Recent Devotions
“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.” (I Corinthians 7:17, ESV) When we think about the calling of God, our thoughts often go to pastors, perhaps some well-known Bible teachers, and of course missionaries—you know, the “important assignments” in the body of Christ. Our mind does not as quickly think of the nursery worker, the person going through the pews picking up left behind trash, or the man standing out in the weather to direct cars on the parking…
“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” (Romans 9:20, ESV) The word why contains only three little letters, but, oh, the emotion behind that short word. Our human mind wants (demands)…
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11, ESV) Remember the old children’s song “I’m in the Lord’s Army”? We’d march in place, arms swinging, as we loudly sang, “I may never march in the infantry,…
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“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:2 I came across a poem recently that I had carried in my Bible for many years. I have often quoted it to myself when going through a trial or facing a problem. Because it is probably still under copyright (even though it was written in 1955), I do not want to quote the whole poem here. It was written by Mildred Allen Jeffrey, and is titled “Behind the Burden.” It speaks of how we sometimes hide our burdens…
“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:3-4, ESV) Waiting. Waiting is such a hard thing to do. Waiting for the clock to strike 5:30 and your work day be finished. Waiting for the red light to turn green. Waiting for your paycheck to be deposited. Waiting for your food to come once you have ordered.…
“Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak” Psalm 6:2 “The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.” Psalm 6:9 When we think about David, we usually don’t think of him as weak but as being a very strong person. Even though just a young man he faced the giant Goliath when none of the soldiers in the army were willing to go against him. We know that he depended not on his own strength but on the strength of the Lord. He had some experiences while tending his father’s sheep that gave him…
“For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14, New King James Version). My friend trusted me with her secret. Because of a family emergency, she left town suddenly. In her rush, she needed someone to pack her apartment so her things could be shipped. She had already enlisted a male friend to help with the furniture, but my job was different. I was to box up her closet and more specifically—her shoes. Her many, many pairs of shoes. Some still lay in the original boxes, never worn. A female friend (especially one who also liked shoes)…
