The Daily Word: Sunday, September 30^th, 2018
Isaiah 60:1-62:5
Philippians 1:27-2:18
Psalm 72:1-20
Proverbs 24:11-12
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. – Is 60:2

The world is a crazy place! Security and safety are things of the past. Privacy no longer exists. The Middle East is on fire with conflict, and the United States is embroiled in social and political turmoil. This is the darkness God told us “shall cover the earth, and deep darkness [shall cover] the people.”

But do not fear! The Lord will arise over you. His glory will be seen upon you! No matter how bad things get, God’s promise is He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5). In fact, He will turn you into a testimony, and the rest of the world will take notice!

The darker the world gets, the brighter Jesus will shine in you.

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. – Is 60:1

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the light of Christ. I pray that the darker it gets, the brighter the love and light of Jesus would shine through me! I will not fear, nor be afraid; because You are with me, in Jesus name!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, September 29^th, 2018
Isaiah 57:15-59:21
Philippians 1:1-26
Psalm 71:1-24
Proverbs 24:9-10
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ – Is 58:8-9

In Isaiah 58, God is exhorting His people to fast for the right reasons. Fasting is powerful; but our reason for fasting is paramount. We don’t fast to change God’s heart; we fast to change our own. We fast for the strength and focus to execute God’s will; not to build a case that God should give us what we want!

When you fast for the right reason (i.e. to get closer to God), here is what will happen:

1) Light will spill into every dark area of your life.
2) Your healing will “spring forth speedily” (i.e. come quickly).
3) Righteousness will invade your decision-making process.
4) You will see the glory of God and enjoy His presence like never before.
5) You will experience enhanced communication with God through prayer.
6) You will be filled with confidence that God is near to you.

Fasting doesn’t change God; it changes you. When was the last time you fasted?

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the gift of fasting! Help me to fast for the right reasons. I declare that, as I do, my life will be completely transformed!

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, September 28^th, 2018
Isaiah 54:1-57:14
Ephesians 6:1-24
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 24:8
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord. – Is 54:1

Surely these women didn’t feel like praising. They were barren and there was no reason to believe their situation was going to change! But God asked them to make a decision to praise anyway.

When you “sing” in spite of your circumstances, you activate the “more” of God. God is commanding these barren women to sing; and His promise is, when they do, they will have even more children than married women! What type of predicament are you in? When you sing, God will pour out more blessing than you ever expected!

Your praise activates the promise. Are you willing to praise your way to victory, even (and especially!) when you don’t feel like it? Lift up your voice and praise God, in Jesus’ name!

Prayer:

Father, help me to sing. Strengthen me to lift up my voice in praise! I will break forth into singing and cry aloud, because I know You have more for me!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, September 27^th, 2018
Isaiah 51:1-53:12
Ephesians 5:1-33
Psalm 69:19-36
Proverbs 24:7
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves. – Psalm 69:30-31

David was in dire straights. He was “in trouble” (v 17); and those who hated him without cause were “more than the hairs of [his] head” (v 4)! So what did David do? What was the surefire way to find a way out of his mess?

David praised God. Look at David’s confession: “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving” (v 30). David didn’t feel like singing! But he sang anyway. He didn’t have much to be thankful for! But he “magnified” God with his thanks.

David understood what we should understand: our praise is a sacrifice. You will have (plenty of) days when you don’t feel like praising God; but those are the days you should praise Him the most! Yes, you do it for Him; but it’s also the healthiest thing for you!

Your praise is more valuable than any physical or monetary offering you can give God. He wants your heart; and it all starts with your praise.

Prayer:

Father, I am making a decision today to praise You! I confess I don’t always feel like praising; but in those moments, I ask for your help to praise, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, September 26^th, 2018
Isaiah 48:12-50:11
Ephesians 4:17-32
Psalm 69:1-18
Proverbs 24:5-6
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. – Is 48:18

How many times in your life have you looked back and just wished you had listened to God? He told you to avoid a relationship but you dove right in. He told you to stay home but you went out instead! If I had a dollar for every time I didn’t listen to God – unfortunately – I would be rich!

But it has cost me. I have wasted years. I have lost friends. I have mismanaged finances: all because I refused to listen to God. Maybe your testimony is similar to mine?

But here is the Good News: there is still time! There is still time to heed His commandments! There is still time to inherit His perfect peace and watch it flow through your life. There is still time to receive His righteousness that crashes in when you need it most! No matter what you’ve done: if you’re still breathing, there’s still time!

Make this decision with me today: I am going to listen to God like never before! I’m going to look back over my life in 5 years, and be thankful that when He called, I answered; and when He instructed, I listened to what He told me to do!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for divine instruction. Your commandments are sweet. Your word is life! I never want to walk apart from Your leading, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, September 25^th, 2018
Isaiah 45:11-48:11
Ephesians 4:1-16
Psalm 68:19-35
Proverbs 24:3-4
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called… – Eph 4:1

What does it mean to be a prisoner of the Lord? Paul was physically bound, yet spiritually free. He was a prisoner by the world’s standards; but He was free for all eternity because of the Cross of Jesus Christ! Paul simply didn’t care if he spent time in jail, because he knew he would spend eternity with Jesus.

Whatever you are going through: take a moment to reflect on the Cross. You might feel bound, here and now; but the pains of this world mean nothing compared to the pleasures of eternity to come!

Now, go out and walk worthy of your calling. Live today in light of the finished work of the Cross. Nothing can hold you back, because the blood of Jesus has made you free!

Prayer:

Father, thank You that the eternal victory Your Son Jesus purchased for me on the Cross makes the cares of this world absolutely obsolete. Help me to focus on Jesus: nothing and no one else. Even though I am bound in some areas of my life, today I declare that I am free, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, September 24^th, 2018
Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” – Is 43:15

Never stop worshipping God as Creator! He created you for His glory! He created you to love you: “…that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7). You are, “…His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph 2:10).

If God made you and formed you, surely He knows exactly what you need, every day of your life. He knows what will make you happy, and what will make you fulfilled. He knows the desires of your heart, and how to make them come to pass!

Trust God. He knows what you can handle. He knows when you need help. He knows what you need better than you do! He formed you, and He knows.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for creating me! You know exactly what I need, every day of my life. Help me to trust You like never before, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, September 23^rd, 2018
Isaiah 41:17-43:13
Ephesians 2:1-22
Psalm 67:1-7
Proverbs 23:29-35
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears. – Is 43:8

God had an important message for His people, and He needed someone to deliver it. So this is whom He asked for: “…the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.”

Why would God ask for the blind and the deaf? Spiritual readiness and natural preparedness are two different things. God doesn’t have to use those who seem qualified to the observer. He uses those who are available. He uses those who aren’t too busy to open their eyes and see what He is showing them. He uses those who aren’t too proud to open their ears and listen to what He is telling them!

God uses those who listen. It doesn’t matter if you feel ready. It doesn’t matter if the rest of the world thinks you’re ready! If your eyes and ears are open to what God is doing, He will work through you!

Prayer:

Lord, I am available! You gave me eyes to see, and ears to hear. I will use them to watch what You are doing, and hear what You are saying, so I can go out and let the world know.

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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, September 22^nd, 2018
Isaiah 39:1-41:16
Ephesians 1:1-23
Psalm 66:1-20
Proverbs 23:25-28
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers… – Eph 1:15-16

Paul was grateful; so he prayed. He had heard of the Ephesians’ faith! So he prayed. He loved the early church; so he prayed.

Are you a leader? One of your primary responsibilities is to pray for the people you lead. Yes, Paul visited early church communities. He taught them, and wrote them letters to encourage and strengthen them. But the one thing he did most was pray.

Don’t forget to pray! The destiny of the people God has put in your path might depend on it.

Prayer:

Father, remind me to pray for the people You have put in my life. I’m so grateful You surrounded me with men and women of God who are supportive. I want to pray for them, in Jesus’ name!

Archives
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, September 21^st, 2018
Isaiah 37:1-38:22
Galatians 6:1-18
Psalm 65:1-13
Proverbs 23:24
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.” – Is 37:4

When the enemy attacks, how will you respond? In Scripture, Israel’s physical enemies (i.e. other nations) often represent our present-day spiritual enemies (i.e. Satan and his demons). In Isaiah 37, Assyria – Israel’s enemy – is ready to attack Israel. The enemy was loud: he came right up to Jerusalem’s wall and started to threaten God’s people. God will not deliver you, he said (Is 36:15). Why do you trust Him?

The enemy attacks by feeding you lies. Satan wants you to think God is not real! He wants you to think God doesn’t love you, and won’t defend you! But don’t believe Satan’s lies!

Hezekiah took the enemy’s threats and brought them straight to God. He knew an attack against him was an attack against God Himself. Hezekiah didn’t worry about mounting a defense, or planning how to take out the enemy. He knew if he brought it to God, God would take care of it!

When the enemy threatens you, how will you respond? Bring it straight to God. God loves you, and He will defend you, in Jesus’ name!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for defending me. The louder the enemy gets, the faster I will run to You! Thank You for always being there for me, in Jesus’ name.

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
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© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.