How often have you said, “I just wish someone understood me?” This verse reminds us once again that God really does understand what we are going through. Jesus is no stranger to pain and suffering. “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:…
“They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me” (Psalm 18:18 in the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible). The strength of a building lies in its framework and foundation. The shell of wood, steel and concrete ensures the integrity and durability…
“Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God’s Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them, and they seem to be nonsense, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis. Whoever has the Spirit, however, is able to judge the…
“A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song” (Proverbs 15:15, The Message). It’s easy to have a merry heart when things are going my way, but God’s Word tells me that I can have joy even when I’m faced with affliction. In all…
“Don’t for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God – That’s where your future lies. Then you won’t be left with an armload of nothing.” (Proverbs 23:17-18 in The Message). My dreams may not be coming true at this point in my life, but I must learn…
While reading the incredible account of Mary’s response to the news of her part in God’s plan of redemption in Luke 1:26-55, I was inspired to write these words of encouragement for a hurting friend today: “God approves of you! God sees you. Don’t be confused, disturbed or afraid. The…
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 25:11
I have always been fascinated by this verse, and can see a picture in my mind of a basket of golden apples set in a silver frame.
I am sure all of us wish that our words always conformed to this picture, but it takes a lot of wisdom to consistently speak words that are pleasing to everyone.
I came up with the following acrostic for Wisdom:
W Words can come so easily
I If we open our mouths wide
S Speaking without thinking
D Destroys our neighbour’s pride.
O Only speak what is good and pleasing to the ear
M Making people happy, spreading hope and cheer.
Prayer: Lord, I desire that my words might always reflect your wisdom, and not offend or hurt anyone else.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.” Ecclesiastes 4:9
I was reminded of an incident that happened many years ago. We had some heavy rain and our vegetable garden was rather muddy. My younger son decided to go pull some carrots as he loved to eat them right from the garden. Needless to say, he found himself stuck in the mud. His older sister went to his aid, but when she tried to lift him out, his boots stayed in the ground, and both of them tumbled backwards into the mud. We laugh at it now, but it wasn’t funny at the time. My husband got some boards to lay down for them to walk on, and with his help they were able to get back to solid ground.
There are times when we see someone going through a problem, or having some difficulty and we want to rush to their aid. It is often a good idea, to talk to the Lord about it, and let Him show us what the solution is. As we pray, and seek His guidance, He will show us the right way to deal with it and we save ourselves a lot of frustration. It is His will that we help one another, but we need the Lord’s wisdom in every situation.
Prayer: Lord help us to be aware of ways that we can help one another, and show us the right way to go about it.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24
Man has no goodness in himself, we are all prone to faults and failures. Our only goodness comes from God. As we yield ourselves to His will, He changes our desires and leads us in the way of righteousness.
There are times when we will falter and fail, yet He has promised we shall not be utterly cast down. He upholds us with His hand, catches us when we stumble, directs us to the right path, and sets us back on track.
What joy, what delight it is to walk in God’s way, to feel His loving hand gently resting on our shoulder, as He directs our every step. Sometimes He may not lead us in paths that we would choose, but He knows best, and we must trust His guidance, knowing He will always be there.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, there is nothing good in us, but we trust in your goodness and your mercy to lead us day by day.
Devotion by Anne Johnston