Prophets; September 7, 2025

Posted on September 8, 2025 by jgarrott

Matthew 5:12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

As familiar as this verse is, it just occurred to me that Koine Greek has no punctuation. Accordingly, this verse can be read that Jesus is saying His disciples are prophets, just like the ones recorded in the Old Testament. That position is supported by most of the rest of the New Testament, actually, but the average Christian doesn’t think of themselves as a prophet. Given Paul’s exhortation in 1 Corinthians 14:1 and following, that’s probably a mistake. The devil does all he can to make us be afraid of being prophets, acting as God’s spokespeople. After all, such prophets got persecuted, often killed in various horrible ways. Jesus says here that even if that happens, we are to be glad, because our eventual reward is great. Speaking out what God is saying is a huge privilege, and one to be greatly desired, just as Paul said. However, we must never let it go to our head, because pride will steal our reward from us. The value and the glory are in the words, not in the one speaking them. Again, as Paul said, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) That said, we must not forget that it is a treasure! We are never to take lightly the privilege of speaking for God. However, if we concoct in our own minds what we are going to say, it instantly stops being genuine prophecy. Our own thoughts and ideas are nothing, compared to what God says, even when He speaks through us. However, God’s words are “Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) We generally apply that to the Bible, which isn’t wrong, but God speaks His Word through His children, too.

I have had times when I was speaking what the Lord was saying, but then the Lord stopped talking and I didn’t. That’s an absolutely horrible feeling! In contrast, one time I was in a meeting and speaking out what the Spirit was saying, and when He stopped, I did too, even though it seemed to be in the middle of a sentence. At that moment, someone on the other side of the room picked it up at exactly that point, and the sentence was complete. Any time God speaks through me, my task is to focus on Him, not on myself, and not on the people who are listening to me. If I focus on my listeners, I end up trying to figure out how to correct their situation, whatever that might be, and that can get in the way of my hearing God. I have learned that political correctness has nothing to do with genuine prophecy. That’s one of the things that can trigger persecution! I am not to let my words hurt people needlessly, but sometimes they need a scalpel, or even a sword, to cut off what is binding them. I am never to assume that because I said it, it’s accurate prophecy from God. I’m as fallible as anyone. However, I am never to draw back from speaking or writing as the Lord directs, so that His Word may accomplish everything for which He sends it, (Isaiah 55:11) even when He sends it through me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Being Your agent is incredible, both in privilege and responsibility. May I not focus on this clay jar, but rather let You shine through me, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Confirmation Joy; September 6, 2025

Posted on September 7, 2025 by jgarrott

Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

This passage is so familiar that I could pretty well quote all 12 verses from memory, and I’ve not only written, I’ve preached on this particular verse. However, familiarity indeed breeds contempt, and it is actually very helpful to revisit familiar passages, particularly those that have strong calendar associations, out of sequence, so to speak. I would call this verse an example of confirmation joy. It may not have been as extreme as what the Magi experienced, but we’ve all experienced this to some degree, when something we were looking forward to turned out as expected, or perhaps even better than expected. In the case of the Magi, they had set out in faith that they were understanding what God was showing them, but it was certainly a major undertaking, and I’m sure they at times wondered if they had been mistaken. When the scribes in Jerusalem quickly came up with Bethlehem as the place where the Messiah was to be born, I’m sure their anticipation peaked (or so they thought) and here, the heavens themselves confirmed that they were on track. They probably wondered if they had already died and gone to heaven! In terms of narrative, this is something of the peak of the story, but for the Magi, it was entering the house and encountering the Holy Family, and everything they had been through to get there became insignificant. I’m sure their spiritual sensitivity was at peak level at that point, so it’s hardly surprising that they recognized the Lord’s instructions not to go back to Herod. The thing is, every believer has something like this to look forward to, when we stand before our Lord in heaven. We believe, firmly enough, but the reality will be so much better than we can now imagine. As the song says, “I can only imagine.” As Paul said, “‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10) Now that will be confirmation joy!

So many things whet my anticipation of heaven! Unless the Lord returns first, I know that there will be people who will mourn my departure, but that is a transition I personally look forward to immensely. My wife has had a taste of heaven, having had a near-death experience over 50 years ago, and nothing she has told me has blunted my anticipation. For that matter, I had an experience myself over 30 years ago of being in a small prayer meeting, just worshiping in the presence of the Lord, and the joy in my heart became so intense that I literally asked the Lord to back it off a little, if He had anything more for me to do on this earth, because I didn’t think my physical body could take it. That won’t be a limiting factor in heaven! I am feeling great joy at the moment that someone to whom I have been witnessing has promised to come to church tomorrow. I hope I don’t explode when he shows up! God does have good things planned and prepared for us. I am to rest in that assurance, and share the good news with as many people who will receive it as possible, so that God’s plans for us may be fulfilled for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder, from an extremely familiar verse. May I not let familiarity blunt my appreciation of Your Word, but rather let Your Word become more and more part of me, for the blessing of those I encounter and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Making Aliya; September 5, 2025

Posted on September 6, 2025 by jgarrott

Zechariah 10:9 Though I scatter them among the peoples,
    yet in distant lands they will remember me.
They and their children will survive,
    and they will return.

This is what is today called “making aliya,” moving from anywhere in the world to Israel. For many people it involves a huge cultural shift, but it is motivated by what it says in this verse: remembering the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and wanting to be in the Jewish ancestral homeland. This movement has been called Zionism since the late 1800s, and for many today it is a curse word, utterly despicable, because antisemitic feelings run strong. To me, that shows the validity and accuracy of the Old Testament, as well as the reality of the devil, who is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44) If the Old Testament weren’t true, there would be no logical basis for antisemitism whatsoever, other than the general human tendency to separate into groups. As it is, Thomas Lehrer’s classic song, National Brotherhood Week, in discussing various group enmities, pointedly says, “Everybody hates the Jews.” People laugh, because there is illogical truth in that statement. The roots of antisemitism are in jealousy of the people chosen by God, and frankly, hatred of the God who chose them. All of that is ultimately futile, however, because puny man can’t really counter omnipotent God. The rational response to all this is to rejoice that God cared enough about mankind in general to choose Abram, rename him Abraham, and then work through him and his descendants to reveal Himself to the whole world, ultimately sending His Son, a physical descendant of Abraham, to die for our sins and open the way for our salvation. Those who have that mindset are the biggest supporters of the Jews! Of course, we understand, with Paul, that Jews too need to repent of sin and believe the Gospel, but there is a deep sense of humility and gratitude. (Romans 9-11) The New Testament couldn’t exist without the Old Testament. Christian faith has a Jewish foundation!

As I have written before, I have always been proud to have been born in the same year, 1948, as the modern Jewish nation. I’ve never had the privilege of visiting the land in person, but I learned Jewish songs even as a child, and I feel great empathy with those making aliya. Things are happening today that seem to foreshadow events described in Revelation and elsewhere, and I look forward to the day Christ will return and set foot on the Mount of Olives, in a sense making aliya Himself. In that day I will no longer have my current physical limitations, and I’ll be able to visit freely. That’s just one of so many things to look forward to! Meanwhile, I’m to live in faithful obedience, countering the lies of the devil with the truth of God and calling all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, to repentance and faith for their salvation.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the privilege of serving You, as a very small part of Your plan. May every detail of Your plan be fulfilled, on Your schedule and for Your glory alone. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Returning to God; September 4, 2025

Posted on September 5, 2025 by jgarrott

Zechariah 9:12 Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;
    even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

This chapter is most famous for verse 9, which was fulfilled on Palm Sunday as Jesus entered Jerusalem, but I have always liked this verse as well. Different translations render this as “prisoners of hope” or “prisoners who have hope.” Not being a Hebrew scholar I can’t say which is more accurate, but it would seem strange for hope to be the imprisoning agent. Regardless of that point, we are being told to “return to our fortress.” The Bible speaks many times of God being our fortress, and I am very comfortable with that being the meaning here. The promise of a double restoration is a good one, but we have to return to our fortress for it to happen. When we get in trouble of various sorts we are quick to search for remedies, but the ultimate answer is always to turn to God. That doesn’t mean to be passive, because God often has specific things He wants us to do, but it does mean acknowledging that He is our Source, our Supply, and in Him we have everything we need. Sometimes that doesn’t look like everything our flesh wants, as in Paul’s famous entreaty about his “thorn in the flesh,” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) but as God told him, His grace is really all we need. This verse also brings to mind Jesus’ promise to His disciples that anything they gave up for Him would be multiplied to them. (Matthew 19:29) There, it doesn’t just say “double,” it says “100 times as much”! God is never at a loss for anything we need, but we have to return to Him to get it. We often fail to recognize when and how we are drifting from God, and sometimes He has to put us in a tight spot to get us to realize it. However, that’s never out of spite, but always out of love. After all, He delights to give us His Kingdom! (Luke 12:32)

This is something God has had to teach me repeatedly, but I think I’ve got a fairly good hold on it now. God has every resource in the universe at His disposal, and He’s my Daddy! That doesn’t mean I’m to presume on Him like some spoiled brat, but it does mean I’m never to be anxious about anything. There are a LOT of scriptures that say that! He has told me personally to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, so my only concern is to be careful not to drift from Him, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. He is indeed my Fortress, and when I am resting in Him, absolutely nothing can get to me! My biggest issue is the little things, ironically enough, that get under my skin in one way or another. I’ve got to be on my guard against such things, and walk in consistent humility.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I let little things irritate me all too often! May I be so grounded in You that those things bounce off without penetrating, so that I may consistently show the face of Christ to all around me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Truth; September 3, 2025

Posted on September 4, 2025 by jgarrott

Zechariah 8:16-17 These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.

These are some pretty clear instructions, and they seem to me to be very applicable to America right now. They apply both to personal interactions and to public life, specifically, the judicial system. America’s judicial system seems to me to be pretty messed up right now, but that may be because I’m not that familiar with what is going on in other countries. I’ve heard some pretty horrific tales from other countries, too. The over-all emphasis seems to me to be on truth. Things are coming out in the US right now that boggle the mind, with the details of “The Russia Hoax” coming out, with top government officials having committed perjury for political purposes and the like. And that applies on the personal level as well, just as it says here. God is Truth, and that instantly eliminates all the “my truth” and “your truth” nonsense. Whereas it is valid to say that truth isn’t necessarily the same thing as facts, they have a very intimate relationship! The ultimate truth is that God exists, and everything else comes from that truth. The minute we try to say that God doesn’t exist, or simply to ignore Him, then we get into all sorts of problems. Since our existence depends on Him, we need to seek out His character and will and act accordingly. He’s giving us a sample of that here, and we need to pay attention.

I had the huge advantage of being raised by a father who held absolute honesty as one of his core principles. That has made me very uncomfortable with lies, and I’m grateful. Literary fiction is a different matter, but I’m talking about things presented as truth. I have been very disgusted by noble-sounding fiction presented on the Internet as fact. There are plenty of genuinely true stories that could be told, and we should not be trying to manipulate people, even with good goals, by presenting fiction as fact. When I speak or write, I want people to have the assurance that my words are true, regardless of the subject. When I find I was mistaken about something, I need to make corrections as quickly and effectively as possible. When I follow the One who is the way, the truth, and the life, (John 14:6) I want His character to be reflected through me, for the blessing of those around me and for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You indeed for the parents You gave me, and for their example. May I be an accurate representation of Christ to all who see me, imperfect though I am, just as my parents were, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Rejoice!; September 2, 2025

Posted on September 3, 2025 by jgarrott

Zechariah 2:11 “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.”

You couldn’t ask for a more definitive statement that God doesn’t limit His love and acceptance to the Jews. This verse and the one before it have been nicely set to music in Japanese, and I naturally have translated that into English. (In a case like this, of which there are several, it’s not so much a matter of translation as of rearranging the words so they fit the meter.) It’s a catchy, rhythmic tune, and it’s not unusual for me to find myself singing it in my heart as I’m out walking. God is here telling us to rejoice, and we should delight to obey! It’s important to notice why we are to rejoice: God is going to come to us and live, that is, make His home and remain, with us. Actually, He has now done that in Christ Jesus our Lord, so we have no excuse not to rejoice! This is why, and how, people have sung to the Lord even as they have been martyred. There was an instance of that just recently in Nigeria, which has had a horrific number of martyrs in recent years. A woman was horribly abused and then hacked to death, and the reports are that she sang to the Lord until she died. That sort of thing is possible only by a supernatural awareness of the presence of God, but we have records of such in the Bible as well. If you think about it, this leaves us no excuse for pity parties! As Jesus told us so clearly, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Coming back to this verse, I would guess that the vast majority of the people who read what I am writing are Gentiles, which means we are among the “many nations” mentioned here. That gives us all the more reason to rejoice, because we have been included by faith in the family of Abraham, and that’s amazing!

Of course, I have committed my life to adding the nation of Japan to the list, so this certainly applies to me. Interestingly, over the past 41 years I have baptized not only Japanese, but people from America, Canada, Korea, Jamaica, and Honduras. At one point I even resented, foolishly enough, having so many non-Japanese active in this church! Frankly, drawing Japanese into the Kingdom remains a real challenge, but there are signs that we may have several in the near future, and that’s exciting. Whether that happens or not, I’m still to rejoice, because God certainly dwells among us, and that is worth celebrating indeed.

Father, thank You for Your incredible grace. Thank You for Your Spirit, who indeed indwells us and causes Christ to be formed in us. (Galatians 4:19) May I rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, so that all who see me may know that You are with me, and desire to welcome You into their own hearts. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Dependence on God; September 1, 2025

Posted on September 2, 2025 by jgarrott

Zephaniah 3:12, 15 But I will leave within you
    the meek and humble.
The remnant of Israel
    will trust in the name of the Lord.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
    never again will you fear any harm.

It struck me that the same terminology is used in referring to humble and lowly people and to the Lord, the King of Israel. The same thing is said in different ways in other places, but it is clear that God is with the humble, not with the proud. In fact, pride is perhaps the single greatest hinderance to salvation. I keep coming back to this truth, but salvation requires acknowledging that you need it, and that you can’t save yourself. There are literally countless stories that illustrate this, but a famous one is that of John Newton, the author of the lyrics of Amazing Grace. He went from being the captain of a slave ship, one of the most despicable occupations, to being a pastor, and penned the words to perhaps the best-loved hymn in the world. If he had not humbled himself before God as his ship was in danger of sinking in a storm, he would indeed not have been saved, on any level, and would today have been rotting in hell. This is why Jesus so famously said that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24) Materially wealthy people are very likely to trust in their wealth, not realizing how ephemeral it really is. It is much easier for someone who has nothing in this world to depend fully on God. If you want to be with God for eternity, you need to realize that you have nothing valuable apart from Him even now.

I didn’t grow up in poverty, exactly, but it certainly wasn’t “the lap of luxury.” That said, many of my Japanese friends as a child thought we were rich, because compared to them, we were! We were supported by the mission board on an American framework, when Japan was recovering from the devastation of WWII. As an adult, I have had times of fairly major “pinch,” financially speaking, but God has always come through. At this point, various things have combined to the point that we have fewer financial worries that ever before. I am grateful, and at the same time I am aware that we are no less dependent on the grace of God than when we didn’t know how we were going to get the next meal on the table. I want to be one of those who are with my Lord and King even now, before I get to heaven!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your abundant supply of everything we need, whether we see it with our physical eyes or not. Help me walk in constant awareness of my dependence on You, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You, just as You have told me to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Trusting Faith; August 31, 2025

Posted on September 1, 2025 by jgarrott

Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

This is rightly one of the most famous declarations of faith in the face of circumstances in the whole Bible. A musical setting for verses 17-19 echoes in my heart and mind, which is appropriate enough, since the last line indicates that from the beginning it was intended to be sung. Verse 17 lists absolutely calamitous circumstances for an agrarian society, and then we have this verse: “Yet will I rejoice in the Lord.” That boggles the mind! Habakkuk was facing a foreign invasion leading to potential death by starvation, even if not by direct enemy action, and yet he chooses to rejoice in the Lord. This passage should be required reading and meditation for every believer tempted into a victim mentality, indulging in a pity party. We don’t have it this bad! There is a great deal going on in the world, both good and bad, and with this Information Age we live in, we are bombarded with news about it all. We aren’t to be passive or indifferent, but we’ve got to keep it all in perspective, remembering that God hasn’t changed, nor has He abandoned us. We are to act to remediate circumstances as the Lord directs, but remember that the temporal is never the final answer. As Jake Hess sang, even “death ain’t no big deal.” If we can maintain that perspective, we can join with Habakkuk in rejoicing in the Lord regardless of what is going on, in the world or in our own personal lives.

This is a perspective I have come around to more and more, the longer I have lived with the Lord. As Bill Gaither wrote, “The longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He Grows.” For an infant with no perspective, a dropped cookie is a tragedy. I think I’ve gone far beyond that! That said, I’m not to make light of other people’s problems, but as Paul said, “mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) I’m not to encourage pity parties, but I’m not to put people down for having them. God is absolutely faithful, and as He told Jeremiah, His plans for us are good. (Jeremiah 29:11) Immediate circumstances may be genuinely horrible, all the way to and including martyrdom, but I’ve got to remember, and remind others, that God’s plans for us are for eternity, and any difficulties we have in this life are no more than minor bumps in the road.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You again for all You did on Friday with the concert. Thank You that today is a service of praise and testimonies. Thank You that my call yesterday got me an appointment with a dermatologist for tomorrow, to check out what I suspect is another skin cancer lesion. I was shocked that it was so soon! Thank You that I don’t have to be anxious about anything at all, but just rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, as an example for all who know me and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Salvation; August 30, 2025

Posted on August 31, 2025 by jgarrott

Joel 2:32 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors
    whom the Lord calls.

I almost chose to write on verse 25, because that also feels very meaningful right now, but this verse won out. The statement, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” is immensely powerful, and is quoted by both Peter and Paul. (Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13) Our human minds think that’s too simple, but there are a few conditions built into it. In the first place, the person who calls has to know they need to be saved. Sadly, far too many people don’t fit into that category – and that includes a lot of nominal Christians. The second point is that they have to know the Lord exists, and to some extent at least, who He is. I have read quite a few testimonies of people who called out to Allah, and he didn’t answer, but when they called out to Jesus, He did. This is where we come in, because it is our privilege and responsibility to tell others about Jesus so that they can call out to Him. The third thing is that there has to be enough humility to ask for help. And many people stumble on this point as well. Often we have to come to the end of our own resources before we’ll reach out the One who holds everything in His hands. All that said, those three points are hardly insurmountable! As Paul said, God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) God opens the door as wide as possible, but it is our own stubbornness and pride that make it narrow. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Over the years there have been many people to whom I’ve ministered who died without making a public profession of faith in Christ, but I hold onto the hope that in their dying moments, they cried out to the Jesus they had heard about from me. However, that’s hardly what we would call effective evangelism! Public profession and baptism are almost infinitely better, and that’s what I’m to work for. Last night we had a concert here, and I was absolutely thrilled that three people I have been working with personally, as well as others who are not yet believers, came to it. I’m still somewhat in “shock and awe!” We didn’t promote this as evangelistic, but simply as a concert, and that was non-threatening enough that people came. The couple who performed gave personal testimonies, not “sermons,” that clearly and gently showed the way to salvation, and I believe they were received. The anointed music certainly didn’t hurt! I need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit from this point as well, not failing to follow through, but not applying pressure that’s not needed. I believe we’re going to need our baptistry a lot in the coming months! I need to keep praying for these people, that the devil will be unable to steal the seed that has been planted, and that it will bear abundant fruit, not just for these people’s salvation but for further expansion of the Kingdom of God.

Father, I’m still blown away by what You did last night. Thank You that it’s so clear that it wasn’t my doing! Help me be more and more yielded and available to You, so that You may do through me whatever You like, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Knowledge; August 29, 2025

Posted on August 30, 2025 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

This is an absolutely amazing offer from our omniscient Creator. Expressed a little differently, He’s saying, “You want to know something wild? Just ask me.” Today we tend to look back on people of past generations and think, “They were so ignorant.” The thing is, we are still so ignorant! Some items of information have made a major difference, such as the awareness of germs causing disease, but there is still far more that we don’t know than we do know. God never has that problem! The question becomes, what do we need to know? On the eternal scale, what is most important is that we have a Creator who is perfectly holy and so cannot abide sin, but who is perfectly loving, and so sent His Son to take the penalty for our sin and enable salvation by grace through faith. Everything else is strictly icing on the cake, but some of it is important to our quality of life on this planet – the awareness of germs being a good example. As the following verses make clear, what God was referring to here was future events that Jeremiah couldn’t have imagined on his own. That was important, because Jeremiah’s writings were what gave the Jews hope during their time in Babylon, preparing them to return to the land when God used Cyrus the Persian to accomplish it. At this point, God has given us knowledge of future events through Ezekiel and Daniel in the Old Testament and John in the New, but we tend to get confused by it all, trying to draw timelines and such. The far wiser course is to ask God to show us whatever we need to know, and not worry about the rest. Daily faithfulness is the key. The devil is quite an expert at distracting us with all sorts of things that might be true in themselves, but they are strictly temporal and don’t mean anything in the long run. Our focus needs to be on our Lord, listening to Him and following through with whatever He tells us. It’s important to remember that God sometimes shows us “hidden, unsearchable” things. The Japanese expresses that as “things beyond human understanding.” We may sometimes have no idea what to do with what He has shown us, but we have James’ reassurance: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5) Wisdom is ultimately more important than knowledge.

I have always been something of a knowledge junkie, delighting to collect information, so learning to value wisdom over knowledge hasn’t been an easy road for me. As has been said, knowledge is knowing that tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. That’s a silly, humorous example, but I need to keep my focus on my Lord, and not on all the information that so delights me. The Internet is a blessing and a curse to me, because it certainly feeds my knowledge addiction, while at the same time distracting me from what God is saying to me. I’m not to reject information, but always keep it in perspective. Virtually all of it will be totally insignificant when I stand before God’s throne! I need to keep remembering that God’s smart and I’m not, and be at peace with that.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the intelligence You’ve given me. May I always use it in submission and obedience to You, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!

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