Billy Graham Daily Devotion: Wisdom for Today
Jesus Christ promotes the best interest of the body and mind.
Saturday, February 21, 2026
The Source of Our Strength
“There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aph... View MoreSaturday, February 21, 2026
The Source of Our Strength
“There was a wealthy, influential man named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, of the tribe of Benjamin. His son Saul was the most handsome man in Israel—head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.”
—1 Samuel 9:1–2
David was in many ways the opposite of King Saul. Saul came from a family that loved him; David came from a family that neglected him. Saul was the most handsome man in all Israel; David was a handsome enough guy, but relatively ordinary. Saul was attractive on the outside, but on the inside, he was vain, shallow, and devoid of true integrity. In contrast, David had a deep spiritual life and an intense devotion to God.
If you want to know about David’s spirituality profile, just read some of the psalms he wrote. They are like windows into his soul. For example, in Psalm 23:1–3, he says, “The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name” (NLT). David was perfectly content in his relationship with the Lord.
And in Psalm 139 he says, “O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. . . . Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” (verses 1, 6 NLT). David was in awe of God’s limitless wisdom and knowledge. He felt blessed to be known by the Almighty.
And when he sinned against the Lord, David experienced deep guilt and shame. Look at his words in Psalm 51:2–3: “Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night” (NLT).
Saul’s problem was that he was full of himself. So, the Lord rejected him. David was full of the Lord. So, God accepted him.
As we saw in an earlier devotion this week, the Lord seems to go out of His way to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. That way, people are more likely to recognize the Lord’s hand at work and give credit to Him rather than to human beings.
Just as surely as God plucked David from obscurity, He is looking for men and women whom He can use in these critical days in which we are living. God is looking for people to touch this generation. He is looking for people to change this world. Second Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war” (NLT).
What kind of person does He look for? Someone strong? No. He looks for someone He can show His strength through—someone whose heart is turned toward Him. Does that describe you? Is your heart totally turned toward God? If so, He can and will accomplish great things through you.
Remembering to Forget
Why, my soul, are you downcast? . . . Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5
READ Psalm 42:1-8... View MoreRemembering to Forget
Why, my soul, are you downcast? . . . Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5
READ Psalm 42:1-8
Author Richard Mouw tells of a Black theologian from South Africa who struggled with dark memories of life under apartheid. Mouw wrote, “He told a story about an African child whose teacher asked her to define ‘memory.’ After thinking about it, the child said, ‘Memory is that thing that helps me to forget.’ ” Out of the mouths of babes! Her past held much she didn’t want to recall, so she wanted to remember the good things.
Many carry the scars of terrible, seemingly unforgettable things. But that child’s wisdom offers hope. If we learn to remember better things, those memories can strengthen us to move forward from our painful past. In Psalm 42, the psalmist feels like a deer running for its life. However, he also says, “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng” (v. 4).
The singer’s memories of worshiping God encouraged him to praise, even in the midst of pain. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (v. 5). Remembering who our God is—and that we are His—can help us move beyond the painful past we can’t forget.
By Bill Crowder
REFLECT & PRAY
What dark memories of struggles and pains haunt you? How will you allow the God of all hope to move you beyond them?
Dear Father, You know my scars and wounds, my anger and grief. Please wrap me in Your goodness and mercy; give me healing from hurts long past but not forgotten.
"Blood on the Doorpost Protected by Faith" — Spiritual Warfare for 02/21/2026
It was by faith that Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doors so the one who brings death would not ... View More"Blood on the Doorpost Protected by Faith" — Spiritual Warfare for 02/21/2026
It was by faith that Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doors so the one who brings death would not kill the firstborn sons of Israel. — Hebrews 11:28 NCV
Today's Prayer
Lord God, thank You for the power of protection found in the blood. Thank You for illustrating this power in this ancient story in the nation of Israel. Thank You for saving the firstborn sons of the Israelites from the power of death that visited all the children of the land of Egypt EXCEPT the ones with the blood on the doorpost — the mark on the doorposts on the houses of Your chosen people. I pray the blood of Jesus on my house now. Let that blood be a sign of protection for my family, just as it was in olden times. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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