“O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.) This Psalm is without a title, but is attributed to David. It is believed to have been composed during…
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably…
The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life. (Job 2:6, NIV) The enemy will fight what he fears. It may sound bizarre but if you are being attacked by the enemy, there is a good chance that you are…
Moses spoke to Joshua just prior to his death when he confirmed Joshua as the new leader of the Israelites. Moses wanted Joshua to understand that although he would not accompany Joshua to the promised land of Canaan, the Lord would go with him. He emphasized that the Lord would always be with Joshua. Some 1,500 years later Jesus gave us His personal promise “….lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, Holy Bible, New King James).
We rejoice in the promises of the Scriptures. God’s word can be trusted in the twenty-first century the same as it was when first written. He not leave us nor forsake us. We are never alone.
And the LORD,
He is the One who goes before you.
He will be with you,
He will not leave you nor forsake you;
do not fear nor be dismayed.Deuteronomy 31:8 New King James
Prayer: Lord, I am comforted today by these promises. I trust Your word that You will always be with me. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
Adapted from Moments of Meditation by Violet Carr Moore, copyright 2007-2015.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1, Holy Bible, King James Version)
David wrote a beautiful psalm, a song about sheep that need nothing because the shepherd cares for them completely. This well-known verse is a favorite of many because it speaks of the complete care provided by the shepherd.
Sheep are never puzzled about what tomorrow may bring when they are in the shepherd’s presence. They don’t worry about water, food, or shelter. They are not perplexed about storms of life. They have no concerns about safety from enemies. They trust completely in the shepherd who provides everything for them.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to trust in You completely like a sheep that follows without questioning what tomorrow may bring. Amen
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
Adapted from Moments of Meditation by Violet Carr Moore, copyright 2007-2015.
“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” Genesis 2:2
Imagine a world without rest. Being expected to be awake and busy 24/7… talk about a shortened life span! None of us would be around for long. God used the seventh day of creation to demonstrate to us that we need to rest.
So we need to take that to heart, by getting a good rest at night, because He gives His beloved sleep. And we need to have a day of rest and worship each week, when we are refreshed and rejuvenated. As well, we need periodic vacations, a break from our job routine to spend time with the ones we love and recalibrate ourselves.
We need spiritual rest also; and that comes from the Holy Spirit. But we also need to implement the rest principle as we work for God. We cannot minister constantly without burning out. It is important to follow our Creator’s example and plan times and seasons of rest
Prayer: Lord, help me to intentionally build rest and relaxation into my schedule, and not feel guilty about it. This body You gave me has to last a lifetime, so help me to take good care of it.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind… And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… male and female created he them… And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:25-31
Imagine a world without animals. No horses to ride, dogs to scratch or kittens to pet. No goldfish to feed, cows to milk or sheep to shear. Sound kind of boring? Animals serve many purposes and meet many needs.
The Bible talks about many instances where God used animals for His purposes. A donkey taught Balaam a lesson in obedience. A whale put Jonah in time out for a few days until he was willing to follow the call of God. Lions showed Daniel’s king who was the one true God.
And God calls us His sheep. He is our loving Shepherd who cares for us and protects us. Yes, we can learn many things from what was produced on the sixth day of creation before God made Adam and Eve.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the ways You speak to us through Your creation. And thank You for creating me! Help me to always be attentive to Your voice.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good… And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.” Genesis 1:21,23
Imagine a world without fish and birds. Without the thousands of varieties of sea life and the innumerable species of flying creatures. These serve as examples to us of the imaginative depths of our Creator.
When we look at the variety and intricate details that God implemented on the fifth day of creation, it reminds us of an important spiritual truth. We are not just another cookie-cutter person. God specifically designed us to be unique and each of us is valuable to Him.
So be inspired by what God created and placed in the ocean and air. Jump like a whale, sing like a dolphin. Soar like an eagle and enjoy the view of all that God created for your pleasure.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the interesting world You created for me to enjoy. Help me to live life to the fullest, and to revel in the pleasure You receive when I give You glory.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also… And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.” Genesis 1:16,19
Imagine a world without stars. After sunset, the sky would simply be black. No constellations to capture our interest, no North Star to guide us on our journey. Just… nothing up there. But thankfully, God planned something special on the fourth day of creation. He made sure that there would be something in the sky to alleviate the darkness of night.
And He did the very same thing for our souls. There are times when God allows us to experience a time of testing, frustration or grief. Circumstances look dark and hopeless, but He gives us a glimmer of hope amid the darkness.
He comforts our souls through the promises in His Word. We may weep all night, but joy will come in the morning. His mercies are new every morning. He will never leave or forsake us. These spiritual stars keep us on track as we go through trials.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that even when my situation seems bleak, Your love and hope are still shining through the darkness. I know You will bring me through and there will be joy on the other side.
Devotion by Liane Grant