Chosen in Him

 

For he (God) chose us in him (Jesus) …

—from Ephesians 1:4

Do you like to be chosen? I imagine that you do. When you were in Elementary School and the teacher organized your class into two teams to play some game, did you stand there hoping that you would be chosen early in the process rather than become the last person picked? Or maybe, you hoped that you would be chosen to be on the same team as someone in the class whom you admired. Indeed! We all like to be chosen.

In our relationship with God, one of the most blessed elements is that He has chosen us before the foundation of the earth to belong to Himself. We cannot fully comprehend this fact because we know that there is nothing inherently worthy about us that would prompt God to choose us. We are stained by the sin nature of Adam and have compounded our natural sinfulness by committing all manner of sins on our own. Why would a holy God choose us?

But, the fact remains that God did choose us. And, in due season, God sent His blessed Holy Spirit to open our spiritual eyes to the fact that God had chosen us and had made provision for the forgiveness of our sins through the birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of His one and only Son, Jesus. Notice how the Apostle Paul affirms this truth, as he writes to the Christians gathered at Ephesus, found in Ephesians 1:4-5:

For he (God) chose us in him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

This side of eternity, we will never understand why God chose us to belong to Himself. But, as we begin this new day, we can celebrate, with worship and praise, the reality that we are God’s chosen ones. In fact, God has grafted us into the line of His original chosen people, Israel, that we might become one flourishing blooming branch that testifies to God’s mercy, grace, and unfailing love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Power to Witness

 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you …

—from Acts 1:8

The testimony of someone who has experienced a particular event has great power to provide insight, information, and understanding. The best way to encourage someone to consider a thought or idea is to have a person who has benefitted from that thought or idea share how that thought or idea has impacted his or her life in a positive way.

But, even when something has had a profound influence on their sense of well-being, most people are very reluctant to tell others about what they’ve experienced. This naural shyness about witnessing to the truth of what has happened in one’s own life comes from a sense of maintaining personal privacy, or from a sense that a person does not want others to think ill of them because of what they have shared, or from a sense that one will not have adequate skill to creatively explain what a person has experienced.

The antidote to this innate shyness about witnessing is a special power given specifically for the purpose of overcoming that shyness. This is what Jesus was explaining to His disciples, as recorded by Dr. Luke in Acts 1:8:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

As we begin another new day, we should spend a moment thinking about the many wonderful ways our relationship with God has positively impacted our lives. Perhaps we should even make a list of all the things that have made our lives better since we responded to God’s call to come and follow Him.

With that list in hand, we should then ask God to open up opportunities for us to share how wonderful our lives have become since we accepted His gift of divine mercy, grace, and love. Then, as God brings people across the pathway of our lives, we should gently, tenderly, and with humility share with them the wonders and amazement that we have experienced from this God who loves us with His unfailing, undying love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Power, Love, and Self-discipline

 

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity …

—from 2 Timothy 1:7

Have you ever done a self-assessment to determine the key qualities that make you who you are? I was fortunate that, as a double-major in Psychology and Writing at Houghton University in the mid-1960s, I had a most excellent professor who had previously spent many years in the Veterans Administration Hospital System. He insisted that Psychology majors take a wide variety of psychological instruments, participate in group therapy sessions, and learn as much about themselves as possible.

I learned early on that, though I had high intelligence, I had a very low self-esteem coupled with a strong level of perfectionism. I also learned that my painfully extreme social awkwardness came from the way my very low self-esteem and strong level of perfectionism had shaped the way I perceived other people, related to them, and the way I processed the information I receive when I am in a social setting.

I have always admired other people who seem to get along in life much more smoothly than I do. I am also keenly aware that God has gifted me in other areas of life that, in some ways, help me compensate for my extreme social awkwardness.

Now, imagine for a moment that, in His divine love for us, God sets out three qualities He desires to give to us, His dearly loved children. We actually don’t need to imagine this, because God does have three such wonderful qualities that the Apostle Paul has described, as found in 2 Timothy 1:7:

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

A spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of self-discipline are all sterling qualities that God strongly desires to give to each of His dearly loved children. They come to us through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. They are given to us to enable us to serve God, as His ambassadors to this troubled and needy present world.

As this new day begins, let’s praise and thank God for these three great gifts. Then, let’s determine to use them to spread the good news of who God is and what He longs to do for each person who may cross the pathway of our lives. In so doing, we will find these qualities growing within us, just as Paul was urging his son-in-the-faith, Timothy, to experience these qualities growing within him.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Increasing and Overflowing Love

 

May the Lord make your love increase …

—from 1 Thessalonians 3:12

Can a person ever have too much love? I really don’t think so, do you? Most of us are at least a little bit “love deficient.” Even if we have those in our lives who love us, we still can really use the comfort that comes from every bit of love that flows our way. In just such a setting, the Apostle Paul wrote the following to the new Christians gathered at Thessalonica, as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 3:12:

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

These words of blessing, from the Apostle Paul, apply to us today, as well. We are part of the enormous and great family of God. Thus, we are recipients of God’s overflowing and divine love. He has poured His agape love into us, so that we can, in turn, pour His love into others.

As we begin another new day, let’s make this a day when we will endeavor to let God’s love flow through us to touch the minds and hearts of the others around us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Compassionate Father

 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ …

—from 2 Corinthians 1:3

Did your father act compassionately toward you? When you were having a difficult time, did your father patiently listen to you and lovingly make some suggestions to help you make the right decision?

Sadly, far too many individuals have to answer “No” to these questions. Their dad was either not around, or was not at all a compassionate person. Sometimes, dads think they have to be tough and strict, without any sign of tenderness. But, that’s not the way the Father of us all behaves toward His dearly loved children. The Apostle Paul writes these words, found in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

God is a compassionate and loving Father. Yes, He expects obedience from us, His dearly loved children. But, He also treats us with compassion. He understands our trials. He understands how difficult it sometimes seems for us to manage the day-to-day activities of our lives. And, He offers loving suggestions through His written Word and through the direct intervention of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

As we begin another new day, let’s remember that God determines to act toward us with genuine compassion. He wants us to remember that He always is the One who knows us best and loves us the most. God also wants us to emulate His compassion when we deal with others.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Redemption and Refuge

 

The Lord redeems his servants …

—from Psalm 34:22

Throughout Psalm 34, King David has extolled the virtues of God as protector, helper, guide, and deliverer. He continues that theme with these words, found in Psalm 34:22:

The Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

God has chosen those He wishes to belong to Himself—those whom He chooses as His ambassadors. And, He has redeemed them from the penalty of sin and death. He vouchsafes their redemption. He opens the way for them to take refuge and find protection from the evil that would devour them.

As we begin a new day, we are numbered among those whom God has called to Himself, through the redeeming power of His Son, Jesus. Therefore, we are indeed redeemed and we are given a place of refuge. We can hide under God’s protection from the evil that would enslave us. We can find a place of safety in a world filled with traps. We can rest safely in the arms of the God who loved us enough to sacrifice His one and only Son in our behalf. We are of all people most blessed.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Wicked Will Fail

 

Evil will slay the wicked …

—from Psalm 34:21

Have you ever encountered someone truly wicked, someone who made your life way more difficult, and you thought to yourself:

“How does this person get away with what he or she does?”

If you’ve had such an experience, you’re not alone. Many of us have asked this question time and time again.

Yes, many of us, particularly in work situations, have encountered someone in power over us who uses that power to demean, harass, control, and make the lives of the persons reporting to that one miserable. Such a person often has extremely low self-esteem, and tries to boost his or her esteem by treating others harshly.

On rarer occasions, such a person may actually meet the definition psychologists use for a “sociopath.” Most often, by clinical definition, such a sociopath has no empathy for others, sees the world only as it relates to his or her own ego, divides the world into people whom he or she can manipulate (“buddies”) and people whom he or she cannot manipulate (“targets”), and has the ability to skillfully lie about almost everything to get his or her own way.

King David recognized the burden that such people represent to God’s dearly loved children. That prompted David to write these words found in Psalm 34:21:

Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The very acts these evil people commit will ultimately slay them. In addition, anyone who opposes God’s righteous children will be condemned by God and by others. So, it’s a very good idea to not wonder if such a one will always get away with what they do. They won’t. Ultimately, they will always reap the evil they have sown.

The lesson for those of us who belong to God, through Christ, is that we must guard our minds and hearts, so that we do not emulate the behavior of those who are truly evil. Making people afraid of us is not leadership. Winning people’s hearts and minds works far more effectively than any other management philosophy.

As we begin a new day, let’s remember to emulate Jesus. If we set our minds and hearts to doing that, we will not fall prey to the evil influences around us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Lord, The Deliverer

 

A righteous one may have many troubles …

—from Psalm 34:19

Whenever we get into trouble, we often need someone to help us. That trouble may be something that has occurred as a result of sin in our lives. It can also be the result of something over which we have absolutely no control: such as illness, or disease, or harm to us brought on by someone else. Nevertheless, when we realize we have fallen down a deep hole, we need someone to help us out. King David recognized this very fact when he wrote these words found in Psalm 34:19-20:

A righteous man (or woman) may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him (or her) from them all; he protects all his (or her) bones, not one of them will be broken.

This passage is often used as a Messianic prophesy referring to the death of Christ on the cross where, despite their normal procedures, the Roman soldiers did not break any of Jesus’ bones. But, it also stands on its own as yet one more example of how God patiently waits to render aid to His dearly loved children whenever trouble assails them.

As we begin this new day, let’s celebrate the reality of God’s divine Presence in our lives. He is our protector, He is our helper, He is our loving Father who looks out for us. And, when we see those in need around us, let’s show God’s agape love by being willing to help those in genuine need.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Saving the Crushed in Spirit

 

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted …

—from Psalm 34:18

I once felt crushed in my spirit at a very early age. Please let me explain.

I was only seven years old at the time. I had spent a week on the shore of Lake Erie, near Silver Creek, New York. We had rented a cottage from a friend of my father’s. It was a fun time and one that opened an entire new chapter in my life.

In the rented cottage right next door, the one that actually had frontage on the Lake, lived a mother, a father, and the most beautiful little seven-year-old girl I had ever seen. I was very surprised to learn that this family also had their primary residence in my hometown of Bradford, Pennsylvania. While I lived on the north side of the city and attended the Sixth Ward Elementary School, this delightful little girl lived on the west side of the city and attended the Hobson Place Elementary School. Until meeting at the Lake, our paths had never crossed in our relatively small city of 18,000 people.

We had a delightful time at the Lake that week. And, for the first time in my young life, I became utterly fascinated with this magnificent girl. Her name was Vicki. Even after more than 71 years, I can still remember exactly what she looked like: the sun reflecting off the Lake and illuminating her beautiful pale skin.

I came home from that week at the Lake and felt lost—absolutely lost. For days I moped around the house. My mom tried to assure me that Vicki was just one of many delightful young ladies I would meet in the course of my life. But, that didn’t relieve the sense of loss that I felt. I was truly crushed in my spirit.

As I write these words, I can’t help but chuckle at my own childish foolishness. The setting that summer at the Lake was a truly unique experience. In no other setting would I ever have had the opportunity to meet and to get to know this little girl. She and I came from totally different worlds. I later learned that her family was well off financially, had a lovely up-scale home, had really nice clothing, and had a country club membership, while I came from a relatively poor family. She spent her time in various activities that included riding horses, water skiing, and learning to play golf. I spent my leisure time at church and reading books about electronics and radio stations.

I never had the opportunity to connect with her again. By the time I reached Junior High School, where all the Elementary Schools funneled into a single building, her family had moved to another city. Then I later learned, they moved back for a short time and, all too soon, moved away again. But, from all accounts that I heard, by that time she had transformed into someone that seemed quite unlike that delightful little girl I had met many years ago. I am absolutely certain that, very soon after we first met, she had no memory of me whatsoever.

When it comes to feeling crushed in one’s spirit, many of you could tell a much more realistic and much sadder tale of some very serious event in your life that caused a deep hurt in your very soul. My illustration seems quite trivial in comparison. It sticks in my mind only because it was the first time I had experienced such helpless feelings. Of course, in the many years since those long-ago days, I have had some genuine tragedies that have plunged me into an ever-deeper sense of spirit-crunching despair.

Fortunately, King David shares these comforting words from Psalm 34:18:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

When we experience a genuine time of hurt and disappointment in our lives, God stands ready to reach down with His arms of love and give us a holy hug. He knows what it is to experience loss. After all, He gave up His one and only Son, Jesus, to become the One who paid the penalty for our sins, dying on the cruel Roman cross of torture. As Jesus took on the sins of all humankind, in His holiness and for a brief moment in time, God had to turn His back on His only Son.

Fortunately, that’s not the end of the story. But, as we begin this new day, whenever we wonder if anyone can relate to what we may be experiencing in our lives, we can rest assured that God can. He understands. He will comfort us and He will heal our broken hearts.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

God Hears Us

 

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them …

—from Psalm 34:17

If you fall down a deep hole and yell for help, help will not come if no one can hear you. That seems self-evident. You may cry out over and over again. If no one can hear you call, then help won’t come.

But, if you cry out for help and someone is specifically listening for that cry, aid will come to you quickly. That’s the concept that King David wanted to convey, when he wrote the words found in Psalm 34:17:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

God is always listening to our cry for help. Therefore, as we begin another new day, we can launch out into the world knowing that God is always listening to our cries that indicate we need help. We don’t ever have to face a time when no one is listening. God is ever-present and always attuned to the sound of our voices. Why? Because God loves us with His unfailing, undying love. He has called us to come to Him and receive every good and perfect gift that He longs to joyfully give to us.

In like manner, as followers of Jesus, we can keep our own ears tuned to hear the genuine cries for help that may come from those who have very real needs. When we hear those cries, we can answer them on behalf of the God who loves us and desires us to show His agape love to others.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

An Angry Face

 

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil …

—from Psalm 34:16

Has anyone ever given you an angry look? Maybe it was one of your parents, when you persisted in doing something that they had told you not to do. Perhaps it was a teacher, who had made it clear there were rules to follow, but you decided to do what you wanted to do anyway. It might even have been your boss at work, who would let you know that what you were saying in a meeting was not acceptable.

I had some friends growing up who spoke about their dad having what they called “The Look.” Their dad was a quiet man, who never said very many words. But, whenever one of his sons did something wrong, he could instantly shame them by giving them “The Look.” This is exactly what King David has in mind when he writes about God in Psalm 34:16:

The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

God has “The Look,” and it communicates all too well whenever someone does something that displeases Him. We may not see “The Look.” But, we can sense “The Look,” through the indwelling Holy Spirit, whenever God gives us “The Look.”

I know that it is not fashionable today to speak of God as someone who might get angry. But, Scripture makes it clear that a holy God cannot tolerate sin. That’s why He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to become a human and die on the cruel cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for the sins of all humankind.

God wants the children that He chooses to belong to Himself to become more and more obedient to His will and to His written Word. So, as we begin another new day, let’s determine to do just that—let’s become obedient children, as a sign of our love and appreciation for the God who first loved us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

His Eyes Are On Us!

 

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous …

—from Psalm 34:15

I always enjoy seeing the sign that reads:

“Warning! Neighborhood Watch!”

This sign reminds me that the people living in that particular neighborhood feel a responsibility to themselves and to each other to remain vigilant. They keep watch on what is going on in their surroundings. There is less chance of crime occurring whenever the people stay alert.

Not long ago, a “Neighborhood Watch” person reported to police that a moving van had pulled up to a house across the street. The neighbor knew that the people had experienced a death in the family and had traveled out of state for a funeral.

When the police arrived, they found criminals attempting to steal all of those people’s possessions. You see, the crooks had watched the obituaries to find someone that had died out of state. Then, they targeted the loved ones, who had gone to attend the far away funeral. Thanks to “Neighborhood Watch,” the criminals were arrested and their plot was foiled.

King David praises God for His ever-vigilant watchfulness in Psalm 34:15:

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.

As we begin a new day, let’s remain thankful that God watches over us. His eyes never leave us. His ears listen for our cries asking for help. We can move confidently into this day knowing that the God who loves us with His everlasting love keeps us always in view. He remains attentive to our cries for help. He listens for our expressions to Him of our love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Pursue Peace

 

Turn from evil and do good …

—from Psalm 34:14

“Peace!” This word refers to the “absence of conflict.” On the world scene, that’s in terms of nations. Within an individual, it’s an “undisturbed state of mind.”

“Peace!” Even the word sounds good, doesn’t it?

Notice the occurrence of the word “peace” in today’s passage of Scripture, found in Psalm 34:14:

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

When we point our web browsers to Facebook, or X, or Instagram, or SnapChat, or any of a number of social media websites, we must not focus on posts or photos that are cruel, or demeaning, or provocative, or salacious, or nasty. Instead, we should read posts that encourage, or uplift, or make us feel at peace.

It is so easy, especially in this time of supercharged political strife and disagreement, to be drawn into posts that tear down the people who think differently than we do. Yes, there are some issues about which we may have strong feelings. But, should our political or social feelings overwhelm the divine agape love that Christ has placed in our heartss?

“Peace belongs to those whose minds have been channeled properly.” That’s my key suggestion for today. Here’s where the battleground is staged: in our minds. And, to paraphrase an old-time comic strip character, “Li’l Abner”:

“… personal peace is a whole lot better than internal conflict or war, because believe me, it’s just a whole lot nicer.”

“Peace of mind”—the world for the most part has not listened to the Prince of Peace. Neighbor has not done for neighbor what he would like done for himself. Too often, even believers have fancied that the peace of Christ could be mixed with the turmoil and confusion and hostilities of Satan the deceiver. But, that’s not so. One can’t allow his or her mind to be channeled improperly without courting problems.

As a new day begins, let’s guard our minds, think on only those things that are worthy, and determine to seek peace and pursue it. We do well when we decide to do just that.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Keeping Our Tongues from Evil

 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days …

—from Psalm 34:12

It is relatively easy to actively maintain what my friends from the United Kingdom call “keeping a sharp tongue.” In these days of unbelievable strife in our nation, we are a people deeply divided by a false narrative of politics, a false narrative of racial division, a false narrative of religious division, and a false narrative of income inequality.

Even in describing these points of division as “false narratives,” I will be deeply offending some individuals, who truly believe these matters divide us. I choose to sincerely believe these are all false narratives constructed by our enemy, Satan, to cause strife among us. Nevertheless my point remains: it is very easy to keep a sharp tongue.

On the other hand, King David lived at a time when deep division had afflicted the people of Israel, as well. He also realized that these divisions were largely created by false narratives. And, David pushes back against these narratives by writing these words found in Psalm 34:12-13:

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

How many times in the last days have we read something on Facebook, X, or some other social media, or taken note of an article in a blog post or on-line newspaper or magazine, and immediately repeated what the article said, without making any effort whatsoever to check out the so-called facts against the accuracy of first sources? I have watched entire churches divide over false narratives created by individuals who wanted to punish someone for a real or imagined hurt. A lie here, a stretching of the truth there, a bit of distorted information said enough times, and soon strife arises.

As we begin a new day, let’s determine to speak only verifiable truth—verified from first sources. Let’s be very slow to jump on any bandwagon these days. Instead, let’s look to God’s written Word as our source of truth. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to help keep our minds and hearts pure and free from falsehoods. Let’s be very careful what we repeat on social medial. If we do this, God will be pleased to honor our embracing of the truth.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

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}