Tongue Control

 

The lips of the righteous know what is fitting …

—from Proverbs 10:32

The words we speak can either heal or hurt. Jay Wickre, writing in the Dubious Musings of a Peculiar Man, ¹ offers these wise words:

A bitter man needs to place his troubles on the front of his tongue so that they taste sweeter.

As an observer of the behavior of various people who have crossed the pathway of my life, that statement rings true to me. Yes, words can either heal or hurt. And, we who speak such words have the power and responsibility to control the effect our words have on others. King Solomon understood this. Notice what he writes in Proverbs 10:32:

The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

The natural question arises:

“Does our speech properly reflect our state of righteousness? Or, do we continue to utter inappropriate words at inappropriate times?”

Please let me offer an illustration:

I remember an occasion in a work meeting many years ago. I had asked a question, in frustration, because I couldn’t imagine why the others in the room seemed so unable to grasp the concept the individual was sharing. My question drew a sharp retort from another at the table.

Fifteen minutes later, following a lengthy intervening discussion, during which I remained silent, another person spoke, filling a pause in the discussion. He said:

“I am finally catching up with where Dean was a while back.”

He went on to perfectly explain the concept that the others in the meeting still had not grasped.

I thought about that incident a great deal over the next few days. I realized—and I believe this is a gift from God—that, in certain circumstances regarding very concrete topics, I tend to grasp the concepts much more quickly than many other people, who may well be even smarter than I am. So, I learned from that experience to try to hold myself in check when such circumstances arise.

Sadly, as those who must still interact with me realize, I fail to do what I intend to do—guard my tongue—far more often than I succeed. When it comes to specific tasks or factual discussions, I am ruled by my own impatience.

Now, if the topic had involved human emotions, or social situations, or any of a large number of other topics, I would be the one lagging behind. I am very ignorant when it comes to understanding the nuances of social relationships. Therefore, you can be certain that, in those situations, I will tend to keep more quiet.

As we begin a new day, we do well to check our speech to see if it reflects the righteousness that God has given us through His Son, Jesus. We must guard our tongues, so that we only speak words that are helpful, encouraging, and healing. And, we must purposefully cast aside all words that might hurt others.

 

______________________

1 Wickre, Jay. Dubious Musings of a Peculiar Man. Self-Published, 2011. Please note that in each case, whenever the citation of any Copyrighted material is made within a post on this blog, such a citation is made strictly for Educational Fair Use illustration purposes only. All Rights Reserved by the original Copyright Holder.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Best Followers

 

Surely goodness and love will follow me …

—from Psalm 23:6

Have you ever had someone show so much interest in you that they just wouldn’t leave you alone? It wasn’t that they had any evil intent. It was just that they seemed to enjoy your company so much that they would hardly give you a space to breathe.

I am told that in the early stages of many male/female relationships, women often feel that their latest love interest has started to overwhelm them, even suffocate them. The man might have good intentions, wanting to show his devotion and the magnitude of his interest. But, smothering someone and following that one relentlessly, whom you are trying to spark a mutual relationship, almost never works.

On the other hand, there are some qualities in life that we may long to have following us. King David expressed this well at the end of his famous Psalm, specifically Psalm 23:6:

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Having laid out the blessings of a relationship with God in the earlier verses of this Psalm, David brings this song of praise to a conclusion by declaring the benefit he derives from everything else he talks about in this Psalm 23.

As we launch off on another new day, let’s pray and ask God to grant us these two “followers” in our lives. Let’s welcome God’s gift of goodness and love. Then, let’s share those gifts with the people who cross the pathway of our lives.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Table of Blessing

 

You prepare a table before me …

—from Psalm 23:5

Psalm 23 is possibly the most well-known passage of Scripture. It contains a lovely cadence that unfolds a beautiful pastoral image of the Good Shepherd caring for His beloved sheep. Among the many extraordinary images of this Psalm are these words, found in Psalm 23:5:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Even though we may be surrounded by the powers of darkness that seek to destroy us, God always prepares a feast of blessing for us. He anoints us with a protective covering, that consists of the blood of His precious one and only Son, Jesus. He grants us the divine indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. Thus, God guards us and guides us, as we obediently follow His leading each day of our lives.

As we begin another new day, we should remain aware that the enemies who would confound us have no power over us because Jesus has conquered sin, death, and Satan. We can go forth this day into the world, with full confidence that God has laid a table of blessing for us. In fact, the blessings from God flow into our lives continually.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Desires Granted

 

What the wicked dreads will overtake him …:

—from Proverbs 10:24

The guest speaker at the convention of adult training experts caused a hush to fall over the room, as he began with this question:

“How does a person get what he or she really wants in life?”

The guest speaker paused for several long seconds. Then, he continued:

“You just take it!”

A few people began to applaud. Soon, the entire room full of people had risen to their feet to give the guest speaker a standing ovation. But sadly, the speaker was wrong—very wrong.

The only true way to get what one wants in life does not come from a preemptive taking. It comes from living a life worthy of receiving from God what one desires. And, only through faith in God, and obedient devotion to Him, can any human hope to live a worthy life and receive the gifts God longs to give. Notice what King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 10:24:

What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

Righteousness precedes the granting of desires. Obedience to God’s will and to His written Word gives a believer the opportunity to receive from God the desires of that person’s heart.

As we begin another new day, let’s determine to follow the pathway of obedience, knowing that it leads to us receiving the deepest desires of our hearts. When we live totally in sync with God’s perfect will, His desires for us become our desires. And, that’s the best possible place for us to be in this life.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Price of Belonging

 

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself …”

—from Luke 9:23

Every organization worth belonging to has its own dues structure. It costs something in time or treasure to belong to anything or anyone truly worthwhile. The question each person who belongs must ask himself or herself:

“Is the price of belonging worth the benefits I receive?”

Belonging to God through His Son, Jesus, has a price, as well. Notice what Jesus said, as recorded in Luke 9:23:

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

To deny one’s self means to set aside an individual’s selfish human will and yield to God’s perfect, divine will. We are only able to do this through the enablement of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to set aside our natural human will and follow the pathway that God lays out before us through His perfect will and through His written Word.

As we begin another new day, we need to renew our intention to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. As we do so, we have the opportunity to be more like Him. We can speak as He would speak, act as He would act, and do what He would do. By becoming more Christ-like, we have the opportunity of truly serving the Kingdom of God in the most effective way possible.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Longer Conformed

 

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world …

—from Romans 12:2

Each time another day begins, we have a new opportunity to choose to live, more and more, like Jesus would have us live. We can either decide to purposely lay aside our devotion to Christ. Or, we can decide to do our very best to speak, think, and act as Jesus would speak, think, and act.

By choosing to conform our lives to the pattern given to us in the life of Jesus, we give up our natural human bent toward tightly molding our lives to the world of sin and darkness. Following the Light of Christ dispels the hold that sin has over us. We walk in the Light, as Jesus is in the Light. We put darkness behind us, and we move confidently into a new way of living. Notice the words the Apostle Paul wrote in the familiar passage of Scripture found in Romans 12:1-2:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Each day, God waits patiently to renew our minds. He longs to renew our minds. He wants to renew our minds. So, at the beginning of this new day, we should welcome His guidance and protection. And, we should invite God to renew our minds. We can allow the mind of Jesus to become our way of speaking, thinking, and acting. And, that is the very best way to live.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Obedience = Love

 

Whoever has my commands and obeys them …

—from John 14:21

I have written often on this blog regarding the only requirement that God has given those He has called to Himself. Even though He pours out His mercy, grace, and abiding love on us, and has redeemed us through the shed blood of His one and only Son, Jesus, God only asks one thing of us: obedience. God wants us to obey His will and His written Word. Jesus confirmed this when He told His disciples these words, as found recorded in John 14:21:

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

In a climate of genuine obedience, love flows freely back to God from those of us He has called to Himself. Before the foundation of the earth, God chose us to belong to Him and to His Kingdom. In due season, God sent His Holy Spirit to reveal to us what His Son, Jesus, has done for us, by paying the penalty for our sins. Once the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to apprehend that truth, the Holy Spirit comes and lives in our hearts and minds.

This new reality for us grants us the privilege of showing God our love through our obedience to His written Word and to His perfect, divine will. We learn to bend our selfish human wills to His perfect will. In so doing, we show God our love for Him. We also experience the benefits of belonging to Him.

As we begin a new day, we need to constantly remain aware of God’s divine Presence in our lives. And, we need to constantly remain aware of the joy we bring to God each time we obediently follow His will, follow His written Word, and follow the pathway He has laid out before us.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Firstfruits of the Spirit

 

… we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit …

—from Romans 8:23

The firstfruits, that is the very first part of the harvest, symbolizes the best part that the grower has set apart for a special use. In the Old Testament, God asked His chosen people to set aside the firstfruits as an offering to Himself. In the New Testament, we ones whom God has chosen to belong to Himself have become the firstfruits of the New Covenant. Notice what the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:23:

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Not only has God forgiven our sins, through the blood of Jesus, God has given those of us that He has chosen the indwelling presece of the Holy Spirit. Thus, we become the firstfruits of the salvation that has come to us through God’s precious one and only Son, Jesus. We have a special place in God’s heart. He has given us the right to become the children of God. (please see John 1:11-13)

As we begin a new day, whenever we fall prey to thinking that we have no value or worth, we need to remember that, in God’s economy, we are His firstfruits. We are special. We have inherent value and worth because God has made us in His image and because He has specifically chosen us to belong to Himself.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Waiting Expectantly

 

The creation waits in eager expectation …

—from Romans 8:19

There is so much talk about “climate change” today. Yes, of course, historically the earth experiences almost constant and gradual fluctuations in normal temperatures, atmospheric pressure, humidity, wave heights, ocean depths, and so forth. The huge undecided question—and, contrary to the media, lack of scientific certainty—is whether or not human activity has any profoundly important impact on these changes in climatic conditions.

(As you may well know, I do not personally believe that human activity has contributed significantly to “climate change.” I believe it is the height of arrogance for humans to think that they have such power over God’s creation. Thus, I am not a so-called “denier.” Rather, I am a “rejecter” of the hyperbolic clamor that touts anthropogenic [human-caused] climate change.)

From a study of the account in the Book of Genesis that describes Adam’s sin and the exile of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, we do recognize that the fall of humans into sin caused an effect on all of the systems of the earth and on all living things. Likewise, the coming of God’s one and only Son to earth as a human baby, so that He could grow up and eventually die on a cruel Roman cross of torture to pay the penalty for the sins of humankind, also has had a profound effect on all of the systems of the earth and on all living things. The Apostle Paul writes about this issue with these words, found in Romans 8:19:

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.

When will the “sons of God” become revealed? At that time, in the future, when Jesus returns to earth again, and the new heaven and the new earth appear. We Christians often refer to this time as “that Great Day” or “the Day of the Lord” or “the Second Coming.” This will be a time when the redemption of the systems of the heavens and the earth—and the redemption of all those whom God has called to Himself—becomes fully revealed.

As we begin a new day, we can look forward, with hopeful expectation, that Jesus will return in the next instant of time. We can also determine to live our lives as if His return will not happen for another thousand years. In this way, we will remain faithful stewards of God and humbly serve as His ambassadors to a troubled world.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

In Our Midst

 

For where two or three come together …

—from Matthew 18:20

One of the greatest frustrations I must deal with in my life comes from the fact that very few of my fellow “Christ’s-ones” feel the same strong compulsion that I do to faithfully attend church services every week. I realize that my circumstances are somewhat unique: I have no children or grandchildren, I do not own a vacation home, I do not travel for business or pleasure, I have nothing else on Sundays that draws my attention away from church attendance, and I grew up in a household where my father absolutely insisted that we always, without fail, attend church on Sundays.

Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, prevented us, as a family, from attending services whenever the doors of the church were open. This meant that we attended Sunday school, Sunday morning Worship, Sunday evening Worship, and Wednesday night Prayer Meeting. As a teenager, I also attended weekly youth group meetings, as well as the early morning weekly prayer times and Saturday night rallies of Youth for Christ International. I feel that, growing up, the discipline of always attending church services was an important part of my spiritual journey of Christian spiritual formation.

Some would say that I am an annoying nag about the matter of weekly church attendance. They would say that just because I feel so strongly about this subject does not make me correct in my insistance that everyone attend his or her home church faithfully each Sunday. And yet, I truly believe that one of the greatest joys for a person, who follows the Lord Jesus Christ, is that time when he or she gathers with fellow believers for worship, praise, prayer, thanksgiving, the teaching of God’s written Word, and the fellowship with like-minded individuals. Part of the blessing of such times is the promise that Jesus gives us, found in Matthew 18:20:

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

When we believers gather together, Jesus is present with us. The Holy Spirit, who dwells in the hearts and minds of each believer, fills the space with God’s glory. Christ comes and fellowships with us, even as we fellowship with each other. That’s the reason why spending time together becomes so important to followers of Jesus. We must not choose other activities, or choose other allegiances, that will take the place of the time we spend together as believers in our home churches.

When you next have such an opportunity to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ, make the right choice. Consciously and purposefully choose to take the opportunity to meet with your fellow believers. If you do so, you will reap an enormous reward.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Comforted by God's Presence

 

Even though I walk through the valley …

—from Psalm 23:4

A dear friend of mine, now with the Lord, often spoke these words:

“Living life each day is not for the faint of heart.”

What my friend said is all too true. When we walk along the road of life, there are inevitably times on our journey when we come to some dark places. We may hesitate to enter and move forward. But, the circumstances of our lives push us onward, taking very hesitant and tentative steps. Then, of a sudden, we remember that God has promised to go with us. As King David wrote of God in Psalm 23:4:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

As we begin a new day and yet find ourselves in a dark place, let’s remember that we are not alone. In fact, we are never alone. God has promised to go with us. He will provide illumination for our pathway and give us courage to push on through the darkness and out into the never-failing light.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Better Than Gold or Silver

 

How much better to get wisdom than gold …

—from Proverbs 16:16

Have you noticed the increase in television ads for the purchase of gold and silver? Can you imagine having a large safe in your house or apartment that contains gold or silver bars or gold or silver coins? Would you buy a German Shepherd dog to help guard your safe? Would you install a sophisticated intrusion alarm system? Or, would you move your gold and silver to a safety deposit box in the nearest bank? Having a great wealth is not only an enormous responsibility, it can also be a great deal of hassle.

Fortunately, I have so little money that I never will have to worry about any of those things. But, I do know there are some things in this life that are worth far more than gold or silver. King Solomon agrees with my sentiment and wrote these words, found in Proverbs 16:16:

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!

As we begin another new day, let’s take time to ask God for the gift of His wisdom and His understanding. The Scripture teaches us that He will gladly grant our request. Nothing pleases Him more than when we turn to Him and ask for worthy gifts. And certainly, there are few gifts as worthy as wisdom and understanding. Just imagine how possessing these God-given gifts might change our lives in so many positive ways.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Deliberate Sinning

 

What then? Shall we sin …

—from Romans 6:15

If you wake up in the morning, begin the routine of your day, and intentionally plan to sin that day, please stop. That’s right. I said: “Please, stop!” It doesn’t matter how much you enjoy a particular sin. It doesn’t matter if you think that sin really isn’t all that important. If you are one who follows Jesus, then deliberate sinning should not be a part of your life.

Will you ever be absolutely free from sin as long as you live in this current world? No. Why? Because we have inherited the sin nature from Adam, passed down to us through our parents. We will never be totally free from the alluringly draw of sin. But, we can control the degree to which we allow ourselves to sin on purpose. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:15:

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!

Jjust because Jesus died to forgive our sins, we do not have a license to continue sinning. Yes, our sins are covered by His blood. But, that is no reason to set about to sin each day. In fact, as we begin another day, we do well if we determine, as much as we can by relying on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to set aside the sins that so easily entrap us. The Holy Spirit will help us avoid deliberate sins, if only we would allow Him to do so.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A New Master

 

For sin shall not be your master …

—from Romans 6:14

Who’s your boss? Not in the sense of the person you report to at your place of employment. But, I’m asking:

“Who rules your life? Who controls what you do, what you say, even what you think?”

You may answer by saying:

“Why, I do! I am in control of my life. I do what I want, say what I want, and think what I want.”

But, do you? Do you really? For example:

• If you are a man who sees an unusually pretty woman walk past you, when you look at her, what thoughts pop into your mind? Later, when you see her again from a distance, what does you mind recall about your first reaction to seeing her?
  
  
• If you are a woman and you see another woman walk by in an outfit that really makes a fashion statement, when you turn to look at her, what thoughts immediately jump to the forefront of your thinking? How long do you stare at her, taking in every detail? Do you imagine what you might look like in that same outfit? Do you wonder what that outfit might cost? Do you wish you had seen it first and that you were the one parading around town looking so special?
  
  

In both of these examples, the power in control of our natural minds is sin. Yes, sin. Why?

• In the first example, the sin of lust has prompted certain thoughts that most men will never acknowledge, but which are nearly always present. In fact, most men have learned to delight in those thoughts, cherish them, and even encourage them. Some men even believe that, if they did not have those thoughts, they wouldn’t be a normal man. The sin of lust is the all-pervasive and most commonly powerful sin in the life of a human male.
  
  
• In the second example, the sin of covetousness has prompted certain thoughts that most women will never acknowledge, but which are nearly always present. In fact, most women have learned to delight in those thoughts, cherish them, and even encourage them. Many women believe that, if they did not have those thoughts, they wouldn’t be a normal woman. The sin of covetousness is the all-pervasive and most commonly powerful sin in the life of a human female.
  
  

In each example, sin is in control of our minds and hearts. We were born with a sin nature, inherited from our parents, who inherited it all the way back to Adam and Eve. That sin nature seeks to control every aspect of our lives. But, there is good news. The Apostle Paul wrote these words, found in Romans 6:14:

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

With the coming of Jesus, through His birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension, He conquered sin, death, and Satan. Christ won the victory, paid the penalty for our sins, set us free from sin’s control of our lives, and vouchsafed our place with Him for all eternity.

As we begin a new day, we can choose to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us away from sin. We can set aside these normally pervasive sins and embrace a totally new way of life—a life of freedom and victory. Thanks be to our God, who has given us the victory through our precious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Word from the Apostle Paul - Part Two

 

… while we wait for the blessed hope …

—from Titus 2:13

As I mentioned at the beginning of yesterday’s blog post, nearly everyone likes to receive letters, or emails, or Facebook posts, or Tweets, or Instagram posts, or by whatever means one receives communications from his or her loved ones today. Certainly, the young minister, Titus, always looked forward to communications, just like we do today.

I also suggested yesterday that Titus particularly perked up when he received communication from his mentor, the Apostle Paul. In fact, the words that Paul wrote to Titus—along with the two letters we still have of Paul’s correspondence with Timothy—remain cherished today by God’s choice servants. We often refer to these three books in the New Testament as the “Pastoral Epistles.” Paul is teaching Titus and Timothy how to be the best possible pastors they can be.

Today’s blog post consists of the second part of a crucially important paragraph that Paul wrote to Titus. And, these are words that we should revere and welcome in our own lives this day. The passage is found in Titus 2:13-14, where Paul writes these words:

… while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

As Paul concludes this important paragraph in his letter to Titus, he points us to the ultimate victory that the birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ have given to us: the forgiveness of our sins and our hope of eternal life with Him. As followers of Jesus, we are, in fact, in the process of being sanctified—or, “made holy.” And, God has planted within us the desire and ability to do good works in His name, as well as for the sake of His Kingdom. We do what we do as “Christ’s-ones” because of what God has done in us through Jesus. All that we are and all that we have has come to us as a precious gift from God.

As we begin a new day, let’s make certain we recognize how very fortunate we are that God has chosen to pour out His love on us and make us His dearly cherished children. And, let us also recognize what a wonderful privilege we have to take that God-breathed agape love and share it with everyone who crosses the pathway of our lives.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Word from the Apostle Paul - Part One

 

For the grace of God has appeared …

—from Titus 2:11

Everyone likes to receive letters, or emails, or Facebook posts, or Tweets, or Instagram posts, or by whatever means one receives communications from their loved ones today. Certainly, the young minister, Titus, always looked forward to such communications, just like we do today.

Titus particularly perked up when he received communication from his mentor, the Apostle Paul. In fact, the words that Paul wrote to Titus—along with the two letters we still have of Paul’s correspondence with Timothy—remain cherished today by God’s choice servants. We often refer to these three books in the New Testament as the “Pastoral Epistles.” Paul is teaching Titus and Timothy how to be the best possible pastors they can be.

Today’s blog post consists of the first part of a crucially important paragraph that Paul wrote to Titus. And, these are words that we should revere and welcome in our own lives this day. The passage is found in Titus 2:11-12, where Paul writes these words:

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…

Here, Paul distills in these few words the very essence of the gospel—the good news—of the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ. This is why we call ourselves “Christ’s-ones” or “Christians.” We do so because of the change that God has brought into our lives through His precious Son. Furthermore, God has given us His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts and minds, and to lead us along the pathway that God has laid out before us.

As we begin a new day, let’s celebrate the fact that God has given us the ability to bend our selfish human wills to His divine and perfect will. We can truly say: “No!”—to all ungodliness and choose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Kick Sin Off the Throne

 

… count yourselves dead to sin …

—from Romans 6:11

One of the great blessings of receiving God’s gift of salvation, through His precious Son, Jesus, is the fact that the Holy Spirit comes to live within the depths of our being. The Holy Spirit willingly grants us His guidance for all four of our human modalities: emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical. We only need to bend our selfish and flawed natural human wills to His divine, perfect, and loving will.

By consistently bending our wills to God’s will, we place God on the throne of our lives. When he occupies this critical place in us, there is no room for anything, or anyone else, to have that special place. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:11-12:

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

By yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and by obediently following God’s will for us, we can kick sin off the throne of our lives. We can live in such a way that we will consistently honor God’s love and His Presence in us, through us, with us, and around us.

As we begin another new day, we can rejoice that, with God’s help, we can significantly reduce the sin that naturally occurs in our lives. Will we ever be perfectly free from sin while we remain alive on this earth? Sadly, no. But, we can consistently overcome besetting sins by allowing God to give us His strength, His courage, and His persistence. After all, our obedience to God’s written Word, and thus our obedience to His will, is the only thing He asks of us to demonstrate our love for Him.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Straight Ahead

 

The person of integrity walks securely …

—from Proverbs 10:9

No building in the United States has as complicated a pattern of corridors as does the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. If ever a person could become lost for hours, it would be when trying to navigate from one place in the Pentagon building to another. I’ve experienced that trauma first hand. According to that secular “fountain of knowledge,” Wikipedia:

The Pentagon is one of the world’s largest office buildings, with about 6,500,000 sq ft, of which 3,700,000 sq ft are used as offices. Approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel work in the Pentagon. It has five sides, five floors above ground, two basement levels, and five ring corridors per floor with a total of 17.5 miles of corridors.

Of course, most people who work in this building get to know the general area within which they work. However, if they have to navigate to an unfamiliar portion of the building, they too, find themselves stopping frequently to study diagrams in order to find their way.

Sometimes, life reminds me of the Pentagon building. It’s easy, oh so easy, to get lost along the pathway of life. It’s important to find the right pathway and, then, to keep moving forward straight ahead. In that regard, King Solomon offered these wise words, as recorded in Proverbs 10:9:

The person of integrity walks securely, but the one who takes crooked paths will be found out.

Part of moving straight ahead involves an individual applying the personal integrity to choose the straight path. Every day we face choices. A few times, the “right” choice is completely obvious. Most other times, we need the help of the Holy Spirit to make certain we stay on the right path and keep moving straight ahead.

As we begin another new day, let’s pray and ask God to give us clear direction for this day. He will surely help us, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to make exactly the proper choices for each new day. How grateful we can feel, knowing that God’s love includes making certain we have the opportunity to make proper choices, day after day after day.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

In Close Proximity

 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous …

—from Joshua 1:9

When firefighters enter a burning building wearing self-contained breathing apparatus, we teach them to stay in close proximity to one another by keeping their hand on the shoulder of the firefighter walking ahead of them. They might also pull with them a rescue rope tied around the waist of each firefighter. Why do we take these steps? Because we know that keeping in close proximity is a key to safety when entering an unknown space. Often the smoke and hot gases in the building on fire have made it nearly impossible to see clearly what dangers might exist ahead.

The truth is that every day we “Christ’s-ones” walk into unknown, potentially dangerous spaces. We call these danger-filled spaces: “another new day.” We never know what lies just around the next corner of our lives. We truly need to step forward boldly and courageously. To do so, we need to feel the close proximity of the Holy Spirit. He holds the safety rope wrapped around our hearts. Please note these words from God, as recorded in Joshua 1:9:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

As we begin yet another new day, let us take these words of God, spoken to His servant, Joshua, and appropriate them for our own lives. For surely we know that God is the same today as He was in the days of Joshua. He will give us courage. He will give us strength. He will be with us wherever we go. We simply need to stay in close proximity to Him.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Living and Active Word

 

For the word of God is living and active. …

—from Hebrews 4:12

By now, most Christians should recognize the wisdom of taking time each day to read God’s written Word, the Bible, to meditate on what is read, and to also spend time speaking with God in prayer. These daily times of “devotions” can prepare us for whatever the day ahead may bring our way.

There is enormous power in God’s written Word. In the Old Testament, we find many times where someone discovered a scroll of Scripture, opened it, and ultimately gathered the people of Israel together to hear the reading of the written Word of God. Even today, in synagogues across the world, the time of reading from the Jewish Scriptures is a moment of great solemnity within the Sabbath worship.

So it is with many Evangelical Christian churches, too. In fact, some churches have the tradition of always standing when Scripture is read in a worship service. Yes, there is enormous power in God’s written Word. Notice what the correspondent with the Hebrew Christians wrote, as recorded in Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is living and active. 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.

As we begin a new day, we should embrace the power of Scripture and do our best to apply it to our own lives. Reading, studying, and meditating on a passage of Scripture from the Bible will make our pathway straight and well-lighted. We will never wonder where we should go. And, we will never falter when we have God’s written truth on our side.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Goodness of God Revealed

 

For he satisfies the thirsty …

—from Psalm 107:9

Have you ever read Psalm 107? This Psalm is a song of praise to God for who He is. It is always a wise idea to recognize that the person of God, to the extent that He has revealed Himself to us, is worthy of praise simply because of who He is. In fact, you will find several Psalms that do just that—they offer praise to God because of who He is.

Yes, we most certainly should thank God for what He has done for us, what He is doing for us, and what He has promised that He will do for us. That kind of praise is certainly most worthy, as well. But, there is just something very special about taking time to praise God for who He is. Thus, Psalm 107 lists many reasons to praise God, including this one found in Psalm 107:9:

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

God is the provider of whatever it is we need to sustain us. In all four modalities of human life—emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and physical—God provides everything that we need. And, He does so out of His great love for us.

As we begin a new day, it is appropriate for us to read through all the verses of Psalm 107. As we do so, let’s give praise to God for each of the reasons listed in this Psalm that celebrate His goodness.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Restores Us

 

He makes me lie down in green pastures …

—from Psalm 23:2

King David had known the power of God in his life from the time he was a relatively young teenager. He had experienced the overwhelming Presence of the Holy Spirit flood into his life at the time Samuel anointed him as the chosen King of Israel. While it would still be many years before David ascended the throne, in a way unique to the time in which he lived, David knew an intimacy with God that was almost unparalleled. No wonder David penned these familiar words found in Psalm 23:2-3:

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God insisted that David find time in his life to rest and recharge. And, God provided that rest and recharging. That is good advice for us, even as we begin a new day.

God longs for us to rely on Him as a source of rest, restoration, and recharging in our terribly busy lives. If we will bend our selfish human wills to His perfect will, God will lead us beside still waters and make us lie down in green pastures. Having experienced His restorative touch on our lives, we will better be able to go out and continue to serve God faithfully.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Brightly Shining

 

Your word is a lamp to my feet …

—from Psalm 119:105

Did you ever think of an “Instruction Manual” as a bright light? If you think about it, a set of instructions on how to do something is a very bright light that shines on the darkness of our lack of knowledge. When we go about doing something that we’ve never done before, the “Instruction Manual” tells us what we need to do, how to do it, and it may even warn us about mistakes we might make. Let me illustrate my point with this narrative.

I have a dear friend who works for a company that manufactures sophisticated electronic equipment for television stations. Among his many tasks is the responsibility to write “Instruction Manuals” for new equipment that his employer has created. To do this, he must work with the new equipment until he learns as much as he can learn about the features of the equipment and how to properly install it. Then, he writes a set of clear instructions for others to follow. Because of the time he has invested in learning about the new equipment, the “Instruction Manual” he creates saves the customers who buy this equipment a great deal of time.

As Christians, God has given us a brightly shining light in His written Word, the Bible. Notice what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105:

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

We have the written Word of God available to us, in order to shine a bright light on the pathway of our lives. If we follow the direction this precious written Word gives us, we will find the road of our lives a much more easily traveled one than if we just boldly took off on our own.

As we begin a new day, let’s allow God’s written Word to illuminate our pathway. And, let’s thank God for this gift He has given us: a gift that shines brightly on the path He has laid out before us.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Source of Gladness

 

For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord …

—from Psalm 92:4

We have a wide range of words to express our emotions: happy, sad, disappointed, tearful, gloomy, joyful, glad—to name just a few. The word “glad” is a particularly interesting word. The dictionary offers these synonyms as definitions: “pleased, delighted.” We may think of glad as a somewhat reduced sense of happiness. But actually, glad is the sense that all is well, we are secure, our hearts are uplifted.

Psalm 92 is a song written for the Sabbath Day. Speaking to God and about God, this Psalm contains many uplifting and joyful words, including these words found in Psalm 92:4:

For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

When we look around us and see the hand of God at work in our lives, and in the lives of others, the very natural response we feel is gladness. So, as we begin a new day, let’s keep an eye out for the very things that show us God is at work. Then, we can make our response to God one of gladness. Certainly that will set our day on the right pathway.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Our Shepherd

 

The Lord is my shepherd …

—from Psalm 23:1

Nothing delights us more than to have someone care for us in a loving and compassionate way. Please let me share this illustration.

When I was a small boy, probably six years old, I became very ill with what eventually became obvious was a severe stomach flu. At the height of my most intense distress, my mom happened to be uncharacteristically away from home attending a women’s retreat. I was home alone with my dad.

I remember laying on the davenport in the living room all bundled up in a comforter. My stomach hurt badly. I was shaking with a fever. I was very sick. And, I was very scared.

My dad came into the room and sat down next to me. I looked up at him and, with tears flowing down my cheeks, I asked:

“Daddy, am I going to die?”

Now my dad was never an outwardly affectionate man. He was a wonderful father, a devout Christian man, a hard-working provider for my mom and me. But, he was not given to many outward signs of affection. In this instance, however, my dad lovingly took my hand in his and, in his most soothing voice, told me that God loved me and God would care for me. He reminded me that, as my dad, he would be right there with me.

In that moment, I remember feeling a strangely warm sensation of comfort wash over me. God loved me. My dad loved me. I was loved. I was protected. I was cared for in a wonderful way. I can still, all these many years later, remember that feeling of tender love that enfolded me and comforted me. That’s what shepherding is all about.

When King David penned these familiar words from Psalm 23:1, he knew first-hand what it meant to be a shepherd:

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

As we begin a new day, we must remember that, this day and every day, God is our shepherd. His divine love invades every aspect of our lives. He holds us lovingly, and with amazing compassion, in the hollow of His mighty hand. We are shepherded by the greatest of all shepherds.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Least We Could Do

 

I will be glad and rejoice in you …

—from Psalm 9:2

Have you ever thanked someone for doing something for you only to have them respond:

“It was the least I could do.”

Many times this is an attempt on the part of your benefactor to show humility. But truthfully, we don’t really know how to actually be humble. It goes against many of the core tenets of our current society, where a more common claim is:

“Hey! Look at me! Look how wonderful I am!”

Sometimes, when we reach out to extend God’s love to others, that act of kindness truly is the very least that we could do. After all, if God has done so much for us, how can we withhold our love and concern from others? At the same time, in response to the overwhelming gifts that God has given us, the very least that we can do is to obey Him and to praise Him with our most sincere thanksgiving. As King David wrote in Psalm 9:2, speaking to God:

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Why did David want to praise God? Because David knew that all he was and all that he had came to him as a precious gift from God. And, that is exactly the same place we are: all that we are and all that we have has come to us as a precious gift from God.

As we begin a new day, let’s make certain we praise God for who He is and for what He has done. After all, it’s the very least that we could do. And, when we reach out to touch those who cross the pathway of our lives, let’s also remember that, based on what God has done for us, helping others and showing God-breathed agape love to them is truly the least that we could do.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

God Is My Safe Space

 

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

—from Psalm 91:1

We hear a lot about “safe spaces” today. Usually, these words are used to describe locations on college campuses where students can be protected against hearing things they don’t want to hear. Instead of teaching our children to listen carefully to everything that people may say and apply discernment in order to decide what speech is instructive, useful, and helpful, we have raised children that don’t want to hear anything that goes against their own set of presuppositions. This creates a situation that is the very opposite of the concept of “free speech.”

Because “free speech” is one of the foundational building blocks of a free society, anything that stands in the way of people’s ability to express themselves without fear of suppression also offers a threat to our liberty and our way of life. Instead of needing protection that will shield us from what people may say, we need to develop the ability to receive information from everyone and then, using discernment, make a decision as to what we will believe as individuals.

As Christians, we sometimes need a “safe space” of an entirely different kind. We need a place of refuge from the darkness that surrounds us in our sin-infested world. Fortunately, God lovingly provides such a place. Notice what the Psalmist writes in Psalm 91:1-2:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

As we place ourselves in the shelter of God’s loving arms, we will find ourselves shielded from the darkness that surrounds us. There, we will be able to rest and recharge, so that we can go out from that place of refuge and, once again, enter the spiritual fray. As we begin another day, let’s rejoice that God has given us exactly the kind of “safe space” that we need.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Never Envy a Violent Person

 

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways …

—from Proverbs 3:31

Did you ever see someone who seemed really tough and wish you could become more like that person? Maybe that kind of feeling is just a “boy thing.” Most young boys look up to real people, or comic book heroes, who are big, strong, and tough. Almost no one identifies with a powder-puff weakling. It’s always the superhero who gains the attention.

But in life, the tough guys are also often the bad guys. Of course, there are exceptions. United States Marines are tough guys and not bad guys. So, are Navy Seals and Army Rangers. But, for the most part, the toughest guys are gangsters, or bullies, or otherwise bad dudes.

Women are not exempt either. There are tough women, who also fit into the “bad person” category. Their toughness is usually magnified by deviousness and treachery. Naturally, some very strong women are truly kind and fair. But, for the most part, when we think of “tough” women, we think of violent ones, or nasty females who would just as soon stab someone as look at them.

In sharp contrast are those who follow Jesus. There’s nothing wrong with God-given strength. But, violence and toughness of the basest kind has no part among Kingdom warriors. Notice what King Solomon wrote, as recorded in Proverbs 3:31-32:

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

There is no room for violence in the Kingdom of God.

“Wait a minute,” you say. “Didn’t God send the Israelites to destroy their enemies? Wasn’t that violent?” Yes, of course it was. But, it wasn’t violence simply for violence sake.

The God of justice was “rewarding” the sinfulness and godlessness of the people who had rejected His overtures of love, joy, and peace. Their rampant sinfulness caused Him to send His chosen people to destroy them. The just reward of those people whom God destroyed serves as a cautionary tale for all those who choose to reject God, His holiness, His righteousness, and His judgment. That God-directed punishment is something quite different from the kind of violence that springs forth for no good reason and wreaks havoc.

As we begin a new day, we need to guard our minds and hearts against violence of all kinds. We need to put off any prospect of physical violence. And, even more so, we need to put aside any form of mental, emotional, or intellectual violence, as well. Our words can hurt someone as deeply as the wound of a sword. Even in our zeal for what we deeply believe, we need to make certain we are not using hurtful, sharp, condemning words.

God celebrates strength under control. That’s one of the many reasons He has given us His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us remain strong, without any tendency toward violence—in the things we do and the words we say. We do so much better when we lay aside every attempt of our enemy to drag us into violence.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Special Kind of Love

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart …

—from Mark 12:30

“Love makes the world go ’round,” the motivational speaker stated forcefully.

“No!” shouted someone in the back of the room. “Change makes the world go ’round. Love only keeps it populated.”

The 2,000 people in the audience roared with laughter.

No matter how you may feel about that exchange, love does play a very important role in the life of a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are Jesus’ own words, as recorded in Mark 12:30-31:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

God breathes His love into us—into all four of our human modalities: heart, soul, mind, and strength. In return, we must first breathe that love back to God. And, we must do so with all four of our human modalities: emotional (heart), spiritual (soul), intellectual (mind), and physical (strength). Then, we must breathe that love outwardly, so that it touches the lives of the people who cross the pathway of our lives.

As we begin a new year of life here on earth, let’s ask God to fill us full with His God-breathed agape love. Then, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us breathe that God-breathed agape love back out into a world that desperately needs God’s love.

 

_{Copyright © 2026 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}