Devotionals

Intro: These days believers need all the assurance and encouragement we can get to press on in hope as we look at the world around us. So, let me encourage you and me, today; God is still in control of this world—even in its sinful and deceived state—and He has given His Word to protect his children from danger. He is all-powerful and He is all we really need! If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31).

Order is reflective of our Creator; nature itself reveals the orderly characteristics of our God. Look around and witness the “disorder” that is evident and presently abounding on earth. A dismantling of divine wisdom and order has been put into motion; the authority of God’s Word being challenged at every turn. Deception produces disorder and chaos, friends. Where does that leave us as believers? Because believers stand on the Word of God as Truth, the world will not be in agreement with the One in whom we place our trust. Yet, don’t fear because God will use this deception as his footstool to rise to power and one day bring things back into peace and order.

In our passage today, the psalmist reminds God’s children over and over again that although we live in the midst of danger because we live in a fallen world, we have a great Refuge as our hiding place. God is our Protector no matter what kind of danger we face. When fear comes to rob us, we raise our Shield of faith—our Defender—and speak the Word to thwart the enemy’s attack. Our challenge will always be the same; we must remain or dwell in the shadow of God and pray for his salvation and protection. As we honor God, he will bring us honor. My friends, stay the course and remain in hope and trust. This psalm is Good News!

Psalm 91:9-16 (TPT)
9-10
When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High,
our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm.
How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?
11
God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go,
defending you from all harm.
12
If you walk into a trap, they’ll be there for you
and keep you from stumbling.
13
You’ll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness
trampling every one of them beneath your feet!
14
For here is what the Lord has spoken to me:
“Because you loved me, delighted in me, and have been loyal to my name,
I will greatly protect you.
15
I will answer your cry for help every time you pray,
and you will feel my presence
in your time of trouble.
I will deliver you and bring you honor.
16
I will satisfy you with a full life and with all that I do for you.
For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!”

Prayer: Lord, you are our Mighty Protector of our lives and the Defender of our souls. We trust you to take care of us as your children. Set your angels around us. We pray for you to be exalted into your rightful place as the Ruler of this world. Thank you for bringing order to our lives as we wait for you to one day bring divine order to the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: When we invite Jesus to be the Lord of our lives, we are declaring our trust in the authority of God’s Word and choosing to reveal Christ’s attitude in how we love and live. That means, as believers, we genuinely love and accept one another. We know eternal life has taken ahold of us because we love one another and are willing to do the hard work it takes to maintain a spirit of unity among us (1 John 3:14). There is no room for petty offense, accusations, unforgiveness, or unkind spoken words or actions between believers. This is how the world behaves not the Church. Should we slip into sin by doing such things, we are to quickly repent, ask for forgiveness, and reestablish honor between us because in this way we preserve the peace of God dwelling with us. In Christ, we are able to speak the Truth in love.

In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul exhorts the Jewish believers to welcome and love the gentiles—anyone not Jewish—into their spiritual family. He wants them to learn from one another; to know the heart of God for the unity of his family and the hope of growing into oneness despite how very different they are culturally. It can be very difficult to love the way Christ wants to love through us, but if you only love those who always agree with you what have you really accomplished? (Luke 6:32). The love Christ requires involves patience, kindness, and self-control empowered by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Remember, you can always love the people just like you without Christ, because your flesh feels comfy.

Romans 15:7-13 (GNT) The Gospel to the Gentiles
7 Accept one another, then, for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted you. 8 For I tell you that Christ’s life of service was on behalf of the Jews, to show that God is faithful, to make his promises to their ancestors come true, 9 and to enable even the Gentiles to praise God for his mercy. As the scripture says,
“And so I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing praises to you.”
10
Again it says,
“Rejoice, Gentiles, with God’s people!”
11
And again,
“Praise the Lord, all Gentiles;
praise him, all peoples!”
12
And again, Isaiah says,
“A descendant of Jesse will appear;
he will come to rule the Gentiles,
and they will put their hope in him.”

13 May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping us grow in your love as we speak the Truth. This is how the world should be able to identify those who serve the King. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Prior to our passage today from the gospel of Mark, Jesus has been teaching his disciples and the Pharisees about being good stewards of money and resources. Jesus is not setting himself up to be a “financial advisor,” however, he is without question the PERFECT “heart advisor.” The Pharisees loved money and many of them lived in luxury while at the same time ignoring the needs of those poor in spirit or broken by life living among them. The Pharisees believed wealth was the proof of a person’s righteousness; however, they were actually parading their selfishness before God. They did not use God’s resources to welcome and minister to the needs of others; to nurture their eternal relationship with God. Rather, these leaders used God’s resources for themselves and their own pious hidden agendas to look good.

The Pharisees tried to justify their poor stewardship and distribution of God’s resources, but Jesus spoke the truth as he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15). There will always be a temptation in humanity to serve money more than God. Money isn’t evil; yet, the “love” of money can lead to all kinds of evil.

In our passage today, Jesus shares a lesson about the need for the good stewardship of God’s resources. He hopes the Pharisees are listening. If we serve God with our money, then we will step forward to help our neighbors when they are suffering or experiencing the challenges of life. As well, we will give resources to make a difference in the Kingdom and to draw more people to Christ. In this way, we identify with Christ’s sacrifice for us and are choosing to use material wealth to further the eternal realm of the Lord. Selfishness causes humans to be separated from God—divine Love. As believers, we serve God and should wisely steward the resources he brings into our lives. May we pay attention to the Words of our Master.

Luke 16:19-31 NLT Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
19 Jesus continued. “There once was a very rich man who had the finest things imaginable, living every day enjoying his life of opulent luxury. 20–21 Outside the gate of his mansion was a poor beggar named Lazarus [name translates ‘God helps’]. He lay there every day, covered with boils, and all the neighborhood dogs would come and lick his open sores. The only food he had to eat was the garbage that the rich man threw away.

22 “One day poor Lazarus died, and the angels of God came and escorted his spirit into paradise.
23 “The day came that the rich man also died. In hell he looked up from his torment and saw Abraham in the distance, and Lazarus was standing beside him in the glory. 24 The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham! Father Abraham! Have mercy on me. Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and come to cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames of fire!’

25 “But Abraham responded, ‘My friend, don’t you remember? While you were alive, you had all you desired. You surrounded yourself in luxury, while Lazarus had nothing. Now Lazarus dwells in the comforts of paradise and you are in agony. 26 Besides, between us is a huge chasm that cannot be bridged, nor can anyone cross from one realm to the other, even if he wanted.’

Prayer: Lord, thank you for teaching your children to be givers and to shine compassion upon those who need a hand up and a lift to the soul. May you receive all the glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: Every human being stands before God knowing he or she needs divine mercy. To be in God’s presence is to understand his holiness, as well as our sinfulness. Isaiah confessed, “I am in so much trouble! I’m ruined! I’m just a human being—fallible and stammering. My lips are encrusted with filth; and I live among people just like me. But here I am, and I’ve seen with my very own eyes none other than the King, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies” (6:5). While we know we vertically require mercy in our relationship with God for salvation [we have all sinned in word/deed against God’s commands and the penalty for sin is death], it is possible to live horizontally “blameless” [innocent of wrong-doing according to the world] in our moral character with fellow human beings. My friends, being blameless with people will not save you from God’s future judgment against sin or evil.

In our passage today, David declares himself blameless; he has sought to walk uprightly with every earthly “neighbor.” However, he is not overly concerned about his earthly reputation. Whether or not he is a “good” person in the eyes of the world is not his focus. The world has a warped standard; calling good evil and evil good (Isa 5:20). Like Isaiah, David is keenly aware that he will one day answer to the Eternal One and any sin hiding within him will be exposed, despite his “good” actions with his neighbors. Humans cannot hide sin from God and sin cannot exist in the presence of a holy God; we need God’s grace (unmerited favor found in Christ) for salvation. Scripture teaches Jesus is returning to earth to destroy evil once and for all. We need a Savior to wrap us with his righteousness—making us blameless before God—so we are not destroyed along with sin or evil. This is the most important decision any human will ever make and Jesus is the only Way for salvation (John 14:6). Now is the time. If you haven’t already done so, please ask for God’s mercy to cover and forgive you, and by grace save you in the life of Christ.

Psalm 26:1-12 (VOICE) A song of David.
1 
Declare my innocence, O Eternal One!
    I have walked blamelessly down this path.
    I placed my trust in the Eternal and have yet to stumble.
2 
Put me on trial and examine me, O Eternal One!
    Search me through and through—from my deepest longings to every thought that crosses my mind.
3 
Your unfailing love is always before me;
    I have journeyed down Your path of truth.

4 
My life is not wasted among liars;
    my days are not spent among cheaters.
5 
I despise every crowd intent on evil;
    I do not commune with the wicked.
6 
I wash my hands in the fountain of innocence
    so that I might join the gathering that surrounds Your altar, O Eternal One.
7 
From my soul, I will join the songs of thanksgiving;
    I will sing and proclaim Your wonder and mystery.
8 
Your house, home to Your glory, O Eternal One, radiates its light.
    I am fixed on this place and long to be nowhere else.
9 
When Your wrath pursues those who oppose You,
    those swift to sin and thirsty for blood,
    spare my soul and grant me life.
10 
These men hold deceit in their left hands,
    and in their right hands, bribery and lies.
11 
But God, I have walked blamelessly down this path,
    and this is my plea for redemption.
    This is my cry for Your mercy.
12 
Here I stand secure and confident
    before all the people; I will praise the Eternal.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your mercy that is new each morning. I need your mercy and your grace to sustain my life and keep me whole. I am grateful you constantly help me live blameless with my neighbors. Thank you for destroying any sin that tries to hide in my soul that would dishonor your abiding holiness. All praise belongs to you! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by: Jennifer Auer, Pastor Mary Haley’s Assistant

In today’s psalm, as painful as David’s turmoil is to read, it is also comforting to know that we are not alone in our places of worldly unrest or in our sinful nature. This psalm is not meant to darken a moment in our lives, rather it is meant to lead you and I away from the darkness of this world and it directs us to run to the only Light that exists, and that is the LIGHT OF CHRIST. It also reminds us of the fragility of life. You and I have work to do for the Kingdom of God and time is of the essence.

On Saturday, I attended the “Out of the Darkness St Petersburg Walk” for suicide prevention. I was filled with emotion as my family lost a member to suicide, as well as I battled deep depression and suicidal thoughts many years ago before knowing the Lord. When the emotional turmoil rose within me on Saturday, I looked up, and there in the sky was a rainbow. I smiled as I was reminded that after a great storm comes a rainbow. God spoke to Noah (in Genesis 9:12-17) about this sign, and how after He brought the greatest storm, He would then provide Noah with a sign (the rainbow) which was to represent His covenant with him and all of creation for generations to come. You and I are grafted into that same covenant with God. He wants to use our (storms) most difficult places, challenges, hardships, pain, grief, loss, and despair to bring us closer to Him so that we (rainbows) can shine as bright Lights for others to find or be reminded of His Kingdom. It is David who reminds us that “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Psalm 34:18).

Keep running to the Lord, don’t look back, only allow God to use the past to remind you of just how far He has brought you, and how He will use your experiences, and growth from the past, to bring others to Him.

Psalm 39 (NLT)
For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
when the ungodly are around me.”
2 But as I stood there in silence—
not even speaking of good things—
the turmoil within me grew worse.
3 The more I thought about it,
the hotter I got,
igniting a fire of words:
4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude

6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me.
9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
10 But please stop striking me!
I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
11 When you discipline us for our sins,
you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
Each of us is but a breath. Interlude

12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cries for help!
Don’t ignore my tears.
For I am your guest—
a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me.
13 Leave me alone so I can smile again
before I am gone and exist no more.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing me to run to You. The world is so dark, and You are the only Light. When I feel turmoil, may You quicken me to look up to You. When I feel sin rise within my soul, my You turn me immediately away and towards You. Thank You for Your kids who shine brightly for You. Keep us strong, continue to guide us, cover us with Your protection, fill us with Your joy, and allow us to share Your love with a hurting and needing world. I ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Intro: In our passage today, the writer of Hebrews reminds those listening of the need to merge knowledge with faith; it is the only way to enter the rest of God. These early Christians were trusting in their own efforts of works to save themselves; in human power to attain a relationship with God instead of just enjoying what Christ has promised. Truly, human effort will always fall short; it is inadequate in the battle against sin. As humans, we can get all wound up with knowledge; even well-meaning Christians can fill their minds with Scripture and never put a bit of it into practice with their faith. It just becomes head knowledge…and knowledge alone does not bring power. Without faith we cannot please God.

Hebrews 4:1-3 TPT The Faith-Rest Life
1 Now the promise of entering into God’s rest is still for us today. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it. 2 For we have heard the good news of deliverance just as they did, yet they didn’t join their faith with the Word. Instead, what they heard didn’t affect them deeply, for they doubted. 3 For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest!

Today, is your day to enter into the faith-rest life; to live in the peace of God and enjoy the relationship he has created just for you. You don’t have to strive to have a beautiful relationship with God, you simply need to believe and trust in Christ to connect you to it. Listen to the Word and put your faith into action by obeying it. Have a blessed weekend…

Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping me understand how Scripture and faith must merge in my heart in order to be lived out in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Intro: The author of Hebrews reminds us Scripture is the truth and the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Therefore, we are to listen and learn from the Word of God. If we are unwilling to listen, we will make the very mistakes from which God is trying to rescue us.

For the Jews, Moses was the greatest prophet, so they honored his authority in Scripture. The author reminds his readers Jesus has supreme authority and is greater than Moses, because he is more than just human…he is God himself. Besides it was the work of Moses to prepare the way for the Lord. The Old Testament helps us understand how: 1) God works through human beings; 2) God uses events and people to reveal truth, 3) God announces the Messiah is coming from heaven, and 4) God lays out the sacrificial system so we can understand the sacrifice of Jesus who brings us into spiritual rest.

Hebrews 3:7-14 (TPT)
7 This is why the Holy Spirit says,
“If only you would listen to his voice this day!
8 
Don’t make him angry by hardening your hearts,
    like your ancestors did during the days of their rebellion,
    when they were tested in the wilderness.
9 
There your fathers tested me and tried my patience
    even though they saw my miracles for forty years
    they still doubted me!
10 
This ignited my anger with that generation
    and I said about them, ‘They wander in their hearts
    just like they do with their feet,
    and they refuse to learn my ways.’
11 
My heart grieved over them so I decreed:
    ‘They will not enter into my rest!’ ”

12 So search your hearts every day, my brothers and sisters, and make sure that none of you has evil or unbelief hiding within you. For it will lead you astray [rebel], and make you unresponsive to the living God. 13 This is the time to encourage [warn] each other to never be stubborn or hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 For we are mingled with the Messiah, [connected partners] if we will continue unshaken in this confident assurance from the beginning until the end.

We are to live as Christ; to courageously live out our faith according to the Word of God. If we set ourselves against God—harden our hearts—we may get our way, but we open ourselves up to the work of Satan. We must stay in close fellowship with Christ and other believers to hold onto the Truth. Do not isolate yourself, my friend; you need the encouragement of the Body of Christ to fight deception and sin.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for keeping my heart soft; I don’t want my heart to wander from you. Please continue to teach me your ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 90:12-17 (TPT)

Intro:  In our passage today, Moses reminds God’s family that life is short, but every life matters to the work of God’s salvation in the world.  As well, God desires that we would enjoy our lives by enjoying the beauty of his presence with us.  In order to fulfill God’s plan for our lives, we must operate in wisdom.  Otherwise, rather than living to please God, we will live either to satisfy: 1) the world and culture, or 2) our flesh or sin nature. God wants us to rediscover his heart and will for his beloved human creation and without divine Wisdom—Christ—we cannot find our way.  

12

Help us to remember that our days are numbered,

    and help us to interpret our lives correctly.

    Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts

    so that we may accept your correction.

13 

Return to us again, O God!

    How much longer will it take until you show us

    your abundant compassion?

14 

Let the sunrise of your love end our dark night.

    Break through our clouded dawn again!

    Only you can satisfy our hearts,

    filling us with songs of joy to the end of our days.

Satan lies to the human soul; he tempts us to think God is withholding good things from us.  In fact, he wants us to think the better life was either found in the past or will be found in the present moment. Satan may use grief or a feeling of urgency to stir up our emotions prompting us to act without seeking the will of God.  We must take ahold of the Word of God and keep it close to our souls; it corrects us and keeps us on the righteous path.  

Scripture teaches the very best life for believers lies ahead of this temporal life. My friends, God has something so much better than sin and this evil world for his children.  Think about it this way, one day in the future when Christ comes for his Bride we will no longer experience an internal war with Satan or external divisive emotional battles with other humans that is perpetuated by evil.  It is for that promise that we live—to enter the shalom of God.  Be fully present to the people around you today, but live for more than the moment.  Live with purpose and joy knowing God is the only one who can satisfy you and your days.

Prayer:  Lord, breakthrough the clouds of our spiritual lack and bring us understanding of the great things you have planned and purposed for your loved ones.  This world is not and will never be our home in this present state; our home is you and the glory of your Kingdom awaits us.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Intro: In our passage today, Jesus is sharing the heart of the Father regarding oaths—a solemn promise invoking a divine witness—with his disciples, religious leaders, and the crowd gathered on the Mount of Beatitudes. Making an oath was a common practice in Israel based on the influence of Middle Eastern culture. People made an oath by swearing to something greater than oneself. Israel saw heaven, earth, Jerusalem, and a person’s head as sacred. Jesus wanted them to know even their very words should be revealed as sacred.

Matthew 5:33-37
You know that God expects us to abide by the oaths we swear and the promises we make. 34 But I tell you this: do not ever swear an oath. What is an oath? You cannot say, “I swear by heaven”—for heaven is not yours to swear by; it is God’s throne. 35 And you cannot say, “I swear by this good earth,” for the earth is not yours to swear by; it is God’s footstool. And you cannot say, “I swear by the holy city Jerusalem,” for it is not yours to swear by; it is the city of God, the capital of the King of kings. 36 You cannot even say that you swear by your own head, for God has dominion over your hands, your lips, your head. It is He who determines if your hair be straight or curly, white or black; it is He who rules over even this small scrap of creation. 37 You need not swear an oath—any impulse to do so is of evil. Simply let your “yes” be “yes,” and let your “no” be “no.”

It is the Truth—revealed through our words and actions—that makes our lives sacred. We are to live in Christ who is the Living Word of God. I challenge us today to let our “yes” be “yes” and our “no” be “no.” If we tell someone we are going to do something, we are making a commitment or giving our “word” to that person. He or she may be counting on us. If then we, as Christ followers, turn around and do not fulfill our commitment, we tarnish the reputation of Christ. Jesus was teaching his disciples the importance of revealing his character—truth—in all that is said and done. Jesus was not telling people to say “yes” to everything. On the contrary, he would rather us say “no” than to misrepresent his character. How strongly do you feel about your words?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding me, today, about the sacredness of the Truth and my need to speak and act in it. You are the Spirit of Truth, so I know you will be guiding me every day toward more opportunities that will help me grow in your character. Thank you for the many ways you help me to honor and reveal your integrity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Romans 8:5-6 (NLT) Life in the Spirit

Intro: Our passage today is a continuation of Paul’s letter to the Romans and to future believers. He takes time to explain about two different human mindsets in life: 1) people who think and act based on the desires of their flesh or sinful natures [desires that run contrary to God’s plan for the redeemed], and 2) people who think and act based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit [living in agreement with God’s plan for the redeemed]. We are “controlled” by one or the other. To belong to Christ [the Word of God] is to embrace the work of the Spirit that lifts us out of dead living into a life of peace. To continue living in the flesh is to resurrect the sinful nature God has already condemned to death.

Romans 8:5-6 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

Do you take time each day to center your life in Christ? As believers, we all want to enjoy the peace that passes all understanding, but how do we stay there? (Phil 4:7). Wisdom will lead us to take notice of our thoughts, because we can very quickly find ourselves distanced from peace. We know if we have found ourselves overly worried or dissatisfied with life we have wandered away from our control Center. It is so very easy to do, my friends. In those moments, the temptation is a default to our flesh. Life brings all kinds of challenges and the enemy of every soul knows when we are approaching our limit of self-control.

We need the strength of God for our moments of weakness. Before we get to the point of acting in our flesh, we need to pause, pray, and petition the Holy Spirit to bring the strength we need to remain in peace. Then, we need to take dominion over every thought and take it captive to obey Christ (2 Cor 10:5). How will you spiritually capture your thoughts? Accept your humanity and admit you need the work of the Spirit as your Helper. Spend time in the Word of God, because it renews your thoughts with the Truth. Respond wisely to the issues rather than react fearfully or disobediently. Talk about God’s goodness in your conversations rather than your problems, because greater is He who is in you than anything going on in this world (1 John 4:4).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Word that guards my heart against living in my sinful nature. Help me to be led by your Spirit every day, because then I will not carry out the desires of my flesh. I pray for your children worldwide to be filled with the peace and wholeness you impart. Maybe then, those who live by their flesh will want you Lord! In Jesus’ name. Amen.