Recent Devotions
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5, ESV) In II Chronicles chapter 1, we read of the newly crowned king of Israel. The man was Solomon, son of King David, and the weight of his new responsibilities lay heavy upon his shoulder. The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said to ask for whatever he desired. How Solomon responded says much about his character. He could have responded in so many different ways—requesting wealth, honor, success, or more. But instead,…
“Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.” (Proverbs 12:3, NLT) Several homes in my neighborhood, including mine, have very tall and very old trees. When the area was developed, the builder saved these beautiful old trees, and I’m glad. Someone had also planted a small, decorative tree…
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (I Peter 4:9, ESV) My mother loved having guests for dinner. She was an old-fashioned country-style cook, and the table would overflow with good things to eat. Like most children, I knew how to embarrass my parents without even trying. This incident happened…
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“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” Psalm 139:23 The business world often uses the week between Christmas and New Year’s day as an opportunity to take inventory. Stock on hand is counted and recorded. Reports are compiled to show what sold well the past year and should be re-ordered. Anything broken or unusable is thrown away. Surplus items are marked with a reduced-price tag and put on a sale table. Shelves are reorganized for greater efficiency. Perhaps this week would be a suitable time for each of us to take a good…
“And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.” II Samuel 5:22-24 The Bible refers to David as a man after God’s own heart. Probably one…
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:23-24, KJV) During childhood, I lived in forty different states. When my sister and I got older, my parents decided it was time for us to put…
“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:11 God doesn’t just suggest or encourage rest, He commands us to rest (Exodus 20:8–11) and He led by example (Genesis 2:1–3; Exodus 20:11). Walter Brueggemann in his book, Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now,” makes a great statement about God resting. He says, “Divine rest on the seventh day of creation has made clear (a) that YHWH is no a workaholic, (b) that YHWH is not…
