Ed Christian's World

Finding Strength in God’s Love…

Today, let’s anchor ourselves in the unwavering strength and boundless support of God, the inexhaustible wellspring of our being.

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.

This truth resonates deeply with the psalmist’s heartfelt confession in Psalm 73:26: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

There are times when our physical and emotional reserves feel utterly depleted. Weariness settles in, hearts grow heavy with burdens, and our personal strength seems to evaporate. The psalmist intimately understood this human struggle, acknowledging the frailty of our own being.

However, his words don’t end in despair. Instead, they pivot towards a powerful declaration, a lifeline in the face of exhaustion: “…but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

This isn’t about denying our vulnerabilities but about consciously choosing a path forward, a path that recognizes the finite nature of our own resources and the infinite, ever-flowing strength of God. When we are weak, He becomes our unwavering support. When direction eludes us, He provides our ultimate purpose. When we yearn for true fulfillment, He is the very source that satisfies.

Let this profound verse serve as our anchor today. When weakness washes over us, may we instantly recall the One who empowers us beyond measure. When discouragement threatens to engulf us, may we find our deepest and most lasting fulfillment in the God who is our eternal inheritance. His steadfast love and inexhaustible strength are our secure refuge and our constant source of renewal.

Dear Heavenly Father, The demands of life often leave me feeling drained and adrift. Like the psalmist of old, I confess that my own strength falters. Yet, Your Word illuminates a powerful truth, echoed by wise voices throughout time: You are the very strength of my heart and my everlasting portion. Help me not to shy away from acknowledging my struggles but to purposefully turn to You as my ultimate source of strength. Fill me with Your boundless love, the wellspring that never runs dry. Guide my steps when I feel lost and remind me that true and lasting fulfillment is found only in You. May I find in You my secure harbor and my constant source of renewal. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

The Sweet Pursuit of Obedience…

Deuteronomy 28:2 paints a beautiful picture: blessings not just bestowed, but actively pursuing and overtaking those who obey the voice of the Lord their God. It’s not a passive reception of good fortune but a dynamic encounter where God’s favor actively seeks out the obedient heart.

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 28:2

Think about that image for a moment. Blessings, like eager companions, running after you, determined to catch you. This isn’t about earning God’s love or manipulating divine favor through perfect adherence to every rule. Rather, it speaks to the natural consequence of aligning our lives with God’s will. When we choose to listen and act upon His voice, we position ourselves within the flow of His goodness.

Obedience, in this context, isn’t a heavy burden but a pathway to experiencing the fullness of God’s intentions for our lives. It’s about trusting His wisdom, even when we don’t fully understand the path ahead. It’s about choosing His way over our own, knowing that His perspective is infinitely broader and His love infinitely deeper.

These blessings aren’t limited to material wealth or worldly success. They encompass a richness of spirit, a peace that surpasses understanding, a strength in times of trial, and a deep sense of purpose. When we obey God, we open ourselves up to the transformative power of His presence in our lives. We become vessels through which His love and grace can flow, impacting not only ourselves but also those around us.

The promise in Deuteronomy 28:2 is an encouragement. It reminds us that our efforts to honor God through obedience are not in vain. He sees our hearts, He values our willingness to listen, and He delights in showering us with His abundant blessings. Let us, therefore, cultivate a heart that is attentive to His voice, eager to obey, and ready to be overtaken by the goodness He so freely offers.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word that speaks of the beautiful connection between obedience and blessing. Help us to cultivate hearts that are truly attuned to Your voice, eager to understand Your will, and courageous in our obedience. Forgive us for the times we have strayed or chosen our own way. Grant us the wisdom and strength to walk in Your paths, trusting that as we obey, Your blessings will indeed pursue and overtake us. May our lives be a testament to Your goodness and love. Amen.

Obedience unlocks the fullness of God’s promises.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Quiet Confidence and Peace…

May today be filled with quiet confidence and the kind of peace that comes from knowing you’re seen, loved, and never alone.

Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.   Psalm 34:5

There’s something quietly life-changing about where we choose to look. Psalm 34:5 doesn’t command us to try harder or clean ourselves up. It simply says: look to Him. And those who do? They shine. Not with a light they’ve created, but with the radiance that comes from being fully seen and deeply loved.

We live surrounded by mirrors—screens, regrets, comparisons—always reflect where we fall short. But this verse invites us to lift our eyes from shame and onto the One who never turns away.

When we look to God, something shifts. We stop defining ourselves by what we’ve done and start seeing ourselves through His eyes: forgiven, chosen, beloved.

This is the quiet miracle of grace—shame that loses its grip, not through striving but through presence. His presence.

So today, don’t hide. Just look up. Let His love be the light that fills your face. Let His grace be the mirror you believe.

Because you weren’t made to live in shame. You were made to shine.

Heavenly Father, When shame tries to name me, help me remember where to look. Not inward with fear, but upward with faith. Thank You that I don’t have to earn radiance—I only have to behold. You. In Your gaze, I find who I truly am: forgiven, chosen, deeply loved. Let Your grace wash over every shadow of doubt, and let Your love be the mirror I believe. Today, lift my head, light up my face, and help me shine with Your joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Looking Upward in Affliction…

Psalm 25 is a heartfelt cry from someone deeply acquainted with hardship. In verse 18, the psalmist lays bare their vulnerability before God: “Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.” This simple yet profound plea reveals a fundamental human truth: suffering often brings us face-to-face with our own fragility and imperfections.

When life throws its sharpest arrows, our natural inclination might be to look inward with despair or outward with blame. But the psalmist directs their gaze upward. They understand that true solace and healing come not from wallowing in misery or pointing fingers, but from turning to the One who sees all and holds all.

The request is twofold. First, there is the earnest plea for God to acknowledge their suffering – to truly see the depth of their affliction and the sharpness of their pain. It’s a longing to be understood, to have their burdens recognized by the ultimate source of compassion. In our own times of trouble, we too can find comfort in knowing that God is not distant or unaware of our struggles. He sees the tears we cry in secret, the anxieties that gnaw at our peace, and the weariness that weighs us down.

Secondly, intertwined with the acknowledgment of pain is the crucial request for forgiveness: “and forgive all my sins.” The psalmist recognizes a potential connection between their suffering and their shortcomings. It’s not necessarily a direct cause-and-effect relationship, but rather an understanding that sin creates a separation, a disharmony within ourselves and with God. In the midst of affliction, the need for spiritual cleansing and reconciliation becomes even more acute. Forgiveness offers a path towards healing, a release from the burden of guilt that can compound our pain.

This verse reminds us that in our darkest hours, we are not meant to bear our burdens alone. We are invited to bring our pain and our imperfections before a loving God who sees, understands, and offers both comfort and cleansing. It is in this act of humble surrender that we find the strength to endure and the hope for restoration.

Heavenly Father, in moments of distress and heartache, when affliction weighs heavily upon us and pain pierces our souls, we echo the cry of the psalmist: look upon our suffering. See the burdens we carry, the anxieties that grip our hearts, and the tears we shed in secret. We acknowledge our vulnerability and our need for your compassionate gaze. And Lord, in the light of your holiness, we also recognize our imperfections and the ways in which we have fallen short. We humbly ask for your forgiveness for all our sins, known and unknown. Cleanse us from the guilt that can further darken our days and create distance between us and you. Grant us the grace to turn to you in our affliction, to find solace in your presence, and to receive the healing that comes from your love and forgiveness. Strengthen us to endure, give us hope for brighter days, and remind us that even in the valley of the shadow of death, you are with us. Amen.

The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, trusting Him during a trial, surrendering while hurting, and loving Him when He seems so far away.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

He Is Rejoicing Over You…

No matter what your morning holds, may you start today with this truth: You are not just seen by God—you are sung over. Let this be the anchor for your heart as you step into the day.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

Some verses don’t just speak—they sing. Zephaniah 3:17 is one of them, and it invites us into a love too powerful to stay silent.

We often picture God as mighty and majestic—and He is. But this verse unveils something astonishing: the God who delights in you. Who draws near not with a scowl but with a song. Not with cold tolerance, but with overflowing joy.

He’s not waiting for you to be polished or impressive. He rejoices over you as you are—in the middle of your mess, your questions, your healing, your hope.

This isn’t a love you have to earn. It’s a love that surrounds you, steadies you, sings over you. A love strong enough to silence shame and tender enough to quiet every fear.

The hands that shaped the galaxies now hold your story. And the voice that spoke creation into being now sings over your life.

So today, let that song rise above the noise. Let it name you, calm you, and remind you who you truly are.

Because the God of heaven isn’t distant—He’s rejoicing. Over you.

Father, It’s hard to fathom—that You, the God who breathes stars into being, would sing over me. But today, I choose to believe it. Thank You for meeting me not with condemnation, but with delight. For loving me not at my best, but right here—in my questions, in my healing, in my becoming. Let Your song drown out every lie I’ve believed about my worth. Quiet my fears, lift my head, and remind me: I am deeply known, fully loved, and forever Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God does not love us because we are valuable. We are valuable because God loves us.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Loving Others as Christ Loves…

The instruction in Ephesians 5:25 is profound and unwavering: “Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” This isn’t a suggestion to love in a way that feels natural or convenient because our own capacity for love can often fall short. Instead, this divine command sets a radical standard.

Your love for your wife isn’t dictated by your feelings in the moment, nor is it contingent upon her perfection or reciprocation. She will have flaws, make mistakes, and experience the natural changes of life. Just as Christ’s love for the church wasn’t based on its flawless state, but rather on His desire to make it holy, so too should your love for your wife be.

Consider your own relationship with God. You are called to be His spotless bride, yet you undoubtedly fall short. Still, He loves you unconditionally, a love that works to transform you and make you beautiful in His eyes. This is the very essence of how you are called to love your wife.

Don’t love her based on your limited human understanding of love, but with the boundless, self-sacrificing love that Jesus has shown you. He doesn’t love you because you are already perfect; He loves you so that you can become perfect in Him. Extend this same transformative love to your spouse.

Furthermore, this principle extends beyond marriage. Embrace this Christ-like love for those individuals in your life who are most challenging to love. Your unwavering love, mirroring Jesus’s, may be the very catalyst that helps them discover their own inherent beauty.

As Ephesians 5:25-33 further elaborates, this love is not passive. It is an active, self-giving love, mirroring Christ’s sacrifice for the church, “to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

This kind of love reflects the intimate unity between a husband and wife, likened to the care one has for their own body. It’s a profound mystery, reflecting the very relationship between Christ and His church. Therefore, let each husband love his wife as he loves himself and let the wife see to it that she respects her husband.

Today, make a conscious decision to extend this Jesus-like love to the person you find most difficult to love. Look beyond their actions or inactions, their flaws or shortcomings, and choose to love them with the same unconditional, transformative love that Christ has lavished upon you.

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge the profound challenge and the incredible power of the love You exemplified through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We pray for a renewed understanding of the command to love others as Christ loved the church. Grant us the strength and the grace to look beyond imperfections and frustrations and to see others through Your loving eyes. For those relationships that are strained and difficult, pour out Your spirit of patience, compassion, and selfless love. Help us, especially husbands in their marriages, to reflect Christ’s sacrificial love in our actions and attitudes. May our love be a source of healing, growth, and transformation for those around us, just as Your love has been for us. Empower us to love not because of what others do but because of who You are and the love You have shown us. Amen.

The best way to love someone is not to change them, but instead, help them reveal the greatest version of themselves.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Immeasurable Greatness…

There’s a kind of worship that doesn’t rise from answers—but from awe. Psalm 145:3 reminds us: we’ll never grasp God’s greatness fully. And yet—He draws near. Let your soul breathe in that wonder today.

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.    Psalm 145:3

There’s a kind of worship that doesn’t rise from having all the answers—but from sheer awe. As Psalm 145:3 declares, God’s greatness isn’t measured. It’s marveled at. Infinite. Uncontainable. His wisdom outruns our understanding, His grace covers our failures, His presence fills our deepest emptiness.

Yet what truly moves the heart is this: the God whose majesty we can not fathom chooses to draw intimately near.

He is vast—yet attentive to you. Boundless—yet personal enough to meet you not just on mountaintops but in whispered prayers, quiet needs, and ordinary days. He remains greater than the chaos, closer than any doubt.

This is why we worship: not because we fully grasp Him, but because we are fully known and loved by the One who understands everything about us.

So today, don’t try to define Him—simply behold Him. Let your soul exhale in wonder. Let praise rise, for the God beyond measure is the One who meets you right here—and He alone is worthy

Dear Lord, My worship rises not from understanding everything but from remembering who You are. You are greater than the chaos, closer than the doubt. Vast enough to hold the stars, yet kind enough to hold my heart. Thank you for meeting me in the ordinary—and for the wonder of being fully known and deeply loved by You. Let my soul exhale today. Let praise rise—not from answers, but from awe. You are worthy, Lord—I adore You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We are perishing for lack of wonder, not for lack of wonders.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Jesus Speaks Directly To You…

Jesus declared a powerful shift: “You have heard it said…” – words spoken about you, perhaps even to you, echoes of negativity and doubt carried on the wind. These are the whispers of the world, hearsay that can wound and confine.

But then He steps forward, the divine “I AM” speaking directly into the depths of your being: “But I say unto you…” This is not secondhand information; it is the very voice of God addressing you, personally and intimately.

With these words, Jesus dismantles the power of every harmful thing you’ve ever heard. The barbs of criticism, the shadows of fear, the pronouncements of failure – they lose their grip.

They become mere echoes, things that were said, but are no longer to you in the light of His truth.
Stop treating God’s Word as a distant message meant for someone else.

His promises, His comfort, His unwavering love, His specific calling – these are not generalities; they are direct pronouncements spoken into the very fabric of your being. Embrace them. Own them. Let them resonate within you as if Jesus Himself stood before you, speaking life and purpose into your soul.

As 1 John 2:25 assures us, “And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.” This promise, like all His words, is for you.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the profound truth that Your Son, Jesus, speaks directly to our hearts. We release the burden of every negative word we have ever heard, recognizing them as mere hearsay in the presence of Your living voice. Help us to open our ears and our hearts to Your personal communication, to embrace Your promises, Your love, and Your calling as if You were speaking them directly to us this very moment. May Your truth become the foundation of our identity and the guiding light of our lives. Amen.

The voice that formed the universe whispers your name with love and intention. Listen closely; it’s speaking directly to you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

A Gentle Whisper in the Twilight…

The day had begun with its usual rhythm – tasks, responsibilities, and the familiar hum of life. As the evening approached, I found myself drawn to the quiet sanctuary of the back deck. The air was still carrying the gentle scent of damp earth and the promise of night. It was in this ordinary moment that this pause between the day’s demands and the coming rest, that a small miracle unfolded.

Five deer, silent and graceful, emerged from the shadowed embrace of the woods. Their movements were fluid, their eyes wide and watchful. For a few precious moments, they stood at the edge of the clearing, their presence a gentle intrusion into my solitary contemplation.

Then, as quickly and quietly as they had appeared, they melted back into the trees, leaving behind a sense of wonder and a profound stillness.

My initial thought echoed the sentiment: “God sure works in mysterious ways.” It’s true, isn’t it? We often seek grand pronouncements and dramatic interventions, yet God’s presence often manifests in the subtle beauty of creation, in the unexpected moments that take our breath away.

These deer, appearing as if from nowhere, felt like a gentle whisper, a reminder of the intricate tapestry of life that surrounds us, a tapestry woven with threads of beauty, wildness, and an inherent connection to something larger than ourselves.

It’s easy to get caught up in the noise and demands of our daily lives, to miss the quiet miracles that unfold around us. But these moments, these glimpses into the wild heart of creation, serve as powerful reminders of God’s artistry and the delicate balance of His world.

They invite us to pause, to observe, and to recognize the divine hand at work in the most unexpected places.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.    Psalm 19:1

Heavenly Father, thank you for the constant wonder of your creation. Thank you for the unexpected moments that remind us of your presence and your intricate design. Help us to open our eyes and our hearts to the subtle beauty that surrounds us each day. May we not be so consumed by our own concerns that we miss the gentle whispers of your love in the rustling leaves, the flight of a bird, or the silent appearance of your creatures. Grant us the grace to pause, to appreciate, and to recognize your mysterious and beautiful ways. Amen.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. 

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼

Calming Clarity…

In a world full of noise and options, Acts 4:12 brings a calming clarity: there’s only one name that saves—and it’s Jesus. Rest in that truth today.

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.  Acts 4:12

In a world overflowing with options, Acts 4:12 speaks with unshakable clarity: “Salvation is found in no one else.” These weren’t safe words—they were boldly declared by Peter before the very council that condemned Jesus to die.

This wasn’t theory. It was testimony. A man who had failed, fallen, and been restored now stood unashamed, proclaiming the power of the name that saved him.

To some, this truth may sound exclusive—but it’s actually the most wide-open invitation ever given. Not based on our merit, but on God’s mercy. Not on striving, but surrender. Not on our goodness, but Christ’s finished work.

Jesus isn’t one path among many. He is the way, the truth, and the life—the name that silences shame, breaks chains, and makes us new.

In Him, we don’t just receive a second chance—we are given a new identity and a new heart.

So today, rest in this beautiful truth: you don’t have to keep searching. You already have the name that saves—and His name is Jesus.

Dear Father, Thank You that I don’t have to earn what Jesus has already finished. In a world full of noise and options, remind me that only one name saves—and it’s His. When I’m tempted to strive, perform, or prove myself, lead me back to grace. Anchor my heart in the mercy that doesn’t shift with my feelings or failures. Help me live unashamed—resting in Your love, walking in surrender, and reflecting the beauty and power of the name above all names. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed 🙏🏼