John Piper

“Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant.” Psalm 86:16 If we are to constantly serve in the strength he supplies, let us constantly ask him for that strength.

Teaching is for walking. “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.” Psalm 86:11

Joy at the same time as hurt. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” Matthew 5:11–12

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Psalm 95:7–8 Instead say, “Your servant is listening.”

“From noon there was darkness over all the land until 3 PM. At that hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” Matthew 27:45–46

The cross of Christ. “Ye who think of sin but lightly, Nor suppose the evil great; Here may view its nature rightly, Here its guilt may estimate.” Thomas Kelly

“Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For ‘the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.’” 1 Corinthians 10:25–26 Every shelf in the grocery store is the Lord’s.

Even irrationality serves God’s saving end. “They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ And Pilate said, ‘Why? What evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’” Matthew 27:22–23

“When Gideon’s few blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set the sword of every Midianite against his comrade and against all the army.” Judges 7:22 You do the right thing. God will do the impossible.

If you are near the Twin Cities, I invite you to join me and hundreds of others at the pro-life prayer vigil this Friday at Planned Parenthood in St. Paul. My devotion begins at 11:30a, but prayer happens all day. See the link for parking instructions. https://t.co/lWpuXHF2cg https://t.co/z4QOAG7cZ4

“God will not let you be tested beyond your ability.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 He guides, hinders, blocks, slows, upends, disbands, reverses ten thousand micro- and macro-events so as to allow only the tests he designs for our good.

“These things took place [in the Old Testament] as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.” 1 Corinthians 10:6 We have not read rightly until our desires are changed.

“I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 Bodily self-control is a means of perseverance.

“I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you. . . . It was not by your sword or by your bow.” Joshua 24:12 Oh, how many ways has the Lord made plain . . . Salvation at every level is decisively the act of God. Not the bow of human will. Or the sword of human

“If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” 1 Corinthians 8:13 Live for your brother’s perseverance.

“Nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.” Mark 4:22 Your secret life will be known.

“Give us life, and we will call upon your name!” Psalm 80:18 The aim of life is to express need for God.