Devotionals

April 22, 2019

Psalm 118:1-2; 14-16, 24 New Living Translation (NLT)

What difference does the resurrection of Christ make in a life?  Actually, the difference the risen Lord makes is huge!  With the Lord, we can be victorious in this life and the life to come; eternal life.  Life will change, but God never changes.  He brings us security and hope.  No longer are we victims to the attacks of the enemy; instead we are righteous in the army of the Lord.  We are never alone and no weapon formed against us can prosper.  Our faith in Christ is the cornerstone and foundation for our victory!  In Christ, we are more than conquerors!  Be confident for greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world! (1 John 4:4).

The resurrection of Christ the Messiah has given us the victory we needed to overcome sin and death.  He is the first fruit of the righteous and redeemed of the Father.  Let your hearts be filled with gratitude and thanksgiving, today, for God has overcome the grave; therefore, we overcome the grave.  Be filled with joy, because your Savior and God is in control of your life and he is determined to do glorious things in and through you.  Nothing that tries to come against you and God’s will for your life can prosper, because the Lord is with you and all of creation must bow to his authority.  Allow God to bring change and growth to your life, because he alone knows what will give your life meaning and purpose.  Call upon the Lord for salvation each day, for he is good!  REJOICE!

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April 20, 2019

John 19:38-42 New Living Translation (NLT)

Today is the fortieth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. We have had a full journey over the past forty days in the Word of God. I pray you have been blessed by the Word. For the past month or so, we have highlighted many ways God demonstrates his love for us, but no greater truth can we gain than this:  God sent his Son to die for us, so we could experience peace with God.  Through the cross, Christ himself has brought peace to us (Ephesians 2:14).  When we believe in the atoning work of Christ for our sins, we are offered a vibrant relationship with Almighty God.  Have you taken God at his Word about that offer? 

Joseph and Nicodemus were secret followers of Christ until Father God called them to go to Pilate and ask for Christ’s body so they could bury it with dignity and respect.  The body of Christ was laid in a tomb nearby the cite of crucifixion; a garden tomb.  According to Genesis, God gave life to humanity in a garden (Eden), but sin caused hostility with God. Once again in a garden, Christ will give his life as a peace offering, so humanity can have another chance to enjoy a vibrant relationship with God.

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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April 19, 2019

John 18:28-19:30

Today is the thirty-ninth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God.  Today is Good Friday and we celebrate the King of Glory as we read the story of the Father’s great love for the world.  Do you know the depths of God’s love for you?

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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April 18, 2019

John 13:1-17, 33-35 New Living Translation (NLT)

Today is the thirty-eighth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. This is Holy Thursday and it is a perfect time to focus on the loving heart of Jesus; a pure Kingdom heart.  Jesus is God in the flesh and he came to teach us the ways of love.  He came to serve us and make us ready as fellow servants for the work of the Kingdom. Do you have a servant’s heart?

There are a lot of people who want to be leaders in this world, but according to Jesus a true leader is a humble servant who knows how to love others.  To love sacrificially like Christ requires action.  Jesus was a living example of God’s love and now we are to be living examples of Christ’s love.  So, the kind of love Jesus commissions his disciples to share sets them apart from the world.  Christ did not call just some of his disciples to be servants; he calls every one of us to take a humble posture and be a blessing to others.  

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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April 17, 2019

John 13:21-30 New Living Translation (NLT)

Today is the thirty-seventh day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. We serve a very merciful God.  Jesus knows our hearts and he knows exactly how we are going to respond to every test, trial, or temptation.  He understands the power of our flesh and the war we may wage against the work of the Spirit.  Yet, the Lord loves us unconditionally. He extends mercy and forgiveness. The psalmist writes, “How kind the Lord is! How good he is!  So merciful, this God of ours!” (116:5).  Over your lifetime, have you been aware of the overflowing mercy of the Lord for you?

In our passage today, Jesus knows Judas is going to betray him.  Have you ever been betrayed? It’s a painful experience.  A biblical definition of the word ‘betray’ is ‘to deliver up in a breach of trust.’  Judas is ready to betray Jesus, but the Lord does nothing to stop it, nor does he stop loving Judas or treating him with respect.  Why? Because even this betrayal is a part of God’s plan for salvation; a living testimony to the love and mercy of God for us as sinners.  So, Jesus stayed in a posture of worship—oneness—with the Father and the Spirit and remained merciful in the face of betrayal.  Each one of us has in some form betrayed the Lord.  Yet, he extends mercy and grace in exchange.  Be ready to extend mercy every day, because soon someone you know may need it.

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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April 16, 2019

John 12:23-29 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Today is the thirty-sixth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. This journey we have been making in our prayer time to experience a Kingdom heart is a personal journey that gains momentum with each passing day.  For example, today is Holy Tuesday and it is overwhelming for my heart to think that God would be willing to suffer for my sin, disobedience, and iniquities.  It’s personal.  God suffered for me.  Actually, the Lord suffered injustice, oppression, and abuse because of me; he suffered under the load of my sin, guilt, and shame. He did the same for you. The love of God for us is so great he was willing to suffer the immense weight of our unrighteousness in order to offer us his light righteous yoke as followers (Mat 11:29).  To wear Christ’s yoke, we must be willing to love eternal life more than this present life.  In your prayer time, do you praise the Father for his Suffering Servant?

Isaiah prophecies about the Messiah, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.  After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge My righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities (53:10-11).  Jesus said he came into the world to suffer for the glory of the Father; to bring about the forgiveness for our sins.  We celebrate the work of Messiah, but let’s not forget the suffering he took upon himself, so we could know and enjoy the fullness of God’s love and grace.  

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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April 15, 2019

John 12:1-8 Good News Translation (GNT)

Today is the thirty-fifth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God.  As we draw closer, we learn from the Spirit what it means to have life in his name.  This life in his name brings Light or illumination and reminds us of our oneness with Christ; we are in him and he is in us. It is a picture of worship; the Lord is worthy of our worship.  We bring our lives to God and in a holy exchange for salvation we are connected to Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the early church in Colosse teaching them, “Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father (Col. 3:17).  Are you learning to live life in his name?

In our passage today, we note Mary knows what it means to live life in Jesus’ name.  Mary releases extravagant worship for her King.  Remember, worship is at the center of the Christian life.  Although she does not realize it, Mary is a lead worshiper in this moment as she anoints the feet of Jesus with perfume and dries his feet with her hair.  This anointing is a public demonstration and declaration of Mary’s faith in Jesus as the Messiah; she cares nothing about what others around her think because she is focused on worshiping the One who alone is worthy of all praise. Therefore, the Lord honors her. In fact, the gospel of Matthew shares the story about Mary, the anointing perfume, and quotes Jesus, “Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what Mary has done will also be told, in memory of her” (26:13).  Within days, Jesus will wrap a towel around his waist and wash the feet of the disciples.  He will tell the other disciples, “If I as your Teacher and Lord have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example to follow.  Do as I have done” (John 13:13-14). The disciples are learning to live in Jesus’ name. 

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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April 13, 2019

Psalm 31:6-8, 14-16 The Message (MSG)

Today is the thirty-fourth day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. Because we live in a world where we fight spiritual battles that try to distance us from the Father’s heart, the Lord becomes our Shield of love and protection when we call upon him.  The Lord advances us and causes us to be victorious. King David sings, “We put our hope in the Lord, He is our help and our Shield (Ps 33:20).  Behind this Shield we can experience the unfailing and limitless love of God.  Behind this Shield we can experience healing and rest from torment.  Behind this Shield we can breathe and sort through the many messages that bombard us from our souls—mind, will, and emotions. It is our faith in this Shield that protects us from the fiery darts of the enemy.  This Shield is Jesus Messiah and he wants to protect you by placing you in the center of his love.  Do you know the Lord wants to be your Shield in the time of evil?

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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April 12, 2019

Hebrews 2:10-18 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Today is the thirty-third day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God. Did you know the heart of God is to walk with you through all the ordeals of your life?  The ordeals of life are tests and tribulations we all must face; they come to every human being and child of God.  But you and I do not have to face these spiritual battles alone. Battles are opportunities to bring attention to the Lord’s excellence. Our Lord is Excellent in battle!  Christ wants to fight our battles; the battle actually belongs to the Lord because we belong to the Father. Therefore, the Lord has the final word over our lives.  We stand by faith on the Word of God calling for our Excellent Lord to show us a way to escape our temptations (1 For 10:13). Obedience to God’s direction is key; trust in and obedience to God is our part in every battle.  As we submit and humble ourselves before God and resist the devil, he will flee (James 4:7). You and I are from God, we are over-comers because “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). God has provided armor for our spiritual battles and we must put it on or apply it.  The Apostle Paul teaches us, “Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare” (Ephesians 6:13-18).  A Kingdom heart knows the Lord of every battle.  Are you trusting the Lord with all the ordeals of your life?

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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April 11, 2018

Hebrews 2:1-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

Today is the thirty-second day of our 40-Day Lenten Series, “Praying for a Kingdom Heart.”  Lent should be a time of prayerful reflection, repentance, and restoration as we draw closer to the heart of God.  If we are going to identify with the heart of God, we must learn to recognize the Truth from false teaching.  Since the arrival of Christ, Satan has been manipulating and lying to people in order to get them away from the Truth. We must learn to listen carefully to God’s Word in order to know we are in the Truth; otherwise, we will be led astray.  Because God gave us the Word, we must base our faith on it and rest in the eye witness accounts of Christ’s disciples and the miracles of which they wrote. Jesus blesses us for this kind of faith.  In fact he told his disciples, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed” (John 20:29). False teaching rejects the authority and supremacy of Jesus as the Messiah.  Yet, the Word teaches God placed Jesus the Messiah in charge of everything and gave him absolute authority before he ascended to heaven (Mat 28:18). We must connect to Christ, because he promised, “I will be with you always even unto the end of the world” (Mat 28:20).  He is our Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  When you find yourself troubled by current events and worried about the future, do you turn to the Truth of Christ’s authority over all things and praise him because you are in his care? Do you know the power of praying in his name and remaining in a lifestyle of worship?

The author of Hebrews called his readers to listen carefully to the Truth that is written about Messiah, so they would not be deceived by false teachings.  It would be easy to believe since God is love, there is nothing else required for humanity to do; however, there is the matter of believing in the work of Christ as our sin sacrifice. As well, there is the matter of listening to the Spirit of Truth for the purpose of making us holy.  We live in a fallen world that rejects Christ.  Scripture identifies the rising of the evil Anti-Christ in end times who deceive the very elect of God. Jesus prayed to the Father for his disciples, “Father, I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth” (John 17:15-19).

During Lent, we will be using the acronym P.R.A.Y. as we pray for a Kingdom Heart.  P=praise, R=repent, A=ask, and Y=yield.  May God bless you as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today.

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