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Today’s One Year Bible Verses: 1 Chronicles 7:1–8:40, Acts 27:1–20, Psalm 7:1–17, Proverbs 18:22
There are battles taking place all around us that we cannot see.
People smile while carrying crushing anxiety. They laugh while quietly fighting depression. They appear strong while living in fear, addiction, guilt, or despair. Many are tormented in ways those around them never recognize. Some know where to turn for help. Others don’t.
The Lord drew my attention to this reality in today’s Gem of Knowledge:
“Torment is real. For those who don’t have Me to help them, they have no escape or defense. Be their defense today. Intercede. Intercess. Intervene between them and the enemy, to try and bring them peace. Then bring them to Me so I can help them. Amen.”
What a beautiful picture of God’s heart.
He isn’t asking us to become someone’s Savior. Only Jesus can do that. But He does invite us to stand in the gap. Through prayer, encouragement, compassion, and the truth of His Word, we can become instruments of His peace while pointing people to the One who is able to truly rescue them.
Acts 27 gives us a remarkable example of this. Paul was a prisoner aboard a ship caught in a violent storm. Everyone on board was terrified. The sailors had lost hope, the passengers expected to die, and fear had overtaken the entire ship. Yet Paul remained anchored in God. Because he knew the Lord, he became a source of peace for everyone around him. He encouraged them, reminded them of God’s promise, and urged them not to give up.
Paul couldn’t calm the storm.
But he could calm frightened hearts by pointing them to the God who rules over every storm.
Isn’t that exactly what God asks us to do?
We may not be able to remove someone’s pain, erase their circumstances, or instantly break every chain they carry. But we can pray for them. We can stand beside them. We can speak hope when they have none. We can remind them that they are not alone. And most importantly, we can lead them to Jesus, the only One who can bring lasting peace and true freedom.
David understood this as well. In Psalm 7 he cries out,
“I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!” (Psalm 7:1, NLT)
David knew exactly where his refuge was found. When life became overwhelming, he ran toward God, not away from Him. That is the refuge every hurting person needs, and that is why our role is so important. We may be the very person God uses to pray for someone, encourage them, or lovingly point them toward the Savior they have yet to know.
Today’s Gem reminds us that torment is real, but so is hope.
There are people in your life who desperately need someone to stand beside them today. Your prayers may be the very thing that strengthens them. Your kindness may be the encouragement that keeps them going. Your willingness to share Christ may become the doorway through which they discover the peace they’ve been searching for all along.
You may never know this side of heaven how God uses your faithfulness.
But He does.
So today, stand in the gap. Intercede for someone who is struggling. Intervene with love, compassion, and truth where God gives you opportunity. Then gently lead them to Jesus—the only One who can become their refuge, their defender, and their lasting peace. 💎
Take 5 minutes to be with the Lord today. Ask Him:
Allow the Holy Spirit to place one person on your heart today. Pray specifically for them then do what the Lord shows you to do.
Dear Father, thank You for being my refuge and my defender. Open my eyes to the people around me who are quietly struggling. Give me compassion to see them, courage to pray for them, and wisdom to encourage them with Your truth. Help me stand in the gap for those who are hurting, always pointing them to Jesus, who alone can rescue, heal, and give lasting peace. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, amen.
To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.
If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries God’s Word to more hearts. Every seed matters—thank you for sowing into this work! 💛
Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)
🤗🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🤗*Happiness!* Exhortation!*Encouragement!*& Prayer!🤗🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🤗
🤗🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🤗*& the peace of God!*which surpasses all understanding!*will guard your hearts!*& your minds in Christ Jesus!🤗🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🤗
(Philippians 4:7)
#Happiness #Enjoy #Fulfilling #the #Law #Through #Love #Exhortation #Encouragement #and #Prayer #God #JESUS #I #Am #the #Good #Shepherd #Holy #Spirit
🤗🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🤗*Happiness!* Exhortation!*Encouragement!*& Prayer!🤗🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🤗
🤗🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🤗*& the peace of God!*which surpasses all understanding!*will guard your hearts!*& your minds in Christ Jesus!🤗🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🩵💜💙💗🩷🤍💎💠✨⭐🌟💫✝️☦️⛪🤗
(Philippians 4:7)
#Happiness #Enjoy #Fulfilling #the #Law #Through #Love #Exhortation #Encouragement #and #Prayer #God #JESUS #I #Am #the #Good #Shepherd #Holy #Spirit
*~*Happiness!* Exhortation!*Encouragement!*& Prayer!*~*
*~*& the peace of God!*which surpasses all understanding!*will guard your hearts!*& your minds in Christ Jesus!*~*
(Philippians 4:7)
#Happiness #Enjoy #Fulfilling #the #Law #Through #Love #Exhortation #Encouragement #and #Prayer #God #JESUS #I #Am #the #Good #Shepherd #Holy #Spirit
They're going to use this very legitimate issue to fuck America over.
"The #US #SupremeCourt has agreed to hear the case of #DanielGrand, an #Orthodox #Jew from #Ohio who says local authorities barred him from holding #Jewish #prayer gatherings at his home and that neighbors harassed him over the practice.
The decision by the nation’s highest court to take up the case is considered highly unusual in the #American #legal system, as the Supreme Court hears only about 50 cases a year.
The dispute began in 2021. Grand, who lives in #UniversityHeights, wanted to pray with a #minyan, the quorum of 10 Jewish men required for certain communal prayers. Because Jewish law prohibits driving on #Shabbat and holidays, and the local #synagogue was too far away to reach on foot, he decided to host worshippers in his private home."
https://www.ynetnews.com/jewish-world/article/rkqhgwu7zx#google_vignette
“Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”
Psalms 80:17-19 NIVUK
#bible #prayer
Today’s One Year Bible Verses: 1 Chronicles 1:1–2:17, Acts 23:11–35, Psalm 3:1–8, Proverbs 18:14–15
The business of life has a way of filling every corner of our days. Between family responsibilities, work demands, and holiday celebrations, our schedules can quickly become crowded. Before we realize it, we’re moving from one thing to the next, trying to keep up with everything that needs our attention.
In the middle of all that busyness, something subtle can begin to happen. Our closeness with God, our time in worship, our moments in His Word, and those quiet times spent with Him can slowly start to slip away.
As I thought about it later, though, I realized something.
When something is truly important to me, I usually find a way to make time for it.
If one of my children or grandchildren needed me, I’d rearrange my schedule. If there were an emergency, everything else would suddenly become less important. If I had an appointment I absolutely couldn’t miss, somehow I’d make it there.
The problem wasn’t really a lack of time.
It was a matter of priority.
As I prayed about that, the Lord gently spoke this Gem of Knowledge to my heart:
“You can always do better if it is important to you…if I am important to you.“
Those words weren’t spoken with condemnation. They were spoken with love. I could almost hear the Father’s heart behind them. He wasn’t trying to make me feel guilty. He was inviting me to honestly examine my priorities.
The truth is, we all make time for the things we value most. We schedule vacations months in advance. We make appointments, watch our favorite television shows, scroll social media, and find time for hobbies we enjoy. Yet somehow, spending time with God is often the first thing to disappear when life gets busy.
I’ve certainly been guilty of that.
In fact, just a few devotionals ago I shared how my evening worship had quietly disappeared without me even realizing it. It wasn’t because I loved God less. It wasn’t because I had stopped wanting to spend time with Him. I had simply allowed other things to crowd Him out.
That’s the danger of busyness. Rarely does it pull us away from God all at once. It happens one day at a time, one skipped prayer, one missed time in His Word, one evening when we’re simply too tired.
Before long, weeks or even months have passed, and we wonder why we don’t feel as close to Him as we once did.
Today’s reading reminded me that relationships aren’t built during occasional moments of crisis. They’re built through consistent time together.
When Paul found himself imprisoned in Acts 23, the Lord stood beside him and encouraged him. I couldn’t help but think how comforting that must have been. Paul recognized the Lord’s voice because he had spent years walking closely with Him. That relationship had been cultivated long before the prison cell.
David expressed that same confidence in Psalm 3. Even while surrounded by enemies, he was able to lie down and sleep because he knew the Lord was watching over him. That kind of trust isn’t developed overnight. It grows one day at a time as we continue choosing God’s presence over the distractions of life.
I think that’s what the Lord was really showing me through today’s Gem.
He isn’t asking us to perform better – He’s inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him
After all, every healthy relationship requires time. A marriage doesn’t flourish without conversation. Friendships don’t grow without spending time together. The same is true with God. The more time we spend with Him, the more we recognize His voice, trust His heart, and become like Him.
Maybe today is simply an opportunity to ask ourselves one honest question:
Does the way I spend my time reflect what I say is most important?
If the answer is no, don’t be discouraged.
His invitation is still the same.
Come closer. 💎
Who doesn’t have 5 minutes for the King? Take at least 5 minutes to be with the Lord today. Ask Him:
Let today be a day of honest evaluation with the Lord and realign where needed, because we love Him and He loves us.
Dear Lord, thank You for gently reminding me what truly matters. Forgive me for the times I’ve allowed busyness to crowd You out. Help me make You my greatest priority, not because I have to, but because I love You and want to know You more. Teach me to recognize Your voice as I spend time in Your presence each day. Draw me closer to You, and let my life reflect that You truly are what matters most. InYour beautiful name, I pray, Amen.
To read more 5 Minutes with God devotionals click here.
If Gems of Knowledge has blessed your walk with Christ, please subscribe or consider partnering with us today. Your gift helps keep these devotionals free for everyone and carries God’s Word to more hearts. Every seed matters—thank you for sowing into this work! 💛
Test everything by the Word and the Spirit (John 16:13)
A quotation from John Quincy Adams
I cannot ask of Heaven success, even for my Country, in a Cause where she should be in the wrong — Fiat Justitia, pereat Coelum — My toast would be, may our Country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.
John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) US President (1825-29)
Letter (1816-08-01) to John Adams
More about this quote: wist.info/adams-john-quincy/14…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #johnquincyadams #justice #patriotism #prayer #right #rightandwrong #success #toast #wrong
We’d love to invite you to be part of our Prayer Team.
If you feel called to stand in the gap for others and lift up our church in prayer, please speak to Rev. Nozipho or Pastor Penny. Our prayer team is made up of people who faithfully take time to pray for others and for the wellbeing of our church community.
Each of us is gifted by God in different ways, and prayer is a powerful and meaningful way to serve. If this is something on your heart, we would love for you to join us.
“May this day bring Sabbath rest to my heart and my home.
May God’s image in me be restored, and my imagination in God be re-storied.
May the gravity of material things be lightened, and the relativity of time slow down.
May I know grace to embrace my own finite smallness in the arms of God’s infinite greatness.
May God’s Word feed me and His Spirit lead me into the week and into the life to come”.
Sabbath Blessing, Pete Greig
#prayer #bible
https://lectio365.com
“… He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
‘I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’”
Luke 18:13-14 NIVUK
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
James 4:10 NIVUK
🤗☁️🌈☁️🌏🛐🧘🌞🩷🫂🩵📖📜❤️🔥🧘🏿♀️🧘🏼♂️🙌🤲🙏🗣️🦁🌐✝️👑🕊️💦🐈⬛☕🐻🤍🌊⛵🌴🫂🐚🏖️🌊🛐🧘🌞🩷🩵🧘🏿♀️🧘🏼♂️🙏🗣️🫂🌐✝️👑🕊️💦🤗Thanksgiving!*& Prayer🤗🌏🛐🧘🌞🩷🫂🩵📖📜❤️🔥🧘🏿♀️🧘🏼♂️🙌🤲🙏🗣️🦁🌐✝️👑🕊️💦❤️🔥🙌🤲🩷🩵🙏🦁☁️🌈☁️🐈⬛☕🐻🤍🌊⛵🌴🤗
☁️🌈☁️💜🤗🏩✝️👑🕊️💦💒❤️🔥📖📜🤍🫂🛐🩵🩷💌🌐🌏💛💁🏿♀️*(“APOSTLE PAUL”SPEAKING ON BEHALF👉
Colossians 1:1-2*& 11-14
#Paul #apostle #of #Christ #Jesus #by #the #will #of #God #HOLY #SPIRIT #Brothers #Sisters #Saints #World #Thanksgiving #Prayer #Devotional #Savior #Light #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love
☁️🌈☁️🏩✝️👑🕊️💦💒❤️🔥📖📜🤍🫂🛐🗣️💌🌐🌏❤️💁♀️*[Greetings!*FRIENDS FROM Paul!*an apostle of “Christ Jesus”*by the will of “God!”*& To saints!*& faithful brothers!*& SISTERS!*in Christ!*& ALL OF US AROUND THE WORLD!]*Grace to you!*& peace from God our Father!*LET US ALL GIVE Thanksgiving!*& Prayer!💌💗💛🤗🏩✝️👑🕊️💦💒❤️🔥📖☁️🌈☁️📜🤍🫂🩵🩷🌐🛐🙌🤲🙏🧘🧘🏿♀️🧘🏼♂️🌏💌👉
Colossians 1:1-2*& 11-14
#Paul #of #Christ #Jesus #by #will #of #God #HOLY #SPIRIT #Greetings #World #Thanksgiving #Prayer #Light #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Love
☁️🌈☁️🏩✝️👑🕊️💦💒❤️🔥📖📜🤍🫂🛐🗣️💌🌐🌏❤️💁♀️*[Greetings!*DEAR BELOVED FRIENDS ON THIS ENTIRE EARTH!*THIS IS A PART OF A LETTER FROM Paul!*an apostle of “Christ Jesus”*by the will of “God!”👉
(Colossians 1:1-2*& 11-14)
#Paul #an #apostle #of #Christ #Jesus #by #the #will #of #God #HOLY #SPIRIT #Greetings #Brothers #Sisters #Saints #World #Prayer #Devotional #Savior #Light #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another
🐈🐯🐆🐅🐱🐈⬛🦁☕🐻🩵🌞🩷🫂🌐🌏🩵💁🏼♀️*DEAR AWESOME BELOVED FRIENDS I AM FEEDING MY SPIRIT WITH GOOD!*& LOVING THINGS!*& SHARING WITH YOU ALL SO WE CAN BE STRENGTHENED IN POSITIVE HOPE!*AMEN!🙏👉
(Colossians 1:1-2*& 11-14)
#Christ #Jesus #God #HOLY #SPIRIT #Greetings #Friends #Everyone #In #The #World #Thanksgiving #Prayer #Devotional #Savior #Light #People #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another
🐈🐯🐆🐅🐱🐈⬛🦁☕🐻🩵🌞🩷🫂🌐🌏🩵💁🏼♀️*DEAR AWESOME BELOVED FRIENDS HAPPY CATURDAY!🐈🐯🐆🐅🐱🐈⬛🦁🤗*& AS I AM👉
(Colossians 1:1-2*& 11-14)
#Paul #an #apostle #of #Christ #Jesus #by #the #will #of #God #HOLY #SPIRIT #Greetings #Brothers #Sisters #Saints #Friends #Everyone #In #The #World #Thanksgiving #Prayer #Devotional #Happy #Caturday #Day #Savior #Light #People #Remember #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another
🐈🐯🐆🐅🐱🐈⬛🦁☕🐻🩵🌞🩷🫂🌐🌏🩵💁🏼♀️*DEAR AWESOME BELOVED FRIENDS GOOD SATURDAY MORNING!🌞*&👉
(Colossians 1:1-2*& 11-14)
#Paul #an #apostle #of #Christ #Jesus #by #the #will #of #God #HOLY #SPIRIT #Greetings #Brothers #Sisters #Saints #Friends #Everyone #In #The #World #Thanksgiving #Prayer #Saturday #Devotional #Happy #Caturday #Day #Savior #Light #People #Remember #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Hospitality #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another
🐈🐯🐆🐅🐱🐈⬛🦁☕🐻🩵🌞🩷🫂🌐🌏🩵💁🏼♀️*DEAR AWESOME BELOVED FRIENDS ACROSS THE WORLD GOOD SATURDAY MORNING!🌞👉
(Colossians 1:1-2*& 11-14)
#Christ #Jesus #God #HOLY #SPIRIT #Greetings #Brothers #Sisters #Saints #Friends #Everyone #In #The #World #Thanksgiving #Prayer #Saturday #Devotional #Happy #Caturday #Day #Savior #Light #People #Remember #Pray #Believe #Christian #Heaven #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Goodness #Kindness #Caring #Hospitality #Helping #Others #Gentleness #Understanding #Unity #Love #One #Another
We’d love to invite you to be part of our Prayer Team.
If you feel called to stand in the gap for others and lift up our church in prayer, please speak to Rev. Nozipho or Pastor Penny. Our prayer team is made up of people who faithfully take time to pray for others and for the wellbeing of our church community.
Each of us is gifted by God in different ways, and prayer is a powerful and meaningful way to serve. If this is something on your heart, we would love for you to join us.
Today, on Saint Mary's live-stream, we'll take a look at the subject of Christian Contemplation and consider whether or not such a thing is accessible to average people. I'll be drawing from the 14th century spiritual classic *The Cloud of Unknowing*.
We go live at 2:30 Hawai'i time.
#Christianity #Anglican #Episcopal #Church #Spirituality #Prayer
🛐💞🌐💞🌏💞🛐*I thank You Heavenly Father!*through Jesus Christ!*Your dear Son!*that You have kept me this night from all harm!*& danger!*& I pray You to protect me this day also from sin!*& every evil!*that all my doings!*& life may please You!*For into Your hands I commend myself!*my body!*& soul!*& all things!*Let Your holy angel be with me!*that the wicked foe may have no power over me!*Amen!†💫💞🌏💞🌐💞💫
#Prayer #GOD #Love #Christ #Jesus #Holy #Spirit #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Holy #Angel
🛐💞🌐💞🌏💞🛐*I thank You Heavenly Father!*through Jesus Christ!*Your dear Son!*that You have kept me this night from all harm!*& danger!*& I pray You to protect me this day also from sin!*& every evil!*that all my doings!*& life may please You!*For into Your hands I commend myself!*my body!*& soul!*& all things!*Let Your holy angel be with me!*that the wicked foe may have no power over me!*Amen!†💫💞🌏💞🌐💞💫
#Prayer #GOD #Love #Christ #Jesus #Holy #Spirit #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Holy #Angel
🛐💞🌐💞🌏💞🛐*I thank You Heavenly Father!*through Jesus Christ!*Your dear Son!*that You have kept me this night from all harm!*& danger!*& I pray You to protect me this day also from sin!*& every evil!*that all my doings!*& life may please You!*For into Your hands I commend myself!*my body!*& soul!*& all things!*Let Your holy angel be with me!*that the wicked foe may have no power over me!*Amen!†💫💞🌏💞🌐💞💫
#Prayer #GOD #Love #Christ #Jesus #Holy #Spirit #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Holy #Angel
🛐💞🌐💞🌏💞🛐*I thank You Heavenly Father!*through Jesus Christ!*Your dear Son!*that You have kept me this night from all harm!*& danger!*& I pray You to protect me this day also from sin!*& every evil!*that all my doings!*& life may please You!*For into Your hands I commend myself!*my body!*& soul!*& all things!*Let Your holy angel be with me!*that the wicked foe may have no power over me!*Amen!†💫💞🌏💞🌐💞💫
#Prayer #GOD #Love #Christ #Jesus #Holy #Spirit #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Holy #Angel
🛐💞🌐💞🌏💞🛐*I thank You Heavenly Father!*through Jesus Christ!*Your dear Son!*that You have kept me this night from all harm!*& danger!*& I pray You to protect me this day also from sin!*& every evil!*that all my doings!*& life may please You!*For into Your hands I commend myself!*my body!*& soul!*& all things!*Let Your holy angel be with me!*that the wicked foe may have no power over me!*Amen!†💫💞🌏💞🌐💞💫
#Prayer #GOD #Love #Christ #Jesus #Holy #Spirit #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Holy #Angel
🛐💞🌐💞🌏💞🛐*I thank You Heavenly Father!*through Jesus Christ!*Your dear Son!*that You have kept me this night from all harm!*& danger!*& I pray You to protect me this day also from sin!*& every evil!*that all my doings!*& life may please You!*For into Your hands I commend myself!*my body!*& soul!*& all things!*Let Your holy angel be with me!*that the wicked foe may have no power over me!*Amen!†💫💞🌏💞🌐💞💫
#Prayer #GOD #Love #Christ #Jesus #Holy #Spirit #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Holy #Angel
🛐💞🌐💞🌏💞🛐*I thank You Heavenly Father!*through Jesus Christ!*Your dear Son!*that You have kept me this night from all harm!*& danger!*& I pray You to protect me this day also from sin!*& every evil!*that all my doings!*& life may please You!*For into Your hands I commend myself!*my body!*& soul!*& all things!*Let Your holy angel be with me!*that the wicked foe may have no power over me!*Amen!†💫💞🌏💞🌐💞💫
#Prayer #GOD #Love #Christ #Jesus #Holy #Spirit #Hope #Peace #Faith #Truth #Holy #Angel