Posts with the category “devotions”

Darkness is associated with many things, such as fear, sin, uncertainty, and despair. And we have just the resource to deal with the darkness. "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." - Psalm 119:130  Read More

By nature, we are impatient people, but one of our greatest needs in life is learning to wait. Waiting for people can be very frustrating, but there is One for whom we gladly wait. "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." - 1 Thessalonians 1:10  Read More

We must beware of the great temptation of acting out of presumption. When we speak or act without having all the facts in a situation, we will be ashamed. "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." - Proverbs 18:13  Read More

Acting hastily is unwise when we are acting out of anger or mere impulse. But sometimes acting with haste is necessary. "I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments." - Psalm 119:60  Read More

Love is considered to be the greatest of the graces, but even then there is an aspect of love that is not good at all. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." - 2 Timothy 3:2  Read More

Responsibilities of life have a way of wearing us down. In addition to that, the troubles and trials of life sometimes seem to take everything out of us. "My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word." - Psalm 119:28  Read More

It is not a sin to be angry, but it is very difficult to be angry without sinning. The Lord commands us by His grace to control our tempers. "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." - Proverbs 16:32  Read More

Though we are all made of the same clay, human beings have a tendency to look down on one another. May that not be true of us And may we so live in God‘s grace that we give others no reason to despise us. "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." - 1 Timothy 4:12  Read More

Human beings are instinctively worshipers, but we must make sure we are worshiping the true God. "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands." - Psalm 115:2-5  Read More

It is amazing that the God of all glory, all power, and all wisdom, who is the sum total of everything that is good, humbles Himself. "The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth-" Psalm 113:5-8  Read More

To be a God-fearing man or woman may not cause one to be respected in this world, but it is a definite advantage. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength." - Proverbs 8:13-14  Read More

Relationships with others are one of life’s greatest blessings. But they are also one of life’s greatest challenges. We definitely need patience. "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." - 1 Thessalonians 5:14  Read More

God created us with a natural tendency to explore and achieve. But we must be careful to put it to good use. "He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him." - Proverbs 11:27  Read More

It is true that we need to give up some things to follow Christ. But it is also true that we gain much more than we had before. "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." - Romans 5:9-10  Read More

Many live their lives seeking to do their duties in the bare minimum. That should never be true of us. "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." - Matthew 5:41  Read More

In the Old Testament, the temple was a physical building where people would go to offer sacrifices to God. Believers in the New Testament still need to assemble together, but our sacrifice and worship are much more personal. "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." -2 Corinthians 6:16  Read More

The human body is one of the many marvels of creation. It was designed by God to last, but not forever. "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." - 2 Corinthians 5:1  Read More

We often do not appreciate having things said to us repeatedly, but we certainly do need it. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe." - Philippians 3:1  Read More

As believers, we know that we are as sojourners on earth, and that we often do not fit in at all. That is because we are looking for something better than this world. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." -2 Peter 3:13-14  Read More

God‘s wisdom is revealed in all of creation and in all of His creatures. Consider the little ant. "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." - Proverbs 6:6-8  Read More

Our Lord knows all about us, and His requirements of us are based on this truth. "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." - 2 Corinthians 8:12  Read More

When we are young, it may seem that we have endless days upon earth, but as we age, we become acutely aware that this is certainly not the case. "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." - Psalm 90:12  Read More

It is good to spend our time and efforts in worthwhile pursuits, for completing our tasks brings us joy. "The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil." - Proverbs 13:19  Read More

Prayer is vitally important in the life of a believer, but so also is being faithful to praise the Lord. "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night." - Psalm 92:1-2  Read More

God’s Word should always be close at hand and close to our hearts. It will bless us in many ways. "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words." - Proverbs 7:1,5  Read More

Believers in Christ should beware of looking back on our past lives before salvation with fondness or with longing. This can be a great temptation in times of trial. "And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger." - Exodus 16:2–3  Read More

Slipping and falling physically can be frightening and dangerous, but so can slipping and falling spiritually. "Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up." - Psalm 94:17-18  Read More

Heaven is more real, and it is certainly more enduring than Earth is. This is what believers will experience eternally. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God."  - Revelation 21:3  Read More

Everything that the Lord possesses, He has in abundance, for He possesses all things. "For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee." - Psalm 86:5  Read More

Sometimes wisdom is demonstrated in saying the right thing at the right time. And sometimes it is displayed in not saying anything at all. "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." - Proverbs 17:28  Read More

Believers cannot live the Christian life apart from the presence of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." - Ephesians 5:18-19  Read More

People in our world are divided for many reasons. Many wonder if there is any peace to be found. There is peace in a person, and that person is Christ. "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." - Ephesians 2:14  Read More

There are too many in the Christian life who seek to do as little as possible in their walk with God and in ministry. May that not be true about us. "Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say." - Philemon 1:21  Read More

Singing is in a sense an expression of our souls, and it is no wonder that the Psalms (the songbook of the Old Testament) is one of the longest in the Bible. "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. - Revelation 5:9-10  Read More

We may sometimes sense that we are insignificant in this world, being subject to government leaders who have control over our lives. But our God is on the throne over all creation. "The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof." - Psalm 97:1  Read More

It is good to be reminded that our heavenly Father is the perfect model upon whom earthly fathers are patterned. "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" - Matthew 7:11  Read More

Our world is full of suffering. There is suffering because of sickness and accidents, there is suffering because of sin, and there is suffering because of righteousness. "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." - Peter 2:19-20  Read More

TypeThe Lord has given us the gift of speech among other qualities that set humans apart from the animals. And it is a powerful gift that requires wisdom and caution. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." - Proverbs 18:21  Read More

Suffering is part of living in a fallen and sinful world. And we know that the Lord always has a purpose in the suffering of believers. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." - 2 Corinthians 4:17  Read More

Relationships with others are some of God‘s best blessings in this life, but we know that they can be very challenging. "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." - 2 Corinthians 12:15  Read More