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Written by C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), a British writer, scholar, and Anglican lay theologian.

If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink, sex, and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. 

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.  [2 Chronicles 16:9]

Today’s prayer, written by Ignatius of Antioch (? – 108), an early Christian writer and the Patriarch of Antioch.

Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. [Psalm 6:4]

Written by Mark Batterson, a contemporary American pastor and author. This is an excerpt from his book “The Circle Maker.”

Prayer was never meant to be a monologue; it was meant to be a dialogue. Think of Scripture as God’s part of the script; prayer is our part. Scripture is God’s way of initiating a conversation; prayer is our response. The paradigm shift happens when you realize that the Bible wasn’t meant to be read through; the Bible was meant to be prayed through. And if you pray through it, you will never run out of things to talk about.

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. [Romans 8:26]

Written by Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), an Indian poet, writer, educator and environmentalist.  This is an excerpt from the book “The Heart of God.”

When the heart is hard and parched, come upon me with a shower of mercy. When grace is lost from life, come with a burst of song. When tumultuous work raises its din on all sides, shutting me out from beyond, come to me, God of silence, with Your peace and rest. When my beggarly heart sits crouched, shut up in a corner, break open the door, my God. When desire blinds the mind with delusion and dust, O Holy One, come with Your light and Your thunder.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6-7]

Written by Grace Pouch, a contemporary writer and content manager.

Being Jesus’ apprentice includes planned practices like fasting, prayer, and scripture study—as well as unplanned surprise lessons in the everyday classroom of life…When you scan the centuries for the most vibrant Christian lives, you find that nearly every standout adopted an interdisciplinary lifestyle, seamlessly integrating overtly “religious” practices with their vocations, hobbies, friendships, creative endeavors, and academic interests… Intense contemplation of anything that “declares the glory of God”—nebulas, newborns, Pythagorean theorems, harmonies, helibores, and honey bees—can drop us to our knees and renew our minds. Deep thinking and devotion go hand in hand. Effort and delight endear us to the Lord. Apprenticeship that is interdisciplinary shapes a thicker, sturdier, truer—and more lovable—idea of God in our mind’s eye. It’s a theology that, as Keas put it, “warms the heart as it informs the mind.”

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. [Psalm 65:5-8]

Written by Sadhu Sundar Singh (1889-1929), an Indian Christian missionary and sadhu. This is an excerpt from his book “At the Master’s Feet.”

Many there are in this world who know about Me, but do not know Me; that is, they have no personal relationship with Me, therefore they have no true apprehension of or faith in Me, and do not accept Me as their Savior and Lord. Just as if one talks with a man born blind about different colors such as red, blue, yellow, he remains absolutely unaware of their charm and beauty, he cannot attach any value to them, because he only knows about them, and is aware of their various names. But with regard to colors he can have no true conception until his eyes are opened. In the same manner, until a man’s spiritual eyes are opened, howsoever learned he may be, he cannot know Me, he cannot behold My glory, and he cannot understand that I am God Incarnate.

But God raised him [Jesus] from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [Acts 10:40-41]

Written by R.C. Sproul (1939-2017), a minister, author, radio broadcaster, and founder of Ligonier Ministries.

The beginning of the Christian life is rooted in repentance. The word for repentance in the Greek is metanoeō, which refers to a changing of the mind. Prior to your repentance, you thought one way. You thought according to the precepts of this world. You thought just like your secular neighbors, doing everything in your power to bury your sin in your subconscious. But when the Holy Spirit brought you to conviction, awakened you to your absolute need for a Savior, and you rushed to the cross, your mind and the entire direction of your life were changed. The mind is in the center in this . This transformation comes by having a new mind … A changed mind is a necessary condition for transformation, but it is not a sufficient condition. You can study the things of God, you can study the Word of God, you can make 100 percent on every theological examination that you ever take—you can have it in your head but never get it to your heart. If it does not get to your heart, you will never be transformed. However, the way God has made you is that the avenue to your heart is through the mind. The Bible was written and given for our understanding so that we might begin to think like Jesus thinks, approve what He approves, and despise what He despises. That is the way our lives are changed. When we begin to think like Christians, we get a new mind. Out of that new mind, we pray that the heart will be changed. When the heart is changed, the life is changed, and we are a transformed people.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. [Philippians 2:5]

Written by Ines Velasquez-McBryde, a contemporary pastor and speaker.

Lamentation is a declaration that things aren’t as they should be… The God of heaven hears the voices of the unheard. The voices of the marginalized. The voices of the oppressed. Often misrepresented. Frequently dismissed. Repeatedly mocked. Easily discredited. Brutally dehumanized. Systematically silenced…Lamentation includes listening. Listening is a habit…Listening is critical for the flourishing of all humankind. The three circles of listening are listening to self, listening to God, and listening to others. Without listening, we end up limiting. We limit God’s expansive imagination about ourselves and about who others are becoming. Without listening, we stop short of who we could be and who others could become. Without listening, we truncate lamenting. And yet, lamentation leads to liberation. God extends to us an invitation to listen, privately and publicly.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” [1 Peter 5:10]

This is an excerpt from “The Bible in a Year: A 52-Week Journey Through God’s Word,” written by the Spiral Bible team.

Biblical joy is a deep-seated contentment in God that transcends circumstances and emotions. It flows from our relationship with God and remains steady even in difficult times. Paul’s command to “rejoice in the Lord always,” establishes joy as more than an emotional response to favorable circumstances. This repeated instruction reveals that joy is a choice we can make regardless of our situation. Like a deep-water spring that flows regardless of surface conditions, Christian joy draws from a source deeper than circumstances…It isn’t about manufacturing happiness but drawing strength from God’s own joy over his people. Like a battery that energizes a device, God’s joy provides spiritual energy for life’s challenges and opportunities…Are we depending on circumstances for our joy, or have we learned to rejoice in the Lord regardless of conditions?… Let’s practice choosing joy as a deliberate response to God’s faithfulness, remembering that true joy flows from who God is rather than from what is happening around us.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! [Philippians 4:4]

Written by Paige Vanosky, a contemporary author and member of the Village Church.

Father, you know us fully. And you know that while many of us outwardly celebrate Jesus’ Easter resurrection, inwardly we wrestle with doubt—even disbelief—despite recognizing that it fulfills your promises throughout history. From the very beginning, in the Garden, you promised that one day you would provide a Savior to overcome the worst Satan could do—death itself. Throughout the history of your people, as revealed in the Old Testament, you promised this Savior would come through the line of Abraham and David, providing details of His birth and life. Yet, though Jesus fulfilled these promises and later told of His coming death in Jerusalem, we admit to experiencing doubt. Even though His miraculous resurrection from death occurred during the commemoration of the Jews’ miraculous deliverance from death, we sometimes struggle to believe. Thank you, Father, for meeting us where we are, just as Jesus did with the disciples—showing His scars to quiet their doubts, speaking words of peace to calm their fears, and giving them space to wrestle with what seemed the impossible. Please transform us daily through an ever-increasing belief in your resurrection. Help us to trust you more, to believe you more deeply, and to follow you more faithfully each day. In your precious name we pray, Amen.

I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! [Mark 9:24]