Daily Devotional Free

  A tragedy is a story in which the main characters succumb to the difficult circumstances in their lives. Some might call Jesus’ life a tragedy. As an adult, He was homeless and often misunderstood. The Pharisees harassed and hated Him. Even Jesus’ disciples occasionally doubted His divinity. When He truthfully said He was the Son of God, the authorities convicted Him of blasphemy (Mark 14:61-65). As punishment—although innocent of any sin—Roman soldiers tortured, mocked, and crucified Him. Jesus, tragic? No way. His death was the foundation for the most important triumph of all time—the resurrection! (John 20:11-14). Paul wrote that God “raised Christ from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). Beyond the flesh-and-blood miracle of Jesus’ resurrection, He “disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross” (Colossians 2:15). Without Jesus, our lives would be tragic. We would live and die in our sin with no hope of escaping its conseque

  Dear Lord, help me to go about the tasks and duties of this day with the remembrance that I am Your servant therein. Make me honest, painstaking, and cheerful. And, grant that all I do and say may bring good to others and glory to Your Holy Name. May I have the courage never to be afraid of anyone. May I have the generosity to bear ill-feeling toward no-one. Lead me to live in such a way as to treat others in the same way as I would like to be treated. Inspire me never to be violent in thought, word or action, and lead me to conquer evil with goodness. Let me go forth in Your peace, keeping Your Spirit always in my mind. And bless me, I pray, that I might always follow Your will and live in the radiance of Your blessing. Amen

  The Bible compares a person who trusts in God to a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river (Jer. 17:8). Because its roots are well-nourished, this tree survives soaring temperatures. And, during drought, it continues to yield fruit. Even strong trials cannot blow down a person who is rooted in God. Like a firmly rooted tree, people who rely on God have a sense of stability and vitality despite the worst circumstances. In contrast, people who place their trust in other humans often live with a sense of instability. The Bible compares them to a desert shrubs that are frequently malnourished and stand alone (Jer. 17:6). So, it is with the spiritual lives of people who forsake God. Where are our roots? Are we rooted in Jesus? Are we a bridge that leads to Him? If we know Christ, we can testify to this truth: Blessed are those who trust in the Lord (Jer. 17:7).

Dear God, as I face another day, I know I am going to face many challenges to my faith, patience, to my love for others. I am going to have constant temptations to lapse into sin. Come to me now, Lord, and stay with me all day. Let Your Spirit encompass my mind. Let me know Your presence. Steer my hand, direct my words, guide my thoughts in everything I think and say and do. I resolve to live this day as a beacon of Your glory, the best I can, with your help. I commit myself to give this day to You. In the name of Christ, be with me and help me. Amen

  Most of us like to look good. We want to appear that we "have it all together", with no struggles or fears or temptations or heartaches. Trying to maintain a facade of perfection on our spiritual journey doesn't help us or our fellow travelers. But, sharing our lives with others in the body of Christ benefits us as well as others. When we are a bit more transparent, we may find people who are struggling in a similar situation. And, as we enjoy a growing fellowship with God and become more aware of our own brokenness and inadequacy, God is able to use us more fully to help others. Let's allow God to strip away any pretense and "let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Heb. 10:24). Believers stand strong when they don't stand alone. Wearing a mask that shows everything's fine says that life's struggles are not God's design. But when we're open, transparent and true, people will trust God to meet their ne

  Dear Lord, give me the strength to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely on Your holy will. Reveal Your will to me every hour of the day. Bless my dealings with all people. Teach me to treat all people who come to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings and in unexpected events, let me not forget that all are sent by You. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me the physical strength to bear the labors of this day. Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray in me. Amen

  Nothing is miserable but what is thought so. And contrariwise, every estate is happy if a person that bears it will be content. Our view of changing circumstances and contentment is a personal choice. It still matters into you. The apostle Paul reinforced the idea that the way we view our circumstances is more important than the circumstances themselves. While he too was in prison, he wrote: "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Phil. 4:11). Both men could be content because they drew their ultimate satisfaction from God, who never changes. Do you feel chained to difficult circumstances? God can give you contentment. Lasting satisfaction can be found only with Him, for in His presence is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11). When all you have is God, you have all you need.

  Dear Lord, I come before you as I am. Lead me today as You see best. We seek Your guidance today and ask to know You in ways we haven’t seen before. It is impossible for us to comprehend Your nature, and yet You welcome us to approach You in prayer. I ask that good may come from whatever negative things happen to me, knowing that nothing can ever separate me from Your love. Give me strength to bear my load. Use the gifts You’ve given me to encourage others on their journey. Help me not to compare myself with others but to be content. Make me perfect in every good work to do Your will, working in me that which is well pleasing in Your sight. Amen

  How many of you would like to have a fresh start in your Christian life? Many of us have made many mistakes in our lives as Christians. We have experienced many setbacks and failures throughout our lives. Sometimes we allow these mistakes, these setbacks and failures to enslave us to the point that we never enjoy the full Christian life that God has given us to enjoy.  In John 10:10 Jesus said, “ I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” Then he goes on to tell us that there is an adversary, called the Devil, that seeks to still, kill and destroy that life. The Devil will remind us of our past in order to keep us from enjoying the life that God gave us to live. The Devil does not want you to have a fresh start in life.  How to have a fresh start in life? It is by s.top making excuses.  Take an inventory of your life on how far did you go.  Act in faith. Also, r efocus your thoughts. And most important of all, t rust God.

  Dear Lord, I come before You today as I am. Thank You for paying the penalty for my sins by Your death and resurrection and giving me new life. Help me to live a life that honors Your holy name and to love others as You have loved me. At this moment, I turn to You for strength in my weakness, energy for my weariness, and faith in my doubt. I lay down my pain, sorrow and sufferings before You because they are all part of who I am. I ask that good may come from whatever negative things happen to me, knowing that nothing can ever separate me from Your love. Make me perfect in every good work to do Your will. Work in my life, Lord, so that I am well pleasing in your sight. This is all for You, Lord, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen

  What are we to make of Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians 11:30 where he declares, "If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness"? One would think that if Paul's hand were forced and he had to stoop to the level of his enemies in this matter of boasting, the least he could do was think up a few praiseworthy accomplishments or something that would silence his accusers. We are all pretty adept at avoiding embarrassing topics. Most people have learned the art of maneuvering a conversation away from anything that might show them in a bad light or disclose their incompetence. And should it happen that some shameful item is noted, we're also pretty good at explaining it away or justifying it to protect our public image. Anything to save face! Paul's singular commitment to the preeminence of God's glory simply would not permit him to engage in such behavior. He's happy to boast, if he must, but only in such a way that, when done, all the

  Dear God, the heavens are telling of Your glory and the wonders of Your love, the sun by day, and the moon and stars by night. I look with hope to the day when my knowledge of Your glory will never be hidden by the concerns of the world. And, I may know You every moment of time, forever. Forgive me for all the time I spend with my face bent to the things of earth. Thank You, because You are always there. You are always willing to show Yourself to me and guide me and comfort me. I ask You to inspire me with a thirst for knowledge. I pray, too, for wisdom and understanding that I may use my knowledge well. Bless me and all those who pray in faith of You this day; save us and grant unto us everlasting life. Amen

  Perhaps you think of yourself as a little person, with very little to bring to the Kingdom. Take courage: God can produce an abundant harvest through You. This is one of the ironies of faith: God uses the insignificant to accomplish the great. God's power ca produce results in even the most unpromising soil. Not many of us are wise or noble; most of us are anonymous and far from extraordinary. Yet all of us can be used. And contrary to what we might think, it is because of our weakness that we can be used by God. God's power is also revealed in the lowest points of our life. It's possible to be too big or proud for God to use, but we can never be too little. "Out of weakness", we are "made strong". By God's great power we can do all that He has called us to do. To experience God's power, we must first admit that we are weak.

  Dear Lord, I may worship You in spirit and in truth today. Deliver me, when I draw near to You, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind. I am no longer my own, but Yours. You work through such common things - those of us with flaws and weaknesses. We are in awe of Your power and humbled by Your choice of us. Our hearts long to be faithful to You. May the Passion of Christ be ever in my heart. May Your law and Your goodness guide my every thought, O Lord. And may the power of Your Holy Spirit flow through my words and my actions in the coming week, and always. Amen

  How do you feel when you are annoyed? In fact, with just a minor annoyance that you received from someone, it is a good reminder of what life would be like if indeed there were no grace. Each of us would immediately be called to account for every indiscretion. There would be no time for repentance or change of behavior. There would be no forgiveness. No mercy, no hope. Living in this world sometimes feels like falling into a no-grace sinkhole. When minor flaws are blown up into major indiscretions or when people refuse to overlook the faults and offenses of others, we end up burdened by the weight of guilt that we were never meant to carry. God, in His grace, sent Jesus to carry the burden for us. Those who receive God's gift of grace have the privilege of offering it to others on Christ's behalf: "Above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins" (1 Pet. 4:8). When we gratefully acknowledge the grace we've received, we

  Dear God, I dedicate this day to You. I pray that Your Spirit will lift me up this day, and that Your face may shine upon me all the day long. Let me do Your will and lead a new life in Christ, reborn in the Spirit. The culture around us can seem so harsh and hard on people when they fail. Help me to show grace and patience, because You have been gracious to me and have forgiven my sin. Have mercy upon us, and deliver us from the troubles that torment us. You always welcomed little children when You walked on this earth. Teach me to have a childlike trust in You. Let me  live in the knowledge that You will never abandon me. Amen

                                        Be careful with whom you choose as your close friends. It is because bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor. 15:33b). Do your friends contribute to your growth. Does their life principles are in line with God's Word? Are they doing things that makes God happy? Having a friend with good character can also help you grow and develop your personality. Once you are communicating with them or enjoying their presence everyday, you will somehow also acquire their type of character like a contagious disease. Look closer on their personalities and principles if it can affect you positively or not. Or, if anything happens bad to you, will they be there at your side no matter what? So, choose your friends wisely. It can have a great impact in your life. Also, be that good friend to someone. Love them and pray for them. Speak blessings and encouraging words. It is indeed a great feeling that many people are loving you because of your great character a

             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 not foreign to my freedom. Instead the Spirit breathes life into my most intimate desires, gently nudging me towards all that is good. I ask for the grace to let myself be enfolded by the Spirit. To be conscious about something is to be aware of it. Dear Lord help me to remember that You gave me life. Thank you for the gift of life. Teach me to slow down, to be still and enjoy the pleasures created for me. To be aware of the beauty that surrounds me. The marvel of mountains, the calmness of lakes, the fragility of a flower petal. I need to remember that all these things come from you. Amen

  God has a lot of names that describes His magnificent characteristics. God is so wonderfully multifaceted that He has many names that communicate His capabilities and character. His Name is indeed all-powerful. It portrays a lot of words that declares His wonders and goodness. It's no wonder the writer of Proverbs encourages us to remember that "the name of the Lord is a strong tower", that in times of need God-fearing people run to it and "are safe" (Prov. 18:10). God's names, which describe His character, can bring comfort when we need it most. To name just a few, He is: Elohim (the God above all gods), Jehovah Jireh (the God who provides), El-Shaddai (the almighty God), Jehovah Rapha (our healer God), Jehovah Shalom (the God of peace), Jehovah Shamma (our God who is present) and Jehovah Yahweh (our loving, covenant-keeping God). When unwelcome circumstances threaten you and you feel vulnerable, reflect on one of God's names. Be assured - He will be