Daily Devotional Free

  Faith is like a paranoia in reverse. A truly paranoid person organizes his or her life around a common perspective of fear. Anything that happens feeds that fear. But, feeding your faith helps starve your fears.  Faith works in reverse. A faithful person organizes his or her life around a common perspective of trust, not fear. Despite the apparent chaos of the present moment, God does reign. Regardless of how I may feel, I truly matter to a God of love. What could happen if we in God's kingdom truly acted as if the words of the apostle John were literally true: "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). What if we really started living as if the most-repeated prayer in Christendom has actually been answered - that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven? My friends, have faith and do not fear. God is greater than anything in this world. We have Him on our side, always!

  Dear Lord, teach me to number my days aright, that I may gain wisdom of heart. Help me do today the things that matter, not to waste the time I have. Fill me this day with your kindness, that I may be glad and rejoice all the days of my life. The moments I have are precious, Lord, see that I count them dear. I will put all my fears and failures in Your hands, my worries that consume me, my pain that destroys me. Because of all You are, my life, oh God, is yours. Be now and evermore my defense. And, make me know and feel, that there is no other Name under heaven given to man. Let me receive health and salvation, but only the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

  The New Testament tells us that Christ is not only the Redeemer, but He is also the Creator of the universe. Read the whole chapter of Psalm 121. There, the psalmist challenges us to lift our eyes to the hills to see God, for our "help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth" (vv. 1-2). He alone is sufficient to be our strength and to guide our steps as we make our way through a dangerous and troubled world. We lift our eyes to the One who keeps us, guards us and overshadows us in the face of all types of danger. He preserves us from evil and keeps us safely in His care for all eternity. In faith, we lift our eyes to the One who is our Redeemer and Creator. He is our help and our hope and our eternal home. Christ was lifted up that He might lift us up. He is our God, our help in ages past. He is our hope for the years to come. He is our shelter from the stormy blast. And, He is our eternal home.

  Dear God, as I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tears, dispense more cheer than gloom, spread more joy than despair. Let me remind those I meet that our final existence will be total joy, and that we may taste this joy through the Spirit even today. Never let me become so indifferent that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child, or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged. Also, never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people, make them happy, and forget momentarily all the temporary unpleasantness in their lives. Let me touch the lives of others for good, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I speak, or the life I live. I beseech You to defend me this week from all evil, and do more for me than I can think or ask, for Jesus Christ's sake. I want that assurance of an eternal inheritance—the certainty of everlasting life with You. I put my faith in Jesus to forgive my sins and make me His child. Thank You for saving me and

  "You will keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3). Once we have peace in our hearts and minds, we are acknowledging that God would care for us. Believers in Jesus can have peace in the midst of uncertainties because we have the assurance that our Heavenly Father loves His children and cares for our needs (Matt. 6:25-34). We can bring all our concerns to Him with an attitude of thankfulness, trusting Him to meet our needs and gives us peace. "The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding", writes the Apostle Paul, "will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil 4.7)". To say the peace of God surpasses all understanding reveals that we can't explain it, but we can experience it as He guards our hearts and minds. Our peace comes from the confidence that the Lord loves us and He is in control. He alone provides the comfort that settles our nerves, fills our minds with hope, and allows u

  Dear Heavenly Father, You are all-wise, all-powerful and all-loving. In the midst of uncertainties, help me to rest in the certainty of who You are. I thank You that Your peace will guard my heart, I place my trust in You. Take from me idleness of spirit, which destroys time; and vanity of thought, which hinders Your presence and distracts my attention to prayer. And if, while in prayer, I turn away from You in my thoughts, help me to return to my purpose. So that, I might not avert my heart from You, during the few precious moments I dedicate to talking with You. And grant me this day, dear Lord, that You may never be completely out of my thoughts. Let me carry you as a voice to guide my every step as I slip down the path of this precious day, that I might always remember Your will, and lighten the world around me. Help me to make every moment of my day, every word from my mouth, a prayer, that I might live in Your presence. Amen

  Just like a rescuer who rescues a victim in a near-death situation, Jesus will do it the same for us when He sees us that we're giving up in our lives. In fact, He already rescued us two thousand years ago. He already rescued us from the clutches of sin by His death and resurrection. We are freed from the death of sin. When Jesus sent the twelve disciples to carry out His work, He gave them the assignment to preach the good news of God's desire to rescue people (Luke 9:1-6). They would not carry this out in their own strength, but Jesus would lift the heavy burden of people's sin as they taught about Him. Their preaching and healing in Jesus' power and authority proved that Jesus had actually brought God's rule to earth. Many today are trapped under the weight of sin, but our great God can rescue us from underneath those burdens. And then, send us into the world to tell others that He can set them free. Those who've been rescued from sin are best able to help

  Dear God, Thank You for the another week to remember the glorious resurrection of Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. It really makes us glad, O God. Give us this day such blessings through our worship of you, that the days to come may be spent in your service. I offer to Your divine majesty my unfeigned praise and thanksgiving for all Your mercies towards me. You made me at first and have ever since sustained the work of Your own hand. You gave Your Son to die for me and have given me assurance of salvation. Heavenly Father, You have graciously accepted me as a living member of Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. You have blessed me with the grace of forgiveness through the sacrifice He made for me and for all people. Send me now into the world in peace, and grant me strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart, through Christ our Lord. Amen

  You may have heard the saying, "The past is supposed to be a guidepost, not a hitching post." It's easy to become tied to memories of "the good old days" instead of using our experiences to find direction for the road ahead. We are all susceptible to the paralyzing effects of nostalgia - a longing for what used to be. The Lord said, "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. Then, you will find rest for your souls (Jer. 6:16). Jeremiah was a priest from a small town  near Jerusalem when God called him to be "a prophet" to the nations". He was given the very difficult job of pronouncing God's judgement primarily on the people of Judah, who had turned away from the Lord. Jeremiah made it clear that he was delivering God's message, not his own. God urged His people to look back so they could move ahead. The purpose of considering the ancient paths was to find "the good way" m

  Dear Lord, I call upon You today. In the morning You hear me. In the morning, I offer You my prayer, watching and waiting. I lift my heart to You, O Lord, to be strengthened for this day. Be with me in all I do, my God. Guide me in all my ways. I humbly pray You so to guide and govern me by Your Holy Spirit, that in all the joys, occupations, and cares of this day I may never forget You. But remember that I am ever walking in Your sight. In Christ's Name, I pray. Amen

  Like a child who is growing physically as a natural part of life, there's another kind of growth that happens with some effort - our spiritual growth in Christ-likeness. Peter encouraged believers to "grow in the grace and knowledge" of Jesus (2 Pet. 3:18). He said that maturing in our faith prepares us for Christ's return. The apostle wanted Jesus to come back and find believers living in peace and righteousness. Peter viewed spiritual growth as a defense against teaching that incorrectly interprets God's Word and leads people astray. Spiritual growth requires the solid food of God's Word. Once you read His Word everyday, You will be fed spiritually. The Bible satisfies our spiritual hunger because His Words are powerful. He has a revelation to us everyday if we just seek on His Word. Even when we feel discouraged and disconnected from God, we can remember that He will help us advance in our faith by making us more like His Son. His Word assures us that He

  Dear God, let me give You thanks and praise for Your many and varied mercies extended toward me. I invite Your Holy Spirit to mold me into the person You want me to be. Empower me to keep reaching for the holiness I see in Jesus. And O kind Father, continue Your mercy and favor to me this day, and always. Give resolution to all my lawful undertakings. Let me have all my directions from Your Holy Spirit and success from Your bountiful hand. I bind myself to You this day in Your truth and in Your sacrifice. I give to You my anxiety and my fear, my depression and my doubt, for You have promised to take them if we only ask; and I take upon myself your burden, for it is light and your way is gentle. May I keep this in my heart and mind all this day. Amen

  Independence appeals to all ages. It means "freedom from the control, influence, support and aid of others." So, it's not surprising that teenagers talk about gaining their independence. Many adults have the goal of being "independently wealthy", and senior citizens want to maintain their independence. Whether anyone is ever truly independent is a discussion for another time and place - but it sounds good. Craving political or personal independence is one thing; daring to pursue spiritual independence is problematic. What we need instead is a recognition and acceptance of our deep spiritual dependence. Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing (John 15:5) Far from being self-reliant, we are totally and eternally dependent on the One who died to set us free. Our greatest strength comes from dependence on our strong God. We need him every hour. Let Him come into

  I pause for a moment and think of the love and the grace that God showers on me, creating me in his image and likeness, making me his temple. God is within me and me in Him. What most often stops me achieving freedom is my tendency to be caught up in fears and expectations about what I 'ought' or 'should' be. My usual automatic responses tie me down and inhibit me from exploring new areas of growth. I ask and pray for a greater sense of inner freedom and that I might reach the fresh and challenging possibilities that God wishes me to realize. Lead me Lord to where you need me to be.

  Worry can be like holding a glass. The longer you worry about something, the more your fears weigh you down. Also, King David knew about fear. His son Absalom had stolen the allegiance of the nation of Israel from him and was attempting to take the throne for himself.  David didn't know who was loyal to him and who was against him. His only option seemed to be to run. He said to his servants, “Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.” In a psalm that David may have written while he was fleeing for his life, he wrote: "I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill (Ps. 3:4). In the midst of his fear, David looked to the Lord, God showed him grace and restored him to the throne. These are plenty of worries that can weigh us down. But, as we release them into God's strong hands, He will help us thro

  Dear Lord, I give thanks to You that You have protected me through the night from all danger and harm. Into Your hands I commend my body and soul and all that is mine. Let Your holy angels have charge of me, that the wicked one have no power over me. Thank You, Lord, that we do not have to be weighed down by worry. Help us to place our concerns in Your care so that we do not fear tomorrow. I ask You to preserve and keep me from all sin and evil, that in all my thoughts, words, and deeds I may serve and please You. Finally, let me go forth in thanks for the victory I have been given through our Lord Jesus Christ. May I be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. And, always remembering that in the Lord our labor is not in vain. Amen

  Spiritually, when sin and failure break our relationship with God and sideline our service, determination alone is not what restores us to rightness with God and usefulness in His Kingdom. When we are side-lined because of sin, the path to a comeback is confession as well. "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) For us to be able to recover from our spiritual failings, we are absolutely dependent on the One who gave Himself for us. And, that gives us hope. Christ, who died for us, loves us with an everlasting love and will respond with grace as we confess our faults to Him. Through confession, we can find His gracious restoration - the greatest of all comebacks. Confession is the path that leads to restoration. We have a great comeback with Christ if we confess our sins. Remember, we are already washed by the Blood of the Lamb.

  Dear Lord, I pray that You will make me taste by love what I taste by knowledge. Let me know by love what I know by understanding. I owe You more than my whole self, Lord. But I have no more, and by myself I cannot render the whole of it to You. Draw me to you, Lord, in the fullness of Your love. I am wholly Yours by creation; make me all Yours, too, in love. Because You have made me, I owe You the whole of my love. Because You have redeemed me, I owe You the whole of myself. Because You have promised so much, I owe You my whole being. Amen