Christian

Listening Prayer: What It Is And Why You Need to Know

2-minute devotion for Tuesday, 3/24/26

The idea of “listening prayer” is to spend some time talking to the Lord and the rest of the time listening to His response. It is often described as having a conversation with God. Although you won’t find it in the Bible, it is being taught in the church today.

When you listen to a Bible teacher, ask yourself, “Is that in the Bible? Or, is it someone’s personal opinion?”

There is a lot of “Bible teaching” that is not based on Scripture but is based on the individual’s own experiences and learning. Ask yourself, “Where did they learn this? Who do they learn it from?”

Sometimes you can learn a lot about a “Bible teacher” from researching who they follow. You may discover that they are learning from some unbiblical sources. In fact, you would be surprised how many well-known “Bible teachers” subscribe to New Age thought. This is unbiblical and very dangerous.

To assume that the voice a person hears in his mind is the voice of God is to leave the door wide open for self-delusion and even demonic deception.

GotQuestions.org has an excellent article on this topic. I urge you to read it. What is Listening Prayer?

Another great source to learn more about this topic and where it came from is the video Wide Is The Gate 2 (5 of 5) The Emerging New Christianity: The Contemplative Mystical Movement. Watch it here.

Jesus prayed to the Father for us,

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 NIV

He taught us how to pray,

 “Pray, then, in this way:

‘Our Father, who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Matthew 6:9-13 NASB

The Bible, God’s Word, is our only source of Truth. This is how God speaks to His children. Read it every day.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn why Jesus came to the earth, read, Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

Christian

Why God Pursues Each One of Us

1-minute devotion for Monday, 3/23/26

Have you ever read a passage of Scripture that was so personal that it seems to have been written just for you? I have. It is the verse below.

Jesus said, “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.  In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.” Matthew 18:12-14 NIV

I am reminded that He did that for me. When I wandered off, God didn’t say, “Oh well,” or “She’s a lost cause.”

No! He went after me and brought me home! Those verses are very personal for me. We serve a God who is merciful, so merciful!

He will go after one lost sheep because He loves each one of us. He loves each individual person. He loves you!

If you don’t know Jesus, please see: Who Is Jesus? A Message for the Skeptic

In His Love, Cindy

Christian

Sunday Prayer and Meditation: Trust in the Lord

Meditation for Sunday, 3/22/26

Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.
Psalm 84:10-12 NIV (emphasis mine) Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

Christian

Why Do Christian Leaders Tolerate False Teaching?

Did you know that every book in the New Testament (except Philemon) contains warnings against false teaching? This tells me that false teachers pose a severe danger to the church. These false teachers lead people away from the truth. Yet many Christian leaders blatantly tolerate them and refuse to contend for the faith.

“…I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints.” Jude 3 NASB

Jesus said, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15

“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his trickery, your minds will be led astray from sincere and pure devotion to Christ.  For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, this you tolerate very well!” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NASB

Because this tolerance is so widespread, I have been searching for the answer to this nagging question: Why do Christian leaders tolerate false teaching? Why? Here are a few possible answers:

  1. Lack of Discernment: While discernment can be a specific spiritual gift, it is also a skill developed through studying God’s Word.
  2. Prioritizing Personal Feelings: Allowing emotional, cultural, or worldly perspectives to override biblical truths.
  3. Compromise: to avoid offending people
  4. Prioritizing Popularity:
  5. The Love of Money
  6. A spirit of ecumenism: This often comes from a flawed understanding of Biblical unity. It is impossible for true Christians to be in unity with false teachers.
  7. Relying on pop-psychology or worldly wisdom instead of Biblical truth

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Where lies and deception abound, Truth is what the world needs, not a compromised gospel, not a “different Jesus”.

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Christian

At Any Moment!

1-minute devotion for Friday, 3/20/26

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NIV

 In His Love, Cindy

Christian

Christ Is Our Anchor

A reflection for Thursday, 3/19/26

“We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:18-19

Our hope in Christ is a firm expectation and confidence in all He has promised. By this, we are greatly encouraged.

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Christian

Will I Speak Up?

Quote of the Week for 3/18/26

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4

My thoughts: Truth is important. It matters what people believe. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Christian

Encouragement For the Lonely

Meditation for Tuesday, 3/17/26

“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
    extol him who rides on the clouds;
    rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
    is God in his holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families,
    he leads out the prisoners with singing.” Psalm 68:4-6 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

Christian

Finding Strength in Weakness

1-minute devotion for Monday, 3/16/26

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The Lord said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

In His Love, Cindy

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Christian

Why We Must Encourage One Another

1-minute devotion for Sunday, 3/15/26

In His Love, Cindy