January 04

A Reminder from Malachi


Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it shall not be acceptable on your behalf. … it must be perfect to be accepted, there must be no defect in it.

Leviticus 22:20-21 (NKJV)

“I wish that someone among you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord Almighty, “and I will not accept your offerings.”

Malachi 1:10 (NLT)

Why do we play games with God? I mean, come on! He’s the Sovereign of the universe and He knows everything—including our hearts.

His request is simple, straight-forward: “Stop giving me your leftovers—leftover time, leftover money, leftover energy. Give me your best, or just forget it.”

Wow. You read Malachi and you see, God was ticked. And I have to ask, “Is he ticked off at us? At me?” Do I give Him second best … without even thinking about it?

If God has given me His best, if He sacrificed His best for me, shouldn’t I give Him my best? Doesn’t that just make sense?

I am convicted. I think God wants more. He deserves more. He deserves my best … of everything. He desires and deserves my priority, and His speech through Malachi is timely.

He’s not just speaking to Israel in the fifth century B.C.; He is talking to us … today!


Father, You do deserve my best, my all. I have become distracted with other priorities, not Yours. Forgive me and see me set upon Your path. Amen.

January 03

The Blessing of the Poor


Happy is the person who thinks about the poor.

Psalm 41:1 (NCV).

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

2 Corinthians 6:10 (NLT)


After forty-one years in the faith, God is reaching and touching my life in greater ways … through the poor of this world.

Certainly, I love to give gifts, and there is a blessing in that, but there is so much more. I hear it in their letters—the thankfulness, the joy, the love that seems to fill and overflow, in spite of the great hardships, and I am the recipient of their wealth. These are rich soul responses from truly grateful hearts—responses that have touched my own heart in new ways.

From Rwanda, Uwamahoro greets me in the name of Jesus and thanks me so very much for sponsoring her. She tells me she loves to sing gospel songs ... she has found God’s joy even though her parents have died from AIDS. Divine writes me from India and even though he has lost his parents too, he rejoices for his Aunty who lets him call her mother. He loves soccer and roses. He says thank you and he prays for me too. Vichara in Cambodia thanks me and wishes me every happiness. Yeshi in Ethiopia and Sara in Ecuador both tell me they love me and pray for me every day. Then there’s Ruth in Haiti, the youngest of them all, she has lost her parents and is one of eight children, but there is such hope in her words. She asks for prayer … and she says, everyday she asks God to bless … me. And now, I begin to see, hear and feel like never before … the spiritual richness they so willingly share.

I am sensing it in my prayers too. The passion they stir in me is making me pray in new ways for my own children—with a desperateness and a longing so much more real than the dry, repetitious requests of days and years ago.

These little ones, these poor ones have taught me to pray again. They have so little, and yet they have so much. They have absolutely nothing, and yet they have given me everything!


Father, Your word speaks of the poor inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven. Lord, make me poor in spirit that my life might bless other lives as these have blessed mine. Amen.


To be a blessing, to give a blessing, and to receive a blessing consider the great needs of the poor. To see what you might do, and to meet someone you might help, visit www.compassion.com.

January 02

The Power of Prayer in Marriage

Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.

Philippians 4:6 (NLT).

I think it was Dennis Rainey, the President of Family Life, who said the greatest marriage tip he ever received was this: “Pray with your wife.”

We all know prayer is a powerful thing, but do we understand what a powerful thing it is in and for our marriages?

Consider what Dr. Emerson Eggerichs says are the wife’s six greatest needs and then consider how praying with her husband can help fulfill them. The six needs he lists are: Closeness, Openness, Understanding, Peacemaking, Loyalty and Esteem.

Certainly, there is an intimacy in prayer that affects both husband and wife … but especially the wife. I believe it is in prayer where she many times will uncover her husband’s heart. This is empowering, but there is also a greater understanding and a shared sense of loyalty as they pray for one another. Esteem grows too and so does respect for her husband—the very thing he needs from her.

I see prayer as a great healer and sustainer of relationships. It can put us both into what Dr. Eggerichs calls the Energizing Cycle. Prayer not only brings great power to our lives; it brings greater partnership to our marriages.


Father, help us remain true to You, true to each other and true to this calling: “Pray about everything.” Amen.