“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.” – Zephaniah 2:3

In their book “Our Church Speaks” authors Ben Lansing and D. J.Marotta write: “Of the medieval church’s many intellectual leaders, none has had more influence than the philosophical theologian Thomas Aquinas. He was born to a noble family near Naples, Italy, and joined the Dominican Order of Preachers as a teenager. At the time, the Dominicans were a new monastic movement that lacked prestige and social standing. 

The Dominicans required their members to renounce personal wealth as part of their mission to renew sound doctrine and holy life within the church. Thomas’s family was appalled that their son would join such a radical group and locked him in their castle tower, hoping to dissuade him with rich foods and comforts. 

Thomas would not succumb and made the most of his time. He tutored his sisters, prayed, memorized Scripture, and read deeply. After two years of imprisonment, his family finally relented, and Thomas was released to study with the Dominicans. At school, Thomas was nicknamed “the Dumb Ox” because of his heavy stature, shy disposition, and slowness of speech. 

One of Thomas’s teachers, recognizing his talents, told his class, “I assure you the bellowing of that ox will one day fill the world.” In time, the wisdom of this “Dumb Ox” became evident to all, and his nickname changed to “the Angelic Doctor.”

Are you humble person, or do you wrestle with pride? Today in prayer, seek the Lord with all of your heart and seek to be humble in all that you do.

“He who knows himself best esteems himself least.” – H.G. Brown

God’s Word: “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” – 1 Peter 5:5

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DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” – Habakkuk 3:19

A news article from the Associated Press in Glasgow, Kentucky, shared a rather frustrating story. Leslie Puckett, after struggling to start his car, lifted the hood only to discover that someone had stolen the engine. Time and again he turned the ignition, but nothing happened. Imagine the confusion—his car wouldn’t start, and then he realized why: there was no motor. You can’t drive a car without an engine, and while you can live your life without the Holy Spirit-doing so removes your true energy source. We need to let our true energy source be the Lord and we will have a proper running engine.

We cannot rely on our own strength; it will fail us. Today in prayer, pray that the Lord will be your strength in all that you do.

“We can never obey God in our own strength, but we can always trust Him to provide the strength we need. If we trust ourselves, we will faint and fall; but if we wait on the Lord by faith, we will receive strength for the journey.” – Warren Wiersbe

God’s Word: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

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DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS  †

“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” – Habakkuk 3:2

In her book “Invitation to Retreat” author Ruth Haley Barton writes: “Recently a professor shared with me a college student’s reflections in response to my earlier writings on solitude and silence: 

‘I was not born into a world relatively unaffected by technology like you were. Rather, I was thrust into a world that had already succumbed to its disastrous effects! I have heard it said that the Internet was going to make the world a smaller place, and indeed it has. 

It has reduced the world from seven billion to just one! Just you, hiding behind your screen, interacting with others hiding behind theirs. The days of legitimate human interaction have been forever tainted by social media. The schedules of our workdays have been compressed tighter by the interventions of e-mails and cellphones. 

Our lives have been faker and faker, busier and busier and we have yet to realize that within, we are broken, weary and longing for that genuine, restful interaction that we find with God in solitude.’”

The Lord can renew our hearts when we look toward Him! Today in prayer, praise the Lord for your new life in Jesus. Ask the Lord to renew that desire to love and follow Him.

“We've lost sight of the fact that some things are always right and some things are always wrong. We've lost our reference point. We don't have any moral philosophy to undergird our way of life in this country, and our way of life is in serious jeopardy and serious danger unless something happens. And that something must be a spiritual revival.” – Billy Graham

God’s Word: “Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” – Psalm 80:7

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DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †

“See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright-- but the righteous will live by his faith” – Habakkuk 2:4

In his book “Our Church Speaks”, authors Ben Lansing and D.J. Marotta write: “God loves to use those that the world deems too small, too weak, too insignificant to make a difference. As Francis Schaeffer wrote: 

‘Consider the mighty ways in which God used a dead stick of wood. . . . Though we are limited and weak in talent, physical energy and psychological strength, we are not less than a stick of wood. But as the rod of Moses had to become the rod of God, so that which is me must become the me of God.

Then, I can become useful in God’s hands. The Scripture emphasizes that much can come from little if the little is truly consecrated to God. There are no little people and no big people in the true spiritual sense, but only consecrated and unconsecrated people. The problem for each of us is applying this truth to ourselves.’”

We grow in righteousness when we live by faith in Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, ask the Lord how you can trust Him more.

“The essence of faith is being satisfied with all God is for us in Jesus.” – John Piper

God’s Word: “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” – Romans 1:17

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DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS  †

“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” – Nahum 1:7

In his book “Every Good Endeavor” Pastor Timothy Keller says: “A recent book, The Outsourced Self: Intimate Life in Market Times, says that private family life is no longer, as historian and cultural critic Christopher Lasch named it, “a haven in a heartless world.” The book description summarizes a point that many have been making for a generation:

The family has long been a haven in a heartless world, the one place immune to market forces and economic calculations, where the personal, the private, and the emotional hold sway. Yet . . . that is no longer the case: everything that was once part of private life—love, friendship, child rearing—is being transformed into packaged expertise to be sold back to confused, harried Americans. . . .”

Unlike the guardians of the Mariana Trench, God knows all about and loves those who take refuge in Him. Today in prayer, thank Christ that in Him we can find refuge in times of trouble.

“When we stray from His presence, He longs for you to come back. He weeps that you are missing out on His love, protection and provision. He throws His arms open, runs toward you, gathers you up, and welcomes you home.” – Charles Stanley

God’s Word: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” – John 14:18

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DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS  †

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

The 19th and 20th century Canadian-American pastor Harry Ironside once told a story of a new Christian who gave his testimony during a church service. Beaming with joy, the man spoke of how God had rescued him from a life of sin. He gave all the credit to the Lord, saying nothing about his own efforts.

However, the meeting’s moderator—a legalistic man who didn’t grasp that salvation is entirely by God’s grace, not by human effort—interjected. “It sounds like you’re saying God did everything in saving you,” he said. “Didn’t you do your part first?”

The new Christian sprang to his feet and replied, “Absolutely! For over 30 years, I ran from God as fast as my sins could carry me. That was my part. But God chased me down—and that was His part.”

Ironside remarked, “That was well said—and it tells a story every redeemed sinner knows by heart.”

We need to appreciate the Lord’s mercies toward us and extend mercy to others. Today in prayer, praise Lord for His mercy and follow His example.

“The essence of justice is mercy.” – Edwin Hubbel Chapin

God’s Word: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” – Matthew 23:23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †

"But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor.” – Micah 4:12

In his book “God’s Big Picture”, author Vaughan Roberts writes: “The years continue to pass and Sarah still does not conceive, but one day God speaks to Abraham and reassures him that, despite her great age, she will bear a son. And, sure enough, it happens. I once heard a friend of mine invite us to imagine the scene at the local hospital. Sarah, aged ninety, hobbles to the entrance with her Zimmer frame. 

A kind nurse greets her: ‘Hello dear, is it the Geriatric Department you are after?’ ‘No,’ Sarah replies, ‘I want the Maternity Ward.’ ‘How lovely!’ says the nurse. ‘Have you come to see a great-grandchild?’ ‘No,’ says Sarah, ‘I’ve come to have a baby.’ You can imagine the nurses having a good laugh at that over their coffee break.

They were not the first to laugh at the idea. Abraham also laughed when God told him it would happen. That is why the boy was given the name Isaac, which means ‘he laughs’. It was a laughable idea; it is impossible for a ninety-year-old woman to give birth. But it happened. Right at this early stage we are being taught that it will take a miracle for the gospel to be fulfilled.

The Lord’s plans for us are much greater than our own. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that God has a plan for your life and seek to do His will in all that you do.

“Since God is the highest good, He would not allow any evil to exist in his works unless his omnipotence and goodness were such as to bring good even out of evil.” – Augustine

God’s Word: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” – Isaiah 55:8

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DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” – Jonah 2:1-2

Adam S. McHugh writes the following: “The God who shares power is a listener. Listening is not something that becomes necessary for God only after the world is created. Listening is who God is. In God’s very being, communication does not move unilaterally but flows back and forth and around the three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, Holy Spirit. 

The triune nature of God puts listening right at the center of the universe. God is love, and love requires listening. The inner workings of the divine life are held together by a self-giving, reciprocating and listening nature, so when Son is revealed in human form he says he does not do what he wants but what his Father commands, and when the Spirit comes it guides people into all truth because it only speaks what it hears. In the work of creation, redemption and mission the persons of the Trinity reveal the listening that has been at the heart of their relationships all along.”

Distress is good when it drives us to a closer walk with Jesus. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that in our distress, our faith in Christ can grow.

“So let Your kingdom come

And Your will be done

On Earth as is in Heaven

Let Your kingdom come

And Your will be done

From now until forever

We'll keep our singing” – Rebecca St. James

God’s Word: “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” – Psalm 18:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †

“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’” – Jonah 1:1-2

Bradley Long wrote the following: “A Frontier Fellowship mobilizer once met a Chinese monk while leading a vision trip. Through a translator she said to him, “We are all followers of Jesus. Do you know Jesus?”

The friendly monk replied, “No! Is he you uncle? Is he a friend of yours? You should all come over for tea!”

It comes as a surprise to many American Christians that over 1/3 of the world’s population does not have access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Over 3 billion people (out of just over 8 billion total) have never heard about God’s love for them in Jesus. There are billions living in darkness with very little chance of seeing the light of Jesus until the Church wakes up and shines the light of Christ!”

The Lord desires to be with us and to follow His call. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that His calling is sure. 

“Following Christ is not our initiative, merely our response, in obedience.” – Os Guinness

God’s Word: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” – Jonah 3:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †

“Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD. – Obadiah 1:4

In his book “And the Angels Were Silent”, Max Lucado wrote: “Looking for Recognition Speedy Morris is the basketball coach for LaSalle University. He was shaving when his wife told him he was wanted on the phone by Sports Illustrated. He got so excited over the prospect of national recognition that he hurried his shave and nicked himself. Not wanting to delay the caller, he ran out of the bathroom, lost his balance, and tumbled down the stairs. Limping, with blood and lather on his face, he finally got to the phone.

"Sports Illustrated?" he panted.

Imagine Morris' disappointment when the voice on the other end droned, ‘Yes it is, and for seventy-five cents an issue you can get a year's subscription...’”

Foolish pride will bring about our fall. Today in prayer, confess any sin of pride in your life and humble yourself before the Lord.

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS  †

“Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the people of Israel come!” – Amos 6:1

In her book “Invitations from God”, Adele Ahlberg Calhoun wrote: “One of my memories as a teenager was hearing about the murder of Katherine Susan Genovese at Kew Gardens in New York City. Early in the morning on March 13, 1964, she was attacked by an assailant on her way home from work. Her screams woke her neighbors, who flipped on their lights and looked down from their windows.

Someone shouted to leave the girl alone, and the assailant retreated. Stabbed and near death, the girl called for help. But no one who saw her attacked came down to help. No one immediately called the police. Some minutes later, the assailant returned. He robbed Genovese of forty-nine dollars and stabbed her to death.

This failure on the part of observers to get involved became known as the Genovese Syndrome: people hear the cry for help, but rather than following through with responsible action, they imagine that someone else will take care of it. Ignoring the invitation to follow love into a vulnerable place of sacrifice or jeopardy, we figure that someone else will do it.”

We need to examine our lives and rid ourselves of any spiritual complacency. Today in prayer, ask the Lord that “Thy will be done, not my will” and follow Jesus in all that you do.

“I hate to see complacency prevail in our lives when it's so directly contrary to the teaching of Christ.” – Jimmy Carter

God’s Word: “For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them” – Proverbs 1:32

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DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS  †

“This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name.” – Amos 2:6-7

Advocate, Orator, and Organizer Fannie Lou Hamer was born in Montgomery County, Mississippi, in 1917. She was the youngest of twenty children, and her mother and father were sharecroppers. She was a devoted Baptist who believed that fighting for justice was her calling. 

In the 1960s, Hamer worked for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to demystify the political process for southern blacks and register them to vote—a dangerous endeavor in the Jim Crow South. Her faith in God was key to her ability to withstand police brutality, disenfranchisement, and involuntary sterilization (a “Mississippi appendectomy”) while refusing to hate her oppressors. She was one of the most skilled orators and organizers in the civil rights movement and was known to have a powerful effect on audiences with her speeches and songs.

The poor are always on the Lord’s heart. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He has blessed you with many material blessings. Ask Jesus how you can give to those in need.

“The cry of the poor must either be heard by us, or it will ascend up against us into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” – F.D. Maurice

God’s Word: “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” – Galatians 2:10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” – Joel 2:13

In his book “Peace for Each Day”, Billy Graham wrote: “Repentance is a very unpopular word. But the first sermon Jesus ever preached was “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). This was God speaking through His Son. Jesus had come with a heart filled with love and compassion, but He immediately called upon men to acknowledge their guilt and turn from their ungodliness.

He said repentance must come before He could pour out His love, grace, and mercy upon men. Jesus refused to gloss over iniquity. He insisted upon self-judgment, upon a complete about-face. He insisted upon a new attitude before He would reveal the love of God. This does not limit the grace of God, but repentance makes way for the grace of God.”

God loves you. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His love and rejoice that Jesus is compassionate towards you.

"The dying Jesus is the evidence of God's anger toward sin; but the living Jesus is the proof of God's love and forgiveness." - Lorenz Eifert

God’s Word: “"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” – John 3:16-17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †

“Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall! Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips.’” – Hosea 14:1-2

History records the Battle of Cannae as perhaps Rome's most devastating military defeat, orchestrated by the tactical genius of Hannibal of Carthage. In the aftermath of this crushing victory, the Carthaginian commander possessed an unparalleled opportunity—Rome lay virtually defenseless before him, ripe for conquest with minimal resistance. Yet Hannibal hesitated, allowing this golden moment to slip away unused.

When he finally marshaled his forces for an assault on the eternal city, fortune had turned against him. A fierce storm prevented his advance, leaving him to regret his fatal miscalculation: "When I could, I would not, and now when I will, I cannot."

This ancient tragedy mirrors a spiritual truth as well. Those who postpone their turning to God follow Hannibal's pattern of regret. While grace extends its hand and time allows for reconciliation with God, they choose delay. Yet persistent rejection of God's merciful overtures leads to a hardening of the heart—a point where willingness may finally arrive, but capability has departed.

The Lord not only wants us to repent from sin, but also to follow Him. Today in prayer, confess any sin and your life and let Jesus become Lord of all.

“A Christian is not one who never goes wrong, but one who is enabled to repent and begin over again after each stumble—because of the inner working of Christ.” – C.S. Lewis

God’s Word: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” – Matthew 4:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †

“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” – Hosea 10:12

In his book “Epiphany”, Fleming Rutledge writes: “The Bruderhof is one such Christian community with many locations around the world. Unlike most such attempts to build radical communities, the Bruderhof has not only survived, it is thriving. In 2021 they celebrated their hundredth anniversary. Its members are committed to live according to the Sermon on the Mount and, significantly, to personify the description of the earliest Christian communities in Acts 4:32-37.8 

Their openness to society at large (“in” it but not “of” it) is remarkable; many of them are out in the world from time to time, serving among unaffiliated others with a surprising level of comfort; they are exceptionally affirming of those not similarly committed, with a minimum of self-righteousness—making them attractive to seekers.

Unlike monastic orders and the all-but-vanished Shakers, they are more often than not married, with families of (typically) more than two children who are lovingly raised and educated within the community. Unlike the Amish, they are at home on social media and make good use of it.

They earn enough money from their shared businesses of making beautifully crafted wooden toys and sophisticated medical equipment to have a presence in the world at large, but there is no private ownership; all is shared within the community. The Bruderhof is proof that the Sermon on the Mount can actually be lived, and far from being a rebuke to the rest of us, they are a great encouragement.”

All that is good in this world comes from God. Today in prayer, desire Christ in all you do and thirst for His righteousness.

"My only hope is that I shall be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ." - M. Lloyd-Jones

God’s Word: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” – Ephesians 6:14

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2025, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN THE MINOR PROPHETS †