​9-30-23
Trust in God equals freedom from shame.
Today's devotion is based on Psalm 25:1-2a. The psalmist begins with a declaration of trust in God: "In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame."

He then repeats this declaration of trust, emphasizing its importance. We all experience shame at some point in our lives. It can come from many different sources, including our enemies, ourselves, and our own thoughts and feelings. Shame can be a powerful force in our lives, isolating us from others and preventing us from living our best lives.

But the psalmist reminds us that we can overcome shame by trusting in God. God never shames us. He loves us unconditionally and offers us forgiveness and healing.If you are feeling shame today, turn to God and trust in Him. He will help you to overcome your shame and live a life of freedom and joy. Remember that God loves you unconditionally. God still loves you no matter what you have done or what has been done to you. You are not alone. God is with you and wants to help you overcome your shame. Trust Him; He will release you from your shame.
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Please pray with me: Lord, I want to trust in you. Help me to trust so that I can overcome my shame and live a life of freedom and joy in your grace. Amen

​9-29-23
Repent and Live
Today's devotion is based on Ezekiel 33:10-11, The Lord says, "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live."
This verse reminds us that God loves us and wants us to have life. He doesn't want us to die in our sins. But to experience God has life for us, we must repent of our sins and turn to Him.
What does it mean to repent? It means to change our minds about sin. It means realizing that sin is wrong and separates us from God. It also means to turn away from sin and to turn to God for forgiveness. When we repent, God forgives us of our sins and gives us eternal life. He also gives us the Holy Spirit to help us live a holy life.
So, if you carry the burden of sin, I encourage you to repent today. Turn away from your sins and turn to Jesus. He will forgive you and give you a new life.
Please pray with me: I know I am a sinner. I have done things that are wrong and that have displeased you. I deserve your eternal wrath. But I also know that you love and want to forgive me, for Jesus' sake. I repent of my sins, and I turn to you for forgiveness. I ask you to wash me clean in Jesus's blood and give me a new heart. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to you and to share your love with others. In Jesus' name, amen

​9-28-23
Today's devotion is based on Mark 4:21-22: "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is secret is meant to come to light."
Jesus is the light of the world, and he shines in our darkness. He reveals what is hidden in us; we cannot hide anything from him. We also are to be light. We can shine our light by speaking God's truth to others, even when it is difficult.
Here are some ways to live a light-filled life:

• Be honest and transparent with others.
• Be kind and compassionate, even to those who are difficult to love.
• Forgive those who have wronged you.
• Stand up for what is right, even when it is unpopular.
• Share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.

Don't hide your light. Let your light shine brightly so others can see the way to Jesus.
Please pray with me: Lord, help us to live light-filled lives. Please help us to be honest, kind, compassionate, and forgiving. Help us to stand up for what is right and to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Amen.

​9-27-23
Living a mercy-filled life
Today’s devotion is based on Romans 9:14-16, “What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
We’re all pretty good at excusing our behavior and judging the behavior of others. Simply put, we want our mistakes and sins to be unjustly overlooked, but something should be done about the mistakes and sins of others. We want justice.
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The truth is that all people deserve God’s just punishment for their sins—you and I included. But, thankfully, our God is merciful. Rather than depending on something I have done or not done, God is gracious to me because that is his way. It is simply who he is and what he does, and therefore, I am included in those whom God loves because it is his merciful and compassionate way.

Please pray with me: Heavenly Father, make me better know that it is not my will or actions but your mercy and compassion by which I am saved on account of Jesus. Amen.

Living a grace-filled life.
Today’s devotion is based on Hebrews 2:14: “Since the children have flesh and blood, Jesus too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death; that is the devil.”

There is an old Christian illustration that helps us understand the text for today. It is a picture of a fishhook which is baited with an earthworm. The fishhook is Jesus’ divinity. The earthworm is Jesus' humanity. The devil swallowed them both when Jesus died and was buried. Jesus burst from the devil's hold when he rose from the grave. We learn from this that just as the devil couldn’t hold on to Christ in death, so the devil can’t hold on to those who believe in Jesus.

What does this mean for us today? It means that we can have hope in the midst of suffering and trials. No matter what we go through, the devil cannot ultimately defeat us. He has already been defeated by Jesus' death and resurrection. It also means that we should live our lives glorifying God and defeating the devil's plans. We can do this by following Jesus' example and living in love, compassion, and forgiveness.
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Please join me in prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins and to rise from the grave victorious. Thank you for defeating the devil and giving us a sure hope for the future. Help us to live our lives in a way that glorifies you and defeats the devil's plans. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

​9-25-23
Living a grace-filled life
Today's devotion is based on the parable Jesus is telling in Matthew 20 when he replied to the grumbling workers, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.’
Jesus didn’t tell this parable so that we could learn something about economics or ancient farming practices. Jesus told it so it would change the way we look at the abundance of God’s grace.
In Jesus’ parable, those who worked a full day received a full day’s wage. And those who worked less than a full day also received a full day’s wage. The reward was the same, regardless of time or amount of work.
This parable offends our sensibilities of what is fair but also changes how we see God. It teaches us that he has a higher goal than fairness. We are confronted with the beautiful truth that God’s love for us is not based on what we have done but on his generosity. What a relief to know that our God is this generous! Please take comfort in this truth and celebrate it today!
Please pray with me: Father, allow me to see and appreciate the abundance of your grace so that I will extend grace to those I meet today. Amen.

​9-23-23
Living a forgiven life
Today's devotion is based on Matthew 20:13-16, "He (the owner of the vineyard) replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' So the last will be first, and the first last."

In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus tells a story that challenges our understanding of fairness. The landowner agrees to pay a certain wage to the workers who start work early in the day. But when he hires more workers later in the day, he also pays them the same wage. The workers who started early are outraged. They feel like they have been treated unfairly.

But the landowner reminds them that he is free to do whatever he wants with his own money. He is also generous and wants to bless all the workers, regardless of how long they have worked.

This parable teaches us that God's grace is not fair in how we think of fairness. It is not based on our merit or our performance. God's grace is available to everyone, regardless of when we come to Him.

Even if we have only started working in God's vineyard recently, we are just as precious to Him as those who have worked for many years. We are all called to work in God's kingdom and will be rewarded for our faithfulness.
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God, thank You for calling me to work in Your vineyard! Help me to continue with the work You have for me, be faithful to You, and remember to put others before myself, wanting the best for them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

9-23-23
Living a Spirit-led godly life
Today’s devotion is based on Galatians 5:18, “If the Spirit leads you, you are not under the law."
Living by the Spirit means being led by the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. It means listening to His voice and obeying His promptings. When we are Spirit-led, we are free from the law, not because we are above the law, but because the Holy Spirit helps us to godly lives.

When we walk by the Spirit, we are filled with His fruits. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits are evidence of a life that is being transformed by the Holy Spirit.
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Please pray with me: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for trying to live a godly life on my own. I ask that You speak to me through the Holy Spirit so I can walk in the Spirit of Jesus. Help me to be obedient to His promptings and to bear the fruit of the Spirit in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

​9-22-23
Living a godly life
Today's devotion is based on Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
God calls Christians to be kind and compassionate, but this can be difficult, especially when we have been treated unkindly. The strength to forgive comes from realizing that God has forgiven us even when we do not deserve it. When we experience God's forgiveness gives us the strength to forgive others, even when they are unkind to us.
The Lord's Prayer teaches us to pray, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." When we pray this prayer, we ask God to forgive us our sins and commit to forgive others who have sinned against us.
Please pray with me: Forgiving Father, help me be kind and compassionate to others, even when they are unkind. Give me the strength to forgive those who have sinned against me, just as you have forgiven me. Help me to live the words that I pray in the Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. 

​9-21-23
Living a godly life
Today’s devotion is based on Matthew 18:23-27, where we hear Jesus say, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had to be sold to repay the debt. “At this, the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go.”

The debt was an impossible sum, equivalent to millions of days' wages. When a person could not pay off a debt, everything they had, including their family, would be sold to repay the debt. The king's decision to cancel the man's debt was unexpected, as it was rare for a king to do so. It is in this forgiveness that the true message of the story lies.

As we read about the man's debt being forgiven, we realize that the story is about each of us. Our debt to God is unpayable due to our sins and the good deeds we have neglected to do. Despite this, God takes pity on us and cancels our debt through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. In doing so, He promises us eternal life with Him. 

​Let us pray: Dear Lord, we thank you for taking pity on us, canceling our debt, and setting us free through the sacrifice of Jesus. May we always remember your grace and live our lives in service to you. Amen.