The Daily Word: Monday, November 30^th, 2020
Daniel 7:1-28
1 John 1:1-10
Psalm 119:153-176
Proverbs 28:23-24
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. – 1 John 1:5

When you are “in Him,” darkness no longer has access to you. Because “in Him is no darkness at all.” Darkness is not allowed in God! Demons are not allowed in God! So when you position yourself in Christ by declaring you believe in Jesus, you become “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3)! And that means you no longer have to fear anything; because nothing that is not of God can touch you any more.

When you feel afraid: run to God. His presence is the safest place! That is why Scripture says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Prov. 18:10). But if you want to stay safe and sound, you must run to Him. Don’t keep Him at arm’s length! God is not safest at a distance! He wants to live life with you up close and personal, and keep you “under His wings” (Ps. 91:4).

No matter what you’re facing today: run to God! He can handle it, and He will keep you safe.

Prayer:

Father, thank You that I don’t have to be afraid anymore. No matter what comes my way, I will run to You. You are my shelter. My strong tower! I will abide under Your shadow. There is no safer place to be, in Jesus’ name.

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Sunday, November 29^th, 2020
Daniel 6:1-28
2 Peter 3:1-18
Psalm 119:129-152
Proverbs 28:21-22
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. – 2 Pet. 3:9

God is not slack. “Slack” is the Greek braduno (Strong’s G1019), which means “delayed or slow.” In 2 Peter 3, Scripture is specifically referencing Jesus’ promise to come again: for the righteous to be taken up into heaven and for the “ungodly” to be cast into hell (v 7). Just because Jesus is taking longer than you expect does not mean He is no longer coming! Because “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (v 8). What you perceive as an unnecessary delay is actually His undeserved mercy.

God’s timing is not your timing. He doesn’t delay! He doesn’t make mistakes. He is always right on time. So if you’re waiting for an answer to prayer, does it mean that He hasn’t heard? Certainly not. It simply means that God will not be rushed. He wants to build your faith in Him in ways that would be impossible if you immediately got what you wanted.

God is not slack. He does not delay! Submit to His timing and His will, and watch how absolutely joyful your life becomes in Him.

Prayer:

Father, help me to relax and take my time. I submit to Your will! I submit to Your purposes and Your plans for my life. You have full permission to work on Your schedule. I will no longer pretend to pressure You to work on mine, in Jesus’ name.

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, November 28^th, 2020
Daniel 5:1-31
2 Peter 2:1-22
Psalm 119:113-128
Proverbs 28:19-20
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
I hate the double-minded, but I love Your law. – Ps. 119:113

To be double-minded is to be divided in heart or mind. To waver in your faith. To be unsure about what is next, or the right path to follow. The Psalmist hated the double minded. But through Scripture, the Holy Spirit also offers a prescription whenever we feel divided and unsure of what to do next.

Love God’s law. Fall in love with His word all over again! When you know God’s word you know His heart! You know His will and His plan for your life. And when you love God’s law, you will never be double-minded again. And here is why that is so important:

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. – James 1:6-8

When you love God’s law, you will be filled with faith – not doubt – to ask for wisdom from God. You will know what to ask and what to do next. And when you reach that place of asking in faith because you love God’s law, you will start to see answers to your prayers everywhere you go.

Prayer:

Father, I want to love Your law! I want to fall in love with Your word all over again. I know the best way to get to know You is to get to know Your word. You are Your word. Make me firm and resolute in every decision. Help me to always lean on You for wisdom, direction, and guidance, in Jesus’ name.

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Friday, November 27^th, 2020
Daniel 4:1-37
2 Peter 1:1-21
Psalm 119:97-112
Proverbs 28:17-18
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. – 2 Pet. 1:8

First Scripture lays out a set of requirements to be Christlike: “add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (vv 5-7). We should be virtuous as Christians. We should know who God is through His word! We should have self control. Perseverance. Godliness! We should display brotherly kindness to the people we meet, and love to the people whom God has put in our paths to love.

But what if your life doesn’t look like that? What should you do? If your life isn’t fruitful, the answer is not to try harder! No, no no. This is not about you! Verse 8 diagnoses our condition: we have “forgotten that [we were] cleansed from…old sins.”

The remedy to sin is not to try and fix it on your own! It is to remind yourself that you are forgiven. To remember that you were cleansed from your old sins![1] And the more you remind yourself that you are forgiven, the more you will find yourself walking in holiness without really trying at all. The Holy Spirit will flood your life like never before, and put you back on the path called “God’s best.”

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the Gospel! Thank You that I am forgiven of all my sins: past, present and future. Grace is not a license to sin! But it certainly is a reason to remind myself that the blood of Jesus makes me clean.

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.

[1] “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” – Ps. 103:12

The Daily Word: Thursday, November 26^th, 2020
Daniel 2:24-3:30
1 Peter 4:7-5:14
Psalm 119:81-96
Proverbs 28:15-16
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. – Dan. 2:30

Daniel needed to interpret a dream. And he needed to do it quickly! Nebuchadnezzar was going to kill Daniel if he couldn’t tell the king what he had dreamt (without any hints!) and what the dream meant. So Daniel sought the Lord. He shut himself away and listened for God’s voice, and guess what happened?

“Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” – Dan. 2:19

God didn’t reveal the dream to Daniel because he was smarter than anyone else! He revealed it to Daniel because Daniel was closer to God than anyone else. Daniel was a man of prayer! Daniel was a man who sought the Lord. So when the king burdened Daniel with an impossible request, God delivered.

You don’t need more wisdom. You need the presence of Jesus more than ever! As you spend more time with Him, He will tell you what you need to know.

Prayer:

Father, keep me close to You! I know that my success in this life does not depend on how wise I am; it depends on how close I stay to You. Help me to seek You with my whole heart and never turn away, in Jesus’ name!

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Wednesday, November 25^th, 2020
Daniel 1:1-2:23
1 Peter 3:8-4:6
Psalm 119:65-80
Proverbs 28:14
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. – Dan. 1:8

Jerusalem was overrun by Babylon. But in the midst of captivity, Daniel found favor. The king of Babylon thought Daniel had “ability to serve in the king’s palace.” So the king offered him the finest food and wine in all of Babylon along with “three years training” (v 5) so that Daniel would be ready for a position in the king’s administration.

Daniel was offered the best Babylon had to offer! But he refused. He “would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank.” Daniel refused to spoil and comfort himself with the pleasures of this world. Why? Because it would take his eyes off God.

Love for this world corrupts the love of the Father in you (1 John 2:15). Daniel was a man of prayer. He, “knelt down on his knees three times [a] day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God” (Dan. 6:10). Daniel’s pleasure was in the Lord! And he refused to partake of any delicacy that would challenge the reality that God was the sweetest thing in Daniel’s life.

If it will distract you from God, say no. If it will make you love the world more, say no! You are not of this world. You are a child of the King of Heaven. Do not defile yourself with anything that indicates anything less.

Prayer:

Father, my joy is in You! My hope is in You. You are the sweetest One, and there is no pleasure of this world that can compete with You. I refuse to be defiled with the portions of this world. I will live for my reward in Heaven, in Jesus’ name!!

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Tuesday, November 24^th, 2020
Ezekiel 47:1-48:35
1 Peter 2:11-3:7
Psalm 119:49-64
Proverbs 28:12-13
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. – Ezek. 47:9

Not every “living thing that moves” is alive. But “wherever the river goes,” anything in its path will live!

The “river” represents Spirit-filled life: a lifestyle in which you are constantly led by the Holy Spirit. Constantly relying on Him for next steps. Consistently leaning into His presence. Always inclining an ear to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 3:6)!

Is your life feeling dry? Dead?! You need more Holy Spirit. Because wherever the river goes, there will be healing and life. There will be provision! There will be peace.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, come! I want to live my life in partnership with You. I’m asking You to move through my life like never before. Touch me like never before! Lead me and teach me like never before. I am so grateful for Your presence, in Jesus’ name!

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Monday, November 23^rd, 2020
Ezekiel 45:13-46:24
1 Peter 1:13-2:10
Psalm 119:33-48
Proverbs 28:11
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby… – 1 Peter 2:1-2

You need the Word of God. Scripture says that feeding on the pure, unadulterated Word of God is like a newborn baby feeding on milk. Milk provides, “…essential amino acids and minerals that are vital for the development and…function of muscular and other tissues”[1] In other words, if babies don’t drink it, they won’t develop! They won’t get stronger. They won’t be able to function the way they were designed to function.

And the same goes for you. What you need is more of the Word of God! Pick up your Bible and READ IT!! We live in a day and age where content is everywhere. But listening to a podcast is not the same thing as reading your Bible. Talking to someone about Jesus is not the same as reading your Bible. Reading a book about the Bible is not the same as reading your Bible! If you want the truth, you have to go to the source!

You need more Word. We all do! Take a few moments today with your Bible to fill up and refresh, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your Word! I want to treasure and value Your Word like never before. Fill me with a passion for Your Word, in Jesus’ name!

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.

[1] Mohd Younus Bhat, Tanveer Ali Dar and Laishram Rajendrakumar Singh (September 7th 2016). Casein Proteins: Structural and Functional Aspects, Milk Proteins – From Structure to Biological Properties and Health Aspects, Isabel Gigli, IntechOpen, DOI: 10.5772/64187. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/books/milk-proteins-from-structure-to-biological-properties-and-health-aspects/casein-proteins-structural-and-functional-aspects

The Daily Word: Sunday, November 22^nd, 2020
Ezekiel 44:1-45:12
1 Peter 1:1-12
Psalm 119:17-32
Proverbs 28:8-10
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. And the Lord said to me, “This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the Lord God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.” – Ezek. 44:1-2

God took Ezekiel to the outer gate of the sanctuary – the gate to the temple at Jerusalem – in a vision. In the vision, the gate was shut. God explained: “It shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the LORD God of Israel has entered by it.” The way of God is so holy and so perfect that no man can follow where He has gone. This poses a problem if you want to end up in Heaven when you die, because Scripture is saying it is impossible for us to follow God to Heaven! We cannot go where He has gone because the gate is shut behind Him!

But Jesus came and opened the gate:

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. – Matt. 7:13-14

Apart from Jesus, you cannot enter the gate! But in Him and only in Him, you can follow where God has gone. Jesus died on the cross and conquered the grave – He “took captivity captive” (Eph. 4:8) – so that you could pass through the gate that formerly would have been impassible.

Outside of Jesus, you are shut out from Heaven! But in Him, Heaven makes a home inside of you.

“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” – Jn. 10:9

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the gift of salvation! Thank You for allowing me to enter the gate. I’m so thankful that I have safe passage in Jesus Christ! Thank You for the gift of eternal life in Heaven, in Jesus’ name.

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.

The Daily Word: Saturday, November 21^st, 2020
Ezekiel 42:1-43:27
James 5:1-20
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 28:6-7
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. – James 5:7

Destiny happens when spirit and truth intersect. The early rain represents the first dispensation: the law, or God’s Word. The latter rain represents the second dispensation: the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit as a result of His grace! Patience means waiting for spirit and truth to combine, and trusting that God will make a way where there is no way. We must wait for God’s timing, instead of asking Him to rush according to ours!

So, what has God spoken over you? What promises of life and abundance has He declared over your life? Are you willing to wait for the Holy Spirit to move before you try and take matters into your own hands? Wait for the Holy Spirit to move. Be patient! He will do in a moment what you could never have done in a lifetime.

So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” – Zech. 4:6

Prayer:

Jesus, help me to be patient. I know You are moving! I know Your answer is on the way. Even if I don’t see it, You are in motion. Even if I don’t understand it, Your timing is perfect because You do not make mistakes! Jesus, I am so grateful for Your goodness, in Jesus’ name.

© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.