Ed Christian's World

Under His Care…

Good morning,

As you step into the new light of day, remember the comfort that comes from knowing you’re under the Good Shepherd’s watchful care, even in the darkest valleys.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4

Darkness. It’s a formidable foe, a shadow that can engulf even the brightest spirits. But in the face of life’s darkest valleys, God offers a promise that changes everything: “I am with you; you will fear no evil.”

These words from Psalm 23:4 aren’t just poetic comfort; they’re a declaration of divine presence and power. They remind us that no matter how deep the valley, how long the night, we are never alone. The God who shepherded David through his darkest hours walks beside us too.

When the Psalmist says, “for you are with me,” it’s a statement of unshakable trust. It’s his recognition of God’s pledge to be our comfort when the path is treacherous, our peace when fears loom, our courage when evil threatens to paralyze us.

The rod and staff aren’t just shepherd’s tools; they’re symbols of God’s active protection and guidance. He doesn’t just watch from afar; He’s intimately involved in leading us through every valley, dispelling our fears with His presence.

So today, whatever darkness you’re facing, remember: you are accompanied by a God who is greater than any evil. Lean into His presence, and let it be your strength in the midst of the valley. You are comforted, you are guided, you are never alone. And with Him, you can walk through any darkness.

Dear Lord, Sometimes, the dark valleys of life cast shadows over my heart, threatening to obscure Your presence. But I choose to cling to Your promise, the truth that even in the deepest darkness, You are right beside me. Help me trust in Your unfailing guidance and protection, especially when the path seems treacherous. Remind me that Your rod and staff are not just symbols but real comfort stronger than any fear I face. Today, I choose faith over fear. I choose to believe that with You as my Shepherd, I can walk through any valley, no matter how dark or long. Thank You for being my courage and my peace. I’m trusting in You to lead me through. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The darker the night, the brighter the stars. The deeper the grief, the closer is God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The Impossible People You Meet…

I know of ministers whose basic attitude is, “I could have a very successful ministry…. if I just didn’t have to deal with people.” In the same way, you might be saying, “I want to be loving, forgiving, and patient, but it’s impossible with the people I have to deal with.”

It would be a lot easier to be godly if we didn’t have to deal with people. But how could you be loving if you didn’t have people to love, or forgiving if you didn’t have people to forgive? The only type of people you can forgive are those who’ve sinned against you.

How can you be patient if you don’t have people to be patient with? The only type of people to be patient with are those who are hard to be patient with. People come with baggage, but that’s the side issue.

After God, people are the main issue, and your job is to love them. Set your heart on loving those impossible to love people in your life. Because there’s no way you’re going to be successful in the Lord, your ministry, or your calling – without people.

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they can not repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Today, set your heart on loving those difficult people that God has placed in your life and loving the rest more than you have.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Right Beside You…

Good morning,

Today, let’s rest in the assurance that God walks beside us through every challenge. We’re never alone in our worries.

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

Fear. It’s a familiar adversary, a shadow that threatens to darken even the brightest of days. But in the face of this relentless foe, God speaks a promise that has the power to change everything: “Do not fear, for I am with you.”

These words are more than just a comforting platitude; they’re a declaration of divine presence and power. They remind us that no matter what we face, we are never alone. The God who commands the galaxies is always by our side, always for us, always ready to strengthen and uphold us.

When He says, “I am your God,” it’s a statement of unshakable commitment. It’s His pledge to be our refuge when the storms rage, our help when we are helpless, our courage when fear looms large.

So today, whatever fears may be threatening to overwhelm you, remember: you are held by a God who is greater than them all. Take hold of His promise, and let it be your anchor in the midst of the tempest. You are loved, you are strengthened, and you are upheld by the mighty hand of God. And with Him, you can face anything.

Dear Lord, Sometimes, fear casts a shadow over my heart, threatening to drown out Your voice. But I choose to cling to Your promise, the truth that I’m never alone, that You’re always by my side. Help me trust in Your unfailing love and unbreakable commitment, even when fear seems to be overwhelming. Remind me that Your presence is more powerful than my problems, that Your strength is greater than my struggles. Today, I choose faith over fear. I choose to believe that with You by my side, I can face anything. Thank You for being my courage and my peace. I’m trusting in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Feed your fears and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The French Revolution and God…

In the late 18th century, the kingdom of France was overthrown. The new revolutionary government proclaimed there was no God, and declared France to be a nation of atheists. What came out of this was called ‘The reign of terror.’ Thousands of people were butchered.

Finally, one of the leaders of the revolution, a man named Robespierre, told the revolutionary council that belief in God was essential. Without it, there could be no morality and no republic.

So the national representatives voted that the French people acknowledge the existence of God, and the immortality of the soul. They learned the hard way that without God, there’s no meaning in life; no virtue, no morality, nothing of true value or goodness.

You can say you’re a believer but live as an atheist; proclaiming God with your lips but denying Him with your life. If you believe in God, then proclaim God by living a life by which God is the Lord of every area. Because if He isn’t, life isn’t a whole lot better than a reign of terror.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6

What areas of your life are actually godless – existing without God? Identify them and bring God into each of them.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

No Fear In Love…

Good morning,

Today, let’s find comfort and courage in God’s perfect love. As you begin your day, remember His love overcomes all fear. Tackle your challenges boldly, knowing you are deeply loved and never alone.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18

In a world that often feels filled with uncertainty and anxiety, 1 John 4:18 offers us a profound truth: the antidote to fear is love. Not just any love, but the perfect, unconditional love of God.

When we find ourselves gripped by fear – whether it’s fear of the future, fear of failure, or fear of not being enough – we have a choice. We can allow that fear to control us, or we can turn to the One whose love casts out all fear.

God’s love is not a flimsy, fleeting emotion. It’s a steadfast, unshakable reality that has the power to transform our lives from the inside out. When we root ourselves in this love, we find a sense of security and belonging that no earthly circumstance can take away.

This love empowers us to face challenges with courage, to pursue our God-given dreams with confidence, and to love others with the same extravagant grace that we’ve received.

So today, if fear is knocking at the door of your heart, remember the truth of 1 John 4:18. Lean into God’s perfect love, and watch as it drives out every fear, filling you with a peace and joy that surpasses all understanding.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your perfect, unconditional love that casts out every shadow of fear. As I face the uncertainties and challenges of today, help me to anchor deeply in Your love that knows no bounds. Give me the strength to overcome fears of inadequacy, failure, or the unknown, and fill my heart with the peace and joy that only You can provide. Empower me to extend this love to others, sharing the grace and confidence I find in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Filled Up With The Fullness…

In Ephesians 3, Paul prayed for the believers of Ephesus that Jesus would dwell in their hearts and that they’d be rooted and grounded in love so that they would know the love of God and be filled with all His fullness.

But Paul’s desire and prayer was obviously for all believers. When God’s Spirit caused him to write down His words, He clearly intended for them to reach millions of others. And God intended you to hear those words as well.

Undoubtedly, Paul not only prayed that prayer for a few believers in Ephesus, but for all the believers alive in his day. What Paul wrote is Scripture, and it says, “I pray that you will be filled up with all the fullness of God”.

What an honor that is – you’ve been prayed for by an apostle! So be blessed. Go in confidence. Know the love of God. Be rooted and grounded in that love, and be filled up with the fullness of God. For you have been prayed for by an apostle!

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.  Colossians 1:9

Today, make it your aim to seek to really know the love of God, to root your heart, mind, and soul in that love, and to be filled up with the fullness of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Boundless Strength…

Good morning,

Today, let’s immerse ourselves in the promise of Philippians 4:13, a verse that reminds us of the boundless strength Christ offers. May this truth bolster your spirit for whatever the day holds.

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 isn’t a casual phrase; it’s a roar of faith echoing from a prison cell. Paul, the author, wasn’t boasting about an easy life. He was declaring a truth discovered in the depths of hardship: his strength flowed from Christ dwelling within him.

This transformative truth is ours too. When anxieties gnaw at our souls, when burdens threaten to crush us, this verse beckons. It invites us to surrender our self-reliance and embrace the boundless strength of Christ.

It’s not about gritting our teeth, but about acknowledging our limitations and allowing His power to course through us. This doesn’t erase challenges, but it shifts how we face them, replacing fear with unwavering faith and weakness with His might.

In Christ, we are more than conquerors – not due to our own abilities, but because of His victory won for us. So let us face today with confidence, stepping boldly into challenges, assured that the God of the impossible empowers our every step.

Dear Lord, As I confront the challenges of today, fill me with the strength that comes from You alone. Remind me that I do not face these trials by myself but with Your power within me. Help me to rely on Your strength, not my own, transforming my worries into confidence and my fears into faith. Guide me through each moment, and let Your peace reign in my heart. Thank You for making me more than a conqueror through Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The Day of Pentecost…

In the sixties, Bob Dylan wrote a song that became a kind of anthem for that generation. The chorus went, “the answer is blowing in the wind.”

You might not think those words are biblical, but in Hebrew, the word for wind is ruach. Ruach also means spirit. Bob Dylan was right, only he didn’t know at the time which wind the answer was blowing in. The answer is always blowing in the Spirit.

So, set your mind on the Spirit and follow His leading. It’s so easy to get lost in all the details of this life, to lose your peace in all the fears and worries going on around you, to let your eyes and heart be pulled away by the things of this world; the answer is blowing in the Wind.

Turn away from all those things and look to that which alone gives life – the Wind of His Ruach. You’ll walk in the newness of life because the answer to your needs and problems in life, ‘the answer, my friend, is blowing in the Wind.’

For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Galatians 6:8

Today, turn away from that thing that has tried to seduce your heart, turn from the flesh, and walk with the Wind at your back. Go in the flow of the Spirit.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed 🙏🏼

A Life of Abundance…

Good morning,

Today, let’s explore the joy of generosity and discover how giving from a place of love can lead to a life of abundance.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.  Proverbs 11:25

Have you ever felt the warmth that spreads through your heart when you help someone? That’s the essence of Proverbs 11:25. It’s not just ancient wisdom; it’s a blueprint for a joyful, abundant life.

Generosity isn’t always easy. Sometimes we feel stretched thin, our resources depleted, our energy drained. But that’s precisely when God’s promise shines brightest. This proverb assures us that in our giving, we’re mysteriously replenished. It’s like a spiritual law of nature: the more we pour out, the more we’re filled up.

Think about it: a river doesn’t run dry by flowing; it’s constantly refreshed by its source. Similarly, as we generously share our time, talents, and resources, we tap into the boundless generosity of God.

Today, let’s be intentional about refreshing others. It could be a simple smile, a helping hand, a listening ear, or sharing what we have, even when it feels like we have little to give. As you step out in faith, watch how God’s grace flows through you, bringing blessings not only to others, but also to your own heart.

Remember, in God’s economy, generosity isn’t a loss – it’s an investment in joy.

Dear God, Thank You for the countless ways You bless me every day. Sometimes I feel like I have so little to give, but You remind me that even small acts of kindness matter. Help me to see those around me who need encouragement, a kind word, or a helping hand. Teach me to give with a joyful heart, knowing that You’re the one who fills me up. When I feel empty or stretched thin, remind me that Your grace is enough. Remind me that in giving, I am blessed, and that true abundance comes from sharing Your love.
Thank You for showing me that in giving, I truly receive. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

To Finish The Race…

In 1869, James Gordon Bennett, the rich publisher of the New York Herald, sent his British correspondent, Henry Stanley, on an expedition to find Dr. David Livingston. Livingston had vanished in Africa in search of the Nile.

Bennett reportedly told Stanley, “Draw on me for a thousand pounds today to provide for your equipment. When that’s exhausted, draw on me for another thousand, and when that’s done draw another, but find Livingston.”

Now, our God, who is richer and more generous, calls you to a greater journey. He calls you to finish the course, knowing that in and of yourself, you’re weak and may get discouraged. But He doesn’t call you to complete the journey in your own strength or your own resources.

Likewise, He says to you, “Whatever you need, draw on Me. You’ll never exhaust My love, mercy, or cleansing, or use up My strength, righteousness, and grace. You’ll receive everything you need to complete your journey with victory, but don’t forget…draw on Me.”

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

Today, draw on the strength of God, the life of God, the love of God, the forgiveness of God, and the joy of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼