Tag Archives: Spiritual Discernment

A Warning Against Hypocrisy

03 Friday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 78:65-72 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
I want a heart of integrity—
a heart that is pleasing to you.
Help me to become an instrument you will use
for your good purpose in this strife-torn world.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
A Warning Against Hypocrisy

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
So you must be careful to do everything they tell you.
But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders,
but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

“Everything they do is done for people to see:
They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;
they love the place of honor at banquets
and the most important seats in the synagogues;
they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces
and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher,
and you are all brothers.
And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’
for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
Nor are you to be called instructors,
for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
The greatest among you will be your servant.
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled,
and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
(Matthew 23:1-12).

* * *

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
And this is how we know that he lives in us:
We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
(1 John 3:24 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

02 Thursday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 78:56-64 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
collectively as a nation,
we have wandered away from you.
LORD in your mercy,
lead us back to the center of your holy will.
Give us repentant hearts that seek your face.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans
to trap him in his words.
They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.
“Teacher,” they said,
“we know that you are a man of integrity
and that you teach the way of God
in accordance with the truth.
You aren’t swayed by others,
because you pay no attention to who they are.
Tell us then, what is your opinion?
Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said,
“You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?
Show me the coin used for paying the tax.”
They brought him a denarius, and he asked them,
“Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them,
“So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

When they heard this, they were amazed.
So they left him and went away.
(Matthew 22:15-22).

* * *

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
And this is how we know that he lives in us:
We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
(1 John 3:24 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

01 Wednesday Jul 2026

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 78:50-55 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
I am thankful your Spirit sought me out
and drew me to the cross of Jesus.
I bow before you in praise and gratitude.
I pray you will show the same mercy to many others.
Give me a heart of compassion
for those who have not experienced your saving grace.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet
to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

“Then he sent some more servants and said,
‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner:
My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered,
and everything is ready.
Come to the wedding banquet.’

“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field,
another to his business.
The rest seized his servants,
mistreated them and killed them.
The king was enraged.
He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

“Then he said to his servants,
‘The wedding banquet is ready,
but those I invited did not deserve to come.
So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’
So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find,
the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to see the guests,
he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.
He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’
The man was speechless.

“Then the king told the attendants,
‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness,
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
(Matthew 22:1-14).

* * *

The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.
And this is how we know that he lives in us:
We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
(1 John 3:24 NIV)

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian followers!

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Parable of the Two Sons

30 Tuesday Jun 2026

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 78:40-49 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
I believe in your wrath
because you are grieved
at the hate and harm
we generate in this world.
Jesus, I want to hear you calling
and follow you to the place
of deep personal change.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Parable of the Two Sons

“What do you think?
There was a man who had two sons.
He went to the first and said,
‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

“‘I will not,’ he answered,
but later he changed his mind and went.

“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.
He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them,
“Truly I tell you,
the tax collectors and the prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,
and you did not believe him,
but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.
And even after you saw this,
you did not repent and believe him.
(Matthew 21:28-32).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.
(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

29 Monday Jun 2026

Posted by in Psalm 78, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 78:32-39 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
I cannot boast because of my righteousness.
You know all my shortcomings.
I have an impressive pile of personal sin.
Forgive me through the mercy
of your son, Jesus.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Authority of Jesus Questioned

Jesus entered the temple courts,
and, while he was teaching,
the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him.
“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked.
“And who gave you this authority?”

Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question.
If you answer me,
I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
John’s baptism—where did it come from?
Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said,
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask,
‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people,
for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said,
“Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
(Matthew 21:23-27).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.
(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

08 Monday Jun 2026

Posted by in Psalm 73, Psalms

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 73:1-11 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
help me to tend to the garden of my own heart.
When envy raises its head,
help me to decapitate that thought.
I fix my affections on you
and not the things of this world.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

When they came to the crowd,
a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.
“Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said.
“He has seizures and is suffering greatly.
He often falls into the fire or into the water.
I brought him to your disciples,
but they could not heal him.”

 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,”
Jesus replied,
“how long shall I stay with you?
How long shall I put up with you?
Bring the boy here to me.” 
Jesus rebuked the demon,
and it came out of the boy,
and he was healed at that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked,
“Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

He replied,
“Because you have so little faith.
Truly I tell you,
if you have faith as small as a mustard seed,
you can say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’
and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.”
(Matthew 17:14-21).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.
(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Jesus Predicts His Death

05 Friday Jun 2026

Posted by in Psalm 72, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 72:12-20 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
help me to see my many blessings
as a gift from you.
Show me today how I can be a blessing to others.
You are my source.
Lord,
give me a generous spirit like you have.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
Jesus Predicts His Death

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem
and suffer many things at the hands of the elders,
the chief priests and the teachers of the law,
and that he must be killed
and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
“Never, Lord!” he said.
“This shall never happen to you!”

Jesus turned and said to Peter,
“Get behind me, Satan!
You are a stumbling block to me;
you do not have in mind the concerns of God,
but merely human concerns.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples,
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it,
but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world,
yet forfeit their soul?
Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come
in his Father’s glory with his angels,
and then he will reward each person
according to what they have done.

“Truly I tell you,
some who are standing here
will not taste death
before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
(Matthew 16:21-28).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.
(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

04 Thursday Jun 2026

Posted by in Psalm 72, Psalms

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 72:1-11 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD Jesus,
have dominion over me.
I willingly submit to your rule.
You are my King and my God.
I willingly bow my knees before you.
Reign over me,
and in me to the end of time.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied,
“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah;
and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?”
he asked.
“Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered,
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah,
for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood,
but by my Father in heaven.
And I tell you that you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 
Then he ordered his disciples
not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
(Matthew 16:13-20).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.
(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

03 Wednesday Jun 2026

Posted by in Psalm 71, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 71:19-24 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
thank you for the promise of resurrection.
Thank you for the hope we have in Jesus.
Through Jesus’ shed blood we have redemption,
and the forgiveness that makes resurrection possible.
Hallelujah!
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

When they went across the lake,
the disciples forgot to take bread.
 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them.
“Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

They discussed this among themselves and said,
“It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked,
“You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?
Do you still not understand?
Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand,
and how many basketfuls you gathered?
Or the seven loaves for the four thousand,
and how many basketfuls you gathered?
How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread?
But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 
Then they understood
that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread,
but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
(Matthew 16:5-12).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.
(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.

The Demand for a Sign

02 Tuesday Jun 2026

Posted by in Psalm 71, Psalms

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s quote and prayer from
“Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer”


Today’s Reading: Psalm 71:9-18 (NIV)*

Listen to today’s reading by Jonathan Dent:

LORD God,
thank you for your presence
with me since my youth.
Continue to fill my life with joy, meaning and purpose.
Day by day,
be my help and strength
until I see you face to face.
Amen.

   — — — —

Gospel Reading:
The Demand for a Sign

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him
by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

He replied,
“When evening comes, you say,
‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’
and in the morning,
‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’
You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky,
but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.
A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign,
but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.”
Jesus then left them and went away.
(Matthew 16:1-4).

* * *

Dear friends,
 if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence before God
and receive from him anything we ask, 
because we keep his commands 
and do what pleases him.
(1 John 3:21-22 NIV)

Para la publicación de Salmos 365 de hoy en español haga clic aquí.

bgbg_v4.3_1501818
* NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, COPYRIGHT ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 BY BIBLICA

Pray for peace in Israel, Iran and the Middle East
and continue to pray for peace to return
to Ukraine and Russia!

Volume I of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer won the Best Book of the Year Award from The Word Guild and Volume II has won the Best Devotional of the Year Award. For those who love God’s word, this three-book series is an ideal way to daily meet with the Lord. To purchase or for a closer look click here.

New from David Kitz.

To view further details or purchase click here.