Devotions

“For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Isaiah 57:15  As a young child,...

Psalm 66:17 “For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke.” Psalm 149:6 “Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands.” “War room” was made a household term in 2015 when the movie War Room hit the theaters and became a box office...

Read Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew 1:20 “But after he had considered this…” Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, demonstrates character strengths in this passage that can encourage our resolve in the face of adversity and difficult situations. Joseph is described as a righteous man, a just man. According to commentary, the description of righteous in Jewish tradition reveals...

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 When I compare selfishness to humility, I see a stark contrast. Selfishness is “all about me”…what I want, thinking only of my needs, seeking personal gratification, being self-centered, and putting aside serving others so...

1 Peter 3:15-16 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect. My son, who is tall and muscular, grew quickly and stood somewhat slouched for a...

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore…let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith… The other day, I came across my older son’s letters to Santa.  No, these letters were not from numerous years.  These letters, in draft form, were all written...

Read Nehemiah 1 “The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire.” Nehemiah 1:3 Nehemiah, a Jew, was stationed as a cupbearer to the king of Persia. In his position, he was given favor and opportunity to serve honorably to the world power of that day. Nehemiah was also...

Read Nehemiah 4 “Then I prayed, ‘Hear us, O our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads.’”  Nehemiah 4:4 Father, our soul cries out to you on behalf of the Church of Jesus Christ. Everywhere we look we see ridicule from the world and discouragement from within....

My peach tree is losing its leaves, and I am considering how to tackle the job of pruning it. You see, I’ve let it get unruly, scraggily, and out-of-reach. According to the Modern Farmer website, Autumn is the best time to prune your fruit trees. The three easy steps go something like this. First, prune...

1 John 5:13-14 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. As a young girl, I...

Psalm 42:11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, My Savior and my God.   Life can sometimes feel heavy, especially when we allow the things of the world to cause our eyes to be cast down. Current events may...

The events surrounding the Cross were some of the most dramatic events to occur in all of the Scriptures. Darkness falling on the land, dead men walking again, the veil being torn, an earthquake–a lot occurred around the cross. The most striking was that this all took place in Jerusalem. Jesus, God Himself, was killed in...

“Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” –Esther 4:14 The well-known story of Esther becoming queen at a crucial time in the history of the Jewish people has inspired many through the years. The Jews faced annihilation at the hands of their enemies. Esther would be...

“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” –Isaiah 66:2 All too often, Americans are looked at as arrogant or prideful. Years ago, there was a book entitled The Ugly American that told of how Americans in the Foreign Service often perpetuated that view....

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” –Philemon 1:6 Paul’s admonition to Philemon is not only good for church growth but for the renewal of a nation. All Christians must be active in sharing their...