The Safe Space

Esther Parham
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  • Christianity
  • Updated Semiweekly

Welcome to The Safe Space. This is a place where I share my daily devotion with you. My prayer is that through every episode, you are drawn closer to Jesus Christ. Together, we’ll grow in our understanding of who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and who we are as believers in the body of Christ. I pray you’ll be encouraged, uplifted, and reminded of the truth of who you are. So take a deep breath and join me as the Holy Spirit guides us through God’s word. All Music in each episode is royalty free. Song Titled Moonlight Coffee by Yunior Arronte

  1. 1d ago

    Genesis 22-24

    Welcome to The Safe Space! Where we last left off in the Bible, Abraham had seen God's promise fulfilled when Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The child they had waited for was growing, and the covenant God had made with Abraham was moving forward. But then Abraham faced a test unlike anything before it. God told Abraham to take Isaac, his only son—the son he loved—and go to the land of Moriah. There, Abraham was to offer him as a sacrifice. Early the next morning, Abraham set out with Isaac and two servants. As they approached the mountain, Isaac noticed that they had everything needed for the sacrifice except the lamb. Abraham answered with faith, saying that God would provide the lamb. Abraham built the altar and arranged the wood. Then he bound Isaac and placed him on the altar. Just as Abraham reached out to take the knife, the angel of the Lord called to him and stopped him. Abraham had passed the test. He had not withheld his son from God. Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. He offered it as a sacrifice instead of Isaac and named the place, “The Lord Will Provide.” God renewed His promise, declaring that Abraham's descendants would become as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, and that through his descendants, all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Later, Sarah died at the age of 127. Abraham mourned for her and purchased a burial place in the land of Canaan—the cave of Machpelah—where Sarah was laid to rest. Abraham was now concerned about Isaac's future. He sent his oldest servant back to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac, determined that his son should not marry a woman from the surrounding Canaanite nations. The servant prayed for God's guidance and stopped at a well. He asked God for a sign: the young woman chosen for Isaac would not only give him water but would willingly offer water to his camels as well. Before he had even finished praying, Rebekah arrived. She did exactly what the servant had asked of God. She drew water for him and continued drawing until all his camels had enough to drink. The servant discovered that Rebekah was from Abraham's extended family and recognized God's hand in bringing her to him. Rebekah's family agreed to the marriage, and she willingly left her home to journey with the servant. As they approached the land of Canaan, Isaac was walking in the fields when he saw the caravan coming. Rebekah saw him and asked who he was. When she learned that he was Isaac, she covered herself with her veil. Isaac welcomed Rebekah into his mother's tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and her presence brought comfort to him after his mother's death. The promise that had once seemed impossible was now reaching into another generation. Isaac had a wife, Abraham's family was growing, and God's covenant continued its journey through the family He had chosen. Verse of the Day: But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Question of the Day: How do you think God feels about you in this moment?

  2. 3d ago

    Genesis 19-21

    Welcome to The Safe Space! Where we last left off in the Bible, Abraham had pleaded with the Lord to spare the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah. Now two angels arrive in Sodom, where Abraham’s nephew Lot welcomes them into his home. But that night, the men of the city surround the house and demand that the visitors be brought outside. The angels strike the mob with blindness and warn Lot that the city is about to be destroyed. At dawn, Lot is urged to take his wife and daughters and flee. As they escape, fire and burning sulfur rain down from heaven, destroying the cities and the surrounding plain. But Lot’s wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt. Abraham watches from a distance as smoke rises from the land. Lot and his daughters eventually settle in the mountains. In a troubling turn of events, his daughters become pregnant by him, and two sons are born: Moab and Ben-ammi, ancestors of nations that will later become significant in Israel’s story. Abraham then travels to Gerar, where he again claims that Sarah is his sister. King Abimelech takes Sarah, but God warns him in a dream that she is Abraham’s wife. Abimelech returns her and rebukes Abraham for bringing such danger upon his household. Yet God protects Sarah, and Abimelech’s household is restored. Then the long-awaited promise finally becomes reality. The Lord does for Sarah exactly what He had promised. She becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son in Abraham’s old age. They name him Isaac, meaning “he laughs,” because Sarah declares that God has brought her laughter and joy. Abraham celebrates when Isaac is weaned, but tension soon rises between Sarah and Hagar. Sarah demands that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away. Abraham is deeply troubled, but God tells him to listen to Sarah and assures him that Ishmael will also become the father of a great nation. Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness with bread and water. When their supplies run out, Hagar fears her son will die. But God hears the boy crying. An angel calls to Hagar and assures her that God has heard him. God provides a well of water, and Ishmael grows up in the wilderness under God's care. The story closes with Abraham making a treaty with Abimelech over a well at Beersheba. Abraham plants a tamarisk tree there and calls on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. God's promises are unfolding, but the journey is far from over. Abraham has witnessed judgment, experienced miraculous fulfillment, and seen God's faithfulness in the wilderness. And Isaac—the child of promise—is growing, carrying with him a future that will shape generations to come. Verse of the Day: 1 John 4:16-17 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Question of the Day: What areas in your life are lacking a sense of responsibility?

  3. 5d ago

    Genesis 16-18

    Welcome to the Safe Space! Where we last left off in the Bible, God had made a covenant with Abram, promising that his descendants would inherit a vast land. Yet Abram and Sarai were still waiting for the promised child. As the years passed, Sarai remained childless, and she decided to take matters into her own hands. Sarai gave her Egyptian servant, Hagar, to Abram so that she could have a child through her. Hagar became pregnant, but the relationship between the two women quickly turned bitter. Sarai treated Hagar harshly, and Hagar fled into the wilderness. There, the angel of the Lord found her beside a spring and told her to return and submit to Sarai. He also promised that her descendants would be too numerous to count and that she would give birth to a son named Ishmael. Hagar returned, and she bore Abram a son. Abram was eighty-six years old when Ishmael was born. Thirteen years later, God appeared to Abram again and renewed His covenant. He commanded Abram to live in His presence and live blamelessly. God changed his name from Abram to Abraham, declaring that he would become the father of many nations. God also changed Sarai's name to Sarah and promised that she would become the mother of nations and that kings would come from her family. Then God established circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Every male in Abraham's household was to bear this mark. And God made an astonishing promise: Sarah herself would have a son. Abraham struggled to believe it. He laughed at the thought of a man nearly one hundred years old and a woman ninety years old having a child. He asked God to let Ishmael live under His blessing. God promised to bless Ishmael and make him the father of a great nation, but the covenant would be established through the son Sarah would bear. Then, one day, Abraham saw three visitors approaching. He hurried to welcome them and offered them food and rest. As they spoke, the Lord revealed that Sarah would have a son by the same time the following year. Sarah listened from inside the tent and laughed to herself. She wondered how she could possibly have such joy at her age. But the Lord responded with a question that reaches across generations: Is anything too hard for the Lord? Afterward, the visitors turned toward Sodom. The Lord revealed to Abraham that the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah was great and that their wickedness would be investigated. Abraham then stood before the Lord and pleaded for the people of those cities. He asked whether God would destroy the righteous along with the wicked. Again and again, Abraham appealed to God's justice, asking if the cities would be spared for the sake of fifty righteous people, then forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and finally ten. Each time, the Lord agreed. The fate of Sodom and Gomorrah now hung in the balance, while Abraham was left with a promise that seemed impossible: Sarah would have a son, and through him, God's covenant would continue. Verse of the Day: Romans 12:9-10;18 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Question of the Day: Which relationships in your life need peace right now?

  4. Sep 8

    Genesis 13-15

    Welcome to The Safe Space! Where we last left off in the Bible, Abram had left Egypt and returned to the land of Canaan with Sarai, his nephew Lot, and everything he had acquired. Abram was now very wealthy, with large herds of livestock, silver, and gold. But the land could not support both Abram’s and Lot’s growing possessions, and conflict broke out between their herdsmen. Rather than allow strife to divide them, Abram offered Lot a choice. He told him to look over the land and choose where he wanted to settle. If Lot went one way, Abram would go the other. Lot looked across the fertile Jordan Valley and saw that it was well watered, like a garden of the Lord. So he chose the whole Jordan Valley and moved east, eventually settling near the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. After Lot departed, the Lord spoke to Abram once again. He told him to look in every direction, promising that all the land he could see would one day belong to him and his descendants. His descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth. Abram moved his camp to Hebron, where he built another altar to the Lord. Then trouble came. Four powerful kings went to war against five kings, and the battle swept through the region. Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated, and Lot was captured along with his possessions. When Abram heard what had happened, he gathered his trained men and pursued the invading army. In a daring night attack, Abram and his men defeated the kings, rescued Lot, and recovered all the goods and people who had been taken. On his return, Abram encountered Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High. Melchizedek blessed Abram, and Abram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of Sodom offered Abram all the recovered goods, but Abram refused to take even a thread or sandal strap, determined that no one could claim they had made him rich. After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. Abram was still concerned because he had no child to inherit his household. But God assured him that his own son would be his heir and brought him outside to look at the stars. His descendants, God promised, would be just as countless. Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous. Yet God revealed that Abram’s descendants would first become foreigners in a land that was not theirs. They would be oppressed for four hundred years, but God would eventually bring them out with great possessions. He also promised Abram that his descendants would return to this land when the time was right. Then came a mysterious covenant. As darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the pieces of sacrificed animals. On that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram, declaring that He would give his descendants a vast land stretching from the border of Egypt to the Euphrates River. The promise was growing larger, the future more extraordinary—and Abram was learning that God's plans would unfold according to His timing. Verse of the Day: John 5:24-25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. Action of the Day: Spend some time expressing your thanks to God for the redemptive work of his Son in your life.

  5. Sep 7

    Genesis 11-12

    Welcome to The Safe Space! Where we last left off in the Bible, humanity had spread across the earth, but the people were still united by one language and one purpose. They settled in the land of Shinar and decided to build a city with a tower reaching into the heavens. Their ambition was clear: they wanted to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered across the earth. But the Lord saw what they were doing. He knew that if they remained united in their rebellion, nothing they imagined would be beyond their reach. So the Lord confused their language, causing them to no longer understand one another. The building stopped, and the people scattered across the earth. The city became known as Babel, a lasting reminder of how human pride can stand against the purposes of God. The story then turns to the family line of Shem, tracing the generations that would lead to a man named Abram. Abram lived in Haran with his wife, Sarai, and his father, Terah. Then God spoke directly to Abram and gave him a command that would change everything: leave his native country, his relatives, and his father's family, and go to the land God would show him. With that command came an extraordinary promise. God would make Abram into a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and use him to bless others. Those who blessed him would be blessed, and those who treated him with contempt would be cursed. Through Abram, all the families of the earth would be blessed. Abram obeyed. He took Sarai, his nephew Lot, and everything they had gathered, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they arrived at Shechem, God appeared to Abram and promised to give this land to his descendants. Abram built an altar there to the Lord. Moving on, Abram traveled toward the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, building another altar and calling on the name of the Lord. But soon a severe famine struck the land. Abram went down to Egypt to live as a foreigner because the famine was so severe. Before entering Egypt, Abram became afraid that the Egyptians would kill him because of Sarai's beauty. He asked her to say she was his sister, fearing they would spare his life because of her. His fears soon became reality. The Egyptians saw Sarai's beauty, and she was taken into Pharaoh's palace. Because of her, Pharaoh treated Abram well, giving him sheep, cattle, donkeys, servants, and camels. But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai. Pharaoh discovered the truth and confronted Abram: Why had he not told him Sarai was his wife? Pharaoh returned Sarai to Abram and ordered them to leave Egypt. Abram departed with Sarai and everything he had gained. The journey that began with a single command from God had already taken Abram into unfamiliar lands, tested his faith, and revealed that God's promise would stand—even when circumstances seemed uncertain. And this was only the beginning of Abram's extraordinary journey. Verse of the Day: Galatians 6:9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Question of the Day: What are the things you most want from God to recognize in your life?

  6. Sep 6

    Genesis 7-10

    Welcome to The Safe Space! Where we last left off in the Bible, Noah had completed the ark exactly as God commanded. The earth was filled with violence and corruption, but Noah had found favor with the Lord. Now the time had come for God’s judgment. God told Noah to enter the ark with his family and bring the animals with him. Seven days later, the flood began. Rain poured from the heavens for forty days and forty nights. The waters rose until they covered even the highest mountains. Every living thing on dry land perished, but Noah, his family, and the creatures inside the ark were preserved. For 150 days, the floodwaters covered the earth. Then God remembered Noah. A mighty wind swept across the earth, the waters began to recede, and eventually the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Noah waited patiently. He sent out a raven, then a dove. At first, the dove returned, but later it came back carrying a fresh olive leaf. The earth was beginning to emerge. After another seven days, Noah released the dove again. This time, it did not return. When God finally commanded Noah to leave the ark, Noah, his family, and every creature came out. The earth was ready for life to begin again. Noah built an altar and offered sacrifices to the Lord. God was pleased and made a promise: never again would He destroy every living thing with a flood. The seasons would continue, and the earth would remain. Then God blessed Noah and his sons, commanding them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. He gave humanity authority over the animals and permitted them to eat meat, while forbidding the eating of blood. God also established a covenant with Noah and every living creature. As a sign of His promise, God placed His rainbow in the clouds. Whenever it appeared, it would remind Him—and humanity—of the everlasting covenant that the waters would never again become a flood to destroy all life. But even after the flood, humanity’s struggle with sin continued. Noah became a farmer and planted a vineyard. One day, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father’s nakedness and told his brothers. Shem and Japheth responded differently, respectfully covering Noah without looking at him. When Noah awoke and learned what had happened, he pronounced a curse concerning Canaan and blessed Shem and Japheth. Noah lived another 350 years after the flood, reaching 950 years before he died. The story then turns to Noah’s descendants. Shem, Ham, and Japheth became the ancestors of the nations that spread throughout the earth. Their families multiplied, forming different peoples and territories. Among their descendants came powerful rulers, warriors, shepherds, musicians, and craftsmen. From Ham’s line came Nimrod, a mighty warrior and ruler whose kingdom included Babel. And Babel would soon become the center of another great turning point in humanity’s story. The flood had cleansed the earth, but it had not removed the sin within the human heart. The nations were multiplying, the earth was being filled once again, and humanity was moving toward another moment that would change the course of history. Verse of the Day: Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Question of the Day: What do you really love to do?

  7. Sep 4

    Genesis 5-6

    Welcome to The Safe Space! Where we last left off in the Bible, sin had entered the world, death had followed, and violence was spreading through humanity. Yet God’s purposes were still unfolding through the family line of Adam. The story now traces that family line through the generations. Adam had a son named Seth, born in his own likeness and image. From Seth came Enosh, then Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, and others who lived long lives and had sons and daughters. Among them was Enoch, who walked closely with God. Enoch lived 365 years, and then he was gone—for God took him. The generations continued through Methuselah, Lamech, and finally Noah. When Noah was born, his father, Lamech, gave him a name connected with hope. He believed Noah would bring relief from the painful work and suffering caused by the curse God had placed upon the ground. But while one family line continued, the world around them was becoming increasingly corrupt. Human beings multiplied across the earth, and their daughters were born. The sons of God saw the beautiful women and took whomever they wanted as wives. In those days, and afterward, mighty men and warriors lived on the earth. But God saw something deeply troubling. He saw that the wickedness of the human race had become great on the earth. Every thought and intention of the human heart seemed to be nothing but evil all the time. The Lord was sorry that He had ever made humanity, and His heart was broken. God determined to wipe from the earth the human race He had created. Not only people, but animals, creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the sky would be swept away. But one man found favor with the Lord. His name was Noah. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at that time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. He had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt and filled with violence. Humanity had become thoroughly corrupt, and the earth itself was ruined because of their wickedness. So God told Noah that He was going to bring a devastating flood that would destroy every living thing beneath the sky. But God was making a covenant with Noah. He commanded Noah to build a huge boat from cypress wood, carefully designed to preserve life through the coming judgment. The ark would have multiple decks and compartments, and Noah was instructed to seal it inside and out with tar. God gave him exact instructions for its size, construction, and a window, door, and roof. Noah was to bring his wife, his sons, and their wives into the ark. He was also to bring pairs of every kind of living creature—male and female—along with enough food to sustain them all. God promised that Noah, his family, and the creatures with him would survive. And Noah did everything exactly as God commanded. The world had become filled with violence and corruption. Judgment was coming, but inside one massive vessel, God was preparing a way for life to continue. The flood was about to begin. Verse of the Day: Matthew 7:7-8  “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Question of the Day: Why are you knocking on God's door today?

  8. Sep 3

    Genesis 3-4

    Welcome to The Safe Space! Where we last left off in the Bible, the world was new, humanity had been created in God’s image, and Adam and Eve lived in the garden God had prepared for them. They had everything they needed—and one clear command to obey. But everything was about to change. The serpent was more crafty than any other creature God had made. He approached the woman and questioned what God had commanded, planting doubt in her mind. He convinced her that eating the forbidden fruit would not bring death, but would open her eyes and make her like God, knowing both good and evil. The woman saw that the fruit was beautiful and appeared good to eat. She took some and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it too. In an instant, their eyes were opened. They realized they were naked and quickly covered themselves with fig leaves. When they heard the Lord God walking through the garden, they hid among the trees. But God called out, asking where they were. Adam admitted that he was afraid because he was naked. God questioned him, and Adam blamed the woman. The woman blamed the serpent. Then came the consequences. The serpent was cursed. The woman would experience increased pain in childbirth, and her relationship with her husband would be marked by struggle. The ground itself was cursed because of Adam, and producing food would become difficult. Work would be filled with painful toil until humanity returned to the dust from which it had been formed. Adam named his wife Eve because she would become the mother of all who live. God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and Eve, covering their shame. Then God sent them out of the garden. Humanity could no longer reach the tree of life and live forever in its fallen condition. Cherubim were placed at the entrance, with a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way. Outside Eden, the story took a darker turn. Adam and Eve had a son named Cain, and later another son named Abel. Abel became a shepherd, while Cain worked the soil. In time, both brought offerings to the Lord. God was pleased with Abel and his offering, but He did not accept Cain’s. Cain became angry and deeply discouraged. God warned him that sin was crouching at the door, eager to control him, but Cain was told to overcome it. Instead, Cain lured his brother Abel into the field—and killed him. When God confronted Cain, he tried to hide behind the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” But Abel’s blood cried out from the ground. Cain was cursed from the ground and driven away from the land he had worked. He would become a restless wanderer. Afraid that someone might kill him, Cain received a mark from the Lord protecting him from vengeance. Cain settled in a land east of Eden and began a family line. His descendants became builders, herders, musicians, and craftsmen, but violence continued to spread. One of Cain’s descendants, Lamech, openly boasted of killing a man and declared that vengeance against him would be even greater. Meanwhile, Adam and Eve had another son, Seth, born in place of Abel. Seth also had a son, Enosh. And from that family line, people began to worship and call upon the name of the Lord. The paradise of Eden was gone. Sin had entered the world, death had followed, and violence had already begun to spread. Yet God’s purposes for humanity were far from finished. Verse of the Day: Isaiah 25:4 But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord,  a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall, Question of the Day: How is your faith deepened when you recognize that God is with you in the storm?

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About

Welcome to The Safe Space. This is a place where I share my daily devotion with you. My prayer is that through every episode, you are drawn closer to Jesus Christ. Together, we’ll grow in our understanding of who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and who we are as believers in the body of Christ. I pray you’ll be encouraged, uplifted, and reminded of the truth of who you are. So take a deep breath and join me as the Holy Spirit guides us through God’s word. All Music in each episode is royalty free. Song Titled Moonlight Coffee by Yunior Arronte

Information

  • Creator
    Esther Parham
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    227
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Esther Parham
  • Show Website
    The Safe Space