Sept 21 2026 … The Heart of the Matter

Sept 21 2026 …  The Heart of the Matter 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group, Maranatha Singers, singing … Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord … desiring for God to see and clarify the hearts of those who love God.   

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Highlight Passage: … 1Samuel 16:7  [NLT]

…   7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”    

… God calls on Samuel to look beyond the external appearance when seeking to see God’s anointed as He, … The Lord …, sees him. 

Highlight Passage: …  1Samuel 16:6-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …        

… God calls Samuel to see God’s anointed as He, The Lord, sees … at the heart of man.  

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Reference Passage: …  1Kings 8:39 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …        

… Knowing that God knows the heart of mankind, Solomon prays that God will hear the prayers of His people.

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 51:10  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  King David, confessing his sin, prays for God to give him a clean heart.

Reference Passage: Proverbs 21:2  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ...                        

… Solomon teaches that God looks at the heart, not seeing as man sees the world.    

Reference Passage: Matthew 5:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                   

… Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, says that God blesses the pure of heart.

Reference Passage:</u> Hebrews 4:12  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …              

… The Author of Hebrews teaches that God’s word cuts the heart of all we see and consider in life.

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 3:3-4  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                             

… The Apostle Peter teaches fellow Christians to adorn the inner self rather than look to adore the exterior.     

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Bill Crowder …  USE THIS LINK    related a personal story of being in Russia and feeling very happy, whistling his joy on a Moscow subway; and sensing the dissatisfaction of those around him.  Later the ODB author learned that it was considered rude in that culture to whistle in public.

The story was related by the ODB author today to illustrate that life can be considered differently depending on the way we see things.   But above all, we ALWAYS need to remember that God sees to the depth of our hearts.  And I, for one, seek to do all I can to purify my heart; and follow the way God wants to lead me by using His word as my guide.   Are you with me?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for showing me Your way to my heart, Lord.

My Prayer Today:   Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for calling us to see and follow Your ways …i.e., to purify our hearts.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Sept 20 2026 … A Child of God

Sept 20 2026 …  A Child of God 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …   and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group, Hillsong Worship, singing … I’m A Child of God … declaring the truth that ALL born-again Christians are children of God.   

Not seeing things clearly ... 

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Highlight Passage: … 1John 3:20  [NLT]

…  20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything.     

… God’s Children need to rely on God rather then our own feelings or vision. 

Highlight Passage: …  1John 3:18-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                   

… God sees everything clearly with His children.  

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Reference Passage: …  Psalms 119:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …          

… King David sings in prayer for God to open His eyes to the Lord’s truth.

Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 15:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God watches over ALL.

Reference Passage: Luke 6:42  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                

… Luke relates Jesus teaching believers how to see God’s way more clearly.    

Reference Passage: Hebrews 4:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                 

… God. thru the Author of Hebrews, teaches that God sees everything and His children are accountable to Him.

Reference Passage: 2Peter 3:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …           

… Peter teaches truth about God being patient and waiting on His children to see and follow His ways. 

Reference Passage: …  Revelation 1:7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …    

… The Apostle John is shown what ALL will one day see as The Lord reveals heaven to mankind.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Lisa M Samra …  USE THIS LINK    made reference to a book showing visual illusions like the Muller-Lyer line illusion <b>in the attached photo</b>, which show us that we can see things in our life which are not true to reality.   And relative to our relationship with God, … Author Henri Nouwen wrote, “Jesus came to announce to us that an identity based on success, popularity and power is a false identity — an illusion!”

And it is true that many of us see things in life from a selfish - and maybe even sinful - way … when God is trying to help His children see the world thru His eyes.   And I, for one, am trying to see what God sees and follow His ways thru His word.   Are you with me?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for showing me Your way thru Your word.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for giving us Your true lenses  to see Your truth thru Your word.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Sept 19 2026 … God Is Our Rescuer

Sept 19 2026 …  God Is Our Rescuer 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group, Hillsong Worship, singing … Mighty To Save … declaring the truth that everyone needs a Savior.   

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Highlight Passage : … Genesis 3:15  [NIV]

…   15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.  He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”     

… God pronounces His judgment and His plan to save mankind from their sin and Satan.  

Highlight Passage: …  Genesis 3:8-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …              

… God initiates His plan to rescue Adam and Eve from the Serpent in the Garden from which mankind were expelled.  

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Reference Passage: …  John 3:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus declares to Nicodemus God’s plan to save mankind from their sin by sending a Savior - His Son - to die as the Lamb of God.

Reference Passage: …  Romans 9:37-39 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians that NOTHING can separate them (us) from God’s love.

Reference Passage: Philippians 2:9-11  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …             

… Paul also teaches truth about God giving Jesus the power to defeat sin so that all will see that He is The Messiah and our Lord.    

Reference Passage: Colossians 1:13-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …       

… Paul also declares that Jesus rescued mankind from our sin and transferred His chosen from the kingdom of darkness to God’s kingdom.

Reference Passage: 1Peter 2:24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter teaches truth about God rescuing His chosen from the pits of sin by Jesus taking their (our) sin to the cross. 

Reference Passage: …  1John 3:1-2  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …           

… The Apostle John shows how God loves His children, revealing that  they (we) will become like Jesus when He, The Lord, comes for them (us).    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Nancy Gavilanes …  USE THIS LINK    related a true story of a father who saw his young daughter fall from the deck of a cruise-ship and jumped over four stories into the sea to successfully save his daughter.   And that’s the kind of sacrificial love which we read about in God’s word that our Lord has for those He created for His glory and those He chose to be His own.      

And our Lord did His all, as we read in the Scriptures shared above, … even being willing to give His Son to save us as His children.   I’m praying that I recognize and show my thankfulness to my Savior, … My King, .,, my God.  He saved me; and I will do all I can to thankfully serve Him.   How about you? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for being my Savior from our God’s heavenly plan to save those who believe in You.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for Your Heavenly plan to save those of us who worship You as our Lord.  … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Sept 18 2026 … Seek God First

Sept 18 2026 …  Seek God First 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …     and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Lauren Daigle singing … First … calling on for Christians to seek God’s way and His will FIRST. 

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Highlight Passage: … Matthew 6:33  [NIV]

…   33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.     

… Jesus teaches that God will provide the needs of those who seek God’s way before their (our) own.   

Highlight Passage: …  Matthew 6:25-34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                  

… Jesus, in His “sermon on the mount” teaches that believers in The Lord should seek His way first.  

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Reference Passage: …  1Chronicles 16:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …      

… King David sings praise to God, calling on God’s faithful to follow The Lord.

Reference Passage: …  2Chronicles 7:14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Lord appears to Solomon, calling on God’s people to humble themselves, confess, repent, and seek The Lord above their own needs for God to heal their land.

Reference Passage: Psalms 14:2  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                       

… King David sings of God watching over man for those who seek after Him and His ways.  

Reference Passage: Proverbs 8:17  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon teaches that those who seek after God will find Him.

Reference Passage: Isaiah 55:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …               

… God’s Prophet, Isaiah, calls on God’s people to seek after the Lord while they can. 

Reference Passage: …  Jeremiah 29:12-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …    

… God, thru Jeremiah, calls on His chosen and faithful to seek after the ways of the Lord, promising that they (we) will find Him.    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Elisa Morgan …  USE THIS LINK    related a story about  here grandson sleeping over in her new home, where the boy felt uneasy about sleeping alone in a new bed. So, the ODB author got a roll of wrapping tape and connected the tape from his bed to hers,  showing her grandson that he could find his grandma anytime he needed to seek her.    

And the clever ploy nicely illustrates all that is shared in today’s ODB entry, the linked song, and all the Scriptures shared above.    My challenge is to realize and trust that God will indeed provide my needs when I do my utmost to seek Him and His ways. That’s my prayer today from Psalms 19:14, 63:1, and 139:23-24.  Are you with me? 

<b><u>My Thanksgiving:</b></u> … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for providing for my needs when I seek Your ways above my own.

<b><u>My Prayer Today</u>:</b> Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … AGAIN … for ALWAYS being there when we come to You for help.  … Amen

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<span style="font-size: x-small;">[b]<u>Blogger Note</u>:[/b]  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you [b]GO TO THIS LINK[/b] - http://www.odb.org/ - on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site. </ span>