Posts with the category “daily-devotional”

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in as much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” - 1 Peter 4:12-13  Over the last couple of days, we have talked about the power God wants to bring about within you. The gifts, tal...  Read More

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18  Do you ever wonder what is your purpose in life? Maybe you ask yourself, “Why am I here? Why do I exist? What does God even want from me, anyway?” These are questions so many people ask themselves at one point or another. But the reality is, if you are still bre...  Read More

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” - Matthew 16:18  I read this story once about a young husband who knocked on the door of this retired doctor in a small town in order to get help for his wife. The doctor came to the door and said, “Hello, may I help you?” and the young man said, “Sir, my wife has had an accid...  Read More

“Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” - Genesis 18:14  If you are reading this, God wants me to tell you that the thing you’ve been waiting for is about to come to pass. It’s on the way. The miracle, the healing, the deliverance, the breakthrough, it’s on the way. And when God does it, He’s going to blow your mind.   T...  Read More

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7  Have you been waiting on God to move a mountain in your life? Matthew 7:7 speaks of God’s willingness to answer those who sincerely seek Him. These are promises that God provides through prayer, not a means of spiritual manipulation that guarantee God will answer any and everything t...  Read More

“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, your ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.” - Psalm 24:7  Thomas Edison was deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other due to the effects of the scarlet fever and a bow to the head. However, Edison stated that this was in fact a blessing because he was able to concentrate on his work without distractions, and his work birthed some of...  Read More

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks find; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” - Luke 11:9-10    The good news is when we invite God into our home, some things are guaranteed to happen—things start moving and shifting. You do not just have to wait for t...  Read More

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” - Luke 11:9-10  Growing up I used to watch old television shows and sitcoms that were popular back in the 50’s and 60’s. In those shows, I’d often see something that was rea...  Read More

“Do not fear, For I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” - Isaiah 43:1-2  When it comes to God’s delivery, one thing is for certain; God will be with you. So of...  Read More

“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” - Luke 6:38  One of the primary ways to show God you are committed to Him is through sacrificial giving and tithing. We might believe God can and will do what He said He would, but when we fail to give, we aren’t...  Read More

“Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.” - Psalm 76:11    As believers in God, we should pray and believe like it’s all up to God, but work, serve, and sacrifice like it is all up to us. Something happens in the heart of God when we offer a sacrifice to Him by faith.   Not long ago, I was in my hotel in Atlanta. While I w...  Read More

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6  In Joshua 6, God sent Joshua to the city of Jericho for what, at the time, seemed like an impossible task—to bring down the walls of Jericho and gain access to the city (mind you the embankment retaining wall was 12-15 feet high, and...  Read More

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6  Have you ever questioned God? Have you called out to Him and blatantly asked Him, “Are you going to do what you said you would do, God?” First Lady Jill Biden recently spoke about struggling with faith after her stepson di...  Read More

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” - Hebrews 11:6  Throughout the Bible, God illustrates that what happens for us, in us, and through us is a result of standing on our faith when times get tough. Faith, sincere faith, sparks the delight of God.   What communicates to God t...  Read More

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” - Hebrews 11:1    Over the last week, we have talked about the challenges of waiting on God. We examined the frustration Abram felt with knowing there was a promise on his life. But after 10 years, he was struggling with the fact that it hadn’t happened yet. Genesis 15:6 states that after everything Abram endured...  Read More

“…all things are possible to him who believes.” - Mark 9:23  I once heard a story about when explorers first visited Australia, they found a mammal that laid eggs, dwelled in water and on land, had a flat tail and webbed feet, and a bill like a duck. Upon their return to England, they told the populace of this, and everyone believed it was a hoax. They returned to Australia and found a pelt from t...  Read More

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” - Isaiah 55:8  When it comes to questioning God, sometimes it is not a matter of if He will do it, but how He will do it. As believers, we know God’s Word, and we believe God’s Word. We just struggle with God’s methods. It’s the problem the prophet Isaiah is trying to address in Isaiah 55 when he says, “For ...  Read More

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”- Genesis 15:1  When doubt or fear begin to set in, and you do not know what to do, remember whose you are. God told Abram, “You don’t have to be afraid because I’m going to be your shield, I’m your protection." To protect means to keep safe from harm or ...  Read More

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7  We must be careful not to let doubt creep in in our waiting season. We all face doubts, fears, and uncertainties in life every now and then. With the passing of time, frustration begins to infiltrate our spirit, and we become fixated on our circumstances rather than on the one who c...  Read More

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2  The Bible speaks a lot about trusting God and on waiting for His timing because both of these commands can be challenging. One reason is because of the fear that is associated with trusting in the u...  Read More

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” - Proverbs 3:5  The original movie, “The Karate Kid,” is about a young boy named Daniel LaRussa who wants to learn karate so that he can defend himself. He’s tired of being bullied and beaten by the ex-boyfriend of a girl he likes. He asks the janitor in his building, an elderly Japanese man named Mr. Miyagi, who is a ...  Read More

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” - Isaiah 30:18  Most people don’t go into the kitchen and start eating a cup of sugar, a cup of flour, or some salt. They do not drink a tablespoon of vanilla be itself and say, “what a great meal!” Why is that? Because they recognize tha...  Read More

“Hope in the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.” - Psalm 37:34  Before Abram asked God about who would inherit his estate in Genesis 15, there were a series of challenging events Abram faced. Most notably, he was at war and fought to secure the return of his nephew, Lot. After this, he was in the valley of Shaveh, trying to...  Read More

“But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the...  Read More

“But Abram said, ‘Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus? You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.’ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ‘This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.’ He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the...  Read More

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9  The gap in time from when we want God to answer to the revelation and manifestation of that prayer can be very tough to wait through. This kind of waiting requires spiritual stamina. Abram and his wife Sarai wai...  Read More

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” - Hebrews 10:23  Have you ever noticed that most of the things that you badly want will require some time and patience to reap the rewards—a degree, an executive positive, a spouse, a child. Waiting is something that life requires. You must wait in line at stores, wait at the doctor’s office, and wait for your car ...  Read More

“Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you.” - Jeremiah 26:13  Over the last few days, we have discussed Moses and the ways in which he lost his temper, leading to him killing an Egyptian man. Though Moses had a long history of struggling with this rage and anger, he was eventually able to br...  Read More

“The man said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Then Moses was afraid and thought, ‘What I did I must have become known.’ When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well.” - Exodus 2:14-15  When it comes to not losing our cool, sometimes the best...  Read More

“In your anger do not sin, do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” - Ephesians 4:26-27  In 1994, Chris Burns of the associated press wrote an article about the lethal leftovers of war. He talked about the hundreds of explosives from WWII that were still scattered across Europe at construction sites, in fishing nets, and on beaches. Even after th...  Read More

“One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” - Exodus 2:11-13  When it comes to keeping your cool, the first thing you must do is determine what triggers your anger. It is importan...  Read More

“One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” - Exodus 2:11-13  Yesterday, we discussed the idea of keeping your cool. If there is anyone who needed to learn how to keep his cool, i...  Read More

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.” - Psalm 37:8  Anger is an often-overlooked problem within American society. We’re constantly surrounded by road rage, domestic violence, angry TV and radio commentators, and even angry politicians. Over one third of violence on American highways is a result of people cutting others off, cursing at others, getting into fig...  Read More

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9  As Christians, we should strive to be more like Jesus. One of the ways we can do this in a way that encourages, challenges, and strengthens other Christians, is to help release people to their future rather than holding them hostage to their past. Instead of punishing ...  Read More

“…There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. - Romans 3:22-24  Are you walking away from the church or removing yourself from a Christian friend group? Maybe you made a mistake (even a big one), and you cannot stand to hear the judgment and lectur...  Read More

“…But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still st...  Read More

“…But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still st...  Read More

“…But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still st...  Read More

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, so he guided them to their desired haven.” - Psalm 107:28-30  Are you in the midst of a difficult situation right now? Life is filled with highs and lows. We love being on the mountain top...  Read More

“Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He asked. ‘Lord, we want our sight,’ they answered. Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. - Matthew 20:32-34  The story found in Matthew 20 shows that your breakthrough will come when you decide that you want something deeper in life. What stands out in this t...  Read More