Recent Devotions
While helping an elderly uncle sort through a lifetime of accumulated belongings, I came across a small cloth box tucked away among the many possessions. A simple label on the outside caught my attention: “Jewels.” I paused. Truthfully, I felt a little uncomfortable opening it. The box had belonged to a woman named Gracie. I had never met her. She had no children or grandchildren to sort through her belongings after she passed away. My uncle had faithfully helped her during her final years—bringing groceries, picking up prescriptions, and managing practical matters when she could no longer do so herself.…
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord…” (Psalm 37:23) “You won’t have any problems,” he said, “but just in case, this is what you need to do.” I am so thankful I paid attention to the words that followed. It was the last day of our…
“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Isaiah 64.8 For the past few days, we have considered women in the Bible who found themselves broken in body, mind, or spirit. The Lord…
Readers Loved
Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” David wrote from his experience, giving us insight into the way a shepherd looked after his sheep. He cared for their every need. In this verse, he is talking about the yearly trip to higher ground to find new pasture for the flock. They would pass through rough places, face dangers, but the shepherd was watching over them every step of the way. His rod and staff would…
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10, ESV) Do you ever have trouble deciding what to wear some mornings? I have a few favorite outfits that I tend to choose frequently. More and more my style has evolved into something called comfortable, not elegant or trendy. I have no need to…
“…Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 When God’s Will is Different from Our Will This coming week commemorates the loss of one of my spiritual mentors. Sister Ann, a very influential woman in my life, was diagnosed with an invasive cancer. Prayer about the healing for her body consumed my prayers and I went on extended fasts and memorized every scripture I could find that said the word ‘heal.’ I had dreams of God miraculously healing her spine, eradicating every cell of cancer in her body, leading me to believe they were prophetic. However, on January…
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (First Corinthians 6:9–11, KJV) What Hinders Revival? In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul exposes the danger of spiritual compromise…
