Recent Devotions
“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.” 2 Timothy 4:17 I’ve read a quote by Bob Goff that said, “We won’t be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose.” When my young daughter asked me what “purpose” was, I explained that it means every single person has something that they are intended to do with their lives. Something good. Something important. She quickly responded, in her matter-of-fact way, “Daddy has a…
“Powerful people harass me without cause, but my heart trembles only at your word.” Psalms 119:161 NLT When I read the above verse, I questioned myself, “When was the last time I trembled at the Word of God? We live in scary times, and our world seems to be getting…
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 Anchors are particularly important equipment on any ship, and the crew probably inspects them daily to make…
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And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (I Samuel 17:33, NKJV) The Philistine giant Goliath made an imposing sight. His height (over nine feet), his armor (125 pounds), his spear as large as a weaver’s beam, and his defiant roar caused an entire army to cower on their side of the mountain. How could one man, even though he was a huge man, cause an entire army to tremble? Had we been there, I’m sure…
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8, ESV) Have you ever struggled in making a decision? At one time or another, everyone faces a “do I or don’t I” situation. Just this week I needed to decide about a certain matter. It was nothing major, or at least I don’t believe so, but I still wanted to be sure I was making the right choice. I learned long ago that seemingly insignificant things may have a much greater impact than we expect. Let…
“Whatsoever things are true… whatsoever things are lovely.” (Philippians 4:8) Some of the most formative and imaginative moments of my childhood took place in the prayer room at our church. Before every service, my parents made it a habit to spend time in prayer before entering the sanctuary. As a small child, accompanying my mother into those dimly lit ladies’ prayer rooms was sometimes unsettling. I would peer through the darkness, wondering who else was there and why God seemed to prefer conversations in the dark! My own simple prayers were usually brief, and before long, my mind would drift…
Working in my flower garden, I wanted to make room for a beautiful birdbath I purchased. A large, well-established Hosta was smack dab in the perfect place for the birdbath. Well, I made up my mind right then and there that the “in my way” Hosta would be relocated a little farther along the pathway; that’s all there was to it. Over the previous few days, I wore gloves to do my various gardening tasks. On this day, with great energy and determination, I began the challenge of relocating the deeply rooted plant without donning my hand gear. I grabbed…
