Responding to Accusation
When conflict occurs, the natural reaction is to blame someone else and defend yourself. But believers must respond differently. Once, I was publicly chastised for a wrong I had not committed. Thankfully, the Lord enabled me to remain calm rather than react angrily. Praying first is always the best response in a crisis. When we do, God supernaturally provides that which we can't muster up ourselves.
We don't have to react to criticism with anger and self-protection the way the world does. Instead, we are called to represent Christ in every situation by depending on Him. In responding as He directs, we bring Him glory and cause unbelievers to want to know the source of our strength.
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Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2019 All Rights Reserved.
May 202305/27/2023
When conflict occurs, the natural reaction is to blame someone else and defend yourself. But believers must respond differently.
05/26/2023
05/25/2023
05/24/2023
The United States of America was founded on biblical principles with the intent to guarantee freedom of worship.
05/23/2023
Repentance simply means changing your mind and going in a different direction--toward God instead of away from Him.
05/22/2023
Prayer is the lifeblood of an intimate relationship with the Father. But believers often have questions about its power and effectiveness.
05/20/2023
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05/18/2023
05/17/2023
The Lord has provided a way for Christians to do the impossible.
05/16/2023
Life is full of options. Many decisions involve a choice between following God's way or our own.
05/15/2023
The most precious thing we can pass down to children is our faith.
05/13/2023
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Motherhood is a great honor and privilege, yet it is also synonymous with servanthood.
05/08/2023
People who scurry about flaunting religiosity are missing out on the deeply satisfying and joyous intimacy between a believer and the Lord.
05/06/2023
True believers no longer muddle through the practices of religion out of habit, but instead worship and rejoice in a vibrant personal relationship with the Lord.
05/05/2023
05/04/2023
To serve others before serving yourself is to practice authentic Christianity.
05/03/2023
05/02/2023
We can understand why those without Christ are unable to comprehend biblical concepts, but why do those who know Him struggle?
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The Bible clearly defines the following as ministries of the church: worshiping the living God, instructing and edifying believers, making disciples of all nations, and serving the needy.
April 202304/29/2023
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Jesus made it clear that we would endure hardship in this life.
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Think of patience as a muscle that you have to use in order to see it build.
04/24/2023
If we truly desire to walk in the center of God's perfect will, we must become willing to cooperate with His time frame.
04/22/2023
Just reading God's Word isn't enough. Without applying what you've read, all you'll have is head knowledge.to
04/21/2023
Failure is an excellent learning tool, as Peter could certainly attest.
04/20/2023
The disciples’ feeble faith shouldn’t surprise us, because if we’re honest, we see it in ourselves.
04/19/2023
We’ve all experienced or witnessed betrayal at some point. And no example in the Bible illustrates the pain, guilt, and shame caused by that sin more clearly than the story of Judas.
04/18/2023
God's grace is not a license to sin; instead, it's a reason to pursue righteousness.
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What do you live for each day?
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Paul was single-minded in the message he preached. The cross was not only his primary subject; it was also his motivation for living.
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It had appeared to be such a wonderful day for them—and it was, but for different reasons than they realized.
04/08/2023
From a worldly perspective, Christ's death signaled His defeat. After all, dying in agony on a cross hardly seems like the path to victory. But it was! And He did it all for us. Because Jesus triumphed over death, we can be victorious in life.
04/07/2023
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The crucifixion was the only way to rescue lost humanity.
04/05/2023
04/04/2023
It’s so easy to get up each morning, do our work, enjoy some relaxation or entertainment, and fall into bed each night without giving any thought to God’s involvement in our lives.
04/03/2023
Nobody wore a miniature cross around the neck or displayed one in a place of worship in Christ's day. The cross was a torturous means of execution, and the mere thought of it was repulsive.
04/01/2023
March 202303/31/2023
The cross is a place of brokenness, but it's necessary because there's no other way we'll ever bear fruit. But those who willingly die to themselves will produce an abundance of spiritual fruit.
03/30/2023
03/29/2023
Great faith begins with little steps.
03/28/2023
03/27/2023
We may have many acquaintances, but we all have a deep need to feel truly known by those we love most. This is because we were created in God's image--He also desires to be intimately understood and loved by us.
03/25/2023
Taken together, all the Bible stories about Jesus reveal the “big picture” that He is the only man worthy of glory, honor, and praise.
03/24/2023
03/23/2023
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender (Prov. 22:7). Every dollar you borrow costs you a measure of freedom.
03/22/2023
Service is no substitute for an intimate relationship, but modern believers continue to fall into this subtle trap.
03/21/2023
03/20/2023
We will be encouraged and strengthened in our faith when we recognize the ways in which God is operating.
03/18/2023
We can rest confidently knowing that the unchanging God of all creation is taking care of us.
03/17/2023
We should take an active part in seeking His will and listening for His voice.
03/16/2023
03/15/2023
Glorifying the Lord is not limited to worshipping in church; praise ought to permeate the believer's life.
03/14/2023
His presence within us isn't something we have to earn or acquire. Rather, it is a marvelous privilege.
03/13/2023
03/11/2023
03/10/2023
Human appetites, in themselves, are not sinful. In fact, they're God-given. However, because of our fleshly weaknesses, they need to be controlled.
03/09/2023
03/08/2023
Having the right view of the Lord will allow us to approach Him with absolute confidence
03/07/2023
03/06/2023
Are you letting the Lord use His character-shaping tools in your life?
03/04/2023
03/03/2023
The Enemy may have lost your soul, but he's going to do everything he can to hinder, sidetrack, and discourage you.
03/02/2023
When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? (Matt. 25:39). Stop for a moment and consider the purpose of your life. Are you living to pursue your own interests or success?
03/01/2023
People are saved when they trust Jesus Christ as Savior and choose to follow Him.
February 202302/28/2023
02/27/2023
It's probably not possible to fully count all the spiritual seeds that God used to draw you to Him.
02/25/2023
02/24/2023
It is the Lord's responsibility to equip the chosen for the work He's assigned.
02/23/2023
02/22/2023
God uses Christians to spread the word that His salvation plan is available to all.
02/21/2023
When it comes to serving in the church, people rarely request positions where they will go unnoticed.
02/20/2023
Do you equate success with wealth, acclaim, and power?
02/18/2023
Our new bodies will be suited for the environment where we are to dwell forever—an ageless eternity in which all of our needs are perfectly met.
02/17/2023
02/16/2023
Those who reject the Savior are forewarned that they have settled for condemnation.
02/15/2023
Obedience to Christ is too difficult for anyone relying on his own strength.
02/14/2023
02/13/2023
Many people simply can't believe that the Lord loves them.
02/11/2023
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Rom. 5:6). How do you define "love"?
02/10/2023
02/09/2023
Disunity is found in marriages, churches, and international alliances. Yet there's one relationship that is sure and permanent.
02/08/2023
What causes us to be such reluctant servants?
02/07/2023
02/06/2023
Though the world is full of disorder, confusion, and uncertainty, believers in Christ have the wonderful assurance that God is in absolute control of every situation.
02/04/2023
If we'll let the truths of Scripture fill our minds, guard our emotions, and influence our conduct, God will richly reward us.
02/03/2023
02/02/2023
When we choose to cooperate with God and submit to His way, He will do amazing things in and through us.
02/01/2023
The Bible clearly instructs us to keep coming to the Lord with our concerns.
January 202301/31/2023
01/30/2023
What a privilege to be able to approach the King's throne, knowing He listens, understands, and cares!
01/28/2023
01/27/2023
01/26/2023
If you’re a believer, you are part of the awesome body of Christ!!
01/25/2023
The gospel we offer the lost is superior to every worldly philosophy. Never outdated or in need of correction, it is always sufficient to meet humanity's greatest need: reconciliation with the Creator.
01/24/2023
01/23/2023
Hanging back instead of seeking a place to serve is a form of thievery, robbing from the Lord's church.
01/21/2023
01/20/2023
01/19/2023
All of us have areas of weakness. God wants these character flaws to show us how totally dependent we are upon Him.
01/18/2023
One of our highest callings as believers is to tell others about Christ.
01/17/2023
Ready to get planted firmly in biblical truth? Here’s how.
01/16/2023
Today, most men and women would rather live by preference than conviction.
01/14/2023
01/13/2023
The more we understand what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf, the greater will be our passion to share the gospel.
01/12/2023
When asking the Lord to reveal His will, we shouldn’t expect instant answers.
01/11/2023
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him (Rom. 15:13). Each new generation has high hopes for reconciliation among people and nations but in the end faces disappointment.
01/10/2023
Be careful not to cover up your sins in order to look like a "good Christian."
01/09/2023
Even in an unbelieving society, people can, as individuals, follow Jesus.
01/07/2023
In spite of Judas’ greed, blind ambition, and betrayal, Jesus never stopped loving him; He still used the word “friend” to address the one-time disciple.
01/06/2023
01/05/2023
At salvation, you become a part of the body, no matter what your local church's membership rules may be.
01/04/2023
The Lord's assuring hand at our shoulder can lead us down right paths to good choices.
01/03/2023
01/02/2023
The world throws confusing messages at us all day long, and we need to check our course frequently.
December 202212/31/2022
12/30/2022
12/29/2022
12/28/2022
When Jesus walked this earth, a vast multitude followed Him. They came for all sorts of reasons—some noble, some selfish. The same is true today.
12/27/2022
Our true identity is defined not by our past actions but by the Savior's.
12/26/2022
Although He gives His peace to every believer as a gift, our experience of it is related to our faith in the following truths...
12/24/2022
12/23/2022
Jesus desires that we be willing to humble ourselves to serve others.
12/22/2022
How can Jesus be our Prince of Peace when our expectations and traditions fight against the tranquility we desire?
12/21/2022
12/20/2022
Talk about Christmas memories: you can be sure that all of the people who experienced the first Christmas never forgot it.
12/19/2022
Waiting upon God is not passive. It is not lazy. It is not an excuse to be careless. In fact, the opposite is true.
12/17/2022
12/16/2022
Practicing a lifestyle of obedience doesn't mean we'll never make mistakes. But it does require diligence if we are to succeed.
12/15/2022
12/14/2022
Is there something God has told you to do that seems just too difficult?
12/13/2022
12/12/2022
When you’re in love with Jesus, you can’t keep to yourself the joy that comes from knowing Him.
12/10/2022
On the Christian journey, there will be temptations to stray, falsely promising to satisfy longings. Stay closely connected to Jesus through prayer and Scripture.
12/09/2022
12/08/2022
12/07/2022
The cross is so common in our culture that most people don’t think twice when they see one on a church.
12/06/2022
Teaching children to sing of their friendship with Jesus is a wise idea. But I wonder when some grown believers will learn to sing of that special relationship again?
12/05/2022
The names given to Jesus tell a great deal about His ministry.
12/03/2022
12/02/2022
12/01/2022
November 202211/30/2022
The first chapter of Revelation gives a compact description of the Lord.
11/29/2022
Many Christians know they're saved, but they don't really know what to think about themselves. Let's take a little test.
11/28/2022
Anyone who thinks of himself as a pretty good person ought to take a look at God’s assessment of humanity. He says we all come into the world spiritually dead and are ruled by Satan, his world system, and our own sin nature, or flesh.
11/26/2022
Can you even imagine the cost of your salvation? The magnificent plan of the Father and the willing cooperation of the Son prove your tremendous value in God’s eyes.
11/25/2022
The Lord speaks to believers so that they will comprehend the truth, conform to the truth, and communicate the truth.
11/24/2022
11/23/2022
One day I posed a question to the waitress at my table: "If you could ask God for anything, what would your request be?" Her answer was immediate. "I want to feel at peace."
11/22/2022
11/21/2022
Christian lives are to testify that Jesus is the source of our peace. Does your life communicate this message?
11/19/2022
Satan works very hard at corrupting healthy desires. He abhors seeing people's appetites satisfied. What he wants is to watch a person lusting after a good thing until he or she is controlled by the impulse to have it.
11/18/2022
A grateful heart is most precious to God when, humanly speaking, our situations don't warrant giving thanks.
11/17/2022
Grace builds our confidence in the sovereign Lord.
11/16/2022
11/15/2022
11/14/2022
In a world filled with endless sources of information and opinions, believers need to develop a discerning spirit. Otherwise, how will we know what is true?
11/12/2022
11/11/2022
The Lord designed feelings of culpability and regret to serve as a reminder that a person has done wrong and needs to repent.
11/10/2022
A bitter and resentful spirit doesn't fit who we are in Christ.
11/09/2022
11/08/2022
Isaiah 66:1-2 teaches us how to experience the Father’s favor.
11/07/2022
God's plan for each one of us has our best interest in mind.
11/05/2022
Believers have no right to set their own limits; their one criterion for making decisions should be, What does God want me to do?
11/04/2022
11/03/2022
Can you find yourself on the spectrum between fear and devotion? It is my hope that you have committed to obeying God and that you are reading His Word daily to learn how to keep your promise.
11/02/2022
11/01/2022
October 202210/31/2022
A promise is valuable only if the one making it has trustworthy character and the ability to carry through.
10/29/2022
10/28/2022
There is no condemnation for those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.
10/27/2022
10/26/2022
10/25/2022
The rich man in Luke 16 made the tragic choice of living for himself without regard for the Lord. He also made two other mistakes...
10/24/2022
God created you for specific tasks to further His kingdom.
10/22/2022
Salvation is the first stage of the Christian life.
10/21/2022
Scripture teaches us to tell others about Jesus Christ. And while sharing the gospel is awesome, it is simply not enough. We should continue to encourage and invest in new believers.
10/20/2022
10/19/2022
Obedience is sometimes hard, but the struggle and sacrifice are worth it.
10/18/2022
10/17/2022
Time is a gift from God, and He has allotted each of us a measure in which to live and accomplish His purposes.
10/15/2022
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever (Ps. 138:8). The key to David's victorious attitude was his strong faith in the Lord.
10/14/2022
The heavenly Father calls us to repent and offers us forgiveness when we turn away from our self-centered ways and move toward godliness (1 John 1:9).
10/13/2022
10/12/2022
Let's look at God's three goals for communicating with believers...
10/11/2022
10/10/2022
The Holy Spirit, unlike human companions, is perfectly adequate to meet our every need.
10/08/2022
Remember that when He doesn't answer a prayer as you wished, it is for a reason.
10/07/2022
The Lord knows what we really desire--and more importantly, what we need--even when cloudy judgment leads us astray
10/06/2022
10/05/2022
10/04/2022
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14). When do I pray? Is it only during emergencies or when I need something?
10/03/2022
What would you like to see the Lord do within you?
10/01/2022
No one can have intimacy with Christ without daily communication.
September 202209/30/2022
09/29/2022
09/28/2022
God isn't looking for impressive people; He wants willing ones who will bow the knee in humble submission.
09/27/2022
Our Father may ask us to do something that seems illogical, but press forward regardless of how impractical the request may appear.
09/26/2022
Our styles and opportunities vary, but we're each responsible to develop a lifelong habit of bringing others to Jesus.
09/24/2022
God doesn't require our lives to be perfect in order to finish strong.
09/23/2022
At the moment of salvation, we are transferred from the reign of darkness to the bright authority of Jesus.
09/22/2022
09/21/2022
09/20/2022
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us center our attention on the Lord and discover His will so we may act according to it.
09/19/2022
We all can benefit from someone who is able to say what we need to hear without making us feel threatened.
09/17/2022
A godly accountability partner can help you enjoy privilege without abusing it.
09/16/2022
09/15/2022
The Christian life is not easy, but there is great reward for living righteously when facing temptation or hardship.
09/14/2022
09/13/2022
No matter how much money you have, if you're a believer in Jesus, you're extremely wealthy!
09/12/2022
Perhaps this seems like a contradiction: Believers will not be judged but will stand before Christ's judgment seat.
09/10/2022
09/09/2022
09/08/2022
Daniel and his friends faced the same dilemma we do - how to live a holy life in a godless culture.
09/07/2022
09/06/2022
A believer's relationship with the Lord is one of complete unity.
09/05/2022
Do my children sense a hunger in my heart for God's direction, counsel, and sustenance?
09/03/2022
When God calls you to a task beyond your abilities, instead of giving in to your feelings, choose to rely on what you know about Him and His promises.
09/02/2022
09/01/2022
August 202208/31/2022
08/30/2022
The Father promises that following Him leads to hope and an established future.
08/29/2022
Our most powerful tool for shaping the world and lives around us is always available.
08/27/2022
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Rom. 12:12). Most individuals are not satisfied with their prayer life.
08/26/2022
The Lord has a plan for your life. Be wise and ask Him for directions.
08/25/2022
That individual is set apart as a child of God, with a sacred purpose
08/24/2022
Rather than a spiritual "plateau," faith is actually a process that involves increasing degrees of trust throughout life.
08/23/2022
No matter what challenges you face, God can help.
08/22/2022
The sovereign ruler of this universe is in control of your life. Don't make the mistake of thinking He isn't simply because He does not operate according to your will and schedule.
08/20/2022
08/19/2022
As Christians, we know that fear should have no place in our lives, but how can we ignore what's going on around us?
08/18/2022
Do not abuse His patience with callous disregard for His statutes.
08/17/2022
The Father reveals His treasures to us so that we can share them with others.
08/16/2022
08/15/2022
We, like David, can expect to be blessed when we wait upon the Lord.
08/13/2022
Job was a man who certainly knew trouble and temptation.
08/12/2022
08/11/2022
Metaphors often communicate on a level that words cannot. Baptism is a powerful picture of our salvation experience.
08/10/2022
08/09/2022
Focusing on Christ is neither a natural reaction nor an easy one.
08/08/2022
To thwart God's purposes, Satan sprinkles obstacles in our path.
08/06/2022
08/05/2022
08/04/2022
Friend, if you think that you've come far enough in your journey with Christ, you have made a terrible mistake.
08/03/2022
08/02/2022
We tend to categorize sins, rating some as small and inconsequential, but others as huge and far-reaching in the damage they cause. In reality, no one sins in isolation.
08/01/2022
Getting older doesn't mean maturity in God's eyes.
Meaningful connections with other people aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential to mental, physical, and spiritual health. But every relationship has one common denominator: you. Spend the next seven days discovering what you can do to improve your relationships, with help from Scripture and the teachings of Charles F. Stanley.
