2) Our Daily Bread for 16 April 2026 titled

Hollow Willow by Lisa M. Samra



Proverbs 11:11-13



11 (Pr 29:8) By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,

but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who is void of wisdom despises his neighbor,

but a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 (Lev 19:16; Pr 20:19) A talebearer reveals secrets,

but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.



11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted:

But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour:

But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13 A talebearer revealeth secrets:

But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.



When explaining how valuable he found time with an older advisor who regularly

listened to his concerns, Tomáš said, "He is my hollow willow." When I looked

at him blankly, Tomáš explained that the phrase is a Slovak expression

signifying someone who keeps your secrets. In essence, the person is like a

willow tree holding confidential information safely within its trunk.



It's a treasure to have someone to whom we can confide our deepest fears and

longings. Perhaps speaking from his own experience, in a section of Proverbs

highlighting the power of our words, King Solomon commended the individual who

displays discretion or can "[hold] their tongue" (Proverbs 11:12). He also

contrasted two people: "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy

person keeps a secret" (v. 13). The comparison is a helpful reminder to

carefully steward private conversations, though we shouldn't remain silent

if we're genuinely concerned for someone's safety.



In our digital world where we can quickly spread information, it can be

tempting (and easy) to share juicy details that might generate reactions.

But gossip not only hurts the individual who trusted you enough to share,

it also causes significant damage to relationships when confidences

are broken. We can all aspire to be "hollow willows," people of integrity

who can be trusted to keep a confidence.



Reflect & Pray



Who's someone you know that embodies the ideal of a "hollow willow?"

How might you hold others' words well?



Dear God, please help me steward others' words responsibly.



Listen and learn more about rediscovering

friendship.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 5 The Way Out



1 Cor 10:13



13 (1Co 1:9; 2Pe 2:9) No temptation has taken

you except what is common to man. God is faithful,

and He will not permit you to be tempted above

what you can endure, but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.



13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common

to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be

tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.



Becky had experienced some hard knocks in the past few weeks; the stress

was beginning to show, and she wasn't sure she should handle anything else.

"Why me?" Becky wept, covering her face. "I just can't stand it any more!

I can't pay my bills; I just lost my job, and now my car broke down

on the highway. How much more of this can I take?"

Some people seem to have more than their share of trouble and temptation.

Within six months, one family faced financial trouble, cancer, quadruple

bypass surgery, and leukemia; their trials brought them face to face with

anger, bitterness, and despair as well. Other people seem to go through

life with relatively minor stresses and few real temptations to sin.

But whether our problems are great or small, they are part of the common

thread that ties humanity together. All of us face temptation; it is ,

Paul says, "Common to man." But Paul assures us that

"God ... will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear."

Often what we can bear is more that what we think we can bear. God will use

the troubled times in our lives for our maturity in him, but he promises

as well that he will not let temptation break us. He will provide "a way out,"

"a way of escape".

Sometimes the "way out" is true escape, being removed from what caused the

trouble. At other times, rather than being removed from it, we must

withstand the stress, face the temptation, enure the pain. Whether we escape

or endure, God is faithful to provide what we need; we can trust him

not to give us more than we can bear.



Application



a) Have I ever faced more stress or temptation than I thought I could bear?



b) Under what circumstances has God provided an "escape" for me?

When have I had to walk "through" my difficulties?



c) How can today's verse encourage me when times are tough?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Gen 13:2,5-6,14-17



2 (Ge 24:35; Ps 112:1-3) Abram was very wealthy in livestock,

in silver and in gold.

5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents.

6 (Ge 36:6-7) But the land was not able to support them

both dwelling together because their possessions were so great.

14 (Ge 28:14; Dt 3:27) After Lot had departed from him,

the Lord said to Abram,

"Lift up now your eyes, and look from the place where you are,

northward and southward and eastward and westward.

15 (Ge 12:7; 2Ch 20:7) All the land that you see I will give to you

and to your descendants forever.

16 (Ge 28:14; Nu 23:10) I will make your descendants like the dust

of the earth, so that if a man could number the dust of the earth,

then your descendants could also be numbered.

17 Arise, and walk throughout the land across its length

and its width, for I will give it to you."



2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together:

for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.

14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him,

Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward,

and southward, and eastward, and westward:

15 for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it,

and to thy seed for ever.

16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man

can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it;

for I will give it unto thee.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



God's Generous Provision



Ps 145:13b-21



13 Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The Lord upholds all who fall,

and raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait upon You,

and You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways

and loving in all His works.

18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,

to all who call upon Him in truth.

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and will save them.

20 The Lord preserves all those who love Him,

but all the wicked He will destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,

and let all people bless His holy name

forever and ever.



13 And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall,

And raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait upon thee;

And thou givest them their meat in due season.

16 Thou openest thine hand,

And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways,

And holy in all his works.

18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,

To all that call upon him in truth.

19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him:

He also will hear their cry, and will save them.

20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him:

But all the wicked will he destroy.

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD:

And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.



Remember God's promises when You pray



The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.