Category

Devotions

Category
Devotions

My Shepherd

1 Min Read

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1, Holy Bible, King James Version)

The twenty-third psalm is familiar to most of us. I memorized this full psalm at a young age. Over the years I’ve mellowed it from a clipped childhood cadence to a soothing recitation. I still delight in the scene it evokes when speaking it aloud. I meditate on this opening sentence when money is low or uncertainty overshadows my life. I cling to this verse as a promise that my needs will be provided.

Am I missing the Palmist’s focus? He opens with the phrase, “The LORD is my shepherd.” He focuses on why God provides. The Lord cares for His sheep who acknowledge Him.

Prayer: Lord, my prayers are often “give me.” Today, I ask for nothing. I offer thanks that I am one of Your sheep. Amen.

Devotion by Violet Carr Moore

Keep Reading
Devotions

A Time to Pray

2 Mins Read

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. (Acts 3:1-3 Holy Bible, King James Version)

Peter and John were creatures of habit. That afternoon, about three o’clock, they made their usual trek to the temple in Jerusalem. They encountered a lame man begging at the gate. Nothing different there either. The difference came when Peter spoke in boldness. “Look on us.” That confidence in his new experience of being Holy Ghost filled at Pentecost emblazoned Peter with faith.

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (v. 6)

The crippled man leaped up and praised God. And it all happened because Peter and John took time to pray.

Prayer: Lord, help me to follow Peter’s example and set aside a time to pray. Amen.

Devotion by Violet Carr Moore

Keep Reading
Devotions

A Measuring Stick of Faith

1 Min Read

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. (Romans 12:3, Holy Bible, New Living Translation)

A smooth yardstick rested between the refrigerator and the kitchen cabinet in my young years. The flat wood bore marks in increments up to twelve inches repeated three times. Those black marks, from short to long, meant nothing when separated. Combined, printed on a straight edge, they functioned as a standard measurement.

How do we measure ourselves? Is the song leader greater in God’s eyes than the person who sweeps the front steps? Are those who welcome visitors on Sunday morning greater than the one who empties the trash? Apostle Paul’s ancient words are a reminder today that measuring our worth is not by human guidelines. True worth must be measured by faith.

Prayer: Lord, when I think my contributions to Your kingdom measure my success, Scripture reminds me that we are all measured by faith. Amen.

Devotion by Violet Carr Moore

Keep Reading
Devotions

Courage

2 Mins Read

“Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.” Joshua 1:6
“Courage is the first of human qualities, because it is the quality that guarantees all others.” Winston Churchill
Moses was dead. He had guided the children of Israel for many years. Of the ones who had left Egypt with him only those who had been under twenty years old still lived, except for Caleb and Joshua.
God had chosen Joshua to be the leader as the people prepared to enter the promised land. Moses had instructed him well and now God tells him to be strong and of good courage, promising that He would be with him just as He had been with Moses.
In Verse 8, God tells him that if we will do all the things that Moses had written in the law, he would be prosperous and successful. That would require courage, as they began to possess the country that God had promised them.
We may not face the enemies Joshua faced, but we must be strong and of good courage to live for God in a world which is getting more wicked every day. The Bible gives us the instructions we need, and the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word in our hearts. He is everything we need.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for your Word and for your Holy Spirit, which provides us with everything we need to live courageously.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

Keep Reading
Devotions

Pray First

2 Mins Read

“And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.” Joshua 9:14
Who hasn’t received an e-mail or a phone call with an offer that sounded too good to be true, but was really just a scam. Many people have been deceived and have ended up losing a lot of money as a result.
God had just given Joshua and the Israelites great victories over Jericho and Ai. The men of Gibeon were filled with fear that they would be defeated as well, so they put their heads together and came up with a great idea. They came to Joshua, pretending to be from a great distance and desiring peace.
Joshua took their story at face value, and agreed to make peace with them. His big mistake was that he did not consult with the Lord first. Just think how he must have felt when he learned the truth and realized he had just been taken in by a scam.
As I read this story, I realized that many times we find ourselves in trouble, because we make decisions without praying about it first. Sometimes when we have had a time of victory and blessing, we may just coast along on that, and neglect to seek God about everything in our life. It is always important that we pray first, before making even minor decisions.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to always seek you first in every decision we make, because you know what is best for us.
Devotion by Anne Johnston

Keep Reading
Devotions

The Path We Choose

2 Mins Read

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, ESV) The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. I take this sentence very literally and often find myself looking for shortcuts…

Keep Reading
Devotions

1 Min Read

And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (Luke 24:2-3) I am thankful on this Easter Sunday that we serve a risen saviour! He lived as man, was crucified at the cross for…

Keep Reading
Devotions

Shortcuts

2 Mins Read

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. (Matthew 7:13, The Message) I was once in an elevator that got stuck…

Keep Reading