Joe Barnett

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.           —Matthew 21:22 “If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes . . . it will be done” (Mk 11:23). This baffling sentence wasn’t as mystifying […]

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.                  —Jeremiah 1:5 Are you being too hard on yourself? Or too easy? “I’m worthless. I can’t do anything right.” That’s being too hard on yourself. “I messed up. So

[B]y his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours.    —2 Thessalonians 1:11 How are you coming on those New Year’s Resolutions? The year is almost half gone, so this might be a good time for a checkup. Regina Brett made ten resolutions, printed each on an index card and tossed them into

And now what are you waiting for?                  —Acts 22:16 The late Paul Harvey spun a tale that ran something like this . . . Satan dispatched three of his minions to earth. Their assignment was to talk people out of giving their lives to God. He asked

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.     —Psalm 119:60 Satan sighs: “This one’s a tough customer. She’s doggedly determined to obey God. I don’t think I can win with her . . . unless . . . unless I can get her to put it off.” If Satan can’t get

He jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.   —Mark 10:50 As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout,

He came down at once and welcomed him gladly.           —Luke 19:6 Zacchaeus was perched on a branch in a sycamore tree, hoping to get a look at Jesus, the man everyone was talking about. Jesus spotted him and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your

I will follow you wherever you go.                       —Luke 9:57 “Follow me,” Jesus said to two fellows. The first agreed—but wanted to wait until his father’s death (Lk 9:59). The second said, “Yes, Lord, I will come, but first let me ask permission of those

Don’t be afraid; just believe.                 —Mark 5:36 Mark 5 reports three miracles that reveal Jesus as hope for the hopeless. They involved a demoniac who was hopelessly insane, a woman who was hopelessly ill, and a father who was hopelessly heartbroken. Neighbors were unable to restrain the

One thing you lack.    —Mark 10:21 For over two decades (1980–2001) the jingle “Be all that you can be” hit a psychological bulls-eye as a recruitment tool, appealing to young people to join the Army and become the best they could be. It brings to mind a young man who breathlessly asked Jesus, “What