Joe Barnett

I will strengthen you and help you.                        —Isaiah 41:10 Father, Your eyes scan the whole world to give strength to those whose hearts are committed to you (2 Chron. 16:9). I come to you today, laying claim to the strength you give and the […]

If God is for us, who can be against us?                         —Romans 8:31 The battleground where the war between trouble and tranquility is fought isn’t a place, but a person—you. The enemy’s weapons are daunting: trouble, hardship, persecution, and danger, just to name a

Be strong and courageous.            —Joshua 1:9 “Courage,” wrote C.S. Lewis, “is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” Is there something you need to do, but you’re dragging your heels because you’re afraid to do it? Until you take the first

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him.             —Luke 18:40 He was blind; a beggar. Informed that Jesus was nearby, he shouted, “Jesus … have mercy on me!” The disciples told him to put a sock in it; but Jesus stopped, ordered them to bring the

Let all the earth be silent before him.                    —Habakkuk 2:20 You probably don’t know the busiest person in the world, but there’s a good chance you know someone who thinks she is. It may even be you. Believe it or not, everything doesn’t depend on you,

I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.      —Psalm 3:5 What’s on your agenda today? Travel? Work? Meetings? Shopping? Cleaning? Before you start scratching items off your To-Do list, resolve to include God in the doing of each of them. God designed this day before days existed; planned it before you entered it;

May all who seek you rejoice and be glad.                               —Psalm 70:4 Your life has been enriched by family and friends. What good times you’ve had together. Some of those—a parent, spouse, child, best friend—are no longer here to enjoy this

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.                      —Romans 15:13 God says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart … and he will direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5, 6). Trust says, “I believe it.” Doubt

He cares for you.    —1 Peter 5:7 Humans are sometimes thoughtless. Even cruel. What words come to mind when you think about how people treat each other? These perhaps? Ignored Neglected Rejected Abandoned Abused None of these words define God’s dealings with you. He loves you; wants your company; thinks about you constantly. If

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.       —Hebrews 13:5 Earthly relationships are fragile. Heavenly ones aren’t. Your parent may ignore you. Your child may neglect you. Your spouse may abandon you. Your friends may forsake you. But your Father won’t forget you. Even if a mother should forget her