Recent Devotions
“For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.” (Psalm 75:6-7, NKJV) Two men. Two very different motivations. They lived in the same city and crossed paths often. We find their stories in the Book of Esther. The time is around 480 BC, and the place is Shushan, a royal city in Persia. Haman’s Story Haman was an Agagite who held a position of prominence under King Ahasuerus, the Persian king. Haman had wealth, status, and power. People bowed as he walked by. But none of…
For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. (Psalm 18:39, ESV) What do we do when the enemy comes at us full force? What kind of battle plan do we make when things look bleak and we are outnumbered?…
“A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.” (Proverbs 14:30, ESV) Having a tranquil heart is a good way to live. It sounds peaceful, calm, serene. But often life is not as tranquil as we would like because other things creep in—things that tear…
Readers Loved
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (II Thessalonians 3:16, ESV) Is it possible to feel peace even while living in our fast-paced and stress-filled world? When we find ourselves becoming anxious and overwhelmed, is there a way to find that inner peace we so desperately desire? The Source of Our Peace True peace comes from God, the source of all peace. As our Prince of Peace, He desires to give us peace in our lives. Although He really wants us to live a peace-filled…
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV): “Pray without ceasing.” Prayer, the act of talking to our Creator, is something I did not understand for years. I thought prayer was something done in certain places – prayer rooms, church buildings, our living room. I thought it was something done at certain times – prayer time at church, prayer meetings at church, altar services after a church service. I thought it was only done in one way – with a loud voice and the use of repetitive words, much like chanting. But I was wrong. Prayer, the communication of my soul with the Almighty…
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV) It’s January, the start of a new year. Many consider it an opportunity for a fresh start. We can put last year’s disappointments and failures behind us and begin with a clean slate. We make resolutions, choose a focus word for the year, set goals, and begin our journey toward self-improvement. Also during this month, many churches set times of prayer and fasting to help us focus on the spiritual. checking my priorities…
In him (Jesus) we live, and move, and have our being. Acts 17:28 In every area of life, God needs to be our source—we need Him to survive. A fish has life in the water—the water is its source of life. However, if you take the fish out of water, it will die. Similarly, when we are disconnected from the source of our spiritual life, we will begin to feel weighted down, weak, and discouraged to the point of giving up. If you can relate, take sometime to get reconnected in God’s presence today. When we are connected to the source…
