“Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Many mentions of prophets are made in the Bible. In fact, a section of the Old Testament is devoted to a collection of books by them. Their names, and quotes, appear all over the New Testament and are the subject of sermons to this day. But just what exactly is a prophet, and what is important for us to know about them?

Simply put, a prophet is someone chosen by God to speak for God. Their job, whatever the time period or tidings, was to accurately impart His message. Men and women called to this task came from differing backgrounds, personalities and levels of social status. But what they all had in common was a heart for God, an anointing to hear from Him, and the faithfulness to impart his message to others.

“For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).

God told the young Israelite nation He was to be their King, but the people clamored for a human king instead. As God put a succession of rulers in place, He provided prophets to advise them, and to declare His word directly to the nations. This was called the “classical age” of prophets.

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"The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1).

It's said that when we have a problem, we can choose to have either fear or faith. Fear usually puts the focus on us - our situation, and what we can do to affect the outcome. Conversely, faith sets our mind on God's authority, His control of our lives, and acknowledges His goodness. 

It's clear by Psalm 27's powerful message which path David has chosen to follow. His trust in the Lord is evident from the opening declaration in verse 1, and carries all the way through to a calm direction in the final phrase, "...be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

This Psalm has always resonated with believers, and is still a part of holy days in our time. It is recited as a part of the Jewish observation of Rosh Hashanah. Roman Catholics have included it in their Vespers prayers as well as a response during Mass.

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God's people are blessed with the gift, and responsibility, of prayer. One of the most talked about subjects in the Bible, prayer is mentioned in practically every book of the Old and New Testaments. Though He does give us many direct lessons and cautions on prayer, the Lord has also provided wonderful examples of it for us to see.

Looking at prayers in Scripture serves several purposes for us. First, they inspire us with their beauty and power. The language and emotions that pour out of them can stir our spirits. Prayers from the Bible teach us as well: that one submitted heart can move God to work in a situation, and that every believer's unique voice is meant to be heard.

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"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).

The Apostle Paul's instruction to live free of anxiety sounds wonderful, but his original readers may have wondered if that was truly possible. Many Christians are asking that same question today. After all, life is full of troubling situations, and we as humans tend to view anxiety as a reasonable response when they arise.

Philippians 4:6 offers a better way to handle our cares. The main point of this verse is to release concerns quickly and continually to God. While that might be simple to understand, it can be difficult to do. But Paul promised that if we can learn and practice this skill, we'll experience more peace and joy every day.

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The phrase "What Would Jesus Do" has become a popular slogan over the last couple of decades. Individuals as well as whole church bodies have used it as a guide for behavior, and held it up as a standard for living well. There's no denying that asking the question, and applying it, can positively impact all areas of our lives. 

I first became aware of the acronym WWJD during the 1990s, and wondered what it stood for. Since then, I've noticed it on bumper stickers and heard it explained in messages. But what I didn't know was the rich heritage the phrase has, with roots that reach far back into Christian history.

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Caring for a friend or relative who is dealing with an illness, whether temporary or chronic, can be challenging. It takes a physical toll to help them, but can also be emotionally and spiritually draining. In these long days, it can also be hard to find time to connect with God. But the refreshment that comes from His Word is exactly what caretakers need to keep them going. Below are several tips and verses to offer encouragement as you look after a loved one. 

There are many different kinds of love. But the one the Apostle Paul seems to be most focused on, especially in this chapter of 1 Corinthians, is agape love. But this selfless affection is something that we are not able to do on our own - we need God to intervene and equip us. So what does agape love look like, and what do we learn about it from the "love chapter" of the Bible? 

King David is known as an example of a Godly worshipper. In fact, God said about him, “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22). From an early age, David seemed to understand the importance of having a close relationship with his Lord.

A few years ago, I decided I wanted to go deeper in my worship life. It didn’t take long before I realized that there was no one in Scripture who could teach me more than David. So, I began to do an intense study. Through his writings and the accounts of his life, I saw a man who found ways to lift up God every day in all sorts of situations. Getting to know him better has inspired me.

 Here are just a few ideas on how we can worship like David did.

Living with chronic pain can be a daily struggle. When everything else in life feels like it is changing or becoming harder, it can feel impossible to draw close to God. But God is still always there for us, and his Word provides wonderful lessons and encouragement for a life of chronic pain. Below are four ways that God will support you and grow you, even through a difficult time. 

John the Baptist was a key figure in the life of Jesus as he was the one helping "prepare a way" for the Savior. But despite this, his life was filled with hardships and ended in violence. But a closer look at his life reveals countless lessons in faith and trust that we can apply to our own lives. Below are three examples:

The Christmas season abounds with stories and songs about the amazing work that God did on behalf of the world. He sent His only Son to be born as a human baby, to live life among us and finally, to save us. That is definitely cause for joyous celebration 

So many beautiful carols help us remember parts of this wondrous account. One that I’ve always found quite moving is “We Three Kings.” When I sing it, I can't help but think about the trip that the wise men took: How did they know to follow that bright star to find the Christ child? Why did they bring gold, frankincense and myrrh as gifts for Him? 

Using the song as my starting point, I decided to explore Scripture to find both the reasons for the wise men’s journey, and the significance of each of the gifts they brought to Jesus. 

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:10-11).

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'Tis the season for us to take a closer look at the first few chapters of Luke, marveling at the faith of Jesus' earthly mother. Mary is an incredible example for us, but her story bears study the other 11 months of the year as well. Here are four lesson's from Mary's faith that can inspire and encourage us all year long.