Day 120, 30 April 2026



1) PSALMS 133

A Song of Ascents. Of David.



1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

for brothers to dwell together in unity!

2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2 ) It is like precious oil upon the head,

that runs down on the beard-

even Aaron's beard-

and going down to the collar of his garments;

3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) as the dew of Hermon,

that descends upon the mountains of Zion,

for there the Lord has commanded the blessing,

even life forever.



Psalms 133

[1] Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together

in unity!

[2] It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the

beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

[3] As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains

of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.



2) Our Daily Bread for 30 April 2025 titled

Follow God's Way by Karen Huang



Haggai 1:1,5-11



God's Command to Rebuild the Temple

1 (Ezr 2:2; 3:2; 3:8) In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month,

on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came

by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,

governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak,

the high priest, saying,

5 (La 3:40) Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of Hosts: Consider your ways.

6 (Hag 2:16; Zec 8:10) You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat,

but you do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink;

you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns

wages to put them into a bag with holes.

7 (Hag 1:5) Thus says the Lord of Hosts: Consider your ways.

8 (Ps 132:13-14; Hag 2:7) Go up to the mountain and bring wood

and rebuild the house, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,

says the Lord.

9 (Hag 1:4; Isa 40:7) You looked for much, and it came to little;

and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of Hosts.

Because of My house that lies in ruins while each of you runs to his own house.

10 (Lev 26:19; Dt 28:23-24) Therefore the heavens above you have withheld

the dew, and the earth has withheld its crops.

11 (Hag 2:17; Dt 28:22) I called for a drought on the land and the mountains,

on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground brings forth,

on men, on livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.



[1] In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the

first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet

unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua

the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,

[5] Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

[6] Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not

enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but

there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it

into a bag with holes.

[7] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

[8] Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I

will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.

[9] Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought

it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of

mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

[10] Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is

stayed from her fruit.

[11] And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains,

and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon

that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and

upon all the labour of the hands.



Ken avoided the migrant workers in his building. Their habits and way of life,

so different from his, annoyed him. One day, however, while Ken was praying, a

thought pierced him: They've been your neighbors for years, yet not once have

you shared the gospel with them.

Think carefully about your attitude towards them.



Scripture tells us of when God confronted the Israelites with a similar

warning: "Consider your ways" (Haggai 1:7). After their captivity in Babylon,

His people returned to Jerusalem, tasked to rebuild the temple. God had

"moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia" (Ezra 1:1) to order

the construction and provide funds (vv. 2-4). But after the people laid the

foundation, opposition grew (4:1-5), so they neglected the project

for fourteen years.



Through the prophet Haggai, God told them, "Give careful thought to your

ways. . . . My house . . . remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your

own house" (Haggai 1:7, 9). God was saying, "Think carefully about how you're

living. Are you doing what I want you to do?"



God disciplined His people (vv. 5-11), but when they resumed construction, He

encouraged them, "I am with you . . . . Do not fear" (2:4-5). And the temple

was completed in less than five years.



In what area of life do we need to "give careful thought to [our] ways"?

Let's ask God to show us and help us follow His correction.



Reflect & Pray



How is God’s way different from yours?

What things do you need to change to truly obey Him?



Dear God, please help me to follow Your way.



Learn more about the blessings that

come when we follow Him wholeheartedly.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 1 Knowing God's Word Day 5 - Learning by Heart



Ps 119:9,11



9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) How shall a young man keep his way pure?

By keeping it according to Your word.

11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Your word I have hidden in my heart,

that I might not sin against You.



9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?

By taking heed thereto according to thy word.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart,

That I might not sin against thee.



"His heart is not just in it," a gifted musician commented about the

pianist onstage. "He's here at the Orchestra Hall, playing for

thousands of people, an his technique is flawless, but something

is missing - his heart is just not in it."

The psalmist , in Psalm 119, draws a similar parallel. We "Keep our

way pure" through obedience of his Word, by ordering our lives according

to the commands of the Scriptures. But outward behaviour is not the only

essential factor in purity of life. The changes in our behaviour need to

come from the heart, from the inside out. Our "technique" for living

the Christian life may be flawless, but our obedience is founded

in heart motivation, something is certainly missing.

"I seek you with all my heart," the psalmist declares in verse 10.

Thus he can say in verse 11, "Your word I have hidden in my heart,

that I might not sin against You."

Often we refer to memorisation as "learning by heart" - and indeed

"by heart" is the biblical mandate for assimilating God's truth

into our daily lives. "By rote" or "By Mind" leaves us

intellectually overstuffed, yet spiritually starving.

When we try to apply the Word outwardly to our behaviour,

we end up in a tangle of legalism, a log "do list" by which

we hope to please God. But when we set our hearts toward God first,

then changes in our behaviour grow out of love for God and a deep

desire to serve him. Then we are truly loving and obeying God with

our whole hearts.



Application



a) In what ways have I tried to apply God's word to my behaviour

without having the truth firmly in my heart? What was the result?



b) How can I set my heart toward God and give myself more fully

to his Word?



c) What areas of my life need "purifying"? How can these verses

help me to "make my way pure"?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Luke 12:21



21 "So is he who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."



21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.



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



When you are Impatient



James 5:7-11



Patience and Prayer



7 Therefore be patient, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.

Notice how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth

and is patient with it until he receives the early and late rain.

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts,

for the coming of the Lord is drawing near.

9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, lest you be condemned.

Look, the Judge is standing at the door.

10 My brothers, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord,

as an example of suffering and patience.

11 Indeed we count them happy who endure.

You have heard of the patience of Job

and have seen the purpose of the Lord,

that the Lord is very gracious and merciful.



7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold,

the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long

patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord

draweth nigh.

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned:

behold, the judge standeth before the door.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord,

for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience

of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful,

and of tender mercy.



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.