even stores our tears in a bottle….but He has provided the means for us to hope. “And now these three remain: Faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Reflection:

What lessons can we learn from this portion of scripture about the force of fear?

Predicated on faith, the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9), God’s love flows through us to others. This is His plan for us who are His workmanship (:10). Are you conscious of being used of God to bring hope and love to others?

Devotional

To His Struggling Friends

June 3, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

Philippians 3:4-10

Recently I heard a couple of Christians reminiscing about their strict religious up-bringing; they felt deprived of youthful pleasures that might have been negotiable. Brought up under the same religious principles I wondered why my life in contrast, had been so rich and full of meaning. Perhaps as we train up a child in the way he should go (Proverbs 22:6) more is taught by our attitude and tone than from the actual words. If we weigh heavily on criticism and disapproval we deny the power of God’s love. How important is it for us to teach the privileges of a relationship with Jesus rather than self-denial according to a set of rules? What lasting damage may be done by such a negative approach to our precious faith in Jesus Christ?

The Apostle Paul had it all, in worldly terms. He had dual citizenship with Rome and Israel. He was well educated and belonged to the highest religious sect among Jews; his authority as a Pharisee gave him the responsibility of protecting their faith from blasphemers. But! All of this was nothing to him once he knew Jesus Christ personally. He refers to this knowledge as “surpassing greatness” of anything he had known before (:8). Everything else he had spent his life studying – religion, philosophy, relationships, science, was considered “rubbish” by comparison. He had obviously bought into Christianity lock, stock and barrel. Why?

Paul’s desires had changed. He wanted to be found “in Him [Christ]” (:9). Prompted by the recognition that his own righteousness, seasoned by deep commitment to Torah law, was not enough to make him righteous in the eyes of God, Paul needed the righteousness that comes from God by faith.

His passion was aflame! “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection”. Don’t we all want to be raised to go to heaven? But even that was not enough. Now Paul goes on to tell us he longed for “the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (:10). Why would Paul want, need to know the suffering of Christ? I’m reminded that Jesus left us with the mandate to remember His death when we take the elements in communion. Jesus does not want us to forget to identify with His sufferings. (Luke 22:19). How do we do that? Do we bind people with a set of rules, or is the freedom Christ died to give us going to really set us free? (Galatians 5:1).

Reflection:

What do we fear God will restrict in our lives of faith? Are we afraid that Jesus meant what He said “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”? (John 15:13). What might this require of me? But Jesus went on to say “You are My friends if you do what I command” (14). His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We are simply commanded by Jesus to love God with everything we have, and to love our neighbour as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 19:19). Let us be friends!

Devotional

Motherhood

May 26, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

1 Samuel 1-3

In scripture we read of several women who were childless over long periods of time – Sarah, Rachel, Elizabeth. One woman in particular, stands out to me as a woman of prayer. Hannah and her husband Elkanah worshiped at the temple in Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3). Here Eli had a long ministry but his sons did not follow in his steps as a man of God.

Eli found a woman in passionate prayer; overcome with tears, she just mouthed what was on her heart and Eli thought she was drunk. Her husband’s second wife ridiculed her childlessness and life was miserable. She vowed to “give him to the Lord for all the days of his life” if God would only give her a son.

God heard Hannah’s prayer and gave her the son she asked for. She did not forget her promise, and gave little Samuel to the Lord when he was weaned, probably around the age of five. We know nothing of the details of his childhood. What did Hannah have to teach him about faith, about God? Her example as a woman of prayer is recorded in scripture.

What does prayer mean to a little child? I remember when we thought my baby sister was dying and our family prayed for her recovery. That experience left an undying impression on my mind of two things. God hears and answers prayer, for yes – she did recover. The second thing is that families can build one another up in their faith as they pray together.

When Hannah turned her little child over to God it was without regret. Her prayer for a child had been answered and so it was repeated, as she learned to love the subsequent children God gave to her. What were the songs she sang to her babies, the things she whispered in their ears about the great God they worshiped?

Hannah named the baby Samuel which means “name of God”. For Hannah it served as a continual reminder of God’s mercy towards those who call upon His name. I’m sure she told Samuel about the miracle of his conception and birth. She rejoiced in the Lord, in a prayer which has been recorded for posterity. She saw Him as her “Rock” the “holy One” (1 Samuel 2:2) who truly cares. The Lord humbles and He exalts. This great Creator God will “guard the feet of His saints” (2:8-9). On this she built her trust.

This is the woman the Lord entrusted to be the mother of one of His greatest prophets. She kept her vow. “So now I give him to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:28) she told Eli, when she brought him to the temple to live. He worshiped the Lord there, we read (1:28). What does a little child know about worship? Jesus said something about this. Jesus taught that to enter the kingdom of heaven, one must turn and become humble, trusting, and dependent, like a little child (Matthew 18:3-4). He emphasized that greatness in His kingdom comes from having this lowly, receptive, and teachable posture rather than seeking status.

Reflection:

“The boy ministered before the Lord under Eli the priest” (1 Samuel 2:11) and he continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord and with men (1 Samuel 2:26). Hannah visited him once a year. What did they talk about? Did she continue to build into her son the faith which meant so much to her? We know that “the Lord was with Samuel as he grew up” and all Israel recognized him as a prophet of God! (1 Samuel 3:19-20). Motherhood was a holy responsibility to Hannah. She was a model pure faith .

Devotional

Why Are You Cast Down?

May 18, 2026 AdminLeave a comment

Psalm 42 – 45

A series of psalms was written by the Sons of Korah. Who were these men? Descendants of the Korahites served as doorkeepers and soldiers with King David, explains this ‘Got Questions’ article. Three descendants of the line of Korah go on to become great musical masters and pen some of the Psalms: Heman, Asaph, and Ethan. Heman, a grandson of Samuel, penned Psalm 88, and was known for his wisdom.

In Psalms 42 to 45 we find the Sons of Korah creating Maskils, contemplative or didactic poems, used for teaching. The writers, possibly in exile, yearn to return to Jerusalem because it is the revered place of God. They remember going with the multitude with shouts of joy and thanksgiving (42:4). Have you ever been in a worship service where the Spirit of God is glorified by the joy of God’s people? It is an unforgettable experience!

How do we deal with disappointment and longing? The maskil teaches us to do a little self-talk. “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” Notice this is repeated twice in verses 5 and 11 and again in Psalm 43:5. We need to repent of our sins in order to enjoy the forgiveness that restores a right relationship with God. Then they go directly to God. “Why have You forgotten me” (42:9). Have you ever felt like that? Then go straight to the Lord with your pain and sorrow.

The answer comes back in a simple statement “Put your hope in God”. What did they know about God that heathen nations did not? “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (42:2). This living God has been their stronghold (43:2), making their fathers flourish by His right hand and the light and love of His character (44:3). He knows the secrets of the heart (44:21). Even though they were humbled by God because of their sin, the nation Israel even being scattered, (44:9, 11) they knew God’s love was unfailing (44:26). Do you know that God’s love is eternal? Everlasting! Faithful and true?

Throughout this series of songs, they were remembering what had happened down through their nation’s history. True to His nature, when they sinned, God brought judgment on them, but He remained their “refuge, an ever-present help in trouble” (46:1). They trusted the words of God. “Be still and know that I am God…..I will be exalted in the earth” (46:10).

Reflection:

“In Your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness”. These are the qualities that God is looking to plant in your life and mine. As long as we pursue Him, He will gain the victory over evil in our lives, because He loves righteousness and longs to fill our lives with joy (45:4,7). After all, Jesus died that we might be called children of God. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1). “Why are you cast down, O my soul”?