Your Daily Dose of Inspiration
Welcome to Keep Him First, where my hope is to deliver daily inspirational messages and images. Our mission is to uplift your spirit and provide moments of reflection throughout your day. Join our community and let's grow together in faith and purpose.
October 26 2026 • As believers, we all have experienced specific seasons of life when we find ourselves in the middle of an unforeseen circumstance, an unwanted transition period, an unexpected change, a sudden loss, or a difficult time of waiting. Challenging, difficult moments may happen suddenly, interrupting peace and stability, leaving us feeling unprepared and vulnerable. Greetings, Saints. Scripture reminds us to "count it all joy" when facing trials. It's not recommended that we pretending to be happy about pain, grief, or tragedy, nor does it mean ignoring real sorrow. Instead, we are to develop an attitude of deep trust that God can use hard things for a good purpose. The difficulty acts like a test that strengthens our faith. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Instead of leaving us broken and confused, when we endure through hardships, it develops patience and a mature spiritual character. The Bible tells us, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory... ." As believers we must remember that God takes painful and broken situations and weaves them together for a greater outcome that lifts us up and makes us better. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 25 2026 • As believers, we strive to live in ways that keep us connected to God. From time to time, however, we "stumble" and may stray. Greetings, Saints. Maybe we skipped setting aside time for daily prayer and reading our Bible. Maybe the noise of digital and social media gradually made it harder to notice God's voice. An open heart toward God will be compromised when we harbor anger or resentment, or a lack of grace toward others. Seeking human approval above God or relying purely on our own strength instead of depending on Him can cloud our decision making which may block the spiritual connection we need. The good news is God is always ready to welcome us back. "Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart." As believers, we can trust that His forgiveness is already available through Jesus. We can return to daily Bible reading and quiet time for prayer. "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." When we admit our actions, repent and agree with God that our path was wrong, we're making that conscious effort to turn back to the Father who eagerly extends grace and forgiveness. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 24 2026 • It's very likely that each of us as believers has experienced the presence of God but not in the way we thought. Greetings, Saints! Scripture says, "Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence; they rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation." The Bible describes God's presence in dramatic and bold ways: the burning bush, people suddenly speaking in tongues for examples and maybe we expected God's presence in the same way. But God’s presence is not always so bold and obvious as we wish it would be. God’s presence is in a gentle whisper, that soft quiet voice that keeps us safe and at peace. God's presence is the faith and trust each of us experience by receiving the Holy Spirit. Here's the good news: God's presence is ALWAYS with us. What changes is our own awareness of His presence. It requires faith to keep believing that whether or not He’s showing Himself in the way we would prefer, God goes with us by way of the divine gift of His Holy Spirit. Maybe it's that quiet time we find each day to pray that we feel the Holy Spirit. Maybe it's during quiet time while we're driving that we feel God's presence. And maybe it's the devotional time we spend each day reading Scripture and sharing our good thoughts with others. Whatever the time and place is for each of us, let's go there as often as we need. When we believe that God is with us, it removes all fears and discouragement and return us to the peace only the Holy Spirit brings. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 23 2026 • Every day, it's important to have a connection to God. One way to do that is through prayer. Greetings, Saints. In order to get the greatest benefit of our time with God through prayer we must first quiet our minds. Look for a point during the day such as early morning or a quiet break in the midday or time in the evening. We must guard our mental space by stepping away from news feeds, social media, or television before we sit down to pray. Instead of starting with a heavy list of problems, we should begin with gratitude to change our perspective and calm the waters around us. We are like a small boat tied to a dock that when the water is still, the boat is still. Then it's time to share our honest thoughts, thanks, and worries. No need to look for the most eloquent phrases or colorful terms and words, but pray in a common everyday conversational voice. When we begin to pray and we pray from our hearts, the Bible tells us, "that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him." God actively watches and listens to those who seek to live uprightly. He promises an open ear to believers like us who earnestly turn to Him and know the comfort and peace found in prayer. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 22 2026 • As believers, we know God has a plan for our lives, a destination of hope He's planned for us while He continues to help us with solutions to our problems. Greetings, Saints. It's important to remind ourselves how we must be patient, learn to enjoy where we are at the moment as God guides us to our next level. Life is not only about where God is taking us, but how we get there. Many times, believers like us rush through the day, trying to force our way through the challenges and setbacks we encounter when we should slow down and enjoy the journey. It's time we remember that the Bibles tells us, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." We are strengthened while we trust and follow Him, but the journey is not always comfortable. All the difficulties, delays, and betrayals are a part of His plan as He continues to move us forward. "God works all things for [our] good", but we must be joyfully expectant and stay in the present. Today as always, let's celebrate the love and kindness of Jesus, be patient, be present and see God in all that we do. • Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 21 2026 • God created man and woman and a perfect and beautiful place to live. The Garden of Eden, also called the Garden of God is described in the Bible as a lush, sacred, and abundant sanctuary where a single river flowed out of Eden to water the garden. God caused every tree that was pleasant to the sight and good for food to grow. Located in the middle of the garden however was the Tree of Life granting eternal life to those who ate from it from which eating was strictly forbidden by God. The garden had everything the man and the woman needed, including unlimited, unrestricted access to God Himself. Prompted by a deceptive serpent, the woman and then the man ate fruit from the forbidden tree. The Bible tells us, “Just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus Christ] the many will be made righteous.” Because of Jesus, today the most beautiful home of all awaits believers like us. Jesus promised a better home to His followers and in Revelation, John tells us, “I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God’ ”. As with Eden, the greatest thing about this home for believers like us, is not its beauty or provision, but God’s presence, for God Himself will be with us. Out of the beauty of the Garden of Eden came tragedy, and by God's grace, out of tragedy came eternal beauty. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 20 2026 • God blessed us this day with a message of hope. In those moments when we're in an empty place, we must remember this is not how our story ends. God has things in our future greater than we can imagine. We may not understand the hardship we're experiencing at the moment, but it’s all a part of His plan. Greetings, Saints. We all experience fears in life. The Bible says, “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place”. The trials that are before us may seem as steep and dangerous as a cliff with jagged rocks below, and the risk of being hurt may seem very real, but the Bible says, “I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me”. Scripture assures us that because “the Lord is with [us],” we don’t need to “be afraid”. Human help may fail us, but God is our trustworthy refuge when we feel overwhelmed by our struggles. He is our “helper”. We can trust Him to care for us during life’s most trying and fearful moments. Despite any falls, scars, and pain in life we might endure, His saving presence is our “strength” and “defense”. Lean on Him, keep believing, keep living with passion, keep expecting His favor. Be comforted knowing that believers like us can live in gratitude to a God we can trust in all circumstances. God never fails! Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 19 2026 • In good times, it's easy to give thanks for all that God has provided. But when enemies rage against us, the righteous can say, “Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light”. Greetings, Saints. Resilience is one of the blessings to those who choose God as our foundation knowing He is on our side. The Lord “directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of [our] lives. Though [we may] stumble, [we] will never fall, for the LORD holds[us] by the hand”. Believers like you and me should expect to encounter trouble and hardship in life. God’s people aren’t promised freedom from losses, trials, or attacks of the enemy. We are able to move forward wholly trusting in the Lord because He rescues us out of all our misfortunes. God’s Word promises abundant blessings and rewards for those who commit to doing what is right. Scripture warns against the disastrous consequences for those who choose to follow a different path. As believers, we should remember that no matter how many times we fall, and no matter if the fall seems to be completely irreversible, the setback is only temporary. With strong faith and trust in Him, we are destined to rise again. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 18 2026 • The Bible tells us, "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD". Greetings, Saints. God’s ways are not our ways. Great and wonderful things come from Him, but so do disappointments, the closed doors, and people who do us wrong. We have to trust God’s process and accept how the negative moments are necessary. Believers like us know how things that happen may not make sense, but God wouldn’t have allowed it if it wasn’t going to serve His plan. The Bible tells us, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him...". We must keep moving forward, keep doing the right thing, continue to be kind, serving others, and staying faithful. God does not waste anything we go through. Scripture says, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle." What was meant for our harm, He will turn to our advantage. We must focus on keeping ourselves alert and "cheerfully expectant". Believers like us must not quit during hard times but "pray all the harder". Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 17 2026 • What human beings see as "luck" merely is the sum of all the factors we cannot see or control. The Bible tells us, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Greeting, Saints. No event good or bad ever takes God by surprise. Some things do happen "by chance," from the human perspective, but they are not random and ultimately happen according to God's will. As believers, we must continue to acknowledge God's providence which prevents us from believing we are entirely self-made. When we recognize that God has the final word, it eliminates fear-based decision-making and blind superstition. Rather than using "luck" as our excuse for reckless choices, the Bible encourages us to act with wisdom and discernment while trusting Him with the result. We can trust in God and His care even in those times when things may not go as we planned. Believers like us are assured by His Word that all circumstances work together for good according to His purpose. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 16 2026 • A wonderful Bible verse for help and direction is Philippians 4:6–7 which begins, "Do not be anxious about anything..." As believers we are to put our trust in God and not to worry about anything. Greetings, Saints. Today however, I read another version of Philippians 4:64-7: Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." AMEN! It helps to read interpretations of well-known Scripture which enhances our understanding and gives us an even deeper appreciation for God's Word. The message is still strong and consistent that believers like us must abandon fretting and anxiety. Instead of struggling with anxious thoughts, we must bring specific requests and gratitude to God. By doing these things, we will gain a deeper sense of peace—knowing everything is coming together—replacing the panic. Peace arrives naturally when Christ takes the place of worry as we keep Him at the heart of our daily lives. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 15 2026 • As believers, we know about the goodness of God and are encouraged to spread this good news. What we may lack, however, is the expertise and confidence how to tell others. Greetings, Saints. There may also be a level of fear when we attempt to speak to non-believers who may treat us poorly when we talk about God and Jesus Christ. Peter felt an urgency to spread the gospel immediately after being filled by the Spirit. The Spirit is the One who empowers and motivates believers like us to spread the good news and gives us the words to speak. Scripture reminds us how Jesus instructed His disciples not to worry when they are fearful in telling others about God's goodness. The words spoken in those moments do not rely on human eloquence or status; instead, "it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." The Spirit continues to motivate and compel believers today to tell others about Christ. Like Peter, we can trust the Holy Spirit to provide the words to tell others of the Savior who died and rose again so that all who receive Him will be changed by the good news of God’s grace. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 14 2026 • Wherever God has us, it's up to us to be our best. We must keep being faithful and doing the right thing even when we feel we're not where we want to be, and we're doing less than what we're capable of doing. Greetings, Saints. God asks us to hold onto hope in the midst of tough times and then wait. Our hope must rest in the fact that we serve a God that is not done: He is still working on each of us. He continuously observes how we handle minor responsibilities before trusting us with bigger opportunities. He uses our trials, challenges, and waiting periods to build perseverance, emotional maturity, and spiritual strength. There will be times when God quietly closes doors, pauses our progress, or removes relationships and distractions that are not leading to where He has us to go. What's most important is that all these things teach us to rely on His wisdom through prayer, scripture, and quiet listening, reminding us not to rush ahead on our own strength. When we don’t pause, reflect, and wait, we miss the miracles happening all around us. God wants to work through us in the middle of our waiting. He is working in us in the midst of our difficulties. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 13 2026 • We can see God all around us but how? Greetings, Saints. Reading and studying the Bible helps us learn God's character which will help us recognize His voice when it matches His written word. God provides for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs through everyday means. He often works through unexpected methods to make sure basic needs are met. Daily routines like eating a meal, making all the traffic lights so we arrive safely to our destination, or even choosing the short line at the checkout counter will remind us of His provision, patience, and His grace. Our ability to show love to others or seeing prayers answered, also reflects God's active work around us. Believers like us should set aside time each day for quiet moments to talk to God, listen for His voice, and experience the positive direction He sets before us. Keep a mental list of daily blessings—big and small—to train our eyes and ears, so we won't miss those moments when they happen. Recognizing God's work means moving past hearing His word to actively living it out and putting Jesus at the center of everything we do. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 12 2026 • God helps believers like us deal with temptation. He doesn't allow believers to be tested beyond what we can handle and ensures us that every temptation remains manageable with His help. Greetings, Saints. When temptation arises in our spirit, God shows us a path we can choose that will remove us from the situation and will reveal ways to endure what we're dealing with. As believers we can call on Jesus to show us ways to endure any bad situation as, "we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." God also provides the Holy Spirit that dwells inside each of us to transform our desires and replaces the self-pleasing urges with the desire to please Him. We must continually ask God for strength and stay ready through prayer to keep from falling into worldly traps. Each day while we strive to do the right thing, the closer we can get to God through prayer will strip temptation of its power. Active resistance backed by God's strength causes the enemy to retreat as we tap into God's Word for our core defense. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 11 2026 • In daily life, we often seek temporary relief when stress surrounds us. True peace and rest come not from something, but from someone. Greetings, Saints. For believers like us, this peace is more than a feeling; it is a gift received through faith in Jesus. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." During life's struggles, He offers rest for our souls and freedom from the burden of sin. Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus saved us from sin's penalty and broke its power in our lives. He invites us to walk with Him through difficult times and receive the peace and rest only He can give. Believers like us, burdened by sin or striving to earn salvation through works, should accept Christ's invitation, place all our hopes in His death and resurrection, and receive the "rest" He has promised. Remember this: "Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For we who have believed enter that rest..." Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 10 2026 • Believers like you and me must stay grateful and thankful for how God makes all things new through Christ. The Bible says, "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Whenever we're coming out of the wilderness (difficult moments), that's the time to focus on the newness—the "rivers in the desert" —that we find each day. Greetings, Saints. Each morning is a new opportunity to reflect on God’s work in our life. Believers like us must continually remind ourselves that we are not forging through this life blindly. God already has ordered our steps. All we must do is have strong and steadfast faith to follow Him, knowing He makes the way. Each of us has that desire for everything in our life to be perfect, but we cannot do this ourselves. We have to rely on the perfect, holy, and righteous Savior to do that for us—And He has, and He will. Each and every day, our slate is wiped clean by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. As we reflect on our lives, it is clear how God is faithful, that His mercy will not run out. No matter how far we may have drifted from God and all His goodness, He is with us. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 9 2026 • Years ago, I set out to read the Bible and make its inspiring messages and stories a major part of my life. I never anticipated how meaningful and comforting Scripture would become, or how essential reading it daily would instruct me in ways to experience the peace and joy God intends for us all. Greetings, Saints. The Bible encourages us to know that God’s words are “perfect, refreshing the soul”; they’re “trustworthy” and full of wisdom. David describes Scripture as, “more precious than gold”; it refreshes us, makes us wise, gives insight, brings joy, warns, and brings rewards. In Psalms, the words of Scripture are described as “sweeter than honey”. In them we find wisdom for living; they’re “a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path”. Paul says how, “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” As believers, we must develop a habit of meditating and reflecting on the Bible, and responding to its truths, in a regular manner. As God helps us, let’s remember David's pronouncement, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight”. Scripture has so much to teach all of us and we are blessed to have this source of goodness and direction available today and always. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 8 2026 • We as believers have a choice: to live to please others or live to please God. Greetings, Saints. We're not here to prove that by serving others, we are better than someone else. We must be careful not to stumble into a proving mode, trying to outperform someone by how much or how well we serve others. Let's walk in our own anointing comforted that we already have God’s approval. We can choose to live motivated by others’ opinions of us, but that is not pleasing to God. As long as other's opinions are our focus, we will not be able to fully serve The Master. The Bible tells us to serve others and to love others as ourselves. "Serve one another humbly in love", but the Bible also says, "Work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men". Seek His approval by His Grace knowing that when we do, we're creating a secure foundation for our own identity, worth, and value. Let's encourage one another to find worth, value, and confidence in being a child of God and be a servant of Christ and live to honor Him. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 7 2026 • Living by the Holy Spirit prevents believers like us from following sinful human desires. As believers, we must allow the Holy Spirit to guide our daily thoughts, choices, and actions. But the Spirit and human nature oppose each other. Greetings, Saints. Human nature is prone to selfishness, wrongdoing, and turning away from God. Striving to do the right thing at all times creates that internal struggle where believers like us find it challenging to avoid whatever selfish impulses that we demand. We must avoid attempting to hide our sinful actions and thoughts. The Bible tells us to confess our sins. We may avoid praying about it or mentioning it to friends and family imagining it’s no big deal and that others are dealing with similar issues. It’s impossible to thrive spiritually when sin is secretly clouding the issues in our head and hearts. Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper", but the verse continues, “but the one who confesses and renounces sin finds mercy.” God's kindness eases the process of humbling ourselves when we admit that certain actions and practices are wrong. When we welcome the power of Christ’s Spirit into our struggle, we can reject the wrong that tempts us. As God guides us, change is possible, and our spiritual health improves! Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 6 2026 • The Bible tells us, "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...". Greeting, Saints. As believers, we have a choice to live a life that focuses on causes bigger than ourselves. We must make that choice to be cause driven and commit ourselves to a particular cause, campaign for it, and aim to achieve positive results. The Bible tells us, "Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Choosing to be a believer who is cause driven reflects how God has inspired us to show we care for people rather than just for a cause. When we as believers live our lives focusing on positive causes, we are shifting the focus away from personal comfort or financial gain alone as we look for ways to be a blessing to others. It is truly God's mercy that provides the daily energy that helps us make these daily sacrifices and pushes us to keep going even when things get tough. It's not always easy to love our neighbor, but with prayer and faith, God provides the energy and blesses us with spiritual insight to do these things. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 5 2026 • As believers, what we must remember is how Jesus really knows what we go through as human beings. Greetings, Saints. Before His ascension into heaven where He continues to sit at the right hand of God, Jesus experienced all that we experience. He understands human weakness because He faced human temptation and personally dealt with the struggles and emotional trials we all have experienced. Although He felt the pressure of those temptations, He never gave in or sinned, which qualifies Him as our perfect mediator. As our mediator, He has opened up direct, unhindered access to God through prayer. It is through prayer that we can seek and receive God's mercy and help when we are facing anxiety, pain, or testing. God is filled with unconditional love and forgiveness. We are able to go to Him with our raw emotions, failures, and daily struggles and receive the strength and mercy we need. The Bibles tells us, "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 4 2026 • Many of us know the story how Lazarus was no longer alive when Jesus went to him. The Bible tells us how at his bedside, Jesus blessed Lazarus and his life was restored. Greetings, Saints. This event brought joy and happiness to his family and friends, and many in the community. The news spread which allowed others to know the goodness of God through His Son Jesus Christ. The leaders in the synagogue however, saw how this event brought greater attention to Jesus as they watched how the number of His followers increased. They made plans to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. Their plans eventually failed and the number of followers continued to grow. As believers, God's goodness and blessings are greater than any forces that try to hold us back. If God is going to bless us with His favor, believers like us must be able to handle greater negativity. We must stay ready for people to be bitter, distant, and sometimes revengeful. We must keep believing, keep being good people and keep doing the right things allowing God to fight our battles. Let God deal with the critics and jealous people. When our enemies are ready to harm us, God is also planning how to stop them. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 3 2026 • Remembering the great things God does for believers like us renews our strength. Scripture encourages us by recounting what God did for early Christians and reminds us that He continues to work in our lives. In both good and difficult times, we should remember that we do not endure by our own strength. God’s plan is for believers to rely on His strength, allowing Him to accomplish through us what only He can do. Our need for strength reveals our weakness and deepens our trust in God, whose “grace is sufficient for us, for His power is made perfect in weakness.” His strength works through us to accomplish what we cannot do on our own. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 2 2026 • God sees, hears, and cares deeply about our suffering. He sees the harsh and unfair treatment we may experience and understands our pain, hurt, and distress. Greetings, Saints. Our Heavenly Father sees what we are going through and wants to be a part of our lives. For some of us, it may seem as if God forgot us during these times we're experiencing trouble. But that is the opposite of who God is. God never forgets us and is always there. He hears our cries for help and is ready day or night to step in and keep us safe. He uses the trouble we're facing to get us to the next blessing He already has in store for us. The Bible says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." God stays near you when you feel sad or weak. "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." He is our SAVIOR. He is our PROTECTOR. He is our COMFORTER. Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
October 1 2026 • God allows believers like us to have joy by guiding us away from destruction into a purposeful way of living. True satisfaction and true joy come from being close to Him, but that takes real, wholehearted effort. Greetings, Saints. Each day we must purify our hearts and steer clear of sinful temptations and habits: that takes effort. God blesses who we are, not who we think we are so each day we must be honest with ourselves: that takes effort. We all stray from time to time, so we must make an effort to remain close to Him by praying constantly throughout our day. In prayer, we as believers can talk to God like a close friend, sharing our true feelings and needs. As believers, we hear His voice when we read our Bible, a voice that turns us away from things that hurt our relationship with Him. Making a wholehearted effort to do these things help keep joy in our lives. Let's stop chasing happiness through bad habits or material comforts and gain the stability, the peace and joy we seek through a daily relationship with God. "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete". Keep Him First and remember to stay in prayer!
