Recent Devotions
“But he knew their thoughts …” (Luke 6:8 KJV) God needs no interpreter—He doesn’t need anyone to translate the meaning of the imaginations or the intents of our hearts. He just KNOWS. Jesus said to the hypocritical Pharisees, “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts …” (Luke 16:15 KJV) Jesus equated Himself with God. As GOD IN Christ, He could—and did—read their minds. When the Pharisees came and interrogated Jesus, He already KNEW exactly what they were thinking about Him and what He was doing BEFORE they even opened their mouths. Before they could…
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” (John 7:24,ESV) Have you ever assumed something was correct, but that assumption was off the mark? I have—more times than I care to admit. It’s easy to jump to conclusions, but it’s better to confirm the facts. This incident happened…
“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live. (Ezekiel 18:23, NLT) Have you ever watched the pain and grief of a parent who has a wayward child? Or perhaps…
Readers Loved
God’s appointments cannot be cancelled—only postponed. The book of Nehemiah provides a beautiful chronicle of the reconstruction of the nation of Israel after the exile—the rebuilding of the walls and the people. We read in Chapter 9 that the Levites led the reformed citizens of Israel, cloaked in sackcloth and ashes, as they together repented and recalled the faithfulness of God. The first fifteen verses of that chapter are a prayer of thanksgiving as they praised God with a loud voice, reciting the awesome accounts of Creation, their forefathers’ Exodus out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and God’s miraculous…
“No, I don’t want the blue one; I’d like the pink one instead, please.” “Can I have that burger with mayonnaise instead of mustard?” “Excuse me, but this is mine.” “Mommy, can I have that?” Every day, humans profess opinions, desires, and wants. We have no problem with speaking boldly when it comes to self-preference or self-preservation. Why is it, then, that we struggle with boldness in prayer? This is something I have been working hard to apply, and teach others, for years; we must be bold when speaking with our Heavenly Father. Our pastor, William L. Sciscoe, taught us…
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13, KJV. We misquote the above scripture when we say, “God won’t give us more than we can bear,” because this verse says that God will not tempt you above what you can bear. There is a big difference between those two statements. Maybe you have survived a circumstance…
But I protested, “Oh no, Lord GOD! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.” Then the LORD said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you. This is the LORD’s declaration. (Jeremiah 1:6-8, CSB) Success. If I asked five different people what success meant, I would probably receive five different answers. The dictionary defines it as a “favorable or desired outcome” or “something that achieves positive results.” Society, however, determines success by wealth, prestige, and power.…
