Quiet Corner

[KakiMeow]

-- PART 3 --

How others have treated you is what they will experience from others. Likewise, how you have treated others is the way you will be treated by others. This is a spiritual law that cannot be broken or violated.

Now, that’s not to say that if you’ve ever been mistreated, it necessarily means you have mistreated someone else in the same way. But when it comes to what you dole out in negative attitudes or negative treatment toward others, without repentance from your heart, that harvest will most certainly find its way back to you.

On the other hand, if you have been a source of blessing to someone else, this spiritual law will see to it that a blessing comes back to you. And if a person has deliberately done wrong or intentionally tried to hurt you, this spiritual law will see to it that they are paid back for what they did to you.

This is a fixed spiritual law that always works, so we must be careful in our treatment of others, for what we do to others is precisely what will be done to us. Only repentance has the power to eradicate bad seed from the ground and thereby stop it from producing fruit.

Paul said that God will recompense “tribulation” to them that trouble you. So what does the word “tribulation” mean? It is the Greek word thlipsis, a word so strong that it leaves no room for misunderstanding. It conveys the idea of a heavy-pressure situation. In his epistles, Paul often used this word to describe grueling, crushing situations that are unbearable, intolerable, and impossible to survive. The word thlipsis is often translated as the word “affliction,” which means the verse could be translated, “God will give a full measure of affliction to those who have afflicted you.”

By using this word, Paul was telling us that when God recompenses people for the evil they have done, it is a full requital. Those who deliberately trouble us will receive a full measure of what they dished out.

The law of sowing and reaping is activated even in this sphere of life, and the way a person does or does not treat others is part of the process that determines the type of justice he receives from the Lord. God’s payback system is just, fair, and equitable.

An interpretive translation of Second Thessalonians 1:6 could read:

“It’s God’s habitual practice and normal behavior to be just and fair, so you can be sure people who have wronged you will get exactly what they deserve. He will see to it that they are reimbursed and that they receive a full settlement of trouble for the traumatic circumstances they have put you through. Those who have afflicted you will receive a full measure of affliction in return.”

I can personally think of no better illustration for the way God’s payback system works than the man I told you about at the beginning of today’s Sparkling Gem. He had an opportunity to repent and get his heart right with God and with me. Instead, he rejected this divinely granted opportunity. I’m so sorry to say that today he is a totally discredited individual. His loss of reputation had nothing to do with our response to his misdeeds, for Denise and I made the decision that we would never tell what he had done. We left it silently in the hands of God, but over time we watched the truth of Second Thessalonians 1:6 come to pass in this man’s life. What he did to others is exactly what was done to him.

In light of this, I encourage you to keep your heart free of bitterness when someone has wronged you, abused you, or falsely accused you. Vengeance is God’s business, and you must not enter this realm that belongs only to Him. Make it your aim to forgive those who have wronged you, and leave the rest in God’s hands. And if you have done wrong to others, I strongly advise you to repent and make that relationship right today. The law of sowing and reaping is actively working, so if you’re wise, you’ll do everything you can to stay on the good side of the law!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY​

Father, after reading today’s Sparkling Gem, I want to make sure that my own heart is right with You and others. I know I haven’t always done right, so if there is anyone to whom I need to go and make it right, please bring it to my memory so I can take care of it today. I want to stay on the good side of the law of sowing and reaping. If I’ve ever sown bad seed, I want to rip it up through the act of repentance. And when I am tempted to be upset with others who have done wrong to me, please help me remember that my focus must be to keep my heart free, and it is Your responsibility to give people what is due them. Help me, Lord, to stay out of the vengeance business and to focus on keeping my own heart pure and clean!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY​

I confess that I keep my heart free of judgment and I do not venture into the realm of revenge. God sees what is happening to me, and I can silently trust that He will be faithful to take care of me and to deal with those who have tried to harm or hinder me. That is His business, not mine, and I refuse to allow my emotions or anyone else to drag me into the ring to fight it out. I will focus on my own heart to make sure that I am inwardly clean. As the Holy Spirit reveals people I’ve hurt or wronged in the past, I will quickly go to them to ask forgiveness because I want to stay on the good side of the law of sowing and reaping!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER​

1. As you read the story of the man who robbed our ministry many years ago, did you think of people who wronged you, your family, or your business in the past? Who was the person who wronged you? Have you really forgiven that person for what he or she did?
2. When you look at what happened to that person’s life since the time he or she wronged you, what do you see has happened? Has the law of sowing and reaping produced its results in that individual’s life?
3. Is there anyone you’ve wronged in the past with whom you have yet to make it right? Now that you understand you need to communicate with that person and ask for forgiveness, what steps do you need to take? Is it possible that some of the trouble you’ve experienced in life is a result of the law of sowing and reaping bringing a negative harvest back to you because of what you did to someone else?

https://renner.org/article/gods-payback-system-for-those-who-trouble-you/

 

[the only way]

 

[KakiMeow]

Letting Go of the Old​

You were taught . . . to put off your old self . . . and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
— Ephesians 4:22-24

There comes a time when carrying the baggage of our old life just weighs too much.

I remember a season where I kept rehearsing past failures, clinging to shame like a heavy coat in summer. I knew God was calling me to move forward, but it felt safer to stay in the familiar—even if it was painful.

Ephesians 4:22-24 hits home here. Paul reminds us that the old self—the habits, thought patterns, and lies we’ve believed—must be put off. Like clothing that doesn’t fit anymore, we’re meant to take it off so that we can live in the freedom God offers.

Letting go isn’t always a dramatic moment. Sometimes it’s just quiet and deliberate. It includes choosing not to respond the way we used to. It means surrendering a mindset that has held us captive. It involves refusing to let guilt define us when grace is freely offered. We can’t fully embrace the new if we are still clinging to the old.

What is God inviting you to release today? Whatever it is, trust that his grace is enough to carry you forward.

Dear Jesus, help me to release what no longer serves your purpose in my life. Give me strength to let go of the old and to step into the new with you. Amen.

About the author — Darrell Delaney

https://todaydevotional.com/

 

[KakiMeow]

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5 NIV)

It is clear from this that Christians are expected to experience suffering. We don't like that fact, but, nevertheless, it is a fact. In his letter to the Philippians, Chapter 1, Verse 29, the Apostle Paul puts it very plainly, "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake," (Philippians 1:29 RSV). So those who think that becoming a Christian will remove them from suffering have been seriously misled and self-deceived, for the Scriptures themselves teach that we are to expect suffering.

The Greek word for suffering, basically, is translated as "tribulation, something that causes distress." It can range from minor annoyances that we go through every day, to major disasters that come sweeping down out of the blue and leave us stricken and smitten. These are the sufferings that we might go through, the tribulations.

According to Romans 5, the Christian response to suffering is to rejoice: "Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings." Here is where many people balk. They say, "I can't buy that! Do you mean to say that God is telling me that when I am hurting and in pain, going through mental and physical torment, I am expected to be glad and happy and rejoice in that? What kind of a nut is this Paul, anyway? It's not human, not natural!" There are many who feel this way. I think we all easily reflect the attitude of the lady whose pastor went to see her when she was going through trouble. She kept complaining and grousing and griping about it. He stopped her and said, "I don't think you should talk that way. Christians are not to do that." She was very upset. "Why, I don't understand, pastor. I think that when God sends us tribulation, he expects us to tribulate a little bit!"

Most of us would feel the same way. We feel like tribulating, and we do. But it is instructive to note that not only does Paul tell us to rejoice, but this is the unanimous testimony of every writer of the New Testament. We are told by all to rejoice in our suffering. First Peter 4:12 says, "Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is coming upon you to test you, as though some strange thing happened to you." It is not strange, it is normal. James 1:2 says, "Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into various tribulation." There is that word again: joy, rejoicing. Even the Lord Jesus told us, in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are you when men persecute you for righteousness' sake, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [What does he say?] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For so persecuted they the prophets before you," (Matthew 5:11-12 KJV). Paul's call to rejoice in suffering is found everywhere in Scripture.


https://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/romans/rejoicing-in-suffering

 

[KakiMeow]

Daily Devotional
By Steven H. Sanchez

Numbers: God Punishes​

Numbers 11:1–35

Each year I get the privilege of welcoming freshman students to the Moody Bible Institute. In those first weeks they want to know what they are required to do for class. They also want to know the consequences if they fail to do what they are supposed to do.

As we turn to the book of Numbers, we learn that disobedience to God carries consequences. While we have just learned that God provided a way for forgiveness, we also know that God is willing to hold the line even if it means punishing His people. This is a significant theme in the Bible.

After meeting God at Mt. Sinai, the nation made its way to the land God had promised. Along the way He tested them to see if they would obey Him. Often their living circumstances were difficult.

They were in a desert without the food and comforts Egypt had provided.
Often, they complained bitterly (v. 4). Ironically, they forgot they were slaves in Egypt!

On their desert journey, God had provided miraculous food in the form of manna (v. 9). Still, they complained. We see that, more than just a sign of displeasure, their complaining signified a deep spiritual problem. They refused to trust that God would bring them to the promised land. They doubted He would care for them. They even suspected He meant ill for them.

All of these were deeply displeasing to God. He made promises to them based on His character. Their behavior implied He was unreliable. They were committing the sin of unbelief (Heb. 3:19).

As tragic as these narratives are, they taught Israel and teach Bible readers today an important lesson: God judges unbelief. We learn that unbelief, like other sins, has consequences. God has made promises to you. Trust Him!

Go Deeper
Why did the Israelites complain? How did their complaints signify unbelief? Have you struggled to believe God’s promises? Recommit yourself to believing His promises today.

Pray with Us
As we move to the book of Numbers, we receive a somber warning about the sin of unbelief. Almighty God, may we never forget that Your mercy and forgiveness go together with judgment. Teach us to trust You completely.

The anger of the LORD burned against the people.Numbers 11:33

https://www.todayintheword.org/dail...rough-the-old-testament/numbers-god-punishes/

 

[the only way]

 

[KakiMeow]

Giving Thanks in Trials​

• By Bill Gaultiere

Our Prince of Peace told us to expect troubles and to “take heart” from him and how he dealt with them (Matthew 9:22; Mark 6:50; John 16:33). The Apostles in their many persecutions and sufferings encouraged us to follow the Lord’s example:
Paul taught, “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
James, the brother of our Lord, agreed, “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2).
Peter also urged us to praise God in difficult and painful situations (1 Peter 1:3-9).
Being thankful when we have problems? Having “pure joy” in pain and injustice? Praising God when things go wrong?

The Kingdom of the Heavens is for Us!​

In The Apprentice Prayer after accepting our tribulations we exclaim with gratitude to God, “Yes, today I will rejoice because I am in your eternal kingdom, you love me, and you are teaching me!” Even in bad circumstances the Kingdom of the Heavens is present for us and it’s flowing with rivers of righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17). Let’s drink in!

We’re shifting our focus from the storm thundering to the Lord resting. Instead of stressing out over changing our unhappy situation, we’re praying to change our unhappy self, focusing on the one thing in life that we’re responsible for, which also is our greatest opportunity: asking Jesus to teach us how to become more like him.

Join in the Work of His Kingdom​

Paul helps us adjust our perspective. He says that our troubles are “light and momentary” and the image of Christ that God is forming in us is “an eternal glory that outweighs them all.” When we “fix our eyes on” this we are “renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Accordingly, I like to pray along these lines:

Lord Jesus, you are wonderful to me and you are doing something good that I’m not yet seeing. So I’m watching to see what you’re doing in this situation and what you want to teach me. I’m ready to join with you in the work of your kingdom and to follow you however you lead me in this trial.
We may suffer great losses, injustices, or pain and from the world’s perspective things may not go well for us. But if we realize that we can thrive in The Kingdom — and therefore do not need to be overwhelmed by or defined by our problem situation — then we have reason to be wonderfully happy!


https://www.soulshepherding.org/giving-thanks-trials/

 

[the only way]

 

[KakiMeow]

On December 9, 1987, a squirrel chewed through a power line in Connecticut, and the Nasdaq’s vast financial machinery blinked, sighed, and went dark. Some of the world’s largest corporations stood limp and listless. Global economies watched, sweating bullets for nearly an hour and a half. All because of one tenacious, furry rodent.

Scripture tells many stories of something or someone small making a big impact. But God can turn meagerness into something mighty. John recounts how Jesus fed a hungry crowd (five thousand men, probably fifteen thousand with women and children included) when “a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish” handed over his small lunch (John 6:9). In the Old Testament we remember that a young shepherd boy named David trusted God and slayed a giant (1 Samuel 17).

And Christ repeatedly insisted that the kingdom of God is something like a mustard seed, “the smallest of all seeds” (Matthew 13:32).

When we ponder the many complex global crises in addition to the bewildering concerns in our own neighborhoods and families, we’re tempted to believe that our seemingly small efforts lack power. But Scripture tells us to act in obedience and trust as God helps us—assured that with Him, small things can become mighty (John 6:10-12).

Reflect & Pray​

Where do you feel small or powerless? How do you sense God inviting you to surrender your smallness to Him?


Dear God, I often feel small, with nothing to offer. Please help me remember that with You, small things become mighty.

 

[KakiMeow]

Joshua: Mission Accomplished​

Read Joshua 23:1–16

Think about the last time you completed a significant project. Do you remember the feeling? Do you remember the moments when you almost quit? Do you remember the little victories along the way that kept you going? Finally, you arrived at the finish line!

When Israel crossed the Jordan River into the land God had promised them, they were at the finish line of a journey that had taken 40 years and two generations. But because the land was inhabited, Israel would have to drive out the people who lived there. God was punishing the Canaanites and using Israel to do it. He was making sure the land would be a safe place where His people could thrive.

While the Canaanite coalition had been defeated, many of them remained in the land and represented a significant temptation for Israel. So, with his final words Joshua encouraged the people to remember that God fulfilled everything He promised them (23:14). They should remain loyal to Him with all their hearts!

He warned them against making alliances with the Canaanites who remained (v. 12). These alliances were often sealed with marriages, which meant Israelite families would be merged with Canaanite families. Often this meant that the people of God would worship the gods of the Canaanites. The result of this behavior would be that Israel would not enjoy the land (v. 13).

As the curtain closed on the book of Joshua, the nation stood at a crossroad. Their next steps were critical. Would they follow through on the victories that had brought them control of the land by remaining faithful to God, or would they give in to the temptation and ally themselves with the Canaanites?

Why was the entry into the promised land such a significant crossroads for Israel? What is the danger for us when we experience victory? How can we avoid letting our guard down at those moments?


Pray with Us

Almighty God, thank You for the encouragement from Joshua, which resonates in our hearts centuries later: “Not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed” (Joshua 23:14).


By Steven H. Sanchez
https://www.todayintheword.org/dail...he-old-testament/joshua-mission-accomplished/

 

[the only way]

 

[KakiMeow]

Trust God’s Plan for Your Future​

Joyce Meyer – Jan 10, 2026

Adapted from Wake Up to the Word

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMPC)

We would all like to know what the future holds for us. God does have a good plan for each of us, but we have to be willing to follow His plan rather than going our own way in order to experience it.

God wants us to live the good life that He has prearranged and made ready for us to live. In order to press on, we must forget what lies behind us. Your future has no room in it for bad feelings from your past. Take the good things from the past and the lessons you’ve learned along with you but let go of anything that’s holding you back or keeping you stuck in fear or insecurity of any kind.

You can have hope instead of hopelessness. Start believing today that your future is filled with good things and refuse to settle for less than God’s best for you.

Prayer of the Day:
Lord, I trust Your plan for my life. Help me release the past, overcome fear and insecurity, and look forward with faith, knowing my future is filled with hope, Amen.

 

[the only way]

 

[KakiMeow]

We live in a world where the internet forgets nothing—every photo, post, and blog entry is seemingly stored forever. One major search engine, however, introduced a privacy feature allowing users to request the removal of personal data like phone numbers, home addresses, and more. While this doesn’t erase the data from the internet entirely, it significantly reduces its visibility, giving people a sense of control over their digital footprints.

This idea of “scrubbing” the past echoes the prophet’s words in Isaiah 43:18-19. God said, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing.” These verses were spoken to Israel during their exile in Babylon—a period of deep despair and longing for restoration. God commanded His people to not fixate on their past failures or the pain of captivity but to look forward to the new work He was about to do—a new and more significant exodus—their deliverance from Babylon and return to their homeland. He wasn’t just erasing the past but “making a way” (v. 19) to a future filled with hope and purpose.

Instead of dwelling on failures or regrets, let’s trust that God has “scrubbed” our past sins, regrets, and shame and—through Jesus’ sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10)—“remembers [our] sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25). God propels us toward the future He’s preparing.

Reflect & Pray​

Why is it so difficult to let go of the past? How might you deepen your trust in God for new beginnings?

Dear God, please help me say goodbye to my past and look forward to the future.​

Today's Insight​

God exiled Judah to Babylon because of her sins (Isaiah 39:6-7). Hundreds of years earlier, He’d mightily rescued them from the Egyptians (43:16-17), but they weren’t to “dwell on the past” (v. 18) because their miraculous journey in the first exodus would pale in comparison with the “new thing” God would do for them (v. 19). He’d bring them back from exile (vv. 5-7) and give them a glorious future (vv. 20-21). More importantly, He’d blot out their sins (v. 25). This forgiveness wasn’t because they were deserving—for they’d failed to honor Him as their God (vv. 22-24)—but because of who God is (v. 25).

God forgives our sins because He’s “a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love” (Nehemiah 9:17). We can look forward to the future rather than dwell on our past sins because of the “new thing” God did through Jesus.


By Marvin Williams

https://ourdailybreadministries.ca/2026/09/01/the-future-gods-preparing/

 

[the only way]

 

[KakiMeow]

New Life in the Spirit​

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:9-11

If Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
— Romans 8:10

I used to think that becoming a new person in Christ meant I had to change myself—clean up, perform better, strive harder. But that left me exhausted and frustrated. The truth is that we’re not called to muster up new life in our own strength. That’s the Holy Spirit’s role.

Romans 8 reminds us that if Christ lives in us, then his Spirit breathes life into places that were once lifeless. The Spirit doesn’t just improve our old selves—he transforms us from the inside out. That’s powerful. It means we can stop trying to force change; instead, we can be open to what the Spirit wants to do in us.

Whether you’re battling old habits, healing from deep wounds, or longing to change in new ways, take heart. You are not alone, and you are not powerless. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. That’s not just motivation—it’s resurrection power at work.

Let today be about surrender, not striving. The Spirit knows what needs to go and what needs to grow.

Holy Spirit, thank you for living in me and giving me new life. Help me to surrender today and to trust that you have the power to change and renew me. Amen.

About the author — Darrell Delaney​

https://todaydevotional.com/

 

[KakiMeow]

From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
—Psalm 90:2

Have you ever thought about the collapse of time? From the days of the Lord Jesus Christ until about 1830, man could not travel any faster than a horse. In 1960, a man went into space and traveled at a speed of 18,000 miles an hour. Look how far we have come in so short a time! Sometimes when I read the papers, I think we are trying to run the Space Age with horse-and-buggy moral and spiritual equipment.

Technology, you see, has no morals; and with no moral restraints man will destroy himself ecologically, militarily, or in some other way. Only God can give a person moral restraints and spiritual strength. While our world is shaking and crumbling, we need to realize that one thing will never change, and that is God. He is the same today as He was ten million years ago, and He will be the same ten million years from today. We are like grasshoppers; we appear and hop around a bit on the earth, and then we are gone.

From Day by Day with Billy Graham, © 1976 BGEA

Prayer for the day
Almighty God, to know You are unchanging gives me peace in a frighteningly changing world.


https://billygraham.org/devotions/the-unchanging-god

 

[KakiMeow]

What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later.
—Romans 8:18 (TLB)

Nowhere does the Bible teach that Christians are to be exempt from the tribulations and natural disasters that come upon the world. It does teach that the Christian can face tribulation, crisis, calamity, and personal suffering with a supernatural power that is not available to the person outside Christ. The early Christians were able to experience joy in their hearts in the midst of trials, troubles, and depression.

They counted suffering for Christ not as a burden or misfortune, but as a great honor, as evidence that Christ counted them worthy to witness to Him through suffering. They never forgot what Christ Himself had gone through for their salvation; and to suffer for His name’s sake was regarded as a gift rather than a cross. Christians can rejoice in tribulation because they have eternity’s values in view.

When the pressures are on, they look beyond their present predicaments to the glories of heaven. The thought of the future life with its prerogatives and joys helps to make the trials of the present seem light and transient.


Prayer for the day

Father, help me to go beyond the afflictions and tribulations of our age, and to look toward the inheritance reserved for us in heaven.

https://billygraham.org/devotions/eternity

 

[the only way]

 

[KakiMeow]

Today's Scripture​

James 4:13-17

Today's Devotional​

Vietnamese collector Pham has salvaged twenty church clocks from around Europe, many of which had been replaced with electronic versions. One clock, made in Italy, dates back to 1750 and, remarkably, still keeps time accurately. Pham enjoys restoring and preserving the timepieces, saying they remind him of how precious time is and to savor each moment.

In James 4, the writer encouraged his readers to recognize the preciousness of time by reminding them that their lives are like “a mist that appears for a little while” before vanishing (James 4:14). James warned against making plans to “go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money” (v. 13) without consulting God. Instead of presuming on God for the timing and success of their ventures, he reminded them that they “do not even know what will happen tomorrow” (v. 14).

Designing our own successes is actually boastful and arrogant if it leaves God out of the picture.

When we recognize the brevity of our lives, we’re able to hold our plans for the future more loosely and better embrace the present moment. We live and work according to God’s design and purpose, which means we can humbly entrust our future to Him and savor each day as the gift from Him it truly is—no matter what it may hold.

Reflect & Pray​

When have you left God out of your plans? How can you embrace today for the gift it is?

Thank You, God, for the gift of today. I trust my future to You.

Discover more by reading Making Decisions God's Way.

Today's Insights​

James has a strong warning. “Now listen,” he says (James 4:13), before cautioning us against trusting in the reliability of our plans.

It’s not wrong to make plans; in fact, it’s foolish not to do so. But it’s arrogant to make those plans without consulting the wisdom of the Bible and looking to our heavenly Father to instruct us by His Spirit.

No one “plans” to have trials, nor do we want them, but some of God’s greatest gifts are surprises that grow out of immense difficulties.

In the opening lines of this letter, James says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (1:2-3).

As we entrust our lives and future to God, we can hold our plans loosely. And even in the midst of trials, we can treasure each day as a gift.


https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category/today-is-precious