May 23, 2026 – Abandon
Days – Simpson offers perspective on “The fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ” in Romans 25:29 writing, “Many Christians fail to see these blessings as they are centered in Him. They want to get the blessing of salvation…. the blessing of His grace to help, but that is not Him…. A great many people are attached rather to the system of doctrine. They say, ‘Yes, I have got the truth; I am orthodox.’ That is not the Christ…. A great many people want to get the blessing of joy, but it is not the blessing of Christ personally. A great many people are more attached to their church and pastor, or to dear Christian friends, but that is not the Christ. The blessing that will alone fill your heart when all else fails is the loving heart of Jesus united to you…Jesus Christ Himself.”
Prevail #144 – Psalm 91:2 – “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Larson tells the story of a young man being the only person to leave a Nazi prison camp alive after he read Psalm 91 and did what the Lord told him to do, “It was God Most High who orchestrated his freedom. And He’s done the same for you. No enemy can take you out even a minute sooner than God’s appointed plan for your life. Walk free. Walk courageously. You’re under the protection of the Most High God.”
JC – Think of that young man as you read this and believe that God is always thinking of and working for us if we will reach out and listen to Him, “Approach each new day with desire to find Me. Before you get out of bed, I have already been working to prepare the path that will get you through this day.”
Power – Mark 4:24 – “Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.” Joyce points out that, “The Bible never tells us to seek things. It tells us to seek (pursue, crave) the kingdom of God (see Matthew 6:33) and ‘the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above’…. To keep your mind on things above [see Colossians 3:2] doesn’t mean to sit around all the time thinking about the pearly gates and your mansion in heaven. It means to learn to think with the mind of the Spirit…. Don’t think about your problems today. Instead, think about the good plan that God has for your life and expect something good to happen.”
Utmost – Matthew 6:25 – “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.” Chambers reminds us that, “[Jesus] always presses the point until we learn to make Him our first consideration. Whenever we put other things first, there is confusion…. It is not only wrong to worry, it is infidelity, because worrying means that we do not think that God can look after the practical details of our lives, and it is never anything else that worries us…. I will not trust where I cannot see, that is where infidelity begins. The only cure for infidelity is obedience to the Spirit. The great word of Jesus to His disciples is abandon.”
JC – “WHEN THE WAY JUST AHEAD OF YOU seems too difficult, turn to Me and say: ‘I can’t, but we (You and I together) can.’ Acknowledging your inability to handle things on your own is a healthy dose of reality. However, this is only one part of the equation, because a sense of inadequacy by itself can be immobilizing. The most important part of the equation is recognizing My abiding Presence with you and My desire to help you.”
Streams – Cowman quotes Stansifer, “Do not get discouraged – it may be the last key on the ring that opens the door.”
JL – “My strong Shepherd, I come to You with all my weaknesses: spiritual, emotional, and physical. As I rest in the comfort of Your Presence, I remember that nothing is impossible with You – and I rejoice in You! …Rather than trying to maintain control over my life, I want to abandon myself to You…. I know that the most secure place to be is right beside You. In Your comforting Name, Jesus, Amen.”
