​8/31/20
Today’s devotion for today is Matthew 16:25, “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. “
That statement of Jesus will certainly set you back in your seat. It is instinctive for us to want to save our lives. To let go of my plans and dreams, my control; that’s counterintuitive? Yet it is only when we yield our lives to Jesus, making ourselves available to him, that we begin to discover the enriching fullness and adventure he has planned for us in this life and the next.
Please prays the prayer for today with me: Heavenly Father, creator and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you for sending into our midst the Holy Spirit.  I need him for by myself; I am blind to who you are and what you have done for me.  Cause me to grow in using discernment that you give, and the courage to speak the things of God rather than the things of human thinking, for Jesus’ sake, I pray. Amen.

​August 30, 2020
Today’s devotion is based on Matthew 16:21-23, “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Have you ever recognized how something you have said just may have been you speaking Satan’s words aimed to hinder someone or yourself from following Jesus’ plan because you thought your plan was better?  We are all guilty of being a helpmate of Satan. It does not have to be that way if we yield our lives to Jesus, making ourselves available to Him as we submit to his plan for our life.
 
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Holy Spirit, I  desperately need your training and equipping, for I am blind to your will. Renew my vision. Cause me to grow in using discernment that you give, and the courage to speak the things of God rather than the things of human thinking. In Jesus’ holy name, I pray. Amen.

August 27, 2020Today’s devotion is based on James 1:1-2,  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”As a rule, we try to avoid going through the heat. We don’t like experiencing trials in our lives. But James, the half-brother of Jesus, challenges us to change our perspective. He says that God uses trials to make us better. In that sense, they are a blessing from God. Our gracious God has a good goal in allowing us to face all kinds of trials. Trials build and strengthen the character of our faith. The testing of our faith helps us to focus on the right things, eternal things. So, when God calls you to face all kinds of trials, don’t sigh and say, “Oh, boy.” Remember the goal that God has in store for you after you have passed through them, look up and say, “Oh, joy!”Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, help me to be faithful to you in trials so I may receive the crown of life you have prepared for me.  All praise to you. Amen.

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August 23, 2020Today’s devotion is based on Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”
Jesus and his disciples had been traveling in the country regions. They were in a remote area near the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 15). There the disciples had seen the seven loaves and a few small fish that Jesus had blessed and miraculously multiply as the disciples distributed them to the crowd.
Jesus had earlier asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They gave various replies. ‘But what about you? Who do you say I am?’ And Jesus said Peter’s response was revealed by his Father in heaven, not from people.
Who do you say that Jesus is? Have you been in conversation about your walk with Jesus and heard yourself say something new and significant about that? You recognize you didn’t think that up; it was given and revealed to you as you were speaking it. Like what happened to Peter!
Like those first disciples, there’s so much for us to learn to walk in, exercising faith in using the keys of the kingdom of heaven to change things here on earth as we bind and loose, in the authority Jesus gives us, for God’s kingdom purposes. As with Peter, though, it’s not in our own strength but by the Holy Spirit teaching and training us.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. For it is only through the Holy Spirit that I can believe in Jesus, my Savior.  All praise to you. Amen., 

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​August 22, 2020
Today’s devotion is based on Psalm 139:1, “LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.”
Jesus is close to us. He knows us thoroughly.  Yet he still loves us without reservation.  We see that clearly through his promises in the Bible that he is always with us and that he will never leave nor forsake us. No matter how strong the winds of adversity blow in our face or as challenging as the waves of trouble might be in our lives, we can take courage in our Savior’s continual presence. He loves us dearly and assures us that he will help us overcome our circumstances, no matter how great the need or the danger may be.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  My dearest Savior, Jesus, lead me to trust your promise that you are always with me to help and encourage me through every ordeal and detail of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.