The Daily Word: Monday, September 30^th, 2019
Isaiah 60:1-62:5
Philippians 1:27-2:18
Psalm 72:1-20
Proverbs 24:11-12
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. – Phil 2:3

If you’re doing it for yourself, you’re doing it for the wrong reason. Scripture says that we should do “nothing…through selfish ambition or conceit.” Selfish ambition puts your own needs ahead of others. Conceit is vain pride in your own abilities. Instead of focusing on self, we should focus on others, treating them “better than” we treat ourselves. Instead of focusing on our own agendas, we should throw our own agendas out in favor of what God wants to do!

The world says if you don’t look out for yourself, you’ll fail! But the Gospel works the opposite way. The Kingdom of God is inverted! If you look out only for yourself, you will be torn down; but if you look out for others instead of yourself, God will build you up.

Prayer:

Father, help me to shed all selfish ambition and vain conceit right now in Jesus’ name. I don’t need it, and I don’t want it! I want to live my life for You!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, September 29^th, 2019
Isaiah 57:15-59:21
Philippians 1:1-26
Psalm 71:1-24
Proverbs 24:9-10
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. – Phil 1:21-24

Paul had zero fear of death. He was not scared of eternity. He not only welcomed it; he “desired” it. Paul wanted to die and be with Jesus! But he knew he still had work on earth left to do.

What a powerful and confident state, to be willing at a moment’s notice to “depart:” to lay down your life and be with Jesus Christ! And this is where Jesus desires each and every one of us to be.

You still have work to do! But if Jesus asks you to give your very life for the Gospel – to “depart” and be with Him – are you ready?

Prayer:

Father, make me ready. I “desire” to be with You! But I know I still have work here left to do. When You call, I will be ready; but for now, I will pour out my life as an offering, 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.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, September 28^th, 2019
Isaiah 54:1-57:14
Ephesians 6:1-24
Psalm 70:1-5
Proverbs 24:8
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. – Is 54:7-8

It might seem like God has forgotten you. But you will not remember feeling forgotten “for a mere moment” (v 7) when God is with you for all eternity.

It might seem like God is far from you! But you will not remember God hiding His face “for a moment” when you are looking at Him face to face for the rest of time.

There are moments when it may feel like God has forgotten you. There are moments when it feels like You haven’t seen or heard from Him in a while! But these are just moments. And what God offers you for eternity far outweighs what He asks you to endure for a moment.

It might seem like your breakthrough will never come! But God is faithful; and He never fails.\

Prayer:

Father, help me to trust You in the moments. I know Your plans for me are far better than anything I could ever plan for myself. I love You – and I thank You – 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.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, September 27^th, 2019
Isaiah 51:1-53:12
Ephesians 5:1-33
Psalm 69:19-36
Proverbs 24:7
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. – Eph 5:8

You don’t just have light. You are light! It is one thing to carry something. But it is another thing altogether to become something. This is what the Gospel does. It transforms us. It makes us altogether new!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. – 2 Cor 5:17

Christianity is not about what you have; it is about who you are. You are a child of God (Gal 4:6). You are the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21). You are light in the Lord. That means that anywhere you go, darkness flees: not just because of what you carry, but because of who Jesus has caused you to become!

What you carry can be stolen or left behind; but who you are can never be taken away.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for making me new. Thank You that I am a new creation! I am a child of God. I am light in the Lord! Help me to walk in the light, worthy of the calling to which You have called me, 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.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Thursday, September 26^th, 2019
Isaiah 48:12-50:11
Ephesians 4:17-32
Psalm 69:1-18
Proverbs 24:5-6
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. – Is 49:16

When I was little, I used to write reminders on the palms of my hands. I knew that if I wrote something there, it would be impossible to forget. When I went to eat, I would see it. When I went to wash my hands, I would see it. When I went to give someone a handshake, I would see it! And did you know that Scripture says you are written on the palms of God’s hands in exactly the same way?

God has not forgotten you! He will not because He cannot! You are written on the palms of His hands. You are constantly before Him. You are always on His mind!

I’m guessing your life is not perfect. But God sees you. He has never taken His eyes off you; not even for one second. And isn’t that all you need to know?

Prayer:

Father, send help. Thank You for seeing me. Thank You for never taking Your           eyes off me! I am so grateful, 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.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, September 25^th, 2019
Isaiah 45:11-48:11
Ephesians 4:1-16
Psalm 68:19-35
Proverbs 24:3-4
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Tell and bring forth your case; yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me. – Is 45:21

Scripture says that there is “no other God” besides God. There is no other Savior besides Him! Jesus also said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). If you want to know the only God, you have to go through Jesus. There is one way to Heaven, and one God who is good!

But is that fair? Is it just for God to design a system in which only people who know about Him can get to Heaven? Is it right for God to set up an arrangement in which many people won’t know Him, and will consequently end up in Hell?

Yet God has revealed His nature since the beginning of time. “Who has declared this from ancient time?” He asks. “Have not I, the Lord?” God doesn’t want to trick you so you find yourself outside of Heaven. In fact, He has been trying to get your attention this whole time! And what is more “just” or “fair” than the God of the Universe doing everything in His power to allow you to experience His love, so you can make a decision to say “yes” to Him?

Turn to God. He has been trying to draw you to His heart since the foundation of the world. Isn’t it time to say yes?

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse… – Rom 1:20

Prayer:

Father, thank You for doing everything within Your power to get my attention. You love me so much that You allow me to live my life and make my own choices; but You also love me so much that You show me glimpses of Your glory every single day! Thank You for that. Help me to love You with my whole 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.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, September 24^th, 2019
Isaiah 43:14-45:10
Ephesians 3:1-21
Psalm 68:1-18
Proverbs 24:1-2
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles… – Eph 3:1

Paul was a prisoner for you. He was willing to be held in a cell against his will so that you and I might read his letter centuries later. Scripture is full of stories of men and women who gave their freedom – and even their very lives – to pass down to us a record of the goodness of God!

And do you know why they were willing to do it? Jesus did it first.

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” – Jn 10:17-18

We can trust Jesus because He led by example. He can ask us to lay down our lives for Him, because He laid down His life for us first! He isn’t asking us to do something He wasn’t first willing to do Himself.

You are worthy of the Cross of Jesus Christ. And He is worthy of your life laid down at His feet!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the death and Resurrection of Your Son Jesus Christ. I know I can trust Jesus, because He already chose death so I could have life! He never asks me to do something He has not already done.

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, September 23^rd, 2019
Isaiah 41:17-43:13
Ephesians 2:1-22
Psalm 67:1-7
Proverbs 23:29-35
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” – Isa. 42:1

God put His Spirit upon Jesus. He anointed Jesus for everything He would go out and do:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me…” – Isa. 61:1a

When God chooses you, He puts His Spirit on you. And just as Jesus is God’s “Elect One,” Scripture says that you have been chosen by God:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light… – 1 Pet. 2:9

That means that the same way God’s Spirit was upon Jesus, His Spirit is upon you! You are anointed to do what He has called you to do! You have been elected as His chosen, and tasked with a mandate to see God’s will fulfilled. But God isn’t asking you to do it alone. His Spirit will do it through you!

When the Spirit of God is upon you, it is impossible to fail. Aren’t you so glad He chose you, and blessed you with His Spirit!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the presence of Your Holy Spirit: on me and in me! I’m so grateful that I don’t have to do anything You’ve asked me to do alone. I will lean on Your Holy Spirit like never 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.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, September 22^nd, 2019
Isaiah 39:1-41:16
Ephesians 1:1-23
Psalm 66:1-20
Proverbs 23:25-28
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment. – Ps 66:12

God will ask you to do things that are difficult! But He will never ask you to do anything that is not worth it. What has He asked you to walk through? In what ways has He called you to wait on Him and persevere?

You will pass through fire. This is the refining process. Things will get hot! Dross and impurities will be burned away, and you will be left with nothing but a pure passion for God.

You will pass through water! This is the purification process. The blood of Jesus makes you clean! And God is in the business of washing away all the residue, so that nothing from your less-than-perfect past follows you into your future with Christ.

But do you know where God is leading you as you pass through the fire and the water, with enemies riding over your heads? Rich fulfillment. You may be going through hell on earth! But the end result will be rich fulfillment: blessing beyond measure, and fullness beyond your wildest dreams! Without refinement and purification, you cannot fully enjoy the rich fulfillment God intends for you.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that rich fulfillment is coming! I trust You. No matter what I’m going through, I trust You! You have made me refined. You have made me pure! And I thank You for it, 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.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, September 21^st, 2019
Isaiah 37:1-38:22
Galatians 6:1-18
Psalm 65:1-13
Proverbs 23:24
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord. Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. – Is 37:1-2

The first thing Hezekiah did in response to stress was seek the word of the Lord. Jerusalem was under attack! There was an enemy army approaching. And in response, Hezekiah knew there was one thing he could not do without: the word of God. He sent messengers to Isaiah to ask God what to do, and how he should respond.

When you encounter something you didn’t expect, how do you respond? When your day doesn’t go exactly as planned, what do you do? Seek the word. What is God saying in that moment? How does He want you to react? Take a deep breath, and trust that He has purpose in it all. Once you have the word of God, you have everything you need!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your word! When I have Your word, I have Your will. Thank You for never leaving me in silence. I am so grateful, 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.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.

© Michael D. White, 2019. All rights reserved.