Daily Bread Ministries Quotes

God is always near in spite of our fears.

Prayer is the bridge between panic and peace.

When we walk in the Light, we won’t stumble in the darkness.

In a sermon early in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. quoted Jesus’ words from Mark 10 about servanthood. Then he said, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. . . . You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.

When we put our problems in God’s hands, He puts His peace in our hearts.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant.

The Bible, God’s eternal truth, can be trusted today.

Wherever God sends us, He comes alongside us.

Don’t always ask Jesus what He can do for you; ask Jesus what you can do for Him.

To avoid a breakdown, take a break for rest and prayer.

The stories of so many people we love are not yet ended, and the privilege to tell them about the love of Jesus is a remarkable gift.

We are lovers, we say Yes to each other.  Yes to life—to more and more of life—to its brevity, its grief, its disappointments.  To its possibilities, its magnificence, its glory.  We quarrel—because we glimpse further possibilities, the non-sense—and wish to lay claim to it.  We remember death, and that life is brief, and that the time for love is now and more is possible.  One more step toward the holy.  It is to know the peace that passes understanding and that there is no peace.  It is to love others as they are, warts and all, and to believe that more is possible, and to bespeak that wanting.  It is to pray 'Give us this day our daily bread….' and to know that we do not live by bread alone.  It is to remember death, and to love life and to accept them both as holy. More and more, then, the embracing of ministry is work for an artist—one who is alert to 'apprehending the points of intersection of the timeless with time.

Fear makes us feel weak and helpless and causes us to think we are alone in the world. But God has assured us that His Spirit in us is greater than any worldly power (1 John 4:4). Whenever we become discouraged by the evil we can see, we need to think instead about the good work God is doing that we cannot see.

Fifty years ago A Charlie Brown Christmas was first broadcast on American television. Some network executives thought it would be ignored, while others worried that quoting the Bible would offend viewers. Some wanted its creator, Charles Schulz, to omit the Christmas story, but Schulz insisted it stay in. The program was an immediate success and has been rebroadcast every year since 1965.

So let’s be word-dependent moms. Let’s consume God’s word to the hilt and shake the gates of hell with faith. Satan cannot make us trust our stuff (or wish we had stuff to trust). The gnawing pain of wanting stuff cannot destroy us, because Christ crushed the idol of consumerism on his cross. We will suffer no lack when we trust him. Our children will suffer no lack when they trust him. Let’s trust him to be our daily bread. Let’s trust him to be our children and our disciples’ daily bread. When we trust the Bread of Life in this way, we can be prepared for him to take us out into the world so we can start passing out loaves to others. Christ’s mission to glorify himself is our mission, and he delights in freeing moms from idolatrous consumerism so we can show the world that he is enough. God

Soon after World War II, a tired-looking woman entered a store and asked the owner for enough food to make a Christmas dinner for her children. When he inquired how much she could afford, she answered, “My husband was killed in the war. Truthfully, I have nothing to offer but a little prayer.” The man was not very sentimental, for a grocery store cannot be run like a breadline. So he said, “Write your prayer on a paper.” To his surprise she plucked a little folded note out of her pocket and handed it to him, saying, “I already did that.” As the grocer took the paper, an idea struck him. Without even reading the prayer, he put it on the weight side of his old-fashioned scales, saying, “We shall see how much food this is worth.” To his surprise, the scale would not go down when he put a loaf of bread on the other side. To his even greater astonishment, it would not balance when he added many more items. Finally he blurted out, “Well, that’s all the scales will hold anyway. Here’s a bag. You’ll have to put them in yourself. I’m busy.” With a tearful “thank you,” the lady went happily on her way. The grocer later found that the mechanism of the scales was out of order, but as the years passed, he often wondered if that really was the answer to what had occurred. Why did the woman have the prayer already written to satisfy his unpremeditated demands? Why did she come at exactly the time the mechanism was broken? Frequently he looked at that slip of paper upon which the woman’s prayer was written, for amazingly enough, it read, “Please, dear Lord, give us this day our daily bread!” —Henry Bosch

In this chapter, Jesus repeatedly emphasizes how seeing and living in the new reality of His kingdom isn’t natural. In fact, God’s kingdom is so countercultural that Jesus describes it as “yeast” (v. 33), which in Scripture is typically seen as a symbol of corruption and evil (Hosea 7:4; Matthew 16:6, 11; 1 Corinthians 5:6–13). Jesus’s shocking use of this word would be similar to saying that the kingdom is like a virus or like saying, “It ruins everything.” And that’s exactly Jesus’s point. Truly experiencing His kingdom will not be comfortable or easy for any of us. It’ll ruin everything!—all our plans, all our assumptions, all our comfort. But it’s more than worth it. It’s the treasure that’s infinitely precious, the source of endless joy (Matthew 13:44–46). —Monica Brands

God’s love is beyond words.

We all need the support of one another. As brothers and sisters in the family of God, we have so many opportunities to encourage one another on our shared journey of faith. And God is right here in our midst giving us His grace to do that.

The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Sibling rivalry is natural. God’s love is supernatural.

We will also become more discerning about how to handle our desires (2 Timothy 1:7).

A young Japanese man had a problem—he was afraid of leaving his house. He was a hikikomori, a modern-day hermit. The problem began when he stopped going to school

The longer he stayed home, the more he felt like a social misfit—and he soon was seeing no one. Eventually he got help toward recovery by visiting a youth club called an ibasho—a safe place where broken people start reintroducing themselves to society. What if we thought of the church as an ibasho? Without a doubt, we are a community of broken people. When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he described their former way of life as antisocial, harmful, and dangerous to themselves and others (1 Corinthians 6:9–10). But in Jesus they were being transformed. And Paul encouraged these rescued people to love one another, to be patient and kind, not to be jealous or proud or rude (13:4–7). The church is to be an ibasho where we can find God’s love. May the hurting world experience Christ’s compassion from all who follow Him. Poh Fang

In 1 John 5:14 we read, “If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” The Greek word translated “hears,” akouo, means to pay attention and to respond on the basis of having heard. Rather than suggesting a “formula” for ensuring God will grant our prayer requests, John urges us to pray in confidence because God’s heart is for us. God hears in a way that is action oriented, and He wants to respond in love. Akouo. God hears.

The Lord is our close and faithful companion throughout our entire life. He will guide us in our deepest struggles, forgive our sin, hear each silent prayer, and shoulder the burdens we cannot bear.

True change, however, requires humility—a relinquishing of our rights that we might embrace His (Psalm 25:9; Proverbs 10:12).

A veteran mountain climber was sharing his experiences with a group of novices preparing for their first major climb. “Remember this,” he said, “your goal is to experience the exhilaration of the climb and the joy of reaching . . . the peak. Each step draws you closer to the top. If your purpose for climbing is just to avoid death, your experience will be minimal.” I see an application to the Christian’s experience. Jesus did not call us to live the Christian life just to escape hell. It’s not to be a life of minimum joy and fulfillment, but a life that is full and overflowing. The Lord promised us “life . . . to the full” (John 10:10). We cannot experience a full and abundant life if we are living in fear. When we walk by faith, we will see each day of the Christian life as a challenge to be met and as one more upward step to glory! Do not live minimally. Live life to the max! Climb that mountain with confidence! David Egner

Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one’s heart, its pleasures and its pains, to a dear friend. Tell Him your troubles, that He may comfort you; tell Him your joys, that He may sober them; tell Him your longings, that He may purify them.” He continued, “Talk to Him of your temptations, that He may shield you from them: show Him the wounds of your heart, that He may heal them . . . . If you thus pour out all your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say.

Paul was so bold as to say that he boasted in his weakness for it was in weakness that God’s power was revealed in him (2 Corinthians 12:9).

No matter how impersonal the world may seem, Jesus loves each of us as if we were His only child.

Humility promotes unity.

Dear Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You left Your home in heaven, came to earth, and willingly went to the cross for me. Thank You for paying the penalty for my sins and forgiving me.

John 15:10-20 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. 18 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: “A servant is not greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

this will be the sign to you

The hope of Jesus shines brightly even on our darkest day.

Heavenly Father, I understand that sin has damaged my heart. I put my trust in the Savior’s sacrifice and ask You to wash away my sins and make me a new person. Thank You for what Jesus did for me.

Psalm 19:14 Our words have the power to build up or tear down.

Only Jesus can give you a new life.

Hate destroys the hater as well as the hated. —Martin Luther King Jr.

Jesus can transform our routine into meaningful service for Him.

We were created to bring God the glory.

Honesty with God about our sin brings forgiveness.

The setbacks of life can teach us to wait upon the Lord for His help and strength.

No one is beyond the reach of God.

Like Peter, we all fall short—in our relationships, in our struggle with sin, in our faithfulness to God. But “failure is not fatal,” as Churchill also said. Thankfully, this is true in our spiritual life. Jesus forgave the repentant Peter for his failure (John 21) and used him to preach and lead many to the Savior. Failure is not fatal. God lovingly restores those who turn back to Him.

Reading the Bible is meant not to inform but to transform.

The Lord may calm your storm, but more often He’ll calm you.

His one desire was not to be vindicated in front of his enemies, but to be in the presence of the Lord (v.

the dangers of having too much or too little.

resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears.

How should we praise? Loudly. Softly. Soothingly. Enthusiastically. Rhythmically. Boldly. Unexpectedly. Fearlessly. In other words, we can praise God in many ways and on many occasions (vv.3-5). Who should praise? “Everything that has breath” (v.6). Young and old. Rich and poor. Weak and strong. Every living creature. God’s will is for everyone to whom He gave the breath of life to use that breath to acknowledge His power and greatness. Praise is our enthusiastic expression of gratitude to God for reigning in glory forever. —Julie Ackerman Link

Knowing about God is fascinating; knowing God personally is life-changing.

Songs of praise raise our eyes to see God’s faithfulness.

Please guard each word we say so we reflect You and Your love. Help our tongues speak words of healing and not harm.

Father, give me the grace and wisdom to honor You. May my life be so marked by the person of Christ that His great name—and salvation—will be embraced by others as well. Followers of Christ—Christians—are marked by His name.

With God behind you and His arms beneath you, you can face whatever lies ahead.

He is preparing the bride and planning a wedding that will include all of God’s family from the beginning of time.

A Christian’s life is a window through which others can see Jesus.

We need a servant’s attitude to be like Jesus.

Be still, and know that I am God,

Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from looking at God.

Keep running the race with eternity in view.

No danger can come so near the Christian that God is not nearer.

God wants us to pray before we do anything at all. Oswald Chambers

Thank You, Lord, for showing me my hidden faults, for You treat me as Your dear child. Help me surrender to Your cleansing work till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. God’s hand of discipline is a hand of love.

This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” —Matthew 6:9–13

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

February 14 MORNING “And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.” — 2 Kings 25:30 JEHOIACHIN was not sent away from the king’s palace with a store to last him for months, but his provision was given him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord’s people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow’s supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet; if we have enough for each day as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day’s supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveller, but a bundle of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast, but is all that the veriest glutton can truly enjoy. This is all that we should expect; a craving for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we should be content with his daily allowance. Jehoiachin’s case is ours, we have a sure portion, a portion given us of the king, a gracious portion, and a perpetual portion. Here is surely ground for thankfulness. Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy.

God’s ability is not limited by our inability.

Deuteronomy 8:11-18

Thank You, Father, for the work of Christ on the cross. Help me to understand and accept what it means for me, and to be a messenger of that forgiveness to those I meet along the way. The work of Christ is sufficient for every sin.

Lord, I want a heart like Mary’s—that takes time to sit at Your feet to learn from You and be close to You. And I want a heart like Martha’s—that takes time to serve You, the One I love.

We are challenged to love, pray for, serve, comfort, and forgive one another.

There is peace in knowing that whatever we do and wherever we go, we go with God who promised never to leave or forsake His followers

If you feel that the task God has called you to is too hard, remember this: The spiritual lessons and joy may seem hidden at first, but they are certainly there! God will help you find them. Marion

Paul said we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ’s victory over sin.

Ruth trusted God and followed Naomi’s instructions even though the ending was uncertain. We too can count on God to provide for us when life is unsure.

Sin can easily entangle us and trip us up when we start focusing solely on ourselves and not on Jesus (vv. 1–2). That’s when destruction can creep into our lives.

True faith is not a pleasant weekend diversion—it is a vibrant relationship with Jesus!

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” (2 Peter 3:11).

We can’t choose the consequences of our sins or control people’s responses when we confess and seek forgiveness. But the Lord can empower us

Reputation is fragile; once it’s called into question, it’s hard to restore.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. —EPHESIANS 5:8

often leaf through my Bible during distressing times and recall familiar promises that have strengthened me. I’m always encouraged to find help from promises I’ve never noticed before.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!

When Jesus returns, God’s transforming work in us will be complete.

He revealed that He can never be too late. Time can’t limit what He’s able to do and when He chooses to do it.

We are never too badly broken for God to reshape. He loves us in spite of our imperfections and past mistakes, and He desires to make us beautiful.

Prayer should be our first response to life’s situations.

She was, it turns out, just an ordinary woman on earth who served others.

Andrew Murray said, “Prayer opens the way for God himself to do His work in us and through us.

what feels overwhelming today will one day be part of a greater story of His healing love.

When you think of all that’s good, give thanks to God.

Feeding on God’s Word keeps us strong and healthy in the Lord.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

I wonder about us. Is that our understanding of greatness? Are we gladly serving, doing tasks that may be unnoticed? Is the purpose of our serving to please our Lord rather than to gain applause? If we are willing to be a servant, our lives will point to the One who is truly great. —Vernon Grounds

Anyone doing God’s work in God’s way is important in His sight.