Daily Challenges Archive

I called a friend yesterday with an investment question. If you know me and investing, you know I need to call lots of friends and listen closely. The friend had an automatic response text that said, “In a meeting. I’ll call you when I’m done.” He...

I would possibly dive into this verse in a sermon, maybe in a short book, but in a brief devotion—no way. What I can say is that the meaning behind ‘finds a wife’ is translated in other places as ‘God providing.’ As in, God provides a good king, a...

This expresses the classic understanding that when someone knows about a certain subject, they don’t need to prove it. An expert in their area of business does not have to talk extensively about it to prove their expertise. They simply do it. In a...

As you read this, I’m most likely in the midst of an 8-hour drive from Florida to Alabama. Before leaving, I am encouraged to have a safe trip, and then I pray as I get going for God to provide a safe journey. That prayer reflects a piece of the r...

As with almost everything in life, the best example of what this truth looks like when lived out is Jesus Himself. He certainly humbled Himself. I have often read the Gospels and found my righteous anger rising as I see how unfairly He was treated...

I lost a very loved member of my family. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shared that I just don’t understand how someone without a secure faith in God, eternity, and His sovereign plan for each of us could even begin to survive such a soul-cr...

I’m in Sarasota, Florida. We are working with some business leaders to start The Edge ministry in this area. It is one of my favorite places. One of the things I like the most is the Florida sunshine, especially in the spring months. There is a re...

Years ago, a local ministry leader used to tell me how beautiful my wife was. I certainly was already aware of that, but it was a bit uncomfortable, yet kind of him to say so, I guess. Over time, he continued to tell me that, and I finally let him...

Detest is a strong emotion. The dictionary simply defines it as ‘to despise intensely.’ Another source puts it this way: ‘to feel abhorrence of; hate; dislike intensely.’ Obviously, you and I don’t want the Lord detesting anything about us. Here, ...

When I was a teenager, there was nothing like payday. I loved opening the envelope and seeing that check. Yes, long ago, we actually received a check on payday. Solomon is letting us know what the righteous and the wicked earn. Ultimately, their p...

I have often wondered about the meaning behind the seven pillars. What if they had said six or eight instead? God doesn’t waste words or descriptions. We know seven is an important number in God’s Kingdom. “Some commentators interpret the pillars ...

I never really cared for rhetorical questions. Ask a question or make a statement, but asking a question with a fairly obvious answer and not expecting a response feels kind of smart-alecky to me. In this verse, it is used as a way for Solomon to ...