Come and Learn

 

Come, my children, listen to me …

—from Psalm 34:11

At some time in our lives, most of us find ourselves eager to learn. Perhaps it was the first time mom or dad allowed us to use our Learner’s Permit to take the car out for a drive under their close supervision. Maybe it was when mom allowed you to bake your first cake all by yourself. Perhaps it was the first time that dad allowed you to use his power tools.

I became fascinated with radio broadcasting as a ten-year-old in fifth grade. I had been given a small radio of my own. I spent many hours in the evening, tuning across the dial trying to pick up some distant powerful station. Then, I discovered the Dewey Decimal System’s section in the public library labeled “621.384.” This section covered radio broadcasting. I checked out every book on this subject, and read each one voraciously. I was very eager to learn all I could about radio broadcasting.

King David developed a similar zeal to learn all he could about God. David wanted to know as much as he possibly could about this One who had chosen him to rule as King over Israel. Notice what David writes in Psalm 34:11:

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

As with previous uses of the word “fear” in this Psalm, David uses the word to mean “supreme reverence.” So, David is inviting the children to come and learn about the “supreme reverence” that is due to the God who loves them.

As we begin another new day, we do well to gather around a trusted teacher and learn all we can about the God who has chosen us to belong to Himself. We can spend time studying God’s written Word, the Bible, wherein we will find out what He has revealed to us about Himself. We can learn about the “supreme reverence” that is due our wonderful God. And, we can learn more and more about the depth of His love for us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Better Than the Lions

 

The lions may grow weak and hungry …

—from Psalm 34:10

No, this blog post isn’t about preferring one sports team above another. The title is based on these words of King David found in Psalm 34:10:

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

In David’s day, the lion was the most powerful and most feared animal. No mere human could ever hope to stand up to a lion. Although, we do know from Scripture that teenage David had certainly faced lions when he was protecting his sheep out in the Galilean hills. And, we also know that God closed the mouths of the lions that inhabited the den into which Daniel was thrown. Nevertheless, lions represent a force of nature with which humans dare not trifle.

No matter how powerful lions may be, they still needed to eat. If they didn’t eat, these powerful lions would grow weak and lose their strength. But, David contrasts this status of the lions with those who seek the Lord. David asserts that God-seekers lack no good thing. Why? The answer is because God supplies all they need.

As we begin another new day, let’s count ourselves among those who seek the Lord. As genuine “God-seekers,” we will surely experience the reality that we will lack nothing in our lives. God will truly supply all our needs and make us better than the lions.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Fear the Lord

 

Fear the Lord, you his saints …

—from Psalm 34:9

We generally think of the word “fear” as meaning “afraid.” But, in actual fact, the word “fear” has a much broader set of definitions.

As a transitive verb, the word “fear” means to frighten, to feel fear in oneself, to have reverential awe, to be afraid of, or expect alarm. As an intransitive verb, the word “fear” means to be afraid of, or be apprehensive of. Okay. I get it. You want to know what a transitive verb and intransitive verb is. Right?

A transitive verb is one that is used with an object: a noun, phrase, or pronoun and refers to the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb. An intransitive verb does not have a direct object.

Notice what King David wrote in Psalm 34:9:

Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

In this sentence, the word “fear” takes a direct object “the Lord.” So, the word “fear” is a transitive verb. And, instead of evoking a sense of apprehension, the word intends to capture a sense of great reverence—to have reverential awe. That reverence is borne out of the fact that God is the all-powerful creator of the universe. His power is beyond our comprehension. In fact, every one of His qualities is beyond our comprehension.

Just as His power and might fills us with reverential awe, so does His great love for us. He truly is to be perceived with great reverence. So, David indicates that those who possess great reverence for the Lord are the ones who lack nothing.

As we begin another new day, let’s recognize that our reverence for the God, who loved us enough to sacrifice His one and only Son in our behalf, is a worthy response to who He is. And, as a result, He gives us everything we need, so that we lack nothing.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Come! Taste and See!

 

Taste and see that the Lord is good …

—from Psalm 34:8

Has anyone ever invited you to come to his or her home at a particular time, so that he or she could share a tasty meal with you? Most likely you have had just such an experience. The hospitality of good food and good conversation really can’t be beat.

King David clearly recognized that the relationship he had with the God who had chosen David to be king was one that mirrored an experience of rich hospitality. Notice what David wrote in Psalm 34:8:

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

It is not beyond reason to say that God is our banquet. He has set a table before us and invites us to come to Him for rest, refreshment, and the very best hospitality available in all of the universe. He, who has created all things, invites us to come to His table and enjoy fellowship, along with protection and refuge.

As we begin each new day, we can do so knowing that we always have a place at God’s table. He waits to welcome us to come and sit with Him for a while. He gladly provides what we need and offers us the very best sustenance available.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Encamped Around

 

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him …

—from Psalm 34:7

When you go to sleep at night, do you like to have the covers all pulled up around you? I do. It’s almost like a cocoon of warmth and protection. Most of us enjoy the feeling of security that a nice cozy blanket can provide, especially when it’s cooler during the night.

King David recognized that, in the depth of his misery and trouble, God had provided a covering around him that was even more secure than a warm blanket on a cold night. That covering of protection came from the presence of the angel of the Lord. Notice what David writes in Psalm 34:7:

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

As followers of the Great King Jesus, we “Christ’s-ones” have that same strong protection surrounding us, as well. God puts His guarding angel in charge of us to keep us all the days of our lives. We can move forward each day, secure in the knowledge that we are divinely protected.

So, as we come to the start of this new day, let’s remember to give thanks to God for His divine protection. And also, let’s remember that we most certainly are under the guardianship of the God who loves us with His eternal love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Call of a Poor Man

 

This poor man called, and the Lord heard …

—from Psalm 34:6

Have you ever felt so worthless that you believed if you were to ask someone for help they would refuse? I hope not. Yet, I know our world is filled with people who feel utterly useless, completely worthless, and absolutely hopeless.

We who follow Jesus have a particular responsibility to reach out to those who feel that they have no worth and no hope. We have a wellspring of value and hope because God has chosen us to belong to Himself through His precious Son, Jesus. Therefore, we are compelled to share with others what God has given us.

King David knew what it was to feel that everything he valued had been taken away from him. He believed there was no one who would help him, except for God. David knew that God would never reject him. That’s why David wrote these words found in Psalm 34:6:

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

As we begin a new day, let’s remember the lesson David teaches us in this verse of Psalm 34. God stands ready to help us. When we feel like no one knows and no one cares, God loves us, cares for us, and longs for us to ask Him to help us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Radiant Faces

 

Those who look to him [God] are radiant …

—from Psalm 34:5

Can you spot someone who is feeling great joy? I imagine you can. There is just something about the way he or she looks. We often say that he or she appears radiant. Please let me offer two illustrations:

I remember my mother often telling my dad on our way home from church on Sunday that she thought such and such a mother was pregnant. “She’s just glowing,” my mom would say. And, she was usually right. In just a few weeks, the announcement of an impending birth would spread throughout the church.

New brides and grooms often have “that look” about them that says they’re feeling significant joy. Their smiles radiate the love that they feel for each other. In fact, that feeling of being deeply loved tends to affect how they relate to other people, as well.

It should come as no surprise that King David would use such a radiant image to describe the relationship that those chosen by God have with Him. Notice what David writes in Psalm 34:5:

Those who look to him [God] are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

A follower of Jesus can receive no greater a compliment than to hear someone say:

“When I look at you, I see Jesus.”

The radiance of Christ’s divine Presence within a believer is surely a mark of great joy. Therefore, as we begin a new day, let’s not be afraid to show the joy that dwells within us because God has chosen us to belong to Himself. We have every good reason to have radiant faces, filled with overflowing joy.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Always Answers Me

 

I sought the Lord, and he answered me …

—from Psalm 34:4

Did you ever ask someone a question and have them seemingly refuse to answer? Perhaps you asked your son or daughter to take out the trash. In response to your request you heard, well, nothing. You looked to see if your son or daughter had on earphones and was listening to music. No, no earphones. You looked to see if he or she was watching television and did not hear your request. No, the TV was muted for a commercial. So, you asked your question again. And, once again, you heard no response.

Your frustration level began to rise. The third time you asked your son or daughter to take out the trash, your voice likely rose with a tinge of anger. I’m not going to speculate on whether or not you received a response. It is just as likely that you didn’t get an answer than if you did. God is not at all like that. The Psalmist declares in Psalm 34:4:

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

When we seek an answer from God, He always answers us. Now, we may not like the answer we receive. And, we may have to wait until God decides the timing is right to answer us. But, we always receive an answer.

“Wait a minute,” you say. “I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed about something and I don’t feel that God has ever answered me.”

But, don’t you see? God has seemingly remained silent, yet in a sense, He has answered you. By His silence, He is urging you to keep praying and to wait on His timing. As the days pass, you will find that God’s plan for your situation will unfold slowly and carefully right before your eyes.

Other times, the answer that God gives us may appear as exactly the opposite of the answer for which we hoped and desired. Nevertheless, God’s answer will ultimately always prove out as the best possible answer we could have received from Him. This is because He always has our best interest in mind.

As we begin a new day, let’s not hesitate to make our requests known to God. In His loving and caring way, He will always answer us with the right answer—the one we really need.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Call to Worship

 

Glorify the Lord with me …

—from Psalm 34:3

The church you attend may no longer have a formal “Call to Worship.” Instead, particularly if you attend a church that uses Contemporary Christian Music, you may have a praise song that calls the congregation to worship.

I happen to attend an Evangelical Presbyterian Church that, unlike many churches in that denomination, uses a semi-liturgical form of worship and more traditional church music. We begin each Worship Service with a responsive “Call to Worship” led by a Liturgist—usually the Minister of Music and Worship.

Often based on a Psalm, the “Call to Worship” consists of the Liturgist reading one line from the Psalm and the congregation reading the next line, back and forth, with the last line often consisting of the words: “Let us worship God!”

The Psalms are overflowing with words that can easily comprise a “Call to Worship.” One of those passages is found in Psalm 34:3:

Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

What a fitting way to begin a time of corporate worship. We invite each other to glorify the Lord and join together to exalt His name.

As we begin this new day, we can also call ourselves to a daily time of worship by reading appropriate Psalms. Then, we can spend a few moments telling God what we appreciate about Him. Such an effort on our part is time well spent at the beginning of each new day. We consciously place the focus of our lives back on God. We remind ourselves, and Him, how important He is to us. And, we reap the benefit of knowing that we have told Him how much we love and appreciate Him for exactly who He is in our lives.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Boasting in the Lord

 

What do you suppose the Psalmist means when he writes these words in Psalm 34:2:

My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Said another way, what does it mean to “boast in the Lord”?

When we boast, we tell others how wonderful we are, what we’ve accomplished, or what other people think about us. When we boast in the Lord, we tell others how wonderful God is, what He has accomplished in our lives, and what other people we know think about Him. It’s really that simple.

The Psalmist indicates that because of all that God has done for him, he simply cannot help himself but to always take every opportunity to tell others about the gracious goodness of the Lord. The Psalmist literally boasts about how wonderful God is. And, as a result, all who hear these affirming words rejoice. For, if God has been so very good to the Psalmist, surely God will be very good to them, as well.

As we begin another new day, let’s take our cue from the Psalmist. Let’s determine to boast in the Lord. Let’s gently and tenderly tell others how good God has been to us. Let’s share the many times He has given us aid, direction, sustenance, and love. Surely those who hear our testimony of God’s greatness will rejoice.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Ever-Praising Lips

 

I will extol the Lord at all times …

—from Psalm 34:1

Have you ever worked with someone for a while and later thought: “There is not enough good things I can say about him or her”? You were so impressed with this individual that there was no limit to the good words that you might choose to say about that person. That’s what our relationship with God is like. He is so wonderful, so marvelous, so magnificent that there is absolutely no limit to the good things we can say about Him. Certainly the Psalmist agrees and has stated this very theme in Psalm 34:1:

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

The Dictionary defines the word “extol” as “to praise enthusiastically, to praise highly, to glorify.” It seems very fitting that the Psalmist would use this word to describe how he felt about God.

Not only does the Psalmist intend to praise God enthusiastically, he plans to do so at all times. In fact, he declares that praise for God will always be on his lips.

As we begin a new day, we do well to praise God at all times. We do very well if we constantly remind ourselves, and others, how wonderful He is. He means everything to us. And, that, dear ones, is exactly as it should be.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Way of Truth

 

I have chosen the way of truth …

—from Psalm 119:30

Have you ever noticed that the more often you purposely set aside the truth, and instead tell a lie, how very easy it becomes? Lying is one of the simplest of sins. It takes almost no effort to tell a falsehood. In contrast, many times it takes a determined effort to carefully tell the truth.

Truth is the gateway to the heart of God. He is truth. Everything about Him is true. He never lies. He never deceives. He never speaks, except to share the truth. In fact, God’s way is the way of truth. It is no wonder that the Psalmist embodied this lesson in Psalm 119:30:

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.

As we begin a new day, let’s determine to remember that God’s way is the way of truth. If we stick only to the truth, we will do well in our efforts to please God.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

What It Means To Follow Jesus

 

… anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

—from Matthew 10:38

In writing one of my blog posts, I often use the phrase “followers of Jesus.” Recently, I received an email that asked me if I could more precisely define what I meant by that term. So, I’m going to try to do exactly that.

Literally, a “follower of Jesus” is one who endeavors to find out as much about Jesus as possible:

• What Jesus had to say.
  
  
• How Jesus would act.
  
  
• What core principles ruled Jesus’ life.
  
  
• What instructions Jesus might have given to His disciples—His followers.
  
  

Armed with this knowledge, a follower of Jesus will then attempt to:

• Speak like Jesus would speak.
  
  
• Walk the road of life in the same manner that Jesus did.
  
  
• Treat others like Jesus did.
  
  
• Develop the same core principles for life that Jesus developed.
  
  

A follower of Jesus is literally emulating the life of Christ, within that person’s own reality.

Jesus often gave us clues in Scripture as to how He expected His followers to live. For example, please take note of this passage found in Matthew 10:38-39:

And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

The cross of Calvary was the greatest burden the Lord Jesus Christ had to bear. For on that cross, He bore the sins of all humankind, paying the penalty for our sins. In a similar manner, every human has a cross to bear in life. It begins with the sin nature we inherited from Adam, and continues on as we sin purposefully in our own lives.

In these two verses from Matthew 10, Jesus is telling us that to follow Him we must pick up our cross and walk in the way He would walk. He also shares an important truth, when He reminds us that only by losing our lives—that is, giving Him control of our lives—will we find out what life is really all about.

We can only know life, as God intends it, when we consciously put aside our own selfish wills and seek to allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to control the way we live. Therefore, it makes sense, at the beginning of this new day, that we should do just that. Are you with me?

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Directed Footsteps

 

Direct my footsteps according to your word …

—from Psalm 119:133

In the course of my 60+ years of working in fire protection, I have only once encountered an Instruction Manual that I thought was written in a very helpful, detailed, yet easy-to-read style. Sadly, the company and the personnel who produced that Manual—due to changes and market forces beyond their control—has passed from the scene. I still have a copy of that Instruction Manual in my files. It is truly a work of art, yet highly functional at the same time.

The problem with even excellent instructions is that if a user does not follow those instructions carefully, the user will often do something that totally defeats the most effective use of a product or service. That’s why diligent reading, study, and application of properly stated instructions go hand in hand.

As followers of the living Lord Jesus Christ, we Christians—or, “Christ’s-ones”—need to follow the leading of God in our lives. Fortunately for us, God has given us instructions in the full counsel of His written Word, the Bible.

Yes, I know that some Christians do not believe the Bible is inerrant, that is, without error. Others seem to have decided to pick and choose from this Scripture passage or that one, in order to construct a “God” more to their liking, or political agenda, or personal sensitivities. Such actions always deeply sadden me because apparently they have done so because the vision of God that they created for their lives ultimately did not live up to their preconceived notions.

The truth is that God has given us quite adequate instruction through every verse in Scripture. Each verse will inform the pathway of our lives, if we but trust in the words and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within each one who truly believes. The Psalmist understood this concept. Notice what he prayed to God, as recorded in Psalm 119:133:

Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

As we begin a new day, let’s pray this prayer of the Psalmist. Then, let’s open our eyes, hearts, and minds to see what God will do in response.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

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.

 

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