Today's Devotion
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26 Throughout scripture, we learn there are different ways to pray. Intercessory prayer, for example, is the deepest and most unselfish form of prayer. This type of prayer is characterized by terms such as “wrestling in prayer”, “groaning that can’t be uttered”, and “fervent, agonizing prayer.” The word intercession means, “to come between,” or “to interpose on behalf of someone else”. An individual who is engaged…
Shame is a worldwide issue; it creeps into people’s minds at midnight, during a happy moment with family, or even when we sit in a pew at church. Shame is a device of the enemy that hinders us from running after God because it oftentimes causes us to run from Him. Today, you may feel encumbered by the shame of your past or missed opportunities due to uncontrollable circumstances. What is one thing that will combat shame? Forgiveness. The word forgive means to release. What do you need to release into God’s hands today? 1 John 1:9 states, If we…
“The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.” (Acts 27:20, NLT) First Century travel was nothing like travel today. When we plan a trip, we have numerous options. We can drive, take a train, book a flight, or, for some locations, take a ship. When Paul and his companions traveled, not for vacations but for evangelism, their two primary modes of travel were walking and cargo ships. (Passenger ships as we know them did not exist.) It is estimated that Paul traveled over 10,000 miles during his…
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19) “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” (II Corinthians 4:8-9) Pressure is something we all experience. It may not look like David running for his life from King Saul, or Paul being beaten, imprisoned, and persecuted, but pressure still finds its way into our everyday lives. It shows up in different forms, such as the weight of responsibilities, unanswered prayers, emotional exhaustion, financial strain,…
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 24:34) It’s just a box—an empty cardboard box left over from some previous online order that I found in my garage. It’s not very large, only 10 by 13 inches. Allow me a few moments to tell you about the box and what it holds. Recently, a dear friend was freed from the restraints of her weary earthly body. I was tasked with sorting and packing anything of value from her room at the care facility. Truthfully, it didn’t take long. Life has a way of stripping away…
