Recent Devotions
“Always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” (Philippians 1:4, NKJV) In many places, a new school year will begin soon. As the children stream back into the classrooms, have you ever wondered how many have a mom or dad at home praying for them? Or are they walking through those classroom doors without a covering of prayer? While I don’t personally have a child starting classes, I do know things are much different today than when I attended school. Growing up in a small town in a kinder, gentler era, I felt safe and…
“Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?” (Psalm 85:6, NKJV) As a child, when my church announced a revival, I knew this meant our family would be attending services every night. My parents were faithful and would not miss a night. Revival usually meant…
“While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him.” (Ezra 10:1, NLT) After years of exile in Babylon, Artaxerxes, king of…
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“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” Revelation 21:7 This week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is a suitable time to finish some projects that we started during the year. Every year I read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. It is amazing that no matter how many times we do this, we can always find something new to meditate upon. As I was finishing up the Book of Revelation, I looked carefully at the letters that John wrote to the seven churches. In every one of…
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Has God ever reshaped your plans? We can all relate to things in our lives that do not line up with God’s will. Humans are creatures who love to plan and dream. However, life happens, and plans get rearranged. We toss and toil for what we desire, and in doing so, we often miss the mark. We make…
“And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.” Deuteronomy 1:25 In the first chapter of Deuteronomy, Moses is reiterating the events that happened earlier when they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Twelve men were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. No doubt they were excited and eager as they surveyed the country. They all saw the good things about the land. There was plenty of pasture and lots of water for their flocks. Fruit abounded, as evidenced by the bunch of grapes they carried…
“But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 (KJV) Job’s words, “I shall come forth as gold,” were spoken from the depths of unimaginable pain. He was enduring the trial of his life. It felt as though the blessings and favor of God had been stripped away forever. Job was in anguish. His heart grieved the loss of his children. His body ached with sickness and sores. And, in the very moment when he needed comfort most, his wife and friends betrayed him with their words. He…
