July 14, 2026 – Growth
Prevail #195 – Larson uses the the story of Hosea and Gomer to show the importance of our relationship with God: “God instructed Hosea to marry a prostitute, one who would leave him time and time again and who would bear children from other men. Why? To reflect Israel’s wandering ways…. How often this happens among God’s people! Some never graduate beyond an adolescent relationship with Him…. God is patient with our growth process and loves us beyond measure. But He’ll put up with immaturity only for a season. When it’s time for us to progress in our faith and we stunt our growth because we refuse to grow up, God will discipline us…. His majesty and power and glory are matchless, and He is not to be trifled with. He is not a distant relative we need to call on occasion. He’s either Lord, or He isn’t.”
JA – “BE STILL IN MY PRESENCE, and wait patiently for Me to act. Stillness is a rare commodity in this world…. Peace and Joy abound in My Presence, but it takes time for them to soak into your inner being. It also takes trust. Instead of fussing and fuming when your plans are thwarted, wait patiently for Me to act. You can watch in hope for Me because I am God your Savior…. I may not answer as soon as you would like, but I always respond to your prayers in the best way.” See Psalm 37:7, 13, Micah 7:7, and Psalm 46:10.
Days – Men ought always to pray (Luke xviii. 1). Simpson encourages, “Let this be a day of prayer. Let us see that our highest ministry and power is to deal with God for men. Let us be obedient to all the Holy Spirit’s voices of prayer in us. Let us count every pressure a call to prayer…. Let us reach persons this day we cannot reach in person; let us expect results that we have never dared to claim before; let us count every difficulty only a greater occasion for prayer, and let us call on God, who will show us many great and mighty things which we know not…. Let us never dwell on the trial but always on the victory just before…. Lord, give us Thy joy in our hearts which shall lift us to lift others, and fill us so we may overflow to others.”
Power – Ephesians 5:1 – Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. Joyce explains, “So, however God is, that is the way we should desire to be. God sees the desires of our hearts and will help us become more and more like Him in our behaviors…. God is joyful, and He is strong; therefore, we should imitate Him. God is also merciful and slow to anger (see Psalm 103:8).”
Streams – Cowman leans back into the Gomer story of doubt, wandering, and growth potential as she draws from The Still Small Voice and tells of a man at a tent revival who gave himself to God each night; but, as he left each night, the devil would “convince him that since he did not feel changed, he was not truly redeemed…. Finally one evening he came to the meeting carrying an ax and a large wooden stake. After dedicating himself once more, he drove the stake into the ground where he had knelt to pray. As he was leaving the tent, the Devil came to him as usual…. He quickly returned to the stake, pointed to it, and said…This is my witness that God has forever accepted me. Immediately the Devil left him, and he never experienced doubts again.” This reminds us how important it is to have declarations of our faith around us to help us in our growth and to keep us from stumbling due to doubt and wandering.
JC – “Keep walking with Me along the path I have chosen for you. Your desire to live close to Me is a delight to My heart. I could instantly grant you the spiritual riches you desire, but that is not My way with you…. All I require of you is to take the next step, clinging to My hand for strength and direction…. Stay on the path I have selected for you. It is truly the path of Life.” See Psalm 37:23-24 and 16;11.
Utmost – Matthew 5:39, etc – But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Chambers pulls together all that has been shared today as he explains, “These verses reveal the humiliation of being a Christian. Naturally, if a man does not hit back, it is because he is a coward; but spiritually if a man does not hit back, it is a manifestation of the Son of God in him. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but make it an occasion to exhibit the Son of God…. Every time I insist upon my rights, I hurt the Son of God; whereas I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I take the blow myself…. The disciple realises that it is his Lord’s honour that is at stake in his life, not his own honour. Never look for right in the other man, but never cease to be right yourself. We are always looking for justice; the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is – Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.”
JL – “Blessed Jesus, I invite You to permeate my moments with Your Presence so I can see things from Your perspective. When I’m around someone who irritates me, I’m prone to focus on that person’s flaws. Instead of this negative focus, I need to gaze at You through the eyes of my heart and let those irritants wash over me without sinking in. I know that judging other people is a sinful snare – and it draws me away from You…. The more I fix my eyes on You, the more You strengthen and fill me with Joy. Please train my mind to stay aware of You even when other things are demanding my attention. Thank You for creating me with an amazing brain that can be conscious of several things at once…. In Your strong Name, Amen.” See Matthew 7:1 HCSB, Habakkuk 3:18, 1 Chronicles 16:27, and Hebrews 12:2.
