Spiritual Breakthroughs – Reading and Thinking about God – Purity 1923
Purity 1923 03/28/2026
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Good morning,
Today’s photo of Ludovico Tommasi’s (1866-1941) oil on canvas, “Summer Afternoon” (1923), featuring people in a field on a summer day, comes to us from yours truly as I captured this work of art while visiting the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, in Springfield, MA back on December 9th, 2023.
Well, it’s Saturday, and I share Tommasi’s work of art as part of my Lenten journey to recognize beauty in the things of the past and to encourage us all to remember the seasons of our lives where God was faithful. With the impending purchase of our new home in Glens Falls on the horizon, I, for one, am fondly remembering the times in our countryside rental in Easton and all the time I have spent walking along Waite & “Freedom” Roads and how God seemed to meet me there in both times of joy and times of sorrow. Practicing the presence of God is just a matter of turning your attention to Him and listening to what He tells you through His word and in your life.
The way to experience spiritual breakthroughs is simply to do the things that God would lead you to do. If we want to transcend the things of this world and the bondage of sin, we have to turn away from them and turn towards God. We have to absorb the wisdom of God through the study of His word, think about it, apply it to our lives, and then speak to God as we endeavor to walk in His ways. If you want a breakthrough: Seek the Lord – through Bible Study, prayer, meditation, and having a conversational relationship with Him. If you do these things, you will not only find the wisdom to live by, but you will also find the strength as your life is empowered through your relationship with God.
Speaking of the empowered life of faith, David Jeremiah’s “Living in His Light” daily devotion for March 28th, speaks about the disciplines of Bible Study and meditation, and I am sharing it on the blog today to encourage those who don’t practice these disciplines to do so. David Jeremiah writes:
“Help in All Ages
Lord, you have been our dwelling place for all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. – PSALM. 90: 1-2
The American Bible Society released a report showing two things:
Bible reading in America has dramatically decreased, and people who do read their Bibles experience significant hope in their lives.
When we read the Bible daily, it reminds us of how God has worked in the past and what He will do for us in the future.
It’s also a good idea to think back over our own life and remember how God has led us in times of indecision, moved us forward when we were stalled, protected us in times of danger, comforted us during days of grief, and helped us in times of need.
During times of difficulty, remembering His character and all He has done for you will encourage and strengthen you. When you combine daily Bible study with constant thanksgiving, you’ll find yourself developing an unbeatable attitude.” – David Jeremiah
Amen. With this simple message of practical spiritual wisdom, Jeremiah exposes the problem that plagues our modern society (a lack of hope and connection to God) and puts forth the remedy (daily Bible study and meditation).
I have made many mistakes in my life, but one of the few things that I might dare to boast about is this: after I got saved in 2010, the Lord put it in my heart to read the Bible daily, and amazingly, I was faithful to do that!!
After coming to faith in Jesus Christ the Lord put the desire for me to be a “real Christian” and in my early research, I discovered that Daily Bible Study and prayer was the recommended “best practices” of authentic followers of Jesus – so I did it and I discovered that it is within these practices that one can have a deep meaningful relationship with the Lord.
As Jeremiah points out, the Bible teaches and reminds us about God’s faithfulness and interactions with man. The Bible not only is the definitive source for truth and righteousness; it also is used by God to talk to our hearts – to inspire us to live with and for Him. Our Daily Bible reading educates, trains, and inspires us.
However, being a Christian isn’t just about reading stories about what God has done in the lives of others. Our faith is also grounded in our story with God.
The second practice of “meditation” is what brings our relationship with God alive. When we start to think about how God has helped us in the past and how He helps us in the present and gives us hope for the future, we realize that we are not alone.
God has been with us all along, and we only need to turn our attention towards Him to enjoy His presence and move forward in confidence and joy.
After I did these things, I began to know God like never before, and I opened a doorway to His grace – His transforming power and favor.
After I experienced God’s presence and grace, my desire to “seek the Lord” grew, and the more I sought Him, the more I found the good things the Lord had for me in my life. If you seek Him, you will find Him, and when you find Him, life as you know it will never be the same.
So read that Bible daily, think about God’s presence in your life, and talk with Him in prayer and as you walk through your day.
God is with you, but to experience His presence, power, and grace, you turn your attention away from the things of this world and turn it towards Him.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling By John G. Kruis on Amazon )
This morning’s meditation verses come from the section on the Providence of God.
Jeremiah 1:4–6 (NKJV) Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
Today’s verses fall under the twenty-third point of our counseling reference guide resource section on the Providence of God.
23. God chose Jeremiah to be a prophet even before he was born.
Today’s Bible verse is the beginning of the prophet Jeremiah’s call to service and the beginning of God’s amazing provision.
Jeremiah’s mission was to prophesy for the Lord during the fall of Jerusalem and the nation of Judah to the Babylonian Empire, not an easy job, but God provided for the Prophet Jeremiah through constant spiritual reassurance, physical protection from enemies, and favorable treatment by his captors.
In today’s verses, God reveals to Jeremiah that he had been chosen and set apart as a prophet before he was even born, and when Jeremiah protested that he was too young and lacked eloquence, God promised to put His own words in Jeremiah’s mouth. God repeatedly reassured Jeremiah with the promise, “Do not be afraid… for I am with you to deliver you”.
Later, God alerted Jeremiah to a secret assassination plot by his own townspeople from Anathoth, allowing him to escape. Despite being beaten, imprisoned in a dungeon by King Zedekiah, and thrown into a muddy cistern to die, Jeremiah’s life was preserved through these trials. Even as Jerusalem was falling to the Babylonians, God extended mercy to Jeremiah while he was still held in the court of the guard.
If that wasn’t enough, God even provided Jeremiah with favorable treatment by the Babylonians. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gave explicit orders to his commander to look after Jeremiah, ensure he was not harmed, and grant him whatever he requested and gave Jeremiah the choice to either go to Babylon to live comfortably or remain in Judah with his people after Jerusalem was destroyed.
Jeremiah’s story shows us that God can bless and keep His people safe in good times and bad. If we are faithful to obey the Lord, He will be faithful to provide us with safety, comfort, and favor.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com, where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today, we continue sharing from “Pause for Power” By Warren Wiersbe.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Wiersbe’s books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 57 – A Geography Lesson – Read Hebrews 4
Since the promise of entering [God’s] rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. – Hebrews 4:1
There are spiritual lessons in the geography of Israel’s experiences. The nation’s bondage in Egypt is an illustration of sinners’ bondage in this world. Much as Israel was delivered from Egypt by the blood of lambs and the power of God, so sinners who believe on Christ are delivered from the bondage of sin.
It was God’s desire that the Israelites enter their glorious inheritance in the land of Canaan. But when the Israelites got to the border of their inheritance, they delayed because they doubted the promise of God (Num. 13–14). “We are not able,” wept the ten spies and the people. “We are able with God’s help!” said Moses, Joshua, and Caleb (see Num. 13:30; 14:5–9). Because the people went backward in unbelief instead of forward by faith, they missed their inheritance and died in the wilderness.
Today, Canaan represents our spiritual inheritance in Christ. Israel had to cross the Jordan River by faith (a picture of believers as they die to self and the world). They had to step out by faith (Josh. 1:3) and claim the land for themselves, just as believers today must do.
Something to Ponder – Do you feel that you are “in bondage” in any way? How might faith help you experience real freedom?[1]
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[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures, 2nd Ed., Year in the Word Series (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010).
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