​10/31/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Don’t worry! That’s what God says in his Word for us today. But we wonder how we can put aside all of our worry and anxiety. There are so many dangers that surround us, so many things that stress us out, so many people are hurting, and some are very dear to us. Not worrying seems impossible.
God’s love for us is so much greater than the troublesome circumstances we face daily. He assures us that he is in control of all things. He is the almighty, all-knowing God who knows our every need and is capable of fulfilling all of them.
Thankful for his saving love, we can turn from our tendency to worry and turn to him with our concerns and burdens. We can confidently address him in prayer, knowing that he listens and will answer according to our best interests. Since God has secured our eternity through Jesus, we know that according to his love, he will care for us now too. So indeed, there is no reason to worry.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, teach me, Lord, not to worry. Remind me of your great love and power that I can trust in times of need. Accept my prayers through Jesus, my Savior, and help me according to your wisdom. Amen.

​10/30/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on Isaiah 25:9 ”On that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
Each day seems to bring more bad news, another reason for disillusionment. Your world isn’t getting any better. Your cross hasn’t gotten any lighter. So is it worth it? Isaiah, in his picture of the great banquet, assures us that it will most certainly be worth it. He paints a vivid scene of trust given and richly rewarded.
Today, we must live by faith and not by sight. We trust that God exists, has created us, is always with us, works what’s best for us, loves us, and is merciful to us for Jesus’ sake. One day our eyes will see things that today our hearts only know by faith. One day, we will see Jesus face to face and rejoice that hope has finally and forever changed to reality.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, bless me and keep my faith strong until the day I see you face to face. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

​10/29/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on 2 Corinthians, 8:9, “Yet for your sakes, he became poor so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
When was the last time you were moved by someone’s kindness, either to yourself or others? People are engaged in acts of generosity all of the time if only we have eyes to see.
Have you ever considered God’s generosity towards humankind? His generosity towards you? If you take a short moment to reflect on God’s actions, you will see that his acts of generosity are unmatched.
Jesus did all of these things for you, who are like the rest of us, anything but perfect. He wanted to ensure that you, whom he loves and created individually and uniquely, could spend eternal paradise with him in glory.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you for taking on human flesh and dying for our sins so that we might be reconciled to you. Give us faith in your word, and help us daily to remember the sacrifices you made for us so that we might give generously of ourselves to others. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

10/28/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on Isaiah 25:8, “The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.”
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In a world of tears, we often find ourselves waiting for the next promotion, relationship, or package from Amazon that will bring us joy and ease our pain. “Things will be better then!” we tell ourselves. And it’s true that God graciously gives us blessings in this world that make us smile. But earthly joys don’t last long, and we find that our times of joy are mixed with moments of tears. That’s not an entirely bad thing. The fleeting nature of earthly delights reminds us of a different time and a better place still to come—the grand and glorious heavenly banquet where the Sovereign LORD himself will wipe every tear from our eyes.

Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, I watch and eagerly wait for the day to see you face to face. Until that day, please help me to be grateful for my earthly joys and use my times of sadness to make me long for a better eternal day in your presence. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

​10/27/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on Isaiah 58:7, “Share your food with the hungry and … provide the poor wanderer with shelter … clothe him, and [do not] turn away from your own flesh and blood.”
In today’s reading, God reveals through the prophet Isaiah that he is most pleased when we love and serve those in need. God doesn’t leave us guessing who these people are. He names them. They are the hungry, the poor, the homeless, the unclothed. When we love and serve these people, we please him.
God also reminds us that we are not to neglect our flesh and blood as we care for those in need. These are among the very people he has called us to love and serve. However, loving and serving our family members can be more challenging than loving and serving someone we have just met.
Ultimately it is Christ who will repair the brokenness of the world. Only he can quench the world’s thirst; only he can shine light into our darkness; only he can bring order to our chaos. But he invites us to participate in this restoration process, starting with the poor, the hungry, and our own families.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you that you will make all things new. Equip us to be your hands and feet in this world, especially among those you have called us to serve. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

​10/26/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on John 15:12,13, “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
When Jesus talks about love, he is not just talking about a feeling of warm affection toward another person for that kind of love is an emotion that we can fall in and out of fairly quickly.
In this reading, Jesus teaches us about real love, or, what he calls, greater love. This sort of love is not based on our emotions. It’s not self-seeking, nor is it fleeting. It is a form of love that is costly. It involves sacrifice. It might even cost us our lives. Have you ever wondered what you might be willing to suffer and endure for the sake of someone else? We can miss the mark in our human weakness, and we may fail to show this type of love. But even then, God wants to forgive us and hold us in everlasting love.
Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, thank you for laying down your life for me. Forgive me for the times I have loved selfishly, and help me to be more like you. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

​10-25-20
Today’s devotion is based on Matthew 22:37. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
What does it mean to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind? I certainly want to love God in this way, but I also find myself incapable of doing so. Am I easily distracted, or is this command just impossible?
This is not so much instruction about what we have to do. It is an invitation to encounter God and to be in a relationship with him. God invites us to love him more deeply than we love our earthly treasures. When God draws us into his presence, we receive the one who is love. This experience of divine love transforms us. Only then can we start to practice what it means to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Please pray the prayer for today with me:  Heavenly Father, gracious God, creator, and sustainer of all things; I long to be in your presence and see you face-to-face. Call me to be in right relationship with you, to think of you, and long for you more than anything in this world. In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

10-23-20
Today’s devotion is based on Philippines s3:17, Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”

The Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Philippi to follow his example and to keep their eyes on “those who live as we do.” In other words, he wanted them to watch people who live in a God-pleasing way. God wants us to do the same. It’s essential to keep our eyes on and give attention to those godly examples and models he has placed into our lives, and then be that example for others. In doing so, we encourage and build one another up that we all may live God-pleasing lives.
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Please pray the prayer for today with me:  Heavenly Father, gracious God, creator, and sustainer of all things; I praise you for the many godly examples you have given me in the pages of the Bible and my life. Please help me to imitate those who look to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

10/21/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on Philippians 3:20, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We probably all know someone who speaks with a foreign accent. We can tell that even though they are, maybe even citizens of the U.S., that the U.S. is not their home country.  Christians, too, know that the world we live in is not our home country.  We are just temporary residents here.  We too can be recognized as being different from the people of this world. For example, we don’t talk the same way the world talks. At least, that is our goal. We want our conversations to be kind, gentle, and understanding. We want to speak of forgiveness and sacrifice. We want to talk about the hope we have in God. Through faith in him, you can know that this world is only temporary. And you can look forward to a permanent residence in paradise.
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Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, Do not allow me to be distracted by the things of this world, lest I fail to wait with eagerness for Jesus to return. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, and take me to my true home. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

10/20/20
Today’s devotion for today is based on Matthew 21:42, “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’”

There were so many reasons that people rejected Jesus. Some found his message was too exclusive. Jesus preached that he is the only way, truth, and life. His road was too narrow, and so they rejected him. For countless others, though, Jesus’ love became their source of guidance. His forgiveness and grace became the standard upon which God would build their faith. The work he accomplished made eternal life theirs.

While you may see many rejecting him today, that does not change the fact that he is still the cornerstone. Believe in him. Build your life around him. With him, you have everything. Without him, you have nothing. The forgiveness he won for you means your relationship with God is restored, and eternal life in heaven is yours.
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Please pray with me the prayer for today:  Heavenly Father, creator, and sustainer of all things, seen and unseen, you have done this marvelous thing in making Jesus the cornerstone. Please help me to trust in him alone. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.