Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert

Morning: Psalms 107:33-43; 108:1-6; Hebrews 9:1-14; Luke 11:14-23

Evening: Psalm 33; Exodus 19:3-8a,16-20; I Peter 2:4-10

Where the Sahara Desert is, ancient civilizations once thrived. Natural climatic changes and human misuse (harvesting too many trees and over-grazing) created desert. Now, the Amazon Basin is under threat of becoming desert, too, if trees continue to be cut down to clear land for agriculture. Jesus warned that when we are divided against ourselves, we destroy our world. Conflicting goals are a spiritual issue with material consequences. Pursuing happiness by seeking wealth at all costs is incompatible with our total well-being, because inner dryness and dissatisfaction of heart and soul creates inhospitable deserts in our outer world.