Psalm 31 Ministries LLC

05/31/2026

Today's Quote: "Trusting God First"

"This is what the LORD says: 'The man who trust in mankind, who make human flue his strength and turns his heart from the LORD is cursed." Jeremiah 17:5

"The Israelites of Jeremiah's day believed they could trust in their army, the diplomacy of their king, and their foreign alliances to protect the;m for the powerful Babylonian empire. They gave lip service to their trust in God, but their actions showed where their faith really was: in their military and financial might. God spoke through Jeremiah to warn then that He would not bless those who trusted in anyone or anything instead of Him.
Placing your ultimate trust in anything other than God is idolatry. How can you know if your faith is not truly in God? Ask yourself these questions: Where do I turn when I experience a crisis? When I am hurting or afraid, to whom do I go? When I have a financial problem, whom do I want to tell first? Where do I seek comfort when I am under stress or discouraged?
God often uses other people as His method of providing for you. But be careful lest you inadvertently misdirect your faith toward His provision instead of toward the Provider. God may meet your need through your friends, but ultimately your trust must be in God. The Israelites were so stubbornly committed to trusting in human strength instead of God that, even as the Babylonian army approached Jerusalem, they continued to desperately seek for a person, or a nation, or any army that could rescue them. They realized too late that they had neglected to trust in the only One who could deliver them. Don't make the same mistake as the Israelites. Go straight to the Lord when you have a need. He is the only One who can provide for you."

Henry T & Richard Blackaby's comments on Jeremiah 17: 5 from "Devotional: Experiencing God Day By Day'

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05/31/2026

Thoughts for May 31

"Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing an make them stumble." Psalm 119-165.

"I've shared several stories about being nervous, un-comfortable, and intimidated as I've stepped out in faith. But I want you to realize that as you grow in your faith, you will also experience more of God's peace. The tendency to feel anxious may still pop up, but as you pray and rely on God's power, you relax into the security of knowing he's in control. You aren't responsible for how other people respond when you share your testimony of what God's done in your life. You just have to risk sharing it.
And when you do, then you experience God's presence sustaining you. As you know God's peace more and more, then you can stay calm when he stretches you beyond your comfort zone, knowing your security rests with Him. It sounds crazy, but sometimes when life gets more stressful. I sleep better because I know the situation is too big for me to handle. Therefore, I'm not even tempted to try and take control. I can trust in my Savior.
And so can you.
If we follow Jesus and obey God's commands, then our feet will remain steadfast and sure. We will not stumble or fall victim to the many worries, fears, and anxieties that try to slow us down. Our peace is certain. Today don't let anyone or anything rob you of the security you have in the Lord."

Power Lift
"Dear God, you are my shepherd and I will not fear. Your peace gives me comfort, power, and strength. No one can steal my joy today."

from: "Daily Power: 365 Days of Fuel For Your Soul"
by Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of Life.Church

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05/30/2026

Today's Quote: "Faith That Doesn't Ask"

"An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Matthew 16:4

"Some feel that they demonstrate great faith by continually asking God for miracles. They assume that in every situation God wants to do the spectacular. They presume, for example, that God wants to heal anyone who is sick or provide a miraculous escape from every difficulty. But Jesus condemned those who insisted that He perform miracles, because He knew their hearts. He recognized that they could not believe Him without constantly undergirding their faith with signs. Their faith was not strong enough to survive without a regular supply of he miraculous. Jesus condemned this lack of faith and left them.
There are times when we prefer the miracle over the miracle worker. God calls this idolatry, and He discouraged it by refusing to provide miracles on demand (Jer 2:11-13). Sometimes the greatest act of faith is NOT to ask for a miracle. One of the most amazing statements of faith in the Old Testament came from Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego as they faced the fiery furnace because of their obedience to God. They expressed true faith when whey assured king Nebuchadnezzar: 'If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up' (Dan 3:17-18). They were confident in God's ability to deliver them, but they trusted Him so completely that they did not ask to be spared. Does your faith need miracles to sustain it? Or do you trust God so totally that you can say, 'But if not, I will still trust the Lord!'?"

Henry T & Richard Blackaby's comments on Matthew 16: 4 from
Devotional: Experiencing God Day By Day"

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05/30/2026

Thoughts for May 30

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." Romans 12:10 (ESV)

"A while back, I treated myself to the sauna after working out at the gym. I had the place to myself until this younger guy walked in. From his facial expression, I could tell he was upset.
We chatted casually, and then I said, 'Hey man, it's obvious you're having a bad day, and I don't want to pry, but if you want to talk, I'll listen.'
He opened up. He said he'd betrayed his wife and they'd got in a big fight. Fearing his marriage was over, he'd moved out the day before. He said, 'I'll never forget my three-year-old daughter, as I'm backing down the driveway crying, 'Daddy don't leave us, don't leave us!'
At that moment, I realized I was exactly where God wanted me. Trying not to sound like a preacher, I said, 'Forgive me if it sounds crazy, but I believe God wants me to tell you to go home and get on your knees, apologize, and start again. I believe God wants you to be the Daddy to that little girl and the husband to your wife.'
The guy choked up and said, 'I'm not a religious guy at all, but I think you're right. I believe God sent you her to tell me to go home.'
I wasn't trying to jump into 'pastor mode' and force him to pray and accept Christ there in the sauna; I just listened to God's Spirit and relayed the message I heard. That's what an ambassador does. When you're willing to step out in faith, you will find all kinds of opportunities to represent God.
Where is God calling you to e his representative today?"

Power Lift
"Lord, today I want to be attuned to the hearts of others so I can represent you and show them your love."

from: "Daily Power: 365 Days of Fuel For Your Soul"
by: Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of Life.Church

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05/29/2026

Today's Quote: "Every Careless Word"

"I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak." Matthew 12:36

"Jesus spoke plainly about our idle words, yet His warning often goes unheeded. Jesus said that for every idle word there will be a time of accounting in the day of judgment. We would expect Jesus to condemn profane and vile uses of the tongue, but idle words? Idle word are things we say carelessly, without concern for their impact on others. We too quickly assume that the sins of our tongue are minor sins, sins that Go will overlook. Yet Jesus was fully aware of the devastating nature of our words, for the idle words that come from our mouths give a lucid picture of the condition of our heart (Matt 15:17-20).
The Book of Proverbs encourages us to speak less rather than risk saying something offensive (Prov 17:28). Often when we have nothing significant to say we are tempted to speak injurious, idle words. The more time we spend in idle chatter, the greater the likelihood that we will say things that are harmful. James cautioned believers to be 'quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger' (James 1:19). We are in much less danger of saying something offensive when we are listening than when we are speaking!
Think carefully about the words that come from your mouth. Christians should speak only words that uplift and bring grace to others (Eph 4:29). Do you need to speak less? Do you need to be more careful about the kind of humor you use? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you evaluate whether your words build up others or whether hey destroy and hurt others."

Henry T & Richard Blackaby's comments on Matthew 12: 36 from "Devotional: Experiencing God Day By Day"

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05/29/2026

Thoughts for May 29

"And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." 2 Corinthians 2:13 (ESV)

"Most weekends I deliver a message to tens of thousands of people at all of our different Life.Church locations over satellite video. However, I rarely see more than several hundred people in one location at one time. If I saw them all at once, it would freak me out! The first time I ever spoke in front of tens of thousands of people in a huge stadium. I almost lost more that just my voice!
Overwhelmed, I prayed, 'Lord, help me to do this. I know I am your chosen instrument to carry your message to these people this day.' I felt like I had no right to be there whatsoever, but when I remembered that God had brought me there, then I could step out with authority.
I'm not the best. I'm not a Bible scholar. But God has chosen and appointed me, and I take confidence in this truth. He has called me and I continue to fulfill that calling to the best of my ability. It's not about being a flawless speaker; it's about my faithfulness and what Go wants to do through me.
The same is true for you.
Maybe it's not speaking or preaching, but sooner or later he will stretch your boundaries beyond what's comfortable and convenient. You'll be tempted to bail because you're scared or intimidated or unsure of yourself. That's when you pray and remember it's not up to you---it's up to God in you."

Power Lift
"As I continue to grow in my faith, Lord, don't let me settle for a comfortable plateau or back away from scary opportunities. You are my authority and I am your ambassador wherever I go today."

from: "Daily Power: 365 Days of Fuel For Your Soul"
by: Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of Life.Church

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05/28/2026

Today's Quote: "Rejoicing in God's Word"

"Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words become a delight to me and the joy of my heart." Jeremiah 15:16

"If you were to receive a note from the leader of your country or someone famous, you would probably save it as a keepsake. How much more precious is a message from Almighty God!
Sometimes we find ourselves in circumstances that are beyond our control. This was the case for Mary and Martha as they were grieving the death of their brother Lazarus. At these times a word from Jesus can bring much rejoicing (John 11:41-45). Other times when Jesus speaks, His words bring correction. 'Get behind Me, Satan!' (Matt 16:23) and 'You of little faith' (Matt 14:31) do not seem to bring joy. Yet Jeremiah said that God's Word brought him joy.
It is overwhelming to consider that holy, Almighty God would speak directly to us! What a privilege that He would care enough to challenge our destructive thoughts or practices. No matter whether His words are praising us or chastising us, we ought to consider it joy to receive life-changing words from our Master!
Every time we prepare to worship the Lord, we ought to do so with anticipation that Almighty God may have something to say to us. Whenever we open our Bibles, we should expect that God has something to tell us in our time with Him. We ought to be far more concerned with what God will say to us during our prayer times than what we intend to tell Him.
When you receive a word from your Lord, whether it be of praise or of correction, consider it joy that Almighty God would speak to you."

Henry T & Richard Blackaby's comments on Jeremiah 15: 16 from
"Devotional: Experiencing God Day By Day"

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05/28/2026

Week 22 of putting Scripture to memory:

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

TRUE CONFESSION

"In the first epistle that bears his name, John was writing to believers. Thirty times in these five short chapters, he used the word KNOW in order to drive home the reality that we can have assurance of the salvation freely offered to us by the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the same John who was once a carefree Galilean fisherman, who eventually made his way into our Lord's inner circle along with his brother James and Simon Peter. . .
Now John drives home to our hearts one of the real secrets of maintaining fellowship with Christ, and that is the forgiveness of sins. The word translated FORGIVE in our English versions finds its origin in a Greek word that means 'to send away.'. . It is also a word used in detailing how the fever left a certain person after the touch of Jesus. And it is God's desire to send away our sins from us. . . .

FORGIVENESS IS CONDITIONAL 'If we confess our sins"
Many of God's promises are conditional on certain requirements to be met by His children. In this devotional we have already seen this truth in 2 Chronicles 7:14: 'If My people . . . will humble themselves . . . then I will hear from heaven.' The forgiveness talked about in 1 John 1:9 all hinges upon the 'Big If': if we confess our sins.' . . .
The word CONFESSION is a compound word in the language of the New Testament. It comes from a word meaning 'to say' and another meaning 'the same as.' Confession literally means that 'we say the same as God' about our sin. . .

FORGIVENESS IS CONFESSIONAL 'confess'
As we have seen above, confession is agreeing with God about our sin. We say, 'Oh, that is not worry; it is simply concern.' We say, 'That is not anger; it is righteous indignation.' We say, 'That is not lust. Just an appreciative glance.' But confession does not say those things. Confession agrees with God about our sin. What we may camouflage as concern, God calls the sin worry. . . Confession gets open and honest with God, and there is no forgiveness without it. . .
FORGIVENESS IS CONTINUAL 'If we confess our sins'
Note carefully it is our SINS that are at issue here and not our SIN NATURE. God deals with our sin in 1 John 1:7 saying 'But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.' . . .
Our sin was dealt with on Calvary. When we were converted to Christ, we did not have to confess all our sins. Who of us could remember through all the years a fraction of them? It is our sin that is dealt with in our relationship with God, and that relationship cannot be broken. . . .
As you memorize this verse, meditate on the wonderful way God has made for us to live a life free from the sins of guilt that shackle so many. He dealt with our sin once and for all on the cross. He now deals with our sins by cleansing us in response to our continual confession. As God brings issues to your mind during times of devotion and meditation, agree with Him and live in the solid promise that is yours in 1 John 1:9: 'He is faithful and just to forgive.'"

from: "The Joshua Code: 52 Scripture Verses Every Believer Should
Know" by O. S. Hawkins

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05/27/2026

Today's Quote: "God's Way"

"He revealed His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel."
Psalm 103:7

"Are you satisfied with merely knowing the ACTS of God, or do you also want to know His WAYS? There is a difference. This difference is illustrated in the lives of the children of Israel as compared to Moses. The Israelites witnessed the miracles God performed; they walked across the dry Red Sea just as Moses did. They ate the manna and quail from heaven even as Moses did. They were content to receive God's provision without ever knowing God Himself. Yet Moses saw beyond the PROVISION of God to the PERSON of God. Others, such as the Egyptian magicians, might perform miraculous acts, but no one else did things the way God did (Exod 7:11-12). The way God acted provided a window into His nature. If Moses had been content with only God's power, he could have accepted the presence of an angel and been victorious in his efforts (Exod 33:15). But Moses wanted to experience more. He wanted to experience God Himself, not just God's activity.
Some today, like the Israelites, are content to experience God's activity without ever coming to know God. They are the recipients of answered prayer, yet they never become acquainted with the Protector. Have you come to know God more personally as a result of your experiences with Him? As you observe the acts of God, look beyond them to the revelation of His character (Gen 22:14; John 6:35)."

Henry T & Richard Blackaby's comments on Psalm 103: 7 from "Devotional: Experiencing God Day By Day"

05/27/2026

Thoughts for May 27

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20

"Years ago, I was looking out of my office window one afternoon when I saw at least thirty cars screech into the parking lot. Within moments dozens of high school students gathered in a big circle around two muscular jocks who were obviously about to fight.
Instinctively, I got really excited and ran through our office yelling, 'Fight! Fight! Fight!' A friend and fellow pastor joined me, and the two of us couldn't wait to get outside to watch these two kids beat the crud out of each other. Fueled by adrenaline and more testosterone than two middle-aged pastors should feel, we yelled, 'Hit him, YEAH! Harder!'
However, a few seconds into the fight, we looked at each other. What were we thinking? We were grown-ups , we were Christians, and we were pastors! We weren't supposed to be acting like spectators at a World Cagefighting title bout. We were supposed to be stopped the fight and restoring order! Finally, we both ran closer and shouted, 'Break it up! Come on, guys, it's over!'
Now, before you judge me for watching too much ultimate fighting on late-eight cable, I think this little incident clearly illustrates a problem that many of us seem to battle: spiritual amnesia. We forget that we no longer have to act like we used to act.
We are new creatures as well as Christ's ambassadors.
We are peacemakers and reconcile others to God.
Where is there relational tension surrounding you? What can you do today to help bring peace?"

Power Lift
"Sometimes I forget, Lord, that I'm no longer the person I used to be. Help me to act like our ambassador so that others may come to know you."

from: "Daily Power: 365 Days of Fuel For Your Soul"
by Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of Life.Church