DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, July 1, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Matthew
11:28 — Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I
will give you rest.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
39:7 — Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
Romans
15:4 — Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction so
that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have
hope.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
could hardly wait for school to start. I had mastered kindergarten, graduating
with flying colors. Actually, I brought home a cigar box full of dull, stubby
broken crayons, most of which disappeared by the first part of July. I loved
school! It meant sharp, new crayons and pencils, new clothes, new books, and
possibly something new for me, a classmate. Throughout my educational career, I
never lost that excited, expectant waiting for a new school year to begin. It
usually wore off after a few days and, by April each year, was replaced by
excited waiting for summer break to begin. Our spiritual lives should involve
the same kind of hopeful, eager waiting for walking in the presence of the Lord
and talking with the very face of God. Have you ever considered that God looks
forward to the same from you? Remember the joyful, stomach-tingling excitement
you feel while waiting for someone or something you know will be extraordinary?
I believe that is what God feels at the thought of our coming to Him in worship
and in our quiet times alone with Him! The Psalmist knew and was glad. The
disciples searched for Jesus in the early hours of the day just to be with Him.
Paul knew the hopefulness God’s presence created for him and others in a world
of uncertainty and persecution. What do you wait for and hope for? The Lord
offers more than breakable crayons. God offers the gift of eternity!
PRAYER
Exciting
and awe-inspiring God, as children joyfully waiting for Christmas, give us a
double portion of joy as we await every opportunity to be with You in worship
and prayer. Let them be glimpses of our active participation with You in Your
continuing creation. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, July 2, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Psalm
103:2 — Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
121:8 — The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on
and forevermore.
Jude
1:24-25 — Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you
stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing to the only
God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power,
authority, before all time and now and forever.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
The
more I think of my growing-up years, the more I realize how good I had it! I
had two parents who loved me, sisters and brothers with whom to play and fight,
loving grandparents always willing to have me stay with them, and aunts and
uncles galore. (For those who are new to these devotions, there were 13 on my
dad’s side and 15 on my mom’s side, most living within 20 miles of our farm.)
That also meant lots of cousins of all ages. I always knew I had someplace safe
to stay if the need arose. Any of these relatives would keep us for a day, an
overnight, or longer. In kindergarten, when the blizzard prevented me from
going to my own home, I knew I was safe with the teacher and other students
overnight and had no fear of walking to my grandparents’ farm with them the
next day. I was kept secure in their loving care. In high school, I had
grandparents in town, always willing to keep me when needed. Halfway between
our farm and town in a blizzard, my sister, brothers, and I were kept safe by a
great-aunt and uncle who just happened to live near where we got stuck. I feel
sadness for those who have never experienced being kept by loving, caring
relatives or family friends. In them, I have had a glimpse—a foretaste, if you
will—of the way God keeps us and promises to keep us “from this time on and
forevermore.” Who keeps you safe and
secure? Be sure God is at the top of your list, even when all else fails.
PRAYER
Ever-present
God, You never leave us alone, even when we feel alone. Of course, you provide
us with friends and family; but even when they are not available or dependable,
You keep us under the protective shadow of Your strong and loving hand. Thank
You, Lord, for sending us Your own Son to be with us always. In His name, we
pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, July 3, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Psalm
103:2 — Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel
14:6 — Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols.
Galatians
6:7 — Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
The
“big kids” thought they were funny when they took all of the old desks out of
the school storm cellar. They had worked hard the night before to carry them
out and place them all over the playground and on the school porch. They even
put a couple of them on the merry-go-round. It was quite a sight when we
arrived that spring day. The teacher had arrived early, as she always did. She
made no effort to put them away. Instead, she stood on the porch surveying her
brood as we arrived. The snickers of the “big kids” gave them away. When she
confronted them with their guilt, they tried to deny it, but they couldn’t keep
from chuckling, even bursting out in laughter. “Fine!” she said as she turned
and entered the school. They thought they had gotten away with it when classes
started without a further word. They were feeling pretty proud of themselves.
However, she kept them in at recess while we went out to play. We didn’t hear
what she said, but when they came out, they were not laughing, and instead of
joining the softball game, they began lugging the desks back into the cellar.
They spent the lunch hour and the afternoon recess doing the same thing. After
school, she marched them down the cellar steps and supervised re-organizing the
desks so they would all fit. They reaped what they sowed. When we break God’s
laws, we may think we’ve gotten away with it for a time. But the day will come
when we will reap what we sow. Instead of sowing the seeds of sin, death, and
the ways of evil, why not sow the seeds of right-ness (righteousness) with God?
Which would you rather reap, God’s wrath or God’s smile? The choice is always
ours.
PRAYER
Righteous
God, You bless us in so many ways, yet the “old Adam” in us thinks You are
blind and deaf to our sin. Have mercy on us, and guide us into the way that
will lead to reaping the joys of Your presence without the dread of Your
displeasure. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Psalm
103:2 — Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
31:7 — I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love because you have seen my
affliction, you have taken heed of my adversities.
Luke
18:41 — (Jesus asked the blind man:) “What do you want me to do for you?” He
said, “Lord, let me see again.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
When
I was eight, I wanted to be a doctor. I loved helping the veterinarian when he
came to work with our animals. I enjoyed the smell of the medicines he kept at
his shop in town. My second cousin was a doctor, and I always wanted to ask
about how he did things, but I never knew how to ask. When I saw the “Doctor’s
Kit” in the Dime Store, I knew I had to have it. I saved every penny of my
allowance to get it. Then I saved again to stock it with candy pills. Needless
to say, I was a popular doctor. I’d ask what the problem was and distribute the
appropriate colored “pill.” I never lost a patient! Some came back with
different ailments and got other pills, but some miraculous cures took place! I
wasn’t much good at surgery. I tried to help my sister’s doll, but after a
botched attempt at sewing her back up, I gave that up. (Those were the days
before “malpractice” insurance!) Since those days, I have become a spiritual
doctor. I don’t distribute “pills,” but I do distribute the genuine and
powerful medicine of the soul.
In
Jesus’ name, I diagnose sin, prescribe a cure (repentance), and declare the
“patients” healed (forgiven). In Jesus’ name, I wash the wounds of original sin
in the healing waters of baptism, proclaiming the “patients” to be newborn
children of God. In Jesus’ name, I share the healing power of the nourishing
bread of life and the soul-renewing transfusion of the blood of Christ to all
who will come to the table of the Great Physician. What do you want Dr. Jesus
to do for you? With a touch, He healed the sick, the lame, the deaf, the blind,
the Gentile, and the Jew. With a word of grace, He prescribed life for those
who, like Lazarus, were already declared dead. He does not prescribe sugar
pills. He gives the REAL thing—Himself!
PRAYER
Our
Great Physician and Healer, thank You for touching my wounded soul to heal me
from the inside out. Thank You for medicines, doctors, nurses, and the skills
they need to transfer Your healing hands to my body, mind, and spirit. Thank
You, Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Psalm
103:2 — Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
SCRIPTURE
Joel
2:13 — Rend your hearts and not
your clothing. Return to the Lord your God.
Luke
21:1-3 — (Jesus) looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the
treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said,
“Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
As
kids, we were taught to apologize when we hurt one another, but our apologies
had to be sincere. It required looking at the ones we hurt as we said the words
and sometimes doing something for them, helping them with their chores,
cleaning up a mess, or letting them play with our favorite toy. There was none
of this quick, “Sorry!” as we happily went off to do our own thing. We had to really
mean it, and if we weren’t really sorry, we spent time in our room
thinking about it so that we could say it and mean it. That’s really what true
confession and true stewardship are all about. It is too easy to mouth
the words or toss a few coins in the plate, thinking we’ve satisfied our guilt.
God wants sincerity with our words and our gifts from our hearts. The tiniest
heartfelt word and the simplest heartfelt gift are more meaningful to God than
volumes of words and stacks of currency. Where is your heart when you make a
confession? Where is your heart when you give? May you discover the joy of
meeting God on His terms!
PRAYER
Loving
Lord, forgive us for confessions we make from the head instead of the heart.
Forgive us for gifts given in the same way. You know us inside and out. Place a
large portion of Your gracious and generous heart in ours with a desire to
follow the example of Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, July 6, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Psalm
103:2 — Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
90:13 — Turn, O Lord! Have compassion on your servants.
Matthew
10:28 — Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
greatest fear when I was five was the “boogie man.” I sometimes thought I heard
him, but I never saw him. He got around a lot—in my closet, under my bed (that
was his favorite place to wait for me to step one foot out of bed in the dark).
He must have been pretty slow because he never caught me! I’m not even sure why
I was convinced he was real. As I out-grew him, other fears raised their ugly
heads. Fear of embarrassment, fear of failure, fear of being hurt, fear of
hurting someone else, fear of abandonment, and fear of rejection.... The list
goes on. Every night I prayed: “...I
pray the Lord, my soul to keep, and if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my
soul will take.” Had I fully understood those words, I probably would have
been terrified of that prospect also. I’m older now and more mature (?) in my
thinking and theology. However, I wonder how many people think of how precious
their souls are. Do we truly guard them, nurture them, and guide them to their
source of life eternal? Or, are our fears still centered on what might kill
this mortal body of dust? We “are dust, and to dust, we shall return,” but
God’s love will shield our soul for eternity!
PRAYER
Guardian
of my soul, thank You for watching over me and protecting me from those things
that go “bump” in the night, which my imagination fears. Bless me with the
assurance that You are always with me to guard and guide me into Your
“protective custody,” in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, July 7, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Psalm
103:2 — Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
SCRIPTURE
1
Samuel 10:7 — Do whatever you see fit to do, for God is with you.
Ephesians
2:10 — For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
When
I was learning to drive, I had to pay more attention to where I was and where I
wanted to go than when I rode in the car as a passenger. Taking a wrong turn
could mean turning around or even going where I didn’t intend to go. Sue grew
up in Toledo, Ohio, and I let her tell me which way to turn when I drive there.
I still haven’t had to learn the streets. As long as she is with me, I’m fine.
So, after 54 years, I have to pull out a map when I venture out alone in Toledo.
Several years ago, I was driving in Salzburg, Austria. Fortunately, a friend
who knew the city was riding along. At one point, I asked which direction to
turn, and she said, “It doesn’t matter. We can get there either way.” Our road
in life requires only the constant presence of the Lord. As long as we learn to
take His direction, we need not fear getting lost, no matter where we find
ourselves. “Jesus, Savior, pilot me....” the old hymn goes. The problem
many people have is that they can’t distinguish their selfish whims from the
true voice of Christ, the one they want to pilot them. Which way are you going?
Is your heavenly GPS able to reach your heart and soul?
PRAYER
Heavenly
Guide and Shepherd, keep me on the path You have prepared for me. Guide me,
Savior, into the Way that leads to my heavenly home with You. Give me the
courage and the confidence to guide others on Your path also. I pray in Jesus’
name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, July 8, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Psalm
103:2 — Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
SCRIPTURE
1
Chronicles 28:13 — Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious
name.
2
Corinthians 1:3 — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of mercies and the God of all consolation.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
The
summer sun was scorching! Trees and grass alike were beginning to curl their
leaves to conserve moisture. The creek was low, and it seemed like another year
of drought would exact its vengeance. We retreated to the relative cool of the
house to play while Dad stirred up a cloud of dust cultivating corn. We were
surprised when the hot sun went behind a cloud, almost darkening the room where
we were planning our next big adventure. We all looked up and ran to the
rickety screen door to see what was happening. The wind picked up and cooled as
the scent of rain filled us with anticipation. The first large drops gave way
to steady gentle rain as we began to dance in anticipation of more to come—and
a trip to town! We could see the joy on Mom’s face for the “million dollar”
rain.” Dad came in from the field, sopping wet and smiling from ear to ear.
“God is good!” he declared, “Who could
ask for anything better!?” Thus my younger years were often times of longing
and hoping, punctuated by times of joy and celebration for answered prayers.
God is good!!! May we all discover God’s goodness and give thanks
and praise to the One who is so gracious!
PRAYER
Good
and gracious God, thank You again and again for answered prayers, even those we
forgot we prayed! Thank You also for unanswered prayers which, in Your great
wisdom, You knew would not be good for us. Grant us Your compassionate heart to
love and serve others, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, July 9, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah
55:6 — Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah
14:27 — For the Lord of hosts has planned, and who will annul it? His hand is
stretched out, and who will turn it back?
Matthew
6:10 — Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
“Bull-headed”
was a term used to describe my grandfather. Like a bull, once his mind was made
up, there was no turning back! My Dad was farming with him and chafed under the
yoke at the time. Grandpa was a wonderful man, but when it came to decisions
concerning the farm, there could only be two ways of doing things, his way and
the wrong way! I saw some of that in my father, so I’m sure my own kids
would tell you I exhibited my share of “bull-headedness,” too. Calling God
“bull-headed” would not be too far from how some people experience Him.
However, those of us who share that title are often more like a bull without
reason charging a moving red cape than like God. God not only reasons things
out way beyond our human ability. God is REASON and WISDOM. God’s plan is known
already by God to be the RIGHT plan, even if, in our human wisdom, we don’t
agree. When it comes to making decisions, it would be wise of us to think about
our plans in the light of God’s PLAN. Are we willing to give up our
“bull-headedness” to let God have His way?
PRAYER
Loving
and “all-knowing” God, guide and direct our ways to follow in Your Way. Open
our eyes to give us insight into Your Plan. Soften our hearts and our
“bull-headed” minds so that we can serve You as we love and serve those in
need. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, July 10, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah
55:6 — Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
60:12 — With God, we shall do valiantly.
Luke
5:5 — Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught
nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
worked on an algebra problem for hours, frustrated that the answer seemed
impossible. The teacher was only a telephone call away and had invited us to
call if we ran into a problem, but I wanted to solve it on my own. Finally, I
broke down and called. Within seconds the error of my method was exposed, and
the solution rapidly followed. You would think I would learn, but I find myself
making the same mistake repeatedly. Thank God for the grace of God! I have
fretted and stewed over things, only to discover that God had the answer all
along. With God, “all things are possible.” Why is it so hard for us to stop
trying to do it all ourselves? Why is it so hard to ask for God’s help and
finally say with Peter, “If you say so, I will let down the nets”? Have
you been struggling to solve the unsolvable, do the “undo-able,” and fix the
“unfixable”? Listen to the Master who has the solution, can do everything, fix
everything, and patiently waits for us to ask.
PRAYER
With
the Psalmist, I pray, “Let my prayers rise before You as incense, O Lord!”
Speak to my heart and give me insight into the solutions You have for my
problems, concerns, and anxieties. Open the “ears” of my heart to hear Your
answers, for I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah
55:6 — Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah
43:2 — When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the
rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you shall not
be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Romans
8:31 — If God is for us, who is against us?
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Dad
was right! The “Boogie Man” couldn’t catch me if I took Jesus in my heart with
me to get potatoes from the storm cellar. Grandma was right! I did not die from
a dunk in the muddy water by my cousin. Mom was right! Eating raisins did not
kill me. My list of terrors and “things that go bump in the night” could be
almost endless, and not one of them has kept me from reaching the prime of my
life and serving the Lord of my life. I have been in a boat in a dangerous
windstorm, passed through the flames of strife and discontent, and faced the
“alligators” of adversity, the demons of desperation, and the dangers of death.
Yet, the promises of God have never failed (even when I faced the darkness of
depression). Sometimes it took time to see it. Sometimes it took the eyes of
faith. Sometimes the obvious had to bite me on the nose, but the truth of the
scriptures held true: When God is for us, NOTHING can be against us! May
that truth surround you and engulf you in every cell and fiber of your body,
mind, and spirit! In declaring Christ as your Lord, you acknowledge the One who
lays sole claim to your soul. Live in that confidence!
PRAYER
Guardian
of my body, mind, and soul, I give you thanks for using Your “rod and staff” to
protect me and Your shield to keep me safe from the evil that seeks to attack.
Thank You for letting Your Light shine in my darkness to lead me to Your
presence, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah
55:6 — Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
SCRIPTURE
Lamentations
3:39 — Why should any who draw breath complain about the punishment of their
sins?
James
4:10 — Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
have had the sad responsibility of counseling children and adults who were
abused by their parents. It is a vicious cycle that is extremely difficult to
break. It doesn’t take much to recognize the difference between normal
discipline—a well-placed and well-timed swat on the behind—from abuse. No doubt,
most of us can look back and remember a spanking or some other discipline we
didn’t think we deserved. But I, for one, have to admit that I was not as
innocent as I thought at the time. Once or twice I got punished for what my
sister or brother did. However, I thank God for my parents, grandparents,
teachers, and pastors who loved me enough to “punish me for my sins.” Do we
think our loving God cares for us any less? The phrase “This will hurt me
more than it will hurt you!” was almost a joke, but I saw it in my parents’
eyes. In my role as a parent, I experienced it. I still cringe at some
punishments I felt compelled to dish out. How sad God must have felt at casting
Adam and Eve out of the garden. Were the waters of the Flood, in reality, God’s
tears over lost and fallen humanity? What anguish of heart and soul God
experienced in taking our sin upon Himself on the cross! When God disciplines,
may we humble ourselves to accept what we deserve and rejoice that the Christ
loves us enough to punish us, lest we continue the downward spiral of our
sin.
PRAYER
Just
and holy God, thank You for those who taught me loving discipline, especially
that which guided me into the path that leads away from destruction but closer
to You. Continue to watch over me and place a burning desire to do Your will
within my heart, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, July 13, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah
55:6 — Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah
55:9 — For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than
your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Matthew
27:54 — Now, when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over
Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said,
“Truly, this man was God’s Son.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
When
I was ordained in 1970, office equipment was pretty basic. An electric
typewriter was a luxury. A mimeograph was a must. With these two, we produced
Sunday bulletins and newsletters. Every mistake required correction fluid and
patience—lots of patience. I remember a few where a slip of the razor used to
insert a graphic meant starting all over again. By comparison, today, office
equipment has become much more high-tech. The typewriter has been replaced with
a computer, which checks spelling (some?) and allows for corrections, inserts,
graphics, and more. Our church office computers are “networked”(connected) to a
copy machine that can insert page numbers, do back-to-back printing, and
collate. Some copiers even staple material generated from our desks! It is
truly amazing. Talking to young high-tech people, we haven’t even begun to see
the advances on the way. If we are amazed on the human level at human
accomplishments, our minds should truly be boggled at what is in the creative
Mind of God. We need the witness of the pagan centurion to remind us that what
God has done for us in Jesus is beyond all human thoughts or wisdom. When we
join the centurion declaring, “Truly this man was God’s Son, “we step in awe
into a “High-Tech” world that makes human high-tech seem like the Dark Ages.
Have you taken the time to really be amazed by what God has done for us in
Christ and what God has planned for the Day of the Lord?!!
PRAYER
Amazing
and Awesome God, we are humbled by the enormity and extent of Your creative
Hand, which has been at work long before we puny humans stepped on the scene.
Open our eyes to Your part in every fiber of creation, and continue to amaze us
as servants of Your Son Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, July 14, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah
55:6 — Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
141:4 — Do not turn my heart to any evil.
James
4:17 — Anyone then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits
sin.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
“Go
ahead,” he told me, “no one will know you took it.” I must have been about six
when one of my cousins encouraged me to take some coins from a shelf at my
grandparents’ home. A nickel and a dime were big money back then. They would
buy us both a treat at the “Bakery,” a small store with a large assortment of
candy. It seemed OK at the time. The money was just lying there, and no one
would miss it! The candy tasted good. But I felt so guilty that I saved my
pennies for almost three months to quietly get a nickel and a dime to replace
on the shelf. I was guilty. I knew it was wrong to take it in the first place.
Even though I was never caught and returned the coins, it was a memory that has
clung to me ever since. I have forgiven myself, and I’m sure God has forgiven
me by God’s grace. I can even thank God for the experience and the memory which
has kept me from “turning my heart to any (other) evils.” Temptation is always
around us. I could blame my cousin. I could blame the Devil. But, I am
responsible for doing the right or wrong thing. May your sins be forgiven, and
may they become reminders that will keep you on the path to God instead of away
from God.
PRAYER
Forgiving
God, like Adam and Eve, we try to hide the naked truth, even from You! Help us
to see the futility of such thinking, and guide us into the Light which leads
to Your presence where nothing is hidden. Forgive us when we fail, and create
in us new and clean hearts, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, July 15, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah
55:6 — Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
SCRIPTURE
Leviticus
26:9 — I will look with favor upon you and make you fruitful and multiply you,
and I will maintain my covenant with you.
Matthew
10:20 — (Jesus said:) “It is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father
speaking through you.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
grew up so blessed that it is tough for me to imagine the unsettled and
hopeless feelings of children who are abandoned or who are in refugee camps
without any parents. The plight of such children makes me want to weep. Yet, even
adopted children can appreciate having someone who loves them and will make
great sacrifices for them, a knowledge some people never have unless someone
gives them a reason to hope. Those of us who have had the advantage of being
blessed also have the God-covenanted responsibility to be a blessing to others
on God’s behalf. It is through us that God “looks with favor” on others. It is
through us that God’s Spirit speaks the language of love. When we do not love
and serve those in need, we become like the Dead Sea, which receives
life-giving streams of living water but does not pass them on. Have you
considered how you can pass God’s blessings on to others today?
PRAYER
Generous
and gracious Lord, I thank You for those who have shared Your love with me and
blessed me with opportunities to pass that love on. Continue to use me as an
instrument of Your love, peace, hope, and joy, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, July 16, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Galatians
6:2 — Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of
Christ.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
145:3 — Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is
unsearchable.
2
Corinthians 1:20 — For in (Jesus) every one of God’s promises is a “Yes.” For
this reason, it is through him that we say the “Amen” to the glory of God.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
enjoy singing to any group that will listen to me. When I was three (I’m told),
I accompanied myself on the pots and pans from under the sink. When I was eight,
I used a broken branch on the walls of a metal grain bin. At age ten, I began
to use a piano and graduated to an organ at age 11. For several years, I used a
guitar to accompany myself for songfests at nursing homes and sing-a-longs. No
matter what the instrument, I find great joy in using the talents God has given
me to sing praises to His holy Name. Even the songs’ titles express my awe at
God’s greatness and graciousness: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Blessed
Assurance, Why Me Lord?, What a Friend We Have in Jesus.... No doubt you
can think of other songs that express your appreciation of the “Yes” God gives
us through Jesus. Even if you can only “make a joyful noise,” you can express
your praise of what God’s love and grace mean to you. So why not choose a hymn
or gospel song to do that very thing each day and conclude it with a loud “Amen!!!”
PRAYER
As
the Israelites sang of Your victory after passing through the Red Sea; as the
Psalmist sang of every feeling and emotion known to humans; and as the angels
sang of the Christ Child’s birth, give us hearts willing to sing our songs to
You, in Jesus’ name. Amen! Amen! Amen!
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, July 17, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Galatians
6:2 — Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of
Christ.
SCRIPTURE
Joshua
22:5 — Take good care, that you love the Lord your God and walk in all his
ways.
James
1:8 — The doubter is unstable in all his ways.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
felt great pride each time Dad turned me loose with a different piece of farm
equipment. He gave me specific instructions each time. It meant that he trusted
me to operate the machine properly. One of the most dangerous and complicated
machines was the hay baler. What made it complicated was learning to re-thread
the twine through the “needles” and the rest of the mechanism so that it would
keep its tension and tie and cut the twine properly. I must have missed one
step in the process because when I ran out of twine and had to reload, the
bales came out without the twine! Fortunately, Dad wasn’t far away, saw what
was happening, and came to help. By tracing the path, we found that I had
failed to close one clip, allowing the twine to bypass the bale. God’s ways are
far simpler than the threading of a baler, but there are no safe shot cuts. We
cannot skip any part of His instructions. To do so leaves us “unstable,”
unfulfilled, and unable to reach the goal for which God has called us. Whose
map or instruction plan are you following?
PRAYER
Teacher
and Guide of all humankind, give us hearts and minds receptive to Your
instruction. Gently guide us in the Way leading to true and everlasting Life in
Your presence. Speak to us in Words that enable us to be Your servants in our
world, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Galatians
6:2 — Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of
Christ.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
119:45 — I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts.
Matthew
25:21 — His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you
have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things;
enter into the joy of your master.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
attended a fantastic piano recital a few years ago and was happily amazed at
the music of many of the students. Six-year-olds played simple songs with great
poise, and older students who had taken lessons for several years played more
complex numbers. It reminded me of the increasing difficulty my piano and organ
teachers gave me. Each time I accomplished one thing, they gave me something more
challenging and longer. By the time I was in high school, I could play hymns,
classics, popular music, waltzes, and polkas. Our walk with the Lord is much
the same. God doesn’t expect babies to chew on steaks or spiritual infants to
live on the meat of the scriptures. Instead, bit by bit, God increases the
challenges He gives us as if building our spiritual muscles for the hard work
of the gospel. One of my older seminary professors liked to remind us: “The
farmer carried the ox up the hill every day from its birth, and when it was old
he could still carry it up the hill.” It was his way of telling us that we
needed to continue to practice and “exercise” spiritually as much as
physically. How much are you in shape, physically or spiritually? Are you ready
for God to increase His trust in you?
PRAYER
Loving
Father, thank You for helping us to walk one step at a time before teaching us
to run the race set before us. Give us insight into the lessons You want us to
learn as we grow spiritually, mentally, and physically. Grant us strength and
perseverance for the journey in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Galatians
6:2 — Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of
Christ.
SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah
31:10 — He who scattered Israel will gather him and will keep him as a shepherd
a flock.
Luke
15:4 — Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does
not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one who is lost
until he finds it?
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
The
day my little brother disappeared, Mom sent the rest of us on a frantic search.
We had all been busy building roads, conquering mountain peaks, and exploring
the jungle when we heard Mom call us to the house. When Mike didn’t show, the
alarm was raised, the canning stopped, the stove turned off, and we were sent out—scattered—with
a mission—to find Mike. I was sent to the corn crib, my sister was sent to the
milk barn, and the twins were sent to search the hog yard while Mom raced to the creek where he liked to
play. Mom returned, relieved at not finding him in the creek, but worried about
where her missing three-year-old might be. Finally, we searched the house. We
found him curled up with his favorite blanket behind the couch, sound asleep.
God’s search for us is no less intense. Our Good Shepherd loves the most
wayward lamb. God knows where we are at all times. We are the lost ones who
forget where God is. God calls us to Himself, but when we don’t return, He
sends messengers and servants of the Lord to help us find ourselves and our way
back to Him. That’s why Jesus came into our lives - to gather God’s precious
wayward lambs. That’s also the mission of God’s people - the church! Have you
been playing “hard-to-find”? Why not answer His call today, if you haven’t
already?!
PRAYER
Shepherding
Lord, thank You for seeking us out when we are lost. When we stray, redirect
our steps and send others to call us back to the path You want us to take,
which will bring us Home to You. Make us shepherds for other lost sheep,
following the example of our Good Shepherd, Jesus. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, July 20, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Galatians
6:2 — Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of
Christ.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah
29:16 — You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay?
Shall the thing made say of its maker, He did not make me? Or the thing formed
say to the one who formed it, He has no understanding?
Romans
9:22-23 — What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power,
has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for
destruction; and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of
his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory?
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Parents
endure a great deal for and from their offspring. I watched baby calves and
pigs play, tease, and crawl over their mothers. Occasionally, they would even
hurt their mother. She might jump up or bump the baby, but seldom would a
mother harm her wayward offspring. Human offspring are much the same. I cringe,
remembering the pain and worry I must have caused my parents. However, my children
gave me numerous reminders of my misdeeds, and I’m sure their children will do
the same for them. Our heavenly Parent understands only too well. Unfortunately,
like the clay instructing the potter, we all tend to use our prayer time to
“instruct the Instructor” rather than allowing God to mold us into the person
He wants us to be. Are you willing to let God hold you and mold you and make
you a vessel of even greater worth?
PRAYER
Master
Potter, we humbly bow before You, acknowledging our misguided efforts to tell
You how best to run the universe - especially our portion of it. Forgive us,
mold us, and hold us close to Your heart so that we may truly learn to love and
serve You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, July 21, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Galatians
6:2 — Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah
53:12 — I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the
spoil with the strong because he poured out himself to death.
Matthew
11:27 — (Jesus said:) All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and
no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the
Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Each
of us projects a public image. We act and speak one way with immediate family
and close friends. We act and speak another way with other people—friends and
strangers. When I was 13, our family took our one big vacation to California.
We went to Disneyland and were thrilled to find that “Spin, Marty, and Annette”
from the Mickey Mouse Club television series would be there to sign autographs.
I loved the Spin and Marty segments of the Mouskateer show. I fantasized about
how good they had it. As we waited in line for my autographed picture, I
overheard them talking to a friend. In that short time, I realized they had
more problems at home than I did! Fame is not all it’s cracked up to be. To be
a child of God, a brother or sister of Jesus, doesn’t place us in a bed of
roses without thorns. To know the Father intimately as a child is to “take up
our cross and follow Him,” who felt the thorns dig into His skull and the nails
driven through flesh, cartilage, nerves, and bone. Want to enjoy the joy of
Jesus? May we all be ready to enter into what it means to be a child of the
Father.
PRAYER
Heavenly
Father, it is good to be Your child and a member of Your family! Help us
remember the growing pains and suffering you experienced on our behalf. Give us
patience under stress, courage to face each challenge, and endurance to meet
each difficulty in Your holy name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, July 22, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Galatians
6:2 — Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of
Christ.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah
60:1 — Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has
risen upon you.
Matthew
10:27 — (Jesus said:) “What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and
what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
The
day Mrs. Kollath had laryngitis was an unusually quiet day. In a one-room
school with 18 students in K-8th grade, we had to walk quietly, play quietly,
and even sit quietly so that those at the front of the room who were having
class could hear her. Several times she had to have one of the older students
repeat her instructions or read them so they could be heard. What she whispered
had to be proclaimed in a louder voice. God doesn’t have laryngitis, but God
often speaks with a “still small voice” as He did with Elijah; or in dreams and
visions as he did with Joseph the dreamer and Mary and Joseph and Paul. Each
was given the same instruction we are given: What God says to us in the
dark, in the quiet times, even in our sleep, we are to “proclaim” from the
housetops, in the light of day when people are awake. We are not to keep
God’s Word hidden or undercover. It is worth sharing so that God’s glory might
shine for all to see. If we keep it to ourselves, God may stop bothering to
speak to us and speak to someone who will share it. Have you been listening?
Have you been spreading the Good News?
PRAYER
Speak,
Lord, Your servants are listening and willing to share Your Word. Speak to us
through scriptures, hymns, sermons, prayers, dreams, and other people. Help us discern
Your message from all other voices trying to get our attention, and let us be
Your voice over others, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, July 23, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Ephesians 2:8 — For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
104:27-28 — These all look to you to give them their food in due season; when
you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
Matthew
14:19-20 — Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five
loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the
loaves, and gave them to the crowds. And all who ate were filled.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
My
mother loved to cook. She also knew how to make do with whatever raw
ingredients were available. I’m not sure when she “invented” one of my
favorites, but no doubt it was her way of making a little stretch a long way.
However, as if it were yesterday, I remember coming downstairs when Dad came in
from the field to the smell of creamed pork and beans. (My mouth is watering
just thinking about it. It makes my wife want to gag!) I was four or five years
old. My sister and brothers had fallen asleep, and I wasn’t sleepy. It was a
dry year, and the cupboards didn’t have much in them. Dad’s meal was bread
smothered in creamed pork and beans. I loved that meal, and even though there
wasn’t much, Dad shared several bites with me. The miracles of the feeding of
thousands may be more spectacular, but the compassion of Jesus for those who
were hungry is matched by the love of every mother and father who must stretch
a meal to ensure everyone is fed. It is the compassion of those of us to see
the hungry in Appalachia or Africa, Arkansas or Albania, Roswell or Rumania. We
become a part of Jesus’ miracle when we respond to their need. We give thanks
that we have enough to share, and they give thanks that our compassion reaches
out to them!
PRAYER
Compassionate
Lord, we give You thanks that we have enough for ourselves and more to share.
Bless us with an urgency to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and provide
shelter for the homeless. Give us a willingness to support organizations that
act on our behalf and in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, July 24, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Ephesians 2:8 — For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah
57:11 — Whom did you dread and fear so that you lied, and did you remember me
or give me a thought?
2
Timothy 2:13 — If we are faithless, (Jesus Christ) remains faithful; for he
cannot deny himself.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
He
lied to his family. He lied to his friends. He lied to me. He was a
“pathological liar” who lied so much he
often believed his own lies. Why did he lie? “I was afraid the truth would make
people angry with me or prevent me from getting what I wanted!” he said. My
question was, “What about the One who really counts—God?” Most of us are not
pathological liars, but we are often guilty of half-truths, misleading
statements, and failing to tell the whole truth at one time or another. While
we may all be able to fall at the foot of the cross to beg God’s mercy for our
faithlessness, we can also be thankful that Jesus was, is, and always will be
faithful and painfully honest with us. Unlike the false prophets and the gods
of this world, our God is pure light and pure truth. The scriptures declare
that no one can look at the face of God and live. No doubt, the absolute
faithfulness of God’s presence blazes and shines so brightly that anything and
anyone not equally perfect will be destroyed, like the impurities in precious
metals. Thank God for His gracious love, mercy, and faithfulness to us!
PRAYER
Faithful
and dependable God, let Your truth and Your way become a way of life for us.
Take away our excuses for being less than honest with You and with ourselves. Instead,
help us to speak the truth in love without crushing or hurting others as we
seek to live each day in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Ephesians 2:8 — For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
SCRIPTURE
Proverbs
16:7 — When the ways of the people please the Lord, he causes even their
enemies to be at peace with them.
Luke
6:35 — Love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your
reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
One
of the games we played during recess in country school was “Mother, May I.” We
would all line up at one end of the schoolyard with one student acting the part
of “Mother.” The objective was to reach the finish line first. To make a move,
we had to ask “Mother” for permission to move, and he or she would tell us how
many steps we could take and how to take them (jump, hop on one foot, etc.). If
“Mother” caught us moving without permission or taking more steps than we
should, he/she back sent us back to the starting line. Those who reached the
finish line were awarded the opportunity to join “Mother” in watching and
giving permission. In other words, Mother’s adversary was made Mother’s
friend and helper. God makes that offer to His people too. So do what pleases
God, and your enemies will become your friends. Loving our enemies is not
always easy, but it’s much more fun when enemies turn into friends. That alone
is a reward, but the greatest reward is to discover that we are becoming even
better friends with the Lord all the time! Whose friend would you like to
be?
PRAYER
Mothering
Lord, You give us permission to take “steps” of loving compassion daily. You
bless us so we can bless others, and You guide us into the Way leading to Your presence.
You also encourage us to lead others to Your grace. Give us a passion for doing
so, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Ephesians 2:8 — For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
SCRIPTURE
Proverbs
16:9 — The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.
Matthew
4:19-20 — (Jesus said to Simon and Andrew:) “Follow me, and I will make you
fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
When
I was five, I wanted to be a farmer like my Dad. By the time I was ten, I had changed
my plans, convinced I would become a doctor. I had a close encounter with God
during the campfire at church camp, and sometime in my early teens, I decided
to become a pastor. I changed my mind several times during my high school and
college years. Interestingly the doors of opportunity for all of the other
plans fell apart. Looking back, I think of times when I herded cattle or pigs,
blocking the ways I didn’t want them to go and opening gates where I wanted
them to go. God has to do that with us sometimes, especially when we allow our
plans to become more important than His plans. God wants us to be free
and to make our own decisions, but when we have committed our lives to Him, as
I did in confirmation when we have asked God to guide us and direct our ways,
He says, “Follow me....” Is it any wonder some doors close while others open?
Our minds don’t always think about which steps we need to take. May God direct
your steps today, and may you give thanks when some doors just don’t open. God
knows something you don’t!
PRAYER
All-knowing
God, You see the whole of life as if from a satellite, discerning all of the
various meandering paths we could take and their destinations. Thank You for
closed doors, unanswered prayers, encouragement, and a willingness to follow
Your path in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Thursday, July 27, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Ephesians 2:8 — For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
144:15 — Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.
John
20:28-29 — Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have
you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and
yet have come to believe.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
In
fourth grade, I thought I was the luckiest kid in the county. I had Mrs. Klima as
a teacher. In Sunday School, the town kids complained endlessly about their
teacher, while I could brag about how nice my teacher was, how smart she was,
and how much I was learning. It may have been a fourth-grade crush, but I
believed I had a first-class teacher. Those who get to know the Lord as a
Friend and Ally discover the same kind of blessing. I no longer believe in
“luck.” Instead, I consider myself the most blessed person alive. Things don’t
always go the way I want them to, but when things go the way God wants them to
in my life, I am blessed. Happily, God doesn’t limit blessings to me but
bestows them on all who believe in and call on Him as Lord and Savior. We don’t
have to see the nail prints or the scars to believe He loves us with an
everlasting love. We only need to believe, and the blessings flow! Have a happy,
blessed day!
PRAYER
Blessed
Lord, how fortunate we are to have You as our Friend and Ally! Help us see all
of life as Your loving gift, even those things that don’t go the way we want.
When those times come, grace us with the strength and confidence that You are
working through them to bless us in ways yet unseen by us. In Jesus’ name, we
pray. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Friday, July 28, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Ephesians 2:8 — For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
40:2 — He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my
feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
Matthew
15:30-31 — Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed,
the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured
them so that the crowd was amazed.... And they praised the God of Israel.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
I
shudder to think how close to disaster we came. I took a group of youth on a
retreat. Nearby was a farm pond where they decided to swim. The pond was
overgrown with weeds in places, some of which had long stems going down seven
or eight feet. One of the girls got tangled in the weeds and panicked. The more
she struggled, the worse it got, and she pulled herself under the surface.
Fortunately, one of the boys was a Boy Scout with a life savers certificate. He
dived in, freed her, and lifted her up for a gasp of air before setting her on
firm ground. We may experience ourselves drowning in illness, pain, stress,
despair, or many other problems with which we struggle. We may pull ourselves
in deeper the more we struggle to solve the problems without help. Sometimes,
only God can lift us up and set our feet on solid ground. Once we discover
God’s gracious lift, we too may praise the Lord, the God of healing, the God of
hope, the God of all creation.
PRAYER
Rescuing
Lord, thank You for being there for us when we struggle to save ourselves. Help
us recognize those times when we need to give up our foolish pride and turn to
You as the One who can help us. Give us the confidence to rely on Your strength
when ours fails. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Saturday, July 29, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Ephesians 2:8 — For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
SCRIPTURE
Exodus
34:21 — Six days shall you work, but on the seventh day you shall rest.
Mark
2:27 — (Jesus said:) “The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for
the Sabbath.”
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
In
Israel, the Sabbath is taken very seriously. We’ve been there three times on a
Sabbath, and each time we were reminded that the hotels would adhere
religiously to the Sabbath rules. From sundown on Friday to sunset on Saturday,
no meals are cooked. All meals are prepared the day before and kept in a
refrigerated area or a warming oven, ready to serve us. There were two
elevators. One was a “Sabbath elevator,” which automatically stopped at every
floor so the occupants would not have to “work” on the Sabbath by pushing the
button. The other was for those of us who didn’t want to stop seventeen times
before we reached our floor. Jesus confronted many other Sabbath rules, even
more restrictive than those. While Jesus observed the Sabbath with worship and
rest, He did not hesitate to help and heal so that God would be praised. The
true meaning of the Sabbath had to do with the elements of rest, remembering
Who created us, and responding in praise. When I can’t take a Sabbath on Sunday
(most of the time), I find another day to keep God’s day holy. How well do you
observe the Sabbath?
PRAYER
Lord
of the Sabbath and Lord of every day, guard us against legalisms that keep us
from carrying out our mission and ministry to other people. Give us true
Sabbath rest and true Sabbath renewal so that we can love and serve You and our
neighbor, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Sunday, July 30, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah
43:1 — Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are
mine.
SCRIPTURE
Psalm
33:21 — Our heart is glad in him because we trust in his holy name.
Acts14:3
— (Paul and Barnabas taught) boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of
his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Armed
only with knives so we could sneak up on the enemy and catch them by surprise,
we crept through the hot steamy jungle. At first, there were only scattered
enemy encounters, but then we ran into a broad open area where the soil seemed
too poor to support anything but our enemy. Our surprise attack was met with
heavy resistance. We swung our knives into the battle, taking two and sometimes
three of the enemy with every swing. Right, then left, then right again! It
didn’t seem like it would ever end. Then, when we were about to collapse from
exhaustion and heat, he appeared from the other side of the jungle. We gave a
cheer as Dad emerged from the thick corn field, wielding his corn knife with
great gusto, hacking away at the thick carpet of cockleburs. We knew he could
help us defeat the “enemy.” Once we realize in our spiritual lives that God is
on our side and fighting for us, our hearts can be glad and rejoice, too,
knowing God will provide us with what is needed to defeat the enemies - sin,
sickness, and even death. Why not start now to give God thanks?!
PRAYER
Almighty
and ever-living God, we thank You that You are always there to fight the good
fight with us and that nothing in all creation can separate us from Your love
which is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, give us strength and courage
to carry out our portion of the struggle with joy. Amen.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Monday, July 31, 2023
WATCHWORD
FOR THE WEEK
Isaiah
43:1 — Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are
mine.
SCRIPTURE
Job
33:13-14 — Why do you contend against him, saying, “He will answer none of my
words”? For God speaks in one way and in two, though people do not perceive it.
Matthew
11:15 — Let anyone with ears listen.
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
Selective
deafness is a problem many of us have had from time to time. It is not limited
to any particular age group. Growing up, I didn’t “hear” Mom tell me NOT to
break a bottle at the trash barrel. I have a scar to prove that I should have
“listened.” I didn’t “hear” my wife tell me I needed to get gas for the third
time. I walked to a gas station for my failure to “listen.” I can think of
numerous times when God “spoke” to me, but I didn’t listen and regretted it
after the fact. It is easy to let our own wills and agendas cloud our “hearing”
of what God wants us to do. Jonah did that and ended up in the belly of a fish
and vomited out on the beach. Saul also ended up knocked to the ground and
temporarily blinded. The fact is, God does speak to us. We, on the other hand,
don’t always listen. Like our ancestors, we are tempted to say, “I don’t think
God speaks because I can’t hear Him.” God does speak. We must learn to listen!
Have you had your spiritual hearing checked lately?
PRAYER
Good
and gracious Lord, patiently teach us to listen so that we can truly hear Your
voice and distinguish it from our own selfish agendas and the enticing words of
the world. Open our hearts to hear You speaking to us each day so we can truly
reflect Your Word to others, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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