“God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry.” Deuteronomy 31:8 MSG I’m a simple kind of girl. A plain Jane if you will. So when I read scripture like this, in this translation…
“For his loyal love towers over us, and the LORD’s faithfulness endures. Praise the LORD!” (Psalm 117:2, New English Translation). Everyone wants to be loved, but many feel unloved or unlovable. Perhaps they come from a family where love was never expressed. Or maybe the one they believed loved them…
For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (Psalm 11:7, The Message) Just when we think we have life figured out, something happens that throws us for a loop. In those moments we have a very important decision to make. We can use the…
“He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” (Deuteronomy 32:4, Holy Bible, New Living Translation).
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Life isn’t fair! I’ve uttered these three words myself, usually followed by the next three, “Why me, God?” I’m tempted to scream “Pick on somebody else for a while.” When the problem is resolved, I realize it was part of God’s perfect plan. He makes no mistakes.
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Prayer: Lord, I’m often perplexed when You choose a rocky path for me. When I question You, let me see myself from Your heavenly view.
- Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” (Psalm 37:7 ESV) I have a really hard time sitting still. I feel like I always have to be doing something, whether it’s cleaning or working on a project, I need to feel like I’m being productive. So, when I…
“There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?” John 6:9
In the hands of Jesus a small boy’s lunch fed 5000 people, and they ended up with twelve baskets of leftovers. What a story the young lad must have had to tell when he returned home that day.
Jesus blesses small things. We may think our small donation to the Missionary Fund each month doesn’t accomplish much. But the Lord multiplies it over and over. Did you ever stop to think that every soul that is reached on the mission field is a result of your (and many others) faithful giving? We may never meet those people, but God blesses us for our part in their salvation.
What about our commitments to our local church week after week, month after month? We are making an investment in souls and can feel we have made a way for others to know Jesus Christ.
Giving births miracles. Let’s each do our small part.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you have provided us with all that we need and given us the ability to share with others.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2
A steward is someone charged with managing property or funds for someone else. One of the main qualities required of a steward is faithfulness. The owner must know he can trust his steward to protect his investments and make sure they are profitable.
As Christians, we are stewards. God has charged us with managing many things, such as our time, our talents and our finances. And He expects us to be faithful; to protect these things but also to use them profitably and efficiently.
One day we will be required to give an account to God of how we managed the resources He trusted us with. Let’s do our very best so that we can hear him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for trusting me to be one of your stewards. Give me wisdom in how to manage the resources You have placed in my care.
Devotion by Liane Grant
“He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree” (Luke 1:51-52 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible).
Pride has no value. It gives a false sense of self-importance that exists only in the imagination of the heart. When God was looking for a human vessel to accomplish His will, He bypassed all of the high profile candidates and chose a humble young woman who was “powerless” in the eyes of society. God demonstrated that His favor rested upon those who followed Him in spite of the world. Though God handpicked her from all of the women on the face of the earth, Mary did not claim any glory from it.
Prayer: Lord, You value faithfulness, trust, and obedience above everything. Teach me these essential qualities and help me to never claim glory for myself. Amen.
Devotion by Julie Long
The Bible says that Abraham was a man full of faith. On the surface it looks like he walked with God without the struggles I face in my life. But, if we dig a little deeper we see a much different story. What about the time God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son? And God said, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou has not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” (Genesis 22:12 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible). When the faith test ended God said, “now I know.” In other words, Abraham proved just how much he trusted Him. God wasn’t sure how Abraham would react to His request. The tests you are facing will prove to God whether you trust Him or not.
Prayer: Lord, I know You are always faithful. I’m never alone in any situation. You are always with me. I want to be faithful and prove my faith by my actions.
Devotion by: Kaye Singleton