The Daily Word: Saturday, September 30^th, 2017
Isaiah 60:1-62:5
Philippians 1:27-2:18
Psalm 72:1-20
Proverbs 24:11-12
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name… – Phil 2:8-9

Jesus moved in power. Everywhere He went, signs, miracles and wonders followed! But look what had to happen before God exalted Jesus: Jesus “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death (v 8). Do you want to walk in miraculous power? Humble yourself and fall at God’s feet in worship; even if it kills you!

Exaltation comes from obedience. Jesus didn’t self-promote. He didn’t ask people to respect His authority and leadership. He humbled Himself and gave up His life for the very people who crucified Him. And the result of His humble obedience was exaltation: He would become the Object of our affection for all eternity.

Pride comes before the fall; but humble obedience leads to greatness.

Prayer:

Father, help me to be humble and obedient, in Jesus’ name! I want to be obedient, even to the point of death. I will worship Jesus, even with my life.

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, September 29^th, 2017
Isaiah 57:15-59:21
Philippians 1:1-26
Psalm 71:1-24
Proverbs 24:9-10
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor… – Is 59:15-16

The root of every injustice is a lack of prayer. Where there is no prayer, there will be no justice.

We live in a world where people make time to post, but not to pray. We live in a country where people love to type, but hate to travail! Instead of posting why you disagree with someone, pray that you would be moved with compassion for them. Pray and bless them with your whole heart! Social media is not always the best tool for social justice; but prayer is.

Prayer:

Father, I want to be an intercessor. Make me a prayer warrior! I want to commit to praying for the people You have put in my life – even if I disagree with them – in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, September 28^th, 2017
Isaiah 54:1-57:14
Ephesians 6:1-24
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 24:8
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” – Ps 70:4

All those who seek God will rejoice and be glad and Him. The rejoicing starts when you seek Him. The gladness starts when you seek Him. Happiness, joy, and delight all start when you make a decision to seek God.

When you seek God, here is His promise: “…you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer 29:13). God will not hide Himself from you! “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (Jas 4:8)!

Make a decision this morning: I will seek God with my whole heart. Don’t wait one more day. Now is the time to seek God like never before.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and [everything you need] shall be added to you. – Matt 6:33

Prayer:

Father, take my eyes off my problems, and fix them on You! Thank You for the way You miraculously meet my needs when I seek You. I am going to seek You with all my heart, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, September 27^th, 2017
Isaiah 51:1-53:12
Ephesians 5:1-33
Psalm 69:19-36
Proverbs 24:7
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. – Eph 5:2

Love is a sacrifice. It’s not always easy! When we love other people well, it is an “offering and a sacrifice” to God: a sweet-smelling aroma that rises up to Him. To “walk in love” means to give ourselves for others – to put their life ahead of our own – just as Jesus gave Himself for us. When we love well, it gets God’s attention!

As we study the Scriptures, we see that every sacrifice brings redemption. When the Jewish people offered Old Testament sacrifices, they were redeemed to God. When Jesus died on the Cross, He redeemed us to God. And when you love other people, you are inviting redemption to take place: not only in your own life, but also in the lives of the people whom you love!

Love isn’t always easy; but it is always worth it.

Prayer:

Father, teach me how to love other people better. Today I want to love better than I did yesterday, and I know Your Holy Spirit is the only One who can teach me how to love well!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, September 26^th, 2017
Isaiah 48:12-50:11
Ephesians 4:17-32
Psalm 69:1-18
Proverbs 24:5-6
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

…put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and…put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. – Eph 4:22-24

God wants to refresh you! But you still have to let Him. God wants to move in your life! But you still have to ask Him. The Holy Spirit wants to change you from the inside out! But you still have to invite Him.

Life is lived in partnership with God. He does all the work; but you and I need to choose to participate in what He is doing. God made you new! But you still have to put off the old man (v 22), and put on the new man (v 24). It is God who does the renewing (v 23); but we must choose to accept His blessing.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that I get to live life in partnership with You. You are so big, and I am so small; but You choose to make me alive all the same. Thank You for Your mercy and Your grace, in Jesus’ name.

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, September 25^th, 2017
Isaiah 45:11-48:11
Ephesians 4:1-16
Psalm 68:19-35
Proverbs 24:3-4
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain’; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. – Is 45:19

God spoke His word openly on purpose. Men were inspired by the Holy Spirit to record God’s testimony in Scripture, so that we could have it as an everyday resource for our lives. God’s word doesn’t have to be a mystery! His word is accessible. He wrote it on tablets; and then He wrote it on your heart:

I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. – Jer 31:33

Don’t be scared by the word of God. You don’t need a PhD to experience His presence! Press in, knowing that He wrote it for you.

None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. – Heb 8:11

Prayer:

Father, thank You for making Your word accessible! Help me to understand Your word like never before. I pray Your Holy Spirit would make Your word come to life, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, September 24^th, 2017
Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

…according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. – Eph 3:11-12

This is what your prayer life should look like: boldness and access with confidence. If you believe in Jesus, you have access to the very throne room of God through Him! Are you timid when you come to pray? Do you wonder how God will respond, or if He will even receive you? There’s no need to wonder any more.

He sees you, and He knows you. He hears you, and He answers your prayers.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. – 1 John 5:14-15

Approach God with boldness and confidence, knowing that He will hear and respond to your prayers!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the blood of Jesus! Fill me with the boldness and confidence I need to pray effective prayers. I want to pray like I’ve never prayed before, and see answers to prayer like I’ve never seen before, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, September 23^rd, 2017
Isaiah 41:17-43:13
Ephesians 2:1-22
Psalm 67:1-7
Proverbs 23:29-35
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” – Is 42:9

God will tell you things before they spring forth. He will tell you what’s coming before it happens! You don’t have to go through life wondering what’s next, or what to expect; scrambling to figure out how to respond when something unexpected happens! God wants to prepare you in advance!

Amos 3:7 says, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” God doesn’t move without first telling His prophets what He is about to do. And do you know who His prophet is? You are. Luke 7:28 reads,

“For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Even if you are least in the Kingdom, you are a greater prophet than John the Baptist. So that means you should expect to hear from God in advance!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for taking out the guess work, and telling me things to come! Help me to make more time to spend in prayer. Motivate me to put down & block out every distraction to spending more time in Your presence!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, September 22^nd, 2017
Isaiah 39:1-41:16
Ephesians 1:1-23
Psalm 66:1-20
Proverbs 23:25-28
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

“Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” – Is 40:2

This was God’s message to His people: it’s over. Finished! Done. Even though they were disobedient, He forgave them. Even though they were undeserving, He pardoned them! Not only would they be spared; but in return for their disobedience, they would receive double.

This is the Gospel. You and I are far from perfect; but Jesus came and lived a perfect life in our place! When we believe He died for us on the Cross and was raised from the dead, everything changes. Our sins are forgiven. Our disobedience is pardoned. God not only withholds judgment, He extends mercy and grace! Just as Israel received double, so too shall we because of the Cross of Jesus Christ!

Prayer:

Father, thank You that my suffering is over! Thank You that restoration is finished. Thank You for restoring double – even though I don’t even deserve a single! You truly are a good, good God!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, September 21^st, 2017
Isaiah 37:1-38:22
Galatians 6:1-18
Psalm 65:1-13
Proverbs 23:24
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. – Gal 6:9

Don’t. Give. Up. Don’t lose heart! Don’t allow yourself to grow weary in doing good. Not everyone will appreciate your efforts; but you don’t do it for them! You do it for God. The difference between those who fail and those who succeed is the latter just don’t quit.

There is a season to sow, and a season to reap. Our job in between those two seasons is to never lose heart: to keep praying until we see the answer to our prayers. Sometimes God sends aid speedily; at other times, His answer takes time. In either case, our role is to humbly wait, and accept everything He supplies with praise and thanksgiving!

Prayer:

Father, help me not to lose heart! I know I will reap in due season, as long as I don’t grow weary and throw in the towel. I will wait in faith, knowing my promise is on the way.

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.

© Michael D. White, 2017. All rights reserved.