Bible League: Living His Word When Jesus finished praying, he left with his followers and went across the Kidron Valley. He went into a garden there, his followers still with him.— John 18:1 ERV The Kidron Valley is a place outside Jerusalem, along the Mount of Olives. The name Kidron denotes a dark place or murkiness of water. The Kidron Valley gives a sense of sorrow, judgement, and death—which our Lord and Savior underwent for us. Jesus was prayerful and He kept His communion with Abba Father. He often prayed in secluded areas (Luke 5:16). Jesus' mission was built around prayer, keeping the connection with Abba Father—He prayed regularly, and this shaped His relationship with God. He imparted the same habit to His disciples and all believers. No matter how pressured, tired, despairing, heart-broken and strained we may feel as we go through different "valleys," we should never miss the opportunity to pray (2 Corinthians 4:7-11). In chapter 17 of John, Jesus is deep in His high-priestly prayer with Abba Father. After praying, He went across the Kidron Valley to the garden in which He would be betrayed. Beloved, we all have different valleys to go across. David went through the valley of death and trusted God to be the Good Shepherd who took him through! This builds our faith and trust in God! A minister once shared with me the story of a church member who called him around 3 a.m. in despair. In tears, she said, "Pastor, I am going through hell!" He responded by praising God: "Hallelujah! Keep going my daughter!" Shocked, the lady reiterated: "Pastor, I said I am going through hell." Then, the pastor said, "My daughter, I am praising God since you are not camping in hell or giving up in hell! This means you are passing through; however, Jesus Christ is with you and will carry you through to testify tomorrow when you have overcome!" Beloveds, whatever painful valley you might be going through, keep your head high to the mountains, and remember where your help comes from! God, the maker of heaven and earth, is with you! All He wants to see is your faith which pleases him and shames the devil. Job went through a terrible valley; however, he was still confessing faith (Job 19:25). The day of our Lord's return is near; let us not surrender in the valley of challenges and hopelessness. God, Emmanuel, is with us! By Christopher Thetswe, Bible League International staff, South Africa Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingDaniel 5, 6 Daniel 5 -- Belshazzar's Impious Feast; Daniel Interprets the Handwriting on the Wall NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Daniel 6 -- Daniel, under Darius, Refuses to Worship Idols; Survives the Lions' Den NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 John 4 1 John 4 -- Testing the Spirits; Love One Another, for Love Is of God; NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.Insight Giving honor to marriage will require the utmost in Christian conviction and sensitivity. Modern social theory may redefine the family, and the new definitions may be far from its biblical foundation. Challenge What can you do? Witness to the depth of God's love for you by keeping your marriage happy and strong. Remain faithful—in body and in mind. Pray for your spouse. Honor biblical marriage (consenting man-woman unions) by resisting political pressure to recognize and legalize other sexual preferences. Teach children the biblical meaning of marriage. Pray early for their own eventual spouses and families. Make marriage enrichment the goal of your small group discussions and study. Encourage the marriages around you to stay strong as well. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Zechariah 1:20 And the Lord shewed me four carpenters.In the vision described in this chapter, the prophet saw four terrible horns. They were pushing this way and that way, dashing down the strongest and the mightiest; and the prophet asked, "What are these?" The answer was, "These are the horns which have scattered Israel." He saw before him a representation of those powers which had oppressed the church of God. There were four horns; for the church is attacked from all quarters. Well might the prophet have felt dismayed; but on a sudden there appeared before him four carpenters. He asked, "What shall these do?" These are the men whom God hath found to break those horns in pieces. God will always find men for his work, and he will find them at the right time. The prophet did not see the carpenters first, when there was nothing to do, but first the "horns," and then the "carpenters." Moreover, the Lord finds enough men. He did not find three carpenters, but four; there were four horns, and there must be four workmen. God finds the right men; not four men with pens to write; not four architects to draw plans; but four carpenters to do rough work. Rest assured, you who tremble for the ark of God, that when the "horns" grow troublesome, the "carpenters" will be found. You need not fret concerning the weakness of the church of God at any moment; there may be growing up in obscurity the valiant reformer who will shake the nations: Chrysostoms may come forth from our Ragged Schools, and Augustines from the thickest darkness of London's poverty. The Lord knows where to find his servants. He hath in ambush a multitude of mighty men, and at his word they shall start up to the battle; "for the battle is the Lord's," and he shall get to himself the victory. Let us abide faithful to Christ, and he, in the right time, will raise up for us a defence, whether it be in the day of our personal need, or in the season of peril to his Church. Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Samuel 2:9 "He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.1 Samuel 17:45,49,50 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. • And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground. • Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David's hand. Psalm 33:16,18 The king is not saved by a mighty army; A warrior is not delivered by great strength. • Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, 1 Chronicles 29:12 "Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. • Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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