Devotionals

As we continue our journey toward Jerusalem, we now pause in the Book of Isaiah. Written centuries before Christ’s birth, Isaiah’s words paint one of the clearest prophetic portraits of the coming Messiah. Though he lived long before Bethlehem, Isaiah saw by the Spirit what God would accomplish through His Son.

In Isaiah 53:3–6, we meet a Savior who is “despised and rejected… a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.” These verses do not present a conquering king on a throne, but a suffering servant on a cross. He carried our weaknesses. He bore our sorrows. He was pierced for our rebellion. The punishment that brought us peace fell upon Him.

What a sobering truth: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.” Left to ourselves, we wander. We choose our own paths. We drift from the Shepherd’s voice. Yet instead of abandoning us, the Lord laid our sins upon Him.

I remember a picture hanging in my grandmother’s home—Jesus carrying a lamb across His shoulders. It beautifully reflected the heart of the Good Shepherd. Jesus spoke of leaving the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep. He does not merely point the way back; He carries us when we cannot find our way home.

The apostle Paul echoes Isaiah’s prophecy in Second Epistle to the Corinthians 5:21: Christ, who never sinned, became sin for us so that we could be made right with God. The sinless One took our place. The Holy One bore our guilt. The Shepherd became the Lamb.

Today, let this truth settle deeply in your heart: You are not rescued because you found your way back. You are rescued because He came after you. You are not forgiven because you earned it. You are forgiven because He carried your sin.

May we respond not with wandering, but with surrender.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being the Suffering Servant and the Good Shepherd. Thank You for carrying what I could not carry and paying what I could not pay. When I am prone to wander, lead me back. When I am weak, carry me. I surrender to Your loving leadership today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In Book of Psalms 24, David asks a question that reaches into every generation:
“Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?” His answer is clear—only those with clean hands and pure hearts.

That standard immediately reminds us of our need. As Book of Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, the heart can be deceitful. Left to ourselves, we cannot manufacture purity. We cannot force our way into God’s holy presence.

Yet David does not end with despair. Instead, he proclaims, “Lift up your heads, O gates… that the King of Glory may come in.” The only One worthy to ascend God’s holy hill is the King of Glory Himself. And through Christ, we are invited into what we could never earn.

Gates in Scripture represent access, authority, and protection. Today, the question is personal: Are the gates of our hearts open? Jesus does not break down doors—He knocks. He desires full access, not partial entry. When we open our hearts to Him, He cleanses, restores, and reigns.

Jesus said in Gospel of Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Purity is not perfection; it is surrender. It is inviting the King of Glory to sit on the throne of our lives and trusting Him to transform us from the inside out. Today, pause and ask:

What gate have I left closed?
What room of my heart needs to be opened to Him?
Let the King of Glory enter—and let Him rule.

Prayer: Lord, I open the gates of my heart to You. Cleanse my hands, purify my motives, and reign in every area of my life. Be the King of Glory in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

In our Lenten reflection on Jesus, His sacrifice, and the transformed life we are invited to live, we turn our attention to the Book of Exodus. In chapter 12, we read of God’s people enslaved under Egyptian rule. Through ten plagues, God demonstrated His power over false gods and oppressive systems, preparing to deliver His covenant people from bondage. The final plague was the death of every firstborn in Egypt—a sobering reminder that sin carries a deadly consequence tracing back to Adam. Yet God made a way of mercy.

Each household was instructed to sacrifice a spotless lamb and apply its blood to the doorposts. When the Lord passed through the land, “the blood will be a sign for you… When I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Book of Exodus12:13). Judgment would not fall where the blood was present.

This moment was not only deliverance—it was transformation. Captivity became the crucible of refinement. God was not merely rescuing slaves; He was forming a redeemed people who would live under His kingship.

We, too, live in a world marked by sin—systems shaped by pride, hearts inclined toward self-rule, and flesh that resists surrender. But into this darkness came the greater Lamb.
When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Gospel of John 1:29). Christ became the fulfillment of Passover—the spotless Lamb whose blood is not placed on wooden doorframes, but applied by faith to the doorposts of our hearts.

The blood of Jesus does not simply shield us from judgment; it cleanses us and brings us into fellowship and light. “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Because of the Lamb, we are no longer slaves to sin. We are no longer bound to bow to broken systems or to the demands of our unruly flesh. Refinement now comes through the Spirit. Freedom is no longer a distant promise—it is our present realm in Christ.
Lent reminds us: the blood has been applied. The Lamb has been slain. The door has been marked. Now we are invited to live as redeemed people.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the freedom we have in You. Thank You for delivering us from the dominion of evil and from the tyranny of sin. Thank You for the power of Christ’s blood that brings salvation, cleansing, and true freedom. Teach us to live in the light as redeemed sons and daughters, walking in the transformation You purchased for us.

When we read Scripture, we must commit to reading all of it—the Old Testament along with the New—and ask the Holy Spirit to weave it into one glorious picture for our spiritual understanding. In the Old Testament, God concealed many things about Himself, yet He still called His people to trust Him. In the New Testament, we encounter the transcendent God of love and grace who comes in humility to save a perishing world. Again, we are asked to trust Him.

If we do not read the whole story, we risk misunderstanding His heart and missing the fullness of His love. His thoughts and His ways are far higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9). We must remember, sin is what fractured humanity. It corrupted us and blinded us spiritually. God hates sin because it harms His children. So He comes—not to condemn us—but to save us from sin and clothe us in righteousness. He is our faithful Provider.

Fix your eyes on the true picture of God–him taking your place, dying your death, so you could live and walk in his life and strength.

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

Prayer: Lord, You are faithful to provide for us as Your children. We look to You to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or even imagine, because You are a God of pure love. Teach us to wait in faith and to trust in Your spiritual rewards. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My father had many cute and rather humorous sayings—things he would say with just a bit of fun sarcasm. For example, whenever he was waiting to make a turn and the cars were endlessly streaming by without giving him a break, he struggled to remain patient.

So, while he waited for an opening, he would tap the steering wheel and say, “Well… ya’ll come!” Typically, that Southern phrase is used with a welcoming and hospitable tone. But when my dad said it, it was ironic humor—words spoken in contrast to what he actually meant.

In Scripture, Jesus uses a similar phrase—but when He says, “Come…all you,” He truly means it. “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus extends an open invitation for salvation to all humanity. In other words, heaven’s porch light is on. The door is open. “Ya’ll come!” Everyone.

The Garden of Eden was a perfect paradise—designed for a growing, unhindered relationship with God. Yet our first spiritual parents chose disobedience and were expelled from that perfect place. Since then, humanity has been trying to rediscover the rhythm of grace and return to the heart of God.

In the Garden, God sacrificed an animal to cover the sin of Adam and Eve. That first covering pointed forward to the greater sacrifice to come. For us, it is the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. He covers our sin with His righteousness. What we could never cleanse, He cleansed. What we could never cover, He covered.

The Book of Genesis tells the story of paradise lost. The Book of Revelation promises paradise regained. And the invitation still stands:
Not some.
Not the nearly perfect.
Not the ones who finally “get it together.”

John 6:37 VOICE 37 All that My Father gives to Me comes to Me. I will receive everyone; I will not send away anyone who comes to Me.

Everyone who comes. That’s not sarcasm. That’s grace.

Prayer: Lord, we have been learning about the power and necessity of repentance. Turning toward You and Your will is essential. We cannot spiritually cleanse ourselves or cover our own sin—only You can do that for us, Jesus. Thank You for shedding Your blood so that one day we may join You in the new paradise You have prepared. Thank You that when You say, “Come,” You truly mean it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

I am always inspired by the song, “How Great is our God!” Take time to listen to it. The lyrics minister to me. Reflect on God’s greatness for a moment—the Father, Spirit, Son—the Godhead Three in One who brings humanity salvation and personally leads each believer back home to our loving Creator.

The Eternal Father wanted to rescue his lost human family. The Spirit of Truth became the powerful Voice to reveal the testimony of God’s existence. The Son—Logos/Word—humbled himself and came to save us from sin and death by sacrificing his life for us. Jesus is our conquering King [powerful Lion] and living Example [humble Lamb]. Jesus had to come to us, because we tend to pridefully live by our thoughts and wills—which cannot encompass God or comprehend His pure self-emptying love. Oh, that we would obediently follow our King.

Our heavenly Father fulfilled His Word by sending his Son—he humbled himself to meet us, because we had no way to connect to God. The Lord came for us, gave believers his great name, and now calls us sons and daughters. Grace guides us toward the Truth and genuine freedom.

So, if you need pure love and a sense of belonging that is eternal, just know how much God cares. He came for you!

John 14:18 NLT  No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for humbling yourself to find us, and positioning yourself so we could know you and be loved by you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In my quiet reflection today, I started by thinking about my time with our granddaughter, Amana, yesterday. The two of us were leaving the church; we paused to ensure the door locked behind us. Before we began our walk to the parking area, Amana paused and reached up to grab my hand. Once she had my hand, she started walking with me toward the car.
Honestly, I always ask her to take my hand when we need to cross a parking area or road—anything that could pose danger—but I did not even have time to ask her, yesterday. She was already reaching to take my hand. Taking my hand had become a habit.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if, as adults, we paused each day before heading into the world of spiritual dangers, to [by the weight of our surrendered will] take the Hand of our Lord? Of course, that would require us to humbly understand our need for God’s goodness to lead us along the safe paths of righteousness (1 Peter 5:6). Truly, if we are seeking, we will find God’s goodness leading us along a grace-lined path. So, today, let’s reach for the Hand of Jesus and let him guide us away from sin and into his grace, because no one can snatch us from the Father’s Hand (John 10:29).

Romans 2:4 NLT  Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being so patient and kind to us. Truly, your goodness chases after us all the time. Today, Lord, we reach for your righteous Hand and ask for you to guide us away from every spiritual danger and onto the narrow path that leads to abundant life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The will of unbelieving humanity is constrained by this fallen world and enslaved by sin. Scripture teaches Adam and Eve chose disobedience to God’s will and Word (Gen 2:16-17, 3:1-19). Human beings became bound by that one disobedient choice—sin. Yet, in God’s mercy and goodness, he used the disobedience of Adam and Eve to teach us the way to salvation and the righteous life. The truth of God’s will is found in Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Jesus modeled the will of the Father for human life. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jo 14:6).

Our lives will always reflect what is in our hearts, because every action originates from the heart (Pro 4:23). If we are a positive or negative person, it is reflective of what is in our hearts—good or evil. The will of the heart really drives our lives; therefore, it must be transformed by the Lord.

We have beautiful freedom in this country; we are free to make choices for our lives. However, because of our spiritual condition of sin, we cannot make pure or righteous choices apart from the redeeming work of the Holy Spirit. When we live our lives in [following] Christ, God’s peace guards our hearts and minds (Phil 4:7).

In our verse for today, David prays, yields, and asks God to invade the will of his heart and take captive anything hidden—thoughts, motives, evil—that needs purification. Today, let’s remember we cannot just blindly ‘follow our hearts.’ We must ask God to sit on the throne of our hearts, direct, and lead us in the will of the Father. Every choice must go through our Lord Jesus, because our goal is transformation.

Psalm 139:23-24 NLT 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this further understanding of my heart. I am born again, but I can still be tempted by a fallen and wayward will. I want to do the will of the Father and become more like Jesus. Please help me through the work of the Word and Spirit to discern what is righteous and wisely choose to follow. Point out, in me, what is corrupt to your heart and help me surrender to your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

We shared a sweet time in the Spirit last night during our Ash Wednesday service. Jen and I talked and shared about the work of the Spirit to convict our hearts of sin. This conviction is a gift, because it allows us to repent and draw closer to God. Sin separates us, so we need to humbly repent and seek God’s strength and power to lead us beyond the things that try to rob us of our intimate fellowship with God.

So, today, our word is repentance. People seem to struggle with the need for repentance, but every Old Testament prophet, as well as Jesus and the apostles called for it. The Kingdom of God awaits our repentance. So, we will begin our Lenten journey with the need to repent from sin—unbelief.

Regret or remorse is not repentance. Of course, we should regret leaving God’s presence to demand our own way. However, repentance is really about transformation—a change in thinking that will lead to a change in our will for living. We are to have the attitude of Christ regarding sin (Phil 2:5). Christ went to the cross for our sins, so sin can seriously destroy our lives. Turning toward Jesus is the only way to salvation.

In our verse today, Peter is in Jerusalem and he is talking to a crowd of people about the power of God by pointing to the miraculous healing of a lame man. He then invites those listening to embrace a change in attitude and action—to respond to Christ and his power—because it leads to freedom from sin and restoration with God.

Today, let us think clearly about the gift of repentance, because the proof that we have truly repented is revealed when we see a change in our allegiance, direction, and actions.
Acts 3:19 NLT
19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped [erased] away.

Prayer: Lord, please help me think seriously about sin and how it has the power to affect my relationship with you. Every sin flows from unbelief and a turning away from Christ as my standard. Please convict me of hidden sin and help me repent. I want to devote myself to the work of your grace, so I call for mercy and freedom in Jesus’ name.

Today, begins the “Lenten” Season—starting on Ash Wednesday and ending with a celebration on Easter Sunday. Now, the word ‘Lent’ is never used in Scripture; however, Jesus demonstrated and taught the need for the principles of Lent all the time. In fact, Jesus’ time in the wilderness is helpful for our understanding.

Scripture tells us Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit (Mat 4:1). What did he do for forty days in the wilderness? He prayed, fasted, and allow the Spirit to consecrate him for the mission of God. Jesus knew the enemy would come to stop him—an intense spiritual battle for Christ’s allegiance to God. The fight is real. Satan uses temptation, torment, and tiredness to stop our progress in God’s mission, too.

As I sit here this morning with a cup of coffee writing the devotional I am well acquainted with tiredness. I cling to the Apostle Paul’s exhortation, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal 6:9). In fact, I was too tired to get up early and get this lesson sent out at the usual time, but here it is in Jesus’ name! lol!

We are moving into our house after 1.5 years of being evacuated from our flood-damaged home. Last night, was our first time to stay in our restored house; but now it is time to make it a home once again. There is a difference.

A house is a physical dwelling place that serves as a residence. A home is filled with experiences, lessons, memories that draw us to know we belong and fill us with a sense of well-being. It will take discipline, work, and a willingness to create order in our house. Worth it all to make it a home. Nonetheless, it will be intense for a period of time and no one can make the journey for us.

As believers, physically we are the temple [house] of God and Jesus lives in us. He wants to clear, cleanse, and consecrate our house, to make it a holy home filled with his nature and character. We bear the name of Jesus; he is the name above the doorpost of our lives. We have been sealed by the Spirit and because of it, Satan will seek to rob, steal, and destroy our hope-driven vision, our energy for transformation, and our resolve to serve God’s purpose. We must pray, be willing to fast the things of this world, and live for eternity.

For the next forty days, we will be on a journey with Jesus. We must invite him to take us to a new level of making our hearts HIS home. We will be led into the deep places of our hearts through reflection, repentance, and renewal. He is the shalom—the complete wholeness and well-being—our lives required if we are going to rise in our discipleship and commission in God’s plan.

You are precious to God. He is not asking you to change yourself. He is asking for you to allow him to make your spiritual house alive with HIS supernatural Spirit of love and goodness. Oneness with God is the goal. Jesus was victorious in the wilderness and he can make us victorious, too. Therefore, he will sweep stuff away, but only the things that hinder our lives. New beginnings can be exciting even though a bit draining, right? He is getting us ready for Easter…resurrection living. Let’s take the journey with him.

Matthew 4:1-11 NTL Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted [tested] by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the many ways you love us. We are blessed that you would make our hearts your home. Over these next forty days, we invite you to bring the transformation you know we need in order to experience more oneness with you. Take us on the journey, but please hold us close. In Jesus’ name. Amen.