Devotionals

Lately, I have had difficulty accessing certain documents and calendar entries on my laptop at home and church. Since a recent update, it has been a challenge even with my cell phone, because everything is suddenly different. The way to access certain things is presently very specific…there are not multiple ways to the information. I have to learn a new way to navigate…and friends…I don’t like this narrow challenge! lol! But sometimes the way to victory is “narrow.”

In our passage today as we reflect further upon Christ’s journey to Jerusalem and the cross before him, Jesus declares himself the only way to eternal life with God. Jesus and the disciples are in Caesarea Philippi; a place of wickedness and debauchery—based on sensual pleasures and pagan worship—considered the gateway to hell and the underworld.

Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (Mat 16:13). The disciples throw out a few ideas they had heard in the crowd (Mat 16:14). And then, Jesus asks a followup question that get more specific, “But, who do you say I am?” (Mat 16:15). Simon Peter then proclaims, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” (Mat 16:16).

In several of the Gospels, Jesus talks about his death—his return to the Father. Through John, Jesus reminds us he is going away, but that he will return for his believers. Jesus says, “You know the way to where I am going.” The disciple Thomas is quick to say, “NO, we don’t know, Lord!” It is then, Jesus explains the narrow way.

John 14:6 NLT Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Jesus is not just one of the ways…he is the exclusive Way, Truth, and Life with God! Many people struggle with the Christian faith, because they want more options, but there are no more ways to victory. Faith in Christ is really quite simple. We must humble ourselves and submit to the salvation God offers in His Son—Jesus the Messiah. Frankly, it is narrow…but, Truth is always narrow isn’t it?

Prayer: We thank You for loving us enough to provide a way to eternal life through Your Son, Jesus Christ. In a world filled with many voices and countless paths, help us to remember that Jesus alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Give us humble hearts that are willing to trust You even when the path feels narrow or difficult. Strengthen our faith so that we boldly confess, as Peter did, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Teach us to walk faithfully in the way of Christ each day—trusting His truth, following His leading, and sharing His love with others who are searching for hope. Lord, when we are tempted to look for easier paths or more comfortable options, remind us that the narrow way with Christ always leads to life. We surrender our hearts again to You today and thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus our Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

It is amazing what God’s love can accomplish in the human soul—the mind, will, and emotions. We often begin life selfish and, like strong-willed children, we demand our own way. But over time, the love of Jesus begins to work in the hidden places of our hearts, and we begin to desire different things and see life through the eyes of God’s mercy.

We exchange our selfish attitudes for the attitude of Christ’s love, which renews our minds. We exchange our stubborn wills, allowing love to take dominion as we yield to the obedience of Christ. Lastly, we live by faith in the love of Christ and all He can do in and through us. When we do, we are governed and filled by the supernatural shalom—the peace and well-being of heaven.

As we continue our journey to Jerusalem and the cross of Christ, we must remember that when we connect to Christ—when we believe and receive His blood sacrifice for us—we experience an exchange of identity. Over two thousand years ago, believers were crucified with Christ.

Jesus took our sinful flesh upon Himself so that through Him we can now live in the Spirit and power of His nature and character. We are given a brand-new beginning for our lives and a new way to live each day—by faith in Christ. The salvation God offers provides a great and holy exchange, friends.

We cannot accomplish in our old sinful flesh what God requires. Instead, the Spirit of Christ fills us and empowers us to live in a way that pleases God. Gratitude should fill our hearts and minds, because we have never received a greater gift than Jesus.

Galatians 2:20 NLT 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Prayer: Lord, as believers, we know we cannot continue to live in our old flesh, because we would be denying the very salvation we asked to receive. So, help us yield to the attitude, will, and emotional desires of our Savior, because we desperately need the spiritual exchange you have promised. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

During this season of Lenten reflection, I am seeking deep spiritual growth in God’s love. I always pray for growth, but something within me senses that I must gain a greater understanding of His pure love for the days ahead. I believe there are deep places within God’s love that Christ has made available to us, and I desire the drive and inner strength to experience them fully.

God knows my tomorrows—and, by the way, He knows your tomorrows too. Whether or not we fully grasp it as truth, we were created as spiritual beings in God’s image. Yet sin robbed us of our ability to faithfully bear His name. Jesus came to love sinners back into the family of God and rescue us from our own self-destructive tendencies.

Believers—those who are born from above—bear the name of Jesus and are sealed by the Spirit. Satan does not want you to understand that you are one-of-a-kind, deeply loved by God. No matter how far off the righteous path you may have wandered in life, God’s love still calls you back. He desires that you know the depths of His love—deep, abiding, and pure.

As we continue our journey toward Jerusalem and the cross of Christ during this Lenten season, we pause to reflect on the spiritual growth that divine Love offers us. Learning to wisely discern the lessons God gives us can be challenging because the world wants us to believe that simply having an “idea” about God is enough to experience divine blessing. But an idea cannot save a life from eternal judgment—we all need the God-Man, Jesus, the world’s Christ [Creator/Savior/Lord].

In today’s New Testament passage, the apostle Paul reminds God’s people that we must press in to know and experience “how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is” (v. 18). God is making us complete in His love, and we need spiritual strength to grasp it.
Do you know how much God loves you? His love is patient and long-suffering toward you. His love is higher than anything offered at an earthly level. His love is so deep that it completes the transformation process within us—forming the likeness of Christ in our lives (v. 19).

So do not run from the challenges of life. In Christ, we have been empowered with unlimited spiritual resources and understanding. Pray and ask the Spirit to help you run toward every challenge with God’s strength. And friends, let us choose to love long, high, and deep like Jesus—because the power of God has been made available for every experience we face.

Ephesians 3:14–19 (NLT) Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth 14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father [of our Christ]. 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth [from whom every family in heaven/earth takes its name]. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the growth You promise to bring to those who courageously press into the deep waters of life with You. Just as You separated the land from the sea in the beginning, we ask that You separate our hearts from selfishness. Root us deeply in Your love and strengthen us by Your Spirit so that we may know the vastness of Christ’s love. We offer our hearts to You today for the glory of Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Christianity is built upon God’s sacrificial love and the spiritual bond He provides to hold us, as His children, closely knit together in His love. Believers are called to love others—especially fellow believers—the way God loves us. We share life together and support one another as God’s family because we have made a commitment to Love—God Himself.

Today, as we continue our journey to Jerusalem and the cross of Christ, we reflect upon the teaching of the apostle John and the love that comes from God. Divine love must translate into an intentional and deep love for fellow believers. As believers gather and spend time together, trust grows deeper roots and we begin to connect on a spiritual level that the world cannot offer or manufacture. In fact, the world often hates this kind of love because it is genuine and comes from God.

Satan is the imposter and great deceiver when it comes to God’s love. He twists God’s Word and spins a very different perspective for unsuspecting humanity. Satan proclaims to the world a sinful, selfish, and self-centered love that promises pleasure without sacrifice. Friends, anything worth having requires a form of sacrifice. However, God both demonstrates and provides sacrificial love—agape—a love that chooses to lay down self in order to exalt Christ.

As God’s children, we are becoming like Christ; and as we do, we begin to see Him as He truly is—pure and holy Love. Sin stands in direct opposition to the holiness of God. Therefore, if believers know God’s Word yet choose to practice what God calls sin, they do not truly know Jesus, His sacrificial love, or the spiritual bond created by God.

Because the god of this world is so clever at perverting the pure love of God and mingling it with deception and selfish entitlement, John provides a spiritual test for us. He teaches that hating anyone for any reason reveals the absence of God’s life within the heart.

Therefore, a person who refuses to practice righteous living is not reborn with God’s love. Neither is the one who refuses to love his or her spiritual brother or sister within the bond of God’s love (1 John 3:10). Both righteousness and love call us to surrender our own will. This is the test that reminds us who truly belongs to God.

1 John 3:16 (NLT) “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Prayer: Father, we thank you for the incredible love you have shown us through your Son, Jesus Christ. Your love is pure, holy, and sacrificial. Through the cross, you revealed what true love looks like—love that gives, love that serves, and love that lays down its life for others. Lord, please teach us to love the way you love. Remove from our hearts anything that is selfish, prideful, or unkind. Where there is bitterness, bring forgiveness. Where there is division, bring unity. Fill us with your Spirit so that your love may flow through us to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to walk in righteousness and truth, reflecting the life of Christ within us. Guard us from the deception of the enemy who twists the meaning of love and tempts us toward selfish desires. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Over my lifetime, I have been blessed with many wonderful family members and friends who have been there when I needed them most. These people have known my heart and have chosen to believe the best about me even when others did not. I am also aware that this has not been the experience for everyone reading this devotion. Some know the pain of standing alone. Yet there is a powerful message in both our Old Testament passage and in Christ’s living example about the power of standing alone.

In the book of Joshua, the Israelites had finally entered the Promised Land, but they still needed encouragement to leave behind their old patterns of idolatry. God does not want just a portion of our lives—He desires all of it. He calls us to exclusive devotion to Him. Each day we must choose whom we will serve. We cannot serve both God and the world. We must reject the idols around us and commit our lives fully to the will of God.

Joshua 24:15 (NLT) “But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

Our pure and loving Savior, Jesus, experienced a moment when even those closest to Him fell away. Surrounded by friends for much of His ministry, He found Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane facing the cross. In deep anguish He told His disciples, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38).

Soon an angry crowd approached. In that moment, the disciples who had promised they would never abandon Him fled into the darkness. What did Jesus do?

Even in the midst of overwhelming sorrow, He turned to prayer. He cried out to the Father: “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39).

Jesus chose obedience. He chose the Father’s will rather than His own comfort.
We also make choices every day. If we are wise, we will follow the example of Joshua and Jesus. We will choose this day to serve the Lord, trusting that His will—no matter how difficult in the moment—always leads to what is ultimately best for our lives.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us with a faithful love that never abandons us. Forgive us for the times we allow the distractions and idols of this world to compete for our hearts. Help us to choose you each day with renewed devotion. Give us the courage to follow your will even when the path is difficult. Like Joshua, may we declare with confidence that we and our households will serve the Lord. And like Jesus, may we surrender our desires to yours, trusting that your plan is always good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Since John and I have moved back into our home following Hurricane Helene and the long process of house restoration, I have been walking our dog, Gracie, through the neighborhood. As we walk, I notice the condition of the homes around us. Some houses have been bulldozed and reduced to empty lots. Others sit in the slow and careful process of restoration. And still others appear abandoned—quiet, empty, and showing no signs of life. Those empty houses stir something in my heart.

As we make the Lenten journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem and the cross, I cannot help but think about His experience of abandonment. As He hung on the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Jesus understood what it meant to be forsaken. He felt it when many who once followed Him walked away. He felt it when His closest friends fell asleep in the garden of Gethsemane. He felt it when His disciples scattered in fear. And He felt it most deeply as He hung on the cross, bearing the weight of the world’s sin.

Perhaps you know that feeling. Maybe you have felt forsaken by family or friends. Maybe someone you trusted walked away when you needed them most. That kind of abandonment can lead to deep suffering and loneliness.

If so, take heart—Jesus understands. He knows the ache of being left behind. He knows the pain of human rejection. Yet even in that suffering, He never stopped making the journey the Father had called Him to make. He kept moving forward in obedience and love. When the burden grew heavy, He reached upward for strength—and the Father was always there.

Because of this, Jesus is not distant from our pain. He is acquainted with our suffering and present in our loneliness. When people around us fail us…When those we hoped would stay leave…When we feel forgotten or unseen…Jesus remains faithful.

Psalm 27:10 NLT The psalmist reminds us of this promise: “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.”

What a comforting truth. Even in the deepest moments of abandonment, we are never truly alone. The Lord draws near. He holds us close. He walks with us through the broken places and begins the work of restoration.

Just like the homes in our neighborhood that are slowly being rebuilt, God restores hearts that feel abandoned.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you know what it means to be forsaken and rejected. Thank you for understanding the pain we sometimes carry in our hearts. When we feel abandoned by others, remind us that you are near. Hold us close when we feel alone, and give us the strength to keep walking the path you have set before us. Restore the broken places in our hearts and fill us with the assurance of your abiding presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This past week, while unpacking boxes and trying to put things away in the house, I cannot tell you how many times I’ve said, “I’ve lost [fill in the blank] and I have no idea where it is! I just had it moments ago!” lol But did I really lose it? No. I simply set the object down somewhere in the house, walked away, and momentarily forgot where I placed it. The house is not lost. The item is not lost. I left it somewhere inside and moved on without it.

In the Gospel of Luke, we read that Mary and Joseph have made their annual journey to Jerusalem. After the Passover celebration, they began traveling back home to Nazareth. Jesus, now twelve years old, would have been traveling either with the group of men or the group of women. Each parent assumed He was with the other. At the end of the first day’s journey, when it was time to stop and rest, they realized something alarming—Jesus was not with either of them. Unknowingly, they had left Him behind in Jerusalem. They hurried back and found Him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions—fully engaged in the things of His Father (Luke 2:42–49).

As we walk our Lenten journey toward Jerusalem, reflecting on the life and mission of Christ, this passage gently asks us a searching question: Are we traveling with Jesus, or have we unknowingly continued on without Him? Sometimes we say, “I feel like I’ve lost Jesus.” But Scripture reminds us that He is never the One who wanders off. He is always about the Father’s business. If distance has formed, it is not because Christ moved—it is because we stepped ahead, lagged behind, or insisted on our own direction. We have not lost Him. We have simply, for a moment, walked our own path.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT We are promised, 6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

He goes ahead of us.
He does not abandon us.
He does not get lost.

The invitation of Lent is not merely to remember Christ’s journey—but to realign our steps with His. To return, if necessary. To seek Him intentionally. To position ourselves again in the place where He is working, teaching, and fulfilling the Father’s will in and through us. So, let’s not assume we are walking with Him. Let us intentionally follow Him and his Word. Because when we stay close to Jesus, we are never truly lost.

Prayer: Father God, during this sacred Lenten journey, search our hearts. Reveal to us any place where we have unknowingly walked ahead of You or lagged behind. Forgive us for the times we have assumed Your presence without intentionally seeking Your direction. Lord Jesus, You are always about the Father’s business. Help us to be about it too. When we grow distracted, self-directed, or impatient, gently call us back. Give us humble hearts that are quick to return and willing to follow closely. Holy Spirit, align our steps with Christ. Teach us to walk in courage and confidence, trusting that You go before us and never abandon us. Strengthen us to choose Your will over our own and to remain faithful on the journey to the cross—and beyond it. We do not want to travel without You. Lead us, Lord. We will follow. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen

Each day, we make choices. We may choose from many options—sometimes too many—and those choices determine our outcomes. Thoughts, feelings, and actions are all choices. God, in His love, has given us free will, and depending on what we choose, our lives are formed and shaped. Through Book of Deuteronomy 30:19, the Lord declares, “I have set before you life and death… Now choose life.” We are given the sacred responsibility of choosing between spiritual life and spiritual death.

God also chooses—but His choices are always purposeful and redemptive. As Creator and Shepherd, He gathers His people and leads them into safe pasture. To accomplish salvation, the Father chose to send His Son, Jesus, into the world. Then He chose an ordinary man named Joseph to raise that Son.

Joseph was not a king, priest, or prophet. He was a carpenter. He never speaks a recorded word in Scripture, yet his life speaks volumes. He was righteous, obedient, and willing to trust God when circumstances made little sense. When faced with confusion, social pressure, and uncertainty, Joseph chose obedience over opinion, faith over fear, and surrender over self-protection. This quiet, faithful man played a vital role in bringing about our salvation.

We have been given the same gift of free will that Joseph had. God is still choosing ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes through faithful obedience. The Apostle Paul reminds us in our Lenten lesson today:

Ordinary is the beginning of extraordinary in God’s hands.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NLT 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

Perhaps the world has made you feel insignificant. Perhaps you feel unseen, overlooked, or unqualified. But Heaven’s perspective is different. The same God who chose Joseph has chosen you. The world may not recognize your calling—but God deeply loves and cares for you. You have been chosen for His purposes.

Challenge: Today, choose life. Choose obedience. Choose surrender. And watch how God turns your ordinary faithfulness into something eternal.

Prayer: Lord, when the world makes us feel like we have nothing to offer or that we bring nothing of value to the table of life, remind us that this is a lie from the enemy. You chose to send Christ for us, and You choose to use ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. Help us to choose faithfulness and obedience like Joseph. Shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions according to Your will. May Christ in us stand out in the world today for Your honor and glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Salvation is a gift, but it is also an invitation into a lifelong journey with a loving and holy God. When we surrender to Christ, something astounding begins to happen within us. He fills us with His righteous Spirit, shapes within us a righteous heart, and renews our minds with His perspective. We are never the same again. The power of the flesh begins to lose its grip as we reach to grip the Hand of God!

When the angel visited Mary, her life was turned upside down. The promise of the virgin birth was not merely information—it was divine direction. She pondered these things. She wrestled with what she knew of Hebrew Scripture and what she was now experiencing. In her pondering, faith was formed. Revelation came forth to lead the way.

In Gospel of Luke 1:38, Mary declared, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” In that moment, she aligned her will with God’s will. She did not fully understand the cost, but she trusted the Lord of the promise. The journey would be filled with questions, but faith would bring the answers.

That is where transformation begins—when we say yes.

When we give our lives to Christ, we become servants of His purpose. Servanthood begins in the small, unseen places. It is faithfulness in the ordinary. It is obedience when no one notices. Yet the Lord of heaven sees and acknowledges His pleasure in our hearts.

Matthew 25:23: Jesus reminds us of the reward of staying the course, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

Faithfulness leads to greater trust. Greater trust brings greater anointing. And greater anointing leads to deeper glory—not for ourselves, but for our Lord. Like Mary, we are invited to ponder, to believe, and to surrender. And when we do, Christ shapes us into servants who carry His presence into the world.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for helping us ponder the things that are dear to Your heart. We love You and desire to be faithful as Your servants. Teach us to say “yes” even when we do not fully understand Your plan. Strengthen us to trust You in the small assignments and unseen places. Help us be faithful with each task You give us. Empower us to do the difficult things You require, even when we feel weak. Fill us with Your righteous Spirit, renew our minds with Your truth, and shape our hearts to reflect Your will. Lead us to the joy of hearing, “Well done.” May our lives bring You glory and lead others to Your saving grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Signs are valuable. When we travel on the road, we depend on them. There are warning signs, directional signs, informational signs, and emergency signs. Each one helps guide us safely to our destination. Without signs, confusion and danger increase.

God also gives signs—not to entertain us, but to direct us. His signs help His human creation comprehend His will and follow the path He has set before us. Signs point the way to truth. Our faith is strengthened by the signs God provides.

In the Old Testament, we see covenant signs of God’s power and faithfulness:
The rainbow after the flood
The plagues of Egypt
The parting of the Red Sea
The pillar of cloud and fire
Gideon’s fleece
The staff that became a serpent

In the New Testament, we see signs revealing Jesus’ divinity:
Turning water into wine
Feeding the five thousand
Walking on water
Healing the blind man
Raising Lazarus from the dead

There are also symbolic and prophetic signs woven throughout Scripture: the Sabbath rest, the promise of a virgin birth, and the white robes of righteousness given to the redeemed.
In today’s passage, God uses the prophet Isaiah to speak truth to King Ahaz during a time of national instability around 735 BC. Judah was surrounded by enemies. Fear filled the political atmosphere. Instead of trusting God, Ahaz leaned toward foreign alliances and human strategies.

Fear always tempts us to reach for what looks strong in the natural. But God offered a sign—not of military might, but of divine presence.

Isaiah 7:14 NLT “All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”

Centuries later, Matthew reminds us that this prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 1:22–23). The ultimate sign was not political rescue—it was incarnation. God did not merely send help; He came Himself.

When fear comes and tries to rule your heart, remember the sign.
When instability surrounds you, remember the sign.
When you are tempted to trust in human alliances instead of divine promises, remember the sign.

The virgin birth identifies Jesus as the God-Man. Fully God. Fully human. Immanuel—God with us.

Today you will see many signs competing for your attention—headlines, opinions, fears, cultural messages. But do not overlook the greatest sign ever given. The virgin birth makes identifying Him possible. The incarnation makes trusting Him reasonable. His presence makes perseverance possible.

God is not distant.
God is not indifferent.
God is with us.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for choosing to come and be made flesh. Because You took on flesh, You understand our struggles and know how to meet our needs. Help us trust the sign You have given—Jesus, our Immanuel. When fear rises, remind us You are near. In Jesus’ name, Amen.