Stand Strong

Stand Strong

It was one of the scariest moments of my life.

I was trying to be the cool dad, so I took my son into the waves to
boogie-board. He was holding on to my back, and we took the first
wave without a problem. He loved it, and I was the hero.
Unfortunately, the wave was larger than I realized, and it threw us off
the board. My son fell off my back. I jumped up and looked around.
For what felt like much longer than it probably was, I couldn’t find
him. I looked right and left, desperately searching for my boy. Finally,
he came up for air.

Life often feels like standing in waves. Sometimes our lives are calm,
and the waves undetectable as they roll in. Other times, life sends waves
of change, anxiety, or problems that knock us down.

The firm footing, we thought we had in calm waters betrays us as our

feet sink into the unsettled sand or get pulled out from under us with
the current.

How can we stand strong in a world full of powerful waves? By

standing on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. — PSALM 127

© 2024 by Our Daily Bread Ministries. All rights reserved.

Cover photo: © Shutterstock

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®.
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission
of Zondervan.
 TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
DAY 1 PROVERBS 4:1-13

Needed Dads
Solomon knew from experience what it was like to have a father who
cared. When he was young, his father had taken the time to instruct
him in matters of wisdom and right living. Unfortunately, that is not
happening in many homes today. Josh McDowell has been trying to
find out what dads are doing in Christian families, and the news isn’t
good.
In McDowell’s book The Dad Difference, he reveals that
there seems to be a parenting gap. These statistics are from his book:
On any given day, the average teenager in our churches spends only
2 minutes in meaningful dialogue with his father.

Twenty-five percent of these teens say they have never had a

meaningful conversation with their dad-a talk centred on the teen’s
interest. Solomon listened and learned when his father David took
the initiative and instructed him as a child.

What does taking the initiative mean for dads today? It means playing
games with your kids, taking them places, hugging them, and talking
with them. As Dad does these things, he opens up the lines of
communication so he can teach his children about values, people, life,
and God.
Children need Dad’s instruction. Let’s take the time to give them
something worth listening to Dave Branon

Thank God for fathers who not only gave us life but also taught us how to live.

Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to

know understanding
Proverbs 4:1
 TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
DAY 2 PSALM 78:1-8

Pass It On
I enjoy watching relay races. The physical strength, speed, skill, and
endurance required of the athletes amaze me. But one crucial point of
the race always makes me anxious: Passing the baton. One moment of
delay and the race could be lost.

In a sense, Christians are in a relay race, carrying the baton of faith and
the knowledge of the Lord and of His Word. We must pass this baton
from one generation to another. In Psalm 78, Asaph declares: I will
utter ... things from of old -- things we have heard and known, things
our ancestors have told us...
We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord”
(WV. 2-4).

Similarly, Moses said to the Israelites: “Do not forget the things your
eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you
live. Teach them to your children” (DEUTERONOMY 49).

For generations to come, we are called to pass along “the praises of him
who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light”
(PETER 2.9).

LAWRENCE DARMANI

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next
generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the
wonders he has done. Psalm 78:4
 TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
DAY 3 DEUTERONOMY 6:1-9

Side By Side
In my family scrapbook is a picture of my daugh- ter at age four
working next to me, using a toy hammer to repair the siding on the
house. Side by side we worked that day; she imitated my every action,
absolutely convinced that she too was fixing the house.

Rarely have I enjoyed a chore more. In the picture, it’s obvious that
she’s enjoying it too. That photo reminds me that our children mimic
most of what they see in us -words and deeds. They also form their
images of God from the images they have of us as parents.

If we’re stern and unmerciful, they’re likely to see Godthat way too. It
is one of our most important duties as parents to help our children see
God clearly, especially the unconditional nature of His love.

I can imagine the family scrapbook of my rela- tionship with God

having a similar picture. I’m learning from Him how to live life and
how to love. He then teaches me how to teach others
(DEUTERONOMY 6:1-7).

May the Lord grant us an understanding of Him and the wisdom to

pass it on RK

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at
home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and
when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:7
 TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
DAY 4 PROVERBS 2

Starting Young
Addie was a bit worried. Before we all sat down for Sunday dinner,
someone had started eating. That’s when our 3-year-old granddaughter
said, “We haven’t prayed yet.”
She was concerned that we might forget to give thanks. Her concern
was a good sign. It showed that at her young age, Addie was beginning
to form one of those good habits that parents teach their children as
part of their instructions for life.

This little routine, for instance, helps her see the value of prayer and
thanks- giving, which can be a pow- erful resource for her in the years
ahead. Raising children in an age of hostility toward the Christian faith
is not easy.
Parents wonder how best to help their little ones learn to trust the
Savior and live to please Him. Proverbs indicates that a key to directing
children is through purposeful instruction by par- ents (PROV. 1:8) on
such things as listening to wis- dom (2:2), seeking discernment (2:3),
understanding the fear of the Lord (2:5), recalling parents’ teaching
(3:1), and gaining insight (4:1). These become habit- ual when parents
give instruction and when chil- dren “retain” those words of teaching
(4:1-4). Got kids or grandkids? It’s never too early to begin instructing
them in wise living. Dave Branon

The character of your children tomorrow depends on what

you put into their hearts today.

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands

within you, ...- you will understand the fear of the LORD.
Proverbs 2:1, 5
 TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
DAY 5 2 TIMOTHY 3:10-17

The Power of Demonstration

My attempts at fixing things around the house usually lead to paying
someone else to undo damage. But rcently I successfully repaired a
home appliance by watching a YouTube video with step-by-step
details. Paul was a powerful example to his young protégé Timothy,
who watched him in action.

From prison in Rome, Paul wrote, “You ... know all about my
teaching, my way of life, my pur- pose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
persecu- tions, sufferings” (2 TIMOTHY 3:10-11).

In addition, he urged Timothy to “continue in what you have learned

and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom
you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy
Scriptures” (VV. 1-15).

Paul’s life demonstrated the necessity of building our lives on God’s

Word. He reminded Timothy that the Bible is our powerful, God-given
source.
As we thank God for everyone who helped us grow in faith, we are
challenged to follow their example as we seek to teach and encourage
others. That’s the power of demonstration.

DAVID MCCASLAND

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for reaching. rebuking,

correcting and training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16
 TODAY’S SCRIPTURE:
DAY 6 1 PETER 3:7-12

Shocking Honesty
When the minister asked one of his elders to lead the congregation in
prayer, the man shocked everyone.
“I’m sorry, Pastor,” he said, “but I’ve been arguing with my wife all the
way to church, and I’m in no condition to pray.”

The next moment was awkward. The minister prayed. The service
moved on. Later, the pastor vowed never to ask anyone to pray
publicly without first ask- ing privately.

That elder demonstrated astonishing hones when hypocrisy would have

been easier. But there is a larger lesson here. God is a loving Father. If I
as a husband do not respect and honor my wife a cherished daughter of
God--why would her heav- enly Father hear my prayers?

The apostle Peter instructed husbands to treat their wives with respect
and as equal heirs in Christ “your prayers will not be hindered”
(1 PETER 37). Our relationships affect our prayer life.
What might God do through us when we pray and learn to love each
other as we love ourselves.

TIM GUSTAFSON

In the same way, you husbands

must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live
together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s
gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
1 Peter 3.7 (NLT)
For information on our resources, please contact the office
below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete
list of offices.

Nigeria: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 80125, Lafiaji

Post Office 101006, Lagos State
Email: nigeria@odb.org
Tel: (+234) 906 402 7516 Voice Only
(+234) 708 777 4778 SMS Only
(+234) 805 462 7884 Voice, SMS & WhatsApp

Kenya: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 2761 00200

City Square, Nairobi
Email: kenya@odb.org
+ (254) 20 520 1415 / + (254) 71 780 5557

South Africa: Our Daily Bread Ministries, P. O. Box 2637

Umhlanga Rocks Durban 4320
Email: southafrica@odb.org
(+27-31) 563 6322 / 825 2001 (M) 081 514 6687

Many people, making even the smallest of donations,

enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the
life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or
endowed by any group or denomination.