REMEMBERING GOD'S DELIVERANCE #RTTBROS #Nightlight

REMEMBERING GOD'S DELIVERANCE  #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

REMEMBERING GOD'S DELIVERANCE #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 

"And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, To establish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly" (Esther 9:20-21)

Throughout Scripture, God has placed great importance on remembrance. From the Passover to Purim, the Lord established feasts and celebrations to help His people recall His mighty acts of deliverance. These weren't merely historical markers, but living memorials designed to strengthen faith and pass down spiritual heritage from generation to generation.

In the story of Esther, we see how God turned the Jewish people's sorrow into joy, their mourning into celebration. What began as a plot for genocide became a testament to God's faithful protection of His people. Through Mordecai's decree, this deliverance was to be commemorated yearly through the feast of Purim, marking it as a time of "feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor."

As Christians, we too are called to be a people of joyful remembrance. Our celebration of the Lord's Supper, for instance, serves as a profound reminder of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. These acts of remembrance aren't meant to be somber obligations, but rather opportunities to rejoice in God's faithfulness and share that joy with others.

Just as the Israelites built memorial stones after crossing the Jordan River, we too should create lasting reminders of God's work in our lives. These spiritual markers serve not only to strengthen our own faith but also to testify to future generations of God's enduring faithfulness and power.

The practice of remembrance requires intentionality. In our fast-paced digital age, we can easily fall into the trap of documenting everything while truly remembering nothing. We must purposefully identify and commemorate those pivotal moments when God has shown Himself mighty in our lives.

Community plays a vital role in this spiritual remembrance. When we gather together to share our testimonies of God's deliverance, we strengthen one another's faith and create a tapestry of witness that spans generations. Whether around a family dinner table or in church fellowship, these shared stories become part of our collective spiritual heritage.

True remembrance should always lead to thanksgiving. When we recall God's faithfulness in our past, it cultivates gratitude in our present and builds faith for our future. Like David, we should regularly recount the Lord's benefits and "forget not all his benefits" (Psalm 103:2).

This practice of remembrance also serves as a powerful evangelistic tool. When we joyfully celebrate God's goodness in our lives, it presents a compelling witness to a world searching for hope. Our genuine joy in the Lord can draw others to seek the source of our peace and satisfaction.

The transmission of faith from one generation to the next requires both personal testimony and corporate celebration. Like a relay race, each generation must faithfully pass the baton of faith to the next, sharing not just religious traditions but living testimonies of God's continuing work in their lives.

Finally, as we cultivate these habits of remembrance, we build spiritual muscle memory that helps us respond to life's challenges with faith rather than fear. By regularly recounting God's past faithfulness, we strengthen our confidence in His present care and future promises, knowing that He who delivered us before will surely do so again. 

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Word Wounds #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Word Wounds #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

  

When Words Wound: The Sacred Trust of Speech

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." - Proverbs 18:21

#WatchYourWords #GodlyConversation #SpiritualGrowth

In the company of friends, our words flow freely. Yet Scripture warns us that our most casual conversations carry eternal weight. Just as a tiny rudder steers a mighty ship, our tongue directs the course of our relationships and testimony.

Consider James's sobering observation: "The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" (James 3:5). How many friendships have burned because of careless words? How many testimonies have been tarnished by thoughtless speech?

Biblical examples show us the power of words among friends:

- Job's friends turned comfort into condemnation

- Peter's words of denial came among acquaintances

- Paul and Barnabas separated over sharp words

Yet we also see redemptive friendship conversations:

- Jonathan's words strengthened David in God (1 Samuel 23:16)

- Priscilla and Aquila privately guided Apollos (Acts 18:26)

- Paul commended his friends by name in his letters

God's Standards for Speech:

1. "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt" (Colossians 4:6)

2. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth" (Ephesians 4:29)

3. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Proverbs 25:11)

Prayer 

Lord, set a watch before my mouth and keep the door of my lips. Help me remember that my words can either heal or harm, build up or tear down. Make me mindful of my speech, especially among those who trust me most. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today's Challenge:

Before speaking today:

- Count to three

- Ask: "Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?"

- Consider: "Would Jesus say this?"

- Remember: Friends deserve our best words, not our unfiltered thoughts

Remember: The words we speak to friends today become the memories they carry tomorrow. Let them be worthy of Christ's name we bear.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Clean Sweep - Episode 2: The Two-Minute Rule

Clean Sweep - Episode 2: The Two-Minute Rule

Hey everyone! Welcome to Clean Sweep! I'm Gene Kissinger, an OLD custodian who has learned a thing or two about a thing or two. Today we're talking about something super important - how to handle those overwhelming tasks on your to-do list.

But first let me tell you a story about a pool game that changed my Life.  "paralysis of Analysis" 

You know that feeling when your room is super messy, or you have a huge project due, and you just don't know where to start? It feels like climbing Mount Everest, right? Well, what if I told you there's a secret to making any big task feel totally doable?

Here's the magic: If something takes two minutes or less, do it right now! And if something's bigger, just start with a tiny two-minute piece of it. It's like eating a pizza - you don't stuff the whole thing in your mouth at once (though sometimes we wish we could!). You take it one bite at a time!

Let's try it together. Say you have to write a book report. Instead of thinking "Ugh, this is going to take forever!" just tell yourself, "I'm going to write one sentence in the next two minutes." That's it! Just one sentence! Usually, once you start, you'll find yourself wanting to write more.

Or maybe your room looks like a tornado hit it. Don't panic! Just say, "I'm going to pick up five things in two minutes." Before you know it, you might actually want to keep going!

The Two-Minute Rule is like having a superpower that makes big, scary tasks turn into small, totally doable ones. And the best part? You feel like a champion every time you complete one of these mini-tasks!

Remember: Big tasks are just a bunch of tiny tasks in disguise. Take that first two-minute bite, and you're already on your way!

The Battlefield Of The Mind #RTTBROS #Nightlight

The Battlefield Of The Mind   #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

The Battlefield Of The Mind #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

  

The Battlefield of the Mind: Guarding Your Thoughts

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." - Proverbs 4:23

#ThoughtLife #RenewYourMind #SpiritualGrowth

In the quietness of solitude, our thoughts become our closest companions. Like David who meditated day and night on God's law, or like Daniel who purposed in his heart not to defile himself, what we think when we're alone shapes who we become in public.

Consider how many mighty men fell in Scripture not from external attacks, but from unguarded thoughts:

- David's wandering eyes led to wandering thoughts (2 Samuel 11:2)

- Solomon's heart turned away through internal compromise (1 Kings 11:4)

- Ananias and Sapphira conceived their deception in private (Acts 5:3)

The battlefield isn't primarily in our circumstances but in our minds. "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). When alone, our thoughts either fortify our faith or undermine our foundation.

God's Strategy for Thought Management:

1. "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:5)

2. "Whatsoever things are true... think on these things" (Philippians 4:8)

3. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom" (Colossians 3:16)

Prayer Point:

Heavenly Father, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Guard my thoughts when I'm alone, knowing they shape who I become. Let Your Word be my meditation day and night. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today's Challenge:

- Spend 15 minutes in complete silence

- Write down every thought that comes to mind

- Compare these thoughts to Philippians 4:8's standard

- Replace any negative thoughts with specific Scripture verses

Remember: The most important conversations you have are the ones with yourself when no one else is listening. Make sure God's truth is louder than your doubts.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Adapt and Overcome #RTTBROS #Nightlight Adapt and Overcome: God's Call to Holy Resilience

Adapt and Overcome    #RTTBROS #Nightlight
  Adapt and Overcome: God's Call to Holy Resilience

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13

#FaithfulStrength #AdaptAndOvercome #SpiritualResilience

In military training, soldiers learn a powerful mantra: "Adapt and overcome." This principle, born in battlefield necessity, carries profound spiritual truth. Just as soldiers must adjust their strategies while maintaining their mission, believers must adapt to life's challenges while holding fast to their faith.

Consider Joseph, who adapted to life as a slave, a prisoner, and finally a ruler - all while overcoming through unwavering faith. "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good" (Genesis 50:20). His circumstances changed dramatically, but his character remained steadfast.

The Apostle Paul exemplified this principle perfectly: "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need" (Philippians 4:12). Paul adapted to every situation while overcoming through Christ's strength.

Biblical Principles for Adapting and Overcoming:
- "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed" (Romans 12:2)
- "And we know that all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28)
- "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Prayer Point:
Lord, grant me the wisdom to adapt to changing circumstances without compromising my faith. Help me see obstacles as opportunities for Your power to be displayed. Like Joseph and Paul, let me overcome through Your strength, not my own. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today's Challenge:
Identify one current challenge in your life. Write down:
1. What needs to adapt (your approach, not your values)
2. What needs to remain unchanging (your faith principles)
3. One specific action step toward overcoming

Remember: God's principles are unchanging, but His methods are infinitely creative. True spiritual resilience isn't about avoiding change - it's about staying anchored to Christ while adapting to life's storms.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.
https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Fear To Freedom #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Fear To Freedom #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 From Fear to Freedom: The Power of Praying for Others

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16

#PrayerWarrior #FaithOverFear #IntercessoryPrayer

In the darkest corners of Nazi imprisonment, Corrie ten Boom discovered a profound spiritual truth that would transform countless lives. She wrote:

"I prayed to dispel my fear, until suddenly, and I do not know how the idea came to me, I began to pray for others. I prayed for everyone who came into my thoughts -- people with whom I had traveled, those who had been in prison with me, my school friends of years ago. I do not know how long I continued my prayer, but this I do know my fear was gone! Interceding for others had released me!"

How often do we find ourselves trapped in the prison of our own fears, frantically praying for deliverance, yet remaining bound? Perhaps, like Peter sleeping in chains (Acts 12:6-7), our liberation comes when the church begins to pray for us - and when we begin to pray for others.

Consider the divine paradox: When focused solely on our fears, they grow larger. But when we turn our eyes toward others' needs, our own burdens often lift. This mirrors Christ's words: "Give, and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 6:38). Could this principle apply not just to material giving, but to our prayers as well?

The Bible shows us this pattern repeatedly:

- Job's fortunes were restored when he prayed for his friends (Job 42:10)

- Paul and Silas found freedom through praise in prison (Acts 16:25-26)

- Daniel's deliverance came while he maintained his prayer routine for others (Daniel 6:10)

Today's Application:

When fear grips your heart, try Corrie's method:

1. List three people God brings to mind

2. Pray specifically for their needs

3. Watch how your own fears begin to diminish

Prayer:

Lord, like Corrie ten Boom, teach me to look beyond my own fears to the needs of others. Transform my anxiety into intercession, my worry into worship. Help me remember that in serving others through prayer, I often find my own deliverance. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Today's Challenge:

Set a timer for 10 minutes. Rather than praying about your own concerns, intercede solely for others. Note how your perspective shifts as you focus outward rather than inward.

Remember: "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee" (Psalm 55:22). Sometimes, the very act of casting our eyes upon others' burdens is what enables us to release our own.

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros

Divine Reversal Ester 8 #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Divine Reversal Ester 8 #RTTBROS #Nightlight 

 Have you ever watched a home renovation show where a dilapidated house is transformed into something beautiful? While the "before" pictures show chaos and destruction, the "after" reveals stunning transformation. This is exactly how God works in our lives - He's the master of divine reversals, turning our moments of despair into testimonies of His glory.

In Esther 8, we witness one of Scripture's most dramatic reversals. Haman's gallows, built for Mordecai's destruction, became the instrument of his own demise. The ring of authority, once used to seal the Jews' death warrant, became the symbol of their deliverance. What was meant for evil, God transformed for good.

But why does God often wait until the eleventh hour to bring about these reversals? Like a master weightlifter's trainer, He's building our spiritual muscles through resistance. When we think we can't hold on another moment, when we're about to close our eyes and brace for impact - that's often when God shows up most powerfully. He waits until our strength is depleted so that His power can be perfectly displayed.

Consider how God builds our faith through these moments. Just as a remodeling project looks most chaotic right before completion, our situations often appear darkest before God's light breaks through. He's teaching us to trust not in our ability to solve problems, but in His power to transform them.

The story of Esther teaches us about persistent prayer in these moments. She didn't just pray once and hope for the best - she fell at the king's feet with tears. How many of us approach God with such raw honesty and desperate passion? We've become so sophisticated in our prayers that we've lost the art of wrestling with God like Jacob, of weeping before Him like Hannah.

The beautiful irony in this story is that God didn't simply cancel the evil decree - He created a new solution that turned the weapon of the enemy into an instrument of victory. Sometimes God doesn't remove our problems; He transforms them into platforms for His glory. The very thing meant to destroy us becomes the stage for our greatest testimony.

In our current cultural moment, we face our own battles requiring divine reversals. Whether it's praying for unsaved loved ones, standing against injustice, or facing personal trials, God still specializes in last-minute rescues and unexpected solutions. He's inviting us to persist in prayer, to think outside our human limitations, and to trust His perfect timing.

Remember - God doesn't need our strength; He needs our availability. Within your sphere of influence - your "oikos" - you have the opportunity to be part of someone else's divine reversal. You may not change the entire world, but you can change someone's world. Like the little girl throwing starfish back into the ocean, we can make a difference one life at a time.

God is still in the business of reversals. That marriage that seems beyond repair, that prodigal child, that impossible situation at work - none of these are beyond His transforming power. He delights in writing "rest of the story" endings that no one sees coming.

Prayer: Lord, help us trust Your timing even when everything seems to be falling apart. Give us the courage to persist in prayer, the wisdom to recognize Your solutions, and the faith to believe that You can transform our greatest challenges into our greatest testimonies. May we never become too sophisticated to weep before You or too cynical to believe in Your power to reverse any situation. In Jesus' name, Amen.

#DivineReversals

#GodsPerfectTiming

#PowerOfPersistence

Be sure to Like, Share, Follow and subscribe it helps get the word out.

https://linktr.ee/rttbros