Devotionals

Sometimes the Word of the Lord causes us to pause because our natural minds cannot wrap around the message and the greater purpose of it all. However, God’s Word never fails… it always accomplishes what it is sent to do, whether we understand and obey it or not. God’s thoughts are pure, deeper, and much holier than our human ones (Isaiah 55:8-9).

We see that in our passage this morning. It would be easier to read our text as an unthinkable and wrathful act of God against creation that is cruel, but is that the main focus of the story? No. Noah and the flood teach us something incredibly important about God’s plan to SAVE, not destroy.

At creation, humanity made a fatal mistake by disobeying God’s Word. Let’s not forget, humanity chose to eat from the wrong tree. Violence was covering the earth because the hearts of humanity were separated from the love of God (Genesis 6:11). Without God’s love ruling our hearts, we are capable of despicable things. We were created for love. In God’s love, we are cradled like a precious treasure from the flood of evil, which is something God must destroy in order to bring a new beginning.

Like Noah and his family, God holds, supports, and nurtures our spiritual growth in his love through Christ. As the world continues to be flooded with evil, we are spiritually carried by the love of God. Jesus gives us a new beginning. We no longer belong to the fallen world. A Way to salvation is the lesson of Noah. Make sure you have cut a covenant with God, and you are being held in the protective ark of His love.

Genesis 7 NLT The Flood Covers the Earth
7 When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous. 2 Take with you seven pairs—male and female—of each animal I have approved for eating and for sacrifice, and take one pair of each of the others. 3 Also take seven pairs of every kind of bird. There must be a male and a female in each pair to ensure that all life will survive on the earth after the flood. 4 Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down on the earth. And it will rain for forty days and forty nights, until I have wiped from the earth all the living things I have created.”

5 So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him.

6 Noah was 600 years old when the flood covered the earth. 7 He went on board the boat to escape the flood—he and his wife and his sons and their wives. 8 With them were all the various kinds of animals—those approved for eating and for sacrifice and those that were not—along with all the birds and the small animals that scurry along the ground. 9 They entered the boat in pairs, male and female, just as God had commanded Noah. 10 After seven days, the waters of the flood came and covered the earth.

11 When Noah was 600 years old, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the underground waters erupted from the earth, and the rain fell in mighty torrents from the sky. 12 The rain continued to fall for forty days and forty nights.

13 That very day Noah had gone into the boat with his wife and his sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their wives. 14 With them in the boat were pairs of every kind of animal—domestic and wild, large and small—along with birds of every kind. 15 Two by two they came into the boat, representing every living thing that breathes. 16 A male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind them.

17 For forty days the floodwaters grew deeper, covering the ground and lifting the boat high above the earth. 18 As the waters rose higher and higher above the ground, the boat floated safely on the surface. 19 Finally, the water covered even the highest mountains on the earth, 20 rising more than twenty-two feet[b] above the highest peaks. 21 All the living things on earth died—birds, domestic animals, wild animals, small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the people. 22 Everything that breathed and lived on dry land died. 23 God wiped out every living thing on the earth—people, livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and the birds of the sky. All were destroyed. The only people who survived were Noah and those with him in the boat. 24 And the floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for designing a Way for us to enjoy a covenant relationship with You. This lesson of Noah is beneficial to our understanding of a new beginning. We rise above the destructive floodwaters of this fallen world to be protected and held by You. Thank you for being faithful to the covenant that You have offered. We pray for grace to hold us so we will be faithful to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today, we continue with the awareness that what we may think is not necessarily born from righteous God-thoughts. In fact, without the redeeming [rescuing/restoring] and sanctifying [making holy] work of Christ, we cannot develop our own righteous thoughts, because we have a sinful nature with a voice that demands its own way. Our thoughts are known to God, and He judges them based on Christ’s righteousness. Therefore, every human being needs the ongoing rescuing, restoring, and making holy work of Christ in us.

In our passage today, we visit the Old Testament Book of Genesis and note the Lord’s examination of humanity’s thoughts. Clearly, God is holy, and humanity is not. When left to function by our sinful nature, humanity is doomed. The fall of humanity [choosing to sin against God’s Word] left a very serious reality with eternal consequences, which broke the heart of God (Genesis 6:6).

Pay close attention to this story of Noah. Does God view Noah as righteous? Yes. Why? Because Noah lives a life of worship. He allows God’s Word to lead him. Is he perfect? No. Yet, Noah fears the Lord [honors God’s authority], seeks His way and will of living righteous [with the Lord], and wants to please Him—Priority. Noah walks WITH God (Genesis 6:9).

In the Old Testament, the Lord [Hebrew Yahweh—Creator Father, Yeshua—Saving Son, Ruach HaKodesh—Holy Spirit] pursues a relationship with humanity, but sin must be dealt with before fellowship is restored. In the New Testament, Yeshua [Greek-Jesus the Christ] fulfills that requirement. Without the work of Christ covering us with his righteousness while making us more like Him each day, we are a doomed people.

Jesus sacrificed His life to cover and redeem the sins of the world. So, when we ask Jesus to save us from sin’s destruction and death, we are saved for eternity. People need Jesus…He alone provides genuine LIFE with God! We cannot be made righteous without Him. Without Jesus, we are separated from eternal fellowship with God. Make sure you ask Jesus to save you.

Genesis 6:5-22 NLT 5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. 7 And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the Lord.

The Story of Noah
9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. 10 Noah was the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!

14 “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior. 15 Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. 16 Leave an 18-inch opening below the roof all the way around the boat. Put the door on the side, and build three decks inside the boat—lower, middle, and upper.

17 “Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 20 Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. 21 And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”
22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Prayer: Father, thank You for laying out for all humanity the clear picture of our need for Jesus. We acknowledge our sinful nature and ask to be cleansed and covered by the blood of Jesus. While You cover us, Lord, please keep working in our hearts to create worshipers like Noah. Seal out the world and guard our hearts and minds. Help us live what we believe to be the Truth as Your children. Holy Spirit, make us holy and teach us to make loving and serving God our highest priority each day. Then, we can genuinely love our neighbors. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A very important part of living our worship is choosing our priorities, because whatever we treat as a priority reveals our hearts (Luke 12:34). For this reason, Jesus calls us to seek His kingdom of righteousness, because everything else flows from it into our lives (Matthew 6:33). Then, when we seek the kingdom, we find God opens the treasury of heaven and releases His goodness and blessing.

In our passage today, the wisdom literature challenges us to find divine Wisdom—applied Truth. When we seek the Kingdom, we find the King. When we find the King—who has been made wisdom to us—we are gaining the best of heaven and God’s plan for our day. We learn about God’s nature and character because he guides us by Wisdom.

In a world that focuses on temporal worldly goods, God calls us to prioritize eternity and look for the treasures of heaven. We may have no idea about the abundance of heaven, because we are content and satisfied with the world’s goods. Yet Jesus said, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). What if we are satisfied with temporary “stuff” when God is offering the “eternal treasure” of wisdom, blessings, and unimaginable goodness beyond human understanding?

Human understanding is based on reason, logic, and what we can experience with our natural senses. Human knowledge and understanding have their place, but these things cannot access God’s Wisdom, which must be revealed, believed, and acted upon. God desires to share with us the glories of heaven, but we must seek God’s Wisdom, prize it, and hold onto it for the treasure it is and holds.

Proverbs 3:13-18 NLT
13
Joyful is the person who finds wisdom,
    the one who gains understanding.
14 
For wisdom is more profitable than silver,
    and her wages are better than gold.
15 
Wisdom is more precious than rubies;
    nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 
She offers you long life in her right hand,
    and riches and honor in her left.
17 
She will guide you down delightful paths;
    all her ways are satisfying.
18 
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
    happy are those who hold her tightly.

Prayer: Lord, today our desire is for You. We seek Your kingdom, divine wisdom, and the joy of salvation to fill our day. Guide us into the truth that satisfies our souls. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Trust is not just about having emotional confidence; it is a decision we make repeatedly each day. Trust is key in our relationship with God; we must trust Him and His will for our lives. As we place our trust in God, we bring Him glory.

I seek to trust God’s will and way of doing things, but sometimes my thoughts and level of understanding try to get in between my trust and my obedience. Runaway thoughts involve a spiritual battle; the mind can be a battleground. I have to catch myself and turn back to what I know about God’s faithfulness and His promises.

Leaning on our own understanding is a detour, because we see in part, but God sees all things as a whole (1 Corinthians 13:12). We still have a sin nature that must be submitted to God; therefore, our understanding is tainted and not trustworthy. Our perspective, without consulting God, is questionable at best. Submitting to God is where we find wisdom to manage every decision. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). I dare not stand in pride; I must bow in humility because no one is more capable of handling life and its issues than Creator God.

In our passage today, we are challenged by this wisdom writing to love God wholeheartedly, because as we do, we will desire God’s will and trust God’s promise. When we need guidance, we need to ask for Wisdom (Jesus). When we need healing, we must ask our Healer (Jesus). When we need supplies of some kind, we need to call for our Provider (Jesus). When we need correction, we must know the Father loves us like Jesus.

Proverb 3:5-6 NLT
5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 
Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.
7 
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
    Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 
Then you will have healing for your body
    and strength for your bones.
9 
Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 
Then he will fill your barns with grain,
    and your vats will overflow with good wine.
11 
My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
12 
For the Lord corrects those he loves,
    just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for this beautiful wisdom that we need to hear today. Help us to remain fixed and immovable as we place our trust in You. Help us reach for You and ask for You to meet our needs, whether spiritual, emotional, or physical. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yesterday in worship, we were reminded about things we already know about God. We know we can place our trust in God. We know Jesus is the Way, God’s plans for us are good, and He will navigate us toward spiritual maturity and victory. Lastly, we know who we are—chosen by God to be transformed and live as His full-time disciples.

In our passage today, Moses writes about how God delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt and has been leading them through the wilderness to develop their trust. They needed more than a destination; they needed to experientially know God. The people’s hearts were fragile; they needed to experience God’s presence and know He loved them. So, God led them with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day to reassure them that He was always near.

God did not take the people the fastest route; He took them on a detour. He gave them time to adjust to the freedom He provided and the obedience He required. God saw what the people could not see and knew they needed protection and preparation, because spiritual battles awaited them in the Promised Land. They had to be ready.

As believers, we all face spiritual battles, but God prepares us for them. God first strengthens our faith and dependence on Him. Then He begins to form our character in a way that we see the goodness of God moving before us. God leads us through the Spirit, the Word, and His beautiful peace. Our duty then is to follow and trust. May God’s presence become unmistakably real to you today.

Exodus 13:17-22 NLT Israel’s Wilderness Detour
17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”

20 The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. 22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.

Prayer: Lord, help us trust You when the path before us doesn’t make sense. When we long for quick answers, remind us that Your ways are higher than ours. Teach us to follow Your lead, even when it feels like we are facing a detour. Thank You for never leaving us and for guiding us with Your faithful presence. Amen.

Over the years, I’m sure most of us have had people say disrespectful or disparaging things to or about us. Some people are verbally abusive and bullies. When a thought comes to me to verbally retaliate to something mean spoken to me, I try to grab for the spiritual duct tape and hold onto the Words of Christ, “…on the day of judgment, people will be called to account for every careless word they have ever said” (Matthew 12:36). According to Scripture, our speech reflects the condition of our hearts and God knows. The Word has a way of calming my tongue; I pray you have noticed the Word has also done that for you.

In our passage today, Jesus has been teaching in the Temple. The Pharisees find a woman caught in adultery and bring her to Jesus, hoping to trap him, but the wisdom of Jesus causes them to reflect and move on (John 8:1-11). Then, Jesus tells those listening, “I am the Light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life” (John 8:12). Jesus has several other encounters with the religious leaders and crowd before coming for a head-to-head climax when they call him a “Samaritan devil” who is possessed by a demon (John 8:48).

It is eye-opening that these religious leaders could accuse Jesus of blasphemy when they were the ones who actually did so. Jesus declares Himself in these passages to be God, but they just don’t believe Him. Jesus does not defend Himself; rather, he responds with clarity and truth: He points out falsehood, restates God’s authority, and refuses to be a people-pleaser. We would be wise to remember these three things when our integrity is questioned.

John 8:48-59 NLT
48 The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”

49 “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” [spiritual death]

52 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ 55 but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”

57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?[How can you say Abraham has seen you?]”

58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am! [I have always been alive]” 59 At that point, they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the challenge You offer today in Your Word about our hearts and our mouths. Sometimes people are cruel, and their words can wound, but You have given us the ability to rise in Your strength. When we are challenged, please help us to identify falsehood with Truth, yield to Your authority and will, and to make pleasing You our highest purpose in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A majority vote [more than half of the total] is used in many areas of life, including education, business, social organizations, non-profit organizations like C2C Church, government, etc. Wisdom and dialogue are important because, without them, we struggle to put forward a godly vision for governing every area of life; we may not position proper boundaries. We can form a majority, raise our voices, and build a strong system of governance, but that does not guarantee we are building on truth. We need to invoke God’s help, vision, and blessing to be successful.

We can agree on many issues and still not be living the truth as God requires. If God is not given authority, then people will simply demand their own way. Human perspective alone is flawed and self-willed. We need to regain a fear of the Lord and call for His counsel because,“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Our passage today, reminds us of something that is deeply human. Stephen is a man living his life according to the Truth—in Christ. Our passage finds Stephen sharing about people’s need for Jesus the Savior who has been made wisdom for eternal life—a life that begins here on earth.

A group of liberated Hellenistic Jews finds themselves arguing with Stephen, who is filled with the Spirit of Truth. These men were unable to refute the teachings of Jesus shared by Stephen, but they were able to lie and form a majority. These Jews encourage others to lie about Stephen, accusing him of wanting to change the laws governing the Israelites. He was then taken to the high council to stand trial. The majority was ready to act without revealing the Truth that the accusations were built on lies.

Divine wisdom and truth are under attack every single day. Research reveals the average person tells 1-2 lies per day (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse). Jesus is the Living Truth of how God created human beings to live in this world and He wants to lead us into a deeper understanding of life with God. He is embodied in Truth-speakers. Let Jesus make you alive with Truth! The world has too many liars trying to silence our Lord.

Acts 6:8-15 NLT Stephen Is Arrested
8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. 9 But one day, some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. 10 None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

11 So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” 12 This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.[Sanhedrin]
13 The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. 14 We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

15 At this point, everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.

Prayer: Lord, please give us hearts that welcome Your truth. As Your children, guard us from pride that resists correction and from fear that avoids it. Fill us with Your wisdom so that our lives reflect Your presence, even when we face opposition. Help us to stand firm in what is true, with grace and humility, just as Stephen did. We do not serve the father of lies—satan—we serve the Truth—and we live for your glory. In Jesus’ Amen.

It would certainly be wonderful if we could gain every good thing God has for us without any struggle or sacrifice on our part, but following Jesus always involves denying ourselves daily and taking up a cross of some kind (Luke 9:23). God’s will must be our priority.  This means our sinful natures, egos, personal desires, and comfort are going to be crucified, because our Shepherd leads us toward self-denial.  In Christ, we learn to endure difficulties and hardships while remaining faithful to God.  

Everything in the eternal life journey requires self-sacrifice.  We must love and serve those who are not easy to love.  We will grow in patience while suffering inconvenience.   Following Jesus will cost us; therefore, Jesus asks His followers to count the cost and consider what is involved in following Him (Luke 14:33). Jesus suffered the cross for the joy ahead of Him, and we must do the same (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus does not offer His disciples a superficial relationship.

In our passage today, Jesus explains what will happen to Him because He chooses the will of the Father for the salvation of the world.  The disciples do not understand the sacrifice and how Jesus will lead them to sacrifice their flesh, as well. The disciples vie for positions and prominence, so Jesus deals with that fleshly spirit by setting before them the cost.

We must understand our need today to submit to the will of the Father, be willing to crucify our sin nature, serve those folks we would rather not, and endure painful difficulties, because obeying Jesus, enjoying His presence, and remaining committed to Him is worth it all.  Today, the world will serve up a feast of unrighteous choices, but let’s choose Jesus!

Matthew 20:17-28 NT Jesus Again Predicts His Death

17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans [Gentiles] to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Jesus Teaches about Serving Others

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Prayer:  Lord, You have been the perfect example of loving the Father wholeheartedly and loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.  We have no excuse for not knowing the cost, because You revealed it with the sacrifice of Your life.  Help us draw near and be willing to crucify our flesh to abide and grow in Your righteousness.  With each day, we will trust Your plans for our growth.  Thank You, Lord, for all You do to make us spiritually victorious.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  

Our Shepherd leads us into fertile pastures of righteousness, producing a clearer image of Christ in our lives. We can eat of His supply as we choose to obey. Many times, the spiritual assignments the Shepherd leads us into stretch our souls, but the harvest is beautiful to the Father, who longs for us to become holy like Jesus. He is holy, and we are being transformed into His holy image one obedient step at a time.

Salvation is eternal, and as we follow, we begin learning how to walk by the Spirit in the eternal righteous steps of Christ. If we are going to be good stewards of this precious treasure of the Spirit, we will need to take steps to leave behind fear, comfort, and self-protecting efforts. Trusting God and allowing him to equip us will be essential for our growth.

Yet, what a blessing to know our obedience and even our suffering will produce good things within us that please our Lord. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation” (Romans 5:3-4). Through the power of Christ, let’s produce the fruit of His character today.

Hebrews 13:20-21 NLT
20
Now may the God of peace—
    who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
    and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21 
May He equip you with all you need
    for doing his will.
May he produce in you,[in us]
    through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
    All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

Prayer: Lord, we know You are the Giver of every good and perfect gift. We also know not everything You bring to help us grow makes us feel good, even when it is good for us. So, equip us with Your strength to form endurance that grows us in the character of Christ. We want to glorify You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Satan, the world, and our flesh work to silence the glory of the Lord! Evil works through our minds, will, and emotions to cover with darkness that which was born to shine with radiance. You were born to shine and give glory to God!

Jesus died to open the windows of heaven and welcome His human creation to enter and enjoy the abundance of God’s glory. The Lord knows we cannot reach our eternal inheritance or live in a way that glorifies Him without salvation. Jesus is the only Way. In fact, the glory of God is our inheritance, and glorifying God is our purpose. Therefore, believers should be people filled with joy and gratitude when thinking about the goodness of God.

In our passage today, the psalmist encourages all the earth to praise our Creator and Shepherd and bring him thanksgiving. We were created to worship and serve our Lord with joy and gladness. God is joyful, and He deserves to be worshiped by a joyful people. I will remind you that the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of JOY—the very nature of God.

Not every day is easy; we all face challenges. But our joy is not based on circumstances; it is produced by gratitude for God’s unfailing love, goodness, and mercy. He gives us strength when we are weak. Even when we face adversity, God desires to bring us rest, guidance, and blessing. He is our Good Shepherd, and His goodness is not temporary…it is eternal. So, shout with joy and thank Him for all He has done!

Psalm 100 A psalm of thanksgiving.
1 
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2 
    Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.
3 
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are his.
    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 
For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Prayer: Lord, we want to acknowledge Your goodness today and thank You for Your faithful love and care. We worship You and live to serve You. Lead us into Your precious Truth, today. Fill us with joy unspeakable and full of glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.