The Daily Word: Saturday, December 21^st, 2019
Zechariah 1:1-21
Revelation 12:1-17
Psalm 140:1-13
Proverbs 30:17
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” – Rev. 12:12

Everything that happens in your life is not from God. Satan, “…who deceives the whole world,” (v 9) was cast down to the earth, and his goal is now to mess up your life. Scripture calls Satan the, “…prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2). Satan’s one and only goal in your life is to cause, “…great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Rev. 12:12). He has come, “…to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (Jn. 10:10a).

But Jesus has come that you may have life, “…and that [you] may have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10b)! You don’t have to fear Satan. Jesus already defeated Satan on the Cross! But you do have to be aware that Satan exists, so you don’t blame the bad things in your life on God. You do have to be aware that Satan exists, so you can constantly be on guard in prayer!

God is the author of life, and Satan is the author of death. God causes the good things in your life; and Satan causes the bad things. It’s just that simple. Please do not blame God for the work of Satan! Instead, contend for the good and perfect will of God to be made manifest in your life. Satan is the problem; but Jesus is the solution!

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. – Lk. 10:19

Prayer:

Father, thank You for giving me victory over Satan. I know Satan is real; but I also know that he has no authority over me because of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Thank You that the blood of Jesus protects me from the plans of Satan, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Friday, December 20^th, 2019
Haggai 1:1-2:23
Revelation 11:1-19
Psalm 139:1-24
Proverbs 30:15-16
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.” – Hag. 1:9

God’s people were in trouble. No matter what they did, they couldn’t succeed. They sowed much, but brought in little. They ate, but could not stay full. They drank, but were unsatisfied! They clothed themselves, but couldn’t get warm. And even though they earned wages, their pockets had holes. Why? Because they didn’t put God first.

There is nothing in life more urgent than time with Jesus. There is nothing that should take priority more than your relationship with God! If Jesus is not first in your life, nothing will work. You can do all the right things, but none of your actions will bear any fruit. But if you simply put Him first, everything else will fall into place.

Don’t worry about money! Spend time with Jesus, and He will give you “power to get wealth” (Deut. 8:18). Don’t worry about defending yourself! Spend time with Jesus, and He will “repay” (Rom. 8:19). Don’t worry about victory! Spend time with Jesus, because you are “more than [a conqueror]” through Him (Rom. 8:37). Come back to Jesus, and He will do the rest.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Matt 6:33

Prayer:

Father, thank You for focus! I want to spend time with Jesus. I want to love Jesus! I want to worship Jesus: with all of my heart, and all of my soul. I know that as I do, everything else will fall into place; and I thank You for it, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Thursday, December 19^th, 2019
Zephaniah 1:1-3:20
Revelation 10:1-11
Psalm 138:1-8
Proverbs 30:11-14
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy…  – Zeph. 1:18

You cannot purchase salvation with silver or gold. You cannot earn it with good works! There is a penalty that must be paid for sin. But no amount of money or labor you could ever offer would appease the righteous wrath of God!

There is a penalty that must be paid for your sin. But Jesus already paid it. He already bought you with His blood! And all that’s left for you to do is receive the salvation Jesus died for you to have.

Don’t waste another day separated from God. All the money in the world cannot compare to a restored, vibrant relationship with your Father in Heaven.

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—for the redemption of their souls is costly… – Ps 49:7-8

Prayer:

Father, thank You for redeeming me! I don’t deserve salvation; but Jesus purchased it for me all the same. Right now I receive, by faith, everything Jesus died for me to have!

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

The Daily Word: Wednesday, December 18^th, 2019
Habakkuk 1:1-3:19
Revelation 9:1-21
Psalm 137:1-9
Proverbs 30:10
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ and You will not save.” – Hab. 1:1-2

Habakkuk was a celebrated prophet. So significant was his relationship with God that we remember him and read his writing to this day. But do you know how his encounters with God all started?

He asked God a question. “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ and You will not save.” Habakkuk’s question to God was reverential yet real. It seemed like God wasn’t listening, and Habakkuk wanted to know why. He thought God wasn’t showing up, and he needed a response to his suffering! So He asked God where He was. And God answered.

Do you want an encounter with God? Ask Him a question! Do you want to know why it seems like He’s not showing up in a certain area where you need breakthrough? Ask Him! Encounters often start when you ask God a question. So don’t hold back! Ask, and He will answer.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” – Lk. 11:9-10

Prayer:

Father, thank You for always answering. I know it is my responsibility to ask! And Your promise is that You will answer: according to Your perfect timing, and Your perfect will.

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

The Daily Word: Tuesday, December 17^th, 2019
Nahum 1:1-3:19
Revelation 8:1-13
Psalm 136:1-26
Proverbs 30:7-9
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. – Rev. 8:3-4

Have you ever wondered what happens to your prayers? They “ascend before God.” Your prayers become an offering upon the golden altar before the throne of Heaven. They reach God as an offering. God hears every prayer you pray! He listens to every word you speak!

Your prayers matter. They reach God’s ears. The greatest lie of the enemy is that your prayers don’t make a difference. They do! They always have, and they always will: more than you will ever know.

Pray great prayers. Know that Heaven hears you! The future depends on it.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for powerful prayers! I confess that my prayers are powerful. I refuse to believe that anything I say fails to reach Your ears! Thank You for hearing me, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Monday, December 16^th, 2019
Micah 5:1-7:20
Revelation 7:1-17
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 30:5-6
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And this One shall be peace. – Micah 5:5

Could you use more peace in your life? Are you struggling to find peace in a difficult situation, or an ongoing conflict?

Peace is a Person. Jesus is Peace! Do you want to experience peace in your life? You need Jesus. Apart from Him, there is no peace! But in Him is a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil. 4:7).

Choose Jesus. Choose peace! Seek Him in the Scriptures. Seek Him in intimate times of prayer! When you meet Jesus, you will have peace.

Prayer:

Father, I choose peace. I know that I don’t need relaxation techniques or “me time.” I need Jesus! Help me to seek Him, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Sunday, December 15^th, 2019
Micah 1:1-4:13
Revelation 6:1-17
Psalm 134:1-3
Proverbs 30:1-4
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” – Rev 6:1

God wants you to see what He is doing. He doesn’t want to keep you in the dark. The entire Book of Revelation is a vision Jesus gave to John. Jesus gave it so you and I – through John’s writing, inspired by the Holy Spirit – could see what God is doing! Heaven’s cry to John as he was having these visions was not, “Cover your eyes!” It was, “Come and see!”

God wants you to see what He is doing. He doesn’t want to hide the future from you! But He will ask you to seek Him to see what He wants to do in your life. He doesn’t scatter prophecy and vision like candy to children at a parade; but He does trust His servants with revelation.

Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. – Amos 3:7

God is speaking. He wants to show you what He is doing! Drop what you are doing, and come and see!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for trusting me with divine revelation. Help me to never take Your word for granted! I am so humbled that You trust me with Heaven’s secrets, in Jesus’ name.

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

The Daily Word: Saturday, December 14^th, 2019
Jonah 1:1-4-11
Revelation 5:1-14
Psalm 133:1-3
Proverbs 29:26-27
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time… – Jon 3:1

Jonah did not do what God asked him to do. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh to deliver His word; but Jonah got on a ship headed in the opposite direction and tried to run from God’s calling on his life. He tried to run from the presence of the Lord!

But God still spoke to Jonah. Just because Jonah messed up didn’t mean his destiny was compromised. It didn’t mean that intimacy with God was cut off. God didn’t cancel the call on Jonah’s life just because he didn’t get it right the first time! Jonah didn’t listen the first time; but he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. The word of the Lord came to Jonah “the second time,” and Jonah had the chance to make things right.

God is still speaking! Even if you’ve made mistakes, the word of the Lord will come to you. Maybe you didn’t do what God asked you to do the first time around; but God is the God of second chances, and His destiny for you is still in effect.

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. – Rom 11:29

Prayer:

Father, thank You for second chances! I have made some mistakes; but You are still speaking, and You still trust me to do Your will. I am grateful, in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Friday, December 13^th, 2019
Obadiah 1:1-21
Revelation 4:1-11
Psalm 132:1-18
Proverbs 29:24-25
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” – Obadiah 1:3

Pride deceives. But humility guides. Pride says you don’t need Jesus! But humility points you straight to the Cross. Humility reminds you that, apart, from Jesus, you are nothing; but in Him, you are a child of God with access to Resurrection life!

Reject pride. Practice humility! If you make a commitment to stay humble, you will be in good company:

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. – Phil 2:8

Prayer:

Father, keep me humble! Help me to choose humility, so that I don’t have to learn it the hard way. I want to rely on You for everything – no matter how big or how small – in Jesus’ name!

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

The Daily Word: Thursday, December 12^th, 2019
Amos 7:1-9:15
Revelation 3:7-22
Psalm 131:1-3
Proverbs 29:23
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
“I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; they shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; they shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God. – Amos 9:14-15

The first half of Amos 9 tells us that God’s people would be destroyed. They were far from God. They acted out their own agenda instead of living God’s plan for their life. And the result would be “calamity” (v 10).

But the second half of Amos 9 tells us that God’s people would be restored. This is the theme we see all throughout Scripture: where destruction goes, restoration can always follow. It would take the people of Israel to turn to God with their whole hearts! But God’s promise is always restoration when we return to Him.

Wherever you are this morning: it is never too late for restoration. Turn to God, and He will “plant you” (v 15) where you can flourish and grow.

Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you. – Zech 9:12

Prayer:

Father, thank You for opening the door to restoration in my life. I am so grateful that there is no such thing as being out of Your reach! I am making the decision to return to You; and I ask that Your presence would return to me, in Jesus’ name.

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