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}