How To Remain Hopeful Through The Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has changed lives all over the world. It has forced entire countries to shut down. Businesses have been closed. Schools have been closed. And even churches, such as us, have moved their services online. This is an unprecedented situation but what makes it so unique is that we are all in it together, even when we are maintaining physical distancing. As we navigate these difficult times, we need to keep hope alive, so that we come out of it stronger and more resilient. And here are a few ways in which you can remain hopeful through this pandemic:

Listen to God

God made us, and He is the one who gave his own Son for our salvation. You must remember that He will never leave his dear children in peril in this time of need. We all pray to Him every day, but how often do we listen? Listening can give you hope. As you listen to Him, you will find him throwing you a rope of hope that will pull you into the future, allowing us to be more confident about tomorrow’s reality.

Trust in God

We must keep our trust in God. Know that he will never abandon us. He is always with us, even in the toughest times of trial. In these trying times, we need to anchor our hearts and souls in the ray of hope that is Jesus Christ. Now it is more crucial than ever for us to intensify our prayers for the love of God.

Love thy neighbor

As we all live through this crisis, we must also embrace our community for a sense of togetherness. While we strive to keep ourselves safe in the light of God, we must also serve our neighbors through our prayers and actions. Keep them in your prayers every day, and also do not allow any opportunities for the virus to spread, especially to those who may be at the risk of more serious illness.

You too can be a part of our as well as other NYC churches’ COVID-19 response. For more information, check out the Citylight NYC church’s coronavirus updates here.

Day 111: Choose Joy!

The Daily Word: Tuesday, April 21st, 2020
Joshua 22:21-23:16
Luke 20:27-47
Psalm 89:14-37
Proverbs 13:17-19
For full text click here.

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. – Ps. 89:15

Do you want to be blessed? Make a “joyful sound!” A “joyful sound” is a shout of joy. But it is also a shout of war. [1] Are you willing to attack your day with praise? Are you ready to show the enemy that you are absolutely unwilling to let him mess with you this morning? Can you get excited to play anointed praise and worship in your home, and sing along? When you make a joyful sound and become immersed in an environment that has been impacted by God’s praise, you will walk in the light of God’s face.

Joy is a decision. I understand that your life is not perfect. I know you may be facing greater uncertainty that you ever have before. But you can still choose joy! Start every day by saying, “Lord, I am choosing to worship You today.” Respond to every threat by declaring, “I am blessed because I know the joyful sound!” Have confidence that you will walk in the light of God’s face – just like Moses did – because you choose joy.

Sure, you can grumble and complain. But wouldn’t you rather attack your day with joyful praise?

Prayer:

Father, I am choosing joy. I am making a decision to praise You unconditionally, no matter what I am facing. I am still alive and breathing; and that means I still have breath in my lungs to praise You. I’m going to use 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.
See commentary from this day in 2019.

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

[1] Strong’s H8643; Hebrew taruwah

Creative Director, CityLight Church

Job Description & Principal Responsibilities

Website

  • Manage existing website & oversee upcoming website redesign.
  • Coordinate with graphic designers, social media team, and staff to update website with upcoming events and new content as necessary.
  • Upload podcasts and media content to website and iTunes store.

Video Projects

  • Coordinate all video projects for 1) services and 2) special events.
  • We prefer candidates with video production and/or editing experience but this is not required.

Social Media Team

  • Generate and post social media content across all platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
  • Construct social media calendar to coincide with church events.

Advertising & SEO

  • Oversee ad campaigns on youTube, Facebook, and other social media platforms, based on current trends in online advertising.
  • Coordinate with search engine optimization vendors to effectively increase organic search traffic.

Special Events

  • Serve as point person for all media elements at special events (video, photography, social media).
  •  Liaise with outside contractors and volunteers to ensure complete media coverage as necessary.

Creative Calendar

  • Formulate and update a “creative calendar” to outline upcoming media & social media projects. The goal is to stay “ahead of the curve:” always brainstorming media elements we can add to services, sermons, and special events.

Prayer & Study

  • Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). At CityLight Church, we do not endeavor to make any major decision, small or large, without consulting the Counselor, God’s Holy Spirit.
  • Meditate on God’s Word day and night (Josh 1:8). God has left us His instruction for a reason, and He promises we will succeed in all we do when we heed it.

Day 23: It Starts in the Heart

The Daily Word: Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018
Genesis 46:1-47:31
Matthew 15:1-28
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 4:14-19
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” – Matt 15:19-20

Genuine change starts in the heart. The Pharisees thought faith meant behaving the right way; Jesus told them faith means loving the right way.

God is not after behavior modification; He is after heart transformation. Jesus is not interested in transforming us from the outside-in. He does not ask us to change our behavior, and promise that heart change will follow suit. Jesus wants to transform us from the inside-out! He asks us to set our hearts on Him, and know that our behavior will be a reflection of our hearts!

Do you want to see real, lasting change in your life? Don’t try to act differently; try to love differently. Invite God to change your heart. Ask Him to help you love Him unconditionally. Ask Him to help you love other people better. When you let God change your heart, everything else will fall into place.

Prayer:

Father, I know real change starts in the heart. I invite Your Holy Spirit to come into my heart, and change me from the inside out! I know that when my heart changes, everything else will follow suit.

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.

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

Day 323: Getting Out of Tight Spots

The Daily Word: Sunday, November 19th, 2017
Ezekiel 39:1-40:27
James 2:18-3:18
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 28:2
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. – Ps 118:5

God takes us out of tight spots, and sets us in broad places. Tight spots are stressful: they happen when we are so surrounded by obstacles that we lose perspective and forget we serve the living God. Broad places are stress-free: they happen when we are positioned to survey our options, far above all distractions, and realize how high God has already lifted us up.

God is willing to remove you from distress and set you in a broad place; but if you want to be delivered, you have to call on the Lord. Lift up your voice and cry out to Him! What would take you years will take God but one moment.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for supernatural deliverance. Thank You for taking me out of tight spots and putting me in broad places. I release all my stress to 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.

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

Day 293: Dirt and Gold

The Daily Word: Friday, October 20th, 2017
Jeremiah 35:1-36:32
1 Timothy 5:1-25
Psalm 89:14-37
Proverbs 25:25-27
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. – 1 Tim 5:1-2

Rebuking is easy; but exhorting is hard! Being followers of Jesus means passing up opportunities to judge in favor of opportunities to encourage instead. Scripture is not a sledgehammer used to beat others down; it is a tool used to build others up!

It takes neither talent nor insight to point out the dirt in someone’s life; but much giftedness is required to bring out the gold below the dirt!

Prayer:

Father, help me to exhort and encourage the people around me! Everyone has dirt…but anoint my eyes and bless me to see the gold beneath the dirt, 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.

Day 257: The Simple Gospel

The Daily Word: Thursday, September 14th, 2017
Isaiah 15:1-18:7
Galatians 1:1-24
Psalm 58:1-11
Proverbs 23:12
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:  

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. – Gal 1:6-7

The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple! Jesus died for your sins. You and I are far from perfect; but Jesus lived a perfect life on our behalf. He did it so that when you and I believe in Him, we are saved!

There are those who seek to pervert the gospel by mixing law and grace. Under the law, man had to be perfect to receive God’s love; but under grace, Jesus was perfect for us! The law says we have to earn God’s affection by trying hard; but grace says Jesus already earned God’s love for us 2,000 years ago on the Cross!

Don’t allow any spiritual authority in your life to mix law and grace. Jesus did all the work to get you saved; and that means you don’t have to! You are saved when you believe in Jesus, no matter how imperfect you feel; and as long as you believe in Him, your salvation is secure!

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the simple gospel. Help me never to mix the law and grace. I know Jesus secured my salvation, and all I have to do to receive it is believe in Him! Help me to keep the gospel simple – never adding to it, and taking nothing away – 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.

Day 54: The Importance of Rest

The Daily Word: Thursday, February 23rd, 2017
Leviticus 14:1-57
Mark 6:30-56
Psalm 40:1-10
Proverbs 10:11-12
For full text click here.
Join us on Facebook Live for the Daily Word Broadcast!

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. – Mk 6:30-32

Jesus told the disciples to put a priority on rest. The disciples were praying: telling Jesus all things they had done and taught. They were serving: for there were many coming and going. Yet Jesus interrupted their prayer, and their service, to remind them to rest.

The disciples were being stretched thin: traveling to heal and to teach, and ministering to all the people who came to them. They had busy schedules full of service to God! But Jesus told them if they didn’t take time to minister to themselves, they wouldn’t have strength to minister to others.

If you aren’t full, you will have nothing to pour out. Give yourself time to rest and receive from the Lord. It is only from a place of rest that you can glorify God.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for rest! Remind me of the importance of rest: every single day of 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.

Day 345: Strengthened By the Holy Spirit

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Friday, December 11th, 2015
Amos 4:1-6:14
Revelation 2:18-3:6
Psalm 130:1-8
Proverbs 29:21-22
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1vWYCiO

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. – Rev 3:5

To “overcome” means to conquer: to hold fast to your faith even unto the death of all your enemies (Strong’s #3528). The only way to overcome is by allowing God’s Holy Spirit to strengthen you. You can never overcome on your own; but God can overcome through you! You can never defeat Satan on your own; it is the strength of the name Jesus that defeats him!

Living on your own and simply trying to “be strong” will leave you defeated and burned out. Yield to God. Allow His Holy Spirit to work through you with power! Your reward for overcoming will be infinite. You will be dressed in white, and clothed with the same garments as Jesus Christ Himself! If you confess the name of Jesus before men, He will confess your name before His Father in Heaven!

Prayer:

Father, help me to overcome! Strengthen me, in Jesus’ name, so that I can go out and do everything You have called me to do!

© Michael D. White, 2015. All rights reserved.

Day 344: Your Prophetic Gifting

CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Thursday, December 10th, 2015
Amos 1:1-3:15
Revelation 2:1-17
Psalm 129:1-8
Proverbs 29:19-20
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1wbxtIJ

Commentary from Pastor Michael White:

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

God does nothing without first telling His prophets. And guess what? That means YOU!

Under the Old Covenant, there were only three categories of people who could hear from God: prophets, priests, and kings. God’s Holy Spirit would rest on those people, and communicate His messages to them. If you are a New Testament believer, you are filled with God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just descend on you, impacting you from the outside in (as if that wasn’t enough!). Now He dwells in you: impacting you from the inside out!

Here is what the Gospel says about your position as a prophet:

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.” – Lk 7:28

As believers who are righteous in Christ Jesus, we live in a position that would make Old Testament prophets jealous. Because God’s Holy Spirit lives in you, you have the potential for a greater prophetic gifting than even John the Baptist! Ask God to speak to you! He will tell You His will –in advance – so You can partner with Him to make it happen.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for speaking to me every day. Help me to have confidence that when I come to You in prayer, You hear me. You know the desires of my heart!

© Michael D. White, 2015. All rights reserved.

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